7/14/07 - article by Randy Benson - The Town Talk
Nichols' ready for the fight
By Randy Benson
rbenson@thetowntalk.com
(318) 487-6431
Originally posted in The Town Talk 7-14-07
Alexandria’s Heath Nichols will fight for the National Boxing Association’s Junior World Lightweight Championship at the Coushatta Casino Resort in Kinder tonight. Nichols came in at 134 pounds at the weigh-in Friday, just a pound under the 135 limit.
KINDER -- Heath Nichols stepped on the scales Friday and breathed a deep sigh of relief when his weight was announced at 134 pounds.
Donnell Logan's reaction was much the same about 90 minutes later when his weight was recorded at 134.9 pounds.
Nichols, an Alexandria boxer who is 5-0 as a pro, and Logan, who is from Covington, Tenn., will fight today for the National Boxing Association's vacant junior world lightweight championship at the Coushatta Casino Resort.
"It's definitely a relief to make weight," Nichols said.
Both Nichols and Logan normally compete in the junior welterweight division, which is for boxers weighing between 136 and 141 pounds. They had to weigh in Friday at no more than 135 pounds to qualify for the lightweight fight.
"Now that I've made weight, the pressure is off and I can go eat anything I want," Nichols said with a laugh, adding he had eaten only a hardboiled egg Friday in advance of the 2 p.m. weigh-in.
While Nichols was joking during the weigh-in, he admitted he was on edge on the eve of his first professional championship fight.
"I've been a little angry. I've been all over him about everything," Nichols said, pointing at trainer Alfredo Hernandez.
"He's ready," Hernandez said. "I can see it in his eyes. This is not like his last couple of fights. He's fighting for something big. He's trained like its something big, too."
The NBA's junior world titles series is for promising young boxers. The junior world lightweight championship became vacant when Edner Cherry gave it up to fight for more prestigious titles.
"We're happy to be here fighting for the (championship) belt," Hernandez said. "We don't expect it to go the distance. We expect it to be an early night."
The fight is scheduled for eight rounds. All of Nichols' previous fights have been four rounds.
Nichols, a former national amateur champion, has not been challenged -- he's hardly been touched -- in his five professional fights.
A victory today could bring Nichols to the attention of the people who compile the world rankings for the major boxing sanctioning bodies, said Payton Shur, a legandry matchmaker who is not involved with this fight.
"A victory could help make Heath's career," Shur said by phone from his home near Kansas City.
Logan, meanwhile, is looking at this fight as a way to re-establish himself as a prospect. He turned pro in 2004 and was 8-1-1 in his first 10 fights. But since then, he is 0-11-1.
"This is the fight that can get my career back on track," Logan said.
"My guy has hardly been able to sleep since he found out he was getting this fight," trainer Malcolm Terry said earlier this week. He's excited. He's looking at this as a chance for redemption."
Logan has been idle since being knocked out in the first round by Vernon Paris on March 9.
"I would take fights after being in and out of the gym," Logan said Friday. "I decided to stop taking fights and work hard in the gym.
"I can feel the difference. Even though I am fighting at a lighter weight, I feel stronger."
Nichols trained for the fight in Las Vegas, sparring against boxers that included former world champion Wayne McCullough.
"It was the right decision to go to Las Vegas," Hernadez said. "I think it was good to get him out of town. When he was in Alexandria, everyone was calling him and asking him about the fight. In Las Vegas, he was able to stay focused on the fight."
What: Alexandria boxer Heath Nichols vs. Donnell Logan for NBA junior world lightweight title
When: 7 PM Saturday July 7th
Where: Coushatta Casino Resort, Kinder.
Tickets: $40 for reserved seats, $100 for bronze circle, $150 for silver circle and $200 for gold circle. Available at Coushatta Box Office and at
www.ticketmaster.com
Information: Kinder Casino Resort, (800) 584-7263.
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