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At 118 pounds, DeMario Crittenden doesn't cut an overly imposing figure.
Outside a boxing ring, at least.
Once the bell rings, though, the Niagara Falls native towers over most of his opponents. Many of his amateur foes yielded half a foot or more to Crittenden, who measures close to 5-foot-10.
Crittenden signed last week to make his professional debut on the undercard of Joe Mesi's April 5 bout with Keith McKnight at the University at Buffalo's Alumni Arena. In the amateur ranks, the 22-year-old capitalized on his height to achieve a No. 3 ranking at 112 pounds. He expects the same edge to be of help against most of his professional opponents.
"I'll probably be one of the tallest, so I can use my reach and my speed as an advantage," Crittenden said.
As an amateur, Crittenden proved he's more than just tall. With a style reminiscent of former world bantamweight champion Jeff Chandler, his ability to slip and block punches made foes look overmatched as they tried to punch uphill, his own shots delivered straight and hard with both hands. While shorter boxers conventionally try to get inside to offset height and reach deficits, they rarely had much success against Crittenden once they got there.
"He fights really well off the ropes," said trainer Ray Casal. "A lot of taller guys can't do that, and get into trouble if they can't fight on the outside."
Crittenden, a highly successful wrestler during his career at Niagara Falls High School, doesn't mind mixing it up in close.
"They're surprised, because they figure I have long arms and I'll try to use that to my advantage," Crittenden said. "Sometimes I don't, because I like to bang inside and go to the body."
His first professional opponent, Ray Morales of Toronto, fits the same mold as many of his amateur foes. And Crittenden has first-hand experience with Morales. The two were set to square off in the fall, but a paperwork snafu with Crittenden's license turned his would-be pro debut into a four-round exhibition.
That fight had no official winner, but provided valuable experience.
"I'm going to use my long reach to close the gap on him and not try to get in too close, because he was the type to tie up a lot," Crittenden said. "I think I'll stay on the outside and stick and move and use my speed and combinations to outclass him.
"I'm going to make him try to adapt to my style this time. Last time, I more or less fought his fight -- kind of inside, going to the body and everything. This time, I'm going to stay on the outside, but I'll still go to the body."
While he was disappointed when his scheduled debut fell through, Crittenden now fights for pay on a bill promoted by one of the biggest names in recent boxing history -- Sugar Ray Leonard.
While his scheduled four-round fight won't, in all likelihood, make it to the ESPN2 telecast, the exposure could provide an early boost to his career.
"For us, this is a door opener," Casal said. "Having Sugar Ray involved could help DeMario if Leonard and his people like what they see."
"I have to look good for them," Crittenden said. "Hopefully, one day I'll sign a contract with them. That would be good for me, because it would mean making more money."
Crittenden believes his style will please not only boxing people, but the paying public. And there should be plenty on hand -- Alumni Arena is being configured to hold up to 9,000 on April 5.
"I think I'll be a lot of entertainment for the fans out there. I think they'll enjoy the way I fight -- speed and combinations," he said.
Assuming the bout comes off as scheduled -- never a sure thing in the chaotic world of boxing -- Crittenden will become the second Niagara Falls fighter to turn pro in less than a year. Tommy Huff also debuted on a Mesi-headlined bill and split a pair of middleweight fights at the Niagara Falls Convention and Civic Center last year.
Casal, who operates Casal's School of Fighting Arts on Hyde Park Boulevard with his wife, Leslie, said Mesi's impact on the sport in Western New York has been immense.
"Joe's the man right now in this area," Casal said. "He's opening the door for a lot of young fighters and we've got to take advantage of that."
While Crittenden marks the first boxer Casal has schooled throughout his amateur career and into the professional ranks, the trainer has little doubt about his protege's prospects.
"If he keeps his head right and trains hard, he can have a good career in the pros," Casal said.
"And what a great way to start."
| Niagara Falls Reporter | www.niagarafallsreporter.com | March 19 2002 |