Thu | Mar 28, 2024

Big 12 to make pro debut

Published:Sunday | February 20, 2022 | 12:07 AMLivingston Scott - Gleaner Writer

Jamaica’s Ricardo Brown (left) competing in the men’s super heavy +91kg preliminaries at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics at Kokugikan Arena in Tokyo, Japan on Thursday, July 29, 2021.
Jamaica’s Ricardo Brown (left) competing in the men’s super heavy +91kg preliminaries at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics at Kokugikan Arena in Tokyo, Japan on Thursday, July 29, 2021.

ON THE 26th of this month, next week Saturday, Jamaican boxer Ricardo ‘Big 12’ Brown will make his debut as a professional fighter when he takes on Julio Cabrera in a six-round heavyweight bout in Toronto, Canada.

The big Jamaican says he is looking to make his opponent hit the canvas as early as possible.

“Just looking to come out with a knockout and feel good. We are heavyweights, so it is either or either. I don’t want to go in the ring and waste time with anybody. That is too much pressure. I just want to go in and get it over quick,” he said.

“If I do not knock him out, I will beat the hell out of him. I do not want any judge to score me on any scorecard. I want to get him on the canvas. So I will put in that hard work and put him to sleep,” he continued.

Brown said he is eager to experience what it is like to be a professional fighter. He noted that he has been sparring with some very experienced pros and he thinks he is on top of his game, heading into the contest, and remains very confident despite not knowing much about his Bolivian opponent.

“I want to go in the ring and box and feel what a pro feels. Pros fight different from amateurs, so it is totally different when you get in that ring.

“Amateurs start fast but pros start slow. I have to know what I am doing. I will be going six rounds and, if it starts off fast, that is not good.

“I have to pace myself for that distance but I am getting good sparring and I am going the distance. So I am in good shape right now,” he disclosed.

“I am feeling good. I am not feeling nervous going in. The guys that I’m sparring with are like 25-0 and 14-0. So I would have to be nervous around them and I am not, so I feel good going into this fight for my debut.

“I know nothing about him (Cabrera) I have not watch any videos with him as yet, but let us see when I get into the ring, how good he is. I will see how he performs and, if he is not up to my standards, I will just get him out quick,” he stated.

The 32-year-old has been working on sharpening his jab and strengthening his right hand, and wants next Saturday’s fight to set the tone for a prosperous career.

“I just want my jab and my right hand to get much sharper and more compact. I am working on fast jabs and I am just giving my hands the work.

“The plan is to have a good career. I have put in the work and now I will go out and try to achieve my aim,” he said.

As he looks ahead to his pro debut, Big 12 noted that his career would have never got to where it is without the support of local administrators and coaches such as Wayne Sharpe, Kingsley Goodison and Leroy Brown.

“Those people help me to where I am at now, so I want to say thanks again,” he added.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com