Meet Greg Nixon: Mr. World Class!

April 12, 2006

By Brady Crytzer

Photo: Chuck Saus

On Thursday, April 13th Greg Nixon's budding World Class Promotions will put on its first card of the year at The Mountaineer Racetrack Casino and Resort in Chester, WV. Headlining event will be two young prospects battling for the vacant IBA featherweight title when unbeaten Verquan "The Show" Kimbrough meets Mexico City native Jose Gonzalez. Also in action current IBA super featherweight champion Monty "Two Gunz" Meza-Clay prepares for his first nationally televised bout when he takes on Leo Martinez in an eight round contest. Rounding off the action will be Nicolai Firtha squaring off against "Dangerous" Jim Northey for the NABC's America's heavyweight crown. Take a look as Fightnews caught up with promoter Greg Nixon.

Fightnews: Greg, touch on how you got your start in boxing and how you became a promoter?

A: When I was in high school I used to fight a lot. I could take a good punch but I was slow, so fighting was no longer an option for me. It was after high school that I began training fighters and eventually opened a non-profit gym for underprivileged children. Then we began putting on shows in Steubenville, PA. Initially I just wanted to put on amateur shows simply to fund our gym. A little later we did some fights on the undercard of David Tua vs. Fres Oquendo at the Mountaineer and it just kind of went from there.

Fightnews: Greg, could you talk about your stable of fighters?

A: Right now the only fighters that we signed officially are Monty Meza-Clay and Verquan Kimbrough. They are our main focus right now with Monty headlining ESPN on May 12th against Edner Cherry and Verquan fighting for the IBA world title. We have a great working relationship with a tough young heavyweight named Nick Firtha. Nick is just a great kid; he has a great amateur background and has a huge following in the Akron area. So we have some good, tough fighters.

Fightnews: Greg, you have promoted most of your big shows at The Mountaineer Racetrack Casino and Resort in Chester, WV. Tell us about your relationship with them.

A: We have a contract with The Mountaineer, but it is not totally exclusive. I'm sure that if a big fight came around they wouldn't hesitate to take a look at it. But our relationship has been fantastic. They are really willing to take that extra step to develop some of our young fighters. The CEO, Ted Arneault, is a huge boxing fan and really likes what we are doing with Verquan and Monty. They will really do whatever it takes to bring in the quality opposition.

Fightnews: Your featherweight prospect Verquan Kimbrough was a phenomenal amateur fighter who turned professional instead of going to the 2004 Olympic games. Looking back are you still happy with that decision?

A: Yes I am. I'm afraid that the Olympics have lost a lot of their luster in the last twenty years. I can remember a time that even being on the Olympic team meant that you already had a name going into your career. Now it's to the point that you have to win gold to even get that kind of a following. In the 1970's boxing was a big part of the television programming on network television. Now its more catered to a female audience with the swimming and things like that.

In the 1970's when you had fighters like Sugar Ray Leonard and the Spinks brothers there was no headgear so it had a more "big fight" feel. Even after with guys like Pernell Whitaker and Evander Holyfield it still was big. I really don't think a fighter has come straight out of the games with a huge following since Oscar De La Hoya.

Fightnews: When do you foresee your young fighters coming into world title contention?

A: Well, Monty Meza-Clay is closest right now. He will be fighting Edner Cherry and we see gold for him in about six months. Verquan on the other hand should be ready to go by the end of the year.

Fightnews: Greg, You have put on several cards at The Mountaineer over the past two years, do you see some major television coverage coming to West Virginia?

A: Definitely! We only have quality fighters at The Mountaineer. You can't expect to fight there just to add wins to your record. I have it on good authority that we will have major television exposure very soon. ESPN has already ensured me that our fighters are television friendly and ready for the next level. HBO or Showtime on the other hand will come later after Monty and Verquan get some bigger fights under their belts. If we have to go to Vegas to get them first, then that's what we're going to do.