Targeting a Title Shot: Featherweight Contender Matt Remillard Sharp Shoots RSR
Interview by Jeff Stoyanoff
“If I can deal with Manny Pacquiao I can deal with anyone in the featherweight division.” – Matt Remillard
The story of Matt Remillard, 22-0, 13 KO’s, is a familiar one in boxing. Remillard first came in contact with the sport of boxing through the indiscretions of a misspent youth. Run-ins with the law resulted in community service. As it happened, that community service would take place at the PAL in Manchester, Connecticut. Remillard immediately sensed something in that gym that might bring some order to his life and he wanted desperately to give it a try. But, his eventual trainer Paul Cichon would not make things so easy. Cichon was going to make Remillard work; one can be certain that it was not the last time. After two weeks of sweeping up and carrying spit buckets, Cichon relented and let the eager young man go to work learning to box. Remillard took to it immediately and the story of boxing potentially saving another potentially lost life was renewed once again.
Remillard had an excellent amateur career finishing with an outstanding record of 115-25. He was a 2-Time Everlast Under 19 National Amateur Champion and finished third in the 2004 National PAL Championships. He embarked on a pro career in 2005. Currently, Remillard is 22-0 with 13 KO’s and he currently holds the NABF Featherweight Title. Remillard has successfully defended the NABF Belt twice and with his recent win over Carlos Rivera, he also captured the vacant WBO NABO Featherweight Title. In addition, Remillard held the WBC USNBC Featherweight Title and the WBC Youth World Super Featherweight Titles between 2006 and 2008.
But, Remillard has bigger plans; namely a shot at a world title. Today, he stands on the precipice of the fights that will likely define his career in the ring. As he prepares for his long awaited shot, he took some time to talk with RSR about his career, his experiences in and out of the ring, and his life in the business of boxing.
JS: In your last fight, you successfully defended your NABF Featherweight Title defeating Carlos Rivera by a fourth round TKO. But, in your last nine fights you have moved around having had five 10 round fights at Featherweight, but also four 6 round fights at Super Feather. Are you jumping back and forth because you are having difficulty getting the fights you want at Featherweight?
Yes, there are so many things that get involved in trying to make a ten or twelve round fight; in trying to defend a title or go for a title, especially in the eastern area. There is money involved. There is TV, and then there is trying to get the promoters to settle on things to get the fight to happen. The difference between Feather and Super Feather is only two to four pounds, so if I can’t get a fight or a fight falls through which happens a lot then I’ll just fight six or eight rounds at Super Feather just to stay busy.
JS: Once again taking a look at your recent results. You have actually stopped your last three opponents in 10 round fights and five of your last six overall. What would you say is behind what appears to be a growing success in getting guys out of there earlier on?
I’ve always been kind of a slow starter. It’s something I’ve been working on all of my career; it’s something that I don’t see changing. The six round fights were always the hardest because I am such a slow starter. Chances are that 90 percent of the time I will lose the first and second rounds until I get comfortable. It’s just easier to take these guys out in the later rounds because they start to wear down and I seem to get better.
So, it gets easier to catch them with a shot or sneak them into a trap.
JS: In your last fight, you suffered a cut and you indicated that it was the first cut of your pro career?
Yes, it was the first time I have been cut. I got cut back in 2004 in England from an elbow, but they immediately stopped the fight. This was the first time I was cut with a head butt in the pro game. I hadn’t been cut in five years or so.
JS: Yes, and they said that it required eight stitches. How is it healing? And, do you see it posing any problem in the near future?
No, it’s great. There is no scar tissue. It was a small cut. It didn’t really need eight stitches; they just took eight to tighten it up and allow it to heal better. It’s been since the 22nd and I’m just getting ready in the next week or so to start sparring again, so I believe it will hold up.
JS: You mentioned a return to sparring, but there doesn’t appear to be any announcement as of yet as regards your next fight. Has a decision been made about when you will return to action and who your opponent might be?
There are a lot of possibilities right now, but I leave that up to my manager Brett Hallenbeck. There are a lot of names being thrown into the pot. It’s just about trying to get the TV date because a lot of TV dates are put down in the book in January so they get set for the entire year. So, were just hoping to get an undercard or something. There has been talk of Showtime coming to Mohegan. There has been talk of Friday Night Fights coming to one of the casinos or something like that. But, if I get a phone call to fight anytime, anywhere else, we are willing to do that too. We are just going to stay in the gym and stay prepared.
JS: Would you prefer to fight at Featherweight at this point or are you just as open to moving up once again to 130?
If it’s for a world title it will definitely be at featherweight. Other than that, I am comfortable fighting anywhere from 126 to 130. But, for a world title I would fight at 126.
JS: In an earlier interview you indicated that you hoped to fight for a world title in 2010. Do you still feel that that is realistic? Or, have you altered the time table somewhat on making that happen?
I see it within the next two or three fights; definitely fighting for a world title. We have had offers on the table, but it just hasn’t become concrete. One party falls out or we can’t come to a decision on where the fight is going to be. We have had a few fights on Showtime fall out already where there was a location change. And then a few other fights were brought up. But, I definitely see it before the end of the year that I will be fighting for a world title.
JS: This is a very deep featherweight division. You yourself said that it could be the best division in all of boxing. Obviously, you want to be smart about how you handle your career, but how anxious do you become when you look out and see so many outstanding potential opponents available in such a talented division?
It’s definitely a big division when it comes to big names for some of the champions and top contenders that there are now in the featherweight division. It is probably the most popular in the past with Manny Pacquiao moving up; a couple of the other big names have moved up and it left a big hole where a couple of guys that you hadn’t seen too much before have come out of the woodwork and they are very exciting fighters. So, I’m anxious but I’m not over anxious. I know that one wrong move could end my career of push me back a year or two or keep me from ever fighting for a world title. So, I do want to be smart in my decision making.
JS: It seems as though on the one hand you have to make good business decisions and position yourself as best you can to make yourself viable for the big money that comes from fighting on TV. Yet, on the other hand, you can perhaps gain the sharpest improvement purely as a fighter by consistently fighting the very best competition you can find. As a fighter, do you see those two dynamics working against each other?
Of course, I mean right now my career needs one or two more fights where I can establish myself in a tough 10 or 12 round fight where I’m challenged and my opponent is challenged and we’re both stepping up each round; where I hit him and he just looks at me and tells me to hit him more, that kind of thing. A real fight, not a boxing match. Something that is going to challenge my heart and my endurance and my boxing skills before I step in with a top 5 or top 10 in the world opponent. That is what is missing right now, but everything that makes boxing sense has to make business sense first of all.
JS: You have always been very forthright about talking about what you working on in the gym and what you need to do to elevate your game. Where are you right now in terms of that learning curve and in terms of meeting the potential that you feel you have to be the best fighter you can be?
I feel like I’m moving along and I’m right where I should be. I had to take a year and a half off because of the injury to my hand. I’m where I should be I just need that one or two fights where I am pushed to the limit every round; where I can come out of that fight and say now I’m ready to challenge for a world title.
JS: There was a legal incident that took place earlier this year. Is there anything you would like to say to your fans, not so much about what happened, but perhaps taking an opportunity to address any concerns that boxing fans may have about how this incident might impact you and your career?
There is very little I can say about it; I’m still going through it. You can’t always believe what you hear or what you read. Being in the pro game and being a professional athlete, it’s a little difficult. You have to keep a certain mindset. I’ll be glad when it’s over and I can talk about it and express my side of it, but I just have to wait until then.
JS: One of the really interesting stories from your career is that you had an opportunity to work and spar with Manny Pacquiao. Of course, you said it was a tremendous learning experience. But, for those who can never know, what specifically do you take away from the experience of being in there with a fighter at that level?
It’s about how comfortable you can be in the ring with a guy of that experience; he’s basically a monster. He’s an animal in the division. Just to be in the ring with him is different than being in there with an average boxer because of the pressure; you learn to deal with it. Basically, that’s what you take out of it. How comfortable can you be in the ring when he is pressuring you? That is something that I have taken into all of my fights because nobody is going to come after me or do the things that he can do when I am in the ring with the guys I have fought. It’s just a more comfortable experience when you get in there with the guys I am facing now. If I can deal with Manny Pacquiao I can deal with anyone in the featherweight division.
JS: Pacquiao has of course gained a lot of attention recently as he has moved up in weight. He has not only continued to win, but he seems to be gaining in terms of power which seems to confound the prevailing wisdom. You are a fighter who has moved up a little. As a fighter, how rare does that seem to you that he can move up and also increase that power? Is it as amazing to you as it seems to be to others who look at the situation?
It can be done. You have to see his work ethic. He is a monster and he trains his ass off every day. I guess if I didn’t see for myself I might think maybe he takes some kind of illegal substance. But, the way he trains himself is unbelievable; he’s a machine. He works so hard and he is so dedicated moving up 5 and 10 pounds and putting on that muscle mass. He has the perfect frame for it. He is just a monster and his work ethic is unbelievable.
JS: You mentioned something about illegal substances and I always want to ask fighters about that subject; not so much related to Pacquiao as constantly linking his name to that subject is unfair. But, more generally, as a fighter, how widespread of a problem do you think PED’s might prove to be in boxing?
I have mixed emotions about it. It’s not going to give you any more boxing skills. It’s not going to give you any more talent. But, if you are a strong fighter and it’s helping you out that way then it’s going to work to your advantage. But some of these guys out there like Mayweather and Pacquiao just have so much talent and are just natural athletes that I don’t think it would do a thing for them; it would probably hurt them. With these substances, half the time in a long 12 round fight you are doing more damage to your body than anything. It could be a benefit in a quick fight, but overall it would just tear your body apart.
JS: So, in your mind, as you prepare has it ever crossed your mind that you could be getting in there with a guy who is using something? Or, do you consider it as highly unlikely and not something to consider?
It has crossed my mind. I mean there have been quite a few injuries and deaths in the last couple of years or so within boxing. When I get in the ring I do pray for both of our safety.
JS: Getting back to you for one final question. It would seem that you are just now stepping into the most meaningful part of your career. You are starting to gain some notoriety. As you look ahead, what would you hope to accomplish in boxing? What would you like to be able to say as you one day look back on your career in the ring?
I’m just trying to make a name for myself in the featherweight division first and foremost. Boxing has given me so much and, at some point, I would like to be able to give back to it; just be good to the sport and the sport will be good back to you. Everybody’s dream is to become a world champion and unify all the belts and all of that, but I would just like to make a name for myself within boxing or even just in New England.
Micky Ward was a huge name around here and made a name for himself on HBO with all of his wars with Arturo Gatti and stuff like that; I mean he’s a legend in New England. But, I would just like to make a name for myself in some aspect of the boxing game where they might remember me. Not to become the greatest fighter of all time, but just to have a legit name for myself in boxing.
Matt Remillard
Nickname: Sharp Shooter
Division: Featherweight
Professional Record: 22-0, 13 KO’s
Date Opponent W-L-D Location Result
2005-04-01 Arlington Pandy 0-1-0 New Haven, US W TKO 2
2005-05-06 Jhovany Collado 2-5-2 Mashantucket, US W TKO 2
2005-06-17 Yamin Mohammad 3-6-1 Providence, US W MD 4
2005-08-05 Orville Hodge 0-3-1 Mashantucket, US W TKO 2
2005-08-26 Ricky Alexander 3-0-0 Providence, US W KO 2
2005-10-21 Alexis Rubin 0-3-0 Uncasville, US W TKO 2
2006-02-13 Garvin Crout 11-7-1 Providence, US W KO 1
2006-03-31 Edward Valdez 3-3-2 Uncasville, US W UD 6
2006-05-10 Leo Martinez 8-7-0 Mashantucket, US W UD 6
2006-07-21 Oscar De La Cruz 4-2-0 Uncasville, US W TKO 4
2006-09-23 Jose Hernandez 6-0-0 Hartford, US W UD 10
vacant WBC Youth World Super Featherweight Title
2008-01-25 Manuel Perez 11-3-0 Mashantucket, US W UD 10
WBC Youth World Featherweight Title
2008-03-21 Jesus Salvador Perez 25-18-3 Uncasville, US W UD 4
2008-06-13 Jose Magallon 9-4-0 Hartford, US W UD 10
WBC Youth World Featherweight Title
2008-08-29 Adauto Gonzalez 9-4-0 Uncasville, US W TKO 4
vacant WBC USNBC Featherweight Title
2008-11-13 Mauricio Pastrana 34-9-2 Providence, US W UD 6
2009-04-02 Jesus Salvador Perez 25-24-3 Glen Burnie, US W RTD 3
2009-07-10 Tyler Ziolkowski 11-7-0 Reno, US W KO 1
2009-09-19 Rafael Lora 11-0-0 South Windsor, US W TKO 4
vacant NABF Featherweight Title
2009-12-19 Marty Robbins 23-44-1 Knoxville, US W UD 6
2010-01-29 Rafael Lora 11-1-0 Uncasville, US W RTD 3
NABF Featherweight Title
2010-05-22 Carlos Rivera 16-4-2 Uncasville, US W TKO 4
NABF Featherweight Title
vacant WBO NABO Featherweight Title