Aptly named “The Dream Shatterer”, 34-year-old Bronx, New York, native Allen Conyers (12-4, 9 KOs) has made a career of spoiling other people’s plans. Time after time, junior middleweight Conyers is brought into an opponent’s backyard, expected to lose and time after time, he shatters the favored fighter’s dreams by scoring the upset.
Conyers will get the chance to do it again when he meets another fighter known as a spoiler, Chicago-based veteran “King” Carlos Molina at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas on April 29 and live on ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights.
Tall and long-armed with good punching power, Conyers is trained by Luis Olmo and his assistant, Carlton Mitchell, at the World Class Boxing Gym in the Bronx.
Conyers found his way to boxing at age 17 through his cousin, the late legendary rapper Christopher Rios (aka Big Pun), who was already boxing and brought him along.
Taking to the sport immediately, Conyers had 11 amateur fights before realizing he was more suited to the pros. “I had a pro style. I punch hard and I was always hurting people. Amateur boxing isn’t about that, it’s about scoring points, so I figured I should just turn pro.”
Conyers says he loves his nickname “The Dream Shatterer”, which was given to him by Rios. “I’m always the underdog, so it fits me,” he explains.
Even in his defeats, he has been impressive. In a ShoBox televised showdown with highly regarded prospect James Kirkland, both Conyers and Kirkland both hit the deck in a wild and wooly affair that Kirkland ended up winning. “I knew if I hurt him once I could hurt him again, but inexperience caught up with me and I got too eager.”
Despite taking the fight against Molina on 10 days notice, Conyers vows that this time, it’s going to be a lot different. “This fight, I’m very confident. I feel a lot better this time. I stay in the gym, so the short notice doesn’t bother me. I’m basically used to it. As long as I’m in shape, I know I can win. It (a victory over Molina) would put me back on the map. People don’t usually get second chances. I’m blessed to be getting one.”
In his 16-fight career, Conyers has pulled off upset victories over Jonathan Tubbs (then 7-1-1); Russell Jordan (for the New York State Welterweight Championship) who was, at the time, 12-3; Derek Ennis (then 10-0-1); and in his last fight in January of this year, he came back from a three-year layoff, drove to Detroit on short notice and pounded out a unanimous decision over (then 20-0) James De la Rosa, dropping him three times.
“I was too strong for him,” he humbly explains.
Conyers says he thinks Molina is a capable veteran and saw his last fight, a controversial draw against Cuban prospect Erislandy Lara. “He’s a good fighter. He throws a lot of punches and he’s a worthy opponent, but I won’t let anybody change my destiny. I always thought I would be champ. I just have to get breaks and do the work. I’m very happy for the opportunity. Nobody wants to fight anybody anymore in boxing, so I’m happy Carlos took this fight and I’m looking forward to seeing myself on TV again.”
