Karl “Dynamite” Dargan (15-0, 7 KOs) opened his training camp at the James Shuler Gym in Philadelphia to the media on Monday as he prepares to face fellow Philadelphian Anthony Flores (11-4-1, 6 KOs) on June 21 at the Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in Wilkes-Barre, PA, in a ten-round match-up as the co-feature on NBCSN Fight Night starting at 8 PM ET.
Dargan, 28, is trained by his uncle, Brother Naazim Richardson, who coincidentally also trains fellow Main Events’ stable mate and USBA Heavyweight Champion Steve “USS” Cunningham. Richardson is best known for training IBF and WBA Light Heavyweight Champion Bernard Hopkins. Richardson believes Dargan is primed and ready to take on Flores; he said, “Camp runs smooth with ‘Dynamite’ because he grew up in camps. He has an understanding of how you conduct yourself and how you carry yourself. Dargan has grown up around this his whole life. Come June 21st you are going to see Karl Dargan become the best athlete he can be.”
“Dynamite” knows very little about Flores, 26; he said, “I saw Flores fight for about a half a round a couple months ago. I know nothing about him. That’s what the trainer is for, to prepare you for your opponent. Your trainer is supposed to strategize and then execute that strategy.” Richardson said, “Flores is going to need to make adjustments for Karl Dargan. We are not trying to take a belt from Flores; Flores is going to try to take a belt from us. Dargan is going to perform the way he needs to perform. I see him getting his hand raised at the end of the fight. I think Anthony Flores is going to see what kind of underarm deodorant Karl Dargan is wearing on June 21.”
The undefeated Dargan grew up around boxing, so he does not consider this training camp; he considers it a lifestyle. “My whole life is training camp. I have been in camp since the week after my last fight. That’s what my life is about. I don’t start training when I get a date, that’s what opponents do. I’m not an opponent. Opponents go into the gym when they get a date. This is a life style. This is not for everybody. A lot of people don’t know what you mean when you say this is not for everybody. If you want to make something a part of your life you need to practice it every day.”
Both Dargan and Richardson feel “Dynamite” is ready to take his career to the next level. Naazim said, “If a boxer keeps winning people will start to acknowledge it and you can teach the public to understand your style. They are going to find out that Karl Dargan is something special. We know there will be some opportunities for him after this fight but this is one step at a time for him. He’s still at the level where he has to be the best Karl Dargan he can be.” Dargan added, “I will be ready for anyone that can make 135. I am a veteran. I have a lot of experience. There is a difference between having amateur experience and professional experience. I am above my class with experience. I can hold my own with anybody. I am capable of beating anybody right now.”
