From the mean streets of Grand Rapids to living in New York and now Hollywood, undefeated middleweight prospect Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin is on the verge of boxing greatness, and is being talked about in boxing circles as being a fighter ready for a high-profile world title fight within a year.
Coming off of an explosive third-round destruction of former world title challenger Jesse Brinkley this past April for the USBO super middleweight title, Quillin (24-0, 18 KOs) will return to compete in his natural middleweight division in an old fashioned throw-down with veteran “Marvelous” Tarvis Simms (27-1-1, 11 KOs) in 10-round bout on the July 23 Amir Khan vs. Zab Judah undercard at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
Quillin-Simms will be fought on the off-television portion of the event, while Khan vs. Judah headlines on HBO. “A fight is a fight and my time will come,” IBF # 5 rated Quillin said.“I put in the same effort to put on an impressive winning performance,” IBF #5 rated Quillin said. “The pressure last camp was to see how I would beat Brinkley. This time it’s Tarvis Simms and I’m training to destroy him.
“I’m never in a comfortable situation because, in boxing, you can always lose. I figure, why put in anything less than maximum effort in training?I’m trying to prove that I’m an elite, top-10 fighter and, even when I win a world title, I’m always going to be a hungry fighter because of where I come from.After my last fight I went right back in the Wild Card Gym training with Freddie Roach and Eric Brown.I’ve already started back training in the torture chamber (with strength-and-conditioning coach Brad Bose at Anatomi Gym in Santa Monica).”
The 40-year-old Simms is 12 years older than Quillin and the twin brother of two-time World Junior Middleweight Champion Travis Simms. His only loss was a 10-round decision to Allan Green two years ago, when he was a late replacement fighting for the first time in 14 months.
“What I’m looking for against Simms is rounds,” Quillin explained.“My last three fights were all four rounds or less.I had a first-round knockout in Quebec, followed by a fourth-round TKO, and then stopped a world title challenger in the third. Tarvis is 27-1-1 but he’s stepping-up to fight me, not the other way around. I met him and he’s a cool guy. I’m hoping that he’s preparing as hard as me to put in the rounds and showcase his talent. If he does, it will be an entertaining fight.”
No boxer appreciates being active more than “Kid Chocolate,” who was on the shelf for 18 months (2008-2010) with a broken hand, hairline fracture of his eye socket and emergency appendectomy.
“Boxing isn’t a job for me because I love it,” Quillin remarked.“I want to stay busy and active and I’m happy Golden Boy got me right back in the ring. I train hard, five hours a day, six days a week and that doesn’t include all of the running I do.I’m like old-time boxers who liked to fight all the time.I want to bring that back to boxing because fans appreciate and enjoy it.
“I was a street kid growing up in Grand Rapids. I never thought that I’d be anything in life.I learned from boxing that anything I do, I need to fight for it, in or out of the ring. That’s what gave me the courage to move to Brooklyn and then toCalifornia.I’ve been to so many different places because of boxing.I’m hungry to make it big. Boxing really saved my life.”
“Kid Chocolate” is continuing on his mission for excellence.
