In some ways, Thomas Falowo was more enamored with the unique souvenir he took home back in March than he was with his victory.
“I got my first black eye as a pro,” Falowo said of his hard-earned, unanimous-decision win over Troy Artis on March 22nd. “It’s good to get that experience out of the way. If all of your fights are one-sided, you get a false sense of security.”
The road to the top has grown increasingly more difficult for Falowo (6-0, 4 KOs) in his last two fights. The undefeated Pawtucket, R.I., middleweight began his career with four consecutive knockouts – three within the first four rounds – but has now gone the distance in each of his last two wins.
Falowo is expecting yet another challenge Thursday, May 24th, 2012 when he faces 29-year-old La Vista, Neb., native Sean Rawley Wilson (5-10, 1 KO) in a six-round bout on the undercard of “Up For Grabs,” presented by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports at the Twin River Event Center in Lincoln, R.I.
Though the record doesn’t show it, Wilson is a worthy adversary; the combined record of his last five opponents is 53-1, and he went the distance in each of those fights, with the lone exception being a fifth-round knockout loss to unbeaten Jermall Charlo in March. Falowo will be Wilson’s fourth consecutive undefeated opponent, capping a stretch of four bouts in just three months.
Wilson is also an accomplished professional in mixed martial arts, where he’s fought a staggering 47 bouts in just over a decade, totaling 30 wins with nine knockouts.
“I’m not really sure what to expect,” Falowo said, “but I know he’ll come forward and fight me. He’s tough – anybody who steps inside that ring or cage has to be tough.”
These are the challenges Falowo wants, and needs. His hectic work schedule – he’s a pharmacy technician for CVS – leaves him with little spare time outside of the gym, but his hours have changed in recent months, giving him even more time to focus on his boxing career, which is quickly soaring to new heights.
Under the direction of head trainer Peter Manfredo Sr., Falowo fought his first six-round bout at Twin River in March, beating Artis unanimously, 59-55, 59-55, 58-56. His previous win was a four-round unanimous decision against underrated veteran Borngod Washington, which, at the time, was the toughest fight of Falowo’s career. Each victory has doubled as a learned experience.
“You discover something new each time,” Falowo said. “It’s a little different when you’re actually mixing it up with your opponent. You learn a lot about yourself endurance-wise.
“The experience was definitely a positive. [Artis] was strong, and it felt good to get hit with a couple of shots. I felt like it bettered me. I actually felt better in the six-rounder than I did in some of my earlier fights. I broke through my initial tiredness and got my second wind.”
After this next fight, which will be Falowo’s second six-rounder, he and Burchfield will contemplate Falowo’s next step. Having begun his amateur career around the same time fellow Rhode Islanders Jason Estrada and Matt Godfrey turned pro, Falowo has learned a lot about the maturation procession both in and outside the ring, so he’s plotting each move carefully.
“I’m still feeling things out as far as rounds go,” Falowo said. “We’ll see what happens. Maybe we’ll take it up to eight soon. I’m kind of mapping everything out and just going by how I feel.
“My endurance has gotten a lot better through training,” he continued. “I added an extra couple of rounds on the heavy bag, and instead of doing my normal four or five rounds sparring, I’m making sure I get six in a row no matter what. Before, I might do four straight, and then get two here or one there. Now I get six, and then maybe come back for two more. It helps mentally. It makes a big difference.”
