Interview with
Andrew Stokes, boxing promoter, of Palmetto Boxing Promotions
Interviewed by: Todd “Jake” Jacobson-Jake at Ringside
Jake: First, let me thank you for taking time out of your busy
schedule to be interviewed.
Andrew Stokes: My
pleasure. I’m always happy to talk about boxing.
Jake: Now, here in the
Carolinas most boxing fans know that you are Travis Simms’
brother-in-law and that I guess you could say that boxing is in your
blood. I also understand that you did some boxing when you were in the
Army. So, let me ask you how did you get started as a promoter?
Andrew Stokes: Well, let
me clarify that a little. Actually, the boxing I did in the Army was
just in a few smokers. You see, I always knew that I wanted to be a
boxing promoter. I felt that to be a promoter first I had to “get a
taste” in the ring. So, that’s what I did. I boxed in a few smokers
and got a taste of it. But, I really wasn’t a fighter. My intention
was always to be a promoter. My first boxing show was actually in 1999
in October or November. We put on a show at Fort Jackson. Travis
(Simms) was on that card. It was a great show. And, since everything
was free from the Army I actually made a little money on that show – by
the way, that’s the worst thing that can happen to a promoter is to make
money in his first show.
Jake: Why is that?
Andrew Stokes: Because it
is actually so very difficult to make the numbers work as a promoter and
if you make money in your first show it gives you a false sense of
confidence, a false sense that being a successful promoter is easy.
It’s not.
Jake: How many shows have
you promoted so far as a promoter?
Andrew Stokes: Let me
see. Actually, I think it’s been over fifty shows if you include the
amateur shows and shows I co-promoted. (Editor’s note: Boxrec.com
shows a history of 13 pro shows for Andrew Stokes going back as far as
August 2004).
Jake: Have you promoted
quite a few amateur shows? Are the amateur shows easier to do? What is
the organizational body that is responsible for amateur shows?
Andrew Stokes: Oh, man,
the amateur shows are just so much easier to do! First of all, all of
the teams come to you, and then you just match them up before the
fights. And, often you don’t have to pay the officials – that is, the
officials will be volunteers. You maybe give them a sandwich break or
something like that, but generally no pay. Plus, your sanctioning fees
aren’t as high as for a pro card. And, it doesn’t have to be state
regulated. Bottom line: it is just a lot less expensive.
Jake: Were your first
shows amateur shows?
Andrew Stokes: No,
actually my first show was a pro show, the one I mentioned at Fort
Jackson.
Jake: You’ve been very
active in putting on shows in South Carolina recently. You regularly
put on shows at the Radisson in Columbia. In the month of July you had
shows in both York and Hilton Head. What is your favorite venue for
boxing in South Carolina right now?
Andrew Stokes: I love the
Radisson (in Columbia). I love it because it is so intimate. It is
just such a fantastic intimate venue for boxing. There’s not a bad seat
in the house. We have about 30 – 35 VIP tables and the view from all of
those tables is just fantastic. And, the acoustics there are
excellent. We really rock that place with our DJ. When we put on a show
at the Radisson, the place really rocks. You can feel the excitement.
It’s a great venue.
Jake: One of your main
fighters is Chris “the Irish Ghost” Fitzpatrick. Is his fan base
starting to grow with his recent successes?
Andrew Stokes: Yes,
Chris’ fan base is definitely starting to build. We had Chris
participate in a couple of parades this summer and we gave out over a
thousand flyers at one of those parades. His fan base is definitely
starting to grow. Now, remember, just a couple of fights ago Chris
fought a great fight but we also had Luis Collazo and Travis Simms on
that card. Chris really didn’t have a chance to shine as much fighting
under them. Now that he’s one of our headliners he’s really getting a
chance to shine. And, boy is he coming through! I’ve been just so
impressed by Chris.
Jake: Now what about
Travis Simms? Will we have the opportunity to see him on one of your
shows in the near future?
Andrew Stokes: That’s a
definite possibility although I can’t say for sure right now. I know
that Travis is working on a couple of things right now, but you never
know. Remember, the whole idea in having him on the shows in the past
was to keep him ready for the big fights, to keep away the ring rust.
We actually had him on the card in the last show but the opponent pulled
out. He was ready to fight that night. He’s a great fighter and is
always ready to fight.
Jake: How’s his weight.
It seems he was fighting a little heavy in some of your shows, maybe in
the 160’s.
Andrew Stokes: Travis is
in great shape, maybe training at 160 right now and can be ready to
fight at championship fight weight of 154 or 155 on short notice.
Jake: Now, what about
MMA? I understand your next Columbia show on November 21st
will have at least one MMA bout now that MMA is legal in South Carolina?
Andrew Stokes: Actually,
we may have as many as seven MMA fights on the card in Columbia. It
will be a pro-am night. We’ll have a mixture of pro and amateur, boxing
and MMA. We think it’s going to be a great show. Now, let me say this
about MMA. I’m a boxing fan. I’m a boxing fan to the fullest. I will
probably never do an MMA show without boxing. But, in order to stay
competitive I think it is important to embrace MMA because it is so hot
right now. Now, hopefully the MMA will afford me the opportunity to
give these guys (the boxers) more bouts during the year, where I’m doing
four or five shows during the year, maybe I’ll be able to double that,
to maybe do eight or ten shows a year.
Jake: Now what about
Gladney (Angel Gladney – female boxer)? Is she going to be fighting on
the 21st? Also, what happened in that last fight? I’m sure
you’ll agree that last fight was a very disappointing fight.
Andrew Stokes: Well,
first let me say that the Commission withheld her opponent’s purse.
Because she didn’t earn it. Listen, that’s one of the toughest things
to do as a promoter, is to get people in here that can compete.
Sometimes the trainers and managers will tell you, “she can do this, she
can do that, and she’s a beast in the gym.” Ok, that’s the girl I
want. And, then you bring them up here and they don’t perform. It’s
always difficult to gauge female fighters with less than five fights.
They’re definitely more unpredictable than male fighters. But, that
last fight wasn’t Gladney’s fault. She’s a good fighter and she came to
fight. We’re going to try to get her a real solid opponent for her for
this next match.
Jake: Andrew, can you
tell me what your goals are for Palmetto Boxing? Your short- term goals
and your long-term goals?
Andrew Stokes: Make no
mistake about it. I want to be the premier boxing promotions company in
the southeast. My short-term and medium-term goals are to do shows all
over South Carolina, to do a circuit. To do shows in Coumbia, in
Charleston, and in the Greenville area. That will give me 10 – 12 shows
a year.
Jake: Which market do you
think is the best right now?
Andrew Stokes: The
Columbia market is the one that we have developed the most right now but
we’re working on developing the other markets as well. We’re very
optimistic that the South Carolina market, that is, those three metro
areas can handle more boxing and we plan to give it to them. As I said,
my goal is to try to do 10 – 12 shows a year right here in South
Carolina.
Jake: What about sports
products merchandizing, t-shirts, hats, and other items?
Andrew Stokes: We’re just
getting into that. As you know we sold t-shirts at our last show in
Columbia. I’ve been told that the fans really liked the t-shirt. I’ve
been lucky enough here recently to be working with a guy on the t-shirts
where he’s giving me a good deal on the shirts and we’re giving him a
sponsorship package, to give him some publicity as well. It’s a nice
opportunity for us, as well as for him. We’re definitely going to be
doing more with the merchandizing in the future.
Jake: And, what about
your relationship with Billy Stannick? I had a nice chat with Billy and
he sang your praises. It seems like you guys have a real nice positive
relationship there?
Andrew Stokes: We’re best
friends. We’re the odd couple. (Billy Stanick Sr. is white and over
60. Andrew Stokes is black and is much younger). But, we’re best
friends. He’s been the patriarch here… he’s literally kept boxing going
(in South Carolina) for the last thirty years, either with shows that
he’s been directly involved in or in shows that he’s been indirectly
involved in, either as a sponsor, or putting fighters on the card, or
just by getting the word out. Plus, he has the
www.whiterockboxing.com
website and he has so many friends. He is instrumental in getting the
word out. He’s really been the patriarch of boxing in South Carolina
for the past thirty years.
Jake: Do you have your
own website as well, or do you use Whiterock’s website exclusively.
Andrew Stokes: Actually,
we have just started our own. We will continue to work with the
Whiterockboxing.com site – the two sites will be linked together and you
can go back and forth between the sites -- but we thought that it was
important at this point to have a site that is identified with Palmetto
Boxing as well. When you get a chance check it out. It is
Palmettoboxing.com.
Jake: Sure, I’ll
definitely do that. I look forward to seeing what you have there.
Jake: Now, let’s talk
about matchmaking. Can you share with us your views on matchmaking? Do
you enjoy matchmaking?
Andrew Stokes: I do enjoy
the matchmaking part of it. I do enjoy it… because one of the things
I’ve found out is you see a lot of small promoters, they come and they
go, they come and they go. You see, there’s a formula for this thing,
there’s a way to do promoting right. If you put on good shows, if you
put on competitive fights, the people will come back. If you put on too
many lopsided fights where people are getting blasted out, it’s not
going to work. I’ve been to fights where the promoter has had 8 or 10
fights on the card and eight of them don’t last past the first round.
People don’t come back to see stuff like that. You got to make these
kids fight.
Jake: Now what about the
opponent for Chris Fitzpatrick. Do you have someone lined up yet?
Andrew Stokes: We’re
still working on that. I’m working really hard to find a good, tough
fighter to face Chris. We definitely want that match-up to be a good
one because it’s the headliner.
Jake: Can you tell me
what are some of the frustrations that you have experienced as a
promoter?
Andrew Stokes: I’d say
getting sponsors, that is, getting sponsors to believe in your product,
to get them out and to give you that financial support. Because, its
tough to do this thing (promoting) without sponsors and their financial
support. But, once I get them out to an event they come back, either as
sponsors or as fans. Because once they’ve seen a show, they appreciate
what I’m doing. And, I really appreciate that. And, the only other
frustration is… that’s about it… it’s basically making sure that you
have the money that it takes to continue to put on good boxing shows,
because it does take money.
Jake: Now, for the last
question. What about a televised fight, on ESPN or Showtime or
something like that? What do you think it will take to get Palmetto to
that level?
Andrew Stokes: We’re
there. That is, we’re ready now. I’ve already promoted some of the
best fighters in the world – Travis Simms and Luis Collazo. You see, my
whole thing has been when I go to them I want to go to them with a good
product; something that I know is going to sell. I already want to have
the fan base there, the sponsors there. Then, whether they buy it or
not, I still want to go on with the show. I want to be able to afford
the show whether ESPN is there or not. If they jump on it, its gravy,
if they don’t we’ve still got a show, you know.
Jake: Andrew thanks for
the interview and good luck with your future promotions. I look forward
to seeing your show on November 21st!
Andrew Stokes: It’s been
a pleasure. And, thank you for your support. I hope the readers will
find this of interest.
Editor’s Note: If you are
interested in reading other stories about boxing and the “fight game”
focusing primarily on the Carolinas, please visit
www.JakeatRingside.com.
