(JULY 15) Cruiserweight contender Matt “Too Smooth”
Godfrey (20-1, 10 KOs) challenges World Boxing Organization champion
Marco “Kapt’n” Huck (29-1, 22 KOs) on August 21 in Thuringen, Germany.
A former U.S. amateur star, the 29-year-old Godfrey from Providence has
been training in his native Rhode Island and nearby Connecticut for the
last seven months in preparation for his first world title shot. Matt
originally was supposed to fight Steve Cunningham last March for the
vacant IBF title, but a series of date changes and miscommunications led
to that fight being canceled. Matt took a few days off and went right
back into training for what turned out to be a showdown with Huck.
Godfrey, rated No. 8 by the WBO and No. 10 by The Ring magazine, is a
full-blooded Native American (Wampanoug). He had held a number of
regional titles including, NABF, NABA, USNBC, WBA Continental Americas
and Sovereign Nations Boxing Council.
Matt’s most notable victories to date have been against Felix Cora, Jr.,
Danny Batchelor, Shaun George, Shawn Hawk, Ernest Mateen and Jermell
Barnes.
Training…..
“Everything has been excellent in camp,” Godfrey said. “I’m excited
about fighting Marco Huck for the WBO belt. I’ve been training in a
garage (Vernon, CT – owned by his strength-and-conditioning coach, Ross
Enamait) for the past seven months, somewhat isolated like in Rocky IV
against Drago. It’s in a small town in the middle of Connecticut and I
train there with Ross. There’s high altitude and I really like training
there. I have everything I need.”
When Godfrey spars or needs serious gym work, it’s usually at Bare Bones
Boxing Gym in East Hartford, where his head trainer “Iceman” John
Scully, former world light heavyweight title challenger, comes from.
Matt also works at Lion’s Den in Middletown (CT), Manfredo’s Gym in
Pawtucket (RI) and Big Six Academy in Providence.
Marco Huck…..
“He’s world champion for a reason,” Matt noted. “He’s well conditioned
and has a lot of power in both hands. He lacks a strong amateur
background and does dome things the wrong way. He doesn’t know, like
somebody who boxed a lot as an amateur, that it’s wrong to back-up
throwing an uppercut. Some things like that, but he’s been very
successful fighting his way, and it’s not easy fighting an awkward
fighter like him.”
Fighting in Germany…..
Godfrey’s lone loss as a pro was in 2008 by decision to Rudolf Kraj in a
WBC title eliminator held in Germany.
“If you want to be the best in the world,” Godfrey believes, “you have
to fight around the world, not just on the East Coast. I need to prove
myself to everybody; I have to go over there and take his belt.”
Godfrey took a brief break from training last week to be the in-studio
guest for ESPN Friday Night Fights. His promoter, Classic Entertainment
and Sports, Inc, presented “Let Freedom Ring” at Twin River Event Center
in Lincoln, Rhode Island, featuring some of Godfrey’s CES stable-mates.
Matt received high grades for his TV performance.
