by by, Gerald Wofford, MNN Feature writer
OKLAHOMA CITY — Since 1989, Darren DeLaune has dreamed of becoming a boxer. Although he has played other sports throughout his life and even went to college to play basketball, DeLaune admits that the pugilistic sport fascinates him. On June 16, 2012, DeLaune’s dream of entering a ring as a prizefighter comes true when he makes his debut in Oklahoma City at the Cox Convention Center against Terry Justice, who also is fighting for the first time.
“What drew me to it [boxing] was called ‘The War’ recalls DeLaune. The event, or ‘The War’ was the second Sugar Ray Leonard and Thomas Hearns Championship bout that took place June 12, 1989. It was a fight that saw Leonard and Hearns go to a draw. “I watched it with my uncle, who was a big Leonard fan. I remember how competitive it was,” DeLaune remembers.
Even then, DeLaune did not seriously consider getting into boxing, “I watched it, but never thought about pursuing it. I was always into basketball, but about two years ago, I felt like I really wanted to do it.” DeLaune admits that is it also the individuality of boxing that is a challenge as well. “There are team sports; you can pass the ball to a teammate, you win and lose as a team, you have a team but this time you’re in the ring. If you win, it is because you win. And if you lose, it’s because you lost and I want to test myself that way.”
Even after the decision, DeLaune knew that he had to find a good source of consultation, someone that had fought before, someone local and someone who was Creek. DeLaune looked no further than to a name that had already established himself as someone who had been around the sport. BJ Waggnor, aka “The Creek Warrior” has been both a professional and amateur boxer and has trained fighters as well.
“I talked with him [BJ] and his dad, Bill, who also is a trainer and I asked him if he could teach me.” Waggnor and his father who trained BJ when he was a boxer, agreed and DeLaune says that Waggnor helped him throughout the years in learning more about boxing. “I went to other gyms,” said DeLaune, “but no one is my trainer but BJ.”
DeLaune admits that his training regime can become quite Spartan, but feels that he should be demanding of himself. “My training sessions will consist of nights and days of running as well as hitting the heavy bag and jump roping, push ups and sit ups that are included. I do add weight training and all this twice a day.” DeLaune has been in training for over two years and part of the challenge of becoming a fighter involved a little patience as well.
“In April of 2011, I applied for a license from the State of Oklahoma to box, I have been looking for about 13 months, when it looked like a promoter would offer me a fight, then suddenly he would fill in another slot with other fighters or sometimes I would get injured training, . . .It got frustrating but I am ready now and I am healthy. When I first got the text message from BJ that I would be fighting in June, I couldn’t sleep thatnight.
DeLaune is currently employed with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Communications Department. DeLaune says his family has been nothing but supportive of his decision. His daughter, Syeann, is ready for him to box as well and can’t wait to see how her father does. “Yeah, my daughter is happy and tired of me talking about it,” laughs DeLaune.
(Article provided to us by the Muscogee Nation News department, read this and others in the June 2012 of the MNN @ http://www.muscogeenation-nsn.gov/images/stories/pdf/MNN/mnnjun12.pdf)
