Anthony Demonte (L) and Lenny DeJesus (R). Photograph by Samad Haq/Onerous Hitting Promotions
The game of boxing is constructed on the tales of misplaced children discovering course from older, sensible trainers who direct their misguided energies in the direction of a life within the ring. Within the case of Anthony Demonte, an undefeated welterweight prospect from Staten Island, N.Y., and Lenny DeJesus, a coach/cornerman with a long time of expertise below his belt, the 2 wanted one another simply as a lot as the opposite did.
DeJesus, 76, had been within the corners of many high fighters all through the years, working as a cutman or coach for the likes of Manny Pacquiao, Joshua Clottey and Joel Casamayor. However the grief he suffered from the passing of Elba DeJesus, his spouse of 56 years, in January of 2020, practically sidelined him for good. The 2 had been teenage sweethearts at Morris Excessive College rising up within the Bronx, had 4 kids collectively, and traveled the world collectively on DeJesus’ boxing excursions. Lenny, a locksmith by commerce, says he was wanting ahead to retirement within the subsequent yr, so they might get pleasure from their golden years collectively.
5 months later, their son died by suicide, compounding the unhappiness that DeJesus felt, amid the isolation of pandemic lockdowns.
DeJesus’ will to dwell was ebbing when he obtained a cellphone name from Murad Muhammad, a veteran promoter with whom he had many dealings with up to now. He wished him to go to Staten Island to have a look at a prospect who was going to show skilled. It was a name that saved DeJesus’ life.
“I’m popping out of it and this child helps me so much,” stated DeJesus. “This child, in a manner, he’s serving to maintain me alive.”
Three to 4 days per week, the 2 make the drive over to State of Health Boxing Membership in North Bergen, N.J. There, DeJesus imparts the information he’s accrued from his time working round probably the most good ring minds of the previous 50 years, like Angelo Dundee, George Benton and Gil Clancy. For the primary few months, DeJesus was dragging himself to the fitness center, partially out of intuition, and partially so he wasn’t sitting at residence, considering of the losses his household had suffered.
As Demonte progressed, DeJesus’ enthusiasm grew for the duty.
“He’s gonna be one thing. He’s bought a very good following, and he’s Italian. Good wanting, effectively spoken, clever. He might be one thing else apart from a fighter. Saying all that, if I used to be him, I wouldn’t be taking punches. However he says, ‘I need to battle.’ It’s in his blood,” stated DeJesus.
“So I stated I’ll be with you, and also you’ll be my final hurrah.”
Demonte (3-0, 2 knockouts) will go into battle for a fourth time with DeJesus in his nook this Saturday, dealing with Nicholas Collins in a 4 spherical welterweight bout on the Showboat Resort and On line casino in Atlantic Metropolis, N.J. He says he can see his enchancment below DeJesus.
“I really feel like we each wanted one another at the moment. He was out of the sport however he informed me that he wished to come back again however he wasn’t going to come back again only for anybody,” stated Demonte.
“We simply clicked a lot and had the chemistry. I really feel like I’m at school day-after-day, I’m studying new issues day-after-day. I really feel myself getting higher by the session.”
Assistant coach Desmond Boyle and DeJesus tape up Demonte’s gloves. Photograph by Ryan Songalia
Demonte, 25, had been a standout soccer and baseball participant in his youth, however caught the boxing bug at age 13, when his soccer coach introduced the group right down to the native boxing fitness center to get in form for the season. He completed out the soccer season, his second straight because the group’s main large receiver in touchdowns, earlier than quitting soccer and baseball to commit himself to boxing.
Demonte had 41 newbie bouts, successful 37 of them, together with the 2014 New York Golden Gloves 152-pound novice title, for which he additionally earned the Mark Breland Award because the event’s finest novice boxer. He took a yr off from boxing at age 20, ready for a union job as a longshoreman, however give up on the primary day, figuring a life within the ring was the one one for him.
“My dad was very pissed at me once I first did it. However when he noticed I used to be severe and I began successful, he bought behind me 100%,” stated Demonte.
To date, Demonte has dealt with enterprise within the ring, defeating the restricted opposition he has confronted since turning skilled on March 26 of this yr. His hardest problem throughout this time had been exterior the ring.
Demonte’s older brother, Vincent, died in Might of this yr on the age of 28, shortly after Anthony gained his professional debut. Anthony’s coaching suffered; even getting away from bed or consuming was a problem.
Desmond Boyle, who owns State of Health, and is an assistant coach to Demonte, says the 2 of them had been there for one another to offer the opposite power.
“Anthony was going via a mourning and Lenny was going via a mourning, and so they’re collectively. It’s like a Rocky film,” stated Boyle.
Demonte made fast work of Jyrel Biggs in his subsequent battle, scoring a primary spherical knockout in August, after which went the 4 spherical distance in opposition to Davon Corridor in his most up-to-date bout a month in the past. Boyle describes Demonte as extra of a brawler, however notes that he units up his offense with a quick jab and is accountable defensively. “The individuals who had been followers of Arturo Gatti will probably be followers of Anthony,” stated Boyle.
Demonte is preventing ceaselessly, which is ok with promoters. He’s a giant ticket vendor, bringing lots of of followers from his father’s neighborhood in Brooklyn, the place he owns the favored Defonte’s Sandwich Store, and their residence borough of Staten Island. Demonte’s recognition was so robust in his newbie days that he fought 21 instances within the yr after he returned from his depart of absence for the longshoreman job.
“USA Boxing simply wished me on each present as a result of I used to promote out each venue that they put me in,” stated Demonte.
Demonte’s group has turn into a household affair. His father, Larry, is managing him, whereas his mom is his nutritionist, cooking up grilled fish and greens to assist him gasoline up after exercises. His brother, a legislation scholar, will turn into his lawyer to help in making offers when he steps up into larger fights.
Muhammad, who had promoted Pacquiao, and labored with many different high boxers like Larry Holmes and Evander Holyfield, is Demonte’s promoter.
DeJesus is aware of he’s bought one thing particular on his palms, out and in of the ring.
“This child that I’ve bought now, he’s gonna be higher than Rocky Graziano,” stated DeJesus, invoking the hard-punching middleweight champion of the ‘40s and ’50s.
Demonte’s dream is to be likened to a different Rocky.
“My finish aim in boxing is to be the best Italian boxer alongside him. He’s my position mannequin and he’s the one boxer I look as much as as a result of I would like what he has,” stated Demonte, referring to former heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano.
“Once you ask who’s one of the best Italian boxer who ever lived, no query they at all times say Rocky Marciano. And I need to be in that dialog with him.”
Ryan Songalia has written for ESPN, the New York Every day Information, Rappler and The Guardian, and is a part of the Craig Newmark Graduate College of Journalism Class of 2020. He will be reached at [email protected]
