This video interview is conducted by the still relevant some 33 years later in 2019 legendary sportscaster Al Michaels….doing a postfight interview with then welterweight boxer Mark Breland….who in his 12th professional fight….KO’d Rickey Avenado in the 1st round.
First of all, Al Michaels was a very adept interviewer of world class athletes back in 1986….evidenced by this video herewith…..where is questions are “spot on” then when you throw in the intellegent responses to Michaels questions by Mark Breland in just his 12th professional fight….and you can easily see why Breland became a very successful boxing trainer after his fighting years….as he is currently a boxing trainer, having trained Vernon Forrest and current WBC Heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder among other notable boxers.
Breland’s trainer was Lou Duva (May 28, 1922 – March 8, 2017) was a boxing trainer, manager and boxing promoter….who handled nineteen world champions. The Duva family promoted boxing events in over twenty countries on six continents. Lou Duva was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame, the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame and The Meadowlands Sports Hall of Fame…..and speaking from experience, Lou Duva got in front of “the mike” better than Angelo Dundee, Emmanual Steward, Eddie Futch, Freddie Roach et al….for Lou Duva was a fiery Itallian with tons of positive energy.
Breland turned professional in 1984…..then in 1987, he won the vacant WBA welterweight title…..then lost it in his first defense to Marlon Starling. In 1989, Breland again won the vacant WBA Welterweight Title….after which he made three successful title defenses before losing it to Aaron Davis in a back-and-forth 9-round contest that was nearly called off twice because of injuries to Davis’ eye before Breland was knocked out in round 9. In 1997, Breland retired from a 13 year career with a professional record of 35–3–1 (25 KOs)….who, along with Duva deserve their place in boxing history here at ImaSportsphile.
