When unbeaten middleweight contender Peter "Kid Chocolate" Quillin (26-0, 20 KOs) steps into the ring on June 2 to fight four-time World Light Middleweight Champion Ronald "Winky" Wright (51-5-1, 25 KOs), America's top middleweight will have the added motivation of winning for his father, Pedro.
Quillin-Wright is the 10-round Showtime co-feature at Home Depot Center in Carson, California.
Thirty-two years to the day (June 2), Pedro left his native Cuba en route to Miami on boats with his fellow countrymen in search of freedom. "It was like a scene from 'Scarface' and my father was on the last boat," Peter explained. "He ran off the boat so fast he left his shirt and shoes on the boat. They gave him flip-flops and he thought that they were high-end sandals because he was America."
Quillin explained that his father had served 13 years in prison for illegally selling beef. Pedro was a butcher and there was a strict food allotment in Cuba. He slaughtered cows and illegally sold meat in his neighborhood.
Pedro stayed a few days in Miami before relocating in Wisconsin, finally settling with family members in Chicago, where he worked as a butcher. Peter was born there in 1983.
"Many people gain success by overcoming adversity," Quillin said. "I was never given anything but I've stood on my own and now I'm close to fighting for the World Middleweight Championship. Beating 'Winky' Wright will get me closer to accomplishing my dream. My father and brother, Chedrick, have been with me in Las Angeles during this training camp. They've motivated me. There's nothing more I'd like than to give them a big win against 'Winky' to celebrate the 32nd anniversary of my father's freedom."
Quillin has moved up to No. 5 in the International Boxing Federation ("IBF") World rankings, as well as No, 8 in the laterst World Boxing Organization ("WBO") ratings.
For more information about Peter "Kid Chocolate" Quillin go online to www.TheKidChocolate.com or follow him on Twitter @KidChocolate.
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Phil D. Jay WBN Editor Collins after the fight Williams Ray Collins Jr. or Billy Collins Jr. as he became known, was born to a boxing father in Antioch, Tennessee in 1961. His father William Sr, once fought Welterweight Champion Curtis Cokes and wanted his boy to follow in his footsteps, so decided to train Billy himself. Collins Jr. turned pro in 1981, a welterweight, just like his father before him and impressively won his first 14 professional contests, 11 by knockout with eight inside the first three rounds. It was 1983 and Billy was matched up against Puerto Rican journeyman Luis Resto on the undercard of Roberto Duran v Davey Moore at Madison Square Garden in a ten rounder. Resto wasn’t known for his punching power but Billy took a sustained beating for the full ten rounds, his face, badly damaged and his eyes were almost shut. After the fight, which Resto won on decision, Billy’s father shook Resto’s hand and noticed there wasn’t much padding in his gl...