Joe "The Future" Hanks... Of The Heavyweight Division


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Joe "The Future" Hanks... Of The Heavyweight Division

INTERVIEW by Danny Serratelli (Dec 2, 2007) Doghouse Boxing and BrickCity Boxing

“The Future” may seem like an odd nickname for a fighter, but one look at the talented Hanks and it will become abundantly clear what the nickname means. Joe is a heavyweight who trains with me in at Gladiators Gym in “The Brickcity” Newark, New Jersey. We both work with top trainer Samad Haq and it was Samad who told me that Gladiators had the vibe the “RedBrickers” have been searching for since Red Brick Gym in East Newark closed its doors a few years back…and he was right.

Joe has already held his own in camps with Wladamir Klitschko (as chief sparring partner), Chris Byrd, Jameel McCline, Larry Donald and many of the other top heavyweights in the sport today. After a successful amateur career Joe is scheduled to make his highly anticipated professional debut on December 6th at the Paradise Theater in the Bronx, New York.

Joe is a guy that people like to be around outside the ring; however, he is also someone that opponents have avoided inside the ring as an amateur. There is no doubt that he is blessed with significant God given talent, but in between his roadwork, gym time and time spent away at training camps he is grounded by his demanding work as an electrician, with his older brother James. Simply stated, and despite the fact that he will be making his professional debut next week, Joe already trains and carries himself like a true professional. In the gym the young fighters look up to him and the older fighters want to help him because they all see something special in him.

Danny Serratelli: Joe, how’s it going brother? Tell me a little about your amateur career.

Joe Hanks: What’s up D? Well, I had 25 amateur fights and I won most of them. It started to get to the point where

people didn’t want to fight me any more.

DS: What about in the gym, tell me about all the well known guys in the heavyweight division that you have invited you to their training camps and your experiences with them.

JH: Well I have worked with Wladamir Klitschko, Chris Byrd, Jameel McCline, Al Cole, Larry Donald, Faruq Saleem, Malik Scott and many other well known top heavyweights. I learned a lot from all of them, but while they all were great experience and very helpful to me I’d say Chris Byrd and Al Cole have really mentored me. Byrd is not only a great fighter, but a great person who has taught me a lot about how to conduct yourself both inside and outside of the ring.

DS: How did you handle yourself with these guys in the ring and also how did you get to work with Wladamir Klitschko so early in the game?

JH: I did well with all of them, especially considering that I was a young amateur when I was working with many of them. I can guarantee you that they all remember me. When I only had 6 amateur fights I was Wladamir’s chief sparring partner. Initially Emmanuel Steward called my trainer looking for work with undefeated heavyweight Faruq Saleem, because my trainer Jamal used to train both of us, however he was no longer with Faruq, so he suggested to Manny that he give his young heavyweight, (me) a try. I am sure I impressed them in that camp and I was named chief sparring partner for Wladamir. I helped Wladamir get ready for Sam Peter and Calvin Brock.

DS: I was ringside for both of those fights. While the Brock fight wasn’t that good, the peter fight was really good. I thought Peter had him early, but it appeared your help and good conditioning enabled him to weather the storm and get the decision over Peter after getting dropped a few times early. How old were you when you got started?

JH: Well, I was about 19 years old when I cam e back to boxing seriously. My father got me in the gym when I was younger because he said I was too quick to fight outside at a young age, but I got away from boxing for a while. When I was 19 my brother asked me if I wanted to get back in the gym and he really helped me to get back into it. Initially, I started out doing it for recreation, but I took to it like a fish to water started winning amateur titles and I haven’t looked back. I am very grateful to my brother James for getting me back in the gym and sticking with me.

DS: How long did you fight as a novice in the amateurs?

JH: Well. I won diamond gloves and golden gloves a bunch of times and also went to the states, etc...At one point I won 5 straight tournaments. To answer your question, I started fighting in the open class in my 5th fight because at novice no one wanted to fight me.

DS: How long have you been at Gladiators in the “Brick City”, Newark New Jersey and how did you get started over there?

JH: About two years. I started with the Newark Dukers, but every time it rained the gym got flooded out. About two years ago I had a fight coming up and I asked Bilal (who runs Gladiators) if I could come up and work in there, they were just getting the gym up and running and wanted to start a team so I have stayed ever since.

DS: Nice, I know firsthand from training there that you are lucky to have a great team of trainers and stablemates to work with on a regular basis. I’ll tell you, I have been in a lot of boxing gyms but I don’t remember ever seeing that many talented young heavyweights all in one gym. You have a solid crew of heavyweights to work with regularly, right? I was impressed with one in particular your boy Houdini when he just won the diamond gloves a few weeks ago.

JH: D, you are absolutely right, I want to thank Houdini along with my other stablemates Tyadd, and Karim. I think we all have bright futures and it is great that we all have each other to learn from. Also our boy Al “Ice” Cole, he is a great guy and one who works with me a lot and try’s to mentor me and I appreciate it. Al is not only a former world champion and a tough guy, but he is a very genuine guy who speaks from the heart. Also like you said, I have a great team of trainers, Jamal Abdulah, Bilal Crosby, Danny Bass and Samad Haq and I would like to thank all of them.

DS: Joe in boxing surrounding yourself with the right people can make or break your career and it looks like you and your brother James have done a good job so far. Also, the experience and friends you have made in those training camps can only help you.

JH: True, most guys don’t want to help the young lions coming up, but there are guys who really go out of their way to help you too, like I said with Chris Byrd. Chris took a real liking to me and taught me how to come up and how to work with fans and stay humble and focused. He is a very spiritual guy and he even said that he and his wife wanted to try to fly in to catch my fight December 6th at the Paradise Theater in the Bronx. He taught me how to train like a professional and how to go about my business. Chris ran the best camp I have been at and I appreciate all the support and guidance he has offered me.

DS: That’s cool, I don’t know Chris like that, but have seen him around a lot and he always seemed like a good guy. Also I saw all those Chris Byrd sweat suits you been wearing, so there’s another hookup, I have to get one of those, but not sure I can hang with Chris to earn them like you probably did. So, how do you feel about making your professional debut in the Bronx?

JH: I am psyched and ready to go, I have been waiting for this moment for a very long time. I don’t care where it is or who it is I just want to get in there and do my job.

DS: Big Joe, I will see you at the fights and in the gym leading up the big night next week. You are a good guy for boxing and there is nothing I’d like to see more than for you to start putting those wins under your belt and bringing them back to the Brickcity until you make it all the way to the top!

JH: OK, thank you D for taking the time. I will see you in the gym working hard. I am looking forward to putting on a good performance and picking up a win next week. I’d also like to thank Brickcityboxing.com for following my amateur career and now helping me get ready for “The Future” as a top professional in the Heavyweight division.

Questions/Comments/Information: Thefightlawyer@gmail.com.