Q: Where does your boxing story begin?

DeLuca: It started when I was a kid. I started boxing in a program in downtown Boston. It was more like Dorchester self-defense. It was a miniature neighborhood group that you went to every Saturday, sparring or hitting the bag. But it didn’t last long; I was 10 when they shut it down. Then I moved on.

Q: What initially got you into boxing? It’s always compelling to hear how people got into boxing, considering how hazardous it can be.

DeLuca: My dad boxed on the same show when he was adolescent. He won the Golden Gloves and had a few pro fights. So I guess it was a case of “monkey see, monkey do.” I just followed in his footsteps.

Q: When did you start taking boxing seriously?

DeLuca: When I joined a modern gym, I started competing in Junior Olympics and local tournaments like Silver Gloves. When I was 12, I took it seriously and stayed competitive until I joined the Marines. From age 12 to 19, I was in the amateur circuit.

Q: What made you join the Marines with such a passion for boxing? Was there a turning point?

DeLuca: I think I was at a crossroads. My dad was into boxing, but he wasn’t really interested. I didn’t know if boxing was a real career for me, and I needed to make money. I was always interested in the military, but I also wanted to keep boxing, so I joined the Marine Corps Reserve. After boot camp, I came back and resumed my boxing career.

Q: How demanding is the physical aspect of being a Marine? Does that have anything to do with boxing?

DeLuca: Absolutely. There’s a fitness standard, and there’s a weight standard. In the Marines, you can’t be out of shape, so boxing and military life were pretty similar for me, both mentally and physically.

Q: Are you still committed to your professional career?

DeLuca: No, I retired last year. Now I just train guys.

Q: What are some memorable moments from your career? Any shows that stand out?

DeLuca: Yeah, I remember fighting a guy named Anthony Osbourne from Jamaica. His record was 7-28-1, but just before our fight, he went 10 rounds and beat an older, but still tough, former contender from Jamaica. I hit Osbourne challenging in the first round, but he was a tough, crafty veteran who never let me finish him. That fight really stands out.

Q: Who is the best fighter you have ever fought in the ring, both in sparring and in professional fighting?

DeLuca: Erislandy Lara, Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade and Carlos Gongora. The level of relaxation they have in the ring is impressive. It’s like they’re walking in the park, even if you land a good punch. They don’t get nervous. They’re just so mellow and relaxed.

Q: How do you translate your experiences as a player into your role as a coach?

DeLuca: I always had a knack for training, even as a adolescent fighter. The first pro I trained was a friend of mine when I was 16. He was getting back into shape and I helped him win before he retired. That’s when I realized I had a passion for it. After I retired, I started training guys full time and it was a natural progression for me.

Q: What sets you apart as a coach?

DeLuca: I have always been comfortable leading and motivating guys. Even when I was younger, I would lend a hand others in the gym. Now I employ that experience to motivate my fighters. I believe in keeping them motivated through a combination of mental and physical toughness. Being a coach has made the transition from fighting much smoother for me.

Edgar Berlanga believes Terence Crawford can’t be counted out in a 168-pound fight with Canelo Alvarez. Even though Crawford is older and would have to give up weight to middleweight champion Canelo (62-2-2, 39 KOs), the recently defeated Berlanga believes he would have a chance.

Crawford turns 37 this Saturday, September 28, and has to start thinking about retirement if a fight with Canelo doesn’t fall into his lap.

It would be great to see Crawford get back on his feet and fight for the title against Canelo, while competing against four talented killers: David Benavidez, Osley Iglesias, David Morrell and Christian Mbilli.

Sorry Berlanga. At 168 you are not in my book one of Crawford’s top four fighters to fight Canelo. Jeweled, counterfeit fighters with tender resumes don’t count.

If His Excellency Turki Alalshikh offers Canelo $150 million to make the fight happen, Crawford will move up two weight classes from 154 to challenge him for the WBA, WBC and WBO super middleweight titles.

Turki recently joined Crawford in challenging Canelo on September 14 following his one-sided 12-round unanimous decision win over the hopelessly outmatched Berlanga. However, when asked about the bout at the post-fight press conference, Canelo seemed uninterested, saying, “No comment.”

The way Canelo delivered that remark was clear: “Stop bothering me.” Crawford needs to take the hint and move on, because Canelo won’t assist him in his quest to get generational money for his golden parachute retirement fund. David Benavidez has already offered Crawford a fight, and other top fighters like Jaron “Boots” Ennis are also interested in fighting him.

“I really believe that anything can happen in boxing, and Terence Crawford is a legend. He’s a great fighter. The only thing I see that speaks in Canelo’s favor is his weight, and he’s a lot bigger. That’s the only thing,” Edgar Berlanga told Rocks the universe on his thoughts on a potential Terence Crawford vs. Canelo Alvarez fight at 168 pounds.

“As far as skill and IQ, Crawford can match anyone and probably be better. Crawford is a legend, man. You can’t count him out,” Berlanga said.

Is this the biography of a legend?

– Errol Spence: *After a car accident
-Shawn Porter:
-Kell Brook:
-Amir Khan
– Wiktor Postol
-Ricky Burns
-Yurikis Gamboa
–Israil Madrimov
-Felix Diaz
-Jeff Horn
-Julius Indongo

Eddie Hearn has revealed details of his ringside altercation with “arrogant f**k” Devin Haney, which was caught on camera on Saturday night.

Hearn and Haney enjoyed a great relationship when the American was a member of the Matchroom stable, but that relationship has deteriorated in recent months.

The situation came to a head over the weekend when Haney tweeted that Hearn had rejected his request for tickets to Saturday’s Riyadh season opener at Wembley Stadium.

However, Haney entered the arena and was booed when he was shown on the gigantic screen. Conor Benn later posted a video on Instagram of Hearn and Haney arguing at ringside.

In an exclusive interview with Boxing News, Hearn revealed what he told his former client.

“It was heated,” Hearn said. “Remember the relationship I have with Devin, remember everything we’ve been through, I couldn’t believe he would just throw it out there on social media.

“I got a text from him at 6 a.m. the day of the fight saying, ‘I need tickets to Joshua.’ He texted me 24 hours before the fight saying, ‘yo,’ but I was so busy I didn’t text him back. When I texted him Friday night, he texted me back Saturday morning asking for tickets.

“First of all, all the tickets for the inner ring were pre-allocated to His Excellency and all those people, and we had a few months to notify our fighters who had made requests, which we reviewed. At that point, we just didn’t have the tickets. So I said, ‘It’s not just our show, we’re just working on the event, you might have to ask Riyadh Season for the tickets.’ I didn’t get a response.

“So I was sitting there at the show and he said, ‘Wow, Eddie Hearn didn’t buy me tickets, he’s so two-faced.’ So I just said, ‘You’re an arrogant, f**king asshole.’ I pulled him up at the show and said, ‘What do you think you’re doing?’ He said, ‘Hey, hey,’ and I said, ‘No, no, hey, hey… what are you doing?’

“I said, ‘First of all, you couldn’t be more arrogant, second of all, why don’t you write to me and ask if I can’t solve something? Instead, you tweet? You’re like a little kid.’

“I said, ‘You used to be a good kid, but now I don’t like this arrogance I see in you. Don’t ever do that again.’ He said I said something about him in the media, but I was just answering a question.

“I don’t represent him, so if someone asks me about Devin Haney, I’ll tell you what I think. I never said anything rude, but I said, ‘You did this, so don’t ever disrespect me again.’

“I was reluctant to do so. I told him directly.”