Undefeated junior welterweight “Action” Anthony Laureano, recognized by the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame as the state’s 2018 pro fighter of the year, reached a mini-milestone Saturday at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT when he earned his tenth professional victory against Ronald Rivas (5-9-2). In addition to Rivas becoming victim number ten, Laureano’s first bout of 2019 also marked his transition from six to eight-round bouts. While most fighters would be ecstatic with a unanimous decision victory - scores were 79-72 and 80-71 (twice) – that included a fifth-round knockdown with a left to the body, Laureano is a humble 23-year-old who regularly attends church and feels he’s got to go back to the gym to work on some things.

 

“I’m not happy with my performance honestly,” he said, “Because I felt like I should have thrown more jabs. When I went to the body and got a knockdown, I should have went back to the head, and then hit the body, because he was expecting the body shots, so he was defending against the body shots.”

 

Laureano added, “When I get more experience I will know that. I have to know my faults and as a professional I want to get better and better, and the only way you can get better is if you really harp on the little things.”

 

Rivas had a modest record going into his showdown with Laureano. However, Laureano knows not to take anyone for granted. He pointed out his previous opponent, Marquis “The Hawk” Hawthorne, whom he defeated by unanimous decision last September, NY, went on to score an upset of unbeaten Ronnie Austion in the first bout of Saturday’s card at Mohegan. Hawthorne was 5-8.

 

“He (Ronnie) slept on that guy,” said Laureano, who added that records can be deceiving.

 

Laureano, promoted by Star Boxing, has faced a few men with more losses than wins, yet they put on strong performances that made Laureano earn his paycheck. In fact, only three of Laureano’s ten victories have ended early. That’s fine with him though.

 

“Records can be deceiving but the thing is, they (the tougher than expected fights) build you up,” he said. “Everybody’s fighting guys that they can knock out. Why are they fighting guys they can knock out? You want to build character in the ring. You want to last some rounds, because the thing is, at the end of the day, you’re going to fight top notch people, and if you can’t do the full rounds, you’re done.”

 

A New England Golden Gloves champion, Laureano is also a “man of faith.”  “I feel like bad things happen when I don’t go to church,” he said. There was a point in his amateur career when he was losing “back to back.” It was around that time that he made a promise to God to glorify His name.  He humbly admits his amateur record was “bad,” estimating he probably notched 30 wins in 50-plus fights. Things have clearly turned around for Laureano, who is generally considered the top prospect from Connecticut.

 

When he was honored as the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame’s Professional Fighter of the Year in October, the East Hartford native said, most sincerely, “I want to be Connecticut’s fighter.” However, it seems all the love he’s been getting across New England has made him change his tune a bit.

 

“I want to be New England’s fighter,” he told Boxingtalk on Saturday. “I’m a Connecticut fighter but I’m also a New England fighter. It doesn’t matter where I come from, I’m saying, as in Connecticut, I am from Connecticut, but I represent the whole New England, Rhode Island, everyone. I get love from everyone, every gym that supports me, they open doors. “

 

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be Connecticut’s fighter or even New England’s fighter. Many fighters think smaller, content to merely simply represent their city. But Laureano, by setting this personal goal, will only work harder toward achieving it. It seems he wants to be a two-gloved franchise, a New England Patriot in boxing trunks.

 

Key figures in his development include trainer Angel Gonzalez and manager Nate Torres, who as a former fighter himself is also involved with Laureano’s training.  “It’s a learning process,” said Laureano, adding, “We’re only going to improve. We’re only going to get stronger.”