Undefeated junior middleweight contender Giovanni Lorenzo returns to the ring after a four month hiatus, when he takes on Byron Mackie in a 10 round encounter. For Lorenzo it will be his first double digit round bout. This bout emanating from the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey will be the main under card bout on the highly anticipated Carlos Baldomir and Arturo Gatti title fight. Unfortunately for all parties involved this fight will only be viewable by those who attend this affair in person. HBO will not televise any of the under card matches.

The last time Lorenzo laced up his gloves was on March 10th when he took on and took out the usually durable Archak “The Shark Attack” Ter Meliksetian. This was prior to Ter Meliksetian being fed to “The Contender’s” Sergio Mora. On the March 10th, Lorenzo used a vicious body attack to forced Ter Meliksetian to retire on his stool, in between the start of the 7th round.

 “This Saturday night, I’m just ready to put on a good show and show that I’m improving every time that I step into the ring. I feel that I grew from the fight against Ter Meliksetian. I’m excited to be fighting close to home and I’m just ready to go. It’s also an honor to be fighting on another Arturo Gatti headlined show,” said Lorenzo.

“l Like fighting under a legend like Gatti be he has taken me under his wing and made me more confident in a big fight atmosphere,” said Lorenzo.

In fact this will be the fourth time that Lorenzo fights on the same card as the legendary fan favorite, Gatti.

The Dominican born Lorenzo, who now calls the Bronx, New York home feels that despite Mackie being somewhat of a mystery to him, that he will be ready for whatever the rugged veteran Mackie will bring.

“All I know is that this guy is going to come to win, and that’s good because I would expect nothing else from him. Too bad for him is that so am I. He will not win and he will be another first hand witness that Giovanni Lorenzo is for real,” said Lorenzo.

Ryan is not short on confidence when it comes to what’s next on the horizon for his promising pugilist.

“I feel Giovanni is going to be a world champion and a star in this sport. From a physical stand point no junior middleweight can stay in the ring with him,” stated Ryan.

Lorenzo expects a tough fight from the Canadian born Mackie. Mackie brings a respectable record of 27-12, with 10 knockouts and has won 5 of his last 6 fights. Mackie maybe considered a sturdy opponent and one advantage that he holds is that he has seen by far the more world class competition. He also has the benefit in the number of rounds that he has seen. Lorenzo for his part has not gone past the 8th round. Saturday evening will show if Mackie is simply a fighter who is a guy who has seen too many rounds.

 “I know that Saturday night will dictate my immediate future. I am not looking past anyone. I leave match making to my manager. I worry about fighting. I’ll fight anyone any where. I’ll fight anyone and I will go to their own house. I don’t care. I’m focused on Saturday night, when I win then everything else will sort its way out,” said Lorenzo.

Lorenzo has been on a rumored short list of possible opponents to face current undisputed world champion Jermain Taylor. Taylor as of yet does not have an opponent named for a proposed fall date. A mega fight like this one is what Lorenzo is so longing for. In fact he told Boxingtalk.com, that is why he runs for an hour through this heat wave that the east coast is experiencing.

The former 2000 Olympic representative for the Dominican Republic knows that a victory on Saturday night will bring him one step closer to his dream.


Lorenzo is a man who comes off as humble, yet evokes a calm confidence about his skills is assured of what he is capable of doing. He also admits that he is now recently starting to become a student of the game. In actuality Lorenzo, is not a boxing junkie, at least not from a fans point of view. Lorenzo also confessed that he I rarely watches tape of his opponents. The 25 year old Lorenzo is not the type to plan out his Friday nights around his television set and tune into Friday night’s fights. Lorenzo is more of a scholar from a partaker’s position. Lorenzo is constantly in shape and loves to workout says manager Richie Ryan.

“I’m here in this sport to carry my country and my flag high. My dream is to be a world champion. I want to be able to one day walk 8th Avenue and see my face on a billboard advertising a fight of mine at Madison Square Garden. I remember when Felix Trinidad fought there and he would have that placed packed with Puerto Ricans. That is my goal to mirror that scene, but with Dominican flags waving in the stands,” said Lorenzo.

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