QUOTE: "The wait in the dressing room before a fight -that last hour- could strip a man who never fought before of whatever heart, courage and desire he thought he had" - "Iceman" John Scully, April 2002
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Lightening Strikes Saturday
By Dave Spencer | Fightnews.ca
Fight Photos by Herby Whyne

Undefeated super-lightweight Tony “Lightening” Luis (13-0 5KO) will have large noisy contingent behind him when he steps into the ring against Ferenc Szabo (14-16-2 7KO) at UGC 29 Saturday night. “We have a huge Cornwall contingent coming down,” the affable fighter told FightNews via telephone. “We have a couple of hundred trekking down and we’ve arranged a bus like last time so we’ll have a great local following.”

Like the bus and it’s one hour voyage to Montreal, don’t expect any stops or breaks along the way from Luis who has always been a volume puncher, but after a four year pro career, is finding his knockout touch in recent fights. “My basic style has never changed, I’ve always been a boxer first, brawler second,” said Luis who has finished his workday early in five of his last eight fights, including the last two in a row. “I’ve always been a good body puncher but I think my finishing instincts have improved over the last year or so. That and settling down on my feet more, knowing when to plant my feet, when to move, knowing when to sit down on my punches and turn them over. It’s all been a slow teach making the transition to the pros from the amateurs. Working with my dad day in and day out, the results are finally starting to show up now, the work is starting to come through.”

Asked whether he figures this fight will go longer than his last fight that was over in one round, Luis responds, “It’s very possible, I don’t usually have that in mind of how long or how short a fight is going to be, I’m just going to take it one fight at a time, stick to the game plan and what ever happens, happens. The only thing I guarantee is a victory, that’s for sure, one-hundred percent.”

One thing the Ontario fighter won’t admit to is the inherent satisfaction of putting a guy down and finishing your work day early, something he had to wait six professional fights to finally savor. “One thing I can be grateful about my fights is that even if the fights didn’t end in knockout, I never had any reason to doubt or be nervous about hearing the judges’ scorecards. I think knockout or not, I’ve always dominated the majority of my fights. I don’t think I’ve ever left any doubts.”

As diplomacy prevails, Luis can’t help but reminisce about the first, because, somehow, you always remember your first. “The reason I was so happy about that one is because it was my sixth fight and at that point it was against Jorge Banos and it was for my first professional title (Quebec Boxing Council). This was supposed to be my first little step up in competition and I clearly remember hearing somebody quoting (promoter) Yvon Michel at that time and saying this definitely won’t be Tony’s first stoppage. And it ended up being my first stoppage against my best opponent at that point in my career. That was a personally gratifying win for me.”

While the wins have come, fights for the now 24 year-old have not always come easy. A perennial candidate to fight for the lightweight championship of Canada, a dance partner hasn’t always been easy to find. “The last fight I got the WBC Continental Americas belt, personally I don’t think a Canadian title is necessary anymore, but if a Canadian title fight comes along, we’ll be open to it. Last summer Ibrahim Kamal’s people got in contact with us and issued out a challenge to us, and we said okay, ten rounds for the Canadian title. We offered this to them October 1st, my last fight and they turned it down, they said Kamal is still getting ready for sixes and eights. I just said get back to me when you’re ready for ten and a Canadian title. Why should I waste my time fighting a quality fighter for six or eight rounds, it just doesn’t make sense. Why throw two quality boxers into a six rounder when it is something you can hype into an event.”

Luis also has seemingly been shutout of the Ontario fight scene, one that uses border wars between Quebec and Ontario as a promotional button. “In the big picture, I don’t think I’m missing out on too much,” says Luis. “There’s plenty of other avenues out there where I can go out and build my career. If they don’t want to fight me, well one door closes and another one opens. It doesn’t bother me that much. I know a couple of years ago there were a lot rumors and stories about whether Logan McGuinness and me would ever fight, but you know what, right now I’m at 140 and he’s at 130; he’s doing his thing down there and I’m doing my thing, and you know what, I wish him the best. If ever the time comes where we could ever meet up again, great, if not, then we’re each going to go our own way and do our own thing.

“Another guy who showed interest was Ghislain Maduma, and we offered the same thing, ten rounds for the Canadian title and they turned us down.”

Beginning his career as a twenty-year-old and with time marching on, Luis and his days at lightweight may be limited. “I think if really wanted to, I could still make the weight, but I don’t know if I would be a stronger athlete for it. I think I could make it to say, ‘hey, I made 135,’ but am I going to be better or quicker or stronger going that route? At this point I don’t think so. Personally I feel comfortable strong and just as fast at 140. I think my body has matured a bit over the last couple of years.”

Luis scores outside the ropes
By Dave Spencer | Fightnews.ca

Rising junior welterweight star Tony “The Lightning” Luis
of Cornwall, Ontario, Canada has been named an
Ambassador of Goodwill by the World Boxing Council (WBC).
The current WBC Continental Americas champion at 140 lbs, Luis is 13-0 with 5 knockouts, building a great reputation both in and out of the ring. Luis, who was recently profiled by Yahoo Voices as a young fighter to look out for, has a college degree and is a full-time social worker in Cornwall.

Upon noticing many of the youngsters were angry and needed direction, Luis helped create a boxing program, which quickly became a successful outlet for the struggling youths. After leaving his first job and receiving an outstanding reference letter from his employer, Luis accepted a job working in an alcohol and substance abuse treatment center for young aboriginals. Although he had initial worries of not being accepted since he is not of native descent, he connected well with the youths and put his full efforts into assisting them.

“Tony Luis is the kind of young man boxing needs,” said Jill Diamond, Chairwoman of the WBC Cares Program. “He is a champion in the ring and an inspiration to young people outside of it. We are proud to make him a Goodwill Ambassador for WBC Cares.” The humble 24-year old was both thrilled and honored that the WBC chose to name him an ambassador.

“Being named a Goodwill Ambassador means the world to me,” exclaimed Luis. “It’s in my nature to help those in need and I’ll continue to do so for years to come. I appreciate the WBC for recognizing me and I hope to further represent them by winning more of their titles in the near future.” Luis returns to the ring Saturday evening when he faces veteran Ferenc Szabo at the Claude-Robillard Center in Montreal.