“White Wolf” Liakhovich Sighting

Fighting April 9 on Adamek-McBride Undercard

On Saturday night, the sky was lit up with the largest and brightest full moon ever to occur in the last 20 years.

For those in Southern California, you may have heard a certain “White Wolf” howling at the moon…or at least howling in the gym!

Heavyweight Sergei Liakhovich (25-3, 16 KOs) was spotted at Thursday’s amateur boxing show at The Rock Youth Center in SoCal. Known as “The White Wolf,” the Belarusian boxer has set up camp on the West Coast as he preps for his April 9 bout against Johnnie White (22-4, 18 KOs). Their showdown will be on the undercard of the Tomasz Adamek vs. Kevin McBride main event at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

I caught up with the former WBO Champion while visiting with a mutual friend, famed Houston trainer Kenny Weldon. The Texas coach (a noted balance and technique expert) is reunited in working with Liakhovich and Chief Trainer Tommy Brooks as the team preps for the heavyweight clash next month. The well-regarded Brooks was recently seen in the corner of Pawel Wolak during the Polish slugger’s six-round destruction of Yuri Foreman.

And veteran trainer Weldon has also worked with many world champs and national titlists, including boxing legend Evander Holyfield. He is happy to be reunited again with the fightin’ “wolf” pack. “I worked with Sergei for several years in the past,” Kenny told me. “We trained together for about six years.”

The two do have a natural camaraderie between them as I watch the trainer and boxer joke and tease each other. Liakhovich, reserved in nature, has no problem winging playful verbal jabs at Weldon, who is known for voicing an opinion or two all about the sweet science.

Traveling from his Scottsdale, Arizona residence, Sergei and Kenny, from his Galena Park Boxing Academy, have teamed up once again in preparation for the upcoming East Coast bout. The pair have been in L.A. for a couple of weeks now; they mention that they’re enjoying training with Brooks at the same gym where the All-American Heavyweights and the L.A. Matadors also put in work. As the heavyweight is introduced to the crowd, the power puncher greets many fans and bright-eyed children, who may become future champs as well. And the ferocious “White Wolf” was indeed baring his teeth–Sergei was all smiles as he posed with his fans.

While chatting with Sergei and Kenny, I ask if they have any prediction for their “White Wolf” vs. Johnnie White face off?

“YES,” confirms Weldon, with a twinkle in his eye. In his trademark Southern drawl he answers, “I predict we will be there on April 9th!”

On paper, their matchup versus White appears to be an interesting one.

White is eight years younger but his last three bouts ended in defeat. The 6′ 4″ Liakhovich proves to be a formidable opponent; he is a 1996 Olympian and a Bronze Medalist in the 1997 World Championships. But Sergei’s last fight was in May of last year so the factor of “ring rust” has to be taken into consideration. Checking out their history on BoxRec, I notice that they share a common foe with different results: In 2009, White lost to Dominick Guinn by TKO in the first round; in 2004 Liakhovich beat Guinn in a unanimous decision. But flash forward to 2011 and both boxers are aiming to score a needed victory.

Liakhovich, promoted by Main Events, is best known for his bouts against the “Russian Giant” Nikolai Valuev, Shannon Briggs and Lamon Brewster.

But the 34-year-old cites a couple of pugilists from the past as his own two heavyweight heroes in the ring.

“Jersey Joe Walcott and Ezzard Charles!” Sergei answers quickly when someone in our group asks him to name his favorite fighter.

“Jersey Joe” and the “Cincinnati Cobra” were two popular prizefighters from the ’50s.

“And do you know how HE got his nickname?” Weldon quizzes me, as he glances at Liakhovich, who’s shadowboxing nearby. “Sergei’s from Belarus so everyone started calling him ‘The White Wolf’!”

The ring moniker suits him with his sturdy frame and coloring–and also in what the team says he will be in his fierce intensity come April 9.

While the “Super Moon” of this past weekend has waned for perhaps another couple of decades, prepare to witness many “White Wolf” sightings in and around the boxing ring!

Photos by Michele Chong