Future King Of The Ring?
Brian Mowry isn't exactly following in his older brother Steve's footsteps.
But he's still punching.
Both are Knoch graduates and former Knight wrestlers. Steve has moved on to MMA and is competing out of Florida.
“I tried MMA and it just wasn't for me,” said Brian Mowry, 24. “I never even had a fight. I didn't feel comfortable enough with it.
“I felt more natural as a boxer, so I went with that.”
It's been a good choice so far.
Mowry recently became only the third boxer in Butler Cubs history to qualify for the National Gold Gloves. He will fght in the open heavyweight division May 5-12 in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Mike McGrady and Darrin Warman are the only other two Butler Cobs boxers to reach the National Gold Gloves. That was more than 25 years ago — and both lost their first bouts there.
“I like Brian's chances down there,” Cubs boxing trainer Billy Wolfe said. “He's tall, he hits hard, he's rangy ... He has all of the tools.
“Brian does have a reach advantage, but he can fight inside, too. He's a master at tying up an opponent and breaking loose.”
Mowry stands 6-foot-7 and weighs 228 pounds. He is 14-3 as an amateur boxer with nearly half of his wins being technical knockouts. He has been in boxing for six years.
More than one time, Mowry has come back from losing the first or second round of a fight to dominate the final round and win.
“I don't know if I get mad because I'm getting my butt kicked, it takes me a while to figure an opponent out or what,” he said, laughing. “I'm not afraid to get hit. I've proven to myself I can take a punch and still come back.”
Mowry won the Pittsburgh Gold Gloves title in his division this year to return to the Pennsylvania Gold Glove finals. He had no foe at the state tourney.
“Brian made the state finals last year and the guy who beat him, Sonny Contos out of Philadelphia, went on to win nationals,” Cubs boxing manager Don Spinetti said. “For some reason, Philadelphia didn't send somebody to fight Brian this year.
“I don't know how many fighrs he'll have at nationals and I have no idea who's going to be there, but Brian can win this. He's very capable.
“Along with his talent, he's easy to coach. He listens to you, both in the gym and in his corner between rounds of his fights. He always wants to learn,” Spinetti added.
If every state sends a boxer in his division to nationals, Mowry may have to go through five or six fights to win the Gold Gloves championship.
“Or very few states may send somebody and I'll only have a couple of fights,” he said. “I won't know untril I get there.”
Mowry is considering turning pro this summer or holding off in order to enter the Eastern Qualifier for the Olympics. That qualifier is in October.
He isn't worried about either right now.
“I'm completely zoned in and committed to winning the national Gold Gloves,” Mowry insisted.
Employed by AGR, Mowry works a daylight shift and works out in a gym at the workplace. He reports to the Cubs boxing gym Monday through Friday for two-hour workouts there as well.
“His work ethic is second to none,” Wolfe said. “Brian gets better in the ring every day as a result of it.”
