Q & A with Michael Finney

Though only in the fledgling stage of his career Michael Finney 3-0(3) has impressed many people so far with his skills, work rate and power. He may end up as one of the three musketeer’s down the road along with the more known Frankie Gomez & Jose Benavidez Jr among the young pro’s who have gone pro in recent months amongst large fan fare at Light Welterweight. Finney 18, moved to live an hour outside Las Vegas in Pahrump with his Mother, father & brother Brian also a boxer who awaits his pro debut. They moved 3 months ago from there home in Smith Station, Alabama. He’s taken to his new life like a duck to water and is constantly improving under the watchful eye of famed trainer Kenny Adams. To date Finney has fought away from the spotlight but racked up three first round stoppages, that spotlight will shine on him and soon if he continues to gain impressive wins.

Hello Michael, welcome to 15rounds.com

Anson Wainwright – Firstly you moved to 3-0(3) when you stopped you last opponent in the first round last time out. How do you feel about that fight and performance looking back at it?

Michael Finney – It was great, the guy started out good an everything but i was just faster than him and did good listening to my trainer. His punches were kind of slow and i would go over them, he wasn’t blocking them. I hit him with a right onto the ropes, i hit him with another right and a hook then i hit him with an uppercut to his chest, finally he went down, the referee jumped in and that was it.

Anson Wainwright – Thought it early days any idea when we may see you in action next?

Michael Finney – It’s supposed to be 4th or 5th June i think from what i’ve heard and it’ll be in Houston, Tx.

Anson Wainwright – Who is your manager, trainer & Promoter? Also what gym do you train at?

Michael Finney – It’s the TKO gym (In Las Vegas) my trainer is Kenny Adams he’s great, he’s really patient with you he doesn’t get stressed out so he makes it fun for you, he breaks everything down. My manager is Cameron Dunkin, he’s great he does everything for me. Without him i’d be lost! Haha They’ve been really good to me. My promoter is Chet Koerner of TKO Boxing he’s great he lets us know what’s going on.

Anson Wainwright – How did you first get into Boxing?

Michael Finney – Well my mom came home one day and we played all different sports Football, Basketball & Baseball and she had a paper with an advert for Boxing and said do you want to try Boxing, we said sure and that was basically it.

Anson Wainwright – For fans who perhaps aren’t familiar with you, what can you tell us about your style of fighting?

Michael Finney – I like to go forward, i like to get inside and throw bodyshots. I don’t like chasing guys down that’s one of the things i need to work on. I move my head well. I’m a good counterpuncher too.

Anson Wainwright – You moved from Smith Station, Alabama and now live in Primm, NV how have you found the move?

Michael Finney – We’ve been here for 3 months now. The temperature and climate are way different. In Alabama it’s really humid you have trees and grass everything but here it’s so dry, you have dust everywhere. I hadn’t realised how much i missed grass! Haha But i like it here. It’s actually hotter in Alabama than it is here now.

Anson Wainwright – What do you like to do with your time when your not Boxing?

Michael Finney – I work in the shop (Garage) with my dad on car’s that’s my hobby. We work on our car’s or family members cars. My Granddad was a mechanic and he passed some of it on to my my dad. I also like reading action or thriller books.

Anson Wainwright – You had a very good amateur career, can you tell us what you won and what your record was?

Michael Finney – I had 147 amateur fights i lost 30 of them. I won the Junior Olympics in 2008, i got to the semi final of the Golden Gloves and fought in the PAL’s. I won the Georgia games a few times but there not ranking events. I’ve been around awhile.

Anson Wainwright – What made you decide to go pro at just 18 instead of perhaps trying to fight for America at the 2012 Olympics?

Michael Finney – Well i’ve been an amateur for 9 years and i wasn’t felling it like i used to so it was either change it up or go pro. If i kept at the pace i was going i would of burned out. My coach was great but he trained us so hard without breaks and stuff. You’d be hurting so bad you wouldn’t be able to keep going like you were. We trained 4 hours a day and that’s not including the runs.

Anson Wainwright – What for you is the Best part about being a boxer & the Worst part?

Michael Finney – The Worst part i reckon would have to be getting knocked out i guess. I’ve been lucky enough not to of been knocked out. But i’d say that would have to take a chip off your pride. The Best part is actually fighting it’s self. I get really excited about fighting. I like fighting and the money’s not bad either! Haha I have to say fighting, i love the sport.

Anson Wainwright – What would you be doing if you weren’t a boxer?

Michael Finney – We actually when we boxed amateur had a lawn business, me and my brother used to go around cutting people’s grass and stuff like that. That was good money, i reckon if i wasn’t boxing i’d be doing that.

Anson Wainwright – What are your goals in Boxing?

Michael Finney – Right now when they tell me to go fight i go fight. I listen to my manager and do the best that i can.

Thanks for your time Michael

Anson Wainwright
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