Brinkley, promoter roll the dice in Reno

Brinkley, promoter roll the dice in Reno

Mark E. Ortega

FightFanNation.com

January 23, 2010

One week from today, Yerington, Nevada's Jesse Brinkley steps in the ring against arguably the toughest and most dangerous opponent of his career when he faces Curtis Stevens. The bout will headline ESPN's Friday Night Fights and is an eliminator for the #2 spot in the IBF and could lead to a world title shot later in the year.

The fight will take place in nearby Reno, the adopted home of Brinkley, who has become quite a draw as their main event under the banner of Let's Get It On Promotions since signing with them just over two years ago.

For Brinkley, 33, this fight represents a last chance for him to get the ever elusive shot at a world championship after a nearly thirteen year career that has featured quite a few letdowns before his recent upswing that consists of an eight-bout win streak.

In Brinkley's most recent bout, he looked less than stellar in a light heavyweight bout against Mike Paschall back in July. Brinkley had a short camp and had to come down from just over 200 pounds to make the limit, which took its toll on the fighter and showed in the fight.

“It was one of the worst experiences of my life,” recounts Brinkley. “I can't believe I was able to even get in there and go the rounds. I was in the steam room the day of the weigh-ins dry heaving and puking. All my fights before that I had long camps and proper training.”

In that fight against Paschall, Brinkley looked depreciated early in the fight as he looked like he just couldn't pull the trigger. Brinkley won that fight possibly on sheer determination as he gutted out the victory in the final few rounds where he was able to start landing the right hand with regularity. It was far from an impressive performance but the Jesse Brinkley of 2007 and before may have folded in that scenario and packed it in for another day.

For the Stevens fight, Jesse has had a full camp with trainer Peter Manfredo, Sr. where he has sparred rounds with Edwin Rodriguez and Peter Manfredo, Jr. Brinkley also got time in the Top Rank gym in Las Vegas against Miguel Diaz fighters.

Brinkley fought on ESPN for his two most recent losses, against former world title holder Robin Reid and contender Joey Spina in 2006 and 2007. Those losses weigh heavily on Brinkley's mind even in preparation for his upcoming battle with Stevens.

“Everytime I've gotten an opportunity to fight on ESPN in primetime, I step on my dick,” said a bashful Brinkley in a phone interview earlier this week. “I have to get my shit together and win one of these big fights. This is do or die for me. My body doesn't have another tough eight fights in it to reposition myself for a fight like this. It's now or never.”

Not only is this bout a huge gamble for Brinkley but also for Reno-based promoters Terry and Tommy Lane, the two young brothers who stand behind Brinkley. The two young sons of the comporable Mills Lane first took over operations of the company from their father in 2005.

At ages 27 and 22 respectively, they hold the distinction of being possibly the youngest licensed promoters in the United States. For their company, this fight could prove huge as Brinkley is a fighter they took on and rebuilt beginning just over two years ago. They realize what this fight represents not only for Brinkley but for their promotional outfit as well.

“There's a lot at stake, it's our coming out party so to speak, for the national boxing community,” said the younger Tommy. “This is our first live national television fight that we've had. It's with Jesse, our marquee guy and this is a crossroads fight for him and for us. If he were to get beat then there are only so many consequential options. If he wins then that positions him for a world title. Me and Terry like to gamble [being based out of Reno] and this is no different although we think this was our best option.”

Brinkley lives 100 miles away from Reno in small town Yerington, but under the guidance of the Lanes they have turned Jesse into a Reno hometown favorite. This was never more evident than in his fight against actual Reno-based fighter Joey Gilbert in a Reno Civil War this past February. In that fight Brinkley was the crowd favorite as he marched to a lopsided decision win over his long standing rival.

In the Gilbert fight it was personal for both promoter and fighter as there had always been bad blood between the parties involved. For Brinkley, it extended back to his days on The Contender where both fighters were participants. For Let's Get It On, it represented a once successful business agreement gone sour. The Brinkley-Gilbert fight also represented the most lucrative option for both fighters at that point in their careers because of the local rivalry.

Brinkley and Let's Get It On had sought after Gilbert as an opponent since they first joined forces and it is possible the fight only came together because of a potential need for the payoff Gilbert needed following legal troubles that kept him out of the ring for an extended period of time. When asked the difference between that very personal fight against Gilbert and the upcoming fight with Stevens, Brinkley pulled no punches.

“Against Joey Gilbert, that fight was won as soon as he signed the contract,” explained Brinkley. “He was a beaten fighter before we even got into the ring and I just had to show up to collect the victory. I was able to dictate whatever fight I wanted against him. In this fight against Curtis Stevens, he is treating me like I treated Joey Gilbert. He has been saying that he will knock me out before the fifth round.”

Brinkley made it clear that he is not showing up just to get beaten the way that he thought Gilbert did and has made it clear there will be no excuses after this fight win, lose or draw.

“To tell you the truth, with my other losses I have been able to, in the back of my mind, rationalize them as I had some valid excuses to why I wasn't really myself,” continued Brinkley. “I'm going into this fight with no injuries and no matter what happens I will have no excuse.”

For Reno, this is the biggest fight it has seen in years.

“There's definitely a sense of pride to what we have been able to do in Reno, and as far as Jesse is concerned his hometown is all of northern Nevada. It's a good feeling to be able to bring a nationally televised fight to a region we have worked hard in making it a place where fights can happen relatively frequently,” said Tommy.

With this fight being for the #2 spot in the IBF, the winner could get a possible shot at champion Lucian Bute. When asked what they would accept to get a shot like that, Tommy Lane replied quickly.

“At this point with how everything has shaped up in the super middleweight division we will travel anywhere to get a big fight. If there's a way to bring it to Reno then we would like to make it happen but if that means traveling to Montreal to face Bute then we are willing.”

It would be inappropriate to assume that either Brinkley or his promoters are overlooking Stevens to a payday afterwards. For Brinkley, he mentioned he had looked at previous fights with Spina and Reid that way and he ended up blowing those fights. For the Lanes this is the biggest fight they have been part of and aren't in a place where they can look towards a bigger event quite yet.

“The Joey Gilbert fight was such a freak situation. A local hometown rivalry, it felt sort of like a high school football game,” explained Tommy Lane. “Outside of northern Nevada, not really many people gave it much thought at all. This fight is much more significant in the scope of boxing, as are the consequences.”

For fighter and promoter this event represents a gamble with everything on the line. Regardless of the outcome, its guaranteed that both parties will be giving it 100% when the bell rings on January 29^th.