The “Sharp Shooter” returns!

Interview & photos by Peter Mark Heintzelmen

Super featherweight Matt “Sharp Shooter” Remillard (11-0, 7 KOs) of Manchester, Connecticut, is training for the fight of his life.

Coming off a severe wrist injury that he suffered in his last bout (September 2006) in which he won the WBC Youth super featherweight title by beating the previously undefeated Jose Hernandez, Remillard has rededicated himself to boxing.

Spending hours upon hours in the gym - where the real grit of boxing lies - the 21 year old Remillard has been conditioning himself, honing his skills, and strengthening his injured southpaw.

The “Sharp Shooter” will emerge from the shadows with his guns fully loaded as he is showcased Friday, January 25th at the Foxwoods Resort Casino, in Mashantucket, Connecticut in the co-main event of Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports “Champions of Tomorrow” event.

Its been a long wait for his return to the ring, but the WBC has smiled upon Remillard - their former super featherweight Youth titlist - and granted him opportunity at the current beltholder of the WBC Youth featherweight title, Manuel Perez (11-3, 2 KOs) of Denver, Colorado.

Fasten your seat belts for this one. It’s going to be a bumpy ride!

In between his training regimen, Remillard found time to respond to questions from FightNews about his upcoming title challenge and his career in general. In this unique interview, the fighter is revealed as kid with heart, with soul, with character, and with a new purpose in life.

FightNews: In your last fight (September 23, 2006), you gained the vacant WBC Youth super featherweight title and the prestigious WBC “Fight of the Year Award,” while at the same time, devastating your health with a severe wrist injury that has kept you out of the ring for the past sixteen months. Please describe your injury and the treatment you had to bring you back to where you are now.

Remillard: In my last fight, I suffered a wrist injury from what I think was a left hook to the head in the second round. As soon as I had hit him, I felt a shooting pain in my hand, that would finally go numb around the middle rounds. I had torn my ligaments in my wrist which separated a few bones in my hand. After the fight, I saw the best hand doctor around, Dr. Margles, at the Layhey Clinic in Boston. We sat down and talked about what were the best options. My first surgery was in November 2006, when my doctor used artificial bone and pins to hold the bones together. I was put in different size casts for about four months, having the casts switched about every two weeks, getting smaller and smaller. After I got the OK to start using the hand I, started hitting a soft double end bag for two weeks, then the speed bag for another two weeks, and then finally the heavy bag for another two weeks. As I started using it more and more. I had still felt the same uncomfortable pain that I had when I was fighting back in September. I went back to the Dr. Margles, and took more x-rays and scans, and he concluded that the artificial bone never healed correctly; I guess the bone was bad. More surgery was needed.

In May of 2007, I had another surgery where they took bone from my hip to put into my wrist. Instead of using pins, the doctor decided to use a screw, where the bone would be held together better and would also stay in forever. After the surgery, I was put into a cast from the elbow down for a few weeks. I went through a small rehab in which I had to do several stretches to regain movement in my wrist. I lost some movement from side to side, and couldn’t perform a regular pushup, because of the loss of movement. During both surgeries, I was in the gym every day, doing stretches and calisthenics, still walking and running whenever possible. There was no way I was going to let this layoff slow me down to where I will be rusty, or out of shape. Everything happens for a reason.

FightNews: Once you were able to start training again, what changes or additions to your training regimen did you and your trainer make in the gym?

Remillard: When I finally returned to the gym and could train fulltime, there were little changes my trainer - Paul Cichon - had me make. I started using bigger gloves when training because of the injury, but that really was an improvement because I feel that it increased my hand speed overall.

Since I was unable to use my left hand for some time, I had built up a real strong right hand, and learned how to fight southpaw comfortably. I feel that during the lay off, it allowed me to look over my style of fighting , and just improve overall.

Paul and I figured we would make a negative into a positive. I worked out for about 5 to 6 hours minimum each day. I feel I am not the type of fighter that has natural talent, who can just lay back on their training routines and still look impressive fighting. My team works very hard everyday getting me physically and mentally in shape.

FightNews: Are you stronger and more versatile now due to the original injury?

Remillard: Over the layoff, I learned how to fight southpaw comfortably. It was like learning how to fight all over again. But yes, I do feel I am more versatile, even after the injury. I have added a lot of more weapons to my arsenal for sure. You can never stop learning new things in the gym, and this (layoff) gave me a chance to look forward to going to the gym. Sometimes a fighter will get burnt out, and have trouble getting up to just workout, knowing that a fight isn’t even scheduled. It gave me a new excitement knowing that I was not fighting soon, but also because I was learning another style. I feel much stronger know, even with the layoff and injury.

FightNews: Paul Cichon, your coach and trainer, has been in your corner, I understand, since your amateur days. How did you guys first meet, and what has kept you together?

Remillard: Paul and I met through a Manchester cop ,Officer Dejulous. I was 13 years old and basically getting into trouble as a youth. Just hanging with the wrong people I would say. I definitely saw a lot of things that changed my mind about the streets and how I wanted to live my life. He brought me to the gym and introduced me to Paul. I was doing community service there for an incident I had gotten in trouble for. I cleaned spit buckets, toilets, windows, the whole nine yards. I kept asking Paul if I could box and he would tell me " No." He felt that I still had a chip on my shoulder, which I did.

After a few more weeks of cleaning, I had asked him again if I could box, but I said “Please." It showed that I was not the kid I was when I first walked into the gym. Ever since then we have just grown a tight bond. It is not just about boxing anymore, we are a family. We talk everyday, about life, boxing, joking around, everything. I could stop fighting today, and we would still have this bond. Not many coaches can say that about their fighters I think. We have definitely been through it all together. He will always be in my corner, no matter what. Money and fame couldn’t even change it.

FightNews: Matt, what are your best memories of your amateur career?

Remillard: I had my first fight in Hartford in April 2000. I won a decision victory over Julio Aquino. My best memories in the amateurs were traveling around the world. I went all across the United States fighting in just about every national tournament. I also went to England and Korea with the USA Team. Winning the “Under 19” national tournament back to back and being the outstanding boxer in the tournaments was also a great achievement for me.

FightNews: I understand you passed up the opportunity of qualifying for the 2008 US Olympic Boxing Team, in order to sign up a professional boxing contract with promoter Jimmy Burchfield of Classic Entertainment & Sports. Why did you choose CES over other promoters who were hoping to sign you?

Remillard: I felt my style was better suited for the pros. The longer the fight goes, the better I get. In the amateurs, it’s all about who throws the most punches, and I like to pick my shots and wear my opponent down. By the time a fight was over, I was just getting warmed up. I met Jimmy Burchfield when I was in the amateurs. I watched his shows because I knew the local fighters on his cards. I wanted to stay around my hometown and build my fan base first. When we met, we clicked, and I liked the ideas and plans he had for me.

I will tell you this, that Jimmy Burchfield is the hardest working promoter around. He really does care for his fighters, and not just the money making aspect of the sport. We just all clicked as a team and I felt comfortable, which was most important. I know he can get me where I want to go by working together.

FightNews: What fight or fights stick out in your mind as your best and what did you learn from those fight(s)?

Remillard: Every fight is a learning experience for me, even if it was a first round knockout or a decision. I take every fight step by step, and never look over an opponent. My last fight against Jose Hernandez was probably one of my best performances, and proved to myself that I had the heart to fight, even with my injuries, and that I could go the ten-round distance. I think that fight made me a professional boxer. It taught me a lot of lessons in the ring, and also out of the ring, seeing that I had an injury.

FightNews: On January 25th, you are facing Manuel Perez (11-3, 2 KOs). What do you know about Perez?

Remillard: I know Manny from the amateurs a little bit. He is a tough fighter who comes to fight. He’s been in some wars with really talented fighters. If you look at his three losses, they were to very good prospects. He is a very aggressive fighter, who throws a lot of punches. We will be ready for whatever he brings to the ring. I respect him already for coming into my hometown and putting his title on the line. This will be a fight you won’t want to miss! We have similar styles and neither one of us likes to back down!

FightNews: What have you been doing in your training to prepare for Perez?

Remillard: I have been training for a long time for this fight. I had a few fights fallout but I stayed in the gym and I am ready for anything. When the opportunity came up to fight for the title - I once had the super featherweight title - our team jumped at the chance. This fight is a step up and a challenge that I will conquer.

Everyday is like training camp for me, whether I have a fight scheduled or not. This is my first fight where I actually have sparring partners coming in. I have had great sparring from Hank Lundy, an undefeated lightweight out of Philadelphia, and a few fighters from Peter Manfredo's gym in Rhode Island. Camp has been going great and I am looking forward to the twenty-fifth. Whatever Manny is bringing to the ring you can be sure that I will be ready for it. We train for every aspect of the sport. Manny is the type of fighter where you have to be in top shape, and I look forward to the fight. This is the first time I will be coming in as the underdog. He has the title and he has been very active while I have been off for sixteen months.

FightNews: What is your prediction?

My prediction for the fight is that I will come out with the title I deserve! I have worked all too hard and long for this fight. He is just holding on to my belt for now, on the 25th it will go back to its rightful owner. A tough fight for sure ,with toe to toe action.

FightNews: Any other comments you have for your fans at FightNews?

Remillard: I want to thank FightNews for taking the time to interview me, CES and Jimmy Burchfield along with Team Remillard , Bob Trieger and Bret Hallenback. You can look forward to an exciting fight, with the WBC Youth featherweight title wrapped around my waist where it belongs!

. . . . . . .

Don’t miss the action on Friday, January 25th at the Fox Theatre in Foxwoods Resort Casino, in Mashantucket, Connecticut! The main event features a heavyweight battle between Jason “Big Six” Estrada against former world title challenger Charles Shufford plus seven additional exciting undercards. Tickets for “Champions of Tomorrow” are priced at $40, $65, $100 and $150 (Jimmy’s Platinum Club) and may be purchased by calling CES at 401-724-2253 or 401-724-2254), or going online at cesboxing.com or at foxwoods.com. Doors open at 6pm and the first bout is at 7pm.