Main Street Boxing’s Anthony Pegues begins his campaign later this month to annex the 178 lb Novice laurels in the upcoming New York Golden Gloves competition. Pegues hopes to erase last year’s bitter disappointment, when he was eliminated in the second round in a highly questionable decision.
A native of New Rochelle, Pegues graduated in 2007 from New Rochelle High School. Having but a passing interest in the fight game, Anthony envisioned glory on the gridiron. He played two years on the varsity football team at New Rochelle, culminating as a starting linebacker for the 2006 Hugenots. He compiled eleven tackles, two sacks, and two fumble recoveries, helping the Hugenots seize the Section championship. The season regrettably ended with a loss to Monroe-Woodbury in the first round of the State playoffs, leaving his team with a 9-1 record.
With the opening of Main Street Boxing and Fitness (310 Main Street, New Rochelle) in July 2009, Pegues became a member of the boxing team, quickly adapting to the sport. The rigorous football training drills prepared him well for boxing’s Spartan training regimen. Even more useful to him was the mental toughness, alertness, and intelligence essential to the linebacker position. Pegues entered the 178 lb Novice competition in the 2010 Golden Gloves and lost a disputed decision to Luis Cintron of Cops N Kids. Pegues remains philosophical about the loss, “since the same thing happened to [Cintron] in his next fight.”
After completing his part-time custodial duties in the New Rochelle school system , Anthony trains several hours a day at the gym, including the usual routine of roadwork, jumping rope, heavy bag, speed bag, and shadow boxing. Three times a week he engages in sparring sessions with teammates. He works on hand and foot speed with team co-captain, 135 lb. phenom Bryant “Pee Wee” Cruz. He also spars with neophyte light heavyweight professional Owen Radway as well as 201+ lb. teammates Dwayne July and Jonathon “Lennox” Jenkins.
Ryan O’Leary, head trainer at Main Street Boxing, is laudatory of Anthony on a personal level. “Anthony is a quiet guy who does his work, listens well, and is humble. He never misses a day of training. He is a born leader and is very positive. He is respectful of his opponents and never talks trash. Not surprisingly, he was named our team captain.”
On a fistic level, O’Leary notes that Anthony possesses tremendous power, particularly in his right hand, dubbing him “Right Hand Ant’”. Even though his blows may appear ponderous at times, they conceal a deceptive strength. “He wears down his opponents and goes right to the openings, whether to the body or head.” As well as his right hand, Anthony feels a growing confidence in his defensive skills and his counterpunching strategy. While displaying a stiff left jab, he has been working on “not letting it hang out there so long”, and leaving himself open for counter right hands.
Anthony has been compared to Evander Holyfield in style and demeanor, but surprisingly enough, the courteous, laconic Pegues’ favorite pugilist is the foppishly tactless Floyd “Pretty Boy” Mayweather. He admires the boxer-puncher’s ability to “outsmart his opponents” and to hit without being hit. Closer to home, New Rochelle gridiron legend Ray Rice’s improbable success story serves as a much greater inspiration to Pegues.
His stellar performance occurred last month against White Plains Gym’s undefeated Raymond Hunt. The fearsome Hunt had applied the punch soporific upon all of his prior opponents. According to O’Leary, “Hunt’s coach specifically wanted Anthony for his fighter. Anthony outclassed him, and landed clean shots throughout. The referee stopped the fight in the second round after Hunt bled excessively from his nose.”
Thusfar, Pegues has logged a record of 8-1. He remains in the Novice Division for this year’s competition, as ten fights would have advanced him into the Open Division. Anthony does not look beyond the tournament and does not speculate about a professional boxing career. For various reasons, Anthony did not pursue further education upon graduating high school. He hopes to resume an academic pathway in the near future, most likely at a local community college. If his boxing experience is any indication, he should be a quick study.
To inquire about membership in Main Street Fitness and Boxing and its various exercise programs, please call 914-636-2811 or contact owner Michael Stellate at michael@mainstreetboxing.com or Ryan O’Leary at ryan@mainstreetboxing.com.
