Former Pro Boxer, Now Trainer/Manager, the Compelling Bobby Rooney, Talks his Background and the Undefeated Floyd Mayweather, Jr. vs. Marcos Maidana WBC/WBA Welterweight Unification Fight
Becoming a professional boxer was not something that happened by chance for Bayonne, New Jersey native Bobby Rooney. His father was a professional boxer and trainer, so you could say it’s all in the family. His dad, Bob Rooney Sr. was actually the chief sparring partner for Chuck Wepner’s historic fight against Muhammad Ali. Mr. Wepner is often mentioned as the fighter who inspired the movie Rocky, starring Sylvester Stallone, which became an enormous movie franchise and is now a Broadway show.
During his professional career, Bobby enjoyed a solid record of 12-3. Though a successful amateur in his teen years, he decided to start a family and did not return to the squared circle as a professional until he was over 30 years old, late by most standards. Age, however, did not stop him. He still had the right stuff.
Having retired at 39, back in 2011 – he went out on a win against an undefeated fighter – today Mr. Rooney trains and manages amateur and professional boxers. In addition to his background as a former amateur and professional boxer, as well as his current role as a trainer and manager, Bob is a serious student of the game. He possesses both broad and deep boxing knowledge. In fact, not since we had the late, great Boxing historian and former editor and publisher of The Ring on CYInterview, Bert Sugar (we miss you Bert; RIP) have we had on someone so knowledgeable about the sweet science [see here].
In the photo above you can see Bobby Rooney, pictured on the right with Mike Tyson in the center and one of Bob’s fighters, heavyweight Tyrell Wright to Iron Mike’s left.
Bobby Rooney joins Chris Yandek and me to give his insights on Saturday nights WBC/WBA unification fight between undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr. and the hard hitting Marcos Maidana.
The audio is must listening for any boxing/sports enthusiast. You can read the highlights and listen to the entire CYInterview below:
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Speaking about his career as a professional boxer and his current work in the sport as a manager and trainer, Bobby tells us this:
“I turned pro in 03 [2003]. I had 15 pro fights. I finished with a record of 12 and 3, seven knockouts. I had my last fight in April 2011. I went out with a win, first round knockout of an undefeated guy who’s probably about 15 years younger than me. I was 39 at the time and you know I decided to hang it up before I turned 40. So now I’m training fighters in the gym that I started in, which is the Bayonne PAL. And I’ve got some professional fighters that I manage and train, got a team of amateurs that I train that we put in tournaments. We just had a really good showing at the 2014 Golden Gloves, I had two champions.”
Giving his thoughts on who will win the fight between undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr. and rough and tumble Marcos Maidana, Mr. Rooney offered his pick:
“I am picking Floyd. I just don’t think that Maidana’s the one. I think he’s probably gonna outbox him. You know, I think Maidana will probably make it rough for a few rounds. He’ll make it rough. He may be aggressive enough, believe it or not, to get himself knocked out. Now the reason I say that is because, if he was a boxer, if he wasn’t such a big puncher and such an aggressive guy, I think Floyd may just outbox him and just outclass him completely. But with a guy [Maidana] like this that is gonna come so viciously and throwing such hard big shots and just coming in recklessly, I think Floyd may wind up knocking him out.”
You can find Bobby Rooney and his client Beetlejuice on Twitter clicking here and here.
You can reach me with your questions and comments at Jay@CYinterview.com