SXMElections.com

PHILIPSBURG--Stephane Earl Duzong will represent the SXM Rock Boxing Club on the pro-am boxing card Eruption in Paradise at L.B. Scott Sports Auditorium May 30.
    Duzong has been in the sport for one year. He trains with former pro St. Maarten fighter Claudette Alexander.  Eruption in Paradise will be his first fight. Duzong grew up playing soccer, but grew out of it.  He fell in love with boxing when he saw it live.  Some friends invited him to watch them box.
    Duzong’s parents were not expecting their son to become a boxer.  A young fighter needs his parents consent to step in the ring.
   “My mom has always been there for me all the time so the only difference it will be, it’s the sport boxing,” said Duzong.  “They tell me every day that they support me.”
    Duzong respects his trainer and does not think of her as a female, but as a boxer.  He explains Alexander has taught him the basics of boxing and they are now working his way into the middleweight category.
    Duzong is a student, is in training for his first fight and now has a part time job. Yet he is not overwhelmed. He balances his life out with all the disciplinary requirements that boxing has. Duzong said because of the love he has for the sport and growing up he’s been going to school and playing soccer, the only new thing is work.
    Duzong also follows the sport. His personal favorite boxers are  undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr. at the top of his list,  Sugary Leonard, Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali and Rocky Marciano.
    Despite concentrating on his own fight, Duzong cannot help think about the upcoming Mayweather-Pacquiao bout also slated for May.
      “Pacquiao has the advantage and is slightly faster, but Mayweather has the counters, the timing and Mayweather is slick.  He continued, “much more slicker than Pacquiao plus I know he’s not going to disappoint his fans, he hasn’t lost a fight yet I know he’s not going to start now.”
  “I very excited,” said Duzong as thoughts of May 30 and Eruption in Paradise returned to the front of his mind. “Sometimes I can’t even sleep at night. I’ll be up just thinking of how it’s going to go down, but at that same time I’m nervous because I don’t want to embarrass anyone.  I have my family, my coach and my teammates routing for me. I really don’t want to lose, but I believe in my training, I’m trying to stay calm and focused, do my best and give it my all. And whoever my opponent is, I HOPE he trains really hard too.”