Walters Aims for Top Ten; Kolle Aims to Quiet Contender’s “Dawg”
As reported by Laura Zink

The Twin Ports has faced a rough road trying to produce world contenders. In a town with an over 120 year boxing history, it is not for a lack of trying. While the Twin Ports boasts non-world title holding Hall of Famers, like Billy Petrole (120-25-14), or ranked contenders, like Don Jasper (23-11-1), who fought former world champions, like Ezzard Charles (90-25-1), Duluth/Superior has, either through bad luck or bad match-timing, missed the mark on rearing true prospects for a world title. But according to manager/trainer Chuck Horton, the tide is finally turning.

“We are in a golden era of boxing in this area that this area has never seen before and will never see again. The stars lined up. It all lined up,” Horton said as he turned away from the TV cameras and looked back to the ring where his pros shadowboxed. “And there you have some of the primo fighters in the Midwest and now the world.”

The stars that Horton has lined up for the fight on June 7th In Superior’s Wessman Arena are WBC-ABU Intercontinental champion, Zach “Jungle Boy” Walters (22-2), Andy “Kaos” Kolle (16-1), Gary “Stone Cold” Eyer (3-0), RJ “T-Rex” Laase (2-0), Tim “Thunder Heart” Taggart (2-0), and Skuli Armannsson. The event dubbed “Playing for Keeps” could be one of the last “Jungle Boy” boxing cards in the Duluth/Superior area for the foreseeable future.

“This is the last fight that we got booked in the area,” Walters said during the May 27th press conference at Horton’s Gym in Duluth. “I don’t know when I’m going to fight here again, so I want to make sure that I go out with a bang.”

So what is his plan to make sure that what may potentially be his last fight in the area honors the fans that have supported him for so many years?

“My game plan is to knock him out,” Walters said with a smile, “Every round, that’s my plan: Knock him out! I want the Twin Ports to have a knockout win to think back on.”

Walters’ plans to fashion the gift of a knockout victory over Aaron “The Assassin” Norwood (25-9-2) stem from a potential raise in rankings, which may take his boxing career and his fights outside the state. By defeating Mississippi’s Norwood, Walters’ rank will reach into the top ten in the world.

“We’re fighting for the WBA America title. I’m already in the WBC because of my last fight, and that put me in at 17 in the world. Now by being in the WBA rankings, it ups my chances at getting that world title shot,” Walters commented, “I’m going to advance from two different belts. I guess this next fight coming up I feel for the first time that I’m in a position of leadership. Aaron Norwood has proven himself to be a legitimate opponent for me,” Walters said, “Instead of me having to prove myself, he’s proven himself.”

The co-main event features Andy “Kaos” Kolle fighting Contender alum, Jonathan “Reid Dawg” Reid (34-9), whose camp, Horton is none-too-pleased with. Allegedly, Camp Reid has spent some of their camp time maligning Kolle.

“The insults are gonna stop,” Horton said, “Jonathan Reid is going to be dealt with. I’ve never been so mad at any fighter that we’ve had come into our town…ever. And I’ve been doing this for a number of years. I’ve never wanted my guy to pound the hell out of somebody so bad as this right here.”

When asked about the effect of the trash talking on him, Kolle had this to say:
“Oh yeah, I hear about it through my team, and it keeps me motivated in the gym everyday. My last opponent, Matt Vanda, he trash talked through the whole fight. And I guess we all know how that ended. So it doesn’t always work to their benefit.”

Kolle promised that the disparaging speech outside the ring will not have any impact on his behavior once he is inside the ring. What will have an impact on his ring performance is the constant training he has been embarking on since last January when he moved up to Duluth from Fargo, North Dakota. Kolle has not yet been able to use this past year’s training in the ring. Since January, Kolle has faced two cancelled bouts, one due to a hand injury and one due to organizational difficulties.

“I’ve been in camp since January just busting my butt and trying to be in shape for each on the those fights, and now it’s all pouring into this one,” Kolle said, “So all the anger I had, and all that extra energy I got, is all going into this fight.”

Also on the card are Gary “Stone Cold” Eyer, RJ “T-Rex” Laase, Tim “Thunder Heart” Taggart, and Skuli Armannsson. Eyer memorably entered the ring last February to Boy George’s “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?” while donning Hatton-length rainbow tie-dye trunks, which, of course, also had white fringe. Eyer is sure to stage another somewhat shockingly comedic entrance, and follow it up with another display of his technically polished boxing. Eyer faces Terrance Trottier Jr. (0-2) from Bismarck, North Dakota. Lasse, showing in his second pro bout last February his eagerness to not only out box, but out gall his opponents in the ring, faces Mike Davis (0-4) from Grand Forks.

“Gary and RJ, I raised those kids, you know?” Horton said. “They were little kids when they came in this gym, and now they are undefeated professionals.”

The newest additions to team Horton are Native American boxer, Tim Taggart, who, according to Horton, not only had a successful amateur career as a boxer, but was also an accomplished football player and track star. Taggart faces Minneapolis’ Jon Schmidt (4-1). Armansson, who is an Icelandic heavyweight, will be making his pro debut against ex-MMA fighter, Jake Betz (2-2).

“These guys are gonna amaze and daze you,” Horton said of the undercard fighters. “These guys are the best up and coming fighters in the Midwest area. You are looking at guys who aren’t just the best in Minnesota or Wisconsin. I’m talking about the best in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, South and North Dakota, Chicago, and soon to be Missouri if we get our way fighting in St. Louis this summer.”