Enter The Sandman
By Jesse Kelley
5-29-09

 

Menominee, Wisconsin's Harley Kilfian is looking to claim a place among Minnesota boxing's elite names. Although the fighter is proud to represent his Wisconsin roots, the majority of boxing action between the two states has been in Minnesota. And according to his manager Scott Robinson, that is where Kilfian has spent most of his time fighting over the years.

Kilfian made his professional debut in October of 2007 against 200+ MN amateur boxing veteran James Taylor at the Grand Casino in Hinckley, MN. Kilfian, who also represented Minnesota in the golden gloves, put on an entertaining fight with Taylor in their first of two meetings that night but lost a 4 round decision. However, Kilfian says that he was not 100% in that fight.

"Only a few people close to me know that I got sick about 3 days before and I had no power going into that fight. I was just drained but I was really proud after the fight even with losing because of the way I finished the fight."

Four months later, Kilfian would get the chance to reverse the loss to Taylor. In-between fights with Taylor, Kilfian recorded 2 first round KO wins over Joe Pecor and Travis McCollugh. Riding high off the two victories, "The Sandman" put Taylor to sleep in the opening round in the rematch that came to be under unusual circumstances.

"The second fight happened because his opponent fell through and they called me in with only 9 hours notice." Said Kilfian.
"I took about an hour debating it with my wife and few other people. We had gone out the night before and I had a few beers and a couple shots for the first time since my wife gave birth to our second daughter. I was training so that was not a problem though. I am always training so I decided to take the fight. I knew I had to make a statement and I also knew he had never felt my full power. I caught him with a nice right hand in the first round, I felt good that day."

Kilfian picked up two more wins in Somerset, WI before returning to Minnesota to face MN lightheavyweight gatekeeper Marty Lindquist in June of 2008. Lindquist was just returning from being out of action for sometime due to personal issues. But regardless of Lindquist's layoff, it would be Kilfian's toughest test and biggest win in his short pro career.

"We knew going in that he could hit. But we didn't think he would be in good shape, and he wasn't so we capitalized."

Kilfian out-punched Lindquist in an exciting first round and dropped the breathless "Wolfman" 3 times in the second round where the bout was stopped.

Next up for Kilfian was South Dakota heavyweight Emerson Chasing Bear (3-0-1 at the time). Kilfian fought 9 pounds above any other weight he had previously fought at and still hit the scales 13 pounds less then Chasing Bear the day of the fight. Kilfian seemed to hold a slight edge in meaningful punches but Chasing Bear ended up grabbing the decision.

"I thought the decision was bullshit." Kilfian said bluntly. "The weight wasn't even an issue. It should have been a draw at worst. I didn't stay busy but those scores were crazy (56-60 and 59-54 twice). He did fight a smart fight by backing up the whole fight I guess. I was a cruiserweight but he had me by 13 pounds. I am used to being outweighed in fights though. I ate like crazy for a week leading up to the fight. It took me a couple days to except that loss.

Most recently, Kilfian took a rematch with Marty Lindquist in Minneapolis last April to prove that the previous win was not due to Lindquist's condition, or lack thereof. Lindquist had been in the gym preparing hard to get revenge and even the score with Kilfian. Kilfian would go on to win in spectacular fashion as writer Brett Mauren described the action from ringside...
"In what may have been the most action packed bout of the night, crowd favorite Marty “Wolfman” Lindquist succumbed to the younger, stronger, Harley Kilfian. Lindquist put a valiant effort forth, pushing the attack to the inside, but fell victim to a number of hooks and body shots that were amplified by Kilfian’s length, and leverage. After two and a half rounds of pressure fighting, a big right hand created an opening for Kilfian to land a well structured barrage that dropped Lindquist for the count." - Brett Mauren

Kilfian also recounts the bout:
"The second fight with Lindquist was a little different then the first. He would be coming into the fight ready and in better shape this time. The first round we went out and wanted to see what he had and to get my jab working. The second round he tried to bully and push me into the ropes. He was stronger this time around but I knew if I landed a good shot, that would be it. At the end of the third round, that's what happened."

Despite the loss to Chasing Bear, Kilfian's destruction of both Taylor and twice Lindquist catapulted his name into discussions of possible showdown's with other marquee names in Minnesota, particularly lightheavyweights Phil Williams and Zach Walters. At 8-2, a fight with either man might be a little off in the distance but Kilfian says that a fight with either man is on his radar.

"I think both are good fighters for the state of Minnesota. Zach has the experience and Phil hits crazy hard. A fight with Phil is more likely to happen sooner than Zach."

As for what's next, Kilfian was set to face Northern Minnesota's Brad Croaker in Mehnomen, MN on June 6th. But Croaker (3-0-1) had only fought once since 2003 and is taking on Marty Lindquist first instead. If Croaker is successful in that bout, Kilfian says he and Croaker have a verbal agreement to face off later this year.
Kilfian could possibly be fighting in Moundsview, MN on June 13th according to Robinson and will be headlining a card in Wisconsin on August 29th, both of which are promoted by Seconds Out. So Kilfian could have a busy 2009 if things work out which he says would be a welcome change.

"I would love to be on every show but fights have to make sense. I would like to get 5 or 6 fights in by the end of the year, I just want to stay busy."