Laboda, Rice Street Featured in Somerset
Kliewer, Patraw, Morales, Kilfian and more in action
January 23rd, 2008
By Jesse Kelley

The Rice Street Gym will feature some of their top talent at Mac Daddies Bar in Somerset, WI this Friday night.
One of those featured fighters will be jr. middleweight Jon Laboda of Saint Paul. Laboda made his pro debut just over a year ago, destroying Shirome Baltcher in front of nearly 10,000 fans in Mnpls on the undercard to the Tony Bonsante/Matt Vanda showdown.
MinnesotaBoxing.com caught up with Laboda during a workout some time ago to recap his first pro fight and also talk about a possible fight with Corey Rodriquez. It has since been reported that Laboda will be facing boxer/mma fighter Terry Vanier this Friday.

Could you recap your fight with Baltcher?
Yeah, I just went out there thinking it was going to be a first round knockout. I took my time with my punches at first. I looked at my dad and he gave the thumbs down so I sped things up to take him out. I got the quick stoppage but didn't get the knockout punch I was looking for. It ended in the first round though so it was good.

Baltcher weighed seven pounds more then you at weigh-ins. You still took the fight without hesitation. Talk about why his advantage didn't bother you.
I just figured I had more experience then him so it didn't really matter. I got the win and that is all that matters.

Talk about what it was like to make your pro debut in front of nearly 10,000 people.
That was probably the most people I had ever fought in front of. I was a little nervous. It was my first pro fight which was why I took on an easier opponent.

That fight was back in January. Why such a long layoff?
Yeah I just had a lot of stuff going on in life in general. Making money and all that. If I can start making more money with boxing then that is what I would like to do. I probably only trained for two weeks for that fight so I probably wasn't in the best condition. As long as I can start making some money then I can put the time into it.

There has been talk of you and Corey Rodriquez facing off in what would be an interesting matchup. Let's talk about that fight a little. He stated in an interview with us recently that he would like fight you at 147. Is that fight you want?
Yeah, I would love to fight him. Actually, I was trying to get a fight with him before I turned pro. I don't ever remember calling him out, maybe my dad did, but it's not a big deal. If he wants to fight then I will fight him.

Would 147 be good for you?
Yeah I like 147, I feel good at that weight. I really don't know anything about what kind of a fighter he is. I just want to fight whoever wants to fight!

Full Lineup
In the nights main event, Bobby Kliewer takes on Frank Johnson in what should be an exciting rematch. The pair fought to a draw in April of 2006.
Brad Patraw will face Lloyd Mckinney in a featherweight battle.
Amateur standout Sam Morales makes his pro debut against Alex Stringer.
Harley Kilfian returns fresh off of his ko victory over James Taylor to face Ray Walker.
John Turner will square off with Dion Henderson.