Goodman Returns Tomorrow Night
By Jesse Kelley

Minneapolis heavyweight Van Goodman (2-1, 1KO) will box at the Grand Casino in Hinckley, MN tomorrow night.
Although Goodman only has three pro fights, he is known to be a veteran around the gyms in the state of Minnesota. Boxing as an amateur since 1994, he has spent the last 14 years perfecting his style and gaining experience fighting all over the country.
For his last fight, Goodman was set to face Boris Shishporenok in Rochester last April. Moments before the fighters were to be introduced, it was announced that Goodman was not allowed to compete by the medical staff.
Goodman took the time to talk about what happened that night, his bout tomorrow night against Emerson Chasing Bear and much more...

 

Can you talk about how you got into the sport of boxing?
WELL MY GRANDFATHER TOOK ME TO MEET A RELATIVE THAT WE HAD THAT TAUGHT BOXING AFTER I WAS GETTING INTO TROUBLE STREETFIGHTING ALOT. SO AFTER SEEING THAT, MY CURSE WAS ALSO MY TALENT (FIGHTING). HE INTRODUCED ME TO CURTIS BUCKANAGA WHO RAN WHAT NOW IS THE UMAIC UPPER MIDWEST INDIAN CENTER BOXING CLUB. I STARTED TRAINING IN 93, HAD MY FIRST FIGHT IN 94 AND MY NEXT 30+ FIGHTS WITH CURT. I WAS ALSO TRAINED BY JERRY BUCKANAGA. HE WAS MY PRIMARY TRAINER AFTER JERRY'S PASSING. I MOVED ON TO WHAT WAS CALLEDCAMDEN BOXING GYM AT THE TIME RAN BY GEORGE GLOVER AND PAPA JOE DASKIEWICZ. THE FIRST DAY I JUMPED IN THE RING AND HELD MY OWN AGAINST PAPA JOE'S PRO HEAVYWEIGHTS. HE SAW SOMETHING IN ME AND SNATCHED ME UNDER HIS WING RIGHT AWAY. THATS HOW I INTRODUCED MYSELF TO PAPA JOE. HE STARTED TRAINING ME FROM THAT POINT ON. I HAD MY NEXT 30+ FIGHTS WITH PAPA JOE. MY RECORD WAS 53-26-0 AS AN AMATER SAYS MY USA BOXING PASSBOOKS. I WAS A 4 TIME UPPER MIDWEST SUPER HEAVYWEIGHT FINALIST,USA BOXING 2000 MN STATE HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMP,2001 USA BOXING 4 STATE FINALIST AS A SUPER HEAVYWEIGHT,JUNIOR OLYMPIC REGIONAL CHAMP AT HEAVYWEIGHT. IVE BEATIN NATIONAL CHAMPIONS AS AN AMATEUR. WHEN PAPA JOE PASSED I DECIDED TO TURN PRO WITH PETE AND CHUCK DASKIEWICZ.

This will be your fourth fight as a pro. Talk about your pro career to this point.
AFTER ALL THESE YEARS I AM STILL LEARNING AND ADDING TO MY STYLE. I MADE A MISTAKE IN MY FIRST PRO FIGHT BECAUSE I TOOK IT ON ONE MONTHS NOTICE. PRIOR TO THAT I WASNT TRAINING AND I MADE THE BIG MISTAKE OF UNDER ESTIMATING MY OPPONENT. IT WASNT UNTIL A COUPLE OF WEEKS INTO TRAINING FOR THE FIGHT THAT I FOUND OUT WHO HE WAS. I WAS LIKE "JUSTIN EILERS......I JUST SAW THE GUY CHALLENGE ANDRE ARLOVSKI FOR THE UFC HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE! BUT I FOUGHT ON, SHOWING EVERYONE I WILL FIGHT ANYONE AT ANY TIME. HE WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND I JUST LEARNED THE HARD WAY AND RAN OUT OF GAS. BUT IN THAT FIGHT, I LEARNED SO MUCH. I TOOK WHAT I LEARNED INTO MY NEXT 2 FIGHTS AND WON THEM BOTH EASY BY KNOCKOUT. THAT LESSON WAS CONDITIONING AND IM IN GREAT CONDITION NOW.

Where do you want to go in boxing?
I WANT TO EARN MY PLACE IN BOXING HISTORY. WIN EVERY FIGHT FROM HERE ON OUT. EVEN THE GREAT BERNARD HOPKINS LOST HIS PRO DEBUT AND LOOK HOW HE TURNED OUT

What do you know about your opponent Emerson Chasing Bear?
HE'S TALL, HAS SOME EXPERIENCE, HE'S RIGHT HANDED,UNDEFEATED SO FAR BUT THAT'S ONLY BECAUSE HE HASEN'T FOUGHT ME YET!

You were set to face Boris Shishporenok in April. Moments leading up to the fight it was announced you were unable to fight. What happened?
WELL BECAUSE OF ALL THE HYPE BEFORE THE FIGHT, I LET MY EMOTIONS GET THE BEST OF ME. ALSO THE FACT I GOT MY PHYSICAL SO CLOSE TO FIGHT TIME WITH MY ADRENALIN PUMPIN I JUST COULDNT GET MY BLOOD PRESSURE DOWN ENOUGH SO THE DOCTOR WOULDN'T LET ME FIGHT.

Style wise, a fight with Boris could be fun. Is that a fight you still want? What are your thoughts on him as a boxer?
YES. HE'S UNDEFEATED AND I WANNA BE THE FIRST TO BEAT HIM. AS A MAN, I REALLY HAVE NO BEEF WITH HIM. I HEAR HE'S A REALLY NICE DUDE. AS A FIGHTER I THINK HE IS ONE OF THE STRONGEST DUDES I'VE EVER SEEN BOX. HE HAS ALOT OF POTENTIAL. I WORKOUT AT THE SAME GYM AT THE SAME TIME SO I CAN SEE HIS WEAKNESS' AND HIS STRENGTH'S. HE'S AKWARD BUT EFFECTIVE IN HIS AKWARDNESS AND HE TRAINS EVERYDAY SO I GOTTA RESPECT THAT.

How about the rest of the Minnesota heavyweights?
WELL HONESTLY I'VE ALREADY FOUGHT MOST OF MN HEAVYWEIGHTS AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER EITHER AS A PRO OR AMATEUR. I ALSO SPAR WITH THEM SO IM KINDA SICK OF FIGHTING THE SAME DUDES AND WOULD LIKE TO TAKE MY SHOW ON THE ROAD. MOST OF MINNESOTA'S HEAVYWEIGHTS WON'T FIGHT ME ANYWAYS. I KNOW BECAUSE FOR YEARS WEVE BEEN TRYING AND THEY ALL SAY NO.

Have you been offered fights out of state?
OF COURSE WEVE HAD SOME BIG PROMOTERS CALL US RECENTLY BUT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN RIGHT. NOT ENOUGH TIME OR IM ALREADY COMMITED TO A FIGHT

Anything you would like to add?
SUPPORT MN BOXING AND ITS FIGHTERS WE PUT OURSELVES THROUGH HELL TRAINING EVERYDAY TO ENTERTAIN THE FANS. ALSO GET YOUR TICKETS FOR JUNE 6!

Friday Night Fights at the Grand Casino, Hinckley Events & Convention Center
June 6, 2008 First bout at 7:30 p.m.
General - $20 & $35, VIP - $55