Mayweather's pal backs Pacquiao rematch

GRAND RAPIDS – Four-time world kickboxing champion Dino Newville, who manages a gym supported by Floyd Mayweather Sr. in this Michigan city, said the other day a rematch between newly-crowned WBA welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. will erase doubts on the outcome of their first meeting, insisting it should happen “for the good of the sport” before they finally retire.

Newville, 57, said he scored 197 knockouts in 251 kickboxing bouts, winning four world titles along the way and performing before thousands of fans in Japan and Thailand. He tried his luck in traditional boxing but could only register a 4-10 record, with four KO, until retiring from the ring in 2001.

Newville is executive director of Blues Gym, a three-storey facility that is non-profit and faith-based. He’s straightened his life out after serving time in jail and overcoming a drug addiction. Newville suffers from Parkinson’s syndrome but it won’t stop him from bringing kids out of the streets to his gym where they learn boxing and do Bible study. “It’s all about God,” he said. “After I got evicted from my previous gym because I couldn’t pay the bills, God led me to this abandoned church which I’ve transformed into a haven for kids.”

Newville said he welcomes about 400 youngsters weekly to the gym, where he lives with his wife. “They’re our children,” he said. “We wouldn’t be able to do what we’re doing without God.” Newville’s supporters include Mayweather Sr., sports announcer and Marine veteran Johnny Ortiz, Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss and Grand Rapids chief of police David Rahinsky. Mayweather Sr. donated $100,000 last December to furnish the gym with two rings, speedballs, heavy bags, double-end balls, treadmills, barbells and weights. 

“Grand Rapids has a rich tradition in boxing, starting from former world middleweight champion Stanley Ketchel who fought from 1903 to 1910,” said Newville. “The Mayweathers come from Grand Rapids. Former heavyweights Tony Tucker and Buster Mathis were also from Grand Rapids.” The city is Michigan’s second largest, next only to Detroit. The late US President Gerald Ford was from Grand Rapids. Mayweather Sr. used to train Newville and they’ve kept in close touch even as the Mayweather family has moved to Las Vegas. “The Mayweathers never forget where they came from,” said Newville.

A Mayweather-Pacquiao rematch would be another box-office hit, particularly as Pacquiao is coming off a sensational knockout win over Lucas Matthysse to win the WBA welterweight crown, said Newville. “Pacquiao fought Floyd with a bad shoulder so he deserves another shot,” he said. “A rematch would be awesome. I don’t think Floyd can knock out Pacquiao so my prediction is Floyd wins another decision. The only way Pacquiao wins is by knockout and we know how hard it is to hit Floyd. Age won’t mean anything. They’re both matured fighters and I think fans will want to see them fight again.”

One of Newville’s boxing coaches Tiffany Gonzales said a rematch would be a 50-50 proposition. “They’ll put on a show because they’re both great fighters,” the 35-year-old mother of two said. “It’ll be a fight for the fans. I’d love for it to happen again.” Gonzales and her husband Edward help out Newville in the gym. Their daughter Joscaleyn, 10, fights in the 10-12 age group that the Blues Gym and Ortiz arrange competitions for. The Gonzaleses, Thomas Smith, Alfredo Barajas and Preston Sain are among the gym’s coaches. Some 20 pros train regularly at the facility which also has classes for kickboxing and karate.

The gym is open Monday to Friday from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. “Fill the gym, not the prisons,” said Newville. Ortiz added, “If this gym door closes, there’s going to be a lot of kids that are going to be forgotten about and they’re going to turn to drugs.” The gym also has a Christian library of books. “Reading strengthens the mind,” said Newville. 

Newville said he has reached out to Pacquiao. “I know he’s a fighter and a Christian and he preaches God’s Word,” he said. “It’s also who I am.” Newville sent over a Blues Gym sweatshirt and a pair of Blues Gym training gloves to Pacquiao as a gesture of his admiration.