Tuesday, March 09, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Mesi out to boost image with critics

Heavyweight has thrived vs. lesser opponents

By KEVIN IOLE
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Jack Mesi is, in many ways, the typical Little League father. He protects the interests of his son, unbeaten heavyweight contender Joe Mesi, with the ferocity of a Rottweiler.

If anyone messes with Joe Mesi and the carefully thought-out plan for his career, they'll have to deal with Jack Mesi, who serves as his son's manager.

But when Jack Mesi says, "Joe is exactly what the heavyweight division has been looking for for a long time," it's hard to disagree.

The younger Mesi is good-looking, personable, accessible and, perhaps most of all, he can punch. The public loves punchers and there is little question that Mesi, who has 25 knockouts among his 28 consecutive wins, has knockout power in both hands.

But Mesi has hardly been adopted nationally the way he has been in his hometown of Buffalo, N.Y., where he is regarded as a champion.

And that has as much to do with the quality of his opponents as it does the quality of his skills. Mesi has beaten up a collection of C-level fighters and struggled in his last bout against Monte Barrett, the best known of any of his opponents.

Mesi, who will fight former cruiserweight champion Vassiliy Jirov at Mandalay Bay on Saturday, said he knows he has to close the credibility gap with the media and fans over the quality of his opposition.

"There are a lot of people who think I should have moved my career on a little quicker," said Mesi, who has yet to defeat anyone ranked in the top 10. "We took the slow route. There's no hiding that. But it was with good reason. I got a late start and I wasn't as experienced as a lot of these guys.

"But it doesn't matter now, in my opinion. I'm 30 and I'm coming into my prime and I'm ready for those big fights. If you ask me, things have worked out as well as we could have hoped."

Because of his ability to attract a crowd, Mesi has far more options than your average heavyweight. A fight at Buffalo's Ralph Wilson Stadium is being considered for the summer, as is a bout in Italy, which would be a tribute to Mesi's Italian heritage.

Mesi, who is fighting for the first time in Las Vegas, said he wants to fight around the world. It is a route Muhammad Ali took -- the legendary former heavyweight champion fought in 10 countries on four continents -- with great success.

The exposure can only help, Mesi said, though he admitted that ultimately, his career will be rated by what he's able to do in the ring. There is the chance that he is simply the latest in the line of over-hyped heavyweights.

"I believe I can fight and I truly believe I will one day win the heavyweight championship of the world," Mesi said. "But having said that, I understand I have to do it. It means nothing for people to hear me say it. This is a performance business and it's up to me to perform.

"I wasn't at my best against Monte, and though there are reasons for that, I'm not going to complain and have people say I'm making excuses.

"At the end of the day, I think I'll be proven right. But the pressure is on me to do it. I understand that. And I can't wait to show everyone."