Peter ‘Kid Chocolate’ Quillin
Training in NYC instead of LA for
Apr. 19 WBO title defense vs. Lukas Konecny
Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin has always enjoyed helping kids. Now, he’s awaiting the birth of his first child
NEW YORK CITY (April 2, 2014) – Due to family considerations, undefeated World Boxing Organization (WBO) middleweight champion of the World, Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin (30-0, 22 KOs), is training at home in New York City instead of Los Angeles for his April 19 world title defense, airing live on SHOWTIME, against No. 2 ranked Czech challenger Lukas Konecny (50-4, 23 KOs).
Quillin vs. Konecny is part of the Golden Boy Promotions event, sponsored by Corona and AT&T, and headlined by the world light heavyweight unification fight between IBF champion Bernard “The Alien” Hopkins and WBA title-holder Beibut Shumenov. The live SHOWTIME telecast will begin at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) and be available in Spanish via secondary audio programming (SAP).
Quillin has trained in L.A. for his last eight fights, including three world championship bouts, since he signed a promotional contract with Golden Boy Promotions in 2010. The 30-year-old Quillin decided to stay at home in Brooklyn and train at the famed Gleason’s Gym and Trinity Gym because his wife, Allison, is pregnant with their first child.
In the middle of training camp for his last fight, his 10-round stoppage of Gabriel Rosado last October, Allison suffered a miscarriage five months into her pregnancy. Quillin was 3000 miles away in L.A., unable to comfort his wife, who was home in New York City.
“Marriage (June 15, 2013) has given me structure; I’m fighting for my family, so my kids are much better off than I was growing up,” Quillin explained “Last fight, I was obligated to camp and she had to go through it all without me being there with her. I struggled with it and have worked on being more compassionate. I decided to train at home for this fight so I can be close to her. We’re living separately, though, because she understands the importance of this fight. She’s giving me space to focus on training.”
Quillin’s L.A.-based head trainer, Eric Brown, is working in New York City with “Kid Chocolate,” as well as one of his other fighters, two-time world champion Paulie “Magic Man” Malignaggi, who also lives in Brooklyn. Everything has worked out well because Mallignagi is fighting on the same Apr. 19 card, challenging IBF welterweight champion Shawn Porter (23-0-1, 14 KOs). Brown is splitting duties for both camps, working with Quillin and Malignaggi at the fighter’s respective gym.
Fighting at home also has other advantages for Quillin, who eats organic meals provided daily by Juice Place, and received messages and other forms of physical therapy at Sports Rehab.
“I’m very comfortable training at home,” Quillin added. “I’m with my people from Juice Press, Sports Rehab and other local places. And I’m there for my wife. I’m motivated to turn in my best performance April 19th.”
Tickets priced at $25, $50, $75, $200 and $300, plus applicable taxes, fees and services charges are on sale now and are available online at http://www.ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations or by calling (800) 745-3000. The DC Armory Box Office will be open on fight night only from 3:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. ET.
Header photo by Landry Major/Getty Images
