Making of a champion

By Dave Ricci

On Friday, October 18, at HSBC Arena, Buffalo’s "Baby" Joe Mesi will face his toughest challenge to date in the form of David Izon. Simply put, a win over the 34-year-old Izon (27-4, 23 knockouts) will move Mesi closer to the top ten ranking. If he loses, Mesi will suffer a damaging set back. Cliché as this statement is, the fight with Izon is the make-or-break bout of Joe’s career.

Despite the wins and the seemingly steady improvement in his career, Mesi continues to face a stream of criticism. No matter how well Mesi performs or whom he’s fought, some people find ways to downplay his success. They’ll knock the quality of his opponent and say he hasn’t fought a legitimate name fighter. They look at Team Mesi’s methodical approach and think that they’re handpicking pushovers to pad Joe’s record. Joe feels this bout with Izon will silence the critics. Joe said, "We’ve been taking our time. That’s no secret, but that’s coming to an end now. We’re fighting David Izon; we’re going to beat him. Then go on to face some top-ten [ranked] guys. So that criticism should be over with. We waited until I was ready, and I’m ready."

Trainer Juan DeLeon, noted Mesi’s progress was pretty much a case of "damned if they do, damned if they don’t." DeLeon said, "If you rush them too fast, people are going to say ‘oh you rushed him.’ If you go slower, people will say, ‘oh you’re going too slow.’" Juan makes a valid point. Why rush Joe? What would they have gained by placing him in fights that were too much too soon? Had they rushed him, Joe might have suffered a devastating early loss. Joe’s career would have been over before it started. People can disagree and criticize if they want, but apparently Team Mesi has made the correct moves so far.

The really interesting thing about Mesi is how the public reacts to him. Half the city seems to think he’s a God, the other half seems to be tired of hearing his name. His fans are having the time of their life as they watch Joe travel down a path they feel will take him to the heavyweight championship. Others sit back with a smug look on their face and wait for the collapse. It’s not my job to like or dislike Mesi. I must admit I’ve been on both sides of the fence. Sometimes I think "How good is he? No one’s really tested him." Other times I think, "Wow! Wouldn’t it be something if he did win the heavyweight title?"

The question I’m posing now is, why aren’t more people behind "Baby" Joe Mesi? Maybe it’s jealousy. Maybe it’s just good old fashioned Buffalo cynicism. Some people think our fair city is cursed and nothing really good will ever happen here. Maybe it’s fear. After suffering numerous heartbreaks following our local sports teams, maybe some people just can’t stand the thought of another disappointment. I don’t know. Maybe our resident Sports and Leisure Magazine psychologist, Peter Sacco, can figure it out.
When you get right down to it, what’s not to like about him? Seriously, he’s a local guy who’s cast in the blue-collar mold that we pride ourselves in. He works hard. He has a strong dedication and love for his friends and family. Few people express their love for our region the way Joe does. Somewhat ironic that most of the Mesi criticism is found in his backyard. "I’m levelheaded enough to know that you can’t please everybody. I know no matter who I fight there’s going to be something written or said that isn’t positive," said Joe.

Not quite as easygoing on the topic, Joe’s father Jack Mesi had this to say: "Negative comments don’t bother us at all. They’re mostly coming from one or two guys who don’t understand what we’re doing. The negativity isn’t based in intelligent thinking. They don’t know what they’re talking about." Joe knows he can’t be consumed with outside voices. He’s prepared for anything that might come his way as he reaches for his goal.

Gene Vukelick, a co-founder of the Ringleaders, feels Mesi has a special charisma. Regardless of what his boxing future holds, Vukelick believes Mesi is destined for something big. Vukelick said, "I can see Joe becoming a very large public figure. With his reputation, presence, integrity and articulation, I can see him running for public office. I can see him being a U.S. Congressman. He’s got that kind of charisma and dedication."

Who knows what the future holds for Joe Mesi? Maybe we should get behind him; hey, who knows? I’ve talked with a lot of people who aren’t completely "sold" on "Baby" Joe Mesi. Most seem to like him. They wish him luck and hope he succeeds. But for some reason they aren’t ready to believe. They don’t know if Mesi really is good, or if he just looks good compared to whom he’s fighting? They need to see more from him. They’re waiting for him to pass a test before they fully commit.

On October 18, "Baby" Joe Mesi will take that test.