Orange County pro boxer gets title shot

On Dec. 6, Orange County resident and professional boxer, Cody “The Kid” Richard (11-0 with 6 KO’s) will be traveling to Pensacola, Florida to fight for the vacant WBC Continental Americas Title vs 2-time world champion Derrick “Smoke” Gainer (43-7 with 25 KO’s) at the Interstate Fairgrounds in Pensacola. This will be a major step-up in competition for Richard. This has been a busy year for the 23 year old senior at Lamar University. He has fought five other times in 2012 and hopes to end the year with a major title.

Growing up as an amatuer boxer, Richard idolized Gainer watching him win two world titles on TV. “The first time I saw him fight he caught my eye because he is a southper fighter like I am,” said Richard. “I never thought I’d be fighting him, much less for a title.”

Richard, who trains at the Golden Triangle Boxing Academy, under the direction of his father C.L. Richard, six days a week located at King’s Gym on Donnell street in Orange, said they first got the call to fight Gainer in September in a non-title bout. With only three weeks notice Richard and his team declined the fight. The second call came around the middle of October to fight Gainer, this time in a title fight on Dec. 6. With plenty of notice the two sides entered negotiations and came to an agreement.

Derrick Gainer has been in the ring with world-class competition such as Juan Manuel Marquez and Diego “Chico” Corrales.

In September of 2000, he knocked out Freddie Norwood to win his second world title.

He since retired from boxing in 2010 and is recently come out of retirement on a come-back trail.

Gainer most recently fought this past September, winning by fifth round TKO. “I know with all of his experience the experts have me as an underdog in this fight” said Richard, “but I plan on derailing his comeback.” “I had a great training camp and have trained harder than ever before, we’ve called in some great sparring from out of town as well as my local sparring partners, and I truly feel that I am in the best shape of my life and have never felt more confident in my ability.”

Richard started boxing at age ten and had a stellar amateur career consisting of over 120 amateur fights. He turned pro when he was 19 and is currently undefeated.

Cody’s trainer and father C.L. Richard said that while he knows this is early in Cody’s career for a title fight, he feels that his son is more than ready, as he has tremendously improved this past year. “The toughest things we are going to deal with in this fight will be Gainer’s experience, and fighting in Gainer’s hometown.”

Richard’s WBC Title fight with Gainer can be viewed live online at http://www.ustream.tv/fightcamptv