Karpency brothers return to the ring
The Karpency brothers return to the ring on April 9 at the Meadows Racetrack & Casino, as World Championship Boxing will put on a night of fights.
Tommy, Jeremiah and Dan, who are all trained by their father, Tom Sr., will be in action on the same card for the second time in their careers. The brothers entertained a hometown crowd at the Waterfront Place Hotel in Morgantown, West Virginia, on Jan. 31, 2014, where all three picked up unanimous-decision victories.
Tommy Karpency (25-5-1, 14 KOs) returns to the ring for the first time since Sept. 11, 2015, when he suffered a third-round TKO loss to Adonis Stevenson (27-1-1, 22 KOs) for the WBC light heavyweight championship. Tommy is eager to get back into the ring and show the world that he is still in the upper echelon of boxers.
He meets Paul Gonsalves (9-7-1, 4 KOs) in an eight-round battle at light heavyweight. Gonsalves has won his last two bouts over Jose Humberto Corral (19-19) and Rafael Valenzuela (8-5) by way of unanimous decision and TKO.
“We had a big opportunity there in the fight against Stevenson, but we squandered that and I am still very disappointed and upset about it, but you have to learn from your mistakes and move on,” Tommy Karpency said. “All three of us have had a really good camp and been pushing each other to be ready come fight night. I am ready to go in there and get a big win so I can move up the rankings again and get my name back there as a top contender.”
Even with the loss to Stevenson, he is still ranked No. 20 in the world and No. 3 in the United States for light heavyweights by BoxRec. Prior to the setback on Sept. 11, Tommy Karpency had set himself up in good position with four straight wins by defeating Rayco Saunders twice, Dhafir Smith and former world champion Chad Dawson. The victory over Dawson put him in talks with Stevenson’s camp.
Karpency will be defending his WBA-NABA USA lightheavyweight title, and knows that Gonsalves will be coming into the bout looking to not only take his belt but his spot in the rankings as well.
“The pressure is definitely going to be on me because he doesn’t have anything to lose, but I am very prepared and never take anyone lightly,” he said. “It is a fight that I have to win. That is what it comes down to. We will be ready to fight.”
Tommy Karpency is excited and admits to being nervous when he fights on the same card as his brothers, but is pleased with how his camp has gone and knows that all his fans will come out to support him and his brothers.
“It is an exciting thing but it is also difficult because you have the pre-fight anxieties for your own fight and then you are just as nervous when you are watching your brothers fight,” he said. “We go down there to first win our fight, and then we worry about each other after our fight is over. It is also great for the area because everyone can go down and see us on the same card, which doesn’t happen very often.”
Jeremiah hasn’t been in the ring since Nov. 21, 2014, and the undefeated heavyweight is ready to take out all his frustration on veteran Mike Sheppard (24-19-1, 10 KOs).
“I know the fights will come but it can be stressful and frustrating when you are in the gym getting beaten up and not being able to get into the ring,” Jeremiah said. “I think I just need a couple of more fights to start to get the bigger ones. I am coming into this one to win. I really think all three of us have a great chance to win, but it will be tough.”
Jeremiah Karpency will enter the ring at 12-0 with four KOs. Karpency and Sheppard have one common opponent in Cullen Rodgers, whom both fighters defeated with Jeremiah Karpency winning by TKO and Sheppard earning a unanimous decision.
He knows he has to be ready for a tough fight with a veteran that has tremendous power.
“I’ve sparred with him and seen him fight, and he has a very hard right hand and I have to be prepared for that,” Jeremiah Karpency said. “If a heavyweight knows how to throw a solid punch, whether it’s a right or left, you have to be on the look out for that. I need to have the good offense, but the defense is just as important, especially when you are fighting a guy with his power.”
He is looking forward to having a great crowd watch him and his brothers fight at the Meadows.
“It is great to fight with all my brothers,” Karpency said. “My mom and dad also support me, as well. It is great because whether I win or lose, I know my family will be there for me.”
Dan Karpency puts his 5-0 record on the line against Eric Bledsoe (1-1) in a four-round bout at 154 pounds. He would have liked to fight a six-rounder, but is glad to be back in the ring. His last bout was a majority decision victory over Todd Manning (7-6-2) on Sept. 26, 2015.
“I really don’t know too much about the guy I am fighting, but he is also an MMA guy, so he will be a rough-house guy that I have to be prepared for,” Dan said. “With an MMA guy, they like to keep it in close range but if it turns into a brawl, I will be ready for it. I really like to stay in a good boxing stance and work my jab to set up my power punches.”
Dan Karpency will most likely be the first of the brothers to fight, but the former Colonial wrestler enjoys getting the fight over early in the evening and being able to support his brothers.
“I am happy to be able to fight early in the evening and get it over with,” he said. “I will not be relaxed afterwards when I watch my brothers, but I will be glad that I can just support them instead of waiting and have the anxiety build up. I know I will be more comfortable with that as I gain experience.”
The brothers unanimously agreed that the town of Adah will be well represented at the Meadows Racetrack & Casino.
“It really doesn’t matter whether we fight locally or overseas, our fans follow us,” Dan Karpency said. “We have had people go on airplanes to support Tommy and we have fans that go on bus rides. It is such a great support system and they support us regardless of the outcome.”
Tommy Karpency has fought twice at the Meadows, and Dan once, while Jeremiah will be making his debut in Washington. The two Karpencies fought on July 26, 2014, at the Meadows. The ring was built outdoors near one of the parking garages at the casino, and the card was delayed several times due to inclement weather. Tommy is glad that the bouts will be indoors this time around.
“I really don’t prefer to fight outdoors because weather can be a factor, plus the ring can get slick and the sun can be an issue,” he said. “However, we will go out there and fight if it’s like that because it is beyond our control. I do believe there will be a shelter this time so weather will not be a factor.”