Former fall guy fighting for recognition
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TACOMA — So many nights Chad Van Sickle was the one who had to travel to strange places where he was paid a moderate sum of money to lose a boxing match.
He has never been propositioned to throw a fight, nor has he ever fought with less than 100 percent effort. But boxing has a quirky sense of a pecking order that works against guys like Van Sickle.
Early in their careers, many fighters with potential and promise are pitted against those with less talent so they might fatten their record.
Van Sickle won a silver medal in the Junior Olympics as an amateur in the summer of 1992, but few people thought he could contend for a championship as a professional.
As such, if he were to fulfill a boyhood dream of winning a title, he had to travel to small towns in West Virginia and a casino in Michigan, where he felt the heat of the frenzied crowd that waited to see him fall.
But a funny thing happened. Van Sickle never lost.
The hard-hitting cruiserweight gained the attention of the boxing world after wins against Josh Jones and Billy Douglas — the brother of former heavyweight champion James "Buster" Douglas.
Jones was undefeated and poised for a big payday before Van Sickle went into Jones' hometown of Louisville, Ky., and came away with a six-round unanimous decision in front of an ESPN2-televised crowd. Jones never fought again.
Soon after the Douglas bout, Van Sickle signed with promoter Brian Halquist, who moved the 26-year-old to Tacoma in December 2003. In the past five months, Van Sickle has had three wins against suspect competition at the Emerald Queen Casino.
With another victory tonight at the EQC against Eric Starr (11-13-2), an undistinguished journeyman from Hillsborough, N.C., Van Sickle will have a chance to fight for the vacant World Boxing Association Americas title.
"When I started my professional career I went into a lot of people's backyard and I specifically trained to give them their first loss," Van Sickle said. "Thinking of how hard I trained to beat those guys, I know there's a hundred guys out there gearing up for me. They train thinking, 'I'm gonna knock Chad Van Sickle down and give him his first loss.'
"That means I have to train that much harder. ... I remember where I came from. I was that other guy. And boxing goes in cycles. I'll be that guy again if I continue to win and move up in competition."
Admittedly, Van Sickle's handlers are bringing him along slowly.
Halquist, who has had moderate success promoting middleweight Kenny Ellis, has paired his newest project against opponents with a combined record of 31-52-6.
In his Emerald Queen debut, Van Sickle stopped James Brock of Los Angeles in the second round. He needed two rounds before disposing of Jonathan Williams, and in his previous bout, Van Sickle defeated Vincent Durham, who had 32 defeats on his résumé.
"It's tough to be patient," said Van Sickle, who has never gone further than eight rounds. "But that's how it is. With each fight, I'm gaining confidence and I know I'm getting better as a fighter. They've got me working on things I never did before."
Trainer Mathis Hill assumed the direction of Van Sickle's training two weeks ago. Before Hill, Van Sickle trained under the supervision of Sam DiTusa.
"What we're trying to do now is teach him how to box a little more," Hill said. "So I'm trying to get Chad to get on his toes a little bit, move his head and start countering guys. In this sport, you don't last long if you're just a slugger."
Van Sickle, a native of Grove City, Ohio, a small town just outside of Columbus, the state's capital, isn't adverse to change.
"I gave up everything, left my job, my family, everything to be here so I'll do what I have to," said the former assistant manager at a Wal-Mart distribution center. "If you have a dream, you have to follow it, no matter where it takes you."
Van Sickle isn't exactly the next big thing among Northwest fighters, but a region that once spawned a few notable champions and contenders now looks to an unassuming Midwesterner with a self-deprecating sense of humor, an easy smile and a slugger's punch to lead the boxing brigade.
He is still a stranger in a strange land, but with each victory Van Sickle is feeling more at home in his new surroundings.
"I'm getting a little bit of a following, and that's one neat thing," he said. "I'll go out and I'll get recognized. People know that I give them a good fight, and I think they respect that."
Notes
• Canadian super middleweight champion Mark Woolnough (13-3-1) will face Jose Spearman (20-7-2) in the main event at the Emerald Queen Casino's Battle at the Boat Boxing Series.
• There are seven scheduled fights on the card, which begins at 7:30 p.m. today. Tickets ranging from $20 from $75 are available at Ticketmaster, the Emerald Queen Casino gift shop or by calling Brian Halquist Productions at 253-564-2090.
Percy Allen: 206-464-2278 or pallen@seattletimes.com