Preview: Jimmy Lange

Jimmy Lange is not big on trash talk.

The Herndon, Va.-based junior middleweight and Contender alum declined to extol his gifts or list his advantages over his opponent during our pre-fight interview last week in advance of Saturday’s contest against Joe Wyatt at George Mason’s Patriot Center in Fairfax.

“I’m not a talker, I let my actions speak for themselves,” Lange said.

Lange does his talking inside the ring, but his face betrayed a steely resolve as well as a keen awareness that another setback like his controversial March loss to journeyman Chase Shields could serious dent his aspirations of a future title shot. If he wants to draw the attention of the sport’s top matchmakers, Lange knows he must impress on November 6th against Wyatt.

The Shields fight is a sore subject; a malfunction with the arena lights caused an unexpected stoppage lasting several minutes in the ninth round when Lange appeared to be gaining control of the fight. Father and manager Johnny contends that while “Jimmy didn’t show up,” the stoppage cost Lange, who was knocked down twice by Shields in the 11th round before ultimately losing a unanimous decision.

“I think it hurt my kid, he was peaking for the fight and I think it helped Chase,” Johnny Lange said, arguing that while critics may dwell on the 11th round, Lange’s comeback to win the 12th on all three scorecards is proof of his character and class.

“That’s the type of fighter Jimmy is, he’s a throwback,” Johnny said. “He’s not afraid of a brawl and at the same time he can still box, he’s a boxer-puncher and he’s a throwback.”

In Lange’s corner is legendary New York trainer, cutman and barman Jimmy Glenn, who is currently free to devote his entire attention to his latest protege. Glenn said Lange’s training, which has been split between his gym in New York and Virginia, has progressed well and said putting combinations together will be key for Lange to achieve victory.

Johnny noted that Glenn is the first trainer for Jimmy that hasn’t had to manage multiple fighters simultaneously, undoubtedly a key advantage. He called Glenn “a teacher more than a trainer” and predicted his influence would result in a more dynamic Lange.

“The improvement I think you’re gonna see is a much more active fighter, because he’s being taught some things that maybe a lot of trainers don’t deem…don’t feel are as important as Jimmy Glenn thinks they are,” Johnny said.

For his part Jimmy Lange thinks the fight will be a good one and says he has always been attracted to the individual glory associated with boxing, as opposed to team sports like football. He wants to win and doesn’t care how it comes, and more than anything he wants to put on a good show for the local fans who have made him the closest thing to a boxing franchise in Virginia.

Stiff Jab will be ringside for Saturday night’s card at the Patriot Center, which also includes former middleweight champ William Joppy, Chantilly middleweight Zain Shah, and fellow Contender alum Jonathan Reid.