Boxing Prospect Watch: Darmani Rock

There is some Riddick Bowe in Darmani Rock, which could be a good thing and a bad thing. The 6-foot-4, 245-pound heavyweight from Philadelphia has quick hands and good footwork for someone his size. He has an extensive amateur past, considered this time last year to be a possible member of the 2016 United States Olympic boxing team headed to Rio de Janeiro.

Like Bowe, the boxing hall of famer who will be inducted next month, Rock has a goofy, offbeat sense of humor and is learning to take himself more seriously, which can be a good thing or a bad thing.

We will know more as the years progress, starting with Rock’s first step as a professional, as he debuts Friday in a four-rounder against Carlos “The D.C. Diamond Cutter” Black, who is 1-3. They will meet at the DC Armory, in Washington, D.C., in a bout televised on BET. Rock, who turned 20 on April 17, signed with budding boxing promoter Roc Nation, owned by Jay Z.

Rock could be as good as Bowe was, possibly even better. Despite how impressive Bowe’s career was, he could have been have enjoyed even greater success had he been more disciplined. Bowe’s worst enemy was Bowe. That is why the only one who may be able to stop the nascent Rock is Rock himself. He has that kind of talent. Rock won the U.S. National Amateur super heavyweight championship last year and then suffered a shocking upset by Marlo Moore in the super heavyweight semifinals at the U.S. Olympic Trials in December. He was a favorite to head to the Olympics, where he was believed to be a medal contender.

“It wasn’t so tough to let the Olympic dream go of winning a gold medal,” Rock said. “It was tough when I lost [to Moore] and realized that I have to go on. It took me a few days but I recovered, and it was meant to be. I saw it for myself. I won both rounds against Moore, and I got caught. I make no excuses. He deserved to win. He hit me with an overhand right. That’s what it was. I didn’t have many options, and with no head gear [at the 2016 Olympics], I might as well get paid for it. You can’t eat a gold medal. I’ll admit it wasn’t an easy move. It’s time to take care of my family. I know where I stand. I believe that if I keep putting in the hard work, good things can happen. I just have to keep putting in the hard work. I really believe if I come in prepared for a fight, there’s no one that can be able to stop me.

“I’m walking around 245, 250 right now,” he added. “I was as heavy as 288 pounds, and that was a lot baby fat. My father [Wayne McLeod] has worked hard with me. I signed with Roc Nation and I feel good about that move. I liked the way Roc Nation really caught my eye outside the ring, which has nothing to do with boxing. I want to fight as often as I can this year.”

That was not always so. McLeod recounts the time he broke up a street-corner fight between Darmani, then 12, and a kid who said he was 13 but was actually 15. McLeod asked his son if he wanted to continue. Rock said yes, then got plowed. He then wanted no part of fighting again.

“You lose a fight like that on the streets, kids make fun of you; it was embarrassing,” Rock said. “I vowed that was never going to happen to me again. I started going to the gym. I started boxing. The teasing didn’t last very long after that.”

“Tight,” Rock’s nickname because of how he gripped his father’s shirt as a baby, has the physical makeup and the personality to go far. He wears an engaging smile and is extremely approachable, almost like an overgrown teddy bear. That persona changes once he gets into the ring.

“I have a couple of surprises, and everyone will have to tune in and watch me Friday night,” Rock said. “I don’t do impressions like Riddick Bowe. I’m working on being a better fighter. I met Jay Z, and it was pretty cool. He’s a laid-back guy. He just told me to do my thing, and I can’t wait to prove myself.”