By Ishe Smith

BoxingScene.com was able to catch up with lightweight prospect Rocco Santomauro (2-0), and discuss his amateur background, being a co-main event in his second professional fight, and much more:

BOXINGSCENE.COM:  How does it feel to already be a household name here in Las Vegas, the fight capital of the world?

RS:  It’s nice; I am fighting in front of a bunch of locals and getting known locally.  That’s what I wanted to do, kill space, it feels good.

BOXINGSCENE.COM:  What can you tell us about your last fight, and already being a co-main in your second professional fight?

RS:  I got in really good shape for that fight, my plan was to box, but my corner wanted something different to entertain the crowd, which I did, everyone seemed entertained.  It felt good to fight in front of my fans and family, it was all good!

BOXINGSCENE.COM:  Who currently trains you and how many times do you expect to fight this year; what does the New Orleans Casino have planned for you?

RS:  I train with Bobby Chiodini and Pops Anderson; Pops being more of a boxing coach and Bobby being more strength and conditioning, and for this year I have at least four more fights planned, maybe five.  By the end of the year I should be 7-0.

BOXINGSCENE.COM:  What was your amateur experience like, and did you win any national tournaments?

RS:  I always had bad luck in National Tournaments and in the amateurs because living in Southern California it is hard to get out of districts fighting top level guys, and then going to Nationals being an unknown guy politics were always against me.  I had a style that was suited for more of the pros anyway, so I wasn’t hesitant when it was time to turn professional.

BOXINGSCENE.COM:  What can we expect from you in the future, in terms of goals, and accomplishments? 

RS:  As far as this year goes I want to finish this year undefeated, next year step it up in rounds, get some good quality opponents.  Hopefully by my third or fourth year I will get some good televised fights, get out there and get known, I would like to fight for a title within the next three or four years and retire early, stay involved in boxing and make my money in boxing, but get out of the game early.

BOXINGSCENE.COM:  What is it like to train with Strength guru Bobby Chiodini?  He has trained some of the best fighters in the game, from Steve Forbes, Chad Dawson, and Samuel Peter.

RS:  One of the best strength and conditioning coaches out there, he has a lot of enthusiasm when it comes to training, he has a lot of knowledge and he pushes you to train harder all the time.  Bobby stays on you during the whole camp, while most strength coaches sit back and watch you train, he usually right there with you doing it with you.

BOXINGSCENE.COM:  What gym do you train out of?

RS:  I currently train out International M M A fight club in Las Vegas, owned by Bobby Chiodini and Mark “The Hyena” Beecher, a couple of U F C guys fight out of there, a lot of professional boxers fight out of there, Eddie Mustafa has some pros in there, and at one point Kenny Adams was in there, good gym to be at.

BOXINGSCENE.COM:  Is there anything you would like to say in closing to all your fans or soon to be fans?

RS:  If you hear about me fighting please come and check me out, I always put on exciting fights; I did it in the amateurs and now I am doing it in the pros.

BoxingScene would like to thank Rocco for taking the time out of his training schedule and chatting with us, he is schedule to fight March 12, 2010 at The Orleans Casino under the Crown Boxing banner.

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