The Resurgence of Heavyweight Joey Dawejko

[JOEY DAWEJKO]

Fifteen months ago, heavyweight Joey Dawejko was so far down that when he looked up he saw the bottom. That was then and this is now and as Dawejko, winner of five in a row and nationally ranked, prepares to fight Unobong Umohette, of Nigeria, on Friday evening, March 6, at the 2300 Arena, he concedes it’s been a wild ride. “It’s hard to believe the way things turned out,” Dawejko said, “but I’m not complaining. I started in the outhouse, and while I’m surely not in the penthouse yet, at least I am pointed in the right direction.”

When Dawejko was stopped in the third round by unbeaten lefty Charles Martin on Nov. 14, 2013, it marked his third loss in five fights and the first time he had been on the floor as an amateur or pro. “When I got the call to fight Charles Martin, I was working on a roof in Atlantic City,” Dawejko said. “The fight was seven days away. I hadn’t been in the gym and there was no time to train after I got the call since I needed to keep roofing to pay bills. I went out there (Hollywood, CA) with my trainer and my brother and I had nothing. I could tell when the fight started. I got knocked down for the first time in my life and my trainer threw in the towel at the end of the third round.

“After the fight, I knew my dreams of becoming a contender were over, but I figured I could always make money as an opponent. Since I was still working as a roofer, I knew I could always fall back on that.”

It had been that way for too long for Dawejko, an outstanding amateur (56-12 record) who won 14 national titles and, at 16, became the youngest-ever to win the Eastern Olympic Trials, doing it in 2007. “My grandfather took me to a Golden Gloves card at the Blue Horizon when I was 10 years old and I was hooked,” Dawejko said. “After that, I got him to take me to a boxing gym (Harrowgate) and that’s where I started.”

When he turned pro in 2009, Dawejko was managed by former WBC heavyweight champ Hasim Rahman.

“I had been in camp with Rahman and I guess he liked what he saw,” Dawejko said, “but things didn’t work out and we went our separate ways after my fourth pro fight.”

From there, Dawejko went from one manager to another, one promoter to another, mostly managing himself, training himself (when he found time) and promoting himself.

He once flew alone to Montreal and lost a six-round decision to then-unbeaten Didier Bence.

“I never had the team around me that other fighters had,” Dawejko said. “It was not easy.”

Two months after losing to Martin, Dawejko got a call on two weeks’ notice to box fringe contender Derric Rossy, of Medford, NY, at the Golden Nugget casino in Atlantic City. When Dawejko upset Rossy via eight-round decision, everything changed.

“After that fight, I knew I still had a chance to become a contender,” Dawejko said.

In the audience at the Dawejko-Rossy fight was promoter J Russell Peltz.

“Joey controlled the fight that night,” said Peltz, “and he had a nice little fan base there on a couple of weeks’ notice.

“For the next month or two, I stayed in touch with him. His promotional contract was declared invalid and I was getting close to signing him. We talked about him fighting Mark Rideout on May 16 at the 2300 Arena. Joey had beaten Mark in the amateurs, but Mark had not lost in six pro fights.

“The last week of March, Joey got an offer for $20,000 to go to Russia on one week’s notice to fight Kubrat Pulev, a top contender. It was a tough call. Joey had bills to pay and here I was asking him to walk away from a $20,000 payday in return for one that would pay him $17,000 less.

“I kept reminding him that by taking the Pulev fight, he would just be doing what he had been doing for years, taking hard fights on short notice. He understood, but the money was appealing.

“When he told me he was going to discuss it with Maria (fiancé Maria Sagias), I thought I was a goner. They had two young children I was sure Maria would go for the money.

“Wrong! She agreed that it was time for Joey to see the big picture so he turned down the Pulev fight and signed with me that same week.”

Dawejko, now known as The Tank—he is 5-foot-10, 235 pounds–defeated Rideout by eight-round decision on May 16.

With Dawejko in search of a manager, Peltz suggested Mark Cipparone, of Rocco’s Collision in Haddonfield, NJ, who was making a name for himself with junior lightweight Tevin Farmer.

“I’ve got a new place to live, a strength coach, a new trainer and I couldn’t be happier,” Dawejko said. “I have people looking out for me and I never had that before. All I ever had was broken promises. I’ve never trained like this before and I never before at peace with my boxing career.”

Ranked No. 12 by the USBA, Dawejko, 24, followed the win over Rideout with a trio of first-round knockouts over David Williams, of Philadelphia, Yohan Banks, of Redwood City, CA, and Rayford Johnson, of Longview, TX, bringing his record to 13-3-2, 6K0s.

On a personal level, Dawejko and Sagias take care of Hailey, 9, and Jayla, 2, and they are expecting a third girl in April.

“If I get by Umohette in March, then I will look for a fight that by winning will get me a world ranking,” Dawejko said. “Then I would be in the penthouse.”
About March 6

The Dawejko-Umohette and Jason Sosa-Bergman Aguilar fights headline a seven-bout card at the 2300 Arena in South Philadelphia. Doors open at 6 pm; first fight is 7pm. The card will be streamed live on www.gfl.com and on Comcast SportsNet (CSN) on a delayed basis. Tickets are priced $35, $50 and $75 and they can be purchased by calling Peltz Boxing (215-765-0922) or Wanamaker’s Tickets (215-568-2400). Tickets also can be purchased online at www.peltzboxing.com and www.wanatix.com. The March 6 card is promoted by Joe Hand Promotions, Peltz Boxing and BAM Boxing.

[tiny_acres]

As with every fighter that posts here.I wish you well.
And will be following your career very closely.Good luck.

[Baby Face Finster]

I second every thing tiny typed. Best of luck Joey.

[cold187]

good luck joey. we know you have a potential big fight with Amir Mansour in MAY. what we like, good fighters fighting each other

[ReggieDiggs]

Reggie Diggs appreciates the balls (that probably don't sound right) it takes to make a long ass post hyping yourself.

Reggie Diggs out.

[JOEY DAWEJKO]

Reggie Diggs appreciates the balls (that probably don't sound right) it takes to make a long ass post hyping yourself.

Reggie Diggs out.

Thanks Reggie. I was not hyping myself, just telling my story a little bit. And thank you everyone else for the support I really appreciate it!

[cold187]

its ok, reggie diggs has never been in a boxing ring

[ReggieDiggs]

its ok, reggie diggs has never been in a boxing ring

Reggie Diggs don't even know you silly hoe.

[Dennis]

Good luck Joey. I'd love to see a fight between Joey Dawejko and Mansour. There are a bunch of other fights I'd like to see with Joey. Joey vs Andy Ruiz. Joey vs Steve Cunningham (two Philly fighters going at it) and Joey vs Shannon Briggs. I know what the outcome would be of that last fight. Joey would stop Briggs. I also know the first one too. Joey defeats Mansour probably by UD. The other two bouts are tougher to call. I think they are evenly matched. I'd like to see Joey beat Ruiz and Joey defeat Cunningham.
Make these fights happen Joey!!!

[Lackeos]

Pretty unreal that the Joey Dawejko who had the career trajectory of a journeyman is now in boxrec's top 50 and still young. Good luck to him. I am not sure that Enobong Umohette is the best choice of opponent, though, since he's basically a bum with seemingly plenty of power, so he seems like all downside and no upside. But hopefully Joey gets through that fight and gets better opportunities on the schedule thereafter.

[Dennis]

After March 6, Joey will be 14-3-2 with 7 KOs.

[Dennis]

Joey go beat Muralimov. Rossy won but you would win every rd and possibly stop him.

[jasonb]

Rosy beating Muralimov just raised the stock of your victory over him even more than the close fight with Glaskov. Maybe Russell can get a rematch with Rossy.....not because it proves anything, but so you can get that IBF NA title which would have a top 15 ranking to go along with it. Good luck

[funso banjo baby]

Roofers should never use the phrase ''fall back on that'' !

but the resurgence is certainly note worthy

[joe strong]

Joey go beat Muralimov. Rossy won but you would win every rd and possibly stop him.

I was just going to post that. he gave rossy some problems & lost a close decision. I had it a draw 95-95 but Rd 2 was close as muralimov landed a couple hard shots while rossy was busier. I gave that rd to muralimov. Muralimov is 16-1 & looks to have some pop. You guys are similar in size so why not fight him? Joe Hanks is another guy you should look at. He's 21-2 & lost to rossy & ruiz...

[joe strong]

wow! turned down $20000 to fight Pulev? Hope it worked out for you. looking at your 3 losses they are to good fighters who train full time. Barnwell is now 12-0, Bence is 10-2 after his loss to eric martel bahoeli (now the Canadian champ) & Charles martin 19-0... you beat rossy & have fought a few undefeated fighters without having proper training camps or promotional backing. Bahoeli is a guy you should consider too. Good luck & I hope you do well. if you fall short in any big fights just make sure you give it your all & the phone should still ring with fight opportunities even if it is just as an opponent. guys like gavern, firtha, page, Raphael butler all made extra cash as an opponent. you are 24 so you got time.

[Dennis]

A few more wins and Joey will get a lot more than $20K to fight a guy like Pulev.

[walter5]

Dawejko ends the Umohette fight whenever he wants. I'm excited to see a Mansour fight.

[DoinDamage]

Good luck Joey. I'd love to see a fight between Joey Dawejko and Mansour. There are a bunch of other fights I'd like to see with Joey. Joey vs Andy Ruiz. Joey vs Steve Cunningham (two Philly fighters going at it) and Joey vs Shannon Briggs. I know what the outcome would be of that last fight. Joey would stop Briggs. I also know the first one too. Joey defeats Mansour probably by UD. The other two bouts are tougher to call. I think they are evenly matched. I'd like to see Joey beat Ruiz and Joey defeat Cunningham.
Make these fights happen Joey!!!

I like how you write Briggs off as a nobody.. lol. I'd say Briggs would stop Joey.

[Tony1244]

Congrats Joey!

[crusader]

Joey's a perfect green on the rankings page now

http://boxrec.com/ratings.php?sex=M&div ... t&pageID=2

[funso banjo baby]

hopefully the next fight is a better one.

[Dennis]

I like how you write Briggs off as a nobody.. lol. I'd say Briggs would stop Joey.

Briggs hits hard but his defense isn't great. I don't think he would land clean on Joey and Joey would land shots on him. After a few rounds Briggs would be tired and eventually Joey would stop him by going to the body.

[funso banjo baby]

looks like its amir mansour next


wow

[Freedom2013]

I'm looking forward to this fight on Friday - interesting crossroads fight!