Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, July 23, 1993 TAG: 9307230199
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: BRIAN DeVIDO STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Whack! Feldman releases a rocket of a right hand from his chin. The punch quickly sizzles into the pad, making a loud, snapping sound as it connects. Maynard Quesenberry, Feldman's coach and holder of the pads, braces himself for Feldman's next punch.
Feldman shifts his weight, twisting his body to the right, and unleashes a crackling left hook. Smack! The punch quickly sinks into the pad, leaving an impression on both the pad and the holder.
"He's a champion," Quesenberry says of Feldman later. "He knows how to win. He expects to win."
Indeed, winning is something Feldman has become accustomed to. He's won the Colonial Athletic Association heavyweight wrestling title for the last two years and placed ninth in last year's NCAA championships. The rising senior at Virginia Tech also has led the Hokie wrestling team in victories the past two years.
Now Feldman hopes to carry that success over to boxing. He'll compete this weekend as a super heavyweight (more than 201 pounds) in the Georgia State Games in Atlanta. It will be the first time Feldman, from Dunwoody, Ga., steps in the ring to compete at the amateur level.
"It's just something new to do," he said. "I like the one-on-one aspect of it. It's like wrestling, just with a different twist."
And if you ask his trainers, they'll say Feldman, all 6 feet 1 inch and 250 pounds of him, is more than ready.
"You can look at him and tell he's a natural athlete," Quesenberry said. "He's quick with his right. He throws it short and straight. And he's got a tremendous body attack."
Feldman has been training in Tech's War Memorial Gym three times a week, hitting the bag, running, lifting weights and sparring. His boxing training has been run by Quesenberry, Quesenberry's brother Steve, and Dennis Kiernan of Radford.
Sparring, though, has been a slight problem for Feldman.
"He hurts people when he works with them," Maynard Quesenberry said.
As a result, Feldman has worked more on the finer points of the sport - slipping the jab, blocking punches, feinting - to make him a more complete fighter.
Feldman has been sparring with 20-ounce gloves, but he'll fight with 12-ounce gloves this weekend.
"When he gets 12-ounce gloves on," Maynard Quesenberry says, shaking his head. He doesn't need to complete the sentence.
Feldman also will have a healthy entourage of fans rooting in his corner this weekend.
"A lot of my family will be down there," he said. "It's kind of like a family reunion of sorts."
And if things go well for Feldman this weekend, the family will have more than just a reunion to celebrate.
by CNB