Olympic, pro aspirations fuel fighter
By Seabrook Mow
Special to The Advertiser
As the threat of war looms, Salt Lake's Deutsch Puu, a mechanic for the Army Reserve, realizes that his goal of becoming a professional boxer may have to be put on hold.
"I know that if I have to go, I will go. There's no doubt about it in my mind," said Puu, who aspires to become an Olympian and pro boxer. "This is what I'm prepared to do, this is what I signed up for; this is what everyone in the Army is prepared to do."
Puu, 25, is 5 feet 11 and 265 pounds with an amateur record of 68-13. He considers himself a counter-puncher with a vicious right uppercut and left hook.
Bruce Kawano, Puu's coach and a nationally recognized amateur coach, says Puu has the potential to realize his dreams.
According to Puu and Kawano, Puu already has the support of fellow Samoan pro boxer David Tua, who lost to WBC heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis.
"If Tua's camp will take Puu on, then it'll be as teammates, not as a sparring partner," Kawano said. "Tua is known to try and help other Samoans out."
Said Puu: "The guys in Tua's camp have been keeping close tabs on me, making sure they know what they're investing their money into."
That decision should be made shortly after Puu trains for his biggest fights to date: the USA Championships, March 22-29, at Colorado Springs.
"This is the most important amateur championships in the nation," Kawano said.
Winners at the nationals represent the United States in the World Games, while the runners-up go to the Pan American Games.
"This is the biggest tournament of my life, so I'm really excited," Puu said. "But I believe I can take it."
Kawano said if Puu gets a good draw, he can make it all the way to the finals.
"Let's just say if he doesn't win nationals, it'll be because of his conditioning," Kawano said.
Puu has been inactive since winning his fourth U.S. Forces title last summer in Europe. He also has won four U.S. Army Europe titles. Puu has won all of his titles in Italy and Germany.
At the Hawai'i State Tournament Jan. 24-25 at Evolution Boxing Club in Pearl City, Puu advanced to the nationals by default. He didn't fight a single match.
"No one wanted to fight him," said Kawano, who began training Puu three months ago at Evolution Boxing Club.
In preparation for Colorado's high altitude, Kawano has focused on Puu's conditioning. Puu has gone from one two-minute round to four two-minute rounds easily in just three months.
"We got a month's time before nationals, so we're still trying to improve on his cardio and get him acclimated to the high altitude," Kawano said. "He already has the (boxing) skills. He just needs the conditioning."
With 12- to 14-hour work days, Puu trains an average of two to three times a week.
"Although he can't train daily because of work and his family, he makes the best of each session," said Kawano. "He's a real family man and a hard worker; he's very coachable."
Puu and his wife, Eustasia, have two children, Lenei, 4, and Alanis, 1 1/2.
"And if Puu has to fight for our country, then hopefully things will go all right, because he has a real potential future as a pro. But that's the realities of life," Kawano said.
Notes: Hawai'i's National Team (tentative): 106—Nicholas Gersaba. 112—Mark Gersaba. 132—Enriquez Tangaro. 141—Jeffrey Pelen Jr. 152—Brent Rodrigues. 165—Shawn Murphy. 178—Michael Tresler. 201—Shawn Boyles. 201+—Puu.
Hawai'i boxers who received at-large births: 119—Samson Guillermo. 125—Glenn Miyose Jr. 125—Dat Nguyen. 132—Van Oscar Penpenovaroff.
