Far too often, we observers of the sweet science glowingly refer to scintillating contests of athletic prowess within the confines of the squared circle as "wars" or "battles". Such descriptive words are used to paint a picture of sustained action for its combatants, but for the countless brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces – and all military personnel the world over – such adjectives take on a much more substantive definition. While we can talk about our pugilistic heroes ad nauseam, the truly deserving recipients of our adulation should be this nation's brave soldiers. Brian "The Constrictor" Gordon is one such real American hero. The 5'8" junior welterweight native of Barstow, CA served this country proudly for the better part of eight years. During that time, Gordon did two tours of duty in war torn Iraq during Operation Enduring Freedom.
"It was very overwhelming. The first thing you think about is that you are going to war and when I think of war, the first thing I think of is death. Making it back alive to talk about it, I'm glad," Gordon reflected in a recent interview with FightHype. "Everything that you hear about how bad it is and how dangerous it is, it's all true. It's crazy and I have a lot of respect for the guys that are still out there and have to go back because I've been there and know what they are going through."
It was during his service in the United States Army that Gordon began to take the sport of boxing seriously, though he quickly points out that he was a natural born fighter. "I used to get into fights when I was younger and my mother bought me a punching bag and a couple of gloves. She said, 'here, hit the bag and learn how to box so you can fight without getting in trouble.' When I joined the Army, I went to Fort Hood, Texas and got on the boxing team there and it went on from there."
Despite the demands of a strenuous schedule, Gordon amassed a respectable amateur record of 18-3. Upon his discharge from the Army as a Sergeant E5 in September 2004, Gordon opted to take his talents to the next level and turn pro. "I always wanted to do it," Gordon states on the decision to become a professional boxer. "Going to Iraq twice kind of derailed my boxing [plans]. When I got out and started working and providing for my family, I finally had the chance [to do it]."
While making the decision to turn pro may have been a "no brainer" for Gordon, the young fighter was keenly aware that the path to recognition within the paid ranks would be a daunting task. As such, Gordon looked to begin his career with a bang by way of reality television. "I tried to go to the Contender to kickstart my career, but they denied me. They didn't want me to make my pro debut on the show."
You have to give credit to Gordon for thinking big and though ultimately passed over by the popular boxing-based reality show, Gordon claims that he could have made it to the series second season cast if not for the fact that he did not have a professional bout on his record. "It was different. It wasn't what I expected," Gordon explains regarding the audition process. "I expected to go in there, show my little boxing skills and shadowbox, but it was all TV. You go in there and interview with a microphone and a camera in your face and the guy is asking you questions and that was basically it. The guy was like, I like your story and everything is good as far as growing up in Barstow, CA and going to Iraq twice and this and that, but he was like, 'we can't have your pro debut on the show.' Since I didn't have any professional fights, I had my license, but I didn't have a pro fight under my belt and in turn, they did not consider me a professional fighter so they denied me."
It was a bittersweet moment for Gordon. Showing a resilient spirit, he laced up his bootstraps and set out to make a mark on his own. Moving back to California and taking residence in Bakersfield, Gordon quickly created a buzz by displaying an undefeated record of 4-0 with all four of his wins coming by way of knockout. While such a record seems like it would benefit a fighter like Gordon, the fact of the matter is a prospect with such a dangerous record and without the financial leverage of a promoter, fights are hard to come by.
Gordon's manager, Ben Sandoval, echoes the very same sentiments. "The knockouts kind of scare people away from fighting him. You know, if he were 3-0 with no knockouts, people would be, 'alright, let's fight,'" Sandoval explains. "We are fighting guys with a lot more experience than us."
When Sandoval speaks of Gordon, his voice drips with admiration and genuine affinity, as it very well should given the duo's deep rooted friendship; a friendship that was forged while both were stationed at Fort Hood and members of the base's boxing team. Since making the decision to turn pro, Sandoval has taken the role of Gordon's manager and his grassroots way of championing his friend has resulted in modest dividends to date, but all this could change Friday night in Las Vegas. Gordon looks to take on the biggest test of his young career Friday night as he goes up against Ruslan Provdnikov of Ekaterinburg, Russia. The bout will take place on the undercard of the Banner Promotions event headlined by former heavyweight champion Chris Byrd, who's debuting as a light heavyweight. The fight will be aired live on ESPN.
Provdnikov is an undefeated prospect with a glossy 7-0, 6 KO's record. He recently inked a promotional deal with Banner Promotions and there is little doubt as to who is favored in the fight Friday night. Gordon simply shrugs off such thoughts. Both he and Sandoval know that this is a huge opportunity and the type of showcase both men crave, though such an opportunity may have passed Gordon by if not for Sandoval's persistent nature. "I was at the post office probably about a month ago and Gordon calls me and is like 'hey coach', he still calls me coach, 'there's a fight in Vegas,'" Sandoval explains. "So I'm like, 'what's the possibility of us getting this thing on Banner Promotions in Las Vegas on ESPN' and he's like, 'come on man, give it a shot.' I was like, 'alright, let me get my sales pitch.' I called and emailed and they finally called me like two weeks later. They were like, 'hey, you ready to take the fight' and I was like, 'let me make one phone call.' I called Gordon and he was like 'let's do it'."
There is little doubt that the matchmakers selected Gordon for his aggressive style in hopes that it plays into Provdnikov's strengths.
"They're making this kid look like he is invincible," explains Sandoval of Provdnikov. "I'm telling you right now, this fight right here is going to be a Fight of the Year candidate. It's going to be a war. That's what motivates Gordon, this opportunity. You know Gordon likes to be the underdog. It pushes him to the next level."
But while the bright lights of such a big stage could easily overwhelm any fighter, Gordon maintains that he is treating this fight as just another day at the office.
"You know, I'm taking it as a normal fight. Every fight I come in, whether it's this big of a stage or not, I fight as if it is my championship fight. Of course, in the back of my mind I'm thinking this is the biggest stage, Las Vegas, ESPN, national TV, blah, blah, blah, all these big wigs are going to be there and I'm just ready to handle my business."
CONSTRICTOR
So just how did Gordon earn the nickname "Constrictor"? Gordon explains it thusly:
"Actually, when I started boxing, I had a few snakes, pythons actually, and you know pythons are constrictors so with me having the snakes and going to the body when I'm fighting...you take the boa constrictors and my body attack and you have 'the Constrictor'".
Being that this is boxing and often theatrics play a big role in recognition, has Gordon ever contemplated bringing the snakes to the ring with him a la former WWF wrestler Jake "The Snake" Roberts?
"I think it would be cool, but I'm not the type of guy," Gordon chuckles. "I'm not really flashy or anything like that. I just like to go in there and fight. None of that matters if you go in there and get knocked out."
