by Brother Love
I sat down with an up and coming energetic young 27-year-old African American fighter from inner city Roanoke. We met at the Lawson Bldg. in Historic Gainsboro.
Latorie “The War Machine” Woodberry, a welterweight boxer, will be fighting his second professional fight in his career this Saturday, March 12 at the Sheraton Hotel. Doors open at 6pm.
He will be fighting former MMA fighter turned boxer Rocque “The Rockstar” Zapata from Panama.
“I am a true fighter. I’m a fighter through everything, my career, my environment and my economic position,” Latorie claims.
He started boxing after an unfortunate incident landed him in prison. That’s where he met his boxing teacher and mentor Mike “The Legend” Lewis.
Latorie says Mike Lewis was his first positive influence in boxing. “He taught me how to box and for that I am eternally grateful to him and his family should be very proud of him.”
His other boxing influences are light welterweight boxer Meldrick Taylor and welterweight Terry Norris and Latorie admits his style is similar to both of them.
“I am a pressure fighter but I’m also a boxer. I can stand in the pocket and slip shots. I can trade shots or I can dance on the outside and pick my opponent apart with my jab. We’ll see a little bit of all these strategies Saturday night at the fight,” he boasts.
Latorie says he has been boxing for 10 years with 40 amateur fights and 27 wins.
“Because of the skills I learned from Mike Lewis, doors have opened for me and for that I am humbled.” He expressed his interest in building support for the Sport of Boxing in Roanoke, “for the sake of the sport and prosperity for the area.”
The fighter welcomes new boxing fans and when asked: Are you a boxer or a fighter? He responded, “I’m a fighter that can box, I’m in there for the war.My fight is the second of the night, so come early because I plan to leave early.”
Latorie trains at Gator Boxing Club at Lancelot Sports Club in Vinton. He predicts a first round stoppage or a third round knockout. He asks Roanokers to “come out, come out, where ever you are and see a star in the making.”
