Jorge Teron: Absolutely Ready

At 6’0” tall and 135 pounds, undefeated lightweight prospect Jorge Teron of the Bronx, New York, draws a lot of comparisons to Diego Corrales. The tall and rangy 20-year-old boxer/puncher with the megawatt smile is not the least bit unhappy about that.

“He’s a real nice guy and a real good fighter,” said an exuberant Teron, who just minutes before had raised his undefeated record to 8-0 (6 KOs) with a third round TKO over Terrence Thomas at the Hammerstein Ballroom in midtown Manhattan on November 4. (Just four months earlier, Teron had also stopped Thomas in the third round in New Haven, Connecticut).

“We’re both real tall lightweights, but I like to think I can move around a little more,” he about Corrales. “But Diego is great at what he does, and I’ll be real happy to reach his level someday.”

Teron, a graduate of JFK High School in his native borough, still has plenty of time to learn. Moreover, he has a great trainer in the esteemed Hector Roca, who is not so quick to put the cart before the horse.

“As long as he follows instructions, he’s going to be better than Corrales,” said Roca. “He’s quicker and hits just as hard if not harder. He’s very tough and very talented, but he’s young and he listens to everyone who gives him advice. I’m his trainer, but he’s got so many people telling him what to do. He has to stop listening.”

Having won three consecutive New York City Golden Gloves titles in 2002-04, Teron has a solid amateur background. Moreover, as a pro he has already fought in five different states so he is used to the pressure of the road. Roca feels as if he has an abundance of natural ability, but just needs to hone in on what style is best for him.

“Right now he’s a slow starter, but once he gets going he’ll throw 100 punches if he hurts you,” said Roca. “That’s good, but he has a quick body and slow feet. We need to work on his foot speed and his angles and in getting him to start a little faster. When it all comes together, he’s going to be a good one.”

Having had all eight of his professional fights in just eight months, Teron, who is managed by Steven Heid, appears to be in a rush for the gold. Yet he still takes college courses at Bronx Community College, where he is majoring in business administration, while making time for training at Gleason’s Gym where he spars regularly with hot New York prospects Dmitriy Salita and Edgar Santana.

He began boxing at the Webster PAL, near his home, at the age of 13. His interest in the sweet science was cultivated by his father Luis, a former amateur lightweight, who is still very active in his son’s career. Teron loves keeping a busy itinerary and feels as if he is about three years away from winning a world title.

“Everything is going good right now,” explained Teron, whose 14-year-old brother Carlos is a nationally ranked amateur at 100 pounds.

“I have Hector training me, and he’s a real hardcore trainer. He is very honest about everything. It might seem like I’m in a rush, but I just want to continue getting better and better. I don’t have time to play around. Tonight I’ll go home and rest, and tomorrow or the next day I’ll be back in the gym. When my time comes to fight for a title, I want to be absolutely ready.”