Photo: Mikey Williams – Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington (12-0, 8 KOs).
My good friend Noé Cloutier asked me if it was humanly possible to ever see Naoya Inoue lose a fight. I replied that it would probably never happen, but young Noé insisted, “There must be someone out there.” If I had to answer, I’d say only Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington could dream of getting the best of “The Monster” Inoue.
Since he is still relatively unknown to the general public, I’m taking this opportunity to make him my prospect of the month for July.
I’ve stretched the concept a bit by calling the New York boxer a prospect; he’s already ranked WBC 3, WBA 1, IBF 11, and WBO 3.
Bruce Carrington is signed with Top Rank and shares head coach Kay Koroma with Caroline Veyre.
Nicknamed ‘Shu Shu,’ Bruce hails from Brooklyn, where he follows in the footsteps of Mike Tyson and Daniel Jacobs. He witnessed a man die in front of him for the first time at the age of 6, and he recalls that as a child, he didn’t need an alarm clock; the sound of gunfire woke him up. He thanks his parents for doing everything they could to keep him from joining a gang or becoming a criminal. Like many children who became boxers, his father enrolled him in boxing to prevent him from being bullied at school.
Quick facts
- Amateur Record: 255-31;
- Professional Record: 12-0, 8 KOs;
- Promoter:Top Rank;
- Nickname: Shu Shu, which means “the one who rises above all”;
- Coach: Kay Koroma;
- Distinction: Ring Magazine Prospect of the Year;
“Honestly, I would want to fight The Monster. Fighting The Monster would be more important because he has the name, the money, and the fans. It’s an obvious choice. I’d like to face Inoue. I’d like to do that first.”- Bruce Carrington
COVID-19 and a questionable scoring system to qualify for the 2021 Olympics convinced him to turn professional.
Why is he a prospect?
Firstly, I’m a fan of the individual; he advocates for a vegan lifestyle. He claims his punching power and physical conditioning come from peanut butter and beans. He skillfully uses social media where he enjoys commenting on the world of boxing and fights. He’s very intelligent in the boxing ring; his boxing IQ makes him an Albert Einstein with Everlast gloves. He steps into the ring, takes his scalpel, and meticulously dissects his opponent. By changing his diet, he dropped from 142 to 126 pounds… he’s very strong and solid for this division. His physical strength and build are an advantage at 126 pounds. He boxes aggressively and is always the one applying pressure and engaging in the fight.
“I don’t mind which champion I’ll face first, throw their names in a hat and I’ll pick one. One after the other, until I become the unified champion.”
I almost forgot, he’s nearly untouchable; he’s a master of defense. Another thing he does well: he increases his pace round by round, like turning up a thermostat in winter until it reaches the desired temperature.
Prediction
I believe he will become a champion this year by defeating the Englishman Nick Ball in his own backyard, in England.
I also think he will be the one to welcome the monster Naoya Inoue, who will want to add a fifth weight class to his record.
Could Carrington be the challenge that proves too much for the Japanese champion? It’s possible—only time will tell.
