New Faces: Daquan Arnett

New Faces: Daquan Arnett

Vital Statistics:

Age: 19
Hometown: Orlando, Fla.
Weight class: Junior Middleweight
Height / reach: 5-10 (177.8 cm) / 72 (182.88 cm)
Amateur record: 207-12 (reported)
Turned pro: December 1, 2011
Pro record: 8-0, 5 knockouts

Manager: Al Haymon
Trainers: Tony Morgan/Gene Pauldo (father)

Best night of pro career: Daquan Arnett considers his best night his fourth fight, a decision win over Yosmani Abreu this past June on the undercard of a Fox Sports Net’s boxing event. “That dude wasn’t a guy most people would expect a prospect like me to be facing that early in my career. He came in 3 ½ pounds overweight and I still took the fight. I showed them this is what I’m capable of. He was a Cuban amateur with over 300 fights. I dominated him, dropped him and got the decision and really showed my team and lot of my fans Daquan Arnett is serious.” Arnett won by four-round unanimous decision.

Worst night of pro career: Arnett’s biggest struggle thus far was his pro debut, where he had to settle for a majority decision victory over then 3-3 Cleven Ishe. He was stunned badly during the fight, raising questions about chin.

Next fight: He fights on Friday, Nov. 9 on the undercard of ShoBox’s Night of Olympians against fellow undefeated fighter Jeremiah Wiggins at the Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, Calif. Wiggins is 10-0-1 (5 knockouts).

Why he’s a prospect: Managed by Al Haymon, Arnett has impressed with his power where he routinely hurts his opponents.  “Power is something I always had; I was a big kid as a child. Dad developed [my power] right with 12 and 1500 pushups as a 9-year-old every night, lots of squats, maybe 1000 [per night]. Lots of leg strength. He taught us how to throw the right punches.”  He started boxing competitively at age 8 and was a decorated amateur in Central Florida, winning the 2009 Junior Olympic National Championship. He had over 200 amateur bouts and turned pro at 18. He’s competing at 154 right now but plans to drop to welterweight next year, saying “I’m making the push to get to 147 to contend hard for a title. Al Haymon and my team know I’m ready, I’ve been sparring 10-12 rounds in the gym.

Why he’s a suspect: There are questions regarding Arnett’s chin and he has yet to step up in class. At just 19, it’s hard to gauge him since he’s still early in his career, but he often relies on aggression and power even though he has the background to box effectively when he wants to.

Story lines: His father Gene Pauldo spent time in prison and learned to box in jail, winning several tournaments there. Pauldo taught his son how to box at age 2 and Arnett was boxing in amateur tournaments at 8. “We have a great relationship, one of those where I understand everything and respect everything he says. He’s a big reason why I’m at where I’m at right now.” He played football from a young age and excelled as a defensive back and strong safety, starting as a freshman at Maynard Evans High School, one of the top football programs in the nation. He had a letter of interest from Florida State, but decided to give up football after his freshman year to focus solely on his boxing career. He shares the same trainer as Andre Berto, Tony Morgan, and has sparred Berto since he was 14. He’s been sparring Berto to help him prepare for his Nov. 24 HBO date with Robert Guerrero and says “it’s always a learning experience. “You learn what real speed is, you learn what real power is. “I’ve only gotten better from it. It’s a different level out there.” He considers himself a humble, down earth guy and speaks good Spanish, though he is not Hispanic. “I love to entertain; I understand my job is to entertain. When I enter the ring I know the fans want to see blood, sweat and tears, speed power and knockouts so I try to bring that to them every time I step in the ring.”

Fight-by-fight record: