Brendan Gibbons: Family tradition

You could say it’s a family affair.

He grew up around boxing and has been mentored by one of the most respected and well-known players in the game; his father Sean. Raised and living in Las Vegas, Nevada, he grew up in the ideal location to get to know all aspects of the sport, as Las Vegas is often referred to as the fight capital of the world.

After graduating high school, Gibbons moved to Los Angeles where he was working in modeling. After that, he was in a transition phase and was looking seriously at moving into boxing. While football and baseball had been his sports as a high school student, he was always around the fight game and was wondering if he would transition to it on a career path.

After deciding to devote more time to assisting and working directly with (father) Sean’s ever-burgeoning stable of fighters, the boxing apprenticeship was underway.

With Dad connected to a lot of major fighters across the industry, along with being the head man behind legend Manny Pacquiao’s “MP Promotions”, there were a lot of fighters, a lot to learn, and a lot of work to do.

Jump ahead a few years and Brendan’s own “Viva Promotions” recently crowned a world champion and is looking to add more to his expanding stable.

MaxBoxing recently caught up with Brendan, as polite and well-spoken a young man as you can hope to meet. Fresh off his recent London, England jaunt where he was representing Gibbons for Top Rank Boxing at Luis Alberto Lopez’s IBF featherweight title victory over former champ Josh Warrington. 

On this episode of “Chatting with the Champ” – Viva Promotions’ Brendan Gibbons.

BT: You are just back from a huge win with Luis Alberto Lopez going into London and getting the world title right in (former champion, Josh) Warrington’s backyard. IBF featherweight champion. How did you feel going into the fight?

BG: I felt good because Luis was feeling really confident and was ready, as he always is. I knew that he would be difficult for Warrington with his awkward style and pressure. It was a great win. He was over there for about eight days before so he was relaxed, feeling good, weight was good.

BT: Were you concerned about it going to the scorecards in Warrington’s backyard?

BG: You know, that is always a bit of a concern in boxing, but it was an IBF mandatory fight and there were a lot of eyes on the IBF to have the best judges and make sure it was scored properly. The judges did a great job and the right guy won. It was a great win, a great win for Top Rank.

BT: Do you have a rematch clause?

BG: It was a mandatory so there is no rematch clause. 

BT: That guy (Lopez) finds a way to win in fights he isn’t necessarily supposed to win. They keep giving him tests and he keeps passing them.

BG: They test Andy Vences against him and he beats Vences. They test Gabe Flores against him and he beats Flores. Next fight after that he goes to England and beats undefeated Isaac Lowe. And, I think that helped him in this fight because he’d been to England before, knew the atmosphere and he was very relaxed and confident going into this title fight.

BT: You had another one of your fighter’s recently who came up just short in a world title - Jonas Sultan. That was back in April in England. It was nice to return to England and get a championship.

BG: Yes, our fighter (Viva Promotions’) Jonas lost a distance fight to Paul Butler in Liverpool. We are going to get him back in the ring and see about working him into a position to get another title shot in the new year.

BT: Any thoughts on what is next for Lopez?

BG: I’m not sure. There might be something with Mick Conlon who is with Top Rank, so that is an easy one to make. That would be a big fight.

BT: I’m assuming that would be in Ireland?

BG: I would think so. But that isn’t a problem for Luis. He’ll fight anyone, anywhere.

BT: He’s an easy guy to like. Certainly, a current favorite of mine.

BG: He’s great, isn’t he? Tough, in shape, and ready to go with anyone, anywhere.

BT: Let’s talk about your path to the sport. You grew up around boxing so it wasn’t a surprise that you went into it.

BG: I did. I grew up with it and have been around it my whole life but really had to think about what I wanted to do and what would be my role in the sport. I was always around it with my dad and I loved it but you have to be sure before you go into it and have a plan as to where you can fit in.  

BT: Am I correct in saying that you are approaching it, finding your role through the lens of your dad, who has literally done every role in the sport. Certainly, the best resource in the business.

BG: Yes, for sure. My Dad is a great resource because he has done it all, every role at every level of boxing, and that gives him a perspective that others might not have. He’s worked with every fighter from four round opponents to Hall of Fame world champions. You start to understand roles and how important they are. He has done so much and is a great sounding board for me. We talk about ideas and I’ll run things by him and ask him what the best approach is. We have a very good working relationship; I work with him, have my own fighters, it all works. He’s like the God Father of boxing

BT: (Laughs). Yes, he is.

BG: I think whatever your role is, knowing as much about the specific roles each person does and having a good understanding and respect for the role really works for a team. Then you can assign a specific role – conditioning, nutrition, whatever, and the job is done well, and one guy isn’t stressed out trying to do everything and then things get missed. It’s good to have a team approach. My dad has set up the ring, driven with a car full of fighters, press, managing, promoting, matchmaking, cornered guys, everything. The thing is he has such a good understanding of how important all the roles are on a team. He has a wealth of knowledge and I’m lucky to able to run things by him. 

BT: Dad would set up the ring, put guys in the ring, and if there was a no show, he climbed into the ring. I Love it. (Laughs).

BG: Absolutely, he’s done it all. (Laughs).

BT: How do you see your role evolving with your Viva Promotions?

BG: Right now, I am just trying to learn as much as I can; take in everything. You must be open and willing to do whatever is needed on a particular day for the fighter. There is no job too big and there is no job too small. They are all important. Understand and respect everyone’s role, as they are all important. Maybe move into managing and promoting in the future, but that is down the road. Just learning and busy working with the fighters, in any and every role right now.

BT: Are you in relax mode for a bit over Christmas, then ramp up for the new year?

BG: Yes, we’ll get to enjoy a little break, enjoy Christmas, but we’ve always got things on the go. We’ve got to keep the guys in the gym, keep them working because the calls are gonna come quick in the new year and they have to be ready. We have Uzcategui this weekend and then we have a purse bid coming up for Mark Tapales, an IBF purse bid. I hear (undefeated bantamweight champion, Naoya) Inoue is moving to 122, so that opens up a lot of options at 118 for Jonas who is probably fighting in February. We have some guys in the Philippines, some guys in Mexico. Busy, busy.

BT: I’m excited to follow Viva Promotions and your fighters. Thanks for taking a minute to chat and give my best to the family for the holidays.  

BG: Thanks Bill, appreciate it. Enjoy your holidays.