NEW PALTZ — Mike Faragon stepped into the ring ready for his semifinal match on Friday night.

The sweltering heat in the gym at the State University of New York at New Paltz wasn’t a deterent to the boxer who recently turned 18. He had his sights set on this day for an entire year, ever since a semifinal loss at last year’s Empire State Game.

There had been other things going on in Faragon’s boxing life. He had just returned from a Michigan training camp taught by United States Olympic coaches.

Faragon stepped into the ring with head gear and gloves strapped on tight. His muscles looked more defined than a year ago. The fighter who was known as Micheal Cunningham last year, was involved in the process of turning from a kid into a man.

Darren Curry of New York City came at Faragon with fists flying.

Faragon, who took punches well last year, had added a new dimension to his game. He slipped punches and moved around the ring like a more technical fighter, though Faragon would admit afterwards that he got caught up in Curry’s style.
"The kid came right at me," Faragon said after the fight. "I felt like I had to show my skill but, at times, it was hard to. I should’ve taken control of the fight."

Faragon threw hard shots and showed his skill around the ring to take a 5-0 decision over Curry, setting up a re-match with Leon Green of Long Island. Green had beaten Faragon in the semifinals last year.

Green would beat Faragon again by a 4-1 decision.

But Faragon had taken another step in his boxing career.

No "typical white fighter"
"I definitely can get better," Faragon said. "I have to work on keeping calm and having better composure. I’ve been working hard doing a lot of push-ups and pull-ups and doing a lot of the things we did in Marquette, Michigan at the eight-day camp."

Faragon’s schedule includes a run at 6 a.m., and after breakfast, a full day of workouts in and out of the boxing ring.

Faragon is trained by his father, Andy Faragon, and by Andy Schott at their gym in Schenectady.
"It was a good fight," Andy Faragon said after Friday’s win against Curry. "Last year, we said that he was a year away; well, he’s not a year away anymore. That was a strong man from New York City."

But the Faragons and Schott are not totally satisfied with Mike’s Empire State Games performance.
"We’re always looking to improve," Andy Faragon said. "I don’t want to say this, but I will. We don’t want him to be the typical white fighter, where he takes hits and slugs back. I want him to be able to talk when he is 40."

Mike Faragon’s future is busy; after the games, he will compete in the national under-19 tournament among others.
"The under-19’s is the big tournmant," Schott said. "It’s the future of Olympic-style boxing. The Showdown in the City will also have the top fighters in the country."

"Getting better each day"

Then Schott and Andy Faragon plan to take Mike to the next level.
"We want to take a run at national tournaments like the U.S. Boxing Championships and the Golden Gloves in the spring," Schott said.

Andy Faragon said that they have met with some promoters and that there is an interest in Mike’s boxing career.
"There have been some people to watch Mike fight," Andy Faragon said.

Mike Faragon will let Schott and his father deal with the logistics outside the ring. His focus is to improve his fighting skills and work hard to get ready for his next fight.

Boxing is Faragon’s life, as he decided not to go to college after graduating from Guilderland High School in June.
"I love it," Mike Faragon said. "Boxing is my life. I want to focus on boxing. It’s time to take this serious."

And the dedication has paid off so far.
"He’s definitely gotten stronger," Andy Faragon said. "You have to remember he just turned 18 a week ago."
"He’s decided not to attend Hudson Valley Community College in the fall," Schott said. "He realizes the opportunity he has and he realized that when he was at the elite camp."

The ultimate goal is to reach the Olympics in 2008, and Schott and the Faragons know there is a lot of work that needs to be done.
"We want him to get 100 amatuer fights in by 2006 and 2007 to be on the elite team and travel around the workd as an elite athlete," Schott said. "And, from there, the Olympics and possibly a pro career. We haven’t gotten into a lot of the specifics. He’s 17 just turned 18. Right now, we’re focusing on getting better each day."

Mike Faragon has the same philosophy as his coaches.
"In the Olympics, they look for a different style than the pro," Mike Faragon said. "They look at straight punches and its all technical. All-around, I want to get better. I’m always looking to get better. Always."