LONDON — Marcus Browne plans to come back from London to his home in Staten Island with two jewels — a light-heavyweight Olympic boxing medal and a diamond ring to propose to his girlfriend.
Showing plenty of New York City bravado yesterday, the 21-year-old southpaw is sure he has improved enough since September to capture a medal and take down Russian favorite, Egor Mehontsev, who outpointed him in the world championships 10 months ago.
Brown, who has emerged out of Teddy Atlas’ famed New York City boxing gyms, is one of slumping USA Boxing’s small handful of medal hopes, with team officials raving about thunder in his gloves.
“I’m not guaranteeing no medal count, I’m not predicting what I’m going to get, but I’m leaving here and coming home with some hardware, preferably gold,’’ Browne said.
Then it’s on to a pro career and potential engagement to Kidania Rivera.
“I’m definitely turning pro,’’ said Browne, a 2008 Tottenville High graduate. “Do some negotiating, have a bidding war. Hopefully with a gold.’’
Browne may first have to get past Mehontsev, who won a 14-6 decision in September.
“I want to fight him first,’’ Browne said. “I want to fight him because I want my win back. I know I can beat him.
“I’m a whole different fighter than last year. It’s definitely mental because I have the skills to beat him. I was the better fighter all around. But it was my first international tournament. The occasion got the best of me. It’s not going to happen this time.’’
Atlas, Mike Tyson’s first boxing tutor a long time ago, made this possible. Five years ago, PAL attempted to close down the city’s boxing gyms. Atlas stepped up, kept three open, two in Brooklyn, one in Staten Island, where Browne was a pupil since age 13. Atlas subsidizes the clubs at $50,000 a year through his foundation, “Atlas Cops and Kids.’’
Atlas is not Browne’s trainer. Gary Stark is. But Atlas, in London as an NBC analyst, has taught Browne more wisdom than when to throw the left hook. Atlas’ chief goal is keeping his boxers off the streets. It’s not always successful. One of his students was shot last month near his Brooklyn club.
“We pay the coaches, that’s part of the $50,000,’’ Atlas said. “And the day we’re only teaching jabs and not making them better people is when we shut it down.
“I’m proud as hell of this kid. Not because of the boxing, but because of the person he is. Proud as hell of him, but I’m most proud he’s one of the kids acting the way any parent would want to see their kid act. He can give hope to a lot of other kids that they can be another Marcus.’’
Browne and Atlas share more than a borough.
“Teddy’s definitely my man,’’ Browne said. “You want no other guy behind me. … I’m the only guy here representing Staten Island, New York. Teddy and I have that in common. And we’re going to ride it until the wheels fall off.’’
Though Browne did well in the Olympic trials, his early loss in the worlds forced him to need to qualify in Brazil in May. Three years ago, he suffered a personal tragedy when a friend who got him into boxing, N’wachi Hartley, was killed after he was hit by a car.
“I believe in myself,’’ Browne said. “I’m here for a reason. I’m not here because of luck. Because I took the longest road to get here.’’
Browne has no problem making weight. He tipped the scales at 172 yesterday. The max is 178. His waist is 32 inches and likes to be lighter, so as to be quicker.
“I’m swift,’’ Browne said. “I got a little bit of pop to keep them at bay. If you’re not swift, you’re not going to last long.’’
Atlas sees all the skills to merit the medal talk.
“If he keeps himself together mentally in this, he’s going to grab whatever medal he wants to grab,’’ Atlas said. “Because he probably is more talented than anyone in this thing as far as pure physical talent. Size, body, weight, speed, power.”
And Staten Island toughness too.
