'Hollywood' looks to shine as a pro

Story & photos by Chris Cozzone

If Raymond “Hollywood” Montes can fight like he can talk, Randy Arrellin is in trouble next week.

In a battle of debuting Duke City bantamweights, Montes and Arrellin will go four in a local showdown many see as ‘Fight of the Night,’ next Friday at Isleta on the Holm-Lamare bill.

“I don’t know him at all,” says Montes about Arrellin.

“But is it a grudge match? It’s always a grudge match. Until the end when you’re the winner. And that’s what I’m going to do. Win.”

Montes will be ending a long layoff next Friday when he climbs into the ring. Last August, Montes came back to boxing weighing 160 pounds, after four years of battles outside the ring that included drug problems and a stint at Springer.

“I was a crazy kid and got into trouble,” admits Montes. “I got into drugs, I did time . . . I didn’t have discipline. But, when I became a father, at 20, I knew it was my time to shape up and step out of the life. It was time to follow my dream.”

Montes got his GED, went to work and returned to the gym.

As an amateur, Montes says he fought 120 times, losing 12 times, and earned four national junior titles.

“I’ve never been an amateur,” says Montes. “I’ve always been a pro, with my style. I showboat a lot. The referees didn’t like it, they don’t like the way I move.

“I just always took my time, been a smart fighter. That doesn’t work in the amateurs.”

The search for a spot on a pro card began in December.

“It didn’t seem like anyone wanted to fight me,” says Montes. “Shaun Nichols backed out of a fight, then it was Alan Sanchez, who took the fight for a whole 20 minutes before remembering he just broke his hand. I had Guillermo Alvarez for a week or so, too, but he got ‘hurt,” too. It got so back I wanted to cry, but then this Randy guy took the fight.

“So I give a shout-out to Randy for taking this fight—but he won’t be victorious. At best, he’ll go four rounds with a very sad loss.

“I just hope Randy learns from his loss.”

And should Montes be on the short end of the scorecards?

“I won’t be. I just love to fight, win or lose, but I won’t lose. I figure I’m the best in the game right now for Albuquerque.”

Montes moved to Albuquerque when he was 11, with 25 amateur bouts accrued in states from California to Kansas and Colorado.

“Albuquerque needs to see a real pro and they’ll see one next week when I fight,” says ‘Hollywood.’

“There are good fighters and there are great fighters. Some are born and some are made. But I was born for this—March 16, 1985. I came out of the womb fighting, pumping my fists.

“I will be the best Albuquerque has seen.”