Miller energized for Friday bout in Saratoga Springs

PHOTOGRAPHER: Bill Palmer

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Brian Miller knows how lively Saratoga Springs becomes in late July.

The Schenectady native is hoping to tap into some of that energy Friday night when he meets Manny Cotrich of Utica in a six-round light welterweight bout that is part of the “Night of Future Champions” card at the Saratoga Springs City Center.

“I usually get about 50 people — guys from work, family, friends — that come out when I fight,” said the 24-year-old Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons graduate. “It’s a big-time boost. It makes me perform better.

“Saratoga is great this time of year, with the track open and lots of people in town. It should be a great crowd.”

Miller, who takes a 3-0-3 record (one knockout) into the bout, is a corrections officer at Greene Correctional Facility in Coxsackie by trade.

“When I first started, I had the 3-to-11 [p.m.] shift,” said Miller. “Now, I’ve got the midnight shift, and it’s worked out better.”

The overnight shift allows Miller to train with Andy Schott in Albany.

“Their hours are 3-to-11, so now I can come home and sleep until 2 or 3, get up and go to the gym for my workout, and get my running in before I go to work,” said Miller, who has been fighting professionally for over two years. “I should have done this all along.”

Miller began boxing professionally while attending Hudson Valley Community College.

“I had fought amateur for a while, but I had played football from the time I was eight,” Miller said. “Boxing was more of a way to stay in shape.

“In college, I knew I wasn’t going to be a football player with my size, so I really turned to boxing.

“The level of training is different. It’s more of a lifestyle now.”

Miller doesn’t know much about his latest opponent.

“I usually don’t know a lot about who I’m going to fight,” said the right-hander. “I just train to get into the best shape possible.

“I’m glad that this is a six-rounder, because it usually takes me a while to warm up. By the fourth round, I’m ready to go.”

Miller is coming off a four-round March win over Luis Lopez.

The card, sponsored by Pugnacious Promotions, is headlined by a New York state heavyweight title fight between champion Darrel Madison of Central Islip and Nagy Aguilera of Newburgh. Both have 13-1 records.

The Miller brothers of Troy are also on the card, which is set for 7:30 p.m.

Shannon Miller (16-4, nine KOs) takes on Terrell Nelson in a heavyweight bout, and younger brother Shawn Miller will make his pro debut, fighting Atlanta’s 0-3 Valentine Fortenelly in a light heavy bout.

Unbeaten Mike Faragon of Guilderland draws Alberto Amaro of Puerto Rico in a lightweight bout.

Reserved tickets are $125 for golden ringside, and $75 for ringside. General admission open seats run $40.

Tickets are available from Pugnacious Promotions at www.pugnaciouspromotions.com, and by phone at 527-0160.

BRUNO STADIUM CARD

Schenectady’s Bryan Abraham (lightweight) and Markus Williams (super middleweight) are scheduled for a card a week from Friday at Troy’s Joseph L. Bruno Stadium.

Headlining the Sweeney Boxing “Battle of Troy” event is a New York state welterweight title bout between Albany’s Frank Houghtaling and Danny Sostre.

Reserved tickets on the field range from $40-$50. General admission is $30.

Tickets are available by calling the Tri-City ValleyCats’ box office at 629-2287, at Sweeney’s Boxing, 160 Delaware Ave., Delmar or by calling 439-5656.