Boxing Prospect: Charles “Mr.Hollywood” Natal

In boxing, prospects are a dime a dozen. Year in an year out, dozens of amateur boxers are on the boxing radar, as they turn pro. Some go on to meet or exceed expectations, some fall way short, while some carve out a nice career for themselves, even if they were not always dazzling. Bobby Czyz comes to mind when it comes to the latter. As a ‘can’t miss’ prospect, Czyz was pitted against the tough Mustafa Hamsho on NBC, back in 1982. Hamsho was considered nothing more than a test for Czyz; a tough hard-nosed professional who already had his shot, a failed attempt against Marvelous Marvin Hagler. Hamsho upset the favored Czyz, punishing the upstart in grueling fashion. Years later, Czyz played the role of spoiler as he brutalized Ray Leonard protégé, Andrew Maynard, in 1990. While Czyz overcame his first setback, Maynard never did; hence the life of the boxing prospect.

Charles “Mr. Hollywood” Natal is a boxing prospect worth keeping an eye on for the calendar year of 2016. Mr. Hollywood recently stopped by RingNews24 Boxing Radio and spoke about life as a boxing prospect. Mr. Hollywood told RingNews 24 his origin as a pugilist came when a cousin of Charles’ would not let him touch his boxing gloves. Charles was told he was “way too little for boxing.” This act of oppression lit a fire under Mr. Hollywood’s psyche. The Puerto Rican born Natal was determined to show his cousin just how big a wallop a ‘little guy’ can pack.

Mr. Hollywood’s push back showed promising results from the get go. Charles tells the story, on RingNews 24 Boxing Radio, of how he did well against a seasoned member of a local boxing gym and there was no looking back. A fruitful amateur career, showcasing a 97-7 record, gave Charles the confidence to turn pro in 2012. Charles’ pro record is 6-0 2 KOs. However, the big story of Natal’s early professional career is the cumbersome nature of the boxing business.

Starting out without a manager, Charles told RingNews 24 that he spent the majority of his time trying to find a fight on the internet. Even now, with a solid foundation behind him, Charles has had trouble staying active. His early December fight was canceled. This proved more cumbersome than usual, as Mr. Hollywood told us that he had to refrain from gluttony, an American tradition for the Thanksgiving Holiday, in preparation for the fight. When the fight was canceled, the disappointment was tripled due to the sacrifice of the feast.

Mr. Hollywood’s solid foundation now consists of acclaimed trainers Virgil Hunter & Eddie Croft. Natal informed RingNews 24 that the biggest adjustment he had to make, working with Hunter & Croft, was to change his style from counter puncher to aggressor. Hunter & Croft want their fighter to “set the pace early”, as Charles was more accustomed to lay back and counter his opponent.

Natal also spoke about how he added body punching to his arsenal. “I was always a head hunter” Natal explained. The recognition of a need to retool his style shows a sign of maturity that many young prospects do not posses at the tender age of 23. Charles “Mr. Hollywood” Natal is showing all the signs of what it takes to make it as a boxer. A good head on his shoulders, a winning team behind him and well disciplined. When he is not fighting for food, Charles is working with the likes of Amir Kahn & Andre Berto. Priceless learning experiences.

2016 promises to be a busy one for Mr. Hollywood. He is already scheduled to fight in January, February, & April. The April fight will take place in his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. Charles Natal is very excited about that future date. How the chips will fall for this Puerto Rican prospect is unknown. How will he respond when he is opposite a Mustafa Hamsho, or a Bobby Czyz? Will he get the chance to prove himself against the best? As is always the case with prospects. There is one thing that is certain. It is going to be a lot of fun finding out.