Boxing Prospect Watch: Darmani Rock

There is some Riddick Bowe in Darmani Rock, which could be a good thing and a bad thing. The 6-foot-4, 245-pound heavyweight from Philadelphia has quick hands and good footwork for someone his size. He has an extensive amateur past, considered this time last year to be a possible member of the 2016 United States Olympic boxing team headed to Rio de Janeiro. Like Bowe, the boxing hall of famer who will be inducted next month, Rock has a goofy, offbeat sense of humor and is learning to take himself more seriously, which can be a good thing or a bad thing. We will know more as the years progress, starting with Rock’s first step as a professional, as he debuts Friday in a four-rounder against Carlos “The D.C. Diamond Cutter” Black, who is 1-3. They will meet at the DC Armory, in Washington, D.C., in a bout televised on BET. Rock, who turned 20 on April 17, signed with budding boxing promoter Roc Nation, owned by Jay Z. Rock could be as good as Bowe was, possibly even better. Despite how impressive Bowe’s career was, he could have been have enjoyed even greater success had he been more disciplined. Bowe’s worst enemy was Bowe. That is why the only one who may be able to stop the nascent Rock is Rock himself. He has that kind of talent. Rock won the U.S. National Amateur super heavyweight championship last year and then suffered a shocking …

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