VERONA, New York — Bryce Mills had by far the biggest crowd at Turning Stone Casino on Saturday night. The casino bars were filled with his supporters wearing T-shirts emblazoned with the junior welterweight prospect’s name, and the venue was rocking each time the 24-year-old from the Syracuse suburb of Liverpool landed a combination on Tobias Green.
Green, a Florida native who now lives in upstate New York, was a tough customer for four rounds until he was overcome by Mills’ relentless aggression. It was the first time Green had been stopped, which highlighted the growing diversity of Mills’ offensive attack.
Mills, now 21-1 (8 KOs), has emerged as the biggest box office attraction that Central New York has seen in recent times. Still, Mills says he’s eager to show that he’s more than just a local ticket-seller.
“I can’t decide for the people. All I can do is perform. People are gonna say good things about you. They’re gonna say bad things. Whatever they say, I know who I am, and I know where I want to be, and I know where I want to go,” Mills said moments after the victory, which earned him the WBC’s “silver” belt.
“And with every performance, I just hope I’m proving to them that I’m the guy. Bigger and better fights, we need them, we’re gonna make them, and one day it’s gonna be that real green belt on my shoulder.”
Mills, who is managed by Hall of Fame promoter Russell Peltz, believes one feasible path to showing that he isn’t just a popular local act is through a showdown with Emiliano Vargas.
Vargas is one of three fighting sons of former titleholder Fernando Vargas. The 21-year-old Vargas now has a record of 17-0 (14 KOs) after performing the same night on a different card in Arizona, stopping Agustin Quintana in nine rounds.
Mills says that matchup is where he hopes his career steers toward next, even if it means leaving the comforts of his home region.
“I want to get in contact with their team about making this fight,” Mills said. “He’s a great fighter, and everybody knows he’s a great fighter. People may have some question marks with me. Let’s prove those question marks wrong. Let’s make that fight happen.
“I’d love to go out to Vegas for the biggest and the best fights, but hey, I'm not starving. I’m very comfortable here. I’m very comfortable fighting in front of my people, and I’m very fortunate to do this and to get this green belt around my shoulder. So I love it, no matter where I’m fighting.”
Mills says that while it’s easy to dismiss boxers from a relatively small market, the region is actually producing lots of talented young fighters, including top amateur Dustin Jimenez, plus emerging pro prospect Amir Anderson. He might be willing to fight elsewhere, but Mills says he’s staying loyal to his hometown.
“Everybody’s moving down to Florida and getting rid of Syracuse. I love my city,” Mills said. “I’m proud of being from the 315 in upstate New York, and it’s the people that make the place. This is the 315, this is the 585, this is all about the state of New York.”
