Brooklyn’s ‘Rocky’ is living the dream

Nothing against the Garden, but young boxer Zachary Ochoa is living his dream of fighting on Brooklyn's biggest boxing stage.

The South Williamsburg superlightweight is Brooklyn's Rocky, running its streets and often running across the Williamsburg Bridge as part of his training regimen.

He will make his fourth appearance at Barclays Center on the undercard of Saturday's headliner — David Lemieux vs. Gabriel Rosado for NABF middleweight title. Ochoa takes on Jose Miguel Castro (4-1, 2 Kos).

"It means a lot to me,'' Ochoa told The Rumble of fighting in Brooklyn's big arena. "Ever since I was a kid in school, fifth grade, I remember people talking about the New Jersey Nets may become the Brooklyn Nets, and that was cool. It was before I started boxing. Who knew I'd be in that arena as part of their boxing start. That means so much to me that Brooklyn can claim an arena and it's not Madison Square Garden.''

Ochoa's a perfect 8-0, with four knockouts as he rises up the rankings.
"Brooklyn's got a lot of boxing fans,'' Ochoa said. "Everyone's a boxing fan in Brooklyn.''

Though he has just eight pro fights on his résumé, he has more than 90,000 followers on Instagram, mostly women. Though he takes pride in his Williamsburg roots, he makes it clear he's from the south side — not the gentrified, hipster village.

"You know how it was years ago,'' said Ochoa, who got his start at age 13 at Masons Gym in downtown Brooklyn. "I always have pride being from there because I know how it was before the changes.''

When he trains in the gym, he has video of Muhammad Ali fights on a TV to inspire him. He also uses Oscar De La Hoya as an advisor.

"He's a busy man,'' Ochoa said. "He tells me, remember, keep using the jab. It's the best punch in boxing.''

Can he be a champion like Oscar?

"He's done a great job with me,'' Ochoa said. "I'm improving every fight,
gaining more experience and technique. In two, three years, I see myself at the top — hopefully a world champion. All I have to do is stay
focused.''

Ochoa also loves basketball.

"I have to say I'm a Nets fan now,'' Ochoa said. "I loved the Knicks as a kid, but anything that has to do with Brooklyn I love.''

'Sopranos' star hits the 'Bottle'

It began as the brainstorm of an avid Yankees and New York Football Giants fan.

"One day I'm looking at my water cooler," Joe Gannascoli of "Sopranos" fame said, "and I'm saying, 'Why isn't that covered in a team logo, that'd be great, one of my teams?'"

An email to Pat Hanlon, Giants senior vice president of communications, led to a contact with NFL licensing which led to a partnership with Tom DeLuca at Fabrique Innovations … which has led to what Gannascoli hopes will be Bottle Skinz mania.

"I went from a chef to an actor, and now I'm hopefully gonna be an entrepreneur," Gannascoli said.

Bottle Skinz are described as functional, decorative bottle covers, made of polyester spandex that help prevent algae for bottles that have indirect light.

"For me, as a hard-core Giant fan, to see it actually in their weight room, is pretty, pretty cool for me," Gannascoli said.

There are Bottle Skinz for many NCAA Division I college teams and the major professional leagues, with the NFL leading the way.

"I should be in the team stores, and hopefully I will be, by this time next year, after they see how well it does," Gannascoli said.

Visit www.bottleskinz.com and nfl.com if you're looking for a last-minute stocking stuffer. All NFL teams are available on the website.

Mets' coat drive offering up tickets

If you want do a good deed this holiday season — and maybe watch Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom or Zack Wheeler pitch for the Mets next April — then show up for the team's annual "Warm Up" Coat Drive on Wednesday at Citi Field. The Mets are teaming up with New York Cares for this event.

From 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Mets Team Store, fans bringing a new or gently used coats will receive a voucher redeemable for two tickets to a Mets home game in April, excluding Opening Day. In addition, fans will receive 15 percent off select regularly priced merchandise at the Team Store, Wednesday only.

Participants can park at Lot G at 126th Street. The Team Store is located adjacent to the Jackie Robinson Rotunda. Mr. Met will be in attendance from noon-1 p.m.

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