Archive for the ‘Fight Interviews’ Category

[Interview] Bernard Hopkins On Making History (Again) and Using Tavoris Cloud to “Retire” Don King

Posted: March 8, 2013 in Fight Interviews
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Bernard Hopkins

For the last five years, every Bernard Hopkins bout has been viewed as a potential “retirement fight.” You had a 40-something Hopkins who we all expected at some point to “get old” in the ring. Although he showed signs that the end is near in losses to Joe Calzaghe and Chad Dawson, the Executioner was “right more than he was wrong,” as evidenced by definitive victories over the likes of Kelly Pavlik and Jean Pascal.

That brings us to this Saturday night, where Hopkins dares to test fate yet again when he steps in the ring with a slugger 18 years his junior in IBF light-heavyweight champion Tavoris Cloud. Promoted by Don King, Hopkins has the distinction of running through every top middlweight King had in the late 90s-early 2000s, the most famous scalp being that of Felix Trinidad. Read why this time it’s not just Cloud, but Don King’s head that Hopkins is gunning for.

How to Continue Training at Age 48 Without “Leaving It All in the Gym”

That’s a great question because I see it happen to young fighters a lot who aren’t acumstomed to keepignt hat focus between major fights. I look at it the same as if I was an entertainer. If I was a rapper, I’d try to stay in the booth as much as I can. I try to keep that same mentality even at the highest or lowest. If you train yourself that way early and know how beneficial that is later on, you will be one of those guys that stay around and relevant when most aren’t anymore.

It would’ve been too late if I got that mentality 5-10 years ago. I conditioned myself early on in my career to have that mentality. What may be hard for others, which I can understand to a point, is very easy to me. I love staying in shape and working out, looking good in my clothes. I’m proud of the discipline it takes. This is how I make a living.

Why Tavoris Cloud Was Picked and Removing Don King From Boxing

He (Cloud) reminds me of a young rapper that’s good coming at Jay-Z saying he’s better. He figures I ought to be out and it’s his time. I’m sure a lot of entertainers can relate to that. So seeing a guy that I think is credible, having beaten everyone put in his path, it’s a whole ‘nother thing to do it at this level where you want to fight the Bernard Hopkins of the world.

What motivated more than Cloud and the title was Don King. He’s always been a motivation since my early career when I made a great living beating his fighters up to when I beat Felix Trinidad after 9/11. It might be shocking that I’m talking about Don. I’m saying it to make you understand that I have a chance to do what Cloud is trying to do to me, and that’s retire Don King by beating Cloud.

What do I mean? Name five top fighters Don has that you would pay to see. I’m sorry that’s not fair, name three. You can’t. I sat back and did some thinking. I don’t sound like a punch-drunk fighter to you — I’ve had over 70 fights since 1988 fresh out of the penitentiary. That’s a testimony to my lifestyle and my genetics, my ancestors. I look at everything logically. I never thought I’d have a chance to retire one of the most influential promoters in boxing history.

Love him or hate him, only in America with the same jacket for the last 30 years. I get the chance to retire Don King by beating the only horse (Tavoris Cloud) he has left to ride. I said it at the press conference. I’m saying it right now that I get the opportunity to retire one of the greatest promoters of many generations before me. Who would have ever thought? A bullet didn’t do it. A bad steak at a dinner didn’t do it. A car crash didn’t do it. I am undefeated against Don King fighters and there’s 15 of them, from William Joppy to Simon Brown.

How many athletes or entertainers get a chance to break their own record? [Writer's Note: Hopkins established a record as the oldest fighter ever to win a major title in 2011 when he defeated Jean Pascal at age 46.] Most artists don’t get to break their sales records in music. How many artists have gone diamond? I’ve gone diamond many times in the boxing game. That means a lot to me. Why not build on it while I can? That’s my whole case on my future in boxing.

Seven years I’ve been with Golden Boy Promotions. Now we’re seeing Golden Boy growing on the East Coast with guys like Adrien Broner and Danny Garcia. I’m doing a lot more than just throwing punches. It’s the hustler’s mentality that goes beyond the Hip-Hop game. You live and die by what you create.

Come March 9, I’m going to be glad to be at the Barclays Center to send a message. I left my DNA in Madison Square Garden in 2001 and made history. Now I’ll make history in the new Mecca of boxing in New York. It used to be the hood. Now it’s “Hello Brooklyn.” It will become a part of my legacy. I’m honored and I’ve earned that. I earned that respect but I still have to go in the ring and take what is mine, and that’s victory.

If Floyd Mayweather’s Network Switch Will Change Boxing

That’s going to happen whether we like it or not. Again, I can tell I’m talking to someone with knowledge of that era. Someone is going to have to answer to why Floyd Mayweather is at Showtime and not HBO. Someone’s head is gonna roll. They have a boss; it’s no different from the music business. If Jay-Z wants someone on Roc Nation, and he’s making strong efforts to make sure someone gets him, and that person doesn’t do it, he has to answer for it.

That important piece [Mayweather] is now at your rival. The ratings will shift. The game is gonna change. Competition has always been healthy, but if you can get rid of it in business, you do it. You always want the block locked down in the streets or the market in corporate America. So now that Mayweather is at Showtime, someone at HBO didn’t do their job.

I have a degree from the streets, not corporate America. I’m not trying to act like I have credentials there, but I think I know what I’m talking about.

Hopkins vs. Cloud, a 12-round fight for Cloud’s IBF Light Heavyweight World Championship will take place Saturday, March 9 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.  The event is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Don King Productions and sponsored by Corona, AT&T, Ford and Rocawear.  The HBO World Championship Boxing telecast begins at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT.  The co-main event will be a 12-round fight between top rated undefeated contender Keith Thurman and former World Champion Jan Zaveck for Zaveck’s WBO Inter-Continental Welterweight Championship.

Tickets, priced at $200, $100, $85, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes and service charges, are available for purchase at www.barclayscenter.com, www.ticketmaster.com, the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center, all Ticketmaster locations or by calling 800-745-3000.

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[Interview] Tavoris Cloud: Take It in Blood

Posted: March 7, 2013 in Fight Interviews
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Tavoris Cloud dominates Clinton Woods for IBF 175 belt!

Time is money when it comes to mine, take it in blood… – Nas

Beating a legend doesn’t make you one, but it damn sure brings notoriety. Tavoris Cloud is in desperate need of that as he appears on HBO this Saturday to face the ageless Bernard Hopkins for the IBF light-heavyweight title. Cloud’s breakthrough fight was supposed to have been in 2010, when he dug out a tough decision win over the then still-formidable Glen Johnson. Instead, Cloud’s career stalled due to a sporadic fighting schedule and a disasterous February 2012 performance against Gabriel Campillo. Cloud won the fight via a highly controversial split decision that unfortunately for him, is the fight that most casual fans remember his name for.

An emphatic victory over Hopkins erases the stain of the Campillo debacle and puts him in line to unify the IBF strap with the winner of WBC title rematch between Chad Dawson and Jean Pascal.

At 29 years old, there’s no further time to waste.

 

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: Hopkins has traditionally done well with sluggers like yourself. What can you bring to the table to prevent ending up like Kelly Pavlik and Jean Pascal?

Cloud: Everyone knows Bernard Hopkins is a dirty fighter and more than likely he’ll come out the bag with some of those tricks in the fight. For the head butts, y’know, one thing you don’t do is let you head hit the heavy bag when you hit the heavy bag. [laughs] I trained at a higher altitude over here at Big Bear so I can be more elusive and block more shots. I’m not concerned with what Bernard Hopkins is gonna bring. I think he’s gonna have a hard time keeping me off of him.

 

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: Having last fought in February 2012, this is the longest layoff of your career. How did you deal with it, especially with the last fight being the bad one against Campillo?

Cloud: The thing with the layoff, I was in camp all of last year, pretty much. With the [canceled] Jean Pascal fight I was in camp four months. I even stayed in a little longer after they canceled the fight to see if anything popped up. I had a lot of sparring that I didn’t get a chance to use. I had another training camp for a fight in Venazuela that didn’t take place. I was right back in camp in Big Bear in January. I’ve been mentally ready to fight even with these fights not happening.

I’ve had a lot of sparring — I’m still sparring right now. My mind has been focused on fighting so I don’t think [the layoff] will bother me.

 

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: After the Campillo fight the scouting report is now that you’re susceptible to being outboxed. Why was that fight such a struggle after you nearly ended it in the first?

Cloud: The fight with Campillo, I didn’t train like I was supposed to. I was bullshittin’. I still think the fight should’ve been over in the first round. I’ve never seen a referee grab a fighter’s hand and stuff like that. One of the reasons I wasn’t in the best shape was because after another fighter had pulled out, I was just like the hell with it, fuck boxing. I actually became depressed and I wasn’t there mentally. I was tired of that happening. I went into that fight and my [weak] training showed.

I learned from that Campillo fight to stay ready, don’t lose your patience, be ready for a dirty game and pray out there. Had I still been patient, the fight would’nt have been so damn ugly if I was motivated in camp. I had no business fighting with that man for 12 rounds. I won’t get caught like that ever again.

 

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: Hopkins has prided himself on representing that tough Philly mentality in boxing. Tell me about the Florida mentality that you bring to the ring.

Cloud: I feel like I’m definitely representing and I’m gonna carry the torch for the state of Florida. It’s a Florida thing, a Florida mentality — we don’t go away easy. We’re men — everything they get from us they got to get with blood. I’m definitely proud to hold this torch and fight Bernard Hopkins with Florida on my back.

 

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: Given any thought to any final Hopkins mind games, like maybe a mush at the weigh-in or a stunt like the push-ups between rounds?

Cloud: He might try it but I’m ready for anything. I’m not really caring about what he’s gonna do. If he wants to make an ass out of himself, let him do it. More power to him.

 

Hopkins vs. Cloud, a 12-round fight for Cloud’s IBF Light Heavyweight World Championship will take place Saturday, March 9 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.  The event is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Don King Productions and sponsored by Corona, AT&T, Ford and Rocawear.  The HBO World Championship Boxing telecast begins at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT.  The co-main event will be a 12-round fight between top rated undefeated contender Keith Thurman and former World Champion Jan Zaveck for Zaveck’s WBO Inter-Continental Welterweight Championship.

[Interview] Orlando Salido vs. Mikey Garcia: Trial By Fire

Posted: January 18, 2013 in Fight Interviews
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The age-old storyline in boxing is the young up and coming contender meeting the challenge of the old, grizzled champion. You hear it many times these days phased as the young lion seeking to dethrone the “lion in winter.” Well, take one look at WBO featherweight champion Orlando Salido and see if “old lion” is the first phrase that pops in your head.

What Mikey Garcia faces tomorrow night (January 19) on HBO Boxing After Dark is not an older fighter ready for the taking, but a renewed veteran on one of the best run of his career. Since dropping a decision to Yuriorkis Gamboa in 2010, Salido has been a five-fight win streak that includes brutal beatdown stoppages over the likes of Juan Manuel Lopez (2X), Weng Haya, Kenichi Yamaguchi, Moises Gutierrez. And to compound the formidable obstacle in front of him, Garcia as a finesse boxer-puncher is facing a style-clash with the in your chest, bruising pressure game plan that Salido brings every fight.

With a little over 24 hours left before the ring reveals the truth of who is the better man, Garcia and Salido give their last thoughts on what could be the first Fight of the Year contender for 2013.

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Getting Ready for Salido

We worked a lot of speed, agility and footwork because we feel that’s our advantage over him. We have a better chance of beating him by outboxing him and outspeeding him every round of the fight. I also worked on strengthening my legs and training my core body. We know he’s a very tough fighter and we may have to be stronger than previous fights to sustain his aggressive attacks and the pressure he applies.

 

How to Not End Up Like Juan Manuel Lopez If He Has to Fight Inside

I will do that if I have to — if I hurt him and I see him breaking down or getting tired. If so, I’ll put the pressure on him. If not I plan on moving around the entire night.

 

The Importance of Strength and Conditioning Coach Darryl Hudson for This Fight

It does count. It’s extra work but you feel stronger afterward. And that translates to speed and stamina. We did a great job on this.

 

What Salido may be underestimating.

Because of my power, he may not see the super fast hands or the overall speed (of my punches). I have speed in my hands, good footwork, and good defense, a little bit of everything. Those are my advantages over him.

 

Salido Compared to Past Opponents.

He’s very different from anyone I’ve faced. He’s very aggressive but can box too. Past guys like Concepcion and Barros had the ability to pressure me but decided to stay on the outside and change the way the fight went. They didn’t show up to brawl. With Salido, I have to prepare for the possibility of that as well.

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Mentality-wise as a fighter, do you resemble your father or your brother more?

[Laughs] I don’t know. My Dad focuses on defense a lot. During the fight he wants more aggression and my brother gets excited like that as well, maybe a little more. It takes a round or two more for me to step on the gas, usually. I’m honestly not sure; I take things from both.

 

Using a Particular Salido loss for your blueprint.

He lost to the best in the division so there’s not one that stands out as the game plan for me. All of them were a few years back. I prefer to look at his recent big fight wins for strategy. Although he has 11 defeats, a lot of them were very early in his career.

 

The Perfect 2013

Become world champion Saturday night. It’s up to the promoters, but I want to unify the titles and give opportunities to the up and coming fighters.

 

As a Boardwalk Empire fan, which character would sum up your style in the ring?

[Laughs] On Boardwalk? It would be hard since they’re a lot of characters trying to come up. But I don’t want to say one because a lot of them end up being killed!

 

Juan Manuel Lopez, Orlando Salido

Why Garcia can’t handle his pressure.

I’ve seen lots of his fights and he doesn’t like up close, pressure fighting. He’s a very good fighter when you stay on the outside and don’t pressure him. But this fight I’m going to come right at him and get right in his face. He’ll have to try and do something about it.

What he learned from the Gamboa loss that’s driven his five fight win streak.

I didn’t feel I was really well-prepared for that Gamboa fight. The last few fights I’ve completely matured as a fighter. I’ve learned how to eat properly and keep the weight off. This is key as I’m not fighting to make the weight.

 

If Garcia Can Last as Long as JuanMa Lopez did in a Slugfest.

I’ll make him fight that way to find out. It’s up to me to cut off the ring, keep him in front of me, and see to it he fights that way. I’ll find out.

 

The importance of body shots to beating Garcia.

The body punches will be what slows him down. We going to focus a lot on the body. Once he slows down I’ll take advantage of that by going upstairs for the finish.

 

ORLANDO “Siri” SALIDO will defend his World Boxing Organization (WBO) featherweight title against  undefeated No. 1 contender MIKEY GARCIA; undefeated World Boxing Association (WBA) / International Boxing Organization (IBO) middleweight champion GENNADY “GGG” GOLOVKIN will look to extend his reign into its third year against world-rated contender “King” GABRIEL ROSADO; and two-time WBO junior lightweight champion ROMAN “Rocky” MARTINEZ will put it all on the line when he goes mano a mano with No. 1 contender JUAN CARLOS “Mini” BURGOS.  All three fights will be televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark®, Saturday, January 19, beginning at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT.

 

 

 

[Interview] Gennady Golovkin on Rosado and Bringing Action to American Fans: “I have what they want.”

Posted: January 16, 2013 in Fight Interviews
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golovkin

For better or worse, boxing in America is a culture bred of the beautiful brutality of the knockout. It doesn’t matter much how deficient you are in other areas of the Sweet Science – if you have power and left a few bodies in your wake, someone will see to it that you get an opportunity at the big time. Enter Kazakhstan-born Gennady Golovkin, who’s become a sensation on the internet and amongst boxing writers after his September HBO debut and five-round razing of Grzegorz Proksa.

Although that was the second defense of Golovkin’s WBA middleweight title, we’ve seen this story before with aggressive power punchers getting overhyped and subsequently destroyed. Remember Jeff Lacy’s run until the Omar Sheika fight and then his ruin at the hands of Joe Calzaghe? Can you recall the hype around James Kirkland until he got bounced off the canvas by Nobuhiro Ishida? That’s not to say that Golovkin hasn’t been trying to prove his worth. For one reason or another, the past 12-18 months have seen potential fights against Sergio Martinez, Dmitry Pirog and Felix Sturm get turned down or canceled.

With that said, the man Golovkin faces this Saturday on HBO is Gabriel “King” Rosado, who’s currently on a seven-fight win streak dating back to 2010 with stoppage wins over names like Jesus Soto Karass and Sechew Powell. Can Rosado be the one who tempers or completely halts the Golovkin hype? In his own words, Gennady Golovkin explains why he is the one that will bring the excitement and drama that boxing fans love.

[Writer’s Note: Golovkin is not a native English speaker, resulting in some of his answers being in broken form and syntax. For authenticity’s sake, his words remain here unaltered.]

 

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: How has training been for you these last few months in the United States?

Golovkin: I train hard every day with my sparring partners. I feel great right now. This will be a great fight.

 

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: There are rumors going around that Gabriel Rosado is betting his whole purse that he’ll beat you [Writer’s Note: Rosado’s team declined to comment for this story.]. He is on record saying he won’t run and plans to dominate you. Does that surprise you since he’s smaller than you?

Golovkin: Maybe, maybe… probably. Rosado? He doesn’t want to run from me? Why not?! Yes! I’m here, let’s get it on. He’s a strong man. I’m a strong man. I’m ready.

 

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: A lot of fans seem to like you in America because you don’t have the typical “European style” of fighting. But what do you define as the “American style” of boxing?

Golovkin: Uh, y’know I like American style because American people like power and a hard punch. It’s much aggressive. I like that style. American people want drama and the knockout. Europe, not as much. I have what they want.

 

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: Where is your best weight between 154-168?

Golovkin: No, I feel great! After sparring I lost weight and I’m 152 pounds. So 154 to middleweight is fine. Right now this is perfect for me. I like middleweight; I am fit and small for a middleweight. Maybe, probably next one is 154 or maybe 158.

 

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: When people criticize you, they point to the Kassim Ouma fight as proof. You knocked him out, but had some issues. What was the problem?

Golovkin: That fight was different. We fought, not boxing, but street fighting. That’s fine. After five rounds I knew I had him. It was a great fight for me and [my] career. I don’t know why so tough before, maybe [Ouma’s] southpaw.

 

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: Who are your favorite fighters to watch, past and present?

Golovkin: Oh y’know I like old-time fighters. My favorite is Sugar Ray Robinson. And right now, too? Ohh, Floyd [Mayweather] and [Manny] Pacquiao. I like [Nonito] Donaire style. He’s good. Favorite in the world right now… Pacquiao.

 

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: What were the biggest cultural changes coming to America from Germany and Kazakhstan?

Golovkin: Yeah, American style… people are great. There is so much…different words and foods. I love Madison Square Garden!

 

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: [Laughs] Thank you very much for your time, Gennady. Any closing thoughts?

Golovkin: I thank my fans. Great fight, thanks to HBO. Yes, I’m ready. Yeah, it’ll be a great fight. I appreciate it, yeah, thanks so much.

 

ORLANDO ”Siri” SALIDO will defend his World Boxing Organization (WBO)  featherweight title against  undefeated No. 1 contender MIKEY GARCIA; undefeated World Boxing Association (WBA) / International Boxing Organization (IBO) middleweight champion GENNADY ”GGG” GOLOVKIN will look to extend his reign into its third year against world-rated contender “King” GABRIEL ROSADO; and two-time WBO junior lightweight champion ROMAN “Rocky” MARTINEZ will put it all on the line when he goes mano a mano with No. 1 contender JUAN CARLOS ”Mini” BURGOS. All three fights will be televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark®, Saturday, January 19, beginning at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT.

Promoted by Top Rank® and K2 Promotions, in association with Tecate and Madison Square Garden, remaining tickets, priced at $200, $100, $50 and $25, are currently available for purchase at the Madison Square Garden Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster charge by phone (866-858-0008) and online at www.ticketmaster.com or www.thegarden.com.

[Interview] Robert Guerrero Plans No Mercy for Andre Berto: “When I’ve got that foot on his neck I’m gonna break it!”

Posted: November 24, 2012 in Fight Interviews
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The title quote may be a little shocking to some fans of Roberto “The Ghost” Guerrero. Long viewed as one of the sport’s all-around “good guys,” Guerrero’s wholesome family image and devotion to his wife through her battle to overcome cancer has made a walking feel-good story, but not the marquee TV and PPV star he desires..

Over the last year, Guerrero has been much more vocal in press releases and interviews, claiming superstars as high as Floyd Mayweather are ducking him and his willingness to face all challengers. While the former point was ridiculous to many, Guerrero made good on the second with a July victory over Selcuk Aydin, a win where Guerrero jump two weight classes from lightweight to welterweight. The high-caliber fight is here this Saturday on HBO World Championship Boxing when Guerrero faces Andre Berto, a fighter most expect to bigger, stronger and quite possibly faster than him. Though a clear underdog, Guerrero remains confident that he’ll not only get the victory, but deliver a masterclass performance that puts the boxing world on notice.
Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: You’ve been very amused by some of Berto’s claims that he’ll run over you. What do you think he’s underestimating about you?

Guerrero: Probably my punching power and thinking I’m too small for the welterweight division. In the press conference, I think he saw how big I am. Far as height I’m about an inch or two taller than him.

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: Most people have been correctly critical of Berto’s defense or lack thereof. As a fighter scouting him, do you think he’s improved or regressed in let’s say he’s past 2-3 fights?

Guerrero: Not at all on improvements. I think at this stage Berto is who he is. He’s comes in great shape, is strong and has power in that right hand. But after that I don’t see him changing his style any [for me]. He’ll do what he’s comfortable doing and I’ll take advantage.

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: In your last fight with Selchuk Aydin, I noticed in the last few rounds you got tired but continued trading rather than holding for breathers. Was that conscious effort to help dispel that boring tag some critics have put on you?

Guerrero: Yeah, I like to exchange punches with guys. Was there fatigue down the stretch? Yes. You look at the punch output, it was close to 1000 punches. After being off for a year and a half there was some ring rust and not being able to relax the way I should have been and usually do. But, when you move up two weight classes you have to get used to the size and a different kind of pressure. I have to chop them down.

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: Has it been hard for you not to get resentful of the opportunties other Golden Boy fighters in and around your weight class have gotten over the last year while you waited on the shelf?

Guerrero: Oh no, not resentful at all. I don’t look at what the next man is doing. I’m going to do what I gotta to get where I’m at. I’ll keep trucking into it falls into place and now, it’s falling into motion with Berto.

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: What can you give me about the strategy you took into training camp for Berto?

Guerrero: I’ll have everything when it comes to inside and outside fighting. I’ll change it up when I have to. Because I cover everything, I’m able to adjust to anything in the ring.

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: Both you guys have fast hands but it’s open to debate who’s faster now that you’ve jumped two weight classes. Do you feel you’ve kept an advantage there?

Guerrero: I think we match up pretty good there. Berto does have naturally fast hands. But the thing is I can keep up that speed for 12 rounds.

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: What did you learn from the Aydin fight that will help you against Berto?

Guerrero: You have to be ready for all different types of styles. Berto’s a completely different fighter from Aydin; he’s got more speed and is more versatile in the ring. Aydin was just a tough, strong guy who came forward who was just going to try to break you down like a wrecking ball.

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: It’s rare to have to prepare for a fight Thanksgiving weekend. How did you deal with it being a family man?

Guerrero: My thoughts going into the fight is yes it’s the holiday season, but if I beat Berto it leads to bigger things so my family would have a better Thanksgiving [next year].

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: I thought you were joking before, but you sounded very serious today in saying you’d move up to 154 if need be. What makes you so confident you can keep scaling these weight classes? Is it the sparring with bigger guys?

Guerrero: Oh yeah definitely, I’m always sparring guys bigger than me even going back to my days at 122 and 126 pounds. Recently I’ve sparred guys who were 160 pounds. Being a naturally strong and tall guy with good reach and all that, plus being confident in my skill set let’s me know I can do it.

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: Over the last year your team was very heavy with press releases trying to drum interest in a Floyd Mayweather fight. Floyd didn’t bite and he may not fight any time soon. So who’s some of the other big names you feel are realistic options should you defeat Berto?

Guerrero: There’s guys a lot of guys like Pacquiao, Marquez and Timothy Bradley. Most definitely the guy still on my radar is Mayweather. As soon as he’s ready to make a fight we’re ready to do it. But we have to keep 100% focus on beating Berto decisively to get that opportunity.

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: I’ve seen you tired, but never hurt in the ring unless I’m mistaken…

Guerrero: No, I’ve never been hurt or buzzed in the ring. I enjoy it when I get hit hard because it makes me want to hit the guy back even harder.

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: You haven’t got a knockout in the last two fights but you’ve put a lot of leather on your opponents. With Berto, can you land enough to not only hurt him, but finish him unlike Victor Ortiz?

Guerrero: Oh, you don’t want anyone to get injured where it’s life-threatening. But my motto is, when I’ve got that foot on his neck I’m gonna break it! I’m gonna go all out until it’s over. That’s the mentality I have going into the ring. If I don’t knock Berto out, that’s unfortunate for him because he’s gonna take a beating for 12 rounds.

Robert Guerero vs. Andre Berto airs live tonight on HBO World Championship Boxing at 10 p.m. ET

[Interview] Adrien Broner: Facing DeMarco and the Superstar Guarantee

Posted: November 16, 2012 in Fight Interviews
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When something gets repeated often enough, people will start to believe it. For the past year, Adrien Broner has been telling anyone who’ll listen that he’s destined to become a boxing superstar on the level of Muhammad Ali. While he’s convinced himself, the response from boxing fans has been much more tepid. Tomorrow night on HBO’s “World Championship Boxing” main event, Broner can go a long way to changing that when he faces a significant threat in WBC lightweight titlist Antonio DeMarco. A tall, aggressive southpaw with power who needed less than a minute in his last outing to vanquish John Molina, DeMarco has all the tools to derail Broner’s superstar aspirations. But let Broner tell it, DeMarco is just a pit stop on his goal to surpassing his idol Floyd Mayweather.  Should we see a dominant performance Saturday night, you may just start believing him too.

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: On paper, Antonio DeMarco is expected to be your toughest challenge. What do you consider his best attribute?

Broner: His best strength is his heart. DeMarco has the heart of a champion. There comes times where you’ll have to dog it out or make the fight easy. I’m ready for whatever. We won’t know until the bell rings, but I’ll make the adjustments as needed to get the victory. If it’s a guy who may pose problems I’m going to box. If I see I can walk him down, I’m gonna walk him down. You don’t fight everybody the same. We know we’re very in shape and ready for anything.

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: You seem to prefer the high guard and walking down fighters. Is that strategy conducive to DeMarco’s style?

Broner: A lot of people don’t know. When I first seen Floyd Mayweather, I was 12. From watching him do it I said let me try it. Once you try something the first time you’re not gonna get it. Now at 23, 11 years down the road, it really helps me out; I really don’t get hit (laughs). It took me a long time to perfect and there’s still some things I see when I watch Floyd that I still have to work on. It’s a work in progress.

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: Earlier this month you and 50 Cent got into it on Twitter with you offering to face both Yuriorkis Gamboa and Billy Dib. Are those still options should you get by DeMarco?

Broner: I’m really not worried about the Gamboa fight. I don’t need him to be a superstar. Without him, the fans are still going to want to see Adrien Broner no matter who I fight. It would be a big fight, a super fight we can make down the line. I want to see Gamboa get his career back going. We haven’t seen him fight in a long time and he’s an exceptional talent in boxing. He has some nice amateur credentials [too], but at the end of the day I’m “The Problem” and will stay undefeated no matter who they put on the other side of that ring.

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: You had to deal with a lot of problems while still trying to get your career off the ground in 2008. Some of those legal issues took years to resolve. How did you stay focused on boxing with them hanging over your head and no big company backing at the time? (Writer’s Note: According to Cinncinatti court records,Broner was arrested and charged with multiple crimes from 2007-2008, such as intimidation of a crime witness, carrying a concealed weapon, aggravated robbery and felonious assault. He was acquitted of all charges.)

Broner: I just stayed focused man and left it up to the man upstairs. He definitely helped me and now I’m a world champion going for another title in another weight class.

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: We know how Floyd went about pushing his name to next level with the “Money” persona. Define your persona and why you’re so confident it’ll be just as big.

Broner: I think it will come. The things I do with the antics is just me being me. Everybody around the world will love me just like do [Muhammad] Ali. You have some who dislike him but for the most part the whole world had to see Ali. That’s what I’m looking forward to.

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: You talk a lot about becoming a superstar but in order for that to happen, you need that big rival or signature win. Who in the immediate landscape can give you that push to the next level?

Broner: The superstar opponent will come with me just being me and putting on great performances. I would like a big fight with Juan Manuel Marquez before he’s done. That would be a hell of a fight. It’s a lot of names out there but we’ll take it slow and one fight at a time. Right now DeMarco is on my mind and I’m gonna get this fight out the way.

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: A lot of people soured on you for not making weight against Escobedo. Looking back on it, how you feel about everything that went down?

Broner: I’m never gonna get a fair shake. They’re gonna always find a way to put some type of criticism in the situation. I just do me. As long as I’m victorious, looking, leaving the ring not beat up with my million dollar smile, I’m ok with that. I’m the Meek Mill of and LeBron James of boxing. I’m a young phenom and star. It’s just gonna get bigger from here and I’m ready for it.

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: At this stage, are we done with the hair bush routines?

Broner: [Chuckles] The brush ain’t retired; he’s just trying to slow up right now.

Adrien Broner vs. Antonio DeMarco for the WBC light title airs Saturday (November 17) night at 10 p.m. ET on HBO’s “World Championship Boxing,” live from Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The co-main event is Seth Mitchell facing Johnathon Banks for the NABO heavyweight title.

[Interview] Seth Mitchell Sizes Up Johnathon Banks Challenge

Posted: November 15, 2012 in Fight Interviews
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When Seth Mitchell knocked out Chazz Witherspoon this past April, he passed a few important tests. First and foremost, he showed the ability to survive adversity when Witherspoon badly stung him in the opening round. He also showed the ability to adapt during the fight. Most importantly, Mitchell’s performance was a clear example that he’s more than a match for the former and fringe contenders of the division.

This Saturday night (November 17), Mitchell takes a step up to face veteran Johnathon Banks, who’s undefeated over nine fights since moving up to the heavyweight division three years ago. In an interesting twist, Banks doubles as the head trainer for Wladimir Klitschko, who’s lauded Mitchell as a potential opponent next year. After the fight, Mitchell may very well have answered another test regarding if he’s truly a top fighter and potential heir to the Klitschko throne.

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: You spoke about your last opponent Chazz Witherspoon as someone who was solid in every area but unspectacular. What’s your verdict on Johnathon Banks?

Mitchell: He’s going to set a lot more traps. He has a good jab and he’s a better counter-puncher. And I think overall he’s a better boxer than Witherspoon.

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: Facing a good counter-puncher is obviously a big concern since you’re an aggressive fighter. Does this mean we’ll be seeing more boxing instead of pressure from you come Saturday?

Mitchell: Without giving away too much of the game plan, you’re going to see “effective aggressiveness.” My trainer and I put together a solid game plan and you’ll be seeing different things in there on November 17.

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: Banks hasn’t had any losses since the knockout defeat to Adamek in 2009. That fight was at cruiserweight. How do you rate Banks’ durability as a smaller heavyweight?

Mitchell: He’s a smaller heavyweight but he’s put together well. He’s not a flabby 225 pound fighter. Anytime you get someone that’s 200 plus pounds throwing punches at you, they can land something solid and get you in trouble. I think he’s a decent-sized heavyweight that knows the ring well from sparring with the Klitschko brothers and Lennox Lewis. He has a lot of experience and it remains to be seen how I deal with him on the 17th, but I remain very confident.

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: Although this fight had to be pushed back a few times with your hand injury, one of the benefits of a layoff is it gives you more time to refine your game with minimal wear and tear. What have you spent the most time working on with this down time?

Mitchell: Overall I just wanted to become a better boxer and stop some of the things I saw in my last fight like not falling in with punches and having good balance. It was a blessing in disguise that allowed me to rest my hand which is now 100% healed. We worked on a lot of other things, but I have to be vague with the fight coming up so soon. But you’ll see everything on fight night.

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: When fans and writers see a fighter get hurt, we often say “just hold on” as if that’s the easiest thing to do after having you senses scrambled from a punch. Take us into a fighter’s perspective of what it feels like to be hurt and how you were able to make it out of that first round with Witherspoon.

Mitchell: You have to be mentally strong and number one be in great condition. Being able to recover quickly depends vitally on what condition you’re in. At the same time, your opponent has to help you out too. When I got hurt with Chazz Witherspoon, I was like “Ok, don’t be macho. Go out there and grab him.” And he saw that he had hurt me and tried to finish me but, some of the things I told you I had worked on like not falling in and being too close so your opponent to grab you, those are some of the things he did. He didn’t attack the body and he was head-hunting. Those things made it easier to grab on and survive the first round.

Man, when that feeling goes through your head and that tingling feeling through your body, you have to stay composed. It’s easier said than done because some people get hurt and their first instinctual reaction is to go out there and brawl. There’s a time and place for everything; get composed and then come back. The most important thing is to make it out that round. You know you already lost it so make it out and build from there. That was my mindset.

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: You’re on record as saying your timeline for a title match against a Klitschko is late 2013. Outside of those fights, the majority of the active heavyweights are coming from Europe. Are you willing to take fights in Europe to build your name internationally?

Mitchell: Anything is possible but right now I would probably say right now all my fights will be in the U.S.

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: Al Haymon is an advisor on your team. Talk about the influence he’s had on your career thus far.

Mitchell: He’s instilled in me that you only can control what you can control and that’s not underestimating any of your opponents. Do your job, prepare and be ready when your time is called. His track record shows he’ll put you in the right opportunities. That’s all he can do. We talk about the boxing business itself: the ins and outs and the politics. People are going to say you should fight this one or that one, but he tells me to focus on what I can control and the team will put me in the right position.

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: On your HBO “2 Days” special, your manager mentioned that you view boxing as a “means to an end” rather than a passion. Do you agree what that opinion?

Mitchell: I wouldn’t say [the passion] is 100%. I love competing. I love the adrenaline rush I get of training and putting my body through strenuous situations. I love competing whether it’s football, basketball or any sport. My manager Sharif Salim and I talk about boxing all the time. Boxing is a rough way to make a living. If you told me I had the potential to make as much money and succeed in another job I can’t honestly tell you I wouldn’t take the other job. Getting punched upside the head for a living is brutal, not to mention the politics involved. One thing is I don’t disrespect the sport. I don’t underestimate my opponents and I’ll always be in shape.

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: I also saw in the clip that you met Ken Norton. Have you had a chance to watch any of those older heavyweights and picked anything up from them?

Mitchell: When I first started boxing I watched a lot of old tapes to pick up little nuances. I still have a lot of them and still watch them every now and then. I’m an avid boxing fan and watch all types of weight classes whenever it’s on TV. Even the Spanish channel where I don’t know what they’re saying. I don’t watch too much tape of my opponents though. I let my trainer break that down.

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: To close, give me your opinion of how your heavyweight stacks up to those throughout the division’s history.

Mitchell: The older fighters could definitely compete. The thing that makes the Klitschkos so good is they fight well with their height. The Klitschkos would have been dominant in any era of boxing because they have power and fight with their height. But the older generations were tougher, man. They fought with smaller gloves and longer rounds. They would’ve been very effective in this era as well.

Seth Mitchell vs. Johnathon Banks will be the opener of this Saturday’s (November 17) Boxing After Dark card headlined by Adrien Broner vs. Antonio DeMarco. The card airs at 10 p.m. ET.

[Interview] Paulie Malignaggi Comes Home to Brooklyn an Older But Wiser Champion

Posted: October 20, 2012 in Fight Interviews
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In some ways, it’s hard to think of Paulie Malignaggi as a “veteran.” It seems like yesterday the brash Brooklynite was trash-talking Miguel Cotto and earning every fight fan’s respect with the brutal beating he endured, performing wild antics like wearing dreadlock extensions to the ring, and boldly calling out the corruption of the Texas Athletic Commission after a robbery “defeat” to Juan Diaz. But in reality, some of those signature moments from Malignaggi’s career came over six years ago. The Magic Man is now in his early 30s, a situation where every athlete, and especially boxers, realize time is not on their side. It’s fitting that at this last stage of his career, Malignaggi comes home to Brooklyn in the newly-opened Barclays Center to defend his WBA welterweight title against tough Mexican slugger Pablo Cesar Cano. No, this isn’t the same Malignaggi that emerged professionally from Brooklyn over a decade ago; the footspeed isn’t as quick, the hands not as fast. But in a game where the overwhelming importance is mental, Malignaggi explains why in 2012, he’s better than he’s ever been.

 

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: It’s very noticeable that you’ve become less cocky and loud in recent years, signaling a newfound maturity and focus. Is there one particular moment you can pinpoint that brought about this transformation?

Malignaggi: When I lost to Amir Khan; it was a make or break point for me. I knew that if I’m going to continue with my boxing career I had to make certain changes and start approaching things differently. I looked around myself and changed the people and the surroundings. That’s exactly what I did and it’s made a change for the better.

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: A few days ago on the conference call you mentioned that even though you’re not in your physical prime anymore, you consider yourself a much better fighter at this point. What differences have your noticed that make you believe that and also that you’ve passed your absolute prime?

Malignaggi: I don’t recover as fast from my workouts. I have had to know my body a lot better. I got away with a lot when I was younger just on physical talent, natural ability and just being young. My body could recover. At this age I can’t just do what I want because my body will let me know the next day. But you get smarter in that way. It would have been nice to have these mental notes when I was younger.

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: A lot has been made of your recent stoppages, which have been rare throughout your career. Out of everything, from actual power to speed and technique, what do you believe is the biggest reason you’ve been able to get guys out of there?

Malignaggi: I think it’s the healthy hands, y’know? I’ve had four hand operations in my career. We’ve been blessed with healthy hands the last few years. For the most part I’ve battled hand injuries most of my boxing career. You’ll notice a big part of the stoppage in the last fight was a result of Senchenko’s eye being closed. It was not just my jab but being able to throw the right hand, a punch that I didn’t consistently have before because I was always breaking it.

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: From the bloodbath he had with Erik Morales, we know that your opponent Pablo Cesar Cano is a tough fighter. What are you expecting out of him Saturday?

Malignaggi: I expect him to try and pressure me and be aggressive. That’s going to be easier said than done. I expect a guy who’s young and excited about the opportunity he’s got. I’ll have to work pretty hard in the early part of the fight but I’ll put him in his place as the fight goes on. Little by little I’ll have to break his will. He’ll have a lot of will, but little by little I’ll take it away.

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: There’s been a lot of deserved praise for your commentating ability we’ve seen on Showtime, but you’ve also acted before. Will that be something you’ll continue to pursue in retirement?

Malignaggi: It’s cool; I don’t have an acting agent per say but I have fun doing it. It would be something cool to explore if those doors open. I’m not against any of it. I try to be an ambitious, driven and well-rounded person in my life.

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: Would I be wrong in saying you’ve never truly gotten over the loss to Ricky Hatton. Out of your losses, it seems that’s the one that you just have to avenge somehow.

Malignaggi: Yeah, that’s a fight I shouldn’t have lost. I don’t think Hatton won it; I lost it. It’s very clear if you look at any of my fights in 2008, it’s obvious the trainer I had (Buddy McGirt) wasn’t fitting the bill for me. It was a contrast of styles; the pieces weren’t fitting but he was still trying to make them fit anyway instead of adjusting to my strengths. In the end I paid the price with three terrible performances [that year] although I won two of them and lost the Hatton fight. I’m my own worst critic; all three were just brutal performances. None of them made me happy.

Even though I’ve took two losses since then, and one wasn’t really a loss in [Juan] Diaz because everyone knows I got robbed, I’ve only had one bad performance and that was to Amir Khan. The only thing that told me is that I had to leave 140 pounds. I believe I made my point and I’d like to make my point to Ricky Hatton, to show him the guy he fought wasn’t the guy the rest of the opponents in my career got to fight. I’d like to show him who Paulie Malignaggi really is. But, one thing at a time; Cano comes first and then we’ll see what happens. It’s definitely something I’m interested in.

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: You mentioned the Amir Khan fight. You had some really entertaining trash talk before that fight and even went as far as printing up and selling “A Mere Con” t-shirts. That was really entertaining. Will we ever see things like that from you again?

Malignaggi: It’s all spontaneous; if I think of ideas I’ll do them. I’m definitely not against it. It’s entertaining and I give myself a laugh. If people get a kick out of it it’s cool too. But I never want to think of it too much because it’s spontaneous.

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: One thing I’ve always had immense respect for concerning you is that essentially because of the power deficit, you have to fight the perfect fight every time out and not get too down on the cards. In the times you have been down big, you’ve never quit or looked discouraged. How do you mentally stay focused knowing the climb back is near impossible?

Malignaggi: You just try to take it second by second, minute by minute. You can’t look ahead too much. You realize a fight’s not going your way but if you start to look at the long haul [ahead], like “it’s going to be a long night,” mentally you’re going to fold and break. You try to look at it in the moment of where it’s at. Try to win every moment and the one afterward. If the knockout comes, you take it. If you think too deeply, you’ll break. Avoid that at all costs.

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: You’ve admitted that you won’t be able to achieve all your career goals in the few years remaining in your career. What are the ones that you think you can still get done?

Malignaggi: I wanted to be world champion in three classes. Originally I turned pro at lightweight and told myself I’d be champion at lightweight, junior welterweight and welterweight. I couldn’t make lightweight [long enough] and had to move up to 140 pounds in a year of my pro debut. If the right opportunity came at junior middleweight I would try and shoot for a world title there. These are very tough goals I set for myself.

I wanted to be in the Hall of Fame but I’m not sure if I can achieve that anymore. There were some key losses so it’ll be interesting to see what I achieve from here on out. I try to approach every fight with that type of hunger and determination to leave my mark on the sport.

And obviously, to make as much money as I can in the sport. I figured being successful would always create revenue, so just maximizing these world title wins with as much income as I can.

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: Thanks for your time, Paulie. Welcome home and best of luck tonight.

Malignaggi: Thanks man, I appreciate it.

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World championship boxing returns to Brooklyn with an inaugural night of fights at the new Barclays Center on October 20 headlined by Unified Super Lightweight World Champion Danny “Swift” Garcia against future Hall of Famer Erik “El Terrible” Morales presented by Golden Boy Promotions and supported by Golden Boy Promotions sponsors Corona, DeWalt Tools and AT&T.  In the co-featured attractions, Brooklyn’s own Paulie “Magic Man” Malignaggi puts his WBA Welterweight World Championship on the line against hard-hitting Pablo Cesar “El Demoledor” Cano, undefeated number one rated WBO middleweight contender Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin of Manhattan takes on unbeaten Hassan N’Dam for N’Dam’s WBO Middleweight World Championship and Devon Alexander “The Great” faces Randall Bailey for Bailey’s IBF Welterweight World Championship in a bout presented in association with DiBella Entertainment.  The SHOWTIME® CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast begins live at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).  Preliminary fights will air live on SHOWTIME EXTREME® beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

The undercard is loaded with many of New York’s top fighters, including Brooklyn’s hot middleweight prospect Daniel “The Golden Child” Jacobs, former World Champion Luis Collazo, the Bronx’s rising star Eddie Gomez, former world title contender Dmitriy Salita and Brooklyn prospect Boyd Melson.

Tickets pricedat $300, $200, $100 and $50 are available for purchase at www.barclayscenter.com,www.ticketmaster.com, the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center, all Ticketmaster locations or by calling 800-745-3000.

[Interview] Danny Jacobs: Beating Cancer and the Hard Middleweight Road Back

Posted: October 19, 2012 in Fight Interviews
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For most, beating able to survive a bout with cancer is enough. After that, whatever lifestyle changes recommended by a doctor are followed meticulously. Former middleweight prospect Danny Jacobs was faced with the same scenario in May 2011, when he was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer called osteosarcoma that latched onto his spine. Unable to walk, the 25-year-old Jacobs had emergency surgery on his back and was told in no uncertain terms that his boxing career was over.

Within a month of that medical declaration, Jacobs was back in the ring sparring.

Over a year later, Jacobs finds himself back in the ring professionally tomorrow night on Showtime when he faces Josh Luteran to kick off his official comeback. The story is inspiring; many have rightfully proclaimed Jacobs an inspiration no matter what the outcome of his comeback. But unlike other sports, boxing is brutal vocation that shows no mercy in exposing any sign of weakness. The cancer may have increased Jacobs’ mental fortitude, but has that happened at the expense of his in-ring ability?

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: On you’re journey back to the ring, did you have any mental fear or blocks when it came to taking punches and sparring?

Jacobs: When I went back into sparring it was at a time when doctors told me I shouldn’t spar. A month after, if not a few weeks. after I got out of the hospital I was in there sparring. That first time I got a really good shot, it kind of shook me up a little bit. I didn’t get hurt, but it was a reminder that “this is what you have to look forward to.” If I am going to do it, I have to go hard and give it my all because boxing is a rough sport. It definitely was a good reminder that allowed me to work hard because I didn’t want to take those shots like a did before [laughs].

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: Any time you’ve had major surgery you’re going to notice differences in your body. Hopefully, those differences will be improvements but that varies. What changes did you notice afterward?

Jacobs: The surgery on my back was the longest to heal. I remember my back was numb for a very long time and in pain for months. I definitely see a difference in my weight and my structure. I’ve never been this ripped, cut up and in shape. I don’t know what happened, but you can distinctively see the difference from when I fought [Dmitry] Pirog. I had one of the longest and best training camps for that fight. Training for this fight, I definitely see the changes in physique.

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: Being that it took so long for Josh Luteran to be named as your opponent, how has that changed your preparation?

Jacobs: I’m not one of those fighters that doesn’t look at opponents. If I do know who I’m fighting I try my best to do a little bit of research. What I did come up with was a couple of Youtube clips that he had. It was enough for me to know how he fights, his flaws and to get a gist of his style. I showed my trainers and with the little bit of time we do have we focus on using all his flaws to our advantage.

On Saturday night, not that I’m overlooking him, that’s a special night and I’m looking to perform. Whatever he brings to the table, I’ll be willing to adjust and stay in control.

 Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: Depending on the fighter’s temperament, some have to focus on restraining rather than embracing their emotions on fight night. For you, will you have to keep the flood of emotions with this comeback in check until after the final bell?

Jacobs: To be honest, I really want to be able to map out how everything is going to turn out that night with my emotions and how I’ll react. But honestly, I really don’t know how I’ll react. I know I’m in tip-top shape and I’ll be able to perform, but emotionally I might be on a natural high and perform like Ali. Or God forbid I’m nervous and it takes over me. [laughs] In all reality, I think I’ll just enjoy myself and let my hands go because I have a job to do and it’s nothing I haven’t done before. I just have to go in there and get the job done.

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: With the changes you’ve experienced with your body, can you remain at middleweight for the near future?

Jacobs: Being that I made weight 3-4 weeks before this fight, I’m going to campaign at middleweight for a very long time. Surprisingly, I shot up to 225 pounds post-surgery. It’s been very hard to deal with that fact because as an athlete and especially as a boxer gaining so much weight, it’s not good at all. We’re so used to being very healthy and weight conscious.

To bounce back and be in shape and ripped, it’s motivation for me. I know I have what it takes. Whatever the surgery did to me to make get this way, I’m thankful for it. At the end of the day, I’m going in the ring October 20 and just having fun.

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: This is your comeback from cancer, but people forget you had “quiet comebacks” in your last two fights to rebound from the Pirog loss. How were those?

Jacobs: I was a little nervous. I was more so nervous about being gunshy and not letting my hands go. With the loss [to Pirog] I know I didn’t lose my skill, but I know I had my butterflys. My mindframe is different now because with everything I went through, I’m able to take control of how I think and feel. With the determination I have, there’s no stopping me when I get in the ring. There will be a couple butterflys, that’s normal, but it won’t affect how I perform.

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Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: What was prognosis on the possibility of your type of cancer coming back?

Jacobs: The cancer I had was a very rare cancer of the bone called osteosarcoma. The chances of it coming back are totally up to me. I have to continue to eat right and stay away from certain foods and sugars. That isn’t too hard because I’ve been an athlete for 11 plus years [and] especially with my life on the line. I might cheat here and there but I’m doing pretty good. I don’t know if there’s a big chance of it coming back, but being that there is a chance I want to do the right thing to prevent it coming back at all.

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: Middleweight has really evolved while you were away. How do you view the division?

Jacobs: I’ve done a bunch of evaluations on the middleweight division. When I left, it wasn’t a lot of top-notch guys. They were on the cusp. While I was recovering, that whole two years is when guys started to really bubble and rise to the top and become champions. I’m just excited to be in an exciting weight class. Whoever we fight, it doesn’t matter because the middleweight division has so much attention on it. Before it was just 1-2 guys at the top. Now it’s a handful of talented guys when I get back to that level.

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World championship boxing returns to Brooklyn with an inaugural night of fights at the new Barclays Center on October 20 headlined by Unified Super Lightweight World Champion Danny “Swift” Garcia against future Hall of Famer Erik “El Terrible” Morales presented by Golden Boy Promotions and supported by Golden Boy Promotions sponsors Corona, DeWalt Tools and AT&T.  In the co-featured attractions, Brooklyn’s own Paulie “Magic Man” Malignaggi puts his WBA Welterweight World Championship on the line against hard-hitting Pablo Cesar “El Demoledor” Cano, undefeated number one rated WBO middleweight contender Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin of Manhattan takes on unbeaten Hassan N’Dam for N’Dam’s WBO Middleweight World Championship and Devon Alexander “The Great” faces Randall Bailey for Bailey’s IBF Welterweight World Championship in a bout presented in association with DiBella Entertainment.  The SHOWTIME® CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast begins live at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).  Preliminary fights will air live on SHOWTIME EXTREME® beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

The undercard is loaded with many of New York’s top fighters, including Brooklyn’s hot middleweight prospect Daniel “The Golden Child” Jacobs, former World Champion Luis Collazo, the Bronx’s rising star Eddie Gomez, former world title contender Dmitriy Salita and Brooklyn prospect Boyd Melson.

Tickets pricedat $300, $200, $100 and $50 are available for purchase at www.barclayscenter.com, www.ticketmaster.com, the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center, all Ticketmaster locations or by calling 800-745-3000.

[Interview] Peter Quillin: Barclays, The Title and Beyond

Posted: October 19, 2012 in Fight Interviews
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When you listen to Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin, the hunger of a fighter focused on future achievement and stardom is evident. A pro for seven years and having made his name by fighting (and winning) the bulk of his fights in New York City, Quillin began his gradual climb to mainstream recognition with wins in the last 12 months over Craig McEwan (a 6th round TKO in his HBO debut) and re-retiring Winky Wright with a lopsided unanimous decision win on Showtime this past June.

Quillin returns to NYC this Saturday at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center when he challenges for the WBO middleweight title against Hassan N’Dam N”Jikam (27-0, 17 KOs), an undefeated Frenchman who just captured the strap in his last bout. When the middleweight landscape is discussed, Quillin’s name is readily dismissed with adjectives like “protected,” “unproven” and even “overrated. Read how Quillin plans to eradicate those labels

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: You just had the biggest name win of your career beating Winky Wright over the summer. But with Wright being inactive and old, did you really learn anything in the ring that can help you going into Saturday again N’Jikam?

Quillin: I’m always focused on making the improvements needed to become a legendary fighter. I’ve been working on my defense, my offense and my movement. I’m focused on working the strategy Eric Brown came up with for this fight. And of course, avoiding the distractions to be able to handle the business the way it’s supposed to be.

Fighters fight with their personality, and mine is a hunger and desire to be the best. The mentality with the Winky fight was looking at him as someone who was trying to deter where I wanted to be at. With N”Jikam, this is me fighting for a strap which will lead to everyone wanting to do something with me. I put everything on hold for training and I know the opportunities will come knocking.

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: People seem to be split between whether you’re on the cusp of becoming a star or need a few more significant fights. How do you view your marketability going into this fight?

Quillin: Well, it’s up to the fans to decide that and my promotional company. I know I’m willing to do whatever’s necessary on the boxing end to make that happen. I don’t get deterred by what people say. I know I have to prove things to myself before anyone.

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: With fighters today, being undefeated makes you more appealing to casual fans, but it’s a mark to others that you haven’t been tested. What’s been your most difficult test so far?

Quillin: For me it’s the distractions that boxing has to offer. There are people that always want to be around fighters. Everybody wants a piece of you financially, emotionally and physically. People don’t understand the life of a fighter is dedication and staying focused. That’s what’s gotten me here.

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: At this time, where do you fit in the middleweight division? Obviously a win Saturday gives you the WBO belt. Are you ready for the elite?

Quillin: There’s a lot of good names out there; Sergio Martinez is the cash cow of division. Gennady Golovkin is making noise and is probably the most avoided fighter in the division.You got Dmitry Pirog who’s coming back from injury I hope. You got Matthew Macklin, who I just heard the IBF appoved Anthony Mundine to fight him.

For the most part you have a bunch of great names and I’m fortunate enough to have Al Haymon working with me as an advisor and Golden Boy as my promoter. I’m just trying to take the business to another level so I focus on whatever they come up for me. I’m ready for all those names because I have trust in my people. I’m right on point.

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: Al Haymon has a lot of influence on the sport and is definitely a powerful ally for any boxer. What would you say in the most important you’ve learned from him?

Quillin: With Al I don’t have to worry about if the opportunities will come. I know Al will bring the paydays and the fights that I need, want and deserve. I do this as a career. With that being said, I have to maximize my money in this profession.

Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: Thanks Peter and best of the luck this Saturday.

Quillin: Thank you and I will be the next WBO middleweight champion of the world! I’m very blessed to be fighting in Brooklyn at the Barclays Center. I thank God every day and don’t question God’s will or his reasons. I just know he gave me this position amongst the people to inspire and maybe get them closer to God themselves.

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World championship boxing returns to Brooklyn with an inaugural night of fights at the new Barclays Center on October 20 headlined by Unified Super Lightweight World Champion Danny “Swift” Garcia against future Hall of Famer Erik “El Terrible” Morales presented by Golden Boy Promotions and supported by Golden Boy Promotions sponsors Corona, DeWalt Tools and AT&T.  In the co-featured attractions, Brooklyn’s own Paulie “Magic Man” Malignaggi puts his WBA Welterweight World Championship on the line against hard-hitting Pablo Cesar “El Demoledor” Cano, undefeated number one rated WBO middleweight contender Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin of Manhattan takes on unbeaten Hassan N’Dam for N’Dam’s WBO Middleweight World Championship and Devon Alexander “The Great” faces Randall Bailey for Bailey’s IBF Welterweight World Championship in a bout presented in association with DiBella Entertainment.  The SHOWTIME® CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast begins live at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).  Preliminary fights will air live on SHOWTIME EXTREME® beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

The undercard is loaded with many of New York’s top fighters, including Brooklyn’s hot middleweight prospect Daniel “The Golden Child” Jacobs, former World Champion Luis Collazo, the Bronx’s rising star Eddie Gomez, former world title contender Dmitriy Salita and Brooklyn prospect Boyd Melson.

Tickets pricedat $300, $200, $100 and $50 are available for purchase at www.barclayscenter.com, www.ticketmaster.com, the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center, all Ticketmaster locations or by calling 800-745-3000.

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