Time is never on a boxer’s side. Each fight, each training session, each punch adds a little more wear and tear. For James Kirkland, the training is the easy part. It’s the road to fight night where he’s fallen short. At 27 years old, he’s already lost several years of his boxing career due to stints in prison for armed robbery (2003), and most recently completing a 20 month sentence last year for parole violation. The last legal bind was the most disappointing for Kirkland and the boxing community, as he was on the cusp of possible stardom after an exciting seek and destroy evisceration of power-puncher Joel Julio in 2009.
The past will remain mired in what-ifs, but there’s still promise in James Kirkland’s future. The middleweight division is wide open outside of its aging but highly talented champion, Sergio Martinez. Junior middleweight, Kirkland’s original division, has names like Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito in its ranks. Tomorrow night (April 9), Kirkland competes in his third post-prison bout on the undercard of Golden Boy’s “Action Heroes” PPV, headlined by Marcos Maidana vs. Erik Morales. The time for him to make an impact is now.
Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: Since you’ve come back, all your fights have been at middleweight. Have you noticed any difference, positive or negative, in your body or your opponents?
James Kirkland: When I got out of jail, I was 210 pounds. I brought my weight all the way back down to 164 and now I’m fighting at 158. Anyone who knows boxing can see the hard work I’m putting in preparation for these fights. It’s all to reclaim my fame.
Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: You’ve been getting back in the ring every 1-2 months. Do you get enough time to really study tapes on your opponents?
Kirkland: Man, I really don’t know nothing about him [Nobuhiro Ishida] and the other opponents. The only thing I work on is my ability to train. As long as I train hard and eat right, I can handle any type of style.
Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: I noticed in your fights you get very animated once you score a knockdown or have someone hurt. Sometimes it’s something simple like a head nod, other times you might flex. For those who haven’t boxed, explain what it feels to have someone hurt.
Kirkland: It feels good because it starts in the gym. You work on your game plan, and when it falls in the right mode, the fight goes easy. The fight is the easy part because you train so hard. Your rhythm, the timing and head movement is right, and you’re breaking your opponent down. It turns into a sparring match. And for the fans to be hyping you up, it gives you that extra knockout power and that extra drive to want to break noses, ribs, wrists and just hurt your opponent.
Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: A lot has been made on your parole violation in 2009 for gun possession. It does need to be said though that you had the gun for protection because of a previous robbery. So in your case it was more so you seeking protection from your environment than actively looking for trouble. Because of this, have you remained in Austin, Texas or relocated?
Kirkland: I’ve been with [Donald] “Pops” Billingsley since I was six. Ann Wolfe came in when I was about 15 years old for conditioning. They [Pops and trainer Kenny Adams] know my style and how to push me to the next level. Now we’re working on more technical things like balance, head movement and rhythm. I know how to push and drive myself. With these things together you have yourself a monster.
There’s a bigger reason for me leaving and switching from the people I’ve been with all my life. Just being incarcerated 18-20 months shouldn’t have been enough to take me away from people. So you’ve got to think ‘hey something’s wrong with this situation.’ I did this because I know this was going to better me. The [personal] business won’t be put out there, but I’ll let you know it’s bigger than just coaches. You have to motivate yourself. You have to take things you really care about. Even though there’s a lot of people I no longer deal with, I still have to push forward. I want to be a role model and make my kids happy.
Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: The main knock on you is your defense. There was recklessness before jail, and it seems like the problem is still evident in your two comeback fights…
Kirkland: This is what I tell people about the defense. As far as my [recent] opponents, I don’t know if they’re former world champions, current champs or just contenders! When I’m stepping in that ring, I’m stepping in there blind. I watch maybe 3-4 films in the past, but some of these new guys I’m blind to. My focus is the training and being in grind mode in that ring. I’m rebuilding myself to be a monster.
Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: Final question, will we see you back at junior middleweight? You’d definitely be a good opponent for Sergio Martinez, but you never completed a run at 154.
Kirkland: I really feel that right now 154 is my home. I feel I can accomplish a lot at 154. People say it’s a hard weight to get to. When you’re not in shape it is. I feel good with a lot of energy. I don’t dehydrate myself to make weight. My main focus is doing what it takes to be a champion.
James Kirkland will face Japan’s Nobuhiro Ishida tomorrow night on Golden Boy’s “Action Heroes” PPV. Check your local listings for start time.
Beats, Boxing and Mayhem 