On April 9, James Kirkland embarrassingly discovered his flaws as a fighter when he was bounced off the canvas three times and knocked out in one round by an unknown Japanese fighter named Nobuhiro Ishida. It had been his 3rd comeback fight since coming home from a one year prison sentence for gun possession and parole violation. In less than three minutes, talk of Kirkland challenging middleweight champion Sergio Martinez, or even for that matter being a dangerous contender, went up in smoke.
The first defeat is a test of a fighter’s mental resolve — its impact, good or bad, is lasting. Kirkland was no different. The first to go was Kenny Adams, who had replaced Kirkland’s original trainer Ann Wolfe after the two had a still undisclosed personal falling out. Now back with Wolfe and on the winning end with two recent KOs, Kirkland faces Alfredo Angulo, a slugger that several years ago he appeareded on a collision course with to crown boxing’s top junior-middleweight. With both fighter’s careers stalling due to upset losses and out of the ring issues, Saturday’s (November 5) bout is now about whose career remains alive as a legitimate contender. Facing career purgatory, James Kirkland explains why not to use the Ishida defeat as the reason to count him out on November 5.
Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: Not sure if you know it yet, but some of your recent sparring has made it onto the net. What have you and Ann Wolfe worked on to improve the holes in your game?
James Kirkland: We’ve had so many sparring partners come in. If Angulo comes with speed, we have something for speed. If he comes with pressure, we have something for pressure. We have everything to adapt to whatever style he comes with and take advantage of it. At the same time, I’ve been working on my timing, movement and boxing. You’ll see boxing and you’ll see pressure. One thing [in particular] you’ll see is a bunch of combinations. My hands won’t stop moving, but I’ll be doing 12 rounds of consistent, hard punching.
A lot of them can’t go [more than] four rounds. Some can’t go more than eight. So what we do is bring in three or four sparring partners so everyone is new. One can do four, but he can’t go five. The next one will go four. One dude we had at first could go 10. We try to do at least 16 rounds. What I’m saying is we’ve prepared for the worst and the best with Angulo.
Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: Far as improvement goes, what were the most difficult things to correct after going back to Ann Wolfe from Kenny Adams?
Kirkland: Timing, not falling into shots and being over-anxious. With Ann [Wolfe] we wanted to be able to see punches coming. Sometimes I get in there and get to throwing certain punches and putting myself out of position. My timing won’t be awkward and the snap on the punches will be there. This training camp was one of the hardest I’ve ever been through. It was hard to get these things down pat. We’re well prepared.
Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: One of the biggest tests a fighter will face is how they rebound from the first loss, especially a bad one. How were you able to mentally overcome what happened?
Kirkland: They are different types of fighters. Some can’t take a loss and never get focused again. Me, asked myself were you in the right shape? Did you have the right training? Did you run the right way and use your speed? Did you work the pads and push yourself to the utmost to be ready for Ishida? No. I didn’t know he was as tall as he was. They said he was supposed to be a soft puncher. There’s a lot of things I didn’t know…
Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: So from your perspective the Ishida loss was simply down to sub par training, not any chin issues?
Kirkland: Exactly. When it comes to the Ishida loss people have to understand I was trained a certain way. When you get a trainer or a new coach, they hold the bag a different way. They hold the mitts different. They want you to do things different and it messes up your timing. Everything ends up getting off. I just feel the training was not there. Kenny Adams is a good dude and coach, but it’s hard to work with something new and adapt and learn. That’s the reason I feel I took that L. But I’m back and better than ever and in the best shape of my life. It feels good.
I’m going to be real honest with you, man — this is the first time I’ve ever been prepared where the weight is concerned. I didn’t even think it would be the way it is. I did a lot of training and hard work, but the weight came off the way it was supposed to. I’m not drained or weakened. I’m at the lowest I’ve been since I’ve been back.
Beats, Boxing & Mayhem: This isn’t your first HBO fight, but this is your first bout where people are expecting a Fight of the Year candidate and possible classic slugfest. Does that affect your mindstate knowing win, lose or draw fans and critics are expecting such an entertaining fight after all the recent boxing letdowns?
Kirkland: Oh, no. One thing for this fight right here is that I’m sticking to a game plan. This is my first time being 100% ready physically and mentally. I won’t let media talk or interviews step in the way of me training or getting ready for this fight the right way. If my plan brings the most exciting fight of the year, let that be what it is. But I do know this is one of those fights you’ll have to be at the couch early for.
Angulo vs. Kirkland, a 12 round WBC Super Welterweight Continental Americas Title Fight and Semi-Final Eliminator, and Quillin vs. McEwan, a 10-round middleweight fight, are presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Periodico QueQui (Pepe Gomez) and sponsored by Corona. The HBO Boxing After Dark telecast will air at 10:15p.m. ET / PT in the United States, with Televisa airing the fights in Mexico.
Beats, Boxing and Mayhem 