by Geoffrey Ciani – This week’s edition of On the Ropes featured exclusive interviews with Chad Dawson, Austin Trout, and Fernando Guerrero. Highlighting this episode was the very interesting interview with the man widely regarded as the best light heavyweight in boxing, Chad Dawson. Here are some excerpts from the interview:
On his impressive victory in his rematch with Glen Johnson:
“I thought I fought a great fight, a brilliant fight.”
On what he did differently in the Johnson rematch:
“What I did differently was just did what I do best, and that was out box him. He’s an aggressive fighter who just comes straight forward. I used angles, spin him, moved him, didn’t stay in one spot, and just out boxed him. .“
On winning his first championship against Tomasz Adamek:
“It was a priceless experience. It was my first title shot with me winning my first title against an undefeated fighter in Tomasz Adamek at that time.”
Regarding the fact that Bernard Hopkins still appears to want a rematch with Roy Jones:
“I mean, if that’s where he wants to go then go ahead. More power to him. I don’t think many people are interested in seeing that fight.”
On the possibility of moving up in weight:
“Honestly, if I could get a fight with Tomasz Adamek somewhere around cruiserweight at 190, I would do it. If we can do a rematch around that weight, or even 200, let’s do it.”
On the potential mega bout between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao:
“It’s going to be a great fight when it goes down, but I’m going to go with Floyd. You got great offense in Manny Pacquiao, you got great defense in Floyd. I think Floyd is slick. I don’t think Pacquiao will be able to hit Floyd with the punches he was able to hit Cotto and all the other guys with. I think it will be a great fight, though, but I give the edge to Floyd.”
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Next up we had a nice chat with Austin Trout who is now the WBA’s #1 ranked junior middleweight. Here are some excerpts from that interview:
On how he perceives himself:
“I’m boxing’s best kept secret. I don’t see anyone on tv/off-tv who could beat me.”
On why he remains boxing’s best kept secret:
“I believe it’s lack of promotion. I haven’t had a promotion to guide me and put me out there. Everything we’ve been doing, me and my manager, we’ve basically done ourselves.”
On possibly of fighting WBA champion Yuri Foreman:
“Yeah, we’re trying, we’re trying. It doesn’t look like Foreman’s going to be fighting me anytime soon, which is smart on his part.”
On the possibility of fighting Paul Williams:
“Recently watching the Paul Williams-Sergio Martinez fight, I’d like to fight the most feared man in boxing himself—Paul Williams. I think I have the style to beat him.”
On who he thought won the Williams-Martinez fight:
“I thought Martinez won. It was close and it could have gone either way. In my opinion I thought Martinez got it, but that one judge, 119-110—what? I don’t know what he was watching.”
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Finally, we had the chance to have a nice short interview with Fernando Guerrero. Here is what he had to say:
On preparations for his upcoming fight against Jessie Nicklow:
“The preparations couldn’t be better. We’re over here in Las Vegas, we’re training with Lamont Peterson. He’s fighting for a world title with Timothy Bradley.”
On his last fight with Ossie Duran:
“That fight was great. Ossie was a great opponent, he came to fight, and that’s what we need. I learned a lot from that fight. It went the distance, and it was justc a great fight for me to learn.”
On what he would ultimately like to accomplish in boxing:
“I see myself going straight to the top. I think I have the tools to go straight to the top, and my team gives me good surroundings.”
On whether he feels too short at 5’9” for the middleweight division:
“I think I’m okay with it, I’m suited for it. In the amateurs I actually did weight better at 165 and those guys were taller than me. I’m actually 5’10” with my shoes on.”
On some of his amateur experience:
“I made it to the finals in the Golden Gloves, and then I beat Shawn Porter in the Junior Olympics, and then back-to-back, I beat him twice.”
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If you missed last week’s special edition of On the Ropes, be sure to tune in and listen now!
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