by Geoffrey Ciani (Interviewed by Jenna J & Geoffrey Ciani) – This week’s 110th edition of On the Ropes Boxing Radio featured an exclusive interview with light heavyweight contender Yusaf Mack (28-3-2, 17 KOs), whose scheduled IBF eliminator bout against Otis Griffin (23-6-2, 9 KOs) was recently postponed for a second time. Mack spoke to us about that situation and provided us with opinions on the current 175 pound landscape. Here is what he had to say:
The latest on the IBF eliminator between him and Otis Griffin that was twice postponed:
“We’re waiting for the date now. It will probably be mid-February. We’re just waiting now. I’ll know by tomorrow or Wednesday. The fight is set, but we’re just waiting for the date and tomorrow or Wednesday I’ll know.”
On what he expects from Otis Griffin as an opponent:
“I don’t really expect nothing from him. I’m going to be in shape, that’s about it. Other than, like skill-wise I don’t expect anything from him. Hopefully he’s in enough shape to take the pressure that I’m going to bring.”
Regarding his last fight when he was stopped by Glen Johnson:
“You know I took him lightly. I thought I was going to be fighting the old Glen Johnson, the old man Glen Johnson. I had to find out the hard way and I lost.”
On Glen Johnson’s sudden revival where he fought competitively with Tavoris Cloud and stopped Allan Green in the Super Six:
“I thought he gave Tavoris Cloud a real fight. I thought it was a draw. From where I was sitting I thought it was a draw, but hopefully I can get this chance and get this win and get in there and show the world how you beat him.”
On how he believes he would match-up against Tavoris Cloud:
“If I box to him and stick to my game plan I can beat Otis Griffin! I can beat anybody if I stick to my game plan! I’m back with my old trainer now, so you know it’s different. I’m going to do what I got to do from here on out.”
His views on the fact that his bout with Griffin was already twice postponed:
“Man I’m just like staying focused. I’m just trying to not let it get in my head and bother me so I stay focused. I come here and I work with everyone at my gym like Steve Cunningham and Eddie Chambers. I’m getting the best work I can possibly get.”
On whether he has been distracted in his mental and physical preparations as a result of the two postponements:
“Not at all. I’m on my game plan. It just gives me more time to get ready without disruption. I’m just ready and they gave me more time. I’m happy that they gave me more time. I’m ready to fight, the longer the better.”
His views on who he considers the best light heavyweights in the world:
“I’ll say Cloud. Right now out of everyone Cloud is the toughest. At light heavyweight Cloud is the toughest. After Cloud I got to say Chad.”
His views on the 12 round draw between Jean Pascal and Bernard Hopkins:
“I thought Bernard won it. I thought he pulled it off. Pascal dropped him but other than that, the rounds that he got dropped in he was winning in my eyes.”
On how much of a setback losing to Griffin would be for him at this point in his career:
“I just want to fight. He said he’s going to outwork me. I heard in an interview he said that his skills can’t compare with mine but that he’s going to outwork me. He’s got to show me that he’s in better shape than me. If he’s willing to do that he’s going to have to stay in front of me and I don’t think he wants to do that.”
On whether he believes Griffin would attempt to try and outbox him rather than stand in front of him:
“Yes. He can’t match with me. He doesn’t have any skills. He’s a good fighter, but his skill level can’t match with mine.”
On what it would mean to beat Tavoris Cloud and fulfill his dream of becoming champion:
“It would prove to myself that I got over the hump that I’ve been willing and desiring for all my life. All of my life I told myself that I wanted to be world champion and I promised my dad on his deathbed that I’d win the world title.”
His official prediction for when he eventually fights Griffin:
“A win, I just want to win. If a knockout comes, great; if it doesn’t, as long as I get a ‘W’ at the end, I’m happy.”
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For those interested in listening to the Yusaf Macke interview in its entirety, it begins approximately fifty-six minutes into the program.
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