by Geoffrey Ciani (Exclusive Interview by Jenna J & Geoffrey Ciani) – Last week’s 155th edition of On the Ropes Boxing Radio featured an exclusive interview with super middleweight contender Andre ‘The Matrix’ Dirrell (20-1, 14 KOs), who is coming off an impressive second round stoppage victory against Darryl Cunningham just before the new year. Dirrell spoke about his future, and also shared opinions on a variety of topics including Andre Ward’s victory against Carl Froch, his views on the whole Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao situations, Lucian Bute’s recent win against Glen Johnson, the prospects of his brother Anthony Dirrell facing Ward, the prospects of a showdown between Bute and Froch, and more! Here is what Dirrell had to say in the interview:
On how he felt about his performance in his recent second round stoppage victory against Darryl Cunningham:
“Well you know I do feel great. It was a great opportunity for me, but you know I would have loved for it to have gone a little further to find out exactly where I stood. In training camp I was working on defensive counterpunching, picking up with my jab work, and just overall I came out feeling great. So as far as I know I’m back to my old self. It’s going to take awhile to actually see that, but as far as I know I did great, I felt great, and I just can’t wait for the next one.”
Regarding how it felt to finally get back in the ring after his long absence:
“It felt good because like I said, I’ve been cleared for about a good eight months since my last fight. It was still just trying to go out there and find a TV date, find the right opponent, and just up and get everything running like it was before. So it did finally feel good when I finally got that opportunity. You can watch that fight. If you see the last fight, you can see I was a little emotional coming out towards the ring. I was feeling real good. I was amped up. The standing ovation felt great. The announcement of my name felt great. I was just really happy to be back in the ring. It just really felt good.”
His views on how long it will be before fans will get to see him inside the ring again:
“I’ve been looking at maybe a three month, three and a half month timeframe. You know I’m ready for camp now. I started back training this week, I’m staying on top of my game like I said, and I’m looking for the right opponent. Like I said if I can sound off bells in 2012 then by all means that’s what I’ll do. I didn’t just say that just to say it. I’m looking to get on top by the end of this year. So that requires me to stay busy. If I have to have five fights this year, then by all means I’ll be looking forward to five fights this year. So within the two and a half, three month timeframe, I’m looking to be back in there.”
On long he feels it will take before he is ready for the elite fighters at 168 pounds:
“It really all depends. I do want to get another warm-up fight, against someone tough though in my next fight. It all is coming from that performance. So once I get that performance in, once I get another fight in, a good tune-up fight, a really good tune-up fight, you know not just anybody, then I’ll know. But as far as I’m concerned I’m ready to get in there with them right now. I’m ready to test myself right now. My mind game is so strong right now that I know it will coincide with my physical boxing abilities. So I’m ready whenever they’re ready. When they call me out I’m stepping to the plate. That’s the biggest thing. You know I just want to make it happen this year. I’m not being too hasty. I will keep my caution up, but overall I’m just ready to get in there and get those titles. I know it’s my time.”
Whether he is at all afraid that the lingering effects from the injuries he suffered after the Arthur Abraham could resurface after he takes a really good shot:
“Like I said I did throw that out the window. I did forget all about it, and I’m just working on my game and just staying focused. So any kind of doubt, I don’t want to worry about that. So you know we will only figure that out when it actually happens. I don’t think about it. I don’t dwell on the past. I just keep it moving forward. I’m just hoping for the best as we go along. If it does happen, then hopefully I can come and get through it when I’m in that situation, but I highly doubt I ever will be. I’m really just going to keep my head up, and keep my guard up, and just make it to the top as fast as possible.”
His views on Andre Ward’s unanimous decision victory against Carl Froch in the Super Six Final:
“Andre Ward executed the perfect game plan for Froch. You know Froch couldn’t do anything with him because Andre executed the plan from round one until round twelve. That left hook was working excellent for Andre Ward. Carl Froch would come in with a lunging right hand or a jab, and Ward would block it and come back with a double jab. Or he’ll pop him after Froch throws a combination, and Ward would come back with a flush left hook, right hand. It was working every time. He had a game plan, and he executed it, and Froch just couldn’t do what Froch usually does. Ward pulled it off. Ward did an excellent job. It was an A+ performance by Ward. Froch just has to go back to the drawing board.”
Whether he was at all worried he would have any nervous energy going into his fight with Cunningham following the long layoff:
“Man you have no idea how nervous I was going into that fight! I mean once I get under those lights, once that bell rings, it’s gone. You know. Like I said I’ve been picking up on mental game, so anything I believe I can do I’m going to get in there and I’m going to do it with 100% belief that it’s going to be successful. But before the fight, I’m talking when it was time for the weigh-in, you know I was nervous when I went to the weigh-in. Boom! We get to the weigh-in, I get to see my opponent, and it’s all gone from there. If we could fight right then and there as soon as we get off the scales, then I would love to suit up and get it done right there, because the anticipation boils up and the nervousness sets in. All of that takes place leading up to a fight, especially when you’ve been off for so long. When it was time to go to the fight, these are a couple of things that I hate the most about getting ready for a fight! I’m nervous, never scared, but just always nervous. Because I was off so long I was a little more nervous than before. I got to the locker room, and in the locker room is always kind of an awkward silence inside of there. You get in there, you sit down, you start warming up, you throw your suit on, and that’s one of the most nervous times for me, because you’re constantly thinking about your game plan and hoping that you execute it right and you get the job done. And then there are the what ifs: if he hits you with that punch, if you do still have a situation from the Abraham fight, or if I’m going to be rusty. All of that kind of took place. But the most nervous time for me is when they come and they say it’s time to walk. You know that’s when it hits you, but that’s when you know there is no turning back, too. So boom! You get to the ring, and that bell rings and it’s all gone. You’ll see ‘The Matrix’ in his true form. You’ll see me just like you’ve seen me before. It’s all gone. I just had the jitters like always before any other fight. Trust me, if a boxer says he’s not nervous more than likely he’s lying until that bell actually rings man!”
His views on Lucian Bute’s recent victory against Glen Johnson:
“Bute’s performance in the Glen Johnson fight was just like every other fight Bute has fought. It’s been excellent execution. His game plans are pretty much flawless man, but then again we’re looking at his quality level of opponents. I’m not downing Bute. Bute is an excellent fighter, he’s a great boxer, good movement is there, reflexes are there, and boxing ability is there. But you got to look at the opponents he’s faced. When you fight Librado Andrade, this is the second time you fought him the second time around. When you look at Librado Andrade he’s a brawler. Bute’s a boxer. He has a great uppercut man! He can set you up with that uppercut. His jab is fast, his right is fast, and you got your game plan for Librado Andrade. Then you move on to Edison Miranda, which is pretty much just like Andrade. He comes forward and he’s a brawler. So you pretty much have the same game plan for that brawler. Then you’re moving to Glen Johnson, who I believe is a bit tougher. You can’t stop him. You know what I’m saying? You can’t stop him, let alone drop him or put him down. He’s a tough opponent, but when he got in there with Glen Johnson I knew it was going to be the same outcome because he’s the same type of fighter. Bute’s been working with the same type of fighters for this long. It’s time for Bute to step up to the plate with somebody young, somebody fast, somebody elusive, and somebody who’s going to give him just as much trouble as he’s giving them, period and point blank. That’s just what I want to see from Bute, along with every other fighter. They brought his name up to me honestly, but I’m willing to take the chance whenever he’s ready. I’m just like I said, focusing in on my game and knowing what I would do if I got in there with Bute. I’m just waiting on my opportunity to come, and I believe it will come sometime soon in the near future. But I take nothing away from Bute, he’s one hell of a fighter!”
Regarding whether Bute is still near the top of his wish list as an opponent in 2012:
“Most definitely! No question about it, and I will win!”
His opinion on rumors of a possible fight between Carl Froch and Lucian Bute and how he feels it would breakdown:
“I must not have been surfing the boxing websites enough, because I didn’t hear about that fight, and I kind of wish I hadn’t. You’re kind of putting me on the spot right now. (laughs) You know I would love to see that fight play out, but man! Bute’s a good boxer, man. I can see him beating Froch. I really can. It’s going to be a tougher fight for him because of the quality of opponent. He’s stepping up to the plate, but regardless of Froch losing the Andre Ward fight, in the Super Six tournament they both bettered themselves each fight and they were both outstanding as each fight went on. If you look at the Final of the Super Six tournament, Andre Ward and Carl Froch, win or lose after that fight they were both put up on a pedestal. You made it to the Finals! You got past some of the best guys in the division and you’re on that pedestal. He has a lot to prove still, he has a lot to look forward to still, so it’s going to be a tough fight for Bute. If it does play out it will be a tough fight for both.”
His views on the Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Junior situation and whether he believes we will see that fight happen in 2012:
“I certainly hope so. I heard that Floyd is not going to jail. I heard he’s going to take his May 5 date. If Floyd doesn’t pull Manny for the May 5 date then no, I don’t see it happening. No. It won’t happen. If it doesn’t happen May 5 it won’t happen.”
Whether he believes the biggest roadblock preventing a potential mega bout between Mayweather and Pacquiao has more to do with Bob Arum and the promoters than the fighters themselves:
“ You can look at it on both sides, because there is going to be a lot of money made just in the boxing world period about this fight. Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, I mean that’s just star-studded and it’s just all over the globe. I mean everybody and their mothers want to see this fight happen. So when we’re talking about promoters making money, promoters are going to get paid. If you’re talking about fighters making money, the fighters are going to get paid. We’re talking about the site fee, the upgrade that the cities go through in. I mean the whole boxing world is going to feed off of this. It’s just going to change the game. This is what we need in the sport. Everybody is going to get their piece of the pie when this fight comes. I’m hoping I can get on the under card. That would make my day! So we’re just all looking forward to it happening. It’s on both sides of the fence, the promoter side and the boxers side. It just seems like they can’t come to an agreement on either side. Bob Arum his ifs, and ands, and buts; Floyd has his ifs, ands, and buts; Pacquiao has his ifs, ands, and buts, etc, etc. The bottom line, the fans want to see the fight. I think the fight can happen this time. The wait is getting far too long. Let’s make it happen!”
His views on how his brother Anthony Dirrell ranked #1 by the WBC would fare against WBC champion Andre Ward:
“ My brother is a tough fighter. He has knockout power, he has the smarts, and the only thing that’s lacking is the quality of opponents that he’s faced to go up and move right up to Andre Ward. But he can beat him! With the work with my sparring, and I would be one of his sparring partners for Ward, and with exceptional work and a solid game plan, he can go in there and beat Ward! The odds are stacked against him, but I’m pulling for my brother 100% and I believe he can beat him. When push comes to shove, I’m pushing with my brother and I believe he can beat Ward.”
On whether he believes his brother can use a few more tough fights before stepping up to face Andre Ward:
“Well he is the mandatory, and if he wants that belt now then by all means he should go for it! If he’s confident, then I’m confident with him. You know I’m confident in the first place, but if he’s confident I’m going with him. If he feels his time is now then I’m with him. When you’re the mandatory you either take the fight now or it could slip past you. So it’s really up to him. I wouldn’t want him to move too hasty, but whatever he decides I’m backing him 100%.”
Whether he is interested in a rematch with Carl Froch to avenge the only loss in his professional career:
“Come to America! I ain’t saying come to Michigan. I ain’t saying come to my backyard. Come to America, because I’m not going back out there to fight that man. We all know I beat Carl Froch. I don’t dwell on the past. I don’t think about it. It happened. It’s done. I mean I can go on my Twitter account right now, and I guarantee you somebody is saying that you beat Carl Froch. It’s told to me every day and I’m so past that. But when I reply people say keep dwelling on the past. Let it go. It happened. It’s done. Move on with your career. They got to realize these are his fans telling me that I won that fight, and I’m just replying to them saying thank you. You know, so if me and Froch meet again, which I would love to happen—come to America! We can go to Maine, or we can go to the border of California and Mexico. You know what I’m saying? Just bring it to a neutral ground and let’s do this, and I guarantee you I’ll handle my business just like I did last time.”
On whether he believes boxing fans can expect a good year of boxing in 2012:
“Boxing can get better and better. I pay more attention to my weight class than any other, but all I know is we have an excellent group of fighters in the 168 pound division. I think it’s one of the toughest divisions in the game today. You know heavyweight is lacking. We all know that, and that’s one of the most exciting weight classes to watch. Other than that, any weight in between 175 is close, but we all know 168 is one of the top weight classes in the division along with 147. So the Super Six is over, and fighters are getting better and better. So yes, I definitely see it being an action packed 2012, especially since ‘The Matrix’ is back in full effect.”
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For those interested in listening to the Andre Dirrell interview in its entirety, it begins approximately seventeen minutes into the program.
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