Q - Your WBC world title eliminator with Denis Inkin
is being screened live on ITV. Does it give you an
extra buzz knowing that the fight will be going out
to such a huge terrestrial audience? YES IT DOES,
ALONG WITH AN EXTRA BIT OF PRESSURE!! LUCKILY I THRIVE
ON PRESSURE SO EXPECT AN EXPLOSIVE COBRA.
Q In just a few fights on terrestrial TV Joe
Calzaghe's profile and popularity went through the
roof and the same can be said of Amir Khan. Are you
hoping for something similar given your TV-friendly
KO style?
MY FIRST 12 OR 13 FIGHTS WERE ON TERRESTRIAL TV AND
IT GAVE MY PROFILE A MASSIVE BOOST. THE VIEWING PUBLIC
WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT ME IM SURE, AS MY STYLE IS
VERY EXCITING.
Q - What are your memories of watching the big
fights on ITV as a kid?
CHRIS EUBANK AND NIGEL BENN, I CAN JUST REMEMBER
EVERYONE WHO'S ANYONE WATCHED!
Q - Inkin is something of an unknown quantity over
here but I'm sure you know all about him. Do you see
this as being potentially your toughest
assignment? STYLES MAKE FIGHTS AND I PERSONALLY FEEL
INKIN IS MADE FOR ME LOOKIN AT HIS LAST 2 FIGHTS. IT
WILL BE TOUGH AS HE HAS NEVER BEEN DEFEATED IN THE PRO
RING BUT IVE BEAT OTHER VERY TOUGH MEN WITH BAD HAND
INJURIES. HENRY PORRAS TKO 8, BRIAN MAGEE KO 11.
BROKEN HAND IN ROUND 4 AND ROUND 2 RESPECTIVELY. IT
DOESNT GET MUCH TOUGHER THAN THAT, I HOPE!!
Q - You are an established pro now with 22 fights.
Who has been the toughest man you have faced to this point? CHARLES ADAMU, ALTHOUGH I MADE HARD WORK OF
IT DUE TO INEXPERIENCE.
Q - You are both quality amateurs. Have your paths
ever crossed in the amateur game or have you ever
sparred before now? YES, INKIN HOLDS A POINTS WIN
OVER ME IN THE AMATEURS ALTHOUGH I HAD HIM DOWN IN THE
LAST ROUND. YOU CAN VIEW THIS ON YOU TUBE.
Q - Talking of sparring, who have you been working
with for this fight? DARREN BARKER AND ANDREW LOWE.
Q - We saw you last time out do a job on Robin Reid.
How pleasing was that win given the problems you had
with your knee in the months leading up to that fight? IT WAS GREAT TO GET THE KNEE INJURY SORTED
AND GET THE FIRST FIGHT BACK OUT OF THE WAY. REID WAS
A FINE CHAMPION AND A GENTLEMAN OUTSIDE THE BOXING
RING.
Q - I know you had mobility problems before the
operation but that all seems sorted now. That must
give you extra confidence in training? ITS NICE TO BE ABLE TO RUN WITHOUT LIMPING, AND NOT
STRESS ABOUT THE KNEE ESPECIALLY WHEN DOING TRACK WORK
& SPRINTING. MY SUNDAY NIGHT FIVE A SIDE IS ON HOLD
FOR NOW.
Q - You have home advantage for the Inkin fight and
I know you are fiercely proud of your Nottingham
roots. How much does it mean to you fighting in the city? IT IS SUCH A BIG DEAL FOR ME TO FIGHT IN MY
HOME TOWN, IVE GOT AMAZING SUPPORT AND IM SO RELAXED
AND CONFIDENT IT HAS TO BE AN ADVANTAGE. NOT TO
MENTION I CAN BE OUT OF MY HOUSE DO THE JOB AND
BE BACK HOME WITHIN A COUPLE OF HOURS!
Q -Provided this one goes well how soon do you
reckon it will be before you are challenging for a
world title? Have you been given any sort of time
scale? WHEN I BEAT INKIN I HOPE TO BE FIGHTING FOR
THE TITLE WITHIN 3 MONTHS. BOXING CAN BE FRUSTRATING
AS THERE CAN BE TO TO LONG A WAIT BETWEEN MATCHES.
Q - With Calzaghe now moving up to light-heavyweight
do you reckon the opportunity to fight him may have gone? NO, I SPOKE TO CALZAGHE LAST WEEK AND HE SAID
IF THE MONEY WAS RIGHT HE WOULD NOT AVOID ME, SO IF HE
STANDS BY WHAT HE SAID THEN ITS ALWAYS POSSIBLE.
Q - I know you respect him as a fighter but in years
to come despite all he has achieved do you still
feel his legacy may be tainted by not fighting you
when you have repeatedly challenged him? IN A WORD,
YES.
Q - Your team Nottingham Forest are doing OK as
well this season. Would a perfect 2008 for you
involve you doing the business in a world title
fight and Forest getting promotion? YOU KNOW IT! I
CAN KEEP MY END SECURE BUT FOREST ARE IN THE HANDS OF
EXCELLENT MANAGER COLLING CALDERWOOD. LETS HOPE THEY
CAN DOMINATE UNDER HIS GUIDANCE AS I DO UNDER THE
BOXING MASTERMIND OF ROBERT MCCRACKEN.
