Enrique Ornelas Targets Stieglitz
WBO 168 Pound Title On The Line
By William Trillo
Photo: Marlene Marquez
Super Middleweight Enrique Ornelas made his way up to
Montreal on Monday and was trying to keep his agenda
under wraps, but by mid week the word was out as to why
he was in Howard Grants gym sparring with Sebastian
Demers. Ornelas is making ready to take on the WBO Champ
Robert Stieglitz on October 16th in Germany
and he hopes to come home with the belt.
Pound4Pound spoke to Ornelas and got his early thoughts
on his first crack at a World title.
Pound4Pound:
Enrique, this fight has been under the radar for a
couple of weeks but we now can finally announce it's
official. Congratulations. You were up with Shane Mosley
in Big Bear when you got the news. Can you tell us your
first thoughts? What did Shane say?
Enrique Ornelas:
I am very excited; it’s just like a dream being unfolded
in front of me. Shane was very happy and wants me to go
do my very best, and of course he wants to go bring home
the win.
P4P:
You are traveling to Germany to fight the champ on his
turf, it's Germany's Oktoberfest season and the beer is
going to be flowing and national pride will be high. Are
you worried at all about going over there as the
foreigner trying to spoil their party?
E.O.:
You know what; I have been a foreigner my whole life and
I really enjoy getting to go to different places. So I
don’t think it will really bother me. I know they of
course are his people and that doesn’t bother me. I know
I have a lot of support here at home and even if they
can’t be there in person their thoughts are still with
me. As for the party I guess we will just have to go and
make our own party.
P4P:
You were there in California when your brother beat
Stieglitz. Do you remember that fight and what impressed
you most about Stieglitz that night?
E.O.:
Yes I do remember that fight at Morongo. It was a very
good fight. I would have to say that I was very
impressed with his willingness to fight because he was
the foreigner then (laughs) but he took a lot, and he
fought a good fight.
P4P:
As it turns out, the man who trained Librado to the win
over Stieglitz is now going to be in your corner, and
that is Howard Grant. How much of an edge will Howard's
experience give you in this fight?
E.O.:
I really don't see it (Librado’s win over Stieglitz)
like an edge because every fight is different, so I
never think of it like that. I know that no matter what
happened in the ring with Howard and my brother will
have nothing to do with this fight. This is going to be
a hard fight I won't underestimate anything, I know what
I have to do to bring this home so that’s what I am
training to do.
P4P:
You worked with Howard for the Hopkins fight so this
should be like old times, I am sure you guys are excited
about grabbing this title.
E.O.:
Yes it is very easy to get right back into the training
mode with Howard. Of course we are so excited this is
what we have worked so hard for.
P4P:
Okay, I know you guys don't like to look ahead but I
have to ask. You are training in Montreal for the fight
and it is no secret that the best 168 pounder in the
world, Lucian Bute, lives and trains there as well. And
as everyone knows he fought your brother Librado twice
in fights that captured everyone in Quebec's attention.
I have to assume that if you beat Stieglitz a fight with
Lucian in Montreal would capture the imagination of
boxing fans from Canada to Mexico. Have you thought
about this, or is it just too soon?
E.O.:
Yes it is to soon right now; the only thing we are
thinking about is Stieglitz I don't like to think about
any thing other than what’s in front of me.
P4P:
Thanks Enrique, any words for your fans?
E.O.:
I just want to say thank you to every one for all of
your support I just want you to know that I am training
hard and On October 16th I will go out there and give it
everything I have to bring the belt home.
