| |
|
|
Bradley vs. Alexander
Teleconference Transcript
DEVON ALEXANDER: Training is going good as always. My
coaches and I are getting ready for the biggest fight of my
career and the monster is Mount Charleston [outside Las
Vegas] and nobody can run that. The elevation is 8,000 feet.
It's a monster just like we call it. I have been running at
8,000 feet elevation. Training is going good, we are just
putting on the final touches and we are ready to rock and
roll. We can see the skiers while we are running but we
don’t get close enough where we are right next to each
other.
KEN THOMPSON: Timothy is one of the best boxers in the world
and we have known he would be from the day we met him. We
believe he is one of the best representatives in the sport
of boxing today. We know that he and Devon Alexander are
going to put on a great fight.
TIMOTHY BRADLEY: I would like to thank God, my family,
Thompson Boxing, Gary Shaw Productions and HBO. Everyone
that made this possible…Team Alexander, Don King, everyone.
I am excited about this fight. It’s been a long journey.
This is the biggest fight of my career and I’m ready to seal
the deal. I am going to seize the moment. It may be the
biggest opportunity I may ever get in my whole entire life
and I definitely want to be victorious in this fight.
Training camp is going very well. I am ahead of schedule.
The weight is good. I feel great. Lots of sparring - tons of
sparring rounds. I am just excited and I can’t wait. I’m
starting to get a little bored training. Now we are starting
to taper down a little bit – just get polished up and we’ll
be ready for the 29th.
What does it mean to you that the winner will be the best in
this loaded weight class?
DEVON ALEXANDER: It feels good. I have been working towards
this since I was 7 years old. Since I came to the gym in St.
Louis. I have been working hard every day. No short cuts. I
started this journey, I won two National PAL titles, went to
the Olympic trials. Now I’ve got to seize the moment. This
is a big fight in my career. This will determine who is the
best 140-pounder. Timothy Bradley I know will be ready and I
am ready to show the world that I am the best at 140.
TIMOTHY BRADLEY: This is a huge fight. I don’t know on what
scale everyone else out there sees this fight but this is
the biggest fight of my career and Devon’s career. It shows
what type of fighters we are. We are young and both in our
prime and you rarely ever see two undefeated guys – two
world champions – Americans, fight each other. You rarely
see that and it’s come down to this. I am seeded No. 1 and
he has to prove to the world that he is better than I am.
That’s going to be a hell of a challenge. I am fired up, I’m
ready and I’m hungry to show the world that I am the best
140-pounder out there. This division is loaded and I feel I
am the best and I’ve got to prove it on January 29th.
What kind of fight do you envision?
TIMOTHY BRADLEY: I think it is going to be a very high-paced
fight. I throw and lot of punches and I know Devon throws a
lot of punches. He throws about 80-100 punches per round. We
are both going to be battling for position and dominance in
the ring. The first couple rounds may be feel out rounds and
then it will start to get interesting towards the middle of
the fight.
DEVON ALEXANDER: I am just going to follow the game plan
that my coach has set out to do. My coach and me have a
master game plan and nobody will outwork me. I see me taking
over and winning each round and if Timothy Bradley is there
for 12-rounds then so be it. I am looking to take over every
round.
How do you feel about fighting in Detroit, which has such
great boxing history?
TIMOTHY BRADLEY: I am excited to be fighting in the
Silverdome and it’s a fighting city. As far as it being a
great fight? You can bet your life on it. It’s going to be a
great fight. Stylistically, it’s going to be a great fight.
We are two young warriors and neither is willing to take
“no” for an answer. When you have those types of
personalities in the ring it’s going to make for a great
fight. I think it will be fight of the year.
DEVON ALEXANDER: Me fighting in Detroit? It’s a good thing.
My history in St. Louis, we have a rich, rich background.
There are many great fighters that came from St. Louis. So
there is no pressure on me. This is what I’ve been praying
to do my whole life so this sis the moment I’ve been waiting
for and I’m ready to rock and roll.
How big is that bed and do you get any vibes from Mike Tyson
while you are sleeping in there? [Alexander is using Don
King’s Las Vegas house as his training headquarters. The
same house, and bed, Mike Tyson used when he trained in Las
Vegas when he was promoted by King]
DEVON ALEXANDER: You know, I don’t even take up half of the
bed. I sleep on one half and the other half I rarely go on
because the bed is so big.
TIMOTHY BRADLEY: I do think the state of boxing right now is
at a low. Until you have great fights like this in the 140
division, I think it’s going to bring it back. We are the
most talented division in boxing and we are going to bring
it back just like the old days. If it’s an awesome fight
like I think it’s going to be we are going to do it again
for the boxing fans and for the world. This is the best
fight in boxing because you are not going to see Manny and
Floyd fight any time soon.
What did you learn about the Kotelnik fight?
DEVON ALEXANDER: That fight right there taught me that no
matter how much pressure there is and no matter how tough
the fight is I just have to get in there and do what I was
doing since I was 7-years-old. I think everyone has to go
through that, being on a big stage in front of over 10,000
people. I learned to stay focused in the ring and don’t let
the crowd over-hype you, follow the game plan and be
victorious. Don’t try to please everybody.
What does [trainer] Kevin Cunningham mean to you in those
moments?
DEVON ALEXANDER: It means a lot to hear his voice. He knows
what I need to be doing. He knows when I’m on and when I’m
off. He knows how much I weigh before I get on the scale. We
connect on all cylinders. He knows how much I can do and how
much I can handle. In the Kotelnik fight he just told me to
boxing and how to get the victory.
Can you put us in the Holt fight and tell us what you needed
to do to win?
TIMOTHY BRADLEY: I just had to grab on to my nuts and just
go for it. Kendall Holt caught me with a big shot early and
I don’t know how I got up from that shot. Honestly I don’t.
It was determination. My game plan was to pressure him and
take him to deep water. Keep the heat on him because Kendall
doesn’t like to exchange too much. We saw that watching film
so I just stuck to the game plan. I took a chance and every
time I went inside it hurt. Kendall can punch. Every time he
touched me on the side of the head it hurt. But I was so
determined in that fight I couldn’t be stopped. They were
going to have to carry me out on a stretcher for him to beat
me. It’s just my will, even though it was dangerous, I still
stuck to the game plan. That’s why I was victorious in the
fight.
Can each of you tell us about the other fighter?
DEVON ALEXANDER: Timothy Bradley brings his heart. He has
heart just like me. Two good hearts in the ring is going to
be a magnificent fight. I have to make sure I am on my game,
be on point and be ready to go 30 rounds.
TIMOTHY BRADLEY: Devon is a slick fighter, very fast. There
is a lot of energy and he tries to be on top of you all the
time. I saw some heart in the Kotelnik fight, I’m not going
to lie, I saw some heart. When I saw the fight I felt like I
was looking at myself in the mirror. Like this kid is pretty
tough but I feel that I’m tougher. I’m going to say it over
and over, I feel that I’m tougher and he’s going to have to
prove it to me. He’s going to have to prove it to me and
he’s going to have to prove it to the world. I’ve known him
since he was a little kid in the amateurs and he knows me.
It’s going to make for a great fight. We are determined. We
came a long way and we are determined.
Do you feel this fight is good enough that there will need
to be a rematch?
DEVON ALEXANDER: Absolutely. I think it’s going to be a
great fight.
TIMOTHY BRADLEY: Absolutely, I think it’s going to be a
great fight. I think the fighters in this fight, win or
lose, are going to be superstars. It’s going to be that
spectacular.
In amateurs?
TIMOTHY BRADLEY: I was always heavier than he was.
After turning professional, when did you know a collision
course would eventually take place?
TIMOTHY BRADLEY: Early in my career. When I was 15-0 and
watching him on TV. He was watching me on TV. We were moving
up the ranks and in the same weight class and I knew that
some day we were going to have to get it on.
DEVON ALEXANDER: Same here. I saw Tim on TV all the time and
we were climbing up the ladder and at one time he was ahead
of me and I knew I needed to catch up.
Devon, you are only 23, what would you do for an encore?
DEVON ALEXANDER: It is my time now and I’m going to seize
the moment. Most 23-year-olds don’t get the opportunity to
unify titles. This will be my third time unifying titles. I
am Alexander “The Great” so that’s why they call me that. I
am seeking greatness and why not do it early. Not when I’m
27, 28 or 29, why not do it now? There is no pressure. The
hard work is in the gym. I am doing the hard work right now.
I have been bred to do this. This is the moment I have been
waiting for. I don’t let myself get all hyped. I don’t let
my emotions get involved. I show my emotions in the ring so
I don’t need to do it outside the ring.
How is your relationship with your dad?
TIMOTHY BRADLEY: My dad and I, we’ve got a close
relationship. We communicate, but Joel Diaz is the head guy
in camp, so he gets the final say on everything that goes on
in training camp so he’s a second. In training camp he’s not
my father, you know. When we leave the gym he’s my father
but when we are in the gym he’s my trainer. I just listen to
him. I don’t get all hotheaded and act like I know
everything. It happens when a son thinks he knows everything
and is sick of his dad telling him what to do. I don’t go
there. My father is a trainer and he’s my father. I don’t
get those mixed up and that’s why our relationship is so
great. I respect him as a father and a trainer and that’s
why we never have any problems.
Are there any thoughts on moving up in weight class in the
future?
TIMOTHY BRADLEY: Not at the moment. Not even thinking about
it. I want to seize the 140 pound titles. There is so much
business to take care of at 140 before I would think about
the Pacquiao’s and the Mayweather’s, which I would like to
do. Each weight class needs one King and that’s what we are
going to do at 140.
DEVON ALEXANDER: As of right now I’m taking care of business
at 140-pounds. I am 23 and I’m starting to build muscle and
getting stronger and stronger. Right now I am staying here
but it would be up to my coach and my promoter and we’ll
take it from there.
Do you feel this is the biggest fight of the year?
TIMOTHY BRADLEY: This fight has been building for about a
year now and I think fight fans are getting crazy about it
and boxing writers. Including myself. I knew exactly what I
was doing. Regardless of what anybody said – that I was
running and that I was scared – I knew exactly what I was
doing and now look at the magnitude of this fight. For me
holding out we are both going to get blessed after this
fight. The winner is going to be a superstar.
DEVON ALEXANDER: This is the biggest fight outside of a
Pacquiao vs. Mayweather. Everybody wants to see this fight.
Two undefeated champions going at it toe-to-toe. It’s going
to be an amazing fight.
What does it mean to have the zero on your record?
TIMOTHY BRADLEY: In the past, day-to-day, month-to-month,
you think a little different. Last year I was asked what I
wanted for 2010 and I said I wanted to remain undefeated.
This year, I just want the best fights. The zero on my
record doesn’t matter to me. My biggest goal in boxing is
just to be remembered. I don’t want to be forgotten about.
Whether I win seven or eight world championships, that will
be in the history books and I just want to be remembered.
That is my biggest goal. You do that by fighting the best.
DEVON ALEXANDER: My zero means a lot. It means that I have a
perfect record and I have been victorious every time. Work
hard and train hard and do what I had to do my whole career.
I want it to be like my name says…Alexander “The Great”
warrior, he was undefeated like the record says. Right now
they cannot call me a hall-of-famer because I have not done
enough yet, but no one has beaten me.
How do you feel about two African American undefeated
fighters fighting in this great fight?
DEVON ALEXANDER: This is a fight just like the old days.
They used to want to fight the best. They would be itching
to fight the best. They used to say, ‘he’s the best, let me
get in there with him.’ It brings back a lot of the roots in
boxing and it means a lot to have two undefeated champions,
and that means a lot. It’s a major thing.
TIMOTHY BRADLEY: This fight is not only good for the
African-American race, it is good for boxing. In every
interview I hear that boxing is dying and MMA is taking it
over and it’s not the same anymore. Well here you have two
African-American fighters, I just like to say Americans…two
undefeated guys who are champions, young and in their prime
are going to go at it on January 29th. It doesn’t get any
better than this. We both are undefeated. He doesn’t know
how to lose and I don’t know how to lose. On January 29th,
somebody’s 0 has got to go and that’s the bottom line. It’s
great for boxing. It’s great for the African-American race.
It’s great for our careers. It’s great for the public.
Period.
Does this fight represent the changing of the guard in
boxing?
TIMOTHY BRADLEY: Absolutely. The winner of these fights, and
I say these fights because there are so many guys at 140
pounds…we are going to be the new faces of boxing. The older
guys in their 30’s are on their way out. We are going to be
the new breed coming in and the new faces of boxing.
DEVON ALEXANDER: Boxing definitely needs some new stars. You
can see the other stars fading out. We need to come in and
take the thrown. The new breed is coming in.
TIMOTHY BRADLEY: Win or lose in this fight…the fight is
going to be that great that I don’t think anybody is going
to lose out. The fact that we are willing to fight each
other proves that we are willing to put our undefeated
records on the line for the sake of boxing. I feel I am the
best, he feels he is the best so let’s put these guys
together and let them fight. Win or lose in this fight I
feel we are both going to be superstars after this fight.
Do you feel fighters will be ducking the winner of this
fight?
DEVON ALEXANDER: Ducking is not new. People do not want to
fight the best. That’s what makes this fight so significant.
This is the best fighting the best. Nowadays is it very
difficult to get any of the top guys to fight each other so
it is going to be kind of hard (to make more fights for the
winner).
TIMOTHY BRADLEY: I agree with it but on a whole different
way of thinking. I think the fighters are willing to fight
but their handlers or promoters are not willing to make the
fight with one of next, especially after the fight. It will
be a task because if you are not a part of their team they
do not want to fight you. I don’t know why that’s the way it
is but that’s the way it is. They won’t give you a chance
and that’s what is killing boxing.
After only fighting once last year, are you concerned about
the inactivity?
TIMOTHY BRADLEY: I hope not. With our numerous sparring
partners I have been adjusting to different styles, southpaw
styles, from big to tall to lanky…you name it. I put enough
rounds on in the gym so I shouldn’t be rusty. I have been
preparing for this for a while so there will be no problem
with my performance. I like to stay busy but they say as a
world champion, you only fight once or twice a year. It’s
hard to get dates and there are other fighters out there
doing spectacular as well. All the fighters need fights and
that’s how it goes.
What do you think of Alexander’s resume?
TIMOTHY BRADLEY: He has a good resume and has worked hard to
be where he is right now. I don’t think that’s really
important. Not to get off line, but I watched the Seahawks
defeat the defending Super Bowl champion Saints last week
and I wouldn’t believe it. They had the worst record in
playoff history. I really don’t look at the records. All I
know is I’ve got a tough hungry champion in front of me
that’s going to try to take me down. Everybody that gets in
the ring to fight me, they don’t fight like they did in the
past. They fight harder.
Do you have thoughts about Amir Khan claiming he is the best
in the weight class?
TIMOTHY BRADLEY: Nobody knows who is number one till we get
in the ring. That’s what makes it interesting. The winner of
these two fights will definitely have to fight Amir Khan. If
they don’t do it, the media should put the pressure on them
because I think that’s the way it should go. I think we all
should get a shot at each other. Styles make fights and on
any given night, you know you might be in there with the
wrong style and you might get beat. We should do a round
robin. I should get a shot at Amir; Devon should get a shot
at Amir. He should get a shot at Maidana and I should get a
shot at Maidana. Like back in the old days with Sugar Ray
Leonard, Tommy Hearns and Marvin Hagler – they all went at
it a couple of times. Alexis Arguello and Aaron Pryor – they
went at it a couple of times. Let’s do that - the best
fighting the best. Muhammad Ali fought Joe Frazier three
times. That’s what boxing needs to bring it back.
DEVON ALEXANDER: Khan is an OK fighter. He’s no big deal.
People are really making big hype about Amir Khan. I don’t
know what all the hype is about but he has a little power
behind him. People think he is more than what I think he is.
The winner of this fight doesn’t have to go after Amir Khan.
The winner of this fight is going to be No. 1 in the
division. Marquez is a bigger fight than Khan so it’s not
about chasing him. Amir Khan is not the cash cow at 140. I
have a bigger following in St. Louis just like he does in
the UK so we shouldn’t be dwelling on Khan.
DEVON ALEXANDER: I am seeking greatness. Whoever they think
is the best. The question is, will Khan take the fight?
That’s the problem. I think he’s being pampered. You need to
ask Khan and his people.
What do you think about Bradley’s resume?
DEVON ALEXANDER: Timmy has an excellent record. He is
undefeated, so he has to have something in his arsenal to be
undefeated at this point in his career. I don’t dwell on it
too much - I am like him on that. A guy with six losses can
come in there and hit you with a lucky shot and knock you
out. I don’t take anybody for granted and you have to be
prepared.
What is the situation with the rematch clause? Is it
immediate? What if another big fight comes calling after
this one?
TIMOTHY BRADLEY: That’s a good question. I haven’t thought
about it but I am sick of chasing people and calling people
out so I am going to just let it come to me. I have to make
the decision that is best for me and my family and just roll
with it. We have the rematch clause and we need to do it
whether it is this year or the following year.
TIMOTHY BRADLEY: I just want to constantly fight the best. I
will become the best by fighting the best and giving the
boxing fans the best fights out there that can possible be
made. I am sick of fighting average guys. The top 1, 2, 3,
4, 5 – let’s go. Win this fight, who’s next? Khan? Let’s go.
After Khan, Maidana, let’s go. After him...Marquez. There
are so many fights out there to be made at 140. It’s great
and I’m loving it.
Bradley dropped the belt instead of fighting you…
DEVON ALEXANDER: I am a firm believer that things happen for
a reason. This is the right time for this fight to happen so
it must not have been the right time to fight. Now we are
fighting so of course it is a good thing now.
TIMOTHY BRADLEY: Normally when you have an orthodox fighter
and a southpaw fighter fighting it usually isn’t (a good
fight), but I think because this fight is so huge it is
going to be interesting to see what I do and what he does.
Dealing with a southpaw it is all about angles…fighting for
position.
****************************************
Remaining tickets to the Alexander-Bradley World Junior
Welterweight Championship fight, priced from $25-$400, can
be purchased at the Silverdome box office, by calling (248)
338-2500 or online at
www.silverdometickets.com. Promoted by Gary Shaw
Productions, Don King Productions, and Thompson Boxing
Promotions, Alexander vs. Bradley will take place Saturday,
January 29 at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Mich., and will be
televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing, beginning
at 10:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. PT.
|
|
|
