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Jermain Taylor & Andre
Dirrell
Teleconference Highlights
Two Super Six World Boxing Classic fighters, former
undisputed middleweight champion Jermain Taylor and
consensus top-five super middleweight Andre Dirrell, took
part in a media teleconference call on Wednesday to discuss
their return to the ring on a special edition of ShoBox: The
New Generation this Friday, Dec. 30, live on SHOWTIME® (11
p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) from Morongo Casino
Resort & Spa in Cabazon, Calif.
The ShoBox main event will spotlight Taylor (28-4-1, 17
KOs), of Little Rock, Ark., in a scheduled 10-round
middleweight bout. Taylor’s first start in 26 months
represents a return to the division he once dominated. He
will face Jessie Nicklow (22-2-3, 8 KOs) of Baltimore, Md.
Long regarded as one of the world’s premier super
middleweight contenders, Dirrell will return to the ring for
the first time in 21 months when he faces Darryl Cunningham
in the co-feature. Dirrell (19-1, 13 KOs), of Flint, Mich.,
has not fought since winning by 11th-round disqualification
over Arthur Abraham in The Super Six World Boxing Classic on
March 27, 2010. Cunningham (24-2, 10 KOs), of Detroit, has
been victorious in 17 consecutive starts and has not lost
since December 2007.
In the opening bout of the telecast, former Cuban amateur
standout Luis “El Leon” Garcia (11-0, 9 KOs) of Cork,
Ireland, meets southpaw Alexander “The Great” Johnson (12-0,
5 KOs, 1 NC) of Oxon Hill, Md., in an eight-round showdown
of undefeated light heavyweights.
Here are what the principals had to say on Wednesday:
JERMAIN TAYLOR:
“It’s great to be back in boxing. I took a few years off but
now I’ve got my focus back. I’ve been boxing for 22 years
and I’ve never taken a break from boxing. This just woke me
up. I’m just really looking forward to getting back in the
ring and I’m happy I got such a great team behind me. Al
Haymon has taken care of everything. It’s just a blessing to
be back in boxing and to have my focus back.
“All my life I’ve been boxing. I just missed boxing so much.
I’m working hard and I want to be world champion. It’s not
about the money now or any of that. It’s about being on top.
I want to be No. 1 again. That’s the only goal now: to be
No. 1 again.
“I had every intention of getting back in the ring. I just
missed boxing. I was never worried about what was wrong with
me. I know my family was concerned, but this is what I love.
This is what I’ve done my whole life. It’s who I am.”
How has it been working again with your trainer Pat Burns?
“Working with Pat, it’s like I never left. The man is the
same man that he always was. And I’m the same person. It’s
just that I lost my focus. And now I’ve got him back and I
have to get back on top.
“Everybody loves a comeback and everybody loves a comeback
story. Everybody makes mistakes. That’s why I love boxing so
much. You can be down and then come back and win a
championship and everything is great.
“The thing I remember most about my biggest fights was being
hungry. I didn’t really care who it was, I just wanted to be
on top. I feel the same way now. I’m older now but I know
how to get there. I’ve been in this position before and I
feel the same way. Hard work and dedication pay off.
“I’m returning to boxing to be No. 1 and to win the belts.”
ANDRE DIRRELL:
“A lot of people believe I wouldn’t make it as far as I did.
I think I showed my world-class talent against both Carl
Froch and Arthur Abraham. It showed where I stand in the
sport of boxing. I’m looking forward to continuing that ride
and getting back in the ring and getting back on top.”
What kept you out of the ring for all this time?
“Well mainly I had to get clearance from the doctor and that
took three months. I was finally cleared and then after that
I was looking for a TV date and unfortunately a lot of dates
were taken, but Gary Shaw was able to get me on this show
and I’m really thankful for that. So half and half; half of
my problems outside of the ring and half of my problems
after what happened in the Abraham fight.”
Is there any question that you’re OK to get back in the
ring?
“I’ve thought about it in my workout sessions but for the
most part I’ve put it out of my mind. But once I really
started to work out hard and spar it really left my mind
because I always just believed I would be where I’m at when
I left the sport. My only concern now is putting on a good
showing for the fans. I’m not too concerned about any of the
problems I had after the Arthur Abraham fight.”
Did you watch the Ward-Froch fight and the ones that came
after you dropped out?
“I watched them all, and I was excited for them all. I think
Froch has improved tremendously since he fought me. Ward has
definitely improved. He’s been looking awesome and pretty
much pitched a shutout in each of his fights leading up to
that championship fight with Froch. I was watching with
anticipation and excitement because at the end of the day I
still wanted my shot. For the most part it was stressful to
watch. At the end of the fights, at like 12 o’clock, I’d be
ready to get to the gym because I would be so anxious to get
back in there. A lot of the times I would find myself in
tears. Just being out for so long and knowing that you’re in
your prime and knowing what you can do, so I was stressing
for the most part.
“I was excited for every fighter, no lie. Froch was saying a
lot, especially after Andre Ward got cut and he was talking
about how classless it was and saying how disgraceful it
was. That kind of touched me a little bit so I was pretty
happy when Andre Ward beat him. I knew Andre would beat him.
I wasn’t thinking that I should’ve been in that spot. It was
that I could’ve been in that spot that was bothering me. But
I’m not going to sit here and say that should have been me
and that I regret what happened because I believe everything
happens for a reason and my comeback will prove that. I’m
just feeling like that could have been me, but I can’t dwell
on the past.
“I’ve really enjoyed my career up until the injury and I’m
just looking forward to getting in there and showing what I
can do. I’m glad the tournament is over and that I can get
back in there in 2012. I want to start the rest of my career
off with a bang and finish it with a bang. I don’t plan on
having any more mishaps for the rest of my career.”
How long will it take to get back to the level you were at
before you got injured?
“Well, I think it all depends on the showing that I give on
Friday. I want to have a great showing and I want to look
good. I want to look excellent and I want to impress the
crowd. We’ll move forward from this and hope for no more
mishaps.”
Do you still hope to get that fight with Ward?
“Definitely. I know our time will come. I believe that’s
what the fans want to see so we’ll give it to them.’’
(Is it true) you’ve also said you wanted to fight Lucian
Bute?
“Yes, that’s accurate. He’s fought in his hometown his whole
career and fought the same type of fighters. I’m not taking
anything away from him. He’s an excellent fighter. He has a
great uppercut and a great jab and he’s quick on his feet.
But he’s fought B-minus fighters his whole career and I’m
not the first to say that. It’s just my evaluation. Every
fan wants to see you fight the big dog, whether it be me or
someone else. Lucian Bute has a lot to prove, but everyone
has a lot to prove. But he has been protected and he cannot
deny it.
“My nerves haven’t hit me yet. Once that weigh-in kicks off
and I get to see him (Cunningham) and get in his face then
I’ll feel it and I’ll be ready to go. But no nerves right
now.
“Flint, Michigan, has been on top of the game (over Detroit)
ever since Thomas Hearns. We’ve been on top of every
division, even the amateurs. For a guy like Cunningham to
get a win against me, or even a close fight, the boxing fans
of Detroit would feel awesome about it. But I’ll be ready to
shut them up and show them who will come out on top after
this fight.
“When I was 25 and 26 I knew there was a short window (to
win a world title). But guys aren’t retiring now until 34,
35 years old. Look at (Floyd) Mayweather. So my time is now
and I want to take advantage of it.
“There are not any short-range goals for 2012; I’m just
looking to get the belts. I want to go out there and I want
to prove my worth and myself. I’ve had a lot on my mind
since my layoff. So for 2012 I’m really just looking to
prove the critics wrong. If I can get all the belts in one
year then I’m going to try and get all the belts in one
year. That’s how hungry I am to get the belts.”
On his brother Anthony fighting in the same division:
“He’s been right there with me the whole time. We just feed
off each other’s energy. I think he should go after all the
belts and if I’m in the way I’ll step out of the way; just
change to another belt and another dream. There are lots of
belts out there and more than one or two out there who have
them. We’re both just looking to make a name for ourselves.
If he’s winning belts and I’m winning belts then it’s all
good and we’ll be like another Klitschko. I’m looking
forward to all his success and I’m looking forward to mine
as well.”
What is your ultimate goal in boxing?
“I want to have my name mentioned with the (Manny) Pacquiaos
and the Mayweathers. Just chasing the titles down. I have a
strong, strong desire to become the best that ever did it.
As long as I keep my mind set on that I know I can reach a
pretty high level. I want to make my grandfather (Leon
Lawson) proud. He’s worked so hard and he’s given me so
much.”
What do you love most about boxing?
“To just be able to travel the world and to meet new people
and to become known all around the world, there’s nothing
like it. Unlike MMA, in boxing it takes technique. It takes
science and it takes a real will to get in there with a guy
for 12 rounds and look good doing it the whole way out. I
really love the competition and the adversity and the
victory. It all builds your character. >From a boxer’s
standpoint I love it all. I just love it.”
JESSIE NICKLOW:
“I appreciate the opportunity. We’ve had eight weeks of
preparation for this fight. I’m feeling really good and I’m
on weight. If Jermain is not where he should be than I’ll be
the first one to show it. I’d like to thank God for the
opportunity and all he’s blessed me with. I just want to
show the world on Friday night what I can do.”
LOU DiBELLA, Taylor’s Promoter:
“Jermain has really re-dedicated himself to this sport and
gotten himself in great physical shape. He’s changed his
entire lifestyle. He has seen a lot of doctors and
neurologists and they have determined that he is at no
greater risk than anyone else entering the ring. I’m
particularly comfortable with the fact and the way he has
dedicated himself to the sport of boxing and that his weight
has never been an issue.
“He’s fighting a tough fighter in Jessie Nicklow who, to be
quite honest, would not have been given much of a chance to
beat Jermain Taylor in his prime. But right now Jermain is
coming off his last couple fights that he wasn’t at his
best. And if he’s not at his best on Friday night, then
Jessie Nicklow is exactly the kind of guy that’s going to
show it.”
How hard was it to come back to promote Jermain?
“It was a process and a lot of conversations I had with Al
Haymon and knowing that Jermain had been going to some top
neurologists in Arkansas and had been checking his health
and well-being. Then it became clear that that was going to
extend to places like the Mayo Clinic and I received a copy
of the medical report from a doctor in Germany that was
cc’ed to the Nevada State Athletic Commission. I had a
conversation with one of the top neurologists in the world
where he was asked if Jermain were his own kid, would he let
him get in the ring. His response was, no, he would not let
his own kid fight under any circumstance but if you’re
asking if Jermain Taylor is any different than any other
fighter or if there is any risk then I can’t tell you that.
Based on that, I believe that Jermain is a fighter and
that’s what fighters do, they fight. I am comfortable that
he is OK and that we are doing this for the right reasons.
We’re not getting rich by fighting Friday night.”
GARY SHAW, Dirrell’s Promoter:
“I always thought that Andre Dirrell was the class of the
Super Six. I think he proved that with his fight against
Arthur Abraham coming off a controversial loss to Carl
Froch. Unfortunately he didn’t get a chance to finish off
the tournament due to an injury that occurred during the
Abraham fight. We’re happy to be back on SHOWTIME this
coming Friday. Andre will show what he’s got and I assure
you we will have a victory. Andre will show his class and
hopefully after this fight we will move into a big fight on
SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING.
“There are plenty of belts to go around. The greatest thing
is there will be two American brothers holding all the
belts.
“I still think Andre Dirrell is the class of the 168-pound
division and I think he will prove that in 2012.”
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