July 31st, 2010 will forever be looked at as a coming out party for Russian Dmitry Pirog. Relatively unknown in America, the 30-year old would end up putting on a sensational performance in halting Brookyln?s Danny Jacobs in the 5th round at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada. Pirog was given little chance by some before the fight but he controlled the contest with his surprising movement and fluidity, eventually ending matters with a beautiful right hand that had Jacobs all but out. Fighting on a packed card headlined by the Juan Manuel Marquez-Juan Diaz rematch, Pirog stole the show and also captured the WBO Middleweight crown.
Soon after his victory the laid back fighter would make his way back home and recently partook in a press conference at the Conference Hall of the D-Hotel in Mosscow. Still less than a week removed from his thrilling victory, Pirog touched on a myriad of topics including his preparation for the Jacobs fight, his performance inside of the ring, and what his future holds.
In his own words, this is what the newly minted WBO champion had to say?
Time to shine? ?I had been preparing for a hard work inside the ropes. I didn?t expect this particular victory to be so easy. I was mentally prepared to go a full distance and I realized deep in myself that it?s 80% that had the fight gone to scorecards I would have been on a wrong side of judges? decision. Thank God I was able to end this bout prematurely. Maybe I was willing it more than him. I?m already 30 years of age and it?s my time to shine. Jacobs is a young fighter. He is just 23 so his time will come a little bit later.?
Following the plan? ?It wasn?t that my punch output was lower. It was a specifically designed plan. I didn?t tend to be overactive or overaggressive in the first half of the fight. I was doing my work. Our plan was to feel my way to the fight, to wait a bit, maybe to let stats down but then to come up stronger down the stretch. After three or four rounds I should have been taking the contest under my control. I had to become more and more aggressive as the bout progressed.?
Turning point? ?I think that the second round was a turning point. He stopped running and tried to box with me. That was my chance and I fully capitalized on that. Jacobs is more an amateur than a pro boxer at this point. He likes moving, he can start backpedaling and it?ll be extremely hard to catch him on his way out. After the second round I noticed Bernard Hopkins shouting at Jacobs. He told him to let his legs go, to get loose. Had he followed master?s advice it would have been very hard to find him in the ring. However, when he stopped moving I knew that it was my chance. I was confident that I would find room for my best punches and nothing proved me wrong.?
Key observations? ?I have noticed several things. First of all, Jacobs proved to be a classy man. He came to my dressing-room alongside his teammates and congratulated me on a ?good job?. That was somewhat surprising for me. He had been a bit cocky before but he showed some class after. Another interesting observation is related to the audience. There were lots of Latino fans who came to see Marquez vs. Diaz and top undercard matchups. It was very surprising that a majority of them rooted for me during [the] fight. However, the best support has been received from Russian fans. There weren?t throngs of them ringside but I felt their cordial support all night.?
At home in Vegas? ?First of all, that wasn?t my first trip to the USA and, what is even more curious, I have already lived at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino. So there was nothing new for me there. I can only admit that atmosphere there was truly remarkable. I have been in different parts of the world: in Germany and in Philippines, and I can tell you that it?s all the same. All these stars- Mosley, De La Hoya, Guerrero, Linares, Marquez, Diaz, and others are very down-to-Earth and humble. You can speak with all of them as with ordinary people. I felt myself like at home in Vegas.?
The future? ?I?m ready to meet a fresh blood of our weight class inside the ropes. Middleweights are at a breaking point right now. There are a big number of young, talented up and comers and future belongs to them. I?m sure that in the coming years young guns from all over the world will prove their mettle and that they will be showcased by cable giants in America and Europe. A new time is coming so don?t blink. I came to this sport to prove myself and to fight the best. That?s why I won?t run from any possible fights. Sergio Martinez, Kelly Pavlik, and Paul Williams ? I?m ready to test my skills against each of them. I?m not afraid of challenges. Actually, I love them.?
