One of Britain?s undefeated welterweights, Ahmet Patterson, 11-0-0, 3ko, continues to move closer to English and British title contention when he takes on Danny Murphy in Harrow, North London on Saturday, March 1. In a Q&A with onthebeak.com chilling on the bleachers in the iconic Peacock Gym, Patterson discussed his training, his education under the tutelage of top trainer Martin Bowers and the international welterweight picture involving Manny Pacquiao, Timothy Bradley, Floyd Mayweather Jr, Amir Khan and Marcos Maidana.
Patterson lands a jab in sparring. Credit: onthebeak.com.
Onthebeak.com: Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley clash on April 12 in a rematch of a controversial points victory for the American, in 2012. Did Bradley really win that fight?
Patterson: No. Come on now, anyone watching that who wasn?t even a boxing fan knows he didn?t win. You don?t have to mute it to see he got beat. Sometimes the judges? C.J Ross, yea, she?s a baaad judge man, she got a few ones wrong and she gave Mayweather ? Alvarez a draw? really?! A draw? A draw! That?s what she called it.
Onthebeak.com: So will Bradley be beat again or will he fare better in the do-over?
Patterson: He might fare better now. It might be in his favour, he knows what to expect this time around, obviously he knows he lost but just not on paper, he?s coming back to avenge a loss in his head, yea, he?s got a point to prove. I think he?ll be controlled but I think he?ll take it [the fight] to him. He needs to get respect back for fight number two. Now we?re going to set the record straight like it should have been.
Onthebeak.com: Who wins?
Patterson: For me personally, I think after Pacquiao?s last performance against [Brandon] Rios [UD points win for Pacquiao], he?ll win. He should win, yea, he should win the decision but possibly the late stoppage. He hurt him last time.
Onthebeak.com: Tell me about Marcos Maidana, Amir Khan and Floyd Mayweather [N.B, at the time of the interview, no announcement had been made].
Patterson: Maidana was chasing Khan for a rematch for two years, he wanted it. I thought [a second] Khan and Maidana [fight] would have been a good one.
Onthebeak: Maidana just came off a great win over Adrien Broner.
Patterson: Exactly! That was a wicked fight.
Onthebeak.com: Who else is there for Floyd, Ahmet?
Patterson: Danny Garcia and Mayweather will happen, not now, but eventually, for money purposes. Another [Juan Manuel] Marquez fight would be pointless. I tell you who would be a good fight, Thurman! I like that guy. Who else? I don?t know, Ortiz got knocked out in two rounds, I think he may have the wrong team around him. He?s real big, like a bruiser. Sometimes you need more than just someone teaching you boxing skills, it?s more than talent, you need to stay on your game-plan. He?s never in a dull fight though and never turns down a fight.
Onthebeak.com: So you?ve got Danny Murphy on March 1 in North London. How was your training camp?
Patterson: I got loads of rounds in [sparring]. Three weeks ago I was 10 stone nine, just above [the welterweight limit]. In terms of nutrition I was watching what I was eating, protein, low carbs, loads of salad, veg and chicken, all that stuff.
Onthebeak.com: Did you have lunch at the Peacock Gym cafe today? They had jerk chicken, macaroni cheese and rice. That was pretty good.
Patterson: Yea, yea, yea that jerk chicken is alright. You can have that after a work out [talking to me, not him personally] though it?s still okay. Who made it?
Onthebeak.com: I think it must have been Tony [Bowers, head of Peacock Promotions, brother of Martin Bowers, trainer of Ahmet and Ovill McKenzie, chairman of Peacock Gym].
Onthebeak.com: How?s your education going with Martin?
Patterson: You?re always learning with Martin, you never stop. Even Mayweather would never stop. His dad is who he started with and when he linked back up with him after [Miguel] Cotto, his defence was more on point.
Onthebeak.com: Have you scouted your opponent?
Patterson: Nah! I seen him on interview on YouTube but no fight. I know his dad was a contender, but that?s about it. I don?t know much about him. I look at the little things like Bobby Gladman beat him who drew with Matt Scriven, you know, the journeyman?
Onthebeak.com: How are you heading in to competition as the away fighter?
Patterson: I?ve fought as an away, in Essex, it?s fine. Danny Murphy?s not Harrow I don?t think but Watford, it?s close enough for him to still be at home, he?ll have mates there and everything.
Onthebeak.com: How do you cope with being shouted at on the way to the ring if the atmosphere turns hostile, jeered, shouted that their man is going to knock you out or being called a wanker?
Patterson: [Laughs] I just use that as motivation, oh right, I?m a wanker? Haha, let?s get that win, I?m still a wanker then?!
Onthebeak.com: Cheers Ahmet, see you soon.
