Hello. Well this week, the Ask the Champ mailbag is even more exciting for me because I just got word and confirmation that my fight with Travis Simms will be held on January 6, 2007, in Miami, Florida. I do not know yet if it is going to be televised, but let?s hope that SHOWTIME or HBO wants to picks it up. I am looking forward to putting on another great performance for my supporters and fans. I have to also tell you to look out for out next RSRTV show, the November edition of ?The Boxing Show,? that is going to air soon. I think it is the best one yet, but I will let you decide. Ok folks, now to answer your questions.
FIGHTING FRIENDS
Dear Jose
Have you faced an opponent you were friendly or close with outside the ring? If so how difficult was it, what was the outcome of your fight and how were things between you afterwards?
Regards, Russ G.
Russ,
Yes, but only in the amateurs, not in the pros, and it really never affected our friendship. We were able to set our friendship aside because we knew that we just had to fight. In the amateur fights, with all of the tournaments and stuff, sometimes you just cannot avoid that. It will usually happen more in the amateurs then in the pros, even though I have seen two best friends fight in the pros before.
INTRIGUING FIGHTS
Jose,
6 mos without a fight I hate seeing it not even non title bouts anymore. Joachim Alcine HAI/CAN is your #1 even though any of these would be fine. Mayorga at number #4 probably get you more name recognition Mosley number #2 down at 147 number #13 Quartery at 160. You and number #5 Satnos in PR the winner for the vacant 147 between PR?s Cotto and Quintina could be a PR fight. Come back to Philly, or Reading and fight number #10 Anthony Thompson. Reading?s Kermit Cintron just won the IBF 147.
Ken Hissner
Ken,
It will be 8 months by fight time, but hey, you cannot sweat things you cannot control. All those fighters you mentioned are good fights and some are a possibility, but some are harder to make because we have different promoters. I would love to fight in Puerto Rico, and I have fought in Pennsylvania about three times in my pro career. I have also been in training camp in Pennsylvania with ?The Pittsburgh Kid? Paul Spadafora, when we were both getting ready for our ESPN2 fights. He was the main event, and I fought in the co-feature.
HOW IS DON KING REALLY?
Champ,
Glad to see you got the DKP crap almost out of your system. I know Don is the worlds greatest promoter but when I saw and listened to him at the Briggs fight when Jim Gray was in the ring, he sounds like a fool and looks like that with all that gaudy jewelry. Is he really like this when the camera is off? Have you ever sat down like at dinner with him and maybe a very small group?
Al Leri
Al,
You may or may not believe this, but I do not have a close relationship with Don King at all. I only see Don when we are at the press conferences to promote the fight and the night of the fight. King just has too many fighters for him to know all of them on a personal basis. I do all of my dealings and negotiating with Dana Jamison from his office. Yes, he is a very energetic and flamboyant person, but I have also seen him just relaxing and laughing, having a good old time. There is one thing that Don King and myself have in common: I see he always surrounds himself only with people he trusts and you cannot fault a man for keeping his circle of friends tight.
IS SHANNON FOR REAL?
Jose,
I take off for a few weeks and all the girls are on you. Do you wear shorts under your trunks? OMG! But too bad you answered yes because I bet you have buns of steel if they did show. What did you think of the Briggs fight? I thought Shannon could have knocked the Russian out earlier but for some reason, held his punches back.
Toni J.
Toni,
I thought Shannon was well on his way of proving me right. I thought Shannon was going to lose because of the antics he was doing in the fights. He starts off strong and then he fades, and at the end, he was able to pull out the TKO victory. I will say that I am very happy for him and I am glad he proved me wrong. I have been watching Shannon since the amateurs when he was picked and favored to win the Olympic Trials and represent team USA in the Olympics. That didn?t happen because of an injury that he sustained that kept him out of the trials, but there were critics that were questioning that. The word was that he was very marketable and a loss in the trials would?ve affected that, but all that matters is that through all of those years, and missed opportunities, Shannon capitalized when he needed too. I hope he takes the time and commits himself to the sport of boxing because he can add some much needed creditability to boxing and the heavyweight division.
The Pac Sac (Courtesy of Ask Geno Bag)
Jose,
Manny fight very soon and I am scared he may lose with outside problems. What do you think?
Bankien
Bankien,
I would not be worried about Manny and the outside problems. Manny has proven that he can overcome distractions in the past. Manny has been through worse things in life then the distractions he is going through now. My money is still on Manny.
Champ,
I think Manny is going to retire Erik in this fight. Do you think so to? I heard you are going to now fight Don King for a winner takes all. Any truth Champ?
Chris
Chris,
You might be right. Erik Morales is a stubborn fighter though, and he might not want to retire with his last fight being a loss, especially to Pacquiao. No, the rumors are false. Don King and I will not battle for the winner takes all, but he got me the fight with Travis Simms, which will be on January 6, in Miami Florida.
Jose,
I am a Pacman fan since he was 17 years old. I saw a lot of him fighting win, or lose. This third fight with Morales is one of those fights that I think he somehow may lose since even Roach admitted that Morales will be the best Morales so far. What do you think?
Thanks,
Cloud Cloud,
Freddie Roach?s job as a trainer is to make sure he lets his fighter know that the man he is going to fight is tough and good. Not that Morales is not good, but I think he is a shell of his old self. This way Roach can make sure his fighter will train hard and take the fight seriously. Yes, Morales will be tough early in the fight, but Manny is going to be too strong and fast for Morales, and I look for him to pick Morales apart in the later rounds. Morales might be able to hang in there for a decision because he is so determined, but my pick is still Manny winning by TKO in the later rounds.
