GL: Three fights, three stoppages. Can you give us some thoughts on the Showtime Championship Boxing triple-header? “It was a great night of boxing. I thought Donaire did what he had to do. Maldonado is a very tough fighter and I have all of the respect for him. Unfortunately for Maldonado he got cut early and Donaire hurt his hand in the second round. If Nonito hadn’t hurt his hand in round two, he might have gotten him out of there earlier, but Luis might have lasted more rounds if he weren’t bleeding, so it could have been a very different looking fight. As far as Vernon, I fought Vernon put on a masterful display. I don’t really think Piccirillo got enough credit. He really came to fight, he was slick and he kept himself out of danger. There was one knockdown in the neutral corner where Piccirillo folded like a can, when he stood up from it, that told me that he came to win and it showed how tough he was. With Tarver, from this point on he’s going to be in a lot more competitive fights. Coming off his movie tour, he took on a big fight with Hopkins before he really got himself into shape by taking a tune-up fight or two. I’m happy with the show, I hope the fans were happy because all three of these guys are going to make a lot of noise in 2008.”
GL: Where does Nonito go from here?
Gary Shaw: “We’ll try to unify at 112 and if we can’t then we’ll move up to 115. Everybody within boxing knows how difficult it is to make unification fights, and they become more difficult when fighters don’t want to leave their countries.”
GL: Have there been any preliminary discussions with Al Haymon as it relates to your involvement with Vernon Forrest and Antonio Tarver moving forward?
GS: “There haven’t been any discussions about Vernon. I’m sure that Al will speak to Vernon first. Assuming they care to work with me and I hope they do, we’re going to sit down and plan out Vernon’s next fight. As far as Tarver, yes there have been discussions.”
GL: I spoke with Antonio earlier and he indicated that Chad Dawson will face Glen Johnson in his next fight, is that the case?
GS: “It is.”
GL: So if Glen is victorious in his January tune-up he fights Dawson on April 12?
GS: “Yes. We have a mandatory obligation that is in the way of that. We were ready to fight Diaconu, but he got injured, so we have to have some discussions with Don Majewski and the WBC, but pending those, and hopefully everything will get worked out, then Glen Johnson who is absolutely a worthy contender, will be Chad Dawson’s next opponent.”
GL: James Kirkland also had a sensational win over the weekend, tell us about that.
GS: “Oh my God. Sensational is sensational. That’s James Kirkland. I’ve said all along, he reminds of Tyson because when he gets in there you know he’s coming. I get chills when he walks to the ring. He often comes out trying to get a guy out of there in the first five seconds, and he got knocked down, whether it was a flash or not, he got up and couldn’t wait to go right back at Allan Conyers and everybody knows Conyers could punch. Kirkland I think fought the round of the year, unless in the Hatton-Mayweather fight there’s a better round, I believe he’s the winner of the round of the year. He’s still young, he’s aggressive, he’s exciting and he’s exactly what boxing needs. A new young face, who’s exciting and comes to fight. If the guy is running, Kirkland will run after him. With him, once you step in those ropes you’re in a big fight and we’re ready to make a big fight with him. Sechew Powell, Yuri Foreman, John Duddy, great fights, we’d love to make them
“Kirkland has been on Showtime and they definitely want him back. I haven’t heard anything from anybody at HBO, so there might not be any interest from HBO, but you better believe there’s real interest at Showtime.”
GL: Is there anything you’d like to say in closing?
GS: “Contrary to the haters who are saying I’m looking for somebody to buy my company or that I sold my business, I’m still here and I ain’t going nowhere.”
