Exclusive interview by Dan Emicus with Quatavious Cash [6-0, 4 KOs]
When did you know that boxing was your calling?
I knew boxing was my calling when I was six years old. I was forced to fight everyday and I was good. So I always knew I was going to become a fighter, even though I didn’t get the opportunity until I was 14 or 15. That’s when I stopped everything and gave all my focus to boxing.
How did you fare in the amateurs?
I was too small for 165 and too big for 152, so I never reached my full potential as an amateur.
What was it like making the transition from amateur to professional boxing? Is it an ongoing process, or have you unlearned any and all habits which aren’t suited to the pro game?
It hasn’t been that bad. As an amateur I was always told I had a pro style. I’m always learning and correcting something in the gym, so it’s an ongoing process. Fighters get comfortable with bad habits when things go their way for so long and they never need to make that adjustment. I have had to unlearn a lot of bad habits that I was able to get away with in the amateurs.
At your heaviest you’ve been 167lbs at the weigh-in, while at your lowest you’ve been 156lbs. Has a weight class been decided yet, or are you and your team still trying to figure out what weight suits you best?
154 is going to be my weight class. When making fights, some of them fell through, but I trained so hard and still wanted to fight. I took fights when I was heavier just to stay busy and get the experience. I’m young, just turned 21 on January 20th, so I think I’ll grow and fill out at 160 eventually.
What is your favorite part of training and why?
My favorite part of training would be conditioning, because it’s so important. I work on my skills and technique for hours, but you can’t perform or even think well if you don’t have the stamina. So I’ve learned to love the punishment I put my body through in training.
What did it feel like getting to avenge your amateur loss to Will Waters? Were you pleasantly surprised to get the chance to meet him in the pro ranks?
It felt great to avenge that loss. It was so embarrassing losing to him as an amateur. I was very surprised when I heard he wanted to fight me. I knew then that I had to beat him to make a statement and show him I’m not that same little boy anymore.
Towards the end of the last year you met Omar Pena, who you stopped in the 6th. Were you happy to get rounds under your belt against this type of opponent? How did you rate your overall performance on the night?
Yes, I was happy to get those rounds under my belt since that was my first time seeing 6 rounds. Omar was a tough fighter and his experienced showed. It was a real test for me. I give myself a B-, because I dropped him in the 3rd round and I should’ve stopped him earlier but I didn’t rush it.
Next up was your most recent fight, an impressive 1st round TKO victory over Jose Felix. Considering the fact that he has taken guys the distance who have much more experience than you, were you surprised by the result? Would you like it to have lasted a little longer, or were you happy to have executed your gameplan effectively enough to get him out of there quickly?
Jose is a decent fighter on paper. We actually fought on the same card when I beat Waters. The punch I caught him with was one that I daydreamed about when I was training. It felt good for it to fall in place the same way I imagined it and to win the way i did. I didn’t want it to go any longer. I wanted to get it done as quickly as possible to prevent the possibility of any injuries, cuts or damage.
You had 6 fights in total last year! Did you set out to have as many fights as possible, or did it just happen?
6 fights was a goal I set for myself with my team, but 4 fights fell through last year. I could have been 10-0, but everything happens for a reason. I’m young, so I have plenty of time.
In terms of your learning curve as a prospect, do you feel that you got a lot out of your first year as a pro?
Yes, I’ve been tested in those 6 fights. People have said to me that I’m fighting too hard at the start of my career. Those 6 fights gave me a chance to show that I’m seasoned and that I can face adversity.
What’s the general plan for this year? Stay busy and learn as much as possible? 8/10 rounders? Maybe even a ‘name’ on the record?
My plan for this year is definitely to stay busy. I do see a 10 rounder before the year is over. I will fight a name depending on how my trainer, Yahya McClain, feels about my progression this year.
Approximately what kind of level will you hope to have have reached 2 years from now?
I hope to be mentioned as a threat, or a fighter nearing the end of my destination to a world title. I want to be mentioned as a notable fighter, a top prospect in whatever weight class I end up in.
For anyone who hasn’t seen you fight before, what should fans expect from a fight which features Quatavious Cash?
You will see a mixture of styles and lot of fire works. I’m a boxer-puncher. I’m smart but entertaining. A fan favorite.
If you could share the ring with anyone, past or present, who would it be and why?
It would either be Diego Corrales or Hector Camacho (Rest in paradise). Those are my favorite fighters besides Ali. They are the reason I’m boxing today; I grew up watching them both. They really inspired and motivated me. I would always try to mimic them in the ring, so I would love to see how that would play out against them both.
Any final words or message for fans?
I would like to thank everyone for reading this interview, and to all my fans that have been there since the start of my career. I would like to thank my family and team for being my support system that have helped me make it this far. “Follow your dreams, they do come true. Don’t let the world write your story for you.”