Q and A with Atlantic City’s Bantamweight KO Artist Qa’id Muhammad returning to action from hand injury

By ESB - 11/04/2012 - Comments

By Lou McLaughlin: I was given the opportunity to interview via telephone Qa’id “Kid Dynamite” Muhammad. Qa’id from Atlantic City, New Jersey is a bantamweight whose record is 7-0 (6 KO). He is managed and trained by his father Abdur Rahim Muhammad. Qa’id was having a knockout streak having won all 7 of his fights and six won by stoppage. Then in training he suffered a setback breaking his hand. He is scheduled to return to action at Fitzgerald’s Casino & Hotel, Tunica, Mississippi on November 3rd against Jamal “The Mailman” Parram 6(4)-6(3)-1
Q- How did you break your hand? How long have you been sidelined by the injury? And how is it feeling?
A-I only took off about a month. And I’ve been training about a month and a half for this fight. I’ve been icing it, soaking it, and exercising it, taking care of it like I’m supposed to.

Q-How did it happen?
A-For a little guy I punch hard. I had been sparring and I punched a guy and I had my hand open. I should have had my hand closed. But I was worrying more about doing a fast move then landing the punch and had my hand open and injured it.

Q-What do you know about your opponent Jamal Parram?
A- I really don’t know anything about him. Like my last opponent I haven’t seen any tapes, I haven’t heard anything about him except that he switches from southpaw to orthodox.

Q-Will the hand be on your mind as you punch?
A-No not at all, my jab is working well. I’m not worried about my hand. Even if it is hurting through the fight the adrenaline is going to keep me punching. But maybe it won’t hurt at all

Q-Considering your high percentage of KO wins do you consider yourself to be more of a puncher then a boxer?
A-I’m more of a puncher I like to fight. My Dad tells me that when I box I’m an action boxer. To me I’d say I’m more of a puncher- a boxer puncher that’s it!

Q- BoxingRec.com shows that you fought in July 31st of 2009 and then had two years off not fighting again until July of 2011. What was the reason for the layoff?
A-Just me being young playing around-slacking and boxing a little bit-partying a little bit. Then my father said that if you’re not going to take professional boxing seriously then I’m not going to put you in the ring until you get serious. I was a bit cocky telling myself I can do it either way. But my Dad was being smart and I was being young and dumb and eventually I matured and now I’m back in the game and not planning on leaving anytime soon until I retire with my belts.

Q-You are managed and trained by your father Abdur Rahim Muhammad and from previous interviews we have done I know you have a good relationship with him. If given the opportunity to be trained by a Freddie Roach or a Buddy McGirt would you consider it?
A-I would consider it. I’ve been with my father since the beginning, my whole career. One thing my father has told me if Freddie Roach were to come along or any other trainer that can better my career my father said he will step to the side and let me train with him because not only is he my trainer he is always going to be my father. My father will always be in my camp.

Q-To what to you attribute the close relationship that you have with your father?
A-Ever since I was young like I was his first son. Ever since I was young he has always been there for me. He always wanted what was best for me. He wouldn’t let me run with the wrong crowd and he would never let me be without anything that I wanted. I had to grow up and appreciate that. I believe that is no better trainer a person can have then their own father.

Q-Of your wins which do you consider your best win? Which was your least satisfying win?
A-I’d say my first that was a long time ago or when I was on the undercard of the Kelly Pavlik / Bernard Hopkins fight. My least satisfying when I hit the canvas in the first round against Julio Valadez. I went into the fight boxing. But the sport is a dirty game. He butted and continued to do it and I realized I wasn’t boxing him I was fighting him it was turning into a brawl. But in the end I left with a third round knockout. But I could have performed better.

Q-What got you into boxing? Who or what motivated you to make the transition from amateur to pro?
A-When I young I was in love with karate. I wanted to do karate. The people there said that I hit very hard. I went into a tournament and it was point scoring there wasn’t any contact. I won the tournament but realized it wasn’t what I wanted to do. I wanted to really fight somebody. My dad took me into the gym and I tried sparring and boxing and was actually doing good. I was stronger than most of the other kids and thought that this might be my niche

Q-What fighters do you admire? Have you had the opportunity to spar or train with any of the names in
the sport?
A-Number one Floyd Mayweather he has the talent and Terry Norris and Meldrick Taylor

Q-Along those lines where are you hoping to go in the sport? Would you remain at bantamweight?
A-I want to stay at bantamweight until I win the title then I want to go all of the way up to 130-135 lbs. If I’m good enough and my experience gets better who knows I could go to 140. Like Manny Pacquiao in his first professional fight he was 106 lbs. now he is at 154 lbs. If the belts keep coming as I move up in weight. I want to win as many titles as I can

Q-Anything you want to say to your family, friends, and fans?
A-I want to thank everybody for their support and I love everybody that cares for me and I’m here for them. I promise I will fight hard always and I will never let them down and they will always leave with a smile on their face when I win.