“You old guys that think you’re going to get the World Title because Lennox is gone-you better watch out for these young guys that are coming up!”
06.02.04 – Interview by Carlos Kalinchuk: On March 27 Heavyweight prospect Dominick Guinn (24-0) will be featured on HBO’s Boxing After Dark as the co-featured fight of the evening in what should be an incredible card at Alltell Arena in Little Rock Arkansas (Arkansas native Jermain Taylor will be featured as the main event). Guinn will be stepping in the ring against tough guy Monte Barrett (29-3). Barrett is most notably remembered for his recent fight against “Baby” Joe Mesi. Not only did he give Mesi all he could handle but he even floored the much-hyped prospect towards the end of their fight. Although Mesi went on to win the fight, it raised some questions about Mesi’s abilities and Barrett’s skill. Is Barrett more skilled than most thought? Is Mesi just hype? Well, Guinn will also have to answer those questions when he steps in the ring against Barrett. To say that Guinn is in for an easy fight is a major understatement but based on my discussion with him, he’s up for the task. Read what Guinn had to say about Barrett and the state of the heavyweight division now that Lennox Lewis has retired. Enjoy.
Eastside Boxing: First off, how’s the training coming along?
Dominick Guinn: It’s coming along well. Just like any other training camp. You’ve got to work hard, stay in shape, and show up for the fight. I’ll be at home in Hot Springs Arkansas. It’s in Little Rock but I’m just going to come and be ready to put on a nice show.
Eastside Boxing: Is this your first major show since you became better known in the boxing world that will be in front of the home crowd?
Dominick Guinn: Yes. This is my first fight back in Arkansas since I turned professional so it’s going to be a very thrilling and exciting night.
Eastside Boxing: Are you getting tickets for the family?
Dominick Guinn: Yes, yes. They’re already taken care of. Main Events makes sure that I’m taken of. I never have to worry about them (my family) calling and telling me, “I need tickets!” That’s one thing they want to make sure of. They want to make sure my mind stays on the fights. That’s one thing I can say good about my promoters. They take care of me and try to keep me from having to worry about anything else besides boxing.
Eastside Boxing: So has it been that way all along with you and Main Events?
Dominick Guinn: Yes, for every fight.
Eastside Boxing: Relative to Monty Barret’s style, who would you say fights similar to the way he fights that you have fought in the past?
Dominick Guinn: This guy named Charles Hatcher. There’s been a few other guys that I can’t think of at the moment.
Eastside Boxing: What do you expect from him for this particular fight?
Dominick Guinn: I expect it to be a tough fight! I heard on the Internet that he said it was going to be a “Southern ass-whipin” for me so that why I wouldn’t even go on the Internet and look at none of that stuff. I was going to decline all interviews until after the fight. That’s when I’ll talk my mess!
Eastside Boxing: I’ll try to keep my questions relative to your training then. How many rounds have you sparred and how many round did you spar today?
Dominick Guinn: Right now I’m sparring a few rounds. I sparred 6 today. By the time we get real close to training camp, we’ll be going 10 rounds.
Eastside Boxing: (Your Trainer) Ronnie Shields was talking about you heading out to San Antonio for the second phase of your training? Have you done that before or is this going to be the first time that you actually are going to be doing some training out of town?
Dominick Guinn: No, No. We always go for training camp somewhere else. This is my first time that I go back to San Antonio though since the Olympic try-outs in 2000. That’s what I was telling Ronnie today, “That I hadn’t been back to San Antonio to train since 2000.”
Eastside Boxing: Sorry (I couldn’t help it but) Any predictions on the fight with Barrett?
Dominick Guinn: I’m going to go up there and win the fight. I’m going to put on a thrilling show for the fans of Arkansas and the HBO fans and viewers and everybody that’s behind me and “not” behind me-it’s going to be a nice fight!
Eastside Boxing: What kind of enthusiasm does it give you to know that tickets are nearly sold out already? I heard that nearly 10,000 tickets have already been sold for you and Jermain Taylor. Can you comment on the pressure as well?
Dominick Guinn: They say it should give me pressure but the people of Arkansas have been watching myself and Jermaine Taylor fight so it’s not going to be nothing new. It’s just another big fight that I have to go in there and win and I know that I just have to go in there and take care of business. And that’s what’s going to make it that much greater…that I’m at home and that I’m in Arkansas and it’s on HBO and it’s moving me one step closer to becoming a World Champion. And I’d like to thank Lennox Lewis too. I spoke with him two weeks ago and he was telling me some things, but I’d like to thank Lennox Lewis for passing the torch on to me because I feel like he’s passing it (the torch) to me.
Eastside Boxing: Did you see Lennox retiring like he did today? What were your thoughts about that?
Dominick Guinn: I thought he was going to come back and have one more fight with Klitchko and go on and kill the critics for what they were saying about the last fight. Which he and I discussed it and I KNOW HE WOULD HAVE WENT IN THERE AND KNOCKED OUT KLITCHKO IN 5 ROUNDS OR BETTER! But I think it’s good that he’s retiring on a good note. He’s the Champ. Go out as the Champ! Why stay around? He’s 39, I mean 38 years old and it’s not like he was really beaten bad in any of his fights. He made enough money and “hey! Live on your legacy” is what I say.
Eastside Boxing: Who in your opinion is now going to emerge from the Heavyweight Division?
Dominick Guinn: Uhhhh…. Myself (laughs-smiles)! And I guess anybody else that’s ready to step up. Now the division is really wide open and now there’s going to be whole bunch of chess moves. People are really going to be trying to get the right fight. I think there’s about to be some great fights in the Heavyweight Division right now. Everybody is going to be fighting for the Championship and they know Lennox Lewis is gone so they don’t have to worry about fighting him. It’s going to be nice and I wouldn’t be surprised if some of them other guys try and come out of retirement. Mike Tyson might try and step up and really train hard now.
Eastside Boxing: Now with it vacant right?
Dominick Guinn: Uh-huh. And that might bring Evander Holyfield back.
Eastside Boxing: (Laughs). Well he’s told us he’s never leaving!
Dominick Guinn: Yeah (laughs). Like I’m saying, now a lot of people will feel like they’ve got a real legitimate chance at getting to the top but now they have to worry about the young guys that are up and coming. So, “You old guys that think you’re going to get the World Title because Lennox is gone-you better watch out for these young guys that are coming up!”
Eastside Boxing: Hey man, thanks a lot.
Dominick Guinn: You’re welcome.
Carlos “Stiff-jab” Kalinchuk
Contributing Writer & Photographer