15.08.05 – By Ike Enwereuzor: “It will be a repeat of Ike Ibeabuchi vs David Tua.” An exciting matchup on August 26, at the Hard Rock Live Arena, Hollywood, Florida. The boxing card will be featuring former world champion Ray Mercer vs Shannon Briggs, Jamel McCline, plus hard hitting heavyweight contender Cisse “Cool C” Salif, now (17-4-2, 16 KO’s) from Bamako, Mali, who started his amateur boxing career in France and is now fighting out of New York City. He will face the biggest test of his career when he takes on another hard puncher, former world title challenger, David Tua on this card.
Salif made his professional debut on May 26, 1998, stopping Donald Colbert in the 1st round in Baltimore, MD. Salif has won his last 3 fights this year, starting with Dennis McKinney in round 2, Jason Shackleford in round 1, and in his last bout when he dismantled Clarence Goin in the 1st round. Now, Salif will face a different class of fighter when he squares off with former world championship challenger David Tua on Showtime Championship Boxing.
Tua has been away on vacation since his rematch March 2003 with Hasim Rahman which ended in draw. However, after a 2 year lay off, Tua made a successful come back this year (March) in Auckland, New Zealand against Talmadge Griffis, stopping Griffis in round 10..
This event will be exciting and an electrifying one, as both fighters love to come forward and punch hard. Here’s what the 6 feet 5, hard hitting Malian had to say:
Ike: How is training going for your fight with David Tua August 26?
Salif: Everything is looking good. I’m heading to the gym right now. If they think this fight is going to be an easy win for Tua, I have surprise for them. He comes forward, and I come forward. He’s a puncher and I’m a puncher, too. He’s a heavyweight, and I’m a heavyweight, too. So, this is a great matchup and I’ll prove to the world who’s Cissie Salif, another African from Mali. I’m not a bum, and he’s not going to see a fighter like Obed Sullivan, Danell Nicholson, Michael Moorer, John Ruiz or Russell Chasteen. I’m coming to smoke some a$$ and I’m focused. It will be a repeat of Ike Ibeabuchi vs David Tua. I hope he shows up to fight, because I’ll do what Ike Ibeabuchi did or even better. I know it’s going to be a tough fight for both of us. They can keep thinking I’m a warm up for Tua. It will be a great surprise and fight to watch. He better prepare himself, because it’s not going to be an easy fight for him. I’ll be the first world heavyweight champion from Mali
Ike: Your thoughts on the Rahman-Barrett fight?
Salif: I wasn’t impressed by Hasim Rahman’s performance. It wasn’t exciting. Monte Barrett rocked him a few times. Rahman has to bring in more than this when he fights Vitali Klitschko. Rahman better bring better than this next time. Klitschko-Rahman should be a good fight.
Ike: Your thoughts on the 2nd Rahman-Tua fight?
Salif: I think Rahman ran out of gas in the first fight, but he won the second time around.
Ike: Any prediction on the Briggs-Mercer fight?
Salif: I think Ray Mercer will beat Shannon Briggs by stoppage. Mercer is a very durable fighter, but Briggs is a four round fighter, and he runs out of gas quickly, unless he can show us different. Mercer has a good chin, too, so I don’t know. Lets see what happens.
Ike: What’s Your take on the Klitschko-Peter fight?
Salif: It should be a good fight. The height, weight and experience goes to Wladimir.. I don’t know. Both can punch, but with Klitschko, he’s got a suspect chin. As far as Peter’s go, we don’t know if he has a chin yet. This will be a big test for Samuel Peter. However, I think Peter has a big chance if he does everything right.
Ike: Tell our readers about your fight with David Bostice in September 2004?
Salif: The fight took place at Pechanga Resort Casino, Temecula, California. I beat that guy, but they just robbed me and gave David Bostice the fight. David knows I won the fight. Fans were throwing bottles in the ring because they were angry at the decision. I let that pass me, now I’m just thinking about David Tua.
Ike: Tell us about your fight with Kevin Montiy?
Salif: That was another fight I won but they made it a “No contest.” I was the one who was cut and I was ready to continue, but they knew I was going to knock Kevin out, so they just stopped the fight. The fight was supposed to be an 8 round fight, but then they changed it to six rounds and tried to change it again to four rounds, so I refused a four round fight. They finally agreed and made it six. Kevin was scared right from the weigh-in. I’m not worried about that experience anymore
Ike: Anything you want to tell your fans?
Salif: Come out and watch an explosive fight or check it out on Showtime.
photo (c) goossentutor.com
Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Please, email: Jacboxingfans@hotmail.com