02.12.05 – Ike Enwereuzor: You told me last time after your fight with Joe Calzaghe that you hurt your shoulder, how are things now? Ashira: Sure, I hurt my shoulder very badly in the 4th round of that fight or something. I tore my muscle in the right shoulder and had surgery to repair it after the fight. The sugery was sucessful and it may take a few months to be back fully. I’m looking at early next year to return to action. I will statrt with physical therapy this week..The medical bills are getting too high. I have spent a lot of money including physical therapy and other treatments. We’re still hoping Frank Warren Office will respond to Don King Production calls and mails to get the WBO insurance refund me the money I spent since after the injury. This is getting serious.
Ike: So, what’re you doing those days since your fight with Joe Calzaghe?
Ashira: Like I said, I just had surgery and I am about to start therapy and this is costing me a lot so I hope Sports Network will be responsible enough to respond to my promoters calls and mail. I’m just nursing my injury but will start easy training like running and hope to be back in action sometime in March 2006 at my normal weight class 160 lbs Middleweight. We’re coming after all the world top ten middleweights.
Ike: What did you learn from your fight with Joe Calzaghe?
Ashira: The big thing I learned from that fight is that determination is very important in anything you do, due to the fact that even I know I can easily fight at 154lbs with no problem. I took the oppotunity to fight for another world championship at 168 lbs and Calzaghe being maybe the best guy at that class. I proved I could bang with the best and I was ready to take the belt only that I got injuried but the fight still went to distance and that’s what determination is all about. Calzalghe couldn’t do nothing with me even though I had an injury now after the fight he told the public he had shoulder injury. He never had a single chance to hurt me even once or get me in trouble. I expected his dirty tactics and headbutt that which gave me a cut in round two.
Ike: You just came back from Kenya. What was that trip like?
Ashira: The trip was great even I was bothered a little by having arm sling on , being home is always sweet . See my brothers and sisters and all my old day friends out there it was really good .
Ike: Your promoter Don King was there for you when you fought Joe Calzaghe to suport you. What really happened before and after the fight?
Ashira: It was great to have “Big Don” there to support me and I was disappionted by the outcome of the fight because I could have shocked the world if I was intact. I really appreciated Don King taking out time out to be there but next year I hope to make a lot of things happen. Even though I did not win the fight with Calzalghe due to the fact I tore my shoulder muscle in round 4 . I still believe I would have caught him in thelate rounds but my shoulder wouldn’t allow me to execute.
Ike: What is your prediction for Ikeke vs Abraham for the IBF Middleweight belt?
Evans:, I think whoever that will get his thing going first will win the fight course both of them are good fighters .
Ike: Your take on Taylor vs Hopkins 2?
Evans: This will be the hard one to predict even the book makers will have hard time . Taylor comes in determined than he was last , and knows what comes with the cake . So it will be hard to get the cake out of his plate , he will be willing to do what it takes . Hopkins has lived with cake for long time knows what he misses and will be willing to put everything on line to get it back on his plate .
Ike: What did you think of the first Hopkins – Taylor fight?
Evans: Watched the fight two or three times but my oppinion is Taylor gave good account of himself even in the end of the fight he did not look good . But Hopkins did so little in the begining of the fight , so a draw for this fight could have been the best result and still Hopkins vs Taylor 2 could have been good to go . I want to fight Jermine Taylor
Ike: Any comment to your fans?
Ashira: I would like to thank all my fans around the World , and say the African Warrior will be back soon. Even though I took the oppotunity I got offered at 168 lbs Super middleweight for the world championship and did my best even with injury. I will be back at my regular weight class 160lbs Middle weight early next year . Thanks all ya watch out for the warrior back