17.08.06 – IBF middleweight world champion Arthur Abraham talks about his boxing goals, the preparation on the world championship fight and his opponent Edison Miranda before his title defense appointed by the IBF on Saturday evening, 26th August, 2006, at 22.30, in Oldenburg, EWE arena..
Arthur, your first defense appointed by the IBF takes place in Oldenburg. A coincidence?
Abraham: No, it´s no accident. I absolutely wanted to fight in Oldenburg. Being at the EWE arena almost feels like being in my living room in the meantime. Oldenburg and its great fans always brought me luck. I already won the Interconti title and defended the world championship belt against Shannan Taylor in Oldenburg. I´m going to give everything because I don´t want to disappoint my fans.
The preparation took a long time. How did it go?
Abraham: It´s been going well. I prepared three months for this fight, longer than usual. Time was hard. Especially during the training camps in Zinnowitz and Kienbaum it got stuck in. I had eight sparrings a day during the recent weeks, always against two opponents. Thereby I achieved a lot. Now I´m top condition and in a good mood.
The opponent, Edison Miranda from Columbia, is called “The Panther”. He is regarded as a merciless knock out fighter. Do you respect him?
Abraham: I respect him as much as any other opponent. But that´s it. Till now he only showed off fancy talk. Apart from this my punch doesn´t have the worst reputation.
Your approach about to the trash talk of Miranda´s team. How do you react to that?
Abraham: I don´t react at all. I think it´s ridiculous. Miranda shouldn´t talk too big. He´s going to have a world championship fight for the first time. He should be lucky to get the chance. I´m not in favour of talking trash before the fight. I´m going to say something about it at the press conference while Miranda is sitting next to me as a loser.
The story about Miranda´s difficult childhood has been published in Germany. Your opponent grew up as a street urchin in Columbia. Are you interested in that?
Abraham: No. It´s his own story and I have my own story, too. It doesn´t matter in the boxing ring.
Usually boxers having such a complicated story of life are especially hungry for success.
Abraham: He can climb into the ring feeling hungry for success. Many opponents came hungry and went hungry. Feeling hungry for success is not the only deciding factor to become a world champion. There´s more to it than that. I feel like hungry for success, too. I didn´t work hard during the last three months to lose the title now. I´m the champion. Many german and Armenien fans keep their fingers crossed. I don´t want to dissappoint them. As a champion you´re on the top, a man in demand. But it will be over very fast if you lose. I know that and that´s why I feel as hungry for success the same way my opponent does.
You have watched a few of Miranda´s videos. What are his strenghts?
Abraham: Strenghts? I haven´t seen any. Ronald Wright or Jermain Taylor are great middleweight boxers. But Miranda?
boxen.com: You prefer the most unusual outfit ever for entering the arena. Are you going to come in with the Smurfs´cap in Oldenburg again?
Abraham: Definitely. With the golden Smurfs´cap of the world champion. In Germany I became famous as the Smurfs´ boxer. It was always lucky. Unfortunately my friend father Abraham who sings the Smurfs´ song can´t come to Oldenburg. That´s why the music will be heard from tape this time.