16.11.07 – By James Slater: Canada’s Joachim “Ti-Joa” Alcine won the World Boxing Association light-middleweight championship this past July with a points win over Travis Simms. Now in training for his first defence, the 31-year-old Alcine, currently 29-0(18) meets Panama’s 24-year-old Alfonso Mosquera on December 7th. Joachim is obviously in no mood to slip up in his very first defence, and to add to the determination he has to come out with his world title intact is the fact that defence number one takes place in front of his hometown fans. Alcine doesn’t want to let the 19-5(7) Mosquera spoil the party.
In a break from training yesterday, the extremely polite and easygoing 31-year-old from Quebec graciously gave this writer the following interview.
James Slater: Many thanks for granting me this interview, Joachim – have I pronounced your name correctly first of all?
Joachim Alcine: Yes, that’s fine, don’t worry. Go ahead.
J.S: What do you know about your upcoming opponent and challenger, Alfonso Mosquera?
J.A: I know nothing about him. I haven’t seen any tapes of him, I never watch tapes of any fighter. Even for the world title challenge of Travis Simms I never watched tapes. I don’t like to because that’s not necessarily the fighter that’s going to get in the ring with me. Also, I can adapt to any style on any given night right there in the ring, and this fight will be no different.
J.S: Will you be looking to put on a show for your hometown fans in Quebec?
J.A: I will be patient and box him. I won’t be looking for a KO and will box a calm fight instead. If a KO comes, then good, but I won’t go out for one. It doesn’t matter what previous opponents of Mosquera have done to him [knocked him out or stopped him]. I will respect him and do what I am supposed to do.
J.S: How does it feel being a new world champion. It must feel great?
J.A: I was happy, but I was sick in the Simms fight – nobody knew it. I’d say I was about 60 percent weaker than normal due to being sick. That’s why I told everyone afterwards, that the next fight would be where they would see me at my best. I mean, I was happy at becoming world champion, but not as happy as I could have been. The best is definitely still to come.
J.S: How does it feel to be making your first defence at home though?
J.A: I’m very excited about that. It’s not every day we get a world title fight here in Montreal. A lot of people that know me will be coming to see me fight live, and in a world title fight too. I think the fans are even more excited than me.
J.S: Not to look past Mosquera, but who are you looking forward to fighting in the near future, can you give me any names?
J.A: I look forward to facing anyone in my way. It doesn’t matter what their names are, be it [Vernon] Forrest, [Oscar] De La Hoya or [Floyd] Mayweather, I’m not going to run away from anyone. I’ll take on anyone because I’m the world champion and I feel I’m the real world champion at 154 pounds.
J.S: At age 31, do you feel you’re at your peak yet?
J.A: I actually feel I’m getting stronger and stronger all the time. I feel much stronger now than I did when I was in my 20’s. I’ll keep getting better and better as well.
J.S: You’ve become a world champion, what else do you think you’ll achieve in the next year or so?
J.A: I want to unify all the belts at 154 and become a pound-for-pound rated fighter. I want to become one of the very best in the world. I want to help all the poor kids in the world, too. They inspire me to be a great fighter. I believe God is with me and that I’m a learning to be a better person all the time. I want to be a good champion for all the unfortunate people in the world – to be a role model to them. I’m not a guy who is big on expensive cars or anything like that. You can own a car one day and the next it is gone, you know? There are more important things in life.
J.S: It’s great speaking with such a down to earth world champion as yourself, Joachim. I really appreciate the interview. For my final question, do you have any prediction for the Mosquera fight?
J.A: I never make predictions. Anything can happen in a fight. You can be winning all the way to round 12 and then, BAM! So I make no prediction, just as long as I win.
J.S: Well, I wish you good luck. Thanks for your time, champ.
J.A: Okay, thanks for the interview.