02.01.08 – by James Slater: Cameroon-born Canada native, Herman Ngoudjo takes on IBF light-welterweight champ Paul Malignaggi this Saturday in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Judging by the press conference to hype the fight early in December both men dislike one another more than somewhat. With both boxers claiming disrespect from the other, the two get the chance to settle their differences in the ring on January 5th, in 2008’s first big world title fight. Ngoudjo, nicknamed “The Black Panther” is a 16-1(9) 28-year-old who firmly believes the champion has made a big mistake in underestimating him. With good wins over fighters like Emanuel Augustus and Randall Bailey – along with a controversial and close points loss to Mexico’s Jose Luis Castillo – the 5 ft 8″ contender can clearly fight. Whether or not Herman is good enough to achieve his life-long ambition of becoming a world champion, we will soon see.
During a break from training on new year’s eve, Ngoudjo very kindly gave this writer an over-the-phone interview. Coming across as a laidback, quick with a joke guy at times, and then as a serious and focused fighter at others, Herman gave the following answers to my questions. Speaking in very good English, here is what Herman had to say..
James Slater: I appreciate you talking to me so close to the fight, Herman. Firstly, is the apparent bad blood between yourself and Malignaggi real?
Herman Ngoudjo: Oh, he [Malignaggi] talks shit, that’s all it is. I’ve told him, I am going to punish him. He disrespected me very badly and he said I am nothing. I am going to make him cry for what he has said to me (laughs). I know in my stomach I will win the fight.
J.S: Paulie says he is the very best fighter you will ever have faced. Do you agree?
H.N: He says that, but we will only find that out in the ring. In the ring we will see, until then you cannot say. I believe I will show him in the ring [that he has underestimated me]. I don’t really have too much to say right now. We will see how good he is when he gets in the ring with me.
J.S: I take it you have seen a lot of his fights on tape?
H.N: Yeah, I have seen him fight almost every time. He is a good fighter, but he’s nothing special. You see, he doesn’t really fight, he runs away instead. He doesn’t really fight in there.
J.S: Who have you been sparring with for this fight?
H.N: I have been working with five sparring partners. I don’t want to tell you their names though. I’ve had very good sparring.
J.S: What do you consider to be the best performance of your career so far?
H.N: You can forget what has happened before now. You will see the new Herman Ngoudjo from now on. I will be at my very best for this fight. This fight [for a world title] has been my dream fight ever since I lived in Cameroon.
J.S: You have more KO’s than Malignaggi, will you be looking for a KO win?
H.N: I will be looking for everything. I will be trying to win in many different ways. But if he cannot take my punch, he will have a problem.
J.S: How do you see the fight going. What type of fight will it be?
H.N: It will be a physical fight and it will be a technical fight. I will be using all my best [skills] in there. I will close him up and after this fight no-one will want to fight me. People will want to avoid me after this fight!
J.S: Assuming you do win, what will you look towards doing then. Will you stay at 140?
H.N: Yes, I will stay at 140. I make the weight comfortably. Still, I could move up if I wanted to. I will do whatever I want. My dream fight is Ricky Hatton, though. A fight with Ricky Hatton has always been the fight I wanted. I know I have to win against Malignaggi to get that fight.
J.S: Would you be willing to come over to the U.K to face Hatton?
H.N: Yes, sure. I would fight anywhere. You have to beat the best to be the best.
J.S: How about Junior Witter, would you like to fight him?
H.N: Junior Witter? No, it’s really Ricky Hatton I am looking for. I’m not interested in Witter.
J.S: What training will you be doing from now until the fight, it’s pretty close now isn’t it?
H.N: I will just be doing things to keep my body warm and not too much else. All the real work has been done before and my weight is fine. I am sure I will be stronger than Malignaggi.
J.S: It’s been great speaking with you. Do you have a final prediction for January 5th?
H.N: I have no prediction, other than I will win. We will see if he can take a punch, if he can’t he will fall. We’ll just have to see which round he falls in.