Interview by Jaime Castro-Núñez, Photos by Marco Pérez – mpsportsimages.com – Currently training for his championship match against IBF super middleweight titleholder Lucian Bute (23-0-0), Fulgencio Zúñiga seems to be more concerned about the referee than the tough rival he is facing next March 13th in Montreal. Had it not been for the localistic, 20-second count that Marlon Wright gave Bute in the twelfth round of his fight against Librado Andrade, the 1.78 cm challenger from South America would not have any reason to think about the third person in the ring.
“In Canada I’ve to knock him out to be safe. The only thing is that I won’t have a doll in front of me. He’s a boxer and boxers hit. I only ask for a fair referee.” Zúñiga said so last Monday, when I interviewed him after his training session in Barranquilla’s Cuadrilátero Gym. Here is what he said…..
Jaime Castro Núñez: Fulgencio, How are you today?
Fulgencio Zúñiga: I’m fine, actually great. The fact that I’m facing Lucian Bute keeps me motivated. I’m training hard to be ready on March 13.
JCN: How did you receive the news?
FZ: What can I tell? You know that this is a championship match and not too many boxers around the world have an opportunity like this one, so I thank God and my promoter for this second chance. I’m working hard because I need to bring the belt back to Colombia.
JCN: You just lost a championship match against Denis Inkin. Tell us a little bit about your experience in Germany…
FZ: I fought on a two-week notice. I was in Canada and my promoter informed I had a fight against Inkin. I had problems in New York with the visa, so I had to go to the German Embassy in Bogota, where I got the traveling documents. I landed in Germany six days before the fight. I never got adjusted to the time, you know. I used to go to bed around ten, but I couldn’t close my eyes until four or five. Even though I was tired, I believe I defeated Inkin. I tried to knock him out, but I didn’t have a statue in front of me. Inkin is a good boxer, but I outworked him. I won that fight…
JCN: What can you tell about your training?
FZ: My trainer is Orlando Pineda, a world-class trainer with more than forty years in boxing. He has had twelve champions, including Irene “Mambaco” Pacheco, Ricardo “Mochuelo” Torres, and César Canchila. I’m sparring with Oney Valdés, who is a southpaw like Bute. I’m also sparring with Epifanio Mendoza and Dionisio Miranda, big guys that like to punch and come forward all the time.
JCN: What do you know about Lucian Bute?
FZ: I did spar for a week with Bute, so I kinda know him. I believe he’s a fast, hard hitting boxer. To defeat Bute I have to move around, box him in order to find an opening for my best hands. I’ve the power to knock him out and the skills to decision him. Either way will be fine to me.
JCN: What do you think of Bute’s previous fight?
FZ: Look, I’ve to confess that I haven’t seen it yet, but I heard Librado Andrade knocked him out in the last round. I understand Bute got a localistic decision in which the referee did something wrong. As far as I’m concerned, I’m bringing to Canada skills and power, I already know the hands I’ll throw. I only ask for a fair referee. I don’t want any kind of controversy. If he wins, he wins, period. But if I’m the better of the two, I don’t want any cheating. I’m a good boxer, I learned with Jorge García-Beltrán, a master who also taught my friend “Pantera” Miranda…
JCN: Speaking of Edison Miranda, Do you have anything to say about his decision of fighting for Puerto Rico instead of Colombia?
FZ: Jaime, to tell you the truth I don’t have much to say about that. I’ve my way to think and he has his. If you ask me I tell you: Colombia is my country no matter what. This is my land, I’m from Cauca, I’m black, I planted yucca root, sesame, sugar cane, you understand me? Maybe somebody attacked him, I don’t know, but he’s on time to reevaluate that position…
JCN: Are you happy boxing?
FZ: I thank God for giving me the opportunity to become a boxer. I’ve known a lot of people and places thanks to my profession.
JCN: Fulgencio, thanks for your time and best of luck in Canada…
FZ: I want to thank you and eastsideboxing for this opportunity. God bless you all. I also want to say to the fans that here in Colombia they have a true friend named Fulgencio Zúñiga who will be champion of the world very soon.