by Charles C. White – Q: Congratulations on your recent ranking as WBO #13 at heavyweight Chauncy. What does this ranking mean to you and your career as a prizefighter?
Welliver: For me personally it motivates me to train hard, which is what I have been doing, But this makes me train that much harder. I wanna get a big shot before I quit, and with 50 fights, that might be soon. So this ranking pushes me closer to a big fight..
Q: I understand that you are over in Germany helping a few fighters with sparring. Who are you currently working with and how is it going?
Welliver: I am currently working with Rene Dettweiler and Kubrat Pulev. Both are very good fighters and I’m glad to be a part of their team. Camp is going great and I’m thinking they will get some good wins coming up.
Q: Is working with these guys beneficial to you in more than a financial sense, in that you are gaining valuable experience against recognized names, and possibly learning new tricks of the trade?
Welliver: It really is. I had no amateur fights, so this sparring is giving me valuable lessons. I watch and learn from these guys everyday. I’m a copycat.
Q: When we last spoke, you said that you would like a fight with Lance Whitaker. Is that still the case?
Welliver: I have thrown that out to his management, and they have said yes, so all we need to do now is figure out the numbers, dates, and things like that so they can’t find a way out of it.
Q: What would a win over Whitaker do for your career?
Welliver: It would do more for me than it would any other fighter because though I have many wins, I haven’t beaten a fighter like Lance. He can fight. He’s proven that many times over. I want that challenge.
Q: Aside from a fight with Whitaker, what other plans do you have for 2010? Do you plan on making this a big year for you and getting closer to the ultimate goal for every fighter; a title shot?
Welliver: I plan to fight good matches and often. I want to return home and it looks like I will be fighting in Lewiston, Idaho April 17, so I’m loving life. I wanna show everybody what I’ve been up to, but then go back home to New Zealand to defend my WBO Asia Pacific title. Hoping for a big fight there. Just plan on keeping busy.
Q: Out of the 3 current champions, who do you rate the highest and which would you like to fight the most?
Welliver: I think Vitali is the best, but if I were to choose, I would love to fight David Haye. I’m a fan of his and he would make it a fun fight. The Klits would just run all over the place.
Q: What would be your gameplan going into a fight with Haye?
Welliver: With Haye I would just be in shape, try to weather the storm and punch with him in hopes that he gets tired. He wouldn’t run from me like Valuev. It’d be fireworks!
Q: It should be noted that for your past few fights, you have been steadily dropping down in weight. Are you still maintaining the work ethic that has resulted in this weight loss and are you staying in shape currently?
Welliver: I gotta admit I ate many pasties over the holidays, but keeping in shape and ready for the call. Jumped on the scale today and was 258lbs! I wanna be 250lbs for my next fight, which should be soon, and then keep it coming down til I am in peak shape.
Q: Is there anything you would like to say in closing? A message for your fans perhaps?
Welliver: Thanks for sticking with me and following me. I will give you something to be happy at soon as I head up the ladder for the title. I have been feeling better everyday. I did it for years without training. All these guys like Ruiz, Meehan and guys like that say nobody will fight them, well I’m here and will throw my name on a contract. Sign me up!
For questions and comments, Charles C. White can be reached at cwhite1078@mysvc.skagit.edu