By Dave Cacciatore: I had the chance to get in touch with rising heavyweight Timur Ibragimov. Timur is now living in Hallendale, Florida. He is currently in training camp to fight on August 24, against former Indian Olympian and undefeated 20-0 professional, Gurcharan Singh. The fight is set to take place at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood Florida.
DC: So I caught you coming out of a movie. What did you see?
TI: Salt with Anglina Jolie. It is a good action movie.
DC: How is your training going?
TI: This is my last week of training. I am in good shape. I am still sparring and I am still in good shape because I fought recently.
DC: Who have you been sparring with?
TI: A Cuban heavyweight with 300 amateur fights and Oliver McCall. Both are really good sparring.
DC: What is it like sparring with Oliver McCall after you defeated him?
TI: We both have things to work on so it is good. He (McCall) tries to take my head off all of the time. It is like a fight when I spar him. It is good for me. It has really got me ready for (Singh).
DC: What is your opinion of Gurcharan Singh?
TI: I know he has had a lot of amateur fights. Nothing is easy. Everybody has two hands and wants to win. He comes to whip me but I won’t let him. I take him very seriously. I learn this lesson in the Calvin Brock fight, to take every opponent seriously. This guy (Singh) is 20-0 and has a lot of determination.
DC: What happened in the Calvin Brock fight?
TI: I spar with Calvin Brock before I fought him. I did very well in the sparring and thought that the fight would be easy. I learned a lesson.
DC: What are your thoughts about your current team?
TI: I am with Heavyweight Factory. They have really been helping me out by getting me good fights. I cannot wait around. I need to move now. I am excited because they are moving me and believe in me and they are getting me the fights. I have had very good coaching and conditioning and I have been working hard in the gym.
DC: Where are you living these days?
TI: I am living in Hallendale, Florida. I have no other family here just my girlfriend.
DC: Where is Sultan Ibragimov these days?
TI: Sultan is my cousin and he is back in Russia. He is comfortable because he was a world champion and has made big money.
DC: What is your goal in boxing?
TI: My goal is to become a world champion. I have sacrificed everything I have and have struggled so much. I will give everything if I am champion.
DC: Obviously, as you said you are not looking past Mr. Singh, but who are the other heavyweights you would like to fight?
TI: Whoever is the top fighter. Everybody is saying the Klitschkos. I would fight any of them. Any of the top fighters, Cris Arreola, Michael Grant, Tomasz Adamek, anybody that they tell me to fight.
DC: So are you saying that you would fight the Klitschkos are now if you were offered the fight?
TI: Not even a question that I would fight the Klitschkos. I will fight anybody. I was really surprised that Povetkin did not take the fight. A lot of people were also surprised. It was a chance to be world champion and good money.
DC: Are you saying you would have taken the fight if you were Povetkin?
TI: Yes.
DC: What is your opinion of the situation with David Haye?
TI: Haye does not care about the Klitschkos now because he is a world champion. Haye has big money and he wants to stay world champion. He will just stay over there and defend his title. It is a very smart business strategy.
DC: If you could fight one of the current world champions Wladimir, Vitali, or David Haye, who would you choose?
TI: It does not matter. I will fight any of them. I am fast and I have power.
DC: What finally message would you like to send to your fans and the boxing public?
TI: Now is my time. Thank you to the fans for the love. I will do anything to be a world champion.