by Geoffrey Ciani (Interviewed by Jenna J, Geoffrey Ciani, and Chauncy Welliver) – This week’s 110th edition of On the Ropes Boxing Radio featured an exclusive interview with Kevin McBride (35-8-1, 29 KOs), who just signed to face heavyweight contender Tomasz Adamek sometime in April at a location to be determined, possibly in Poland or Newark, New Jersey. McBride, who is best known as the man who stopped Mike Tyson in his final fight, is look to spoil plans of a scheduled bout between Adamek and one of the Klitschko brothers this September in Poland. McBride spoke about his opportunity against Adamek, and also shared his opinions on other matters pertaining to his future and the current heavyweight landscape. Here is some of what he had to say:
On rumors that he and Tomasz Adamek had reached an agreement for a fight in April:
“It’s true. I’m looking forward to it.”
On getting the opportunity to spoil Adamek’s plans for a September fight against a Klitschko brother:
“I’m definitely coming prepared to win. This is my last opportunity to show the world that I’m a legitimate contender. Hopefully after the fight I capitalize and win and take the place of Tomasz and fight one of the Klitschko brothers, or the two of them in one night.”
His views on Tomasz Adamek as a heavyweight contender:
“He’s a good fighter. He’s moved up from the light heavyweight division and he seems to be doing very well. He’s fast and it’s going to be exciting.”
On what he believes he needs to do to be successful against Adamek:
“Knock him out. I’ll have to catch Adamek and knock him out and show the world that I’m ready to take the next step. Hopefully one of the Klitschko brothers will give me the opportunity of a lifetime to fight for the world heavyweight title. That’s my dream since I was a kid. Since I even heard about boxing I wanted to be the first born Irish heavyweight champion of the world. So this is a great opportunity for me. I just want to thank Tomasz Adamek for giving me the opportunity and it’s going to be exciting. I’m going to show the world. I have the goods to do it.”
Regarding his controversial loss against Matt Skelton during Prizefighter:
“I definitely thought I beat him. Even his own followers were booing because they knew that I had pulled the upset and won the fight but didn’t get the decision. That’s boxing. You have to sometimes knock people out to get the decision and I believe that my manager gave me good support and he came over there and had belief that I was going to win. It didn’t happen, but thank God it opened doors and know I’m getting a fight with Tomasz Adamek.”
On whether he believes he can once again score a tremendous upset victory like the one he had against Mike Tyson:
“When I fought Mike Tyson everybody said I was going to get knocked out in the first round or the first ten seconds, or whatever. I told the world I was going to shock the world and beat Mike Tyson and I did. You know Tomasz Adamek is a good fighter, but I’m a good fighter too, and I’m going to prove it on the night whatever night it is. I’m glad we’re getting in the ring together. It’s going to be exciting and it’s going to be explosive, and I’m going to be my own judge.”
On how he feels he’s changed as a fighter since his upset victory against Tyson:
“I might have put on a few pounds, but we have a good system for this fight with Tomasz Adamek. I’m actually up for this fight with Tomasz Adamek. I’m going back with my fitness trainer. We’ll train every day. If I win this fight, it’s the ‘be all or the end all’, and I’m going to give it everything. Boxing is a beautiful sport. One punch can change the chapter in anybody’s story and some people don’t get that chance to deliver that punch, but when I fight this champion I’m going to hopefully deliver it and make a statement and hopefully the Klitschko brothers will let me fight them and I will show the world that I’m the first Irish born heavyweight champion of the world.”
His views on David Haye’s victory against Audley Harrison:
“David Haye said he was going to beat Audley Harrison with his confidence and his skills. He was very good. He beat him and stopped him in three rounds. It’s easy to talk and say how you’re going to do it, but you have to take your hat off to David Haye. He did it, and that would be a beautiful fight for myself as well. It would be like an Irish-English sort of fight. I’d like to fight him down the road too, and hopefully this fight will be a stepping stone.”
On which of the three champions (David Haye and each Klitschko brother) he would most want to fight:
“I’d pick whoever the one the world said was the best at the time, because I want to be the legitimate heavyweight champion of the world. I want to be the best heavyweight champion of the world. I would fight any one of those guys, like David Haye and any of the Klitschko brothers. I would love to fight the three of them in one night. Have a Prizefighter show for the world championship and the linear belt. That’s how much I love boxing. As a kid I was dreaming of becoming a heavyweight champion and all.”
On what he plans to do in training to prepare for Adamek’s tremendous hand speed:
“I understand speed is power, and when you see his hands speed kills. I understand that, but I’m very big and I’m huge and I believe that I can get in proper shape unlike previous fights. My tactics will be to have no fear like I proved against Mike Tyson. I’m going to sharpen up and cut the ring off. You can run, but you can’t hide from McBride!”
On whether he believes Adamek might be looking past him to his fight against a Klitschko:
“No, any heavyweight or any fighter has the right mind to take a fight seriously. For your own well being, never mind anything else in the world. This is a serious fight for him. He knows I’m a big guy and he probably knows that one punch on the chin in his direction will end it.”
On what type of mindset it takes to succeed as an underdog:
“Like I said before when I fought Mike Tyson, when I was a kid growing up I always wanted to meet him and shake his hand. I never really imagined fight him but the opportunity came to fight him and I had this hunger that’s hard to explain, and the adrenaline, and it’s just beautiful and it’s great. I did what I had to do to beat Mike Tyson. I’m a big guy and hopefully I can slow this guy down and land that punch on his chin. That’s the name of the game. Be there in shape and be your own judge.”
On whether this could be his last fight in the event he is unable to beat Adamek:
“Well you know as a fighter it’s hard. I couldn’t say that until I fight and then see how I feel and see how things went, and I’m sure if you see my putting my gloves in the middle of the ring that will be my answer for that. I’m not looking to quit. I’m looking to go ahead and follow my dream. The opportunity only comes once in a lifetime and it’s coming again for me. I’m glad and looking forward to it and I’m going to capitalize on it and win and I’m going to prove to the world that I’m a legitimate contender. I’m not going to say I’m going to shock the world. I did that for Mike Tyson, but I’m going to tell everyone I’m going to win. Let everyone think what they want to think, that he’s too fast. Adamek you can run, but you can’t hide from McBride. For twelve rounds in there, and all it’s going to take is one punch right on the chin and it’s going to be a beautiful night and a beautiful day the next day. Hopefully one of the brothers will accept the fight. Boxing is exciting like life. You have no future, all you have is today.”
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For those interested in listening to the Kevin McBride interview in its entirety, it begins approximately twenty-four minutes into the program.
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