by Geoffrey Ciani (Interviewed by Jenna J & Geoffrey Ciani) – This week’s 117th edition of On the Ropes Boxing Radio (brought to you by CWH Promotions) featured an exclusive interview with super middleweight contender Andre Dirrell who revealed his intentions to make a return to the ring sometime in the next three months. Dirrell spoke about his career, his future, and other matters pertaining to the current boxing landscape, including Lucian Bute, the Super Six, Hopkins-Pascal, Sergio Martinez, Pacquiao-Mosley, and much more! Here is a complete transcript from that interview:
JENNA J: It’s time for our first guest of this week’s show. He is a former world title challenger. We’re joined by Andre Dirrell. How are you doing today, Andre?
ANDRE DIRRELL: I’m doing pretty good. How about yourself?
JENNA: I’m doing good. I’m happy to be talking to you. So I hear that you’re going to be going back to training and are looking forward to get back in the ring. Are those rumors true?
DIRRELL: That rumor is true. I’m working on it right now. I’m down in Florida here just living at the moment. I’m in and out of the gym just getting ready to get back into things. I went to Friday Night Fights this past week when Hopkins fought Solomon and it just felt like I got introduced back to boxing. I’m ready to just really start camp and figure out who my next opponent is going to be and where it is going to be at.
JENNA: How does it feel just getting back in the gym after being away from it for so long?
DIRRELL: It’s not being away from the gym. You know I’ve been in and out of the gym. I’ve been in the gym at home, but I’m finally getting out of town and meeting back up with the fighters and getting back into the groove with things. It feels awesome! Everything is going according to plan and I’m just happy to be back in the mix really.
JENNA: Alright, now how long do you think it will take for you to be ready to return to the ring?
DIRRELL: I’m not too certain. I know that I want to not just to launch anytime but to have a smart focused training camp. I’m looking forward to the next three months, probably not even that. I’m looking forward to the next three months, maybe the end of May, maybe the beginning of June. My son is due on the 19th of June so hopefully I can fight before he’s born because I would love to see that, and I’ll get things rolling from there.
JENNA: What do you think about the current landscape of the division since you’ve been away?
DIRRELL: All I know is the Super Six is where it’s at right now. I’ve been following that so I know where that stands, but as far as fighters on the outside Bute is a big name and Bute is somebody I’m looking forward to hopefully meeting up with soon in the near future. There are tough opponents out there just coming up on all sides. There are a lot of fighters out there that I wouldn’t mind seeing so hopefully that falls into place. The super middleweight division is still a great division. It’s one of the top divisions in the sport today and I’m just glad I’m a part of it.
JENNA: Now you have a close split decision loss to one of the tournament frontrunners, Carl Froch. How much would you like to see him come away as the champion of that tournament just so you have a chance for a rematch with him?
DIRRELL: I really don’t care if I have a rematch with Froch. The only way I would want to fight Froch is if he had the belt still. That’s the only way I would want to see him again. It really wouldn’t bother me if I never fought him again. I want to fight the top elite fighters out there of today. I’m not dodging anyone and I don’t look forward to dodging anyone. I’ve already fought two of the best Arthur Abraham and Carl Froch and I did an outstanding job with them. I’m looking forward to tournament leaders, the belt holders, or whoever else has the hype when I get back into it.
JENNA: It’s been almost a year since you’ve been out of the ring. What’s it like just having that time away from the game?
DIRRELL: It’s given me a lot of time to think. There has been a lot of negativity towards myself and when you’re out that long even training can be discouraging because you know you’re not fighting for anything. You’re just staying in shape and staying focused on your game and as you watch other fighters progress and you have to sit in the stands still knowing you’re up there with the elite fighters. It’s kind of depressing to a point, but I kept my head up to the man above and I was constantly praying. Any hard times I was having I would have a great conversation with my grandfather, I would have great conversations with other fighters, and I would have great conversations with the Lord. So it really just kept me focused on my game with just my family and my friends and the support from my fans. It’s been hard and given me a lot of time to think and I’m really just ready to get back and bring a whole new Andre Dirrell to the sport, man. You guys are going to see a whole new Dirrell when I step in that ring again.
JENNA:Great. Well we’re also joined by my Co-Host Geoff.
GEOFFREY CIANI: Hi Andre, it’s a pleasure to have you back on the show.
DIRRELL: It’s a pleasure to be on, Geoff.
CIANI: Thank you. Andre, I’m wondering, how many fights do you think you will need, how many tune-up bouts before you’re ready to go right back in there with the big dogs?
DIRRELL: If I can get in that ring Geoff, and if I can step foot in that ring and perform like I want to perform and get him out of there around the fourth or fifth round, then put me in there with somebody good! I’m really ready to step my game up like I said! I’m ready to get in there with the best of them. My mindset is there. I believe I’m there but after you’ve been out for a year you have to test the waters. You have to get in there with somebody to just have a warm-up fight. Like I said, throw me in there with somebody and if things are working and I’m looking good like I’m supposed to look, then get him out of there and bring Bute in there. Bring all of the big dogs, whoever it may be! I’m ready to go! I feel I’m ready.
CIANI: You’ve mentioned Bute a few times, but I want to ask you Andre, besides yourself when you look at the division as a whole and I agree, it’s still a very super talented division, who do you consider to be the best right now and why?
DIRRELL: It’s different categories so I don’t place anyone as the best, but we’re talking different categories of the best. When I look at Froch I see toughness, I see determination, and I see the will to keep his title. So that right there placed along with his skills and him being European, that makes for one of the best in the division right there. Then you have Andre Ward. He’s a very focused fighter and a very intelligent fighter. He always comes with his A-game and he’s a smart fighter. He’s a purebred American fighter and he knows what he’s doing in that ring and is very highly skilled. So he’s the best in that category. Then we can look at Bute. He’s a tough fighter as well, very smart, very fast, and good hands. I don’t know too many other guys from other countries that have boxing skills quite like Bute. He just signed with Showtime so I know he’s going to want to give the American fans something to look forward to. So he’s coming with a great plan and that makes him a great fighter in this division as well. Arthur Abraham is still determined and it’s just a tough weight class. I believe everybody is at the top of their game right now. Everybody has a lot to prove right now and I’m just looking forward to being in that category with them. So as a whole, like I said man, 168 is the weight class to be in.
CIANI: A fight between you and Bute I think would be really interesting where you would have two southpaws in there. How do you think you match up with him?
DIRRELL: I don’t recall the last time I fought a southpaw and I like I said I don’t pay attention to it because I switch up so much. Stance really doesn’t bother me. When I call to spar I don’t ask if they’re right-handed or left-handed but I’m sure I haven’t been in there with too many lefties if I probably took a step back to break it down. He’s a great boxer. I’m a great boxer. I’m faster, I’m smarter, and I believe I have the most will. We will carry a great fight but at the end of the day I believe I can take that decision easily.
CIANI: Now looking one division south of you at middleweight, I’m curious if you saw Sergio Martinez’s performance last week against Dzinziruk and what you think of him?
DIRRELL: I missed that performance, but I’m going to tell you what I think of Sergio Martinez man. Including the hype that’s around him, he’s just an all around great fighter. He’s energetic and when he comes to fight, he comes to fight. When you get in that ring and he’s across from you, you better believe that you’re in for a battle! That’s what I love about his situation and the hype that’s around him. He carries himself well and he is a strong, strong fighter, and I see him moving up pretty soon. That has come to my attention once or twice and a couple of people have mentioned it. Sergio Martinez, that’s a great athlete right there. He stepped in the ring when he was 20 years old so that says a lot right there. He’s a world champion and he’s handling his business so anybody who steps in the ring is going to be prepared for a great fight. If he steps in there with me it’s going to be a great fight. If he steps in there with Ward it’s going to be a great fight. Froch, Kessler, whoever he steps in there with he’s going to make it very interesting and that’s what I like about Sergio at the weight he is now or if he moves up.
CIANI: Sergio is actually getting some pound-for-pound recognition from the media and the press and whatnot, and he obviously is gunning for the big money fights against Pacquiao and Mayweather, but do you think either of those guys would ever fight Sergio?
DIRRELL: It’s hard to say man. Sergio’s a strong guy and Paul Williams is one of the most awkward guys you could fight. He’s a tall guy who’s long and lanky but his weak point and the biggest thing is he has defense. His offense is mainly his defense and that allowed Sergio to find an opening and expose it and he knocked him out. Besides him fighting Williams he has fought a few other tough fights. If you want to you can mention him in the best pound-for-pound but maybe he has to get in there with a few more top guys. It isn’t for me to really stamp that on him, but I listened to an interview where he said he would knock Pacquiao out. I’ve heard that. He’s the bigger guy. He’s strong, man. He’s physically bigger than Pacquiao. That is possible, but he has to catch Pacquiao first and I don’t see that happening. That would be the only way he would beat Pacquiao, but that would be a great fight as well. I would really have to sit back and see but until then, we’ll have to just keep evaluating that.
CIANI: Sticking with Pacquiao for a minute, do you think Shane Mosley has any chance against him? Most people seem to be counting Shane out.
DIRRELL: I happen to do that myself. I love Shane Mosley, man! I’ve always followed his career. He’s a great fighter but we all know he’s at the end of his road. The fact alone of being matched up with Pacquiao at t his point in his career is just a blessing in itself. I believe that’s just a payday or a fight for him to make an exit. It wouldn’t surprise me if Shane went the whole twelve rounds with Pacquiao, but logically I don’t see that happening with as hard as Pacquiao works and as much as he throws. After watching Floyd beat Shane the way he did, then Pac-Man is going to make that look so much more easier. I can see him stopping him, but if he doesn’t I wouldn’t be surprised but he’s supposed to get stopped in that fight in my eyes.
JENNA: Alright now Andre, let’s continue on with some fights and fighters that are out there. A division above yours at light heavyweight, there is an interesting fight coming up in May between Hopkins and Pascal, a rematch. I’m curious, what did you think about the first fight and what do you think about Bernard Hopkins fighting so effectively at the age of 46?
DIRRELL: Usually when Bernard Hopkins loses, I want to tell you with Bernard Hopkins first and foremost, that has been my mentor for the longest time. People don’t know that, but I’ve always followed his career. When it comes to breaking down fighters and dissecting fighters, he does that better than anyone in the game. We can say that about Floyd Mayweather but all in all, Floyd is a great boxer period! So once he gets in there he will know how to evaluate fighters, but when you can do it like Bernard Hopkins does at 47 and still fight in championship fights and still give these young guys a run for their money, he’s the best at it. He’s a great fighter. When he fought Pascal in his hometown I believe he won. He usually gives the fight up when he fights other fighters like the last couple of rounds he would give it up. He would think he did just enough to win the fight and you could believe he won, but he still lost in the end because he’s old and he didn’t push forward. But when he fought that man that night, when he fought Pascal that night, he finished like a true champion. He went there, he took his title in my eyes, and before the decision was even made I knew it was going to be a draw. I already said it. It was a draw and him going back there and fighting in the same spot I believe is foolish. I honestly believe it’s foolish. He’s going to do it. He’s 47. He really doesn’t have a choice. Hopkins definitely beat him in that fight and I believe he can do it again.
JENNA: Alright well speaking of older guys and older guys actually in your division, Glen Johnson has made his way down to 168 pounds. What do you think about his upcoming fight against Carl “The Cobra” Froch?
DIRRELL: Again he’s an old one who’s always going to give a fighter a run for their money or just a fight to test them. In this tournament when he fights Forch, I believe Froch will come out victorious because he is the younger guy. He’s very long and he’s very awkward, but Johnson is going to give Froch one hell of a fight and he’s going to put that pressure on Froch. I believe it’s going to turn out to be a great fight. In the end it could end up being a split decision for Froch. He’s just a tough fighter and if you’re just fighting Glen just because of his record that would be a dangerous move for anybody.
JENNA: Turning things back to you, in your last bout you looked extremely impressive obviously until the finish. Do you think you made the blueprint to beat Arthur Abraham with what you did that night?
DIRRELL: Definitely! I don’t want to say that just because I’m me. I knew that my game plan was going to work to perfection, but I really didn’t think it was going to turn out that great. I got in there and I boxed him every step of the way. I watched the fight over and over and looked for flaws. I really didn’t have any that fight. He’s a flatfooted guy. He knows when to throw his shots. He knows where to place his shots and once he finds an opening he could pretty much land them. I took all that away from him with lateral movement and boxing ability, so yeah. I pretty much created the perfect blueprint to beat him.
JENNA: Alright now he faces off against Andre Ward. Does he stand any chance at all? He’s already lost to Carl Froch. He’s lost to you. Do you think he has any chance at all in that fight?
DIRRELL: A guy with that kind of power, he has a good chance with anybody. In both hands he’s evenly powerful. He’s got hammers for fists and he’s a hard puncher. Ward is very careful. If it goes to twelve we all know Ward is going to win, but if Ward gets caught with a shot then it could be a problem. I don’t think he’s going to catch Ward. Like I said, Ward is a smart boxer. He even holds great. He has sneaky tactics that only veterans have in the sport of boxing. Ward is a very slick boxer man, and I believe he will beat Arthur Abraham with ease unless he gets hurt. That’s the only way he loses.
JENNA: Now Andre, since you’ve been away from the game what do you think you’ve missed the most?
DIRRELL: Just punching. I mean I really just love being in that ring, hearing the crowd, and being under the lights. You know I’m a boxer. This is what I do. I don’t see myself ever, ever retiring. I just miss being in the ring and hearing my name. It’s irritating.
JENNA: Alright when you do retire at some point in your career, how do you ultimately want to be remembered by the fans?
DIRRELL: Well we all know what my attitude about the sport is now. I’ve been broke by one guy and that’s Carl Froch. I mean he just really took me out of my element. You heard me at press conferences cursing and going on, but I’m a very delightful guy. I’m easy going. I’m easy to love. But when it comes to boxing, I just want to be remembered by my fans as a fighter that always smiled, that always brought light to the sport, and just enjoyed every bit of it and appreciated everyone in it.
JENNA: Now what can the fans expect from Andre Dirrell in 2011?
DIRRELL: I can’t even say! I can’t even say because I don’t know what to expect from me! My mind game is so strong right now that I told my coaches when I first got down here that they’re going to be looking at me and you’re going to say, “Man, who are you?”. That’s my plan to bring it back. I call this the second half. I believe I’ve been through all my trials and tribulations so oh my goodness! It’s on, man! I don’t really know what to say about how I’m going to come back but when I come back it’s going to be He-Man, it’s going to be Superman, and it’s going to be amazing! It’s a whole new me!
JENNA: Alright well Andre, I have one final question for you. You have a lot of fans out there who have been eagerly awaiting your return. Is there anything you want to say to your fans and supporters?
DIRRELL: First and foremost my grandfather has pushed me every step of the way. He’s been the only mentor I’ve needed since I’ve been off. I thank him. I love him for everything he’s done for me. My coaches and my family have often been supportive of me. But the whole time I’ve been off my Twitter fans have been more than generous to me. They’ve always lifted me. They’ve always shown me love. When I needed to hear some good words I just pressed that Twitter button and I’d get all the love I needed, so I really love them for that. I really appreciate everything they did and are doing for me now. It’s just always uplifting my spirits and I’m really appreciative for that. So thanks to all my Twitter fans and my fans all over the world.
JENNA: Well Andre, it’s been an absolute pleasure having a chance to speak to you. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing you back in the ring and we wish you all the best of luck.
DIRRELL: Thank you so much!
CIANI: Thanks Andre, best of luck!
DIRRELL: No problem, thanks a lot Geoff!
JENNA: Alright, have a great day Andre!
DIRRELL: You too!
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For those interested in listening to the Andre Dirrell interview in its entirety, it begins approximately fourteen minutes into the program.
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