Exclusive Interview – By Michael R. Cumberbatch
MC: I want to get your take on last week’s Pacquiao-Mosely fight. Did you get a chance to see it?
KD: All I could think was: I want Zab to fight Pacquiao. If Zab Judah was fighting Pacquiao it would have been so much more entertaining. (laughing)
MC: I agree it would have been more entertaining. In the post-fight conference, Bob Arum mentioned Zab as one of three people for Pacquiao’s next fight. Have you spoken to Top Rank about a possible fight?
KD: Yes, of course. I think everyone has spoken to Top Rank. Everyone wants to fight Pacquiao. I was told by Bob Arum that they have a contract out to Marquez and they feel confident the fight will occur. Unless I hear differently I have to assume that’s true.
MC: So where does Zab go from there?
KD: I’m having conversations with HBO and Golden Boy. I would like very much for Zab to fight Amir Khan in July. I happened to put aside Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City on July 23rd, just in case. You need a place to fight. I’m very, very anxious to make this fight and I’ve made them (Golden Boy and HBO) aware of that. Zab is anxious to make that fight.
To be perfectly honest, I think it’s more exciting than the fight it would be replacing if Bradley doesn’t want to fight Khan. Our match up with Khan is a lot more marketable, more exciting and will have a much bigger crowd at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. Boardwalk Hall hasn’t had a big fight in a while and everyone is dying for one. I’m hoping I’ll hear from them (Golden Boy) that they want to do it.
MC: If that doesn’t work out; any chance for Zab to fight Bradley?
KD: No. Bradley is still under contract to Gary Shaw. That wouldn’t even be a conversation I could have until he works out his Promoter situation. I couldn’t go near that. I don’t go after other peoples’ fighters….. As long as they are under contract with someone else, I’m not even going to talk to them. That’s up to Timothy Bradley to sort out.
I understand, if media reports are correct, he’s tied up to the end of June at least; so to do a fight this summer, it just wouldn’t be feasible to talk to him about that.
MC: Fair enough. On another note, your guy Adamek has another big fight coming up in September with Vitali Klitschko. What are your thoughts on that?
KD: We’re pretty excited. We’re going to Poland — have the press conference and officially announce it in Wroclaw, where the fight is going to take place. There’s been a lot of upsets this year and we think there is going to be another one.
MC: I have to ask you this. How did you manage to get this fight outside of Germany — and in Poland? (Adamek’s birth place)
KD: (laughing) Well, every now and then people say you’re a promoter — what exactly do you do? That’s what I did. I managed to convince the Klitschko’s it would be a really good idea to do the fight there (Poland).
It’s a great opportunity. They’re opening four new soccer stadiums this year in anticipation for the 2012 European soccer Championships. When I learned about these wonderful chains of events, I got in touch with all four of them and we narrowed it down to one. Wroclaw really wanted the fight badly and we were able to make a really nice deal with them. It was so much money. The Klitschko’s, who are good businessmen and certainly understand the value of opening a new market in Europe. There will be 45,000 people there; it will be sold out. It will be the biggest event of any kind, sports or otherwise, held in Poland. Too good a deal to pass up.
MC: You also have Brick City Boxing coming to Friday Night Fights on ESPN2 on May 20th. Tell us about that.
KD: Joel Julio is fighting. He’s moving down to welterweight. He started out at welterweight knocking everyone out and then moved up to Junior middleweight and did not have the success he enjoyed at welterweight.
He finally came around to our way of thinking and moved down. He’s still a force. He, against a whole lot of people at 147 lbs. would be an interesting fight. I’ll love to put him in with Andre Berto and see what happens and in with a Victor Ortiz. He’s a charismatic exciting fighter and he makes good fights. I’m hoping he’s victorious on May 20th and he’ll be moving on to a higher caliber of fighters very shortly after.
MC: Agreed. He’s been in with some big tough guys, Angulo and Kirkland, etc.
KD: Yeah. He’s been in with some monsters. He really has. Going to 154 lbs. he made it harder on himself and he realizes now he doesn’t need to do that. He’s still so young (26).
Remember he didn’t have a big amateur career. I think his first 30 fights are sort of his amateur career and look at the people he’s faced. He didn’t win some of those fights but he certainly didn’t embarrass himself. He was competitive in those fights.
MC: Sadam Ali is also fighting on that card?
KD: Yes. He’s fighting John Revish. Sadam is coming along beautifully. He’s another one to watch. He has an exciting style that’s fun to watch and that’s what people want to see. That’s what they pay to see
MC: Anything else you want to tell the fans?
KD: Yes. Just about that card. In addition to Ali and Julio, Jose Peralta is going to be on that card, Tyrone Luckey, Angel Concepcion. Vinnie O’Brien is a young fighter who has taken the Prudential Center by storm. Everyone follows him and he sells more tickets than anyone. We encourage people to come out and buy tickets. Ticket prices are low. It’s a real club show and it’s on ESPN2 at 9pm.
MC: It’s always an electric atmosphere for the Brick City boxing at the Prudential Center.
KD: There is some kind of energy in that building whether it’s in the big room or small room. If you haven’t been there, you really should come out and experience it. We have $33 dollar tickets available for this show so it’s not expensive. If you come once, you’ll want to come and experience it every time. Live show starts at 7:30 pm. The TV show starts at 9 pm.
MC: Kathy, we’ll talk to you soon as you know what’s going on with Zab.
KD: We should know in a few days. July 23rd is right around the corner. HBO and Golden Boy have to decide what they are going to do about Timothy Bradley before they can make contingency plans. I do know Zab is in the conversation and we’re happy about that. We hope it works out so they fight on July 23rd.
MC: That’s great. I think a lot of people would love to see that, including me. Thanks, Kathy.
KC: You’re welcome.
Special thanks to Toni Norman
Comments or Questions Contact me at mrcboxwithme@msn.com