Meeting Terence Crawford
“It were only a couple of minutes. With promoters it can take forever but with just the fighters it can take a few minutes and you’ve got the biggest fight in boxing.”
“Even more interesting it was about me making the weight. He kept saying ‘can you make the weight?’ He weren’t saying he could beat me, it was more about the weight. This is probably going to be the easiest I’ve made welterweight, as strange as that sounds. You keep learning. The punishment I’ve put my body through, I’ve not let myself blow up. I’ve been investing more time in myself. Training very hard and well and listening to my nutritionist. I’ve been listening and taking it one day at a time. Most of the weight is off now. Most of the time in every other fight, the biggest fight is making the weight. This time it’s about Terence Crawford, the weight is already made.”
Massive challenge
“This is a massive challenge. For me to go out and win I’ve got to box the best I’ve boxed in my whole career. But, I love a challenge and I’m grabbing this challenge with both hands. I went out and made this fight with arguably the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. I’ve always wanted to get in there with the best in the world so when I do hang my gloves up at least I can say I fought the best, without the politics involved. I’m also an elite fighter. He’s never boxed anybody with my size, power and self belief. So, he knows this as well.”
“Nobody has unlocked him. But like I said, it’s hard to find any flaws. He’s a switch hitter, he’s got balance, he’s a finisher – there’s not much I can say he does wrong. But I’m similar to him. My timing is perfect and I’ve got a very good jab. I can take a shot and I’ve got self belief. I’m natural, a big heavy hitting welterweight. It’s a real fight, he knows that. I know it’s going to be one hell of fight.”