Moorer Q&A

Noticed this over at fightnews.

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Q&A: Michael Moorer!
August 16, 2007
By Boxing Bob Newman
Tonight's "WBA KO Drugs" event in Panama is loaded with talent from top to bottom. Among the highlights will be a heavyweight clash between former two-time heavyweight champion Michael Moorer (49-4-1, 38 KOs) and unbeaten Rich Boruff (17-0-1, 10 KOs). Here's what 'Double M' had to say...

Michael, How did you wind up getting involved with the K.O. Drugs tournament?
I didn’t know anything about it. I left it up to my manager. They asked me if I wanted to fight- my manager Adam Meyer and Darin McMahon. We’ve been in the gym doing our cardio, lifting our weights and everything’s been working fine. I just got with my boxing trainer Isaiah Clark and we just put everything together and being able to perform.

Do you know anything about Rich Boruff at all?
No. I know he’s undefeated, 17-0 and that’s it. You know a lot of people being undefeated have a lot of confidence but stepping up to the level that I’m in - he’s never faced a fighter like I am. Once he feels these guns it’s gonna be all over!

You mentioned that you were already in the gym keeping your conditioning up. Were just leaving it up to your managers to actively look for a fight for you?
We’re trying to stay on the right track, not just stay off six- seven months. I’ve been in the gym. I fought in December, I fought in March. Since March I’ve been staying in the gym up to this point- just trying to keep my body in condition and I feel great.

What’s it been like sitting back and seeing the Eastern European fighters working their way to the top and seeing guys like Evander Holyfield suddenly in a position again at his age to regain a version of the title?
I think it’s a great opportunity for Evander. Evander has fought these guys- these European guys in the amateurs. That’s something these American guys don’t realize: when you have a history of fighting these European fighters, it should be an easy task. I fought European fighters my whole amateur careeer. Fighting these guys is not a problem for me, but for heavyweights that have never fought these European guys- they can’t deal with them. It’s unfortunate because the belts aren’t in the United States, but Evander will probably be the first one to bring one of them back. We’ll see what happens. Sultan is a very, very tough guy.

So you’re familiar with Sultan from your time with Warriors Boxing?
Yes, I’m very familiar with him.

With all four belts being held by former Soviet fighters- what does that say to you about the American hunger or lack thereof?
In my personal opinion, what it all boils down to the American fighters not having the knowledge or the ability to go out there and face the European Bloc guys and dealing with the pressure and the styles that they have to deal with. Being the fighter- the boxer that I am and growing up in the amateurs, I think the guy who was successful in the amateurs will make the transition when they fight them. Like Evander- I’m sure he’s gonna do very well. And if I’m given the opportunity, I’m gonna do damn well! It’s gonna be a great opportunity for me. You know I just leave my everything up to my managers Adam and Darin. And with Billy Beck III, my strength and conditioning coach, he busts my ass all the time, every day. Then I’m confident in my abilities, I know what I can do. Once I go in there… I do it. Like for this fight, my manager told me this guy can go eight rounds…trust me, that **** ain’t happening!

Getting back to the comment about “European styles,” do you feel that there is a style that is distinctly European?
Yes, there is a style that is European. If you watch all European fighters, they fight the same. That’s how they were taught. American fighters, they sit there and they just wanna bang. They don’t know how to box or counter like that. But experienced guys, like I said many times, if you faced the Europeans, you can adjust to that. If you’re a real fighter, you can adjust to that because you’ve dealt with it before and you can deal with it again.

Now after this fight, do you plan on getting right back into the gym and staying busy?
My two managers, Darin and Adam, they always keep my ass in the gym. They gotta give me a break! The thing is, I’m always in condition with my strength and conditioning coach Billy Beck III, what we do is we work every day and we work on specifics. We eat right and do the things we’re supposed to do. But with Adam and Darin, they’re on me, they hound me about it, but it’s for my own good. Sometimes they can be jerks about it- like this guy right here (motions with a grin to manager Adam Meyer, sitting behind Moorer). I love these guys and they know that I’m gonna do the best that I possibley can.

The local papers predicted you to come in at around 255 lbs. With weight playing a part in conditioning, does that mean that you don’t plan in the fight going too many rounds?
No, it’s just that I’m gonna go out there and do the best that I can- work my talent, work my skills, and once I land one of these Scud missiles (Puts his dukes up), it’s all over! (Moorer officially weighed I n at 241 lbs.)

Michael, thanks for your time and we look forward to watching you continue your march toward the heavyweight title.
Thank you so much!
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You don't think 241 is alright for him, at coming up to 40 years of age?

He'll obviously never be back down in the 220s again, and while I think he can get lighter than 241 I'd only reckon about 234, 235 would be the best he could manage at this point in time.