Denis Douglin Talks Berkshire Bout, Pascal vs Hopkins

By Ryan Burton

 

Junior middleweight prospect Denis Douglin (11-0) takes on Matt Berkshire (11-2-2) on December 17th at the Doubletree Hotel in Monroeville, Pennsylvania.  The 22 year old former middleweight Golden Gloves National Champion now campaigns in the junior middleweight division.  Douglin talks about his upcoming fight, his future plans and about being trained by his mother in this exclusive BoxingScene interview.

 

BoxingScene.com:  Tell us about your upcoming fight with Matt Berkshire on December 17th.

 

Denis Douglin:  It is coming on Friday.  He is 11-2.  I am training hard and I am looking forward to getting back in the ring.  That is about all I have to say about it.

 

BoxingScene.com:  Have you seen any video of him?  Do you know what to expect when you enter the ring?

 

Denis Douglin:  I haven't seen too much.  He has one video on youtube and I watched that.  That is about all that is out there on him.  There wasn't much information on him in that video but we trained hard for every type of stance and everything he can bring.  I am ready for the fight.

 

BoxingScene.com:  If you get the win like you plan you will move your record to 12-0.  What are your plans for 2011?

 

Denis Douglin:  I just want to stay busy man.  I think I am on the fast track.  I got 6 fights this year and I would have had more but I had some fights cancel due to the opponents dropping out and other things that I can't control.  I just want to stay busy and keep moving and keep getting these wins.

 

BoxingScene.com:  You are trained by your mother which is something that obviously isn't common.  How did you get into boxing in the first place?

 

Denis Douglin:  Well I got into a street fight when I was around 8 years old and I didn't do too well (laughing).  So my mom brought me into the gym where she was already working.  I got in there and she really had to force me to do it.  I hated boxing and I didn't really want to go to the gym but she kept bringing me in there and she kept forcing me to go.  I guess my competitive nature just took over after a while.  There were a lot of little kids in there.  I was tired of seeing people my size come in and do better than me.  I decided to take it more seriously and I just grew to love it once I started competing.  She wasn't even my trainer at first.  Originally I was being trained by my uncle then as time went on she started training me.  I was learning a lot more from her than anybody else in the gym.  When I hit 14 or 15 we decided to make the transition to where she was my main trainer.

 

BoxingScene.com:  How did your mom get into boxing?  Being that you are 22 years old and 13-14 years ago women's boxing wasn't as popular as it is now.

 

Denis Douglin:  My whole family is into boxing.  My uncle is a trainer.  His name is Glen Price and he trains Joan Guzman and Vivian Harris and some other pro fighters.  I have a cousin who is a professional fighter.  We are really into boxing.  My mom had a couple amateur fights but like you said women's boxing wasn't that big.  She never took it to the next level and then she got injured.  She definitely has a bunch of knowledge and she passed it on to me now.

 

BoxingScene.com:  If you are as busy next year as you are this year you will probably have your record up to 18-0 or 20-0 if all goes well.  Are you looking at where 2012 is probably the year you step up for a regional title and then into the top 10 rankings?

 

Denis Douglin:  I would love to go for a regional title in 2011 and get that out of the way.  I would love to get a little more TV exposure and stuff like that in this year coming up.  I don't want to wait till 2012 for that.  I want to put myself into world title contention by early 2012.

 

BoxingScene.com:  Who do you like in the Bernard Hopkins versus Jean Pascal fight?

 

Denis Douglin:  I think it will be a great fight.  I actually really like Jean Pascal.  A lot of people are saying that Bernard Hopkins is going to destroy him but I actually think that Pascal will do really well.  It is going to be an interesting fight.

 

BoxingScene.com:  Do you have a message for the fans?

 

Denis Douglin:  Keep looking out for me.  Thanks for all the support so far.  I am trying to be the best 154 pound fighter out there.  Just keep looking out for Denis Da Momma's Boy.