By Troy Ondrizek
In a time when so many are looking for the next great American heavyweight, supposed pundits will crown almost any undeserving fighter with a glossy record. This isn’t always fair or wanted by the prospect. This claim has been unwarrantedly thrust upon JD Chapman at times and he has been praised and chastised because of such. The young man from Arkansas knows he has something to prove in the ring, and finally feels he is ready to do so, he explains all in his sit-down with us.
BoxingScene.com: Welcome back to the states JD.
JD Chapman: “Thanks Troy. I tell you what, it’s nice to be back with the family, but it’s a short time, I’m back training for my next fight next week.”
BS: How was your experience in Dubai (United Arab Emirates)?
JD: “It was great, and funny thing is, more people speak English there then in south Florida. I thought it was going to be a bunch of people who I wouldn’t understand a word they said and figured it would just be another fight. But the hospitality over there was unbelievable. They were so nice and accommodating that I was floored. Scott (Hirsch) said this place could be my second home to Arkansas, and it truly felt that way.”
BS: You scored a second round knockout over the once-beaten Rich Boruff, can you rate your performance?
JD: “It was okay, about a B. I threw a lot of punches and put him down several times, but he didn’t have a chance. I had pneumonia before the fight and was on antibiotics and stuff. Scott, Alex (Rizzo), and myself all came down with pneumonia, it was weird. My lungs were maybe 75%, and you can play football with those types of lungs, who can play basketball with those lungs, but you can’t fight like that. There is no way I’m taking a big fight under those circumstances. I know I can do better, but I did about as well as I could given the circumstances.”
BS: I heard there are rings you get when you win a match over there and after a certain number of victories you get a decked-out belt, can you tell me more about that?
JD: “I got this great ring for winning and we didn’t know that was going to happen. If you collect seven then you get this belt worth $500,000 or something like that. But to win more rings you have to beat guys who have gotten rings themselves. So it’s kind’ve like a tournament and the winner gets this diamond belt in the end, it’s a cool idea I think.”
BS: Your headed back over there April 5th and your proposed opponent is Matt Kitterman and he seems like another soft touch opponent with a good record; so will the tournament provide you an opportunity to fight a contender?
JD: “So that’s who I’m fighting? I heard something about a few guys, but as for soft opponents, I’ll fight soft opponents until I fight Klitschko. I don’t care; I’ll fight anybody they put in front of me. People have complained about my opposition my entire career. My first fifteen fights were with that Ghetto Smurf Stacy Goodson. Stacy is a alright guy and helped me along, but I fought the 2-20 guys with him and he built up my record. He did what he needed to do to get me wins; I was a toughman guy with no amateur background at all. So my time with Stacy was my amateur background. I didn’t know anything; I was so unskilled back then that those were the guys I needed to face to win. And ever since I got with Scott the toughness of my opponents has gotten harder and harder the entire time. People will always find ways to down me, that’s fine, I’ll fight those powderpuff guys and knockout my internet critics all in the same round. I don’t want to sound disrespectful but I can’t help if guys pull out of fights with me for one reason or another. I don’t mind fighting the tough fights, they are just not there for me. I know what type of fighter I am these days, and I train and spar against guys like Jameel McCline, Shannon Briggs, and several others, not to mention I’ve been trained by guys like Michael Moorer, Jeff Mayweather, and John David Jackson. I’ve spent my time in preparation with the best and I know what I can do in there. The fighter I was and the fighter I am are worlds apart from one another and I am willing at any time to show that.”
BS: Michael Moorer was there in Dubai with you and also won a ring; do you think you’ll face your former trainer in the ring?
JD: “Possibly, I know boxing is a business and if it makes sense then yes the fight will happen. I like Michael, he is a good guy and he told me I had improved since we worked together last and that me feel proud. Michael has also been in the sport for a long time and knows if he can make a lot of money fighting me, then he will probably do it too. I don’t mind fighting southpaws, I sparred with TJ Wilson and he gives me a good look at strong southpaws, so I’m not worried at all about fighting Michael or that Kitterman guy who you say is a southpaw as well.”
BS: What are you on, your 147th trainer in the past two years or something? How are you doing with your new trainer John David Jackson?
JD: (Laughing) “Yeah it seems like it. Well, I really like John, we click very well. Most trainers expect you to fight like how they fought, but John looks at your strengths and weaknesses and trains to your style. This has helped me a lot, he has made my offense and inside fighting better and the most important thing is he has taught me to catch and shoot. To stay in the pocket and be able to counter and fire back is something I’ve never learned and I am a much better fighter because of it. I feel comfortable in there now. You should see the work he has done with Jameel (McCline). Jameel is sitting down on his punches and hitting harder than ever. John Ruiz is in trouble, Jameel knows this is his last chance and Jackson is making a monster out of the man. The sparring I am getting from him is great, and they just get along so well and it helps me learn too.”
BS: You talk of improvement and comfort; do you see this progression getting you a title shot anytime soon?
JD: “I would like to have a title shot soon, but it’s hard to get guys who want to fight me. Everyone says they can beat me, prove it. Sure when I was 15-0 they could have probably kicked my ass, but now I will whoop some ass. I have had so many guys turn fights down or pull out of fights, for a long time I’ve tried to get in with higher ranked guys like Donnell Holmes and they don’t want me either. I can’t blame them; I’m too much risk right now. I have a nice record that’s padded, but people still don’t want to face my power. Donnell is a nice guy and when I first started working with Jameel he was down here and I thought he was great, but guys just don’t want me. They say they do, because I’m supposedly a bad fighter. I used to be bad, but now I feel strong. I just want to fight, to keep getting better. I am just looking for someone to play with me, anyone who is willing to play, I’ll fight. Nothing special, no big promises, I just want to fight. I want every chance I can to prove that I am a good fighter.”
BS: You are ranked in the top 15 by the WBC, WBA, and WBO; do you think now that you’re rated this high, that other fighters will be willing to fight you?
JD: “I hope so. Now if they do beat me they could get ranked, hopefully that draws some big names out for a fight. Like I said before, I’m willing to fight anyone. I mean if it’s the Kittermans of the world or the Klitschkos, I’m ready to fight. I have a lot to learn, but with what I am learning by experience in sparring and with Jackson in the gym I am a fighter who given the chance will make something of themselves. All I want is a chance.”
BS: Thanks for your time JD, is there anything you would like to say in closing?
JD: “Nothing in particular, I mean I’m not looking to call out any single guy. I want the best to fight me, and I want to thank Hirsh-Borao Promotions, Jesse Robinson Productions, Alex Rizzo and the entire Rizzo family (they’re my Spanish family). Thanks to BoxingScene for talking to me and I hope to hear from you all in the future.”
As what happens with any writer, you get familiar with the fighters in your local region. I have known JD for a couple years now and have been ringside for more than a few fights. I’ve seen him absolutely frustrated with his performances and with the frequency he has changed trainers. However, this time, you could hear a heightened sense of confidence in the kid’s voice. JD sounded very relaxed and motivated for the first time in a long time. No matter if a fighter is a future world champ or a club fighter trying to earn some money, you always want to hear hope and enjoyment in their voices. Its nice to know that JD enjoys fighting again, and maybe just maybe he can become what so many want from him, but if not, at least the kid is willing to try.
