By Keith Terceira
Earlier in the week Jack Mesi was quoted as saying Baby Joe was ready to step up against Williams, Brian Minto and possibly Hasim Rahman, in that order. Today I caught up with both Mesi’s and Jack Mesi confirmed that Sherman Williams was a go and that there was a verbal agreement in place for Brian Minto in October though no contracts have been signed yet.
Joe contacted me early this evening to discuss the chances of facing Rahman in New York as well as share some of his recent news.
BoxingScene.com: I spoke to your father about the three fight plan he was quoted on this week, what are your thoughts?
Joe Mesi: In a perfect world that is the plan, but its kind of day by day right now.
BoxingScene.com: The Sherman Williams fight is on though correct?
Joe Mesi: I’m not sure if the contracts are signed , that fight has been on and off several times but we are in training camp for Sherman on August 18th after that we'll see.
BoxingScene.com: Are you finding it a tough road still getting states approval to fight?
Mesi: No, No we haven't been denied . We know right now we are not going to be welcome in Nevada or New York. We know that they would deny us. So we haven't attempted to apply for a license. Not until, I think that we get a fair hearing, we plan to approach the Governor of New York with a stack of letters that we have had written by politicians and people in the private sector saying that I am fit to fight.That I will have an impact and that it should happen in New York. We plan on approaching the governor after another win or two probably and all we want is a fair hearing. It’s no longer a medical issue it’s become a political issue and hopefully we can get it turned around.
BoxingScene.com: You have had a couple of tune up fights to get back in the swing now.
Mesi: All tune-up fights, and we never said they were anything but tune-ups.
BoxingScene.com: Sherman Williams is still a step up from your previous caliber of fights?
Mesi: Sherman is definitely a step up, you don’t get any more durable than Sherman. In ten losses he was stopped once I think, and that was questionable. I have to be ready to go ten rounds. Stylistically I think he matches up perfectly. But again he is very durable, and I have to be in condition. I think he is a very good next move up so to speak, then we step it up again. We are talking about say Brian Minto, possibly Holyfield, Rahman. Guys like that.
BoxingScene.com: I know that during your layoff you were not allowed to spar, so where would you put your conditioning now say compared to the Jirov fight?
Mesi: I couldn't do anything. The conditioning is now back. I tell you, I haven't gone ten rounds yet in a fight but in the gym of course I do. I feel great. I don’t know what it is but this rest, some people say that I missed the two best years of my career, when I'm in good shape I feel better than I did before the injury. I really do feel better than I did before the injury. Yes I'm a little older but I really do feel great. I think it came with maturity, I started boxing late in life.
BoxingScene.com: Do you think the layoff helped your career a bit body wise, giving it time to rejuvenate ?
Mesi: Financially no , from a business aspect, no of course it didn’t, on a physical aspect alone, yes I think it may have. I don’t know, I could have captured a title by now if not for the layoff but I feel great physically, definitely not my age of 33. It doesn't change the fact that those were probably my two best years.
Boxingscene; You were at a point where you were fighting constantly before the injury, are you back to that speed?
Mesi: After we fight Sherman in August we may fight 2-3 times again before the end of the year. We are stepping it up now. We just want a real good break right now. I am trying to get back up to the top ten. Ewe aren't going to be happy until we are in the top ten.
BoxingScene.com: If you can get Rahman, do you feel that is a great fight for New York, possibly Madison Square Garden?
Mesi: Definitely a New York fight, maybe western New York , say Buffalo or Rochester, anywhere that can hold 20,000 people. We have talked about, if we can’t get this turned around in New York, going to South Africa. Rahman is known there and fought there a couple of times. We are really, really banking on having it here in New York though.
BoxingScene.com: Have you had conversations with New York or Ron Scott Stevens to that effect?
Mesi: We have. We went to a Rahman fight, he fought in Rochester recently. That was the first time my father and myself sat down face to face with Ron Scott Stevens. He wants to work through this, he wants to get past this, but it is not his call to make, it’s Doctor Barry Jordan’s who is not (pause) a friend of ours so to speak, I guess (laughter) We just want a fair hearing, we have letters of recommendation from the best doctors and surgeons around the world. I continue to prove myself in sparring and in fights, I prove that I am in no greater risk than say my opponents.
BoxingScene.com: Joe can you tell me who you have been sparring with.?
Mesi: No (laughter) but I have had some local guys and we are bringing in some tougher sparring this week, stepping it up, with some big names. I will tell you though after the fight.
BoxingScene.com: Joe, how is your foundation going.?
Mesi: Great thanks for asking Keith, we are planning to step it up into Golf tournaments and bigger events but we are doing bowl-a-thons , things like that. Kid related activities then we make our donations to the local hospitals . It’s going good and near and dear to my heart. Between my foundation and much of the other community work I do in western New York, I keep myself busy.
BoxingScene.com: Is there a web site where people can go for info on the foundation?
Mesi: Yes they can go to BabyJoeMesi.com and we explain the whole foundation on there.
BoxingScene.com: Thanks for your time today and we will talk after the Sherman Williams fight ?
Mesi: You bet and thanks Keith.