By Piotr Jagiełło

A 24-year-old heavyweight, Travis Kauffman (19-1, 15 KO) who currently prepares himself for the fight against Chris Koval, answered a few questions asked by BoxingScene.com/Bokser.org. In the interview, the "GW Hope" talks about his first years in boxing, and his further plans in the professional career. Additionally, the American fighter shares his opinion concerning the upcoming bout between his sparring partner Chris Arreola, and Tomasz Adamek.

Piotr Jagiełło: When exactly did you start your adventure with boxing?

Travis Kauffman: My dad opened up a gym when I was 9 but at that point I hated boxing. I started when I was 15.

PJ: You are a 24-year-old fighter. It is a young age as far as the heavyweight division. Americans need their compatriot as a champion in this glory division. Will Travis Kauffman be an American heavyweight champion in the future?

TK: Well, yes. I am very young considering that all the heavyweight champs are over 30. I want to take my time and learn more with the sport.

PJ: Your boxing alias is "Great White Hope". Nowadays, the heavyweight division is ruled by "whites". What is the reason for possessing this alias which is widely discussed among our readers.

TK: Actually, before I turned pro I was going to be Travis "TNT" Kauffman. Then I've seen there were too many other fighters with that alias. I wanted something different. One of my boys said: "Your name is GW". I was wondering what the hell was that. He answered: "GW hope". It has nothing in common with racism, in fact the name was given me by a black man. It means more than a great american hope. We have Klitschko's who are white but not American. I think that the world is still looking for a white American heavyweight.

PJ; Where and with whom are you training currently?

TK: I'm training in Reading, Pa which is my hometown. My trainers are Marshall Kauffman who is my father and  Errol Washington, an assistant trainer. My strength coach is Dane Miller.

PJ: Could you tell us something about your amateur career? What was your attitude towards amateur boxing?

TK: I have never really took the amateurs serious, although I was ranked number 1 in the USA before I turned pro and was internationally undefeated by 2005. I just always had more a pro style. However, I miss the amateurs.

PJ: What is the strongest point of Travis Kauffman in the ring?

TK: I think it's connected with my versatility. I can fight both orthodox and southpaw.

PJ: You are a sparring partner of Chris Arreola who waits for the fight against Adamek. How could you describe Arreola in the ring?

TK: I never go in a camp as a sparring partner of someone, at least not with a sparring partner mentality. But Chris is a tough guy. He just doesn't give you room to breathe.

PJ: Do you want to make any prediction of the fight between Adamek and Arreola? Do you think  that Chris will knock Adamek out or you rather bet on Adamek?

TK: I wish both of them best and don't care who will be a winner because they are both great guys. But I think that Chris is simply too big and will put too much pressure on Adamek.

PJ: You lost your first professional fight in 2009. Why did you lost to Tony Grano? Was it a single accident?

TK: Tony Grano fought very dirty in that fight. I was beating him every round up until he low blowed me. Then I started fighting with my heart instead of using my head. I've learned not to get mad in the ring. I want a rematch so I asked him numerous times but he turned it down every time.

PJ: We know that you face Chris Koval on 22 May. Tell us something about this fight and your training camp.

TK: It's a great oppurtunity for me. I've been training so hard but Koval is simply not on my level.

PJ: What do you think about a bout for the WBF belt? Would you like to fight against the WBF champion Evander Holyfield?

TK: It would be a great oppurtunity for me to fight for WBF even though it's a small belt. It would be a pleasure for me to fight Holyfield. He's a legend and a former world champion. Additionally, it would be a great name on my record.

PJ: Who is the best heavyweight nowadays in your opinion?

TK: Besides me, I would have to say that Klitschkos are the best.

Piotr Jagiełło covers the Polish boxing scene for bokser.org