By Mark Vester
In the recent issue of The Monitor, WBC heavyweight champion Oleg Maskaev spoke about Japan based Ugandan opponent Peter Okello, the man he is set to face on December 10 in Moscow, Russia.
Maskaev said that Okello is a tough puncher, but he is willing to fight him hard in order to show his country and the world, that he is a true champion.
"He's a tough guy (Okello). He can punch and he can fight. I saw a couple of his fights. I mean to have a big fight in Russia, it's very important for me," Maskaev said. "I will show Russians and all the world that Oleg became a champion and he wants to defend his title. I just want to be champion as long as I can.
The subject of facing former middleweight/light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins came up, and Maskaev said that if Hopkins is serious and his promoter, Dennis Rappaport, approves the fight - there will be no problem with the two fighters getting it on in 2007. But, Maskaev still has doubts about how serious Hopkins is about actually making the jump in weight to the heavyweight division.
"If he wants to fight me and if my management will approve this fight - then there's no problem. I don't know, I don't know. A lot of people are saying a lot of things but we have to see what is behind his word."
