Moreno Talks Cordova Bout, Guerrero-Maidana, More

By Ryan Burton

 

BoxingScene caught up with former two time world champion Carina "La Reina" Moreno (21-3) to talk about her upcoming fight versus Chantel Cordova (8-2-1).  The fight takes place at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, CA on the undercard of the HBO headliner between Marcos Maidana and Robert Guerrero.  Moreno talks about her training camp and gives her take on the main event between Guerrero and Maidana in this exclusive interview found only on BoxingScene.com.

 

BoxingScene: Lets get right to it.  How is training going for your August 27th fight versus Chantel Cordova?

 

Carina Moreno:  We are getting close to fight night night and I am feeling really good.  My conditioning is really good right now.  I am ready to go and I am excited to get back in the ring after a layoff of 8 months.  I just can't wait for August 27th.

 

BoxingScene:  What do you know about Chantel?

 

Carina Moreno:  I don't know a whole lot about her.  I just know she is taller than me and she is a right hander.  She is 5'4".  She was a very good amateur.  I saw a little bit of video on her but not too much.  She fights tall obviously and she kind of looks like a counter puncher.  That is about all I know about her.  I wasn't able to get a whole lot of video on her.  I have fought taller opponents before so it is not like it is something new to me.  Pretty much in all of my fights my opponent has been taller than me.

 

BoxingScene:  I know you have fought in a couple different weight classes.  What weight class is this fight being fought at?

 

Carina Moreno:  At 110.  A catchweight.

 

BoxingScene:  Last time we talked was before your last fight which was a title fight against Yesica Bopp.  You came up short in that fight which took place in her home country.  Give us your thoughts on the experience in general.

 

Carina Moreno:  They treated us very good over there.  No complaints there at all.  I just think it was a little bit too soon for me to come back for a title fight especially with such short notice.  I only had three weeks to get ready for that fight.  It was a very good experience.  I would do it again if they gave me the opportunity to go back over there and fight again.  Honestly I would love a rematch.  I just felt that three weeks of training was just too short for me.  For this fight coming up I have been training very well.  I have been sparring with Eloy Perez from Garcia Boxing.  They have been helping me a lot and I just want to thank them for all the sparring they have given me.  I have also sparred with Michael Dallas.

 

BoxingScene:  Assuming you get the win where do you want to go from here?

 

Carina Moreno:  It looks like I might have another fight already scheduled for September 16th in Las Vegas at the Palms Casino.  It is an all female card that they are having.  Hopefully after this fight I do that fight on September 16th which will be an 8 rounder then in my third fight hopefully I can go and get some of my titles back.

 

BoxingScene: You mentioned Eloy Perez who is from Salinas (California).  You also have guys like Nonito Donaire, Andre Ward not to mention Robert Guerrero.  How does it feel to be in an area that is producing such world class boxers?

 

Carina Moreno:  It is a blessing.  I really want to thank Robert "The Ghost" for helping me get on this card as well as my representative Claudia Ollis and Golden Boy.  If it wasn't for them I wouldn't be on the card.  I know that Robert as well as Claudia were really pulling for me.  Just to be on the same card as Robert you know I am loving it.  It is just a blessing.  I have known Robert for a long time and I have always wanted to be on the same card as him and I am really looking forward to it.

 

BoxingScene:  I think it is safe to assume that you think that Robert will beat Marcos Maidana in the main event (laughing).

 

Carina Moreno:  Definitely (laughing).  I have watched Robert in some of his sparring and he is looking really sharp.  He is looking really good.  I know come August 27th that he is going to be ready to go.

 

BoxingScene:  What type of crowd are you expecting in San Jose on fight night?  Are you expecting a lot of your fans in Watsonville to make the drive over the hill to San Jose?

 

Carina Moreno:  Oh yeah definitely.  I also have a lot of family members in San Jose too.  I know that a lot of them are going to go check it out.  I have a lot of friends as well as people in Watsonville that will be coming down to the fight.  Everybody has wanted me to fight locally and all of my fights have been far away from Watsonville.  They always say let me know when you are going to have a fight close to home and here it is.  San Jose isn't that far away from where I live.  Just an hour away and a lot of people have been talking about it, saying they are going to come and support me.

 

BoxingScene:  Do you have a message for the fans?

 

Carina Moreno:  I just want to say don't miss August 27th.  It is going to be a great fight with local fighters on the card.  It is me and Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero.  It will be a very exciting event.  I just want to thank Golden Boy, The Ghost as well as Claudia Ollis for pulling me and putting me on this show.