By Ryan Maquiñana
Peter Quillin is not having the best week.
It’s bad enough that his original opponent, Tarvis Simms, had pulled out of this Saturday’s fight due to injury. Doubly disheartening for “Kid Chocolate” was learning that the newly post-Ross Greenburg edition of HBO Boxing would not approve late replacement Jason LeHoullier (21-5-1, 8 KOs) for television.
Nonetheless, you’d never be able to notice it in his sunny demeanor. The 28-year-old Quillin (24-0, 18 KOs) is one of the most popular personalities at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, and the smiley face tattoo on his bicep is symbolic of that.
As he geared up for Saturday’s bout on the Khan-Judah undercard, a mildly frustrated Quillin touched on LeHouiller, his training camp so far, and a recent Twitter tiff between him and the team of middleweight champion Sergio Martinez.
BoxingScene: You were originally scheduled to fight Tarvis Simms, but after he pulled out, Jason LeHoullier replaced him. How or when did you hear about the news?
Peter Quillin: Right around the time when I was talking to you on the internet. They gave me some names, and I just wanted to fight the biggest name and best opponent. A lot of f**king dumbasses in boxing expect you to the fight the best on short notice. I’m willing to say I’m willing to fight anybody at anytime, but you won’t find other guys in that position this late. I’m just happy to be able to get me a fight no matter who it is. I’m hoping the guy can just give me rounds. He’s probably not at my caliber, but it’s none of my business. My job is to go in there and put on a show against whoever they put me in there with.
BoxingScene: LeHoullier has lost five in a row and gone winless in six overall. What do you know about him?
Peter Quillin: Usually you train for a certain time or a certain guy, but sometimes it ends up not being the guy you’re training for. With that being said, I’m going to adjust and execute. I’ve been sparring heavier guys like [amateur heavyweight] Steve Geffrard and smaller, quicker guys like [WBA welterweight champ Viacheslav] Senchenko. From the couple of YouTube footage of fights I’ve seen up there on [LeHoullier], he’s a very come forward kind of guy. Pretty tough. I’m not going to take anything away from him. My job is to try to come out with the victory.
BoxingScene: It doesn’t look like HBO will approve this bout for television. Is that a letdown at all for you?
Peter Quillin: I’m not even sure. I think opportunities come in time. If it comes on HBO, I’ll jump for joy. But I’ll be the same “Kid Chocolate” with the same focus, TV or no TV.
BoxingScene: Obviously, Simms pulling out is not your fault. Now you don’t want to look past any opponent, but if you win this Saturday, where would you like to take your career going forward?
Peter Quillin: Depending on how well I do this week, opportunities will come. Golden Boy is my promoter, and they’re more than capable of giving me the opportunities I want. They know I’m willing to fight the best out there. Sergio Martinez, there’s a lot of buzz about him. I know there was a lot of chit-chat on the internet about me. I’m like one of the best in this weight in the U.S. I hear this commotion about comments that Freddie Roach had said. (LINK: https://www.boxingscene.com/roach-not-impressed-with-sergio-martinez-boasts-quillin--41609) Don’t take it away from what he said. He’s just the best trainer in the sport right now. He works with so many champions he can say what he wants right now. He knows what he has, he knows where I want to be, and I’m working hard to fight the best, and that’s Sergio Martinez.
BoxingScene: You had quite a little war of words on Twitter the other day between you and Team Martinez. Now you have more than 140 characters, so speak your mind.
Peter Quillin: I called Rick Reeno from BoxingScene in defense of myself as far as Lou DiBella ripping Freddie and my team (LINK: https://www.boxingscene.com/dibella-rips-freddie-roach-hes-terrified-chavez-jr--41644). Sergio Martinez should know what kind of guy I am. At one time and point, he wanted to the fight the best, and they didn’t give him a shot, so he knows how hard it is to find these opportunities. He should be able to fight me with no problem. But look what he did. He’s getting old. He’s looking for paydays. But what paydays are there to make? He’s calling out [Manny] Pacquiao which is way too small for him. He’s calling out [Floyd] Mayweather, who’s tied up right now, and everyone wants to see Pacquiao-Mayweather, and not him with Floyd.
BoxingScene: So why you? Why do you deserve a shot at the middleweight champion of the world?
Peter Quillin: I doubt Sergio Martinez makes 154 pounds anyway, needless to say 150, but I’m a full-fledged middleweight. Sergio Martinez needs to understand I’m not disrespecting him as a person, and not as a fighter, but a guy like me who’s willing to take on a guy like that, shows that I’ve got testicles on me bigger than the biggest bull running in the field. They need to stop calling out guys smaller than them, and take on a full-fledged middleweight. He can fight Gennady Golovkin. He can fight Felix Sturm. If he’s looking for so-called weaker opposition on paper, then take me on. Give me the shot. I’m 24-0 with 18 KOs. I’m coming off a win over Jesse Brinkley where I was moving up in weight to a weight class I’m not even trying to fight in. So how do I prove himself? Let me fight Sergio Martinez!
BoxingScene: Does this mean we can look forward to more from you on Twitter?
Peter Quillin: I love Twitter. To the fans, hit me up at my Twitter @KIDCHOCOLATE with your comments, whether positive or negative, and when I get Sergio’s ass, I’ll remember everything you said!
Ryan Maquiñana is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. E-mail him at rmaquinana@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter: @RMAQ28.
