By Ryan Burton
BoxingScene.com spoke to promoter Gary Shaw about the recent noise being made by Team Devon Alexander. Shaw agrees the fight should be made and doesn't want to wait around for it either. Shaw points out that the Timothy Bradley-Luis Carlos Abregu fight was in the works before Alexander defeated Urango so at that point Alexander wasn't available. Shaw also talks about a possible Darchinyan-Donaire rematch, Funeka-Guzman, Angulo-Julio and more in this exclusive interview.
BoxingScene.com: Last week we had an article up at BoxingScene.com in which Devon Alexander's manager and trainer Kevin Cunningham said that they want to fight Tim Bradley next. What are your thoughts on that possible fight?
Gary Shaw: I think its a great possibility but it is not going to happen on Timmy's first fight (on HBO). When we made our deal with HBO Alexander was fighting Urango. That fight hadn't even taken place yet. Lets go a step further. He didn't have to fight Urango. He could have fought Timmy right away if he wanted the fight. If he wanted to fight, Timmy was ready to fight but instead he chose Urango.
BoxingScene.com: Alexander has two belts now. Bradley had two and still holds one. Do you think the fight should be built up a little bit more before they fight each other?
Gary Shaw: No. Belts don't make the fighter. The fighter makes the belts. If you are a real champion, you are a real fighter and you don't need a belt. That has been proven by I don't know how many guys now that don't have belts but are really great fighters. I have a lot of respect for Devon Alexander and Kevin Cunningham. The fact that he beat Urango doesn't prove anything. That was a very good fight for him but two belts don't mean anything. He makes the belts they don't make him. He is a good fighter but we have this fight coming up first. After that if he is available I will sit down with Timmy and his manager Cameron (Dunkin) and we will make a decision at that point.
BoxingScene.com: It could be said that Alexander and Bradley would be better served getting another win under their belts to help build the fight up more. That way more money could be made if the fight was at the end of the year or early next year.
Gary Shaw: Well when you say more money and you look around and you see a lack of television dates well you can't afford to hang around or wait around. You are only able to give fighters a portion based off of what television pays you. It all depends on what the networks think a Bradley and Alexander fight is worth. What the trainers think, or the managers think, or the fighters think or the promoters think doesn't always equal what the reality is. Right now Tim Bradley is the number one 140 pounder in the world. I don't care how many belts any other fighter has. Then you have Devon Alexander and you have (Marcos) Maidana. I am not sure about Khan and Malignaggi but you have plenty of other guys to fight. Let them fight one another and the last two standing will be the big fight.
BoxingScene.com: Changing gears now give us your thoughts on Saturday's rematch between Ali Funeka and Joan Guzman?
Gary Shaw: I think Funeka is the best 135 pound fighter in the world right now. I think he proved it in the first fight against Guzman and he will prove it once again on Saturday in Las Vegas.
BoxingScene.com: Funeka has had a lot of bad luck in getting decisions in fights lately. Are you worried he may get away from his game plan and look for a knockout because he has lost faith in winning a decision?
Gary Shaw: He isn't that type of a fighter but that is a good question. I think he has great ring generalship and he knows what he is going to do. Guzman is a tough fighter but in this case I don't think he (Funeka) thinks he has to go for the knockout to win. I wouldn't be surprised if he knocks Guzman out though.
BoxingScene.com: You have Alfredo Angulo fighting Joel Julio next month. Give us your thoughts on that fight.
Gary Shaw: I think that Alfredo "El Perro" Angulo will knock out Joel Julio. I think that if you are judging El Perro Angulo from the Cintron fight you are making a mistake. I think he is one of the single most exciting boxers in the sport at any weight. I think that will show on April 24th.
BoxingScene.com: Every time I speak to him he says he would love a Kermit Cintron rematch but he leaves that up to you and his manager. Do you see a rematch happening in the future?
Gary Shaw: Yes of course we will fight Cintron again. There is no rush to fight him right now. We will avenge that defeat. No question about it.
BoxingScene.com: With Jean Pacal's injury taking longer to heal than anticipated are you at all concerned with the time off between fights for Chad Dawson (11-7-09 to 08-14-10)?
Gary Shaw: No because Chad stays in shape. He plays a lot of basketball. He is in the gym. Would I have liked to fight him earlier in the year? Yes but we needed to wait for this fight. He is fighting in August and he will be back in November or December fighting again on HBO.
BoxingScene.com: Closing thoughts?
Gary Shaw: The Marquez-Vazquez 4 fight is coming up May 22nd. Johnny Perez against Abner Mares is on that card as well. My plate is full. I am very lucky and fortunate that all my fighters are working and we have some really exciting fights.
