By Ryan Burton
Light heavyweight contender Yusaf Mack (28-3-2) takes on Otis Griffin (23-6-2) in an IBF light heavyweight title eliminator on February 4th for the right to face undefeated IBF champion Tavoris Cloud. The fight takes place in Bloomington, Minnesota. Mack talks about the keys victory, his loss last year to Glen Johnson and more in this exclusive interview found only on BoxingScene.com.
BoxingScene.com: Tell us about your IBF light heavyweight eliminator versus Otis Griffin that takes place on February 4th.
Yusaf Mack: I am real happy to be fighting for it. This will be my fourth time fighting for an eliminator so you know I am going to take it and roll with it. I am working hard. I can't play no more so I am going for it.
BoxingScene.com: This fight was originally scheduled to take place and is now taking place on February 4th. Does the delay throw you off your game at all?
Yusaf Mack: No not at all. I will be ready to go.
BoxingScene.com: Have you seen any tape on Griffin? Can you give us a little bit of your game plan for fight night?
Yusaf Mack: We are friends you know. We were in camp together for about two months before. He is not on my skill level but he can fight. He is an alright guy you know but he can't match me as far as skill and punching or anything.
BoxingScene.com: Your last fight was almost a year ago when you lost to Glen Johnson in an IBF eliminator. Why have you been out of the ring so long?
Yusaf Mack: I have just trying to get my thoughts back together. I am trying to get my stuff right. I am back with my old trainer who started me out. I want to show the world that I can do it.
BoxingScene.com: What went wrong in your fight versus Glen Johnson?
Yusaf Mack: I took him lightly. I thought I was going to be fighting an old Glen Johnson and not the Glen Johnson of old. I actually think that Glen trained harder for me than he did for (Tavoris) Cloud.
BoxingScene.com: Are you surprised coming off that loss you are right back in another title eliminator?
Yusaf Mack: I am happy about it. I feel I deserve it because when I beat Chris Henry he fought one fight and then he fought for a world title. Whenever I fight somebody I always got to fight the hardest guy. [Editor's Note: Henry didn't fight for a world title after the Mack fight. He fought Hugo Garay in ranking eliminator.]
BoxingScene.com: Assuming you get the win over Griffin how do you see a fight between yourself and Tavoris Cloud playing out?
Yusaf Mack: That is a good fight man. I was reading something online that said that it won't be a good fight but how do they know. He hasn't fought nobody either. He has only fought Clinton Woods and Glen Johnson and that is it.
BoxingScene.com: Are you looking to be more active in 2011?
Yusaf Mack: Yes. Hopefully I will get this win and then get signed with a good promoter again and then its off to the races.
BoxingScene.com: Do you have a message for the fans?
Yusaf Mack: Look out because Yusaf Mack is back on the scene.
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Interviews
Yusaf Mack Talks Otis Griffin Bout, Tavoris Cloud, More
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