Lewis: Sultan Ibragimov will be a champ in 2006

from 15rounds.com Panama Lewis Exclusive By Steve D'Amato DEERFIELD BEACH- On December 15th at The Hard Rock Live Arena in Hollywood, Florida trainer/advisor Panama Lewis suddenly collapsed in the crowd during the main event of the evening between Samuel Peter and Robert Hawkins. The bout was halted for about eleven minutes after the fifth round because both ambulances along with the ring doctor had left the arena. The second ambulance was occupied by Panama’s wife who fainted shortly after witnessing her husband lie motionless on the ground. Lewis was able to see the previous fight where his fighter Sultan Ibragimov displayed an impressive performance by defeating Lance Whitaker. Panama spent over a week in the hospital and was just released, 15ROUNDS.COM caught up with the legendary trainer to discuss what exactly happened that night, Sultan’s victory and the new addition to the Ibragimov’s corner-Mike Tyson plus more…. 15ROUNDS: Panama, can you explain to us what exactly happened to you at the Hard Rock that night? PANAMA: First of all I would like to thank everybody who said their prayers for me. It just wasn’t time for me to go because God brought me back and that’s why I say boxing is my life, boxing saved me. If it wasn’t for boxing I would have been a dead man today. I went to the fight and certain things happened to me and now I have to live right, eat better food and so forth and I have to give up all those cohibas and all that. It couldn’t have happened at a better place because if it had happened any where else I would have been a dead man today. Thank God for boxing, boxing saved my life and I want to say to you all, happy New Year and God bless you. 15ROUNDS: What did the doctor’s report say? What exactly happened to you, that is unclear right now? PANAMA: My artery was blocked so they did a little surgery for me and opened it up. I’m O.K. now; I am like a brand new car when it gets a tune up when they take out the engine and put another engine in. I’m all right now, God bless and thanks for God. 15ROUNDS: Will you be training your fighters as much as you were before? PANAMA: This is the new beginning for Panama Lewis. I’m not going to stop hollering or doing what I am supposed to do. I’m going to stop drinking, smoking and stop eating bad food. When it comes to boxing Panama will be Panama. 15ROUNDS: What happened to your wife and how is she? PANAMA: She’s alright; she just fainted because they pronounced me dead for the first two and a half minutes then the good Lord said I wasn’t ready to go so God brought me back. So I will say it again, if it wasn’t for boxing I wouldn’t be here today. God brought me back because there is something I didn’t accomplish yet; I’m still on a mission. 15ROUNDS: On a lighter note what did you think of Sultan’s fight? PANAMA: Great! You saw the fight; I mean you can write what you see. I’m not selling wolf tickets yet. He’s the next heavyweight champion of the world. He’s the white Mike Tyson, forget about Rocky Marciano. He’s the white Mike Tyson and he comes to fight like I tell all the white folks he can make them happy. You will have a white heavyweight champion for a long time. 15ROUNDS: Mike Tyson was at that fight, was he there to support Sultan? PANAMA: Yeah he came in because we asked him to come in and support the Russian. I already gave him a job; he will be the new second in the corner. Mike Tyson will be working in the future with Sultan and Timor Ibragimov. 15ROUNDS: So Tyson will be in the corner of Timor’s next fight in Hollywood, FL on February 23rd? PANAMA: Yes 15ROUNDS: Even though you are going to be in the gym like you were before has your doctor advised you not to? PANAMA: The doctor told me not to thank him that I have to thank the one who worked on me in the coliseum because he’s the one that brought me back. But he said I’m in good shape and I would be around for many years to come. For all the haters, I still love you all. Panama is still here because Panama is the best thing boxing has as a trainer. They try to keep me down, they hate me but I still love you. 15ROUNDS: Any final words before we go? PANAMA: In 2006 you will have Sultan Ibragimov as world champion and if the good Lord is still doing what he is with me then you will have Timor as the world champion. One thing I have to say about these Russians is that they train hard and take care of themselves. They are not party guys and when they come to train they train. That’s what I like about these Russian fighters, they are hungry. That’s why these guys can take boxing over, they want it bad. American fighters don’t want it bad enough! 15ROUNDS: Thank you and stay in good health. PANAMA: Good bless everybody and like I said before thanks for the prayers and the ones that do not prey for me, I still love you all. God bless.