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Editor: There was quite a bit of buzz regarding a Jermain Taylor-Roy Jones Jr fight. Roy recently told us that Don King was talking about fighting Trinidad with Jermain instead of Roy. What's the deal with that and what will Jermain's next move be?
Lou Dibella: "Honestly, Don's had some personal stuff he's had to deal with where he hasn't been very available and now he's got a show in Cancun this weekend. I'm looking forward to seeing Don early next week when he returns and we're going to sit down and talk about a game plan. I think a Roy Jones fight is definitely on the horizon, I think the fight would be a lot bigger in the fall and I think in a perfect world we would prefer to fight one of Don's other guys first preferrably Mayorga or Trinidad and then fight Roy in November, which is really the best PPV month and it would make it a bigger fight."
Editor: Roy's position is that by then he could make something bigger than a Jermain Taylor fight, like the winner of Hopkins-Calzaghe for instance.
LD: "We're not saying no to anything. We have to sit down and not only make a deal with Roy, but make a deal with Don, so we're going to have to sit down next week."
Editor: Will Jermain's next fight take place against a marquee name regardless?
LD: "Ideally the next fight would be against a marquee name and ideally against a fighter promoted by Don King."
Editor: What's the deal with Hatton-Malignaggi?
LD: "We're talking and I would love to complete a deal. Paulie would fight first on the Hatton undercard on May 24 in Manchester and then they would meet in the fall, so I'm very hopeful that a deal can be done and completed and signed."
Editor: You have an interest in Jorge Linares, how do you feel about Linares-Israel Vazquez?
LD: "Linares really is with Mr. Honda. He's a free agent, but I know Mr. Honda has expressed to me that he has an interest in fighting Vazquez in the future and I think that would be a terrific fight for boxing."
Editor: What's next for Berto?
LD: "He looks like he's heading for a June 14 date on Boxing After Dark and we're talking about some possible opponents I can't mention right now."
Editor: Closing thoughts?
LD: "I think that fight last weekend with Vazquez and Marquez did a lot to remind people what boxing can be when it's at it's best and I think we need to make an effort to make the best fights and bring them to our fans. That's one of the reasons I'd like to see Hatton-Malignaggi and Linares-Vazquez. Those are the kind of the fights that keep boxing fans at the edge of their seats. At this day and age it's unfortunate that heavyweight unification doesn't mean anything."
Lou Dibella: "Honestly, Don's had some personal stuff he's had to deal with where he hasn't been very available and now he's got a show in Cancun this weekend. I'm looking forward to seeing Don early next week when he returns and we're going to sit down and talk about a game plan. I think a Roy Jones fight is definitely on the horizon, I think the fight would be a lot bigger in the fall and I think in a perfect world we would prefer to fight one of Don's other guys first preferrably Mayorga or Trinidad and then fight Roy in November, which is really the best PPV month and it would make it a bigger fight."
Editor: Roy's position is that by then he could make something bigger than a Jermain Taylor fight, like the winner of Hopkins-Calzaghe for instance.
LD: "We're not saying no to anything. We have to sit down and not only make a deal with Roy, but make a deal with Don, so we're going to have to sit down next week."
Editor: Will Jermain's next fight take place against a marquee name regardless?
LD: "Ideally the next fight would be against a marquee name and ideally against a fighter promoted by Don King."
Editor: What's the deal with Hatton-Malignaggi?
LD: "We're talking and I would love to complete a deal. Paulie would fight first on the Hatton undercard on May 24 in Manchester and then they would meet in the fall, so I'm very hopeful that a deal can be done and completed and signed."
Editor: You have an interest in Jorge Linares, how do you feel about Linares-Israel Vazquez?
LD: "Linares really is with Mr. Honda. He's a free agent, but I know Mr. Honda has expressed to me that he has an interest in fighting Vazquez in the future and I think that would be a terrific fight for boxing."
Editor: What's next for Berto?
LD: "He looks like he's heading for a June 14 date on Boxing After Dark and we're talking about some possible opponents I can't mention right now."
Editor: Closing thoughts?
LD: "I think that fight last weekend with Vazquez and Marquez did a lot to remind people what boxing can be when it's at it's best and I think we need to make an effort to make the best fights and bring them to our fans. That's one of the reasons I'd like to see Hatton-Malignaggi and Linares-Vazquez. Those are the kind of the fights that keep boxing fans at the edge of their seats. At this day and age it's unfortunate that heavyweight unification doesn't mean anything."
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