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June 01, 2009
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: JOSHUA CLOTTEY
By Ryan Burton
**********'s Ryan Burton speaks to Joshua Clottey about his upcoming championship bout with Miguel
Cotto.
Ryan Burton: How is training camp going?
Joshua Clottey: It is going great. I am in the best shape of my life and I am ready to fight.
RB: Have you done anything special to prepare for Miguel Cotto?
JC: Well you know everything I do is special. I just think about him and what I am going to do to him. As far as the training I am doing the same thing that I always do because you know I always train. I always go to the gym, do my running so you know I am ready.
RB: It will be about 10 months since your last fight with Zab Judah when you step in the ring June 13th. Are you concerned about ring rust?
JC: Well you know you are right. This fight is about being in shape which I am. When I get in the ring then we will see how I react. It is going to depend on how Cotto fights. When he comes in and we start fighting we will know if the time away from the ring is a problem.
RB: You are fighting Miguel Cotto, a Puerto Rican on the eve of the Puerto Rican day parade. Do you feel you need to get a knockout to beat him?
JC: Well you know I am not worried about that at all. You know we are both under the same promotional company (Top Rank) and I think I can win a decision. If I lose a decision that I think I won then I will talk to the promoters. If they don't need me then they need to let me know. I think because we are under the same promotional company if I beat him and everybody knows that I beat him they aren't going to give it to him.
RB: If you beat Miguel Cotto this will be the biggest win in your career. If you take his belt where do you go from there?
JC: I know Cotto is a good fighter and it isn't an easy fight for the both of us. If I go in the ring and I beat Cotto right and they keep talking about him fighting Pacquiao then the only thing I ask is that they give me Pacquiao.
RB: Well with Pacquiao being on Top Rank as well Bob Arum has the option of making that fight if he chooses.
JC: Exactly. If I beat Cotto then I will let Arum know I want Pacquiao.
RB: I am sure you have watched Margarito's victory over Cotto. Loaded or not loaded handwraps aside I am sure you noticed how Margarito's relentless approach wore Cotto down. Are you looking to do the same thing, bring the fight to Cotto?
JC: That is how I fight. I do not slow fight. I always look to come in and fight. So that is what I am going to do but not because Margarito did it. Margarito used the same strategy I am going to use but we are different fighters. I am always looking to go in and do my thing. I am going to go in there and fight him. I don't know if he is going to move around or stand in there and fight.
RB: Do you a lot of the Africans in New York come out to your fights to support you?
JC: They support me but one thing about my people is they think about home. Our countries are poor countries. When we have money we send it back home. I hope some can come and watch the boxing but I am not worried about that. I am sure there will be plenty of fans at the fight.
RB: Do you have a message for the fans?
JC: I really want to thank the fans. I want to thank all the fans, Puerto Ricans, Americans and everybody. I want everyone that can go to the fight to be there. It is going to be the fight of the year. I am not going to lay back. I am going to leave everything I have inside the ring. I really want to thank all the fans and I really want to thank you Ryan for getting me back on **********.
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: JOSHUA CLOTTEY
By Ryan Burton
**********'s Ryan Burton speaks to Joshua Clottey about his upcoming championship bout with Miguel
Cotto.
Ryan Burton: How is training camp going?
Joshua Clottey: It is going great. I am in the best shape of my life and I am ready to fight.
RB: Have you done anything special to prepare for Miguel Cotto?
JC: Well you know everything I do is special. I just think about him and what I am going to do to him. As far as the training I am doing the same thing that I always do because you know I always train. I always go to the gym, do my running so you know I am ready.
RB: It will be about 10 months since your last fight with Zab Judah when you step in the ring June 13th. Are you concerned about ring rust?
JC: Well you know you are right. This fight is about being in shape which I am. When I get in the ring then we will see how I react. It is going to depend on how Cotto fights. When he comes in and we start fighting we will know if the time away from the ring is a problem.
RB: You are fighting Miguel Cotto, a Puerto Rican on the eve of the Puerto Rican day parade. Do you feel you need to get a knockout to beat him?
JC: Well you know I am not worried about that at all. You know we are both under the same promotional company (Top Rank) and I think I can win a decision. If I lose a decision that I think I won then I will talk to the promoters. If they don't need me then they need to let me know. I think because we are under the same promotional company if I beat him and everybody knows that I beat him they aren't going to give it to him.
RB: If you beat Miguel Cotto this will be the biggest win in your career. If you take his belt where do you go from there?
JC: I know Cotto is a good fighter and it isn't an easy fight for the both of us. If I go in the ring and I beat Cotto right and they keep talking about him fighting Pacquiao then the only thing I ask is that they give me Pacquiao.
RB: Well with Pacquiao being on Top Rank as well Bob Arum has the option of making that fight if he chooses.
JC: Exactly. If I beat Cotto then I will let Arum know I want Pacquiao.
RB: I am sure you have watched Margarito's victory over Cotto. Loaded or not loaded handwraps aside I am sure you noticed how Margarito's relentless approach wore Cotto down. Are you looking to do the same thing, bring the fight to Cotto?
JC: That is how I fight. I do not slow fight. I always look to come in and fight. So that is what I am going to do but not because Margarito did it. Margarito used the same strategy I am going to use but we are different fighters. I am always looking to go in and do my thing. I am going to go in there and fight him. I don't know if he is going to move around or stand in there and fight.
RB: Do you a lot of the Africans in New York come out to your fights to support you?
JC: They support me but one thing about my people is they think about home. Our countries are poor countries. When we have money we send it back home. I hope some can come and watch the boxing but I am not worried about that. I am sure there will be plenty of fans at the fight.
RB: Do you have a message for the fans?
JC: I really want to thank the fans. I want to thank all the fans, Puerto Ricans, Americans and everybody. I want everyone that can go to the fight to be there. It is going to be the fight of the year. I am not going to lay back. I am going to leave everything I have inside the ring. I really want to thank all the fans and I really want to thank you Ryan for getting me back on **********.
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