Tweet
Earlier I gave a brief quote from Vitali in a UK magazine. Now I've got my hands on a full interview in another one. Choice bits are as follows:
On Rahman: "I am really happy that Rahman beat Monte Barrett. I was watching it on television with my fingers crossed. I don't like talking too much like this but I will close his mouth in the ring. He has been saying such things - about me being afraid of him and [inventing] injuries - I want to beat him very much. His mouth proves nothing to me. I understand part of professional boxing is show business but I also think real fighters do not perform in the press, they perform in the ring."
On Rahman-Barrett: "It was not so interesting. Actually, you know what, it was boring. But what was interesting was that my brother needed just five rounds to knock out Monte Barrett but Hasim Rahman couldn't knock out Monte Barrett in 12 rounds. And how long do you think Monte Barrett would last against Vitali Klitschko?"
On Calvin Brock: "Actually I wanted to fight Calvin Brock not as a warm-up but because I think he is a very strong fighter who would be a great challenge to me. Brock was the best available challenger for September. Honestly, I think Brock is a much more dangerous challenge for my title than Hasim Rahman. I was very impressed with Calvin Brock's [off the canvas win over] Jameel McClin in April. It was more impressive and interesting than Hasim Rahman vs. Monte Barrett."
On the Rahman postponement: "I have my own opinion but I accepted the WBC's decision. But it means that I have to wait until November - 11 months since the Danny Villiams fight - before I box again. If the WBC wanted me to fight only Rahman that could have happened in September because my Doctor informed the WBC and Don King [months ago] that I would be ready to fight again in September. So why did Rahman fight Barrett on August 14 to make this impossible?"
On his last bout: "I told [Victor Yushenko] that I wanted to postpone my fight with Villiams and come to Ukraine to protest, but he said it would be more important to win in the boxing ring and use that [publicity] to help make people aware of what was happening in Ukraine. And I was also surprised by Danny Villiam's performance. He kept coming again and again even though I was hitting him very hard."
On Unification: "I am interested in fighting Chris Byrd, because of the injury. People know I was beating Byrd but hurt my shoulder and he took my WBO title on injury. Even though my brother brought that title back to the family by beating Chris Byrd, I would also like to fight Byrd. I am also interested in fighting John Ruiz for his WBA title. What's more interesting to me, though, is Lamon Brewster, the WBO champion. He is a strong puncher, like me, and I think that would be a very exciting fight for the fans and everyone in boxing. I am afraid of no one, no challenge. In fact I want to fight the strongest fighters. No matter what, I will be WBC vorld champ for a very long time."
On Rahman: "I am really happy that Rahman beat Monte Barrett. I was watching it on television with my fingers crossed. I don't like talking too much like this but I will close his mouth in the ring. He has been saying such things - about me being afraid of him and [inventing] injuries - I want to beat him very much. His mouth proves nothing to me. I understand part of professional boxing is show business but I also think real fighters do not perform in the press, they perform in the ring."
On Rahman-Barrett: "It was not so interesting. Actually, you know what, it was boring. But what was interesting was that my brother needed just five rounds to knock out Monte Barrett but Hasim Rahman couldn't knock out Monte Barrett in 12 rounds. And how long do you think Monte Barrett would last against Vitali Klitschko?"
On Calvin Brock: "Actually I wanted to fight Calvin Brock not as a warm-up but because I think he is a very strong fighter who would be a great challenge to me. Brock was the best available challenger for September. Honestly, I think Brock is a much more dangerous challenge for my title than Hasim Rahman. I was very impressed with Calvin Brock's [off the canvas win over] Jameel McClin in April. It was more impressive and interesting than Hasim Rahman vs. Monte Barrett."
On the Rahman postponement: "I have my own opinion but I accepted the WBC's decision. But it means that I have to wait until November - 11 months since the Danny Villiams fight - before I box again. If the WBC wanted me to fight only Rahman that could have happened in September because my Doctor informed the WBC and Don King [months ago] that I would be ready to fight again in September. So why did Rahman fight Barrett on August 14 to make this impossible?"
On his last bout: "I told [Victor Yushenko] that I wanted to postpone my fight with Villiams and come to Ukraine to protest, but he said it would be more important to win in the boxing ring and use that [publicity] to help make people aware of what was happening in Ukraine. And I was also surprised by Danny Villiam's performance. He kept coming again and again even though I was hitting him very hard."
On Unification: "I am interested in fighting Chris Byrd, because of the injury. People know I was beating Byrd but hurt my shoulder and he took my WBO title on injury. Even though my brother brought that title back to the family by beating Chris Byrd, I would also like to fight Byrd. I am also interested in fighting John Ruiz for his WBA title. What's more interesting to me, though, is Lamon Brewster, the WBO champion. He is a strong puncher, like me, and I think that would be a very exciting fight for the fans and everyone in boxing. I am afraid of no one, no challenge. In fact I want to fight the strongest fighters. No matter what, I will be WBC vorld champ for a very long time."
Comment