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IBF Lightweight king Miguel Angel Vazquez, “El Titere” (The Puppet), makes the fourth defense of his crown on January 21 in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. His opponent, Panama’s hard hitting Ameth Diaz will bring a 30-10, 21 KOs record into the Coliseo Olimpico, matching his skills against Vazquez, with a 29-3, 13 KOs mark. Vazquez took time out of his training wrap-up before leaving for Mexico on Saturday morning to talk with ********* about his upcoming defense, his rocky start in the boxing game and where his future may lie…
How is training going for your defense against Ameth Diaz?
We just finished a very strong preparation for this fight. All the hard work has been done. We’re just relaxing, maintaining and doing light work right now.
What do you know about your opponent?
He’s a very technical fighter. Very strong, good puncher. He’s a little slow, but very dangerous none-the-less.
Where have you been training in California?
In Bell, California at the Azteca Boxing Gym. It’s on the outskirts of Los Angeles.
You both have a common opponent in Lenny Zappavigna. You outpointed him over twelve tough rounds, Diaz stopped him easily in five rounds. Does that mean anything in this fight?
You know, once you’re up in the ring, the main thing is to win, whether you do it by decision or by knockout. It doesn’t concern me. The main thing is to get the victory.
You’re fighting in your hometown of Guadalajara, Jalisco. Does it give you a boost- fighting in your hometown for the first time as a champion?
Basically I’m fighting as if we were in a neutral venue. Obviously fighting in my hometown, it makes me feel obligated to look real good for my fans at home. But I’m gonna fight just the way I always do as if it’s on a neutral ground.
Your nickname is “El Titere” (The Puppet)- who gave you that nickname, when and why?
My friends at the gym gave it to me when I was an amateur. They way I moved around the ring, nobody could tough me. They said, “Damn, you look like a puppet!”
You turned pro at 19, a little late for many Mexican boxers. Did you have an amateur background?
I really wanted to hang around for the Olympics because that was my dream- to go to the Olympic games. But as you know there’s a lot of politics in the amateurs and when I saw that it was going to be virtually impossible for me to make the Olympic team, then that was when I decided to turn pro. That’s why I turned pro so late at 19.
In your pro debut, you fought a 15 year old Saul “Canelo” Alvarez to a split loss. What do you remember about that fight?
It was a very good learning experience. It was a fight that I should have never taken. In spite of his youth, he was a more experienced fighter. But the main thing is he had a lot of weight on me. It was a good learning experience. I turned that into a positive thing. I will never take another fight out of my weight class just to lease people. But it was a good fight.
You have only 3 losses, but to two men- Alvarez a second time at welterweight, and Timothy Bradley at Super Lightweight. Was it their caliber that beat you, or that you were fighting naturally bigger men?
You know, I’ve always considered myself a very disciplined fighter, and even more so now that I’m working with my trainer Javier Capetillo. He always keeps me on a straight line. Weight has never been an issue, not that I lacked any discipline before. But I was a little more willing to fight out of my weight class which is something that I should have never done. Now with Capetillo in my corner, these things don’t happen any more so I’m right where I’m supposed to be.
It rare that a fighter moves down in weight as he gets older. Is lightweight where you should have been the whole time?
You know, I think back then I could’ve made Super Featherweight, 130 lbs. no problem. But I’m very comfortable at 135. I think this is where I belong. I have no weight problems. I think this is where I’m gonna be.
Do you see a climb in weight for you?
You know if there’s a good fight out there for me, I’m willing to go up in weight. But it’s gotta be the right circumstances. I’d love to fight Pacquiao. I’d love to fight the rematch with Timothy Bradley. I hope those fights will come my way. I’m a champion so I hope we can make those fights. So under the right circumstances I wouldn’t mind moving up in weight.
In March of last year, you fought on the Cotto-Mayorga card in Las Vegas, how was that experience for you, fighting on such a big card?
It was a great experience, a wonderful experience. I really loved it. I certainly hope I can have the chance to fight on a similar card.
What are your thoughts on fellow Mexican and WBC lightweight champion Antonio DeMarco?
He’s definitely a strong fighter, a very disciplined fighter. He’s a GOOD fighter. I think if I was to fight him, it wouldn’t be a picnic at all. I think for the first few rounds we’d kind of feel each other out. But after that it would definitely turn into a war.
Miguel, thank you for taking the time out of your schedule to talk. Best of luck next week in your title defense.
Thank you very much to ********* for the opportunity to speak out
Wow what a class act Vazquez is
How is training going for your defense against Ameth Diaz?
We just finished a very strong preparation for this fight. All the hard work has been done. We’re just relaxing, maintaining and doing light work right now.
What do you know about your opponent?
He’s a very technical fighter. Very strong, good puncher. He’s a little slow, but very dangerous none-the-less.
Where have you been training in California?
In Bell, California at the Azteca Boxing Gym. It’s on the outskirts of Los Angeles.
You both have a common opponent in Lenny Zappavigna. You outpointed him over twelve tough rounds, Diaz stopped him easily in five rounds. Does that mean anything in this fight?
You know, once you’re up in the ring, the main thing is to win, whether you do it by decision or by knockout. It doesn’t concern me. The main thing is to get the victory.
You’re fighting in your hometown of Guadalajara, Jalisco. Does it give you a boost- fighting in your hometown for the first time as a champion?
Basically I’m fighting as if we were in a neutral venue. Obviously fighting in my hometown, it makes me feel obligated to look real good for my fans at home. But I’m gonna fight just the way I always do as if it’s on a neutral ground.
Your nickname is “El Titere” (The Puppet)- who gave you that nickname, when and why?
My friends at the gym gave it to me when I was an amateur. They way I moved around the ring, nobody could tough me. They said, “Damn, you look like a puppet!”
You turned pro at 19, a little late for many Mexican boxers. Did you have an amateur background?
I really wanted to hang around for the Olympics because that was my dream- to go to the Olympic games. But as you know there’s a lot of politics in the amateurs and when I saw that it was going to be virtually impossible for me to make the Olympic team, then that was when I decided to turn pro. That’s why I turned pro so late at 19.
In your pro debut, you fought a 15 year old Saul “Canelo” Alvarez to a split loss. What do you remember about that fight?
It was a very good learning experience. It was a fight that I should have never taken. In spite of his youth, he was a more experienced fighter. But the main thing is he had a lot of weight on me. It was a good learning experience. I turned that into a positive thing. I will never take another fight out of my weight class just to lease people. But it was a good fight.
You have only 3 losses, but to two men- Alvarez a second time at welterweight, and Timothy Bradley at Super Lightweight. Was it their caliber that beat you, or that you were fighting naturally bigger men?
You know, I’ve always considered myself a very disciplined fighter, and even more so now that I’m working with my trainer Javier Capetillo. He always keeps me on a straight line. Weight has never been an issue, not that I lacked any discipline before. But I was a little more willing to fight out of my weight class which is something that I should have never done. Now with Capetillo in my corner, these things don’t happen any more so I’m right where I’m supposed to be.
It rare that a fighter moves down in weight as he gets older. Is lightweight where you should have been the whole time?
You know, I think back then I could’ve made Super Featherweight, 130 lbs. no problem. But I’m very comfortable at 135. I think this is where I belong. I have no weight problems. I think this is where I’m gonna be.
Do you see a climb in weight for you?
You know if there’s a good fight out there for me, I’m willing to go up in weight. But it’s gotta be the right circumstances. I’d love to fight Pacquiao. I’d love to fight the rematch with Timothy Bradley. I hope those fights will come my way. I’m a champion so I hope we can make those fights. So under the right circumstances I wouldn’t mind moving up in weight.
In March of last year, you fought on the Cotto-Mayorga card in Las Vegas, how was that experience for you, fighting on such a big card?
It was a great experience, a wonderful experience. I really loved it. I certainly hope I can have the chance to fight on a similar card.
What are your thoughts on fellow Mexican and WBC lightweight champion Antonio DeMarco?
He’s definitely a strong fighter, a very disciplined fighter. He’s a GOOD fighter. I think if I was to fight him, it wouldn’t be a picnic at all. I think for the first few rounds we’d kind of feel each other out. But after that it would definitely turn into a war.
Miguel, thank you for taking the time out of your schedule to talk. Best of luck next week in your title defense.
Thank you very much to ********* for the opportunity to speak out
Wow what a class act Vazquez is