By Ryan Burton
Badou Jack "The Ripper" (16-0-1) returns to the ring this Friday when he faces Derek Edwards (26-3-1) in a bout televised on the latest edition of ShoBox. Jack had a busy year in 2013 going 5-0-1 with the only blemish a questionable draw against Marco Antonio Periban. Jack said that he looks forward to getting back in the ring and hopes for another busy year in 2014.
"I feel great. I can't wait. This is my first fight of the year but I had 6 fights last year and they are keeping me busy. I like it. I feel sharp doing that.
"I want to get at least 4 or 5 fights this year. We got this one and then hopefully we are back in May," Jack explained.
The 30-year-old Jack last fought in December when he stopped Rogelio Medina in 6 rounds. He admitted that he was trying to make a statement after the draw against Periban and said that he was pleased with his performance.
"I wanted to make a statement. I started a little bit slow. I am known as a slow starter but I picked it up and got him out of there," said Jack.
If Jack and Brit James DeGale win their upcoming fights, the two will presumably square off in a WBC final eliminator in the near future. The winner would become Sakio Bika's mandatory challenger. Jack said that he is very interested in the fight but doesn't feel he should have to travel to DeGale's home soil being that he is promoted by the #1 fighter in the world.
"I mean I am promoted by the best fighter in the world that has the most money. Why should I go to England? They should come here. It would be a good fight for Floyd's next undercard," Jack expressed.
Jack finished our conversation with an assessment of the first fight between WBA/IBF super midleweight champion Carl Froch's stoppage victory over George Groves. The two UK based fighters will square off again on May 31st.
"Groves was ahead and he had beat him up. I don't think the ref should have stopped it, he should have gave him 1 to 2 more rounds. He is a fast starter and maybe Froch still would have stopped him but he should have been given the opportunity," Jack told BoxingScene.com.
