IT’S good to be in Las Vegas. I know my way round, Iโm here every year. I boxed here as an amateur, Iโve boxed here as a professional and Iโm always successful.
Badou Jack needs that support that heโs got out here. Heโs been on stage with family members that were getting rowdy, Leonard Ellerbe is on the stage with him, trying to get him into a confident state.
He says I talk too much but I havenโt really said that much. I said that heโs a good fighter, so thatโs the first nice thing I said about him, but that Iโm a better fighter and I havenโt really said much else.
I do admire him. He took himself out of Sweden and came over here to Las Vegas, and walked into what must be an intimidating gym, the Mayweather Gym. Heโs made it his home but at the same time but heโs surrounded by an adopted family. Heโs got all his stablemates fighting on the same card, heโs under the Mayweather Promotions banner. He talks about being the strong silent type, and confidence is being quiet but weโve done two face offs and on each occasion he had to talk to me. I didnโt say a word. Iโm not the one talking. Heโs in a position where he hasnโt been before. I walked into the MGM this morning and it didnโt look that big to me. Iโve fought in big stadiums but this is new to him. Usually Floyd Mayweather would be sitting ringside to support him, but Floyd will be busy on Saturday night, everyone else who is normally around him will be busy that night. The problem with surrounding yourself with people for comfort is when you step through the ropes you are all on your own.
Jack will have trained hard and got himself in good shape. Heโs got to hope that after a few rounds heโs still in the fight and he can gain some momentum from there but we donโt plan to let him do that. I donโt need to rely on mental weaknesses โ heโs got them. This is his first fight as a champion. I canโt relate to that because Iโve never been a world champion but Iโve been in some super high-pressure fights and Iโve always boxed well, win, lose, or draw. Letโs see how Jack does under the pressure of being a champion.
Every fight you feel pressure. I feel pressure. My last fight against Denis Douglin, even though no one had heard of him, was a high-pressure fight because I canโt lose that. This one, same again. People are telling me itโs my third fight for a world title and I canโt lose. I know what thatโs like to lose a world title fight, it forced me to take a massive step back. Itโs taken me a year to get back in this position. I donโt want to waste that, and Iโm not going to.
The fact I havenโt had the pressure of promoting a fight, of trying to sell a PPV โ like against Carl Froch โ means I have had nine months to prepare for this fight. When does any boxer at this level get the luxury to do that? Weโve had three mini-camps where weโll peak and then go on holiday for two weeks, relax, come back, and train again. Weโve done two months out here at Big Bear where Iโve had my phone off, I havenโt spoke to anyone. People havenโt recognised me. And talking to people, to strangers who may want to say something nice or nasty, takes up energy. Iโm not a big talker. I donโt like talking.
Maybe in time Iโll appreciate it but right now I couldnโt care less about fighting on a Floyd Mayweather card. The fact of the matter is, Iโm boxing at the MGM Grand, for a world title. Itโs something you dream of as a kid. Iโve experienced many, many things in my professional career but I plan to win this world title and build from there.