HAVE you been doing anything different to prepare for your November 20 bout [at the Hard Rock Casino]?
Weโre just staying ready to be the best we possibly can and being ready for whateverโs put in front of us. Weโve worked just as hard in this camp as any other camp because when I came back here in September to LA I knew I had have a fight coming up shortly.
So I was staying in shape and I was preparing myself for a fight coming up towards the end of the year.
Are you glad youโve been active this year?
Itโs been busy which is good. Iโm over here for a reason. Iโm over here to fight and thatโs number one for me. So the busier they keep me the better and the more I climb up those ranks and climb that ladder.
Who have you been sparring for this fight?
I was sparring with David Lemieux for the โGGGโ fight. I was in camp with Lemieux getting him ready for the โGGGโ fight. Now in LA Iโm sparring with super-middleweight, undefeated Mexican fighter Gilberto Ramirez. Iโm also sparring with super-welterweight, undefeated Terrel Gausha. So I have top class sparring.
With Lemieux were you doing your best Golovkin impersonation in spars?
Not really, definitely not. They knew my talent and they knew I came from a high amateur background. They knew my speed, my distance and my timing was on point so thatโs really what they had me for because they knew Golovkinโs timing, how accurate he is and everything like that.
Are you looking forward to being part of the Cotto-Canelo fight week?
All the hard core fans are going to be there for all the fights over the weekend.
Itโs great for me to get the opportunity to showcase what I have.
By the time you get to world level, do you think Gennady Golovkin will still be around?
I think Golovkin will definitely still be up there. Canelo will still be up there, heโs fresh. To be honest I think Lemieux could come back. Heโs still young as well. Also the likes of Andy Lee and Billy Joe Saunders and Chris Eubank and Spike OโSullivan, itโs going to be very interesting in a few years to see how the tables have turned and to see whoโs in position and whoโs not in position.
It was one of the main reasons why I was delighted with the opportunity [to spar Lemieux] for a possible fight in the long run in the future, for the experience and to see what heโs all about. Money canโt buy that experience and that learning.
Will be taking a few notes on Canelo the day after your fight?
All these guys that have a world title right now and are fighting for a world title, are number one in my weight division, Iโm going to all these fights, Iโm watching all these guys.
Iโm going there to do my homework on them, even if someone of them arenโt champions when itโs my turn, at least Iโll be able to look at them, check out what they have good, what they have bad to see what it takes to be a world champion.