BN: You’re not just a guest boxer against a famous opponent in an important match, you’re going to a venue that few people know to judge. What are you expecting?
I forgot where the judges actually came from. I think it will be fair enough – I think the assessment will be fair. I don’t have that in my heart to say they will try to do anything wrong. I often have feelings, and I don’t have them. I feel like it wouldn’t even matter if it went to the jury, but I feel it would be fair if it did.
I had that feeling in [in 2019, Isaac] The Avengers War. My Coach [Wahid Rahim] also there. And I stopped him – knocked him down with a single shot to the body. I actually won that match but I believe they knocked me out on the scoreboard.
BN: Two weeks ago, Jaron “Boots” Ennis impressed by defeating Roiman Villa, spurring a revival of the Philadelphia fight scene you two led…
Yes, he had a great performance. I like the way he performs. He showed great skill; sportsmanship; he feels comfortable there. He’s who he is, and that’s all I have to do [against Naoya Inoue] – is to go in there and be comfortable and relax.
I wouldn’t say everyone in Philadelphia is like that [close-knit], but genuine people like me and Jaron Ennis, and Danny Garcia – we could class ourselves in that category, but I wouldn’t say that’s the whole boxing scene. I would certainly say that not everyone in Philadelphia is like that, but you do have some great people and some great friendships with so many connected people in the city.
So many times, before [Ennis has been in touch to offer support]. We haven’t talked recently but you know, lead, man. I know once the game is on, or brainstorming or whatever, he’s definitely going to come out.
BN: Before your biggest test, how much did you think about the late Naazim Richardson and his influence on you?
I was the last fighter that Naazim worked with. I’m the last one. I went to see him in the hospital a day or two before he passed away. I was one of the only warriors to go there, apart from his family. Me and my coach – we went up there. I was the last boxer he worked with but I didn’t think much of it until today – like, “Damn it.”
I don’t know what made me suddenly think of him [laughs]. You just have to have a thought process – nothing major.
He was the one who asked me the question, “What kind of fighter are you?” And I think I said like “Slick,” this and the third one, but he turned it off. He said, “No, you’re a smart fighter – you’re smart”. And now, when you hear me in interviews and someone asks me what kind of fighter I am, I always say it clearly – because that’s what I am and I don’t limit myself to just speed or strength. No – first of all I’m a smart fighter and I’d like to take my hat off to Brother Naazim for showing me that about myself and giving me insight. That’s a powerful message in such small words.
In some ways [he helped me evolve]. He is also influential in amateur circles.
BN: Is this your defining fight?
Correct. On paper, yes. On paper. But not in physical form for myself – no.
There is more to come in life. I don’t look past it [pauses to reflect] – I wouldn’t say I’m looking over it. I will just say that I know what will happen to me after I defeat him and get through this fight.
BN: Was the match against Naoya Inoue, in Japan, the scariest challenge in boxing? When was the last time a fighter jet was considered a threat?
Maybe. Maybe. I’m not sure [when the last time was]. I don’t like watching boxing coming. I’ve just always been good at it. So I can’t really give you a specific person, but I’ll say the same around there [Gennady] Golovkin’s time.
You don’t really worry about someone saying they’re threatening. When you have a different upbringing, and you know your upbringing – it’s hard to make it where you made it – there’s nothing to fear. What is scary? We fight. What is the scary part? Because he is known for his strength? Like, okay. Where do the other scary aspects come from? What can he do to hurt me? Besides having power. As people [pauses] — since I’ve been out of here, just this week, three people I know have passed away in Philadelphia. So you get what I’m saying? Literally three people I know are dead. Two of them were killed; one of them died of cancer.
I’m not sure – I don’t want to put that [the circumstances surrounding the other two deaths] in profile – to say that it is [crime-related]but, literally… So it’s like where you come from – where am I from, and you have a guy, I can’t say if he is or not, but, I don’t think so [Inoue] was raised like that, you know? He was raised as a good child. There’s nothing scary about him. He’s just a great fighter.
I do not reflect on [my upbringing in Philadelphia and how I very nearly went down a different path] so much, but I always felt like, “Damn, we’re just playboys”. Like, this is for me. And that’s how I look at where I am right now. This is for me.
BN: How important do you expect your size advantage to prove to be?
I’ll see at one o’clock. In a few hours I will see him at the press conference. I haven’t met him yet so I won’t know, until I actually see him. Today will be the first time.
It all depends on how I use my size difference. That’s what it leads to.
I [before today] brought out my former rival Brandon [Figueroa, who I beat in 2021] several times. He had a big difference in size, but you know, he fought me from the inside. He had a huge difference in size and if he could have hit me or something maybe things would have been different. It’s all about, how do you use your size difference?
One of [the keys to victory could come in that]. I can see that. I can see that, yes.
BN: You experienced the postponement of the match against Angelo Leo after testing positive for coronavirus, what were your thoughts when Vergil Ortiz, who has previously struggled with Covid, was dropped from the match against Eimantas Stanionis?
It’s not a fight like, “I’m looking forward to it” – I’m not really looking forward to that fight because I’m not really worried about it [Ennis stopped Villa in the 10th round on a different bill on the same evening]. But I’m glad he’s fine now – I have to say it. Well, I don’t have to say that, but I can say so. I’m glad he’s fine now but I don’t really think too much about that fight.
It is very difficult [to endure that] ‘because you have to face yourself – your body – denying itself, and your physical health. Emotional state of mind – you have to deal with the fans. Now they are talking bad about you. You have to deal with – just like that – you have to deal with fighting yourself because you know how hard you’ve worked. And sometimes when you know how hard you’ve worked and you can look at it like, “I did this for nothing,” when there’s always a reason – everything happens for a reason.
But in the heat of the moment, you don’t see it that way. So I feel like as a boxer, you have to deal with a lot. When alone, no matter how many people are in your corner, you are still the one there alone. Whether it’s in the ring or in your head, you’re the one putting that physical work into the gym. It’s a lonely sport so you’re always alone. So I definitely feel for him now. And now I’m talking about this topic because it’s so hard to overcome, but, you know, we’re warriors – there’s nothing we can’t overcome.
BN: You’re about to get into a very exciting game just a few days before Errol Spence-Terence Crawford — the biggest game of the year — in Las Vegas. How many footprints do you feel that fight has in Tokyo this week?
Well, it’s all about Fulton and Inoue here. Nothing but posters in the mall; Train station; things like that on buildings. It’s all about that here. On social media, I see everything but not physically – I haven’t seen it.
