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| Welterweight contender Christopher “The Mechanic” Smith steps into the squared circle tonight for the third time this year. The New Yorker faces the well experienced Tomas Barrientes of Mercedes, Texas for the interim NABA belt in the main co-feature from the Turning Stone Casino in Verona, New York. DiBella Entertainment promotes the evening’s entertainment as part of |  © Edwin Gonzales SaddoBoxing.com |
their “Broadway Boxing” series.
Although Chris is coming off two consecutive losses, he remains confident in his abilities. The native of Queens feels that the disappointments have only made him hungrier and more determined to prove that he is one of the better fighters in the world today.
Tune in for this exclusive interview, in which Saddoboxing.com goes one on one with one of the more popular fighters to come out of the boxing hotbed that is New York City. Click the more link to hear everything that “The Mechanic” had to say.
Saddoboxing: Christopher, could you describe the psychological effect your two consecutive losses had? How did you deal with it?
Chris Smith: “It really wasn’t too hard to deal with. I thought about it for the first time when I got to my hotel room after the loss to Mitchell. I remember saying to myself, “Damn I just lost two fights in a row”. But the fact that I lost both fights differently, especially the Mitchell fight, helped me deal with the situation better. The fight with Sharmba Mitchell was on a Saturday and I was back in the gym on Monday morning. Both losses only made me more hungry and more determined. Here is something that I am sure most of you don’t know: I
took the fight with Sharmba Mitchell on two weeks notice.”
SB: David Estrada ended up fighting “Sugar” Shane Mosley and Sharmba Mitchell is going to fight Floyd Mayweather in November. How did this make you feel and what did you learn from it?
CS: “It just basically confirmed what I thought all a long. I felt that I am the fighter that I thought I was. I am a world class fighter. Everybody that has gotten a victory over me has gone on to fight world class guys. Estrada went on to fight “Sugar” Shane who is still doing his thing and Sharmba is fighting Mayweather, the best pound for pound fighter in the world. If anything he has helped me to deal with the situation better, as well as look at my career in perspective.”
SB: What do you feel would have been the downside in taking the rest of the year off?
CS: “I would have been really frustrated. I just want to fight. I fight for a living, but I am not even thinking about the money. I just want to fight and perform for the fans. This is what I do and this is what I love to do. I am a retro kind of guy; you see my trunks say ‘Pugilist’ on them. (laughs)”
SB: What are some of the adjustments that you have made in your technique and training regimen?
CS: “You know, I was labelled as someone who started off slow. But in most of my fights I dictate the pace. So, if I am dictating the pace, how am I starting off slow? So whatever, I am trying to start of faster. I am throwing a lot more punches and my combinations are more fluid. I am no longer working on timing my shots; I am just letting my hands go. So forget about picking my shots and looking for power. That’s a no-no. I am dictating the pace of the fight with my jab. I feel that jab is the most important punch in all of boxing. Just look at the fight with “Winky” Wright against “Tito” Trinidad. I am just letting my hands go; my conditioning is there. So If I have to throw 100 punches a round, I will. I am looking now to wearmy opponent down.”
SB: Originally you were scheduled to face Virgil McClendon. Could you inform the readers why he pulled out?
CS: “From what I was told it was a back injury he sustained. I think he might have herniated a disk, but I am not sure. Once I heard he was out I didn’t need to hear anymore.”
SB: How does the fact that you’re taking on a replacement opponent change your training regimen?
CS: “It hasn’t changed anything at all. I am just coming to fight. My mentality is that I lost two fights in a row. I am coming to drop bombs. If it goes ten then it goes ten but I am coming to fight. I am gonna do what I got to do. So all that other stuff doesn’t mean anything.”
SB: For those of us that haven’t seen Tomas Barrientes fight, what does he bring to the table?
CS: “He has a lot of experience and he has a lot of knockouts. He has fought a world champion or two and is 27-8 (17). He is no stiff and he is a worthy adversary.”
SB: Are you content with your matchmaker’s decision in choosing Barrientes as the opponent for where you are now, careerwise ?
CS: “It’s not even up to me. I was scheduled to fight two other guys before him. I am just one half of ready and willing so it doesn’t matter who it is.”
SB: Chris, you are the former NABA Welterweight Champion. This bout is for the interim NABA title. Does this mean that Sharmba is vacating the title to fight Floyd?
CS: “He is definitely dropping the title to fight Floyd. The option is there for him to fight for the title if he wants to. But in my opinion I don’t think he will want to fight me again. He knows that I had him figured out and it was
just a matter of time the first time around. I certainly don’t think he is going to beat Floyd.”
SB: Pending a victorious outcome, is there any possibility that the fans will see the “Mechanic” versus Estrada or Mitchell again in a rematch?
CS: “I am hoping I can get a chance to fight Estrada; I have to correct that loss. With Mitchell fighting Floyd on the 19th, the only person out there for me to fight is Estrada. After tomorrow night, there is no reason why it shouldn’t happen. David and I are stablemates. I am hoping Lou (DiBella) can make it happen. I would love
to get back at that guy. I am one half of ready and willing. I want him to be the other half.”
SB: Last but not least is there anything that you would like to say or add that hasn’t been mentioned before?
CS: “The only thing that comes to mind is that ‘The Mechanic’ is still here. In fact, I never left. My confidence is as high as it’s ever been. I just want to fight the best fighters out there and I want to bring back my title back to
Queens, New York and the whole Tri-State area.”
With that being said, on behalf of saddoboxing.com we would like to wish Chris “The Mechanic” Smith the best of luck on Friday night as well as wishing him continued success both in and out of the ring.
Tickets for this event can be purchased at any ticket master location or by calling 1 (877) 833-SHOW. Tickets are going fast.
