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In his last fight, hard-hitting middleweight Willie Gibbs, of West Philadelphia, fought in his backyard for only the third time in his 20 pro fights & it was just what the fans needed! On 10-28-2005 Willie “the Gladiator” Gibbs (19 fights, 18 wins with 15 ko’s, & only 1 loss) gutted it out against Super Middleweight Marcos Primera (31 fights, 19 wins with 12 ko’s, 10 losses, & 2 draws) once again to establish his name in bold letters & regain his spot in the middleweight division after his loss to Daniel Eduord.
Prior to defeating Primera, you might remember Gibbs 2nd round TKO over Andres Pacheco this past April, but more remember the hard fought battle against Edouard that took place last year on ESPN2 at the Mohegan Sun Casino. In a matter of 4 rounds it was fast becoming a fight of the year candidate as both men battered each other from corner to corner. It was almost a done deal until Gibbs got dropped & did’nt pass the refs approval the second time around. That did’nt stop Gibbs image from skyrocketing across the sky or the discussions getting cranked up around the U.S. at water coolers.
Gibbs was the talk of the town so to speak.
Not for nothing, on our forum, Gibbs has been talked about quite a bit more than Edouard (who reached his fame by getting TKO’ in 3 by Taylor) & questions are asked daily…so I thought that it was time to chase the man down & enlighten Americans & Brits alike to the wonders of Willie “the Gladiator” Gibbs.
So what is up with Willie “the Gladiator” Gibbs ? Where has he been? What are his thoughts on the middleweight division? Where does he go from here…and what’s it like having to uphold the Hopkins name & reputation?
Well…let’s just ask him & find out shall we….
MJ: Willie…thanks for your time. I appreciate it. I am sure that you are very busy & I hate to catch you right during the holidays…but what can I say…you needed to be heard & I am more than eager to spread the word. The purpose of this phone call is to get everything out of you that I can & clue everyone on our website Saddoboxing.com…from England to the United States as to just who Willie Gibbs is & what Willie Gibbs is all about…so, let’s get crackin. Ready?
MJ: Your’e Willie Gibbs, the Gladiator, a 29 year old, hard hitting, 160lb Orthodox warrior, from Philly that’s been making quite an impact in the middleweight division…what motivates Willie Gibbs?
Willie: The thing that motivates me is my past & that I put a whole into this boxing thing & actually grinding out & getting up to this far. My son & my family…that’s what motivates me.
MJ: Yeah I hear you. Looking back through your record & the fights of you that I have on tape (Eduoard, Pacheco, & Marquez) it’d been a good while since you had fought in Philly…what was it like being back in front of the home crowd gutting it out against Primera?
Willie: Ummmm…yeah that was actually two years.
MJ: Two years huh? Man..
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Willie: Yeah…I had’nt fought in front of the home crowd in two years. It was a good experience coming back home to fight Primera. He was actually trying to beat me that night & I had to change my boxing plan around.
MJ: To my knowledge, that’s only the second time that youv’e had to go the distance with your opponant. You generally drop whomever steps up. Was there something about Primera?
Willie: Yeah…yeah…
MJ: Right…was he just that tough of an opponant? Was he giving you some issues or where you just putting on a show for the fans?
Willie: Actually he wasnt giving me issues he was just trying to survive the first couple of rounds. I was actually trying to get him out of there early but he looked @ my tapes & he had a good strategy. Two fighters with two differnt strategies gonna come out a good fight. He actually wanted me to bomb away with him & then we got into a long stretch. If I had bombed away with him early he woulda picked up & survived the first 6 rounds & tried to tire me out.
MJ: Most people recognize you from the Eduoard fight…but the main thing was…that was short notice right?
Willie: Yeah. Yeah that was actually only a 3 week notice & I was above my weight limit & I took the fight because it was ranking & it was the USBA belt…so I actually went out & I took the fight. I coulda pulled out knowing that my weight wasnt just right where it should have been but as me signing on the dotted line stating I was gonna take the fight…I had to…you know obey my contract & you know…I’m a warrior, I’m a Gladiator. I said look I’m gonna take the fight even though I’m not feeling too good & I took it. But I actually wanted to get him outta there because I knew I wasnt healthy so I gambled & I wanted to get him out of there.
MJ: Man that was a fantastic fight…
Willie: Yeah that was a heart & you know balls & sweat & tears in that fight.
MJ: Ha ha ha ha.
Willie: The referee actually stopped that fight. I made my 10 count. Got up on 2. He gave me the 8 count, he asked me if I was alright & I told him yeah I’m alright, but as the referee he just called the fight because he didnt want to see no more damage but I wasnt hurt it was just that I got hit behind the head & my equilibrium was gone.
MJ: Well…you know people have taken notice of you from that fight, but that fight’s the only blemish for you & that was a gutty show…so it was’nt that bad. Many people think that your rise to fame came from your fight with Edouard…or atleast that’s when they took notice, but you’ve stopped or decisioned everyone that you’ve faced fairly easily accept one opponant. 11 of your 15 knockouts have all dropped before the 5th round right?
Willie: Yeah.
MJ: That’s impressive in itself. People miss things like that & that’s a shame. But even off that loss…people are taking notice of Willie Gibbs now, I think. Tell us what your best punch is…what’s the show stopper for Willie Gibbs?
Willie: I like my left hook to the body. I love that. I love it! It’s a significant punch for me…because no one ever expects it.
MJ: Next up…I want to ask about your amatuer career…because honestly…I just don’t know. Did you have an extensive am career? What’s your record like?
Willie: I was 92-10. I was an Olympic Captain for the 97 team I was going to Russia…Germany…I’ve been around.
MJ: Awesome…I had no clue. These days fighters are jumping weights like they change underwear…your fans are accustomed to seeing you fight at 160 in the past? Has the thought of moving up to Supermiddle in 2006 crossed your mind? Have the been any times that youv’e had issues with the weight or anything like that?
Willie: No…my weight is acutally good….I walk around about 168, so 60 pounds is good for me. If I want to go up in weight then yeah…but only after I reach my goal in middleweight.
MJ: Now this is a stupid question…an obvious one…what’s your goals at weight?
Willie: My goal is to get that middle weight belt…that championship middleweight belt…if Bernard don’t bring it back home (I interrupted him with laughter by this point…) then I have to go up & get it & bring it back home for the fans…to my Boston fans…for Hagler…& bring it back home to Philadelphia. So I have two homes, I have Boston…they love me out there & I love them the same & I have Philadelphia…born & raised in Philadelphia…so Boston is my second home…I would love to bring the belt back there too.
MJ: Now speaking of Bernard…as far as Bernard goes…how do you see that rematch with Taylor coming out?
Willie: See Bernard does very good on rematches. It’s up to Bernard. If he brings his A game to the rematch he get’s the fight…but he’s gonna have to knock Taylor out. He’s gonna have to knock Taylor out…he’s gonna have to knock him out or he’s gonna have to beat him real real bad. If not then he goes & moves up to light heavy & fights Tarver or somebody like that.
MJ: See…I’m a huge huge Hopkins fan…
Willie: Ha ha ha yeah…
MJ: If you were to ever visit our site…it’d be painfully obvious to you that I am a Hopkins Family fan man…many times you three are the subject of my posts…I’ve got a pretty goofy question for you…& it’s plagued me for over a year now…between you & Demetrius…as far as the title goes…who’s keeping rights to “The Gladiator” title? You both have the same fighting knickname…ahhhhhhhh ha…so what’s the deal with that?
Willie: Yeah yeah…what’s the deal with that? Yeah…I was the first Gladiator!
By this point I have broken into an uproar…Willie’s nothing but personality all the way.
MJ: I hear ya…
Willie: Demetrius…he was calling himself Dynamite at first…but I don’t know what’s the deal with that. But if he want be a Gladiator he can be a Gladiator. Yeah. There’s room for everybody. You know but in their domes…their all Gladiators…it don’t matter that you get knocked down…but it’s who survives…it’s how you get back up.
MJ: Heh heh heh heh. I hear ya…
Willie: It’s all about how you get back up. You know what I’m saying…that’s how you know who the Gladiator is…Willie’s the Gladiator! Ha ha ha.
MJ: I hear that. Let’s talk Philly. In the past when you heard the words boxing & Philadelphia in the same sentence or conversation…it ends up equating to one word: LEGENDS. We always hear about Philadelphia fighters & what it takes to be a Philly fighter…& that no one knows boxing better…explain that. What makes a Philly fighter such a different beast from the run of the mill animals of the square circle? What makes them so different from any other fighter?
Willie: Well…you actually get the real definition of a fighter coming from Philadelphia. You get the perseverence of the training, then you get the heart of the fighter himself, then you get the love of the fan base that brings the Philadelphia out of the fighter & the willingness to trade & fight. All this comes together to become a Philly fighter. Then you have the old timers that grounded the group & then we followed in their footsteps. You used to get those fighters that want to slam & bam & brawl all day but now it’s a time of surviving & using your fights & getting the fight the same way. You’ve got Bernard Hopkins he survived coming out of Philadlephia. You got Meldrick Taylor…you know…you have Ivan Robinson…they was all Philadelphia fighters…you know…that’s what makes a Philly fighter…you got the heart & the balls to pull it through & everybody loves an underdog. So we always considered in Philadelphia as! being an underdog.
MJ: I hear you man. As far as your trainer…your trainer is Charles Ramey…& don’t get me wrong…the man’s done a damned fine job but do you ever take any hints or tips from your Uncle? I know you knew that that question was coming…so let’s just get all of the Hopkins banter out of the way right now. Ha ha hah. (Bernard Hopkins & Willie are cousins to those readers that do not know.)
Willie: Yeah…yeah I take things from Bernard…he’s a great role model for me…I’m gonna take everything that I can take from him…but I aint gonna be in no man’s shadow. Once I’m in the ring…Bernard aint gonna feel the punch that I take. So I gotta do my own thing. Everybody can say look @ that he does things like Bernard…but I’m my own guy…
MJ: Yeah…that’s expected…
Willie: But I’ve noticed something from the beginning of my career to now…I got smarter. I have gotten smarter. It’s more of knowing your craft now. So that’s what I give to Bernard…it’s smartness…about Bernard…knowing your craft…
MJ: That’s odd that you say that because what I was going to say was that you lately, & I don’t mean this disrespectfully, you look like youve calmed down a bit. Generally it looked like you came out to drop the man, now it seems tha tyouve calmed down & you’re more accurate now. You’ve settled into what youre doing.
Willie: Yeah. Exactly. Yeah….I’ve been trying to place the harder shots right then & there & I’m just trying to box & stay focused. Literally…I’m a well conditioned fighter. I can go the rounds, I can go the distance…I’m there to perform & to put on the show. I’m there to have my fans love to see me fight. So when you put all that together that’s when it comes up to me being a more sturdy fighter that can do different things in the fight. I’m just not going to be a one dimensional fighter. All they see is bang bang bang all they see is Willie Gibbs trying to…you know I want to be more of a classical fighter…I want to give you stunning action…boom boom boom boom & pull it back a gear & be relaxed…
MJ: You looked great against Andres Pacheco on Friday Night fights & you performed quite well against Primera….but I’m just basically itching for you to set the record straight with Eduord….
Willie: Yeah. Oh I’m gonna set it straight…you know what else is crazy? They say a loss will actually do something good for you?
MJ: Yeah.
Willie: I never believe that…but I’m a firm believer of that now…because it…ahhhhhhhhh…it just woke me up. You know what I’m saying? It actually woke me up. I was standing there taking punches & was never phased by it but now…it’s like be smart in there. I want to have a long career…I want to invest my money. But I mean…if I don’t have a long career…I can’t invest no money…I’ll be workin at McDonalds or something. You know what I’m saying? Now it’s time to be smart about the situation. I’m gonna give my fans the fight they want to see…but it’s all in how you give it to them.
MJ: I mean…you taking that Eduoard fight on four weeks notice, I cant help but believe that if you had had a little more time you wouldve starched him…so I want to be clear that that fight’s not just gone & forgotten or is it just on the back burner for now?
Willie: No. I’m gonna get that rematch but if it dont come…that fight didnt hurt me…that fight helped me…so yeah…Im gonna try to get that rematch just because I wnat the world to know that that was just a…ahhhhhhhhh…a mistake. You always have room for improvement. Can I prove off of him. Yeah. Now…if he dont accetp the challenge…I’ll go somewhere else. They’s guys out there in the top then that I’d want. Theres Arthur Abraham thats rated #4. Theres Sam Soliman you konw that’s an awkward fighter…nobody couldnt hit him…because…ahhhhhh….well that he just moves so fast & he’s just slinky & awkward….
MJ: Speaking of that…how do you feel about Wright? How do you think that’s match up of Soliman & Wright is gonna pan out.
Willie: I see…if you just trying to box Winky & counter punch…you aint gonna win…
MJ: Exactly.
Willie: You gotta bang him out! You got to stay on top of him you got to make him fight. Hes like a Roy Jones but with better defense. You know what I’m saying? Great movement & great defense. But look what happened when Roy really got pressured…he cracked. He opened up. So if you do that to Wright you can see the outcome…but some of these guys that Winky been fighting didnt have no crack…but ummm Trinidad…but Trinidad just wasnt himself.
MJ: What you mean…you think that Trinidad was…what kind of worn out?
Willie: Yeah…yeah…there’s a whole lot to this boxing thing.MJ: So what’s next in line Willie? Have you got anything on the horizon? Who’s the next victim?
Willie: Hopefully if my management & promotion team gets it together I’ll be fighting again back on ESPN at the end of January. Hopefully it’ll be for teh USBA belt because Eduaord vacated that belt…so…either it’ll be for the Vacant USBA with one of the top 10 of the USBA…or you know I’ll just keep on keeping on because really belts aint makingthe fighter…it’s the fighter now that makes the fighter.
MJ: Right. It does seem like the belts are just wearing out & becoming worthless now…
Willie: If the fans call my name without no belt do I really need that belt?
MJ: Nope.
Willie: No. If it’s a belt that determines the fighter…after they clip a belt on him then everyone notices…see then theres trouble. But if the fans keep on yelling a name without a belt…they can put on a mega fight without a belt. It’s like Gatti & Ward. You know what I’m saying? They were true warriors that night. They went out there & they hugged & they kissed & they went to war…& that’s fighting. It was a true war.
MJ: Now as far as your promoter team…Richie Cappiello…awesome guy…very nice when we spoke…now that Bernard is running Golden Boy, has he made you any type of offer promotional wise?
Willie: Well…you know Bernard is working the East & I’m not sure if there is something in the makings up there or not…but I believe that after a couple of more fights or whatever, all the promotions are going to be trying to see what’s up. Richie has to stand his ground if he wants to we can do a co-promotion…but I’m all ears. I’m ready to hear what everyone has to offer you know but me & Richie we got a great promotional team & everybody loves the underdog…& right now me & Richie are the underdog…so it’d be better for us to crack the top together.
MJ: Loyalty. That’s a good thing in boxing…that’s a good thing.
Willie: Yeah…that’d be a great story if me & Richie cracked the top together. That’d be a great story having the two underdogs come out on top. How do the two underdogs come out on top…first it’s the promoter, second its the fighter. If the promoter get a nice fight card & a nice opponant & it comes out & we do it & when…that’s how we crack the top.
MJ: Now…as far as the rankings go…is there anyone that you see anyone coming up in the ranks (excluding yourself) that impresses you? Maybe someone that you’d rather not face? Someone that you’d be leary of?
Willie: No! No. I dont see nobody coming up…if so…they gotta catch up with me cause Im full steam ahead like an Amtrack train…I’ like one of them horses on a racing track…ha ha ha ha…I’m just not looking back…I’m gonna say I’m about three good fights away from my goal…a world championship shot. It’s just a matter of time & time is on my side & I feel good…I feel great…excellent.
MJ: Ha ha ha ha. I agree. I agree. Alright Willie…this is one of those oddball things that I do in interviews…I want to toss some names out to you & get some of your candid thoughts on these fighters as possible future opponents.
MJ: Sam Soliman:
Willie: Uhhhhhh…Sam Soliman…Weird!
MJ: Felix Sturm:
Willie: Sturdy.
MJ: Edison Miranda
Willie: Ummmm…ahhhhhh…rough…I say he’s willing to fight.
MJ: Winky Wright
Willie: Okay.
MJ: Arthur Abraham
Willie: Arthur Abraham..willing…I’m willing to fight him…willing.
MJ: Jermain Taylor:
Willie: Jermain? He’s good…
MJ: Alright…now…as far as Jermain Taylor goes…is it true that you did call out Jermaine Taylor before the first Hopkins fight & he refused you?
Willie: Yeah. Yeah.
MJ: I had read that somewhere & always wondered if that was just a rumor?
Willie: Yeah…it was when I fought at Atlantic city. After that Bernard said “No…let me take his pampers off first.” He said “…nah little cousin…let me crush him & then I send him down to you.” But you know…I would love to fight Jermain…I’ll tell you something…he don’t like the inside…you can get on the inside & give him a hell of a fight. You know? He’s a good arm stretch puncher but if you get on the inside that’s it. I see me & Taylor fighting for a World Championship…or if he keeps the belts & I see me taking them from him…
MJ: Ahhhhhhhh that was what I was just going to ask you…if Taylor retains the titles & Hopkins were to retire…
Willie: Yeah. I’d see myself knockin on his door in the next year. You know we sparred together, we was in training camps together, we did everything together, but this is business…& you can still be friends…but when you get in that ring you aint nobody’s friend.
MJ: So the Gladiator would step up to re-establish the family name & bring the belts back home?
Willie: Yeah…yeah…family man…family, man…that’s what motivates me…you know what I’m saying.
MJ: Alright then…well Willie…that’s about it…I appreciate you talking to us…it’s been a pleasure…is there anything else you’d like to add in closing?
Willie: Yeah…first & foremost I’d like to tell my fans & family out there to believe in god…he will strengthen you everyday…that’s my other motivation that keeps me strong & well & able to do this hard work.
MJ: Willie, it’s been an absolute pleasure talking with you & taking the time out for all of us over @ saddoboxing.com. I’m sure that everyone will be more than appreciative to read your words. Willie I wish you nothing but the best…I myself can not wait to see you step up in that ring again…
Willie: Yeah…yeah…once I do I’m gonna give you boy’s a shout out…send me a shirt & I’ll wear it in.
MJ: Alright man…good job Willie…keep it up.
Willie: Thanks man…peace.
