Boxing Q & A: Jean Paul Mendy – Henry Buchanan
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In one of two exciting semi-final match-ups, Jean Paul Mendy will take on Henry Buchanan Friday, Oct. 6, 2006, on SHOWTIME at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast) as the “ShoBox†super middleweight tournament continues. In the other 10-round contest from the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, Calif., former sparring partners Tony Hanshaw and LaFarrell Bunting will square off.
On Jan. 5, 2007, the winner of the tournament final will take home the International Boxing Organization (IBO) 168-pound title. Gary Shaw Productions, LLC, is promoting the tournament that offers two boxers in the original international field of eight the rare opportunity to appear on national television three times in only seven months.
JEAN PAUL MENDY Q & A
Question: Can you discuss your career before entering the tournament?
Answer: I am a good fighter and want to become world champion. I go fight by fight until I get the opportunity to go to the world championship. My goal is to become the champion.
Question: What attracted you to the “ShoBox†super middleweight tournament?
Answer: It is interesting because there is a lot of talent, and I was waiting for the opportunity for a long time. Now, I have that opportunity. I love SHOWTIME and SHOWTIME people.
Question: Can you break down your performance against your first-round opponent, Dallas Vargas?
Answer: It was a tough fight. I adapted to Vargas.
Question: What specifically do you think a win in this tournament would do for your career?
Answer: If I win, it will give me a great opportunity. I will be the world champion in Europe and prove my spot as a champion. I will move forward to fight the best fighter in the world. I am looking forward to working with SHOWTIME and to get more fights as a champion.
Question: What makes you the class of the four remaining tournament fighters?
Answer: I am a good man and I get a lot of respect. I am a good fighter, one of the best. I am very exciting to watch and I am a rated champion. The others are not just good fighters mentally and physically, but they know how to adapt to the opponent.
Question: Is the opportunity to scout your upcoming opponent, Buchanan, an advantage, or does it not make a difference in your preparation or confidence level?
Answer: There is no difference. I will take any opponent, and, when that day comes, I know exactly what I have to do. It is just another fight. We will both be in good shape.
Question: What do you respect about Buchanan?
Answer: Buchanan is a good fighter. He is there to fight hard and to win the fight. I respect him first and foremost as a human being.
Question: What do you fear about Buchanan?
Answer: I am not worried. I am there to fight. I do not feel any pressure.
Question: Do you see any flaws with Buchanan? If so, how will you exploit them?
Answer: I will not really know until the day of the fight. Then, I will see his weaknesses and be able to adapt to them and fight like a champion.
Question: Is there a fighter in this tournament who you have been eyeing from the start as someone that you believed you would eventually have to get past?
Answer: All of the boxers will give me a tough fight. But, I have more talent. I am not worried. I just have to be in good shape, mentally and physically. There is no fighter as good as me. I am very cautious and respect every opponent I face. I am ready to fight.
Question: Is there any reason why Europeans have dominated the 168-pound division, or is it just a coincidence?
Answer: It is just a coincidence. The best fighters are in the U.S.A. It can happen in Africa, Asia etc. Europeans have dominated with Joe Calzaghe.
Question: At 32 and having fought primarily in France, how important is it at this point in your career to make a name for yourself and win the tournament?
Answer: It is always important to win the tournament and to make a name for myself. I need to be a fighter like Calzaghe, fight everyone and be the best in the world.
HENRY BUCHANAN Q & A
Question: Can you discuss your career before entering the tournament?
Answer: I have really fought locally in local fights. I have not fought anyone with a significant name. I would like to fight Sharmba Mitchell and Keith Holmes, anything to work on my creditability.
Question: What attracted you to the “ShoBox†super middleweight tournament?
Answer: The tournament allowed me the opportunity to fight people with significant records so I can get my record up.
Question: Can you break down your performance against your first-round opponent, Lucas Green-Arias?
Answer: I broke my hand in the first round. I fought with one hand and did not give any excuses. I did not tell my trainer and finished the fight. I am a lot better now, and you will get to see my power.
Question: What specifically do you think a win in this tournament would do for your career?
Answer: A win in this tournament will catapult my career. I will be in the top 10 as super middleweight. It would be wonderful.
Question: What makes you the class of the four remaining tournament fighters?
Answer: I am a better boxer than any of the other guys. I will out box the other fighters. They are amateur. But right now, I am just focusing on Mendy.
Question: Is the opportunity to scout your upcoming opponent, Jean Paul Mendy, an advantage, or does it not make a difference in your preparation or confidence level?
Answer: Scouting my next opponent is not an advantage, but I will clearly out box Mendy. I have fought with numerous fighters and trained with them. I have not seen Mendy fight a lot, but we have a little take on him. All I can do is prepare myself the best I can.
Question: Based on what Mendy did in the first round of the tournament against Dallas Vargas, is he an ideal opponent for you?
Answer: It is a tournament. You have to fight who wins and keep going. I just have to go in and knock them down. Mendy did not impress anyone with what he did with Vargas.
Question: What do you respect about Mendy?
Answer: I don’t know a lot about him. As a man, I respect him. As a fighter, he is in my way.
Question: What do you fear about Mendy?
Answer: Nothing at all.
Question: Do you see any flaws with Mendy? If so, how will you exploit them?
Answer: Mendy did not show anything in the first fight. He was stronger than Vargas, but Vargas chose to stand still. I will not stand still just to get knocked out. I am a boxer.
Question: Given Mendy’s world-class amateur experience and number of professional fights, why should anyone believe that you match up against him?
Answer: A fight is a fight. Everyone has a punch. One punch can end any fight. Mendy does not clearly overmatch me. Mendy has not fought any tough opponents.
Question: What do you have to do better against an unquestionably better fighter like Mendy?
Answer: I just have to be myself. Don’t get tricked into a street fight. Do what I do best.
Question: Is there a fighter in this tournament who you have been eyeing from the start as someone that you believed you would eventually have to get past?
Answer: Not at all. The tournament changed fighters all the time. I am just happy to get the opportunity to get in the tournament and fight some class talent and move up in ranking.
Question: Did it bother or surprise you when the fans in Las Vegas booed your late-round performance in your first-round bout against Arias?
Answer: I just laughed about it. No one knew I broke my hand. I tried to wake the fans up. Arias was no match for me. I beat him with one hand, and played around with the crowd even though I had the fight in the bag.