Exclusive Boxing Interview: Sergei Liakovich
| WBO Heavyweight Champion, Sergei Liakovich 23-1 (14), will make his first title defense against WBO No. 3 ranked Heavyweight Contender, Shannon Briggs 47-4-1 (41) on November 4, 2006 at Chase Field, in Phoenix, AZ.
In an exclusive interview we had the opportunity to discuss the Heavyweight division and his upcoming bout with Shannon Briggs. Although Liakovich is polite and soft spoken he had strong opinions of the trash talking Briggs. |
 Click for larger image © Tom Casino Showtime Boxing |
Saddoboxing: Thank you for taking the time to speak with me today. I wanted to start out by congratulating you on your performance over Lamon Brewster last April to win the WBO Heavyweight Title. What have you been doing since winning the title?
Sergei Liakovich: Just training. Training hard.
SB: What were your expectations going into your first major Heavyweight Championship fight?
SL: I have basically been working on the mistakes I made during the Lamon Brewster fight. I am not going to make them again. I am correcting myself and working on some new things for Briggs.
SB: In addition, to that being your first championship fight it was also your first fight back in the ring after a year and a half lay off. Why did you take off so much time after your match with Dominick Guinn in December 2004?
SL: Because I had injuries. I was not active for sixteen months.
SB: Were the injuries something that bothered you during the Brewster fight?
SL: No, I am completely healed.
SB: How do you feel about the state of the heavyweight division and that all the title holders are from the former Soviet Union?
SL: Actually I am happy for those guys. Those guys deserve the titles. They work hard. Russian guy, American guy or African guy they are just a boxer and what they do in the ring is the important thing.
SB: Do you feel the Heavyweight division is in need of unification?
SL: Yes. This is what we will try to do after this fight. I hope this fight goes well for me and after this fight we will see what’s happening and I would love to unify the titles.
SB: Is there someone you would like to target first?
SL: I will fight any of those champions. Klitschko, Valuev or Maskaev if everything is ok and these guys will agree to fight me, so I will fight any of these champions.
SB: You mentioned earlier that you have been working on some new things for Briggs. How have you been preparing for the fight?
SL: I will only say I have been in camp a long time almost nine weeks.
SB: Briggs is one of the bigger fighters that you have fought in your career. What do you expect when you face him?
SL: You know everyone talks about his size. C’mon, you know what I had almost 150 amateur fights. I have fought much bigger and better guys then him. Size doesn’t matter it only matters what you will do in the ring.
SB: Looking back to the press conference you had in NY he likes to talk quite a bit while you seem much more reserved. Is there anything in particular about his trash talking that has gotten to you at all?
SL: First of all he tried to disrespect me. He doesn’t disrespect me. People like him these guys disrespect the sport and I love boxing. I am a boxing guy. He talks very personal. He is just a punk. On November 4 I will teach him a very good lesson.
SB: To get this fight with you Briggs signed with your promoter Don King. Can you describe your relationship with Don?
SL: Don is a great promoter and everybody knows. Sometimes he can be a little much but this is a business. He is just a great promoter.
SB: I appreciate your time and I would just like to give you the opportunity to say anything additional that you would like to all your fans.
SL: Like I told all my friends watch my fight. You will see Sergei Liakovich with much better boxing and much better punching.
SB: I wish you the best of luck in November and look to see a lot more of you.
SL: Thank you.