Exclusive Boxing Interview: Virgil Hill

Virgil “Quicksilver” Hill: A Pro For 22 Years And Still A Force To Be Reckoned With

Virgil “Quicksilver” Hill, 50-5 (23), has done it all. I don’t care who you name in this sport, current or past, Virgil Hill’s accomplishments thus far can compare to anyone’s. He is a five-time world champion, WBA Light Heavy twice, IBF Light Heavy and two time WBA Cruiserweight Champion. Hill won a Silver Medal in the 1984 Olympics. He is a former KO Magazine Fighter of the Year, WBA Fighter of the Year in 1993, and WBA Comeback of the Year fighter in 2000.

As if that weren’t enough, Hill holds the record for all time title defenses in the light heavyweight division (19), plus at 42 years of age, he is still competitive, winning his second WBA Cruiserweight title earlier this year. Despite this long list of achievement, Virgil Hill isn’t even thinking about retirement. At least not in full.

The man from Grand Forks, ND has been in this business 22 years. Over that time, he has been in with some of the best. He holds wins over Fabrice Tiozzo, Lou De Valle, Bobby Czyz, Frank Tate, Marvin Camel, Drake Thadzi and Adolpho Washington, to name a few. His only losses have come against a prime Roy Jones Jr, Dariusz Michalczewski and Jean Marc Mormeck (twice). His first loss came against the legendary Thomas Hearns back in 1991, proving that over the span of his career, Hill was never one to seek out the easiest fights available.

When Hill steps back into the ring in March of 2007, it will be against Henry Maske, 30-1, the man Hill beat for the IBF Light Heavyweight title in 1996. Looking for his 51st win in 56 fights, Hill in no way overlooks his opponent. As always, Hill plans on training hard and approaching the Maske fight like every other bout; have a plan to stick to and the hope that his skill and ring savvy will get him through. Given his long experience at the highest levels of the sport, there is no reason to think that those tools would fail him against old foe Maske.

This is what Virgil Hill had to say about that fight, his career and more, exclusively to SaddoBoxing.

SaddoBoxing: Virgil, finally we speak; How are things?

Virgil Hill: “They’re going; I’ve been busy with the WBA and trying to keep the belt.”

SB: Boxing politics can be rough…

VH: “It’s always something or another.”

SB: Virgil, first thing I want to say is that you’re 42 yrs old and still a world champion! I have to commend you on that. How do you manage to not only stay active on a competitive basis, but also on top of your game for so long? Most guys are long retired by now.

VH: “I have been very fortunate. I also have slowed down some, I only had one fight last year. I have had some long layoffs, so that help on the body plus I always stay in the gym and keep in shape.”

SB: You’re fighting Henry Maske in March of 07,’ the guy you beat for the IBF Light Heavyweight title 10 years ago; how did this fight come about?

VH: “Well, we made some contacts at the WBA directors meeting; Chris Meyers helped with that. Actually, Maske’s people turned down the first offer when we contacted his promoters. Then about two weeks later, we got a call from his publicist and they said they wanted the fight but did not want to go through with Universum and the other guys to make the deal, he just wanted to deal directly with us so that’s how we did it.”

SB: After the Maske fight, are you looking to get in the ring with anyone particular, or just whatever comes next?

VH: “Whoever makes sense; I am in the twilight of my career and I want big fights so whatever ones come next is fine, but I want them to be worth it.”

SB: You’re fighting in March but like you said last year, you only fought once; what do you think you will be doing this time next year? Are you going to stay at this pace? Are you looking for just one more big fight or maybe will you just retire by then?

VH: “This time next year? We will see how I feel. Naturally, first I want to win. I want to look impressive winning. I have been arguing with the WBA about keeping my title and it is putting a bad taste in my mouth, so we will have to see. We have to take care of first things first in my next fight.”

SB: In 22 years, you have held five world titles and won many, many significant awards. What is out there left for you to accomplish? You are Hall of Fame bound. What keeps you in the game? It can’t be for lack of accomplishments.

VH: “There is always more to accomplish. I set goals for myself, I set both long term and short term goals. It’s not about breaking records or winning titles, it is about personal goals. When I was a kid and first started out, I had no idea what I was fighting for. Of course a world title was always the goal you had, but it was just a tunnel vision goal. Now at 42, I know what I want. I am involved in the whole process. I have fun at it now instead of just going in and fighting, not knowing about the rest that goes on.”

SB: Speaking of that. In your career you have faced a lot of fighters and made a lot of title defenses. You have met a lot of top caliber opponents in the ring. Today, we have many young guys with padded records. They are 33-0 or 29-0 without one big name on their record. The first time they get in with a legit fighter or a more experienced guy, they fold.

Two examples of this over the last few years have been Kermit Cintron and Sergei Liakhovich. Do you think that this is hurting these guys? Do you think it is hurting the sport to have guys out there with records of no substance?

VH: “Of course; there is no consistency…watered down titles. I mean, in two years time one belt today can have five different champions. Today, promoters, trainers and managers just want to get you to a title and that’s it. It is one thing to win a title, it is another to keep it. Even after you have a title, you need to keep fighting hard every time to keep it. Fight as hard just like you did to earn the belt.

Things are so diluted. There are four world titles that are recognized plus stuff like IBU, WBU, and IBO…etc. Too many to keep up with. It is just not the same anymore. There was a time when the heavyweight championship was the most important thing in all of sports. Nothing was more important then the heavyweight title. Now a days with so many belts, a fighter has to take what he can get for a world title. All these organizations care about is their 3 ½ percent, nothing else.”

SB: Let me ask you about another guy who has managed to have the longevity you have; Bernard Hopkins. He loses the middleweight title to Jermain Taylor, loses the rematch then jumps two divisions up and schools Antonio Tarver for light heavyweight bragging rights. Now there is talk of him going all the way up to heavyweight and fighting Oleg Maskaev. What do you think about him stopping at cruiserweight first? The man with the most light heavyweight title defenses against the man with the most middleweight title defenses showing the younger guys how it is done?

VH: “Hey, I would love to fight Hopkins. He, now like me, though, is at a point where he has to take the fights that make the most sense for him, what would be the most financial. But yeah, I would fight him.”

SB: You have been around the sport a long time and you have seen about everything there is to see. What do you think about Golden Boy Productions? The are signing everyone in sight. Most importantly, I want your opinion on some of the complaints that have rumored to come from guys like Bob Arum and Don King. Arum has made a public statement about their practice of signing fighters, yet they are seemingly doing what is best and looking out for the fighters themselves?

VH: “How can these guys say anything? How could Arum even make a statement? These guys did the same thing for years. For him to complain, he is making a fool of himself. Look, you are going to sign with who is best for you. You are going to sign with who understands you best. Right now, I think it has to do with the fact they are signing all the Hispanic fighters and they aren’t signing with Arum and King.

“If I spoke Spanish, I would sign with them over the others. They know me. They understand me better and they are looking out for me. Not just looking out for themselves. It only makes sense to sign with who is going to be there for you when needed.”

SB: Virgil, anything to say to your fans out there?

VH: “Just I am ready for my next fight, I hope people can come out to see it. It is going to be big. I am in shape and I am ready, then we will see from there.”

SB: Champ, as always on behalf of SaddoBoxing and myself thank you for your time. On a personal note, I have been a fan for a long time so it has been a privilege speaking with you. Good luck in March against Henry and with your WBA battles.

VH: “Thank you.”