Exclusive Boxing Interview: Dmitriy Salita

Undefeated Dmitriy Salita, 27-0-1 (15), had been training in upstate New York in the Catskill Mountains to prepare for a fight on September 5 when he was forced to pull out due to a hand injury. He is hoping that his misfortune will turn out to be a blessing in disguise by getting a title shot against WBA Junior Welterweight champion Gavin Rees.

Click for larger image © Jim Everett Saddo Boxing

SaddoBoxing: You recently had to pull out of your fight scheduled for this past week due to a hand injury during training camp. How did the injury occur?

Dmitriy Salita: “It happened early in camp. I hurt my hand but it got better but then I hurt it again and it got worse. I didn’t want to go into a fight not being 100%. My trainers advised me that my hand was sprained and not to go on with the fight.”

SB: Do you have any plans to return to the ring soon?

DS: “My promoter is in serious discussions for me to face Gavin Rees who is the WBA Junior Welterweight champion. I publicly called him out though different boxing media and the press in England. I hope I get the opportunity. If I get the opportunity, I think I will become the new world champion and make history. That is the fight I am looking for right now and hopefully it will be made for the undercard of Calzaghe – Kessler on November 3rd.”

SB: How did you get your start in boxing?

DS: “I started boxing at the age of 13 at the Starrett City Boxing Club. Starrett City Boxing Club has produced a lot of talent over the years. I was fortunate enough to grow up with all the kids that are very successful now and box with them. Curtis Stevens, Joe Greene, Luis Collazo, Monte Barrett, Jaidon Codrington and Gary Starks are all guys that are a product of the Starrett City Boxing Club. It’s been a great education and I believe that those early gym wars and sparring sessions with that great talent is what is responsible for my success today. We always had a very competitive atmosphere in the gym.”

SB: When you were younger were there any fighters that you idolized or tried to emulate?

DS: “I always looked up to Oscar De La Hoya, because his fights were such great events. People really look up to him; he is a good icon for the sport of boxing. Even though he was like a rock star, nevertheless when the big fights came he isolated himself in Big Bear, he got in great shape and he performed and I truly admire that. Oscar is a great fighter, a great entertainer and turned out to be a great business man.”

SB: How vast of an amateur career did you have?

DS: “I had 60 fights. I won the nationals, I won the Golden Gloves and I got the Sugar Ray Robinson Award for outstanding boxer in the tournament. I won pretty much every inter-city tournament in New York City six years in a row. I was a good amateur and right after I won the Nationals and the Gloves I turned pro.”

SB: Did you have any other influence other than your amateur career that motivated you to turn professional?

DS: “It’s a dream that I had from a very young age. I noticed that all the successful pros from New York City won the Nationals and won the Golden Gloves so after I won the Golden Gloves and got the Ray Robinson Award which was the icing on the cake, it seemed like the right time. I got a great offer from Bob Arum at Top Rank and I turned pro.”

SB: Why did you stop working with Top Rank?

DS: “My contract expired and I signed with DiBella Entertainment a little over two years ago.”

SB: Talk to me a little bit about your professional career. So far, you’re undefeated; some of the boxers that you mention training with, Stevens, Codrington and Starks, within the last couple of years they had undefeated records and now have a loss. What type of pressure do you feel trying to keep your undefeated record?

DS: “I never want to have a loss on my record in my career and that’s what motivates me and what drives me. With having a certain amount of success there is always a pressure to perform and a pressure to do well. I kind of had the spotlight on me even from my amateur days. I have learned to deal with it and learned to use it to my advantage. Also when you have a bit of an off night everyone is quick to criticize because the spotlight is so bright.

“One of the problems what might have happened with some of those fighters that I don’t want to happen to me is that when you are undefeated you want to be challenged and fight other good fighters so that you can progress and achieve the goals that you want and when you are artificially kept at a certain level and not allowed to sprout and progress in a smart way it affects your psychological and physical state.”

“When people come to fight with me, even the guys that have the opponent label they always try very hard and from what I have learned when you have a boxer that has two hands and has been given an opportunity you have to be careful and be in great shape and be mentally sharp to fend off his attack. Most of the time the man across the ring looking at you is coming to win and you better be ready for it.”

SB: In your career what would you say was your toughest fight?

DS: “All fights are tough in their own certain way especially when you are coming up. Different fights offer different learning opportunities because you have different mindsets and you are still young and you’re growing so you approach things differently. Every fight has presented difficulty in its own way. The most difficult opponent is yourself, to be able to motivate and get yourself in the right shape physically, mentally, psychologically, and spiritually to be able to perform well.”

SB: When you fought against Ramon Montano you were dropped twice in the first round and were able to fight back to a draw, talk about what happened during that fight.

DS: “I was sick before the fight and I wanted to pull out but I was told my opponent was sort of a tune up fight and was nothing serious. Because of my cold I had to loose seventeen pounds in the two weeks leading up to the fight. It made me extremely weak under my conditions. When I went down it was a shock but being in the locker room that night I had the feeling I shouldn’t be there. Thank God I was able to pull it out and I was able to walk out of there without a blemish, it was a tremendous learning experience that made me become a better boxer and made me grow up inside and outside the ring.”

SB: You were able to show tremendous heart being able to get up from two knockdowns and finish an eight round fight to a draw; it probably felt like quite an accomplishment.

DS: “Thank you. The tide was turning as the fight was progressing, had it been a ten round fight it might have gone my way. Montano is turning out to be a very good fighter; he beat (Americo) Santos who was a top ten ranked junior welterweight. He is a very tough, good fighter. It was definitely a learning experience to fight under less than perfect conditions.”

SB: You mention before the fight having to loose considerable weight; in your last couple fights you came in above the 140 mark. Is it a problem for you to make the weight at the junior welterweight division?

DS: “My last fight was at 143 pounds, its work to get down to the 140 mark. It’s not a problem, my body has matured and I have learned my body better to make that weight. I just want the opportunity to fight for a world title and I think it will be a tremendous event. With the proper amount of time I will make the weight in a healthy way and I will be ready to rumble.”

SB: What weight do you walk around at in between fights?

DS: “I walk around in the mid 150’s. I kind of always stay in the gym to prevent myself from going up higher in weight. I try to eat right and stay in good enough shape where getting down is not going to be a huge problem.”

SB: We have talked about what you would like to do short term getting the WBA title shot; have you thought about what would like to accomplish five years down the road?

DS: “I would like to win world titles in multiple weight divisions. I would like to be remembered as a great fighter, I want to be in the hall of fame. Sometimes all you need is that one break to get you in the door. I want my opportunity, I am knocking at the door and I hope it opens up sooner than later. I am working hard for my success and looking forward to the right opportunities and I hope that they can be provided.”

SB: Before we close is there anything that you would like to say to your fans?

DS: “I would like to thank them for their support and God willing I will get my title opportunity to be the junior welterweight champion of the world and I will prove that I am the best junior welterweight in the world by fighting other champions. I look forward to seeing them at the fights. I want to thank SaddoBoxing and thank you for the interview.”

SB: I appreciate your time. I wish you luck with getting your opportunity for your title shot.

DS: “Thank you, again.”