Russian Boxing Superstar Roman Karmazin Works Out For Media

ByBoxing Press

Click for larger image © Paul R. Hernandez for DKP

Former IBF 154-pound world champion Roman “Made in Hell” Karmazin, will defend his World Boxing Association Intercontinental super welterweight championship against Alex Bunema on Saturday, Jan. 19 at New York’s famed Madison Square Garden.

Karmazin (36-2-1, 23 KOs), now living in Los Angeles, and Bunema (26-9-2, 14 KOs), from the Democratic Republic of Congo, will clash in a match featured on the HBO Pay-Per View telecast during the “Bring on the Titans” event headlined by Felix “Tito” Trinidad vs. Roy Jones Jr. Two of the greatest boxers in history, Trinidad and Jones will face each other in a battle boxing fans have been waiting for years to see.

The Russian-born immigrant from St. Petersburg , who came to the United States to pursue his dreams of becoming a world champion boxer, will dedicate his fight to slain New York City Police officers and fellow Russian immigrants Eugene Marshalik and Russell Timoshenko, who were killed in the line of duty in March and July 2007, respectively.

Here is what Karmazin and his legendary trainer Freddie Roach had to say during a 60-minute media work out on Wednesday at Roach’s famous Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood , Calif.

Roman Karmazin: “I saw video of my opponent yesterday for the first time. He is not an easy fight and not a simple guy to figure out. I am preparing to go all 12 rounds. Depending on what I see from him, I will decide how it goes and how I will attack him. But I am ready to go 12 rounds to get the win.

“Any boxer in this gym would say that their best moment in boxing would be to win a world championship. My best moment is when I won it. Now I feel like I am capable of achieving a higher moment in boxing. The real champion is a guy who won a title, lost it and comes back to win it again. Everybody I talk to, from the media, to the promoters and the fans, everybody says that I won that fight against (Cory) Spinks. For me, in my mind, I lost that fight. At the time I was involved in other things. Spinks never won that fight, I lost it. I didn’t get beat. I lost it myself.

“I don’t like to think ahead. One thing I realize is that who I fight has nothing to do with me. I will fight anyone. I know I can handle the best and I deserve to fight a superstar in boxing. Everyone wants to fight (Oscar) De La Hoya. Everyone dreams of it. Of course I want to fight him, and I feel that I would beat him. A fight against Oscar would be a good opportunity to win some money, and a great chance to show the entire world that I can compete with the best.

“Everyone says ‘he’s a smart boxer, but he’s no de la Hoya.’ I want that chance to prove that I am. People ask if I would beat him, and all I say is give me a chance. I would like to thank Freddie Roach and the gym. In 2001, I came to this gym when I was supposed to fight De La Hoya. My dream was to fight out of this gym and be trained by Freddie. Now I have that opportunity and for him to lead me to another world title.

“It is difficult because my family is not here. I have three sons at home who depend on me. That is the most difficult part of pursuing my career. But the talent level is so great here that I have no choice but to choose L.A. The weather is also another reason why I train in Los Angeles . Here in L.A. I got a cold because it has been a little chilly the past week. In Russia it would have been a different story.”

Freddie Roach: “The training is going really well. I let him tell me what he needs to work on. He is a great counter puncher and he has a beautiful power left hook. He is capable of fighting any style opponent. He has his own routine. He trains really hard twice a day when he is not sparring. His work ethic is amazing and he is extremely focused.

“He is a very good boxer. I don’t have to do too much with Roman. I just show him a few basic things every now and then. He just knows boxing. All I had to do was make a few slight adjustments. He doesn’t speak much English, but he understands the boxing terminology. He is a very private guy here at the gym. He does his work and goes home.”