Exclusive Boxing Interview: Dmitriy Salita

© Jim Everett / Saddo Boxing

Tonight at Madison Square Garden, Brooklyn favorite Dmitriy Salita, 28-0-1 (16), will face Derrick Campos, 17-5 (10), for the vacant IBF Inter-Continental Light Welterweight title on the undercard of Joe Calzaghe and Roy Jones, Jr.

It is a night that Salita hoped he would be fighting for the WBA Light Welterweight title but unfortunately for him it’s something that he has only been “close to signing” on a couple of occasions, but has never come to fruition.

Salita is ranked number three by the WBA; looking back a little over a year ago he was hoping to line up a title match against then champion Gavin Rees. Rees lost the title to the WBA number one ranked Andriy Kotelnik in March of this year.

Kotelnik went on to win a voluntary defense of the title in September and was close to signing a contract to face Salita but withdrew due to an apparent rib injury. After hearing of the news, Salita issued an open letter to Kotelnik, “Last week it was your rib, and this week it’s the money, make up your mind which excuse will be used not to take the fight. It is obvious to me that you don’t want to fight me.”

Forced to find another opponent, Salita remains upbeat and is focused on the task at hand knowing that he needs to keep winning regardless of the opponent to get his title shot.

Salita is also looking forward to gaining exposure on the new HBO.com digital series which he will premiere in next week called “Ring Life”. The series will depict the real lives of eight different fighters which will have there stories told in three, four to six minute segments which will play weekly through April 2009.

SaddoBoxing had the pleasure to ask Salita a few questions during this week’s press conference.

SaddoBoxing: How did your preparation go for your upcoming fight?

Dmitriy Salita: “Training camp was great; I have been in the Poconos since September 1st. I took a little break to train in New York around the Jewish holidays. All together I have been in the Poconos for six and a half weeks. It’s been great; I can’t wait to show what I got on Saturday night.”

SB: You have been unsuccessful over the past year in trying to set up title shots for the WBA strap, first against Gavin Rees and now Andriy Kotelnik, explain what the experience has been like?

DS: “It was frustrating when I found out about it, it was pretty depressing, but that’s life, things happen. I’m focused on November 8, I know that he [Derrick Campos] will come to fight, first I have to take care of him and we will see what happens after that.”

SB: You had sent an open letter to WBA Champion Andriy Kotelnik after hearing that he did not accept the fight, did he respond to you?

DS: “He said he wasn’t getting enough money, so the fact that he was saying he wasn’t going to take the fight because his rib was hurt was just a story. I can’t make someone walk into the ring with me, it’s up to him, all they can do is try to offer him a lot of money which they did, Square Ring really tried to make this fight happen.

“I want to say that they are a great promotional company; they have been a pleasure to work with. We’ll see what happens, I think there is a lot of interest in that fight and I hope I do well and he stays healthy with his rib, with his heart among other things and we’ll talk about it down the road.”

SB: You recently signed your promotional contract with Roy Jones’ company Square Ring, how has the experience been so far?

DS: “Square Ring has done everything that they promised me, they are an incredible company. CEO John Wirt has done a really good job, a real pleasure to work with, I expect great things, I expect to do great things in the ring and I expect that they will do great things outside the ring. I think they will be a force to be reckoned with.”

SB: During the press conference, Mark Taffet from HBO spoke about a new digital series premiering on HBO.com this Monday, called “Ring Life”, which will profile eight different fighters, I understand that you will be starring in the first episode.

DS: “There is actually a little preview of it now on HBO.com. It’s a great honor to be on a show like that. I think it shows people my life inside and outside the ring I’m excited about it, it’s awesome, it’s kind of like 24/7 and HBO does such a great job producing it.”

SB: Were you able to show off your speed bag skills with your eyes closed?

DS: “I did, I hope they put it on.”

SB: That’s great (laughing), I wish you the best of luck.

DS: “Thank you Jim, see you on Saturday.”