Exclusive SaddoBoxing Interview: Matt Godfrey

Getting ready to be “Too Smooth” for Jeremy Williams

On November 24, undefeated NABF Cruiserweight Champion Matt “Too Smooth” Godfrey, 16-0 (9), sets to defend his title for the second time against Jeremy “Half Man Half Amazing” Williams, 42-5 (35), in Hartford, Connecticut’s Convention Center.

Godfrey, who will be fighting for the third time in seven months, will be taking on his most experienced opponent to date in a bout that honestly has some people shaking their heads, wondering how it all came about, including Godfrey.

Williams, who has not fought under the 195 lb mark since 1992 and had not stepped into the ring since being starched by Samuel Peter via second round KO in December of 2005, began his comeback towards the cruiserweight division in August of this year with a lackluster eight round split decision victory over lightly regarded Gary Gomez, 18-8-1.

Shortly after the Gomez bout and a performance that has been described as “painful to watch”, Matt Godfrey’s name suddenly began to spout out of Williams’s mouth like a geyser shooting water, even making comments such as “Matt Godfrey hasn’t done anything to impress me” and “Matt Godfrey is what stands in my way of a world title”. Words said with such a tone of conviction that one would think there was bad blood between the two dating back to grammar school.

Godfrey, who is known to be a consummate professional and gentlemen, has been reserved to this point, making it clear that while he respects the experience of Williams and refuses to look past any opponent, he will not be intimidated by trash talk nor will he be the one that Williams uses to springboard his way into the cruiserweight title scene.

Earlier today with the help of Godfrey’s new head trainer, “Iceman” John Scully, I was able to get in a few minutes with the current NABF cruiserweight champion for some insight on Jeremy Williams comments, how training is going with Scully as head trainer and what’s next for the New Englander after the 24th of November. Read it here exclusively on SaddoBoxing.

SaddoBoxing: As you’re putting the finishing touches on training camp, how are you feeling? How is the weight?

Matt Godfrey: “I feel fine, training is going great and as for weight, I have been on target since the end of September.”

SB: This your first fight with John Scully as your head trainer; how is the transition working out?

MG: “It’s going real well. John has worked my corner before, going all the way back to the amateurs and now he is my head trainer. He has tons of experience, he is an ex fighter himself so he knows what needs to be done in there. So camp has been real good.”

SB: As Scully has worked your corner before, even going as far back to your days in the amateurs, was there anything that happened between you and your last trainer to cause a split?

MG: “No, not at all. I worked with Peter Manfredo Sr., for a long time and for a short time I worked with Rolando Estrada, the father of Olympian Jason Estrada, but they both obviously have their sons as main priority and sometimes my fights conflict with theirs. Like when Peter fought Joe Calzaghe, we were both training at the same time, so I just thought at this point in my career I needed a full time trainer that would be able to focus on me alone. Other then that, there was no reason for the split.”

SB: I have to ask how Jeremy Williams came about as opponent. From what I have heard, he called you out; is that correct?

MG: “Yeah, this started a while back when Pinnacle Promotions had a card billed as “Night Of The Cruiserweights”. Jeremy Williams was starting his comeback and decided that the cruiserweight division was going to be the best place for him, I guess. I was on the card and next thing I know after the card took place, he is running around telling people he was not impressed with me? I am not really sure where that came from, but next thing you know, we were signing to fight.”

SB: Was there anything outside of the ring to set this off? I was looking over the press conference from November 1, and by some of the things said, it almost seems like there are personal feelings involved.

MG: “No, I have never met the man before this in my life. I have great respect for him as a person and I knew who he was as a fighter, but personally we never even spoke.”

SB: If I remember correctly, he called you a “scared puppy” who barks loud to hide his fear. Is there any truth to what he has been saying?

MG: “Yeah, you know, he has been saying a lot of things but he is going to find out on November 24th I am not the guy to be used as a springboard. When we get into the ring, all that talking is going to do him no good because then it will be just me and him. When I am in the ring, I don’t care who you are, even if you were my own brother.

“I don’t see a face, I see an opponent, I am there to do a job and that’s to win. It’s nothing personal, it’s just what I am there for, almost like I have tunnel vision and the only thing I can focus on is what is in front of me and my purpose for being there.”

SB: You yourself have stated that it was a big surprise when Williams called you out, especially since you have only had 16 fights as a pro. Williams, in return, tells everyone you are standing in his way of a world title at cruiserweight. Are there any valid claims to his boast? Especially since outside of his last bout, Williams has not fought under 215 lb in almost 8 years and hasn’t fought under 200 since his debut in 1992. Or do you think this is a classic case of looking for the weakest link in a chain and with you’re only having 16 fights, he thinks he has found that link?

MG: “I don’t know if he sees me as the weak link or not, I really cannot say what runs through his mind, but I do think that he sees my NABF title as a shortcut to a world title shot. It’s just that he doesn’t realize he made a mistake. I am looking to get my own shot at a world title and this kind of makes me mad because I have to take another fight that I don’t need, just to get rid of this guy and shut him up. All those things are not important though, right now the only thing on my mind is the 24th and when that fight is over, I will continue my way to the championship.”

SB: Given that Williams could be your toughest opponent and this being a bout you really do not need to take, is that added pressure for you? Knowing that a loss could be a setback?

MG: “Not at all, I am taking this fight very seriously like I do all my fights, but it is just another fight on my way to the world title. Williams is the one doing all the talking about this fight. To be honest, I think it is more pressure for him.

“I think it pisses him off, the fact all his comments don’t bother me he is not getting under my skin with the things he has been saying and that’s what I think he wanted to do. He will find out come the 24th of November, he made a big mistake. Jeremy likes to talk a lot. If he talked a bit less and did more fighting, maybe he would not have five losses on his record.”

SB: Do you think Williams moved down to the cruiserweight division because in his last fight at heavyweight, he didn’t fare too well? We have all seen what happened in his fight with Sam Peter and maybe he is hoping that the lighter weight class will improve his chance at winning a world title?

MG: “Well, I hope that’s not what he thinks. The cruiserweight division is a tough one right now and this is a division with some athletic guys, guys who can not only punch with heavyweight power, but throw more punches per round. It doesn’t matter who he is sparring with, when he gets in the ring with the top cruiserweights in the world, he will find that out. In the past when he has fought smaller guys who fit into the cruiserweight style, like Larry Donald, he was outboxed and made to look bad and that is what will keep happening to him.”

SB: Matt, assuming that you win the Williams bout and the fact you will still be the NABF Cruiserweight Champion, it puts you in a strong position as a top contender. You are ranked in the top ten right now, so will your next move be to target one of the belt holders or keep fighting and gain more experience?

MG: “I am ready, like I said, though I am not looking past this fight, but once this fight is over with, then we will go from there. When I become champion, I don’t want to be just another title holder. When people say ‘Matt Godfrey, world champion’, I don’t want someone to ask ‘Which title does he hold again?’ I want to be “THE” cruiserweight world champion.

“This way, there are no doubts or questions on who the champion of the world is in the cruiserweight division. Everyone will be able to say right away, Matt Godfrey! To me that is important, we have enough title holders in boxing, what boxing needs is more world champions.”

SB: I am assuming that you have seen the Jean-Marc Mormeck vs. David Haye bout last weekend; any comments on the result?

MG: “To be honest, I missed it. When I am in training, I don’t really watch the fights at all, I only concentrate on what is in front of me. After the fight is when I’ll probably catch it.”

SB: How does it feel to be fighting in front of your hometown crowd, defending your NABF title in what may be the biggest fight so far in your career?

MG: “It’s great, when the hometown crowd is behind me I feel like there is nothing I can’t do in there. They make me feel almost like if I get in trouble it’s OK because they will be right there to help me, It is a great feeling to have support like that.”

SB: Anything you want to say to your supporters or make a prediction on the outcome?

MG: “I just want to say thanks to all the New England fans out there, they are the best fans in the world and on November 24th with the New England crowd behind me, I know that I am going to win the fight.”

SB: Matt, thanks for your time champ, good luck on the 24th.

MG: “Thank you.”