Exclusive Boxing Interview: Andre Dirrell

On May 2, 2008, undefeated super middleweight Andre “The Matrix” Dirrell takes on Anthony “The Tyger” Hanshaw at Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California on Shobox. Dirrell won an Olympic Bronze Medal in 2004 at 165 pounds while Hanshaw was in the class prior, losing to Jermain Taylor in the Olympic qualifier.

Dirrell was first spotlighted on HBO in June of last year on the undercard of Paulie Malignaggi vs. Lovemore N’Dou, in a winning performance against Curtis Stevens where many thought he could have done more.

Hanshaw hasn’t been active since dropping a lopsided decision to Roy Jones, Jr. as a light heavyweight. SaddoBoxing had the opportunity to speak with both Andre Dirrell and his trainer and grandfather, Leon Lawson, by phone.

SaddoBoxing: How long have you been training Andre?

Leon Lawson: “I trained him for over 12-13 years now. I just constantly train him. I got my son helping me. I worked with him the last 3-4 weeks. He’s down there now with my son.”

SB: What does Hanshaw do that might be problematic?

LL: “Nothing.”.

SB: Is he impressive at all? The last match I saw him in was the draw with Jean Paul Mendy.

LL: “Well no, I was glad Hanshaw didn’t lose. I been knowing Hanshaw for ten years or better. He’s came up with the group ahead of Andre as far as Olympics go. That was his year anyway. Andre, I’ve worked with him the last couple years and cultivated him. It all adds up and that’s why he’s so fast. He’s the fastest thing out there these days.”

SB: Does Andre spar with fighters to help prepare them for fights?

LL: “Yeah, he spars with other fighters. One of them was the light heavyweight champ, Chad Dawson.”

SB: Any truth to Andre beating him in sparring?

LL: “Oh yeah, he beat him.”

SB: I read an article with Dawson’s trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr., saying that he should have let Andre knock him out. Is that true?

LL: (Laughs) “Yeah, that’s pretty good. He saw Andre beat him. So did I. It was a good work out. As far as sparring, I think Andre was just too fast for him. We need to step up. We can’t get nowhere fighting these low-rated boxers. It’s time to move on now. He’s twenty-four now and he can fight for a title any day.”

SB: How’s your other grandson, Anthony Dirrell, doing?

[Also a super middleweight, Anthony Dirrell, 12-0 (11), recently completed a 10 month program of chemotherapy and radiation therapy for non-Hodgkins lymphoma and as a result, has not fought since 2006.]

LL: “I don’t really know what the deal is yet. But hopefully he’ll be back shortly. He’s not released from his doctor yet, in other words. He looks like his mood’s up, it’s never bothered him. He’s the same weight. He’s taking it pretty well.”

[Andre Dirrell now enters the interview]

SB: How are you doing?

Andre Dirrell: “I’m doing pretty good. Hanging out in camp, getting in shape.”

SB: You’re down there with your uncle?

AD: “Yes”.

SB: How’s your brother doing?

AD: “He’s doing pretty good; I’m playing a game with him right now on the internet. ”

SB: Is it true that you were beating up Chad Dawson in a sparring session?

AD: “We were going head up at times. But we both had our moments. Him being a world champion, I thought I did very well.”

SB: Anthony Hanshaw is a very capable fighter; do you see him as your biggest test to date?

AD: “He’s my biggest test to date but I believe that’s a fighter who fits my style. He’s slow, an easy target and he’s just—you know—he’s basic. I believe I’ll be able to run my punches off very well. As long as I’m in shape for it, I’ll do very well.”

SB: What do you think you need to do in order to defeat him?

AD: “Just be in tiptop shape. Everything else—I believe I have to use my speed. He pushes forward. I really wanted this fight because of the Curtis Stevens fight. I really wanted to show that’s not me. I just need to get in his face, stay on my P’s and Q’s and everything else will fall into place.”

SB: Which Hanshaw would you prefer to fight—the one who knocked out a mostly green Lafarrell Bunting or the one who drew with the more tested Parisian, Jean Paul Mendy?

AD: “I want to fight the best one available. I didn’t see either one of those fights, even though I saw one fight on Shobox. I want to fight the best Anthony out there. I just want to show what I’m capable of.”

SB: How did you get your start in boxing?

AD: “My grandfather got us in there when we were kids. We were just not focused on school—we weren’t focused on anything but the streets. My grandfather got us in there and we just stuck to it.”

SB: Who won when you and your brother fought as kids?

AD: “We really went back and forth. We fought over everything. We got into a fight in Chicago, we were both trying to play a piano and me and my brother got into a fight in the hallway—we were fist to fist. My grandfather tried to break us up, he was so embarrassed. In the end we were laughing. We fought a lot as kids, but we had a lot of fun.”

SB: What have you done to prepare for the Hanshaw fight?

AD: “Put in extra miles running. I usually get in six miles, this time I’ll be getting in eight. Getting my wind up and eating right. I’m a guy who loves to eat. If I focus on eating a little better, I’ll be tight.”

SB: I know a place on way up on Martin Luther King, I can’t remember the name, but you can get soul food at two in the morning and it’s really good.

AD: “Oh, we’re going to have to look that one up.

SB: Thank you for your time, Andre. Is there anything you’d like to say in closing?

AD: “Prepare for a different Andre.”