Isreal Vazquez interview

http://www.fightnews.com/leon11.htm

With his trilogy with fellow super bantamweight Oscar Larios in the record books where he surfaced victorious in two out of three, Israel “Magnifico” Vazquez (39-3, 28KO) sets his sights to bigger and brighter things in his boxing career. His next step in that quest is to defend his WBC super bantamweight strap against once defeated former WBO champion Ivan “Choko” Hernandez (23-1-1, 13KO) on the under card of the Bernard Hopkins vs. Antonio Tarver mega fight this Saturday night from Atlantic City, NJ which is available on PPV.

Hailing from West Covina, CA by way of Mexico City, MX, Vazquez is trained by Freddy Roach and counts among his many friends and admirers no other than top ten pound for pounder Manny Pacquiao. Vazquez shares his thoughts on his upcoming test, his relationship with Pacquiao, his relationship with Golden Boy Promotions and his future in the sport.

Israel, how was camp?

It was great, we didn’t have any setbacks, everything when according to plan.

Did you and Freddy Roach work on anything new or what is just trying to get you back into your rhythm?

Nothing major but we did work on strategy. We also worked on me being able to work from the beginning. In my past fights, I sometimes come in to cold and it takes me a while to warm and for this fight we worked on fighting from the bell to bell.

I understand that you sparred with Bobby Pacquiao to get ready for your perspective fights?

I felt good against him even though he is much heavier. He is a 130 pounder. He fights quite differently than his brother. But we didn’t spar much, maybe three or four rounds.

So you and Manny Pacquiao are friends?

Yes, we know each other.

How did the relationship develop?

We train at the same gym, Wild Card Gym, with Freddie Roach. I have helped him with his fights against Barrera, Marquez and Morales.

Have you guys been to each other’s fights?

Well sometimes it is hard for us to make it to each other’s fights because of prior engagements but I did attend one of his fights with Morales and it meant a lot to me when he attended the fight where I captured the IBF title that he had vacated.

Since you have helped Manny Pacquiao for his previous fights, do you think you would be utilized for his upcoming bout with Oscar Larios, a man you have defeated twice?

No, I don’t think so, my style is very different than “Chololo’s” (Larios nickname), plus it might come in the future that Pacquiao and I might meet in the ring.

Would you be willing to give him any tips in facing Larios since you seem to have “Chololo’s” number?

Well I haven’t had an opportunity to see Pacquiao, I train early and I think he trains later than I do but if he came and asked the advice that I would give him would be to apply a lot of pressure. Larios tends to be the kind of fighter that gets stronger as the fight gets in the later rounds and although his punch is not devastating; his work rate is very high and very consistent.

Do you feel that you are more deserving to fight Manny Pacquiao for a bigger payday than Larios since you did defeat Larios twice as it was mentioned before?

I don’t really think about it that way plus I wouldn’t be ready to go up weight classes to face him right now. I’m planning on defending my title this Saturday night and possibly defending it one more time and then going up to 126lbs and then I will see after that with my team. I want to feel comfortable in going up in weight and I want to go up and win and not just go up to heavier weight classes just to fight. I know that it will be a good fight but I would want it to happen when it’s a good time for me and for him. I think if we would have been offered the fight, I would have taken it but it would have been very risky.

Let’s talk about your next opponent, “Choko” Hernandez, what do you know about him?

Well, he is a strong fighter, very hungry and I know that he is going to come out with everything but I know that we have prepared for anything that he might bring and they shouldn’t be any surprises. A lot of people might say that this might be an easy fight for me since Hernandez is skipping a weight class to meet me at super bantamweight, but every fight is a risk and I am well prepared for the fight.

Now that you are co-promoted by Sycuan and Golden Boy Promotions, you will be entering the ring this Saturday night once again under the Golden Boy banner, is it safe to assume that everything is copasetic between you guys?

It was never bad; I would like to clarify that. We just reached a point where we weren’t on the same page on certain issues that dealt with my career and we decided to part ways, but it was amicable, if it wasn’t, I don’t think we would be in the position we are now to fight on a Golden Boy card.

Golden Boy has shown no fear in matching up their top fighters against each as we saw in the case of Jhonny Gonzalez vs. Fernando Montiel and Kaseem Ouma vs. Marco Antonio Rubio, would you be interested in facing one of your stable mates such as Ponce de Leon or Joan Guzman?

Ponce de Leon would be very interesting since we are in the same weight class and he holds a title. Joan Guzman would not be as enticing since he has gone up in weight but maybe in the future, if the opportunity arises and it makes sense in every way including financially, after all this is my job and I love my job, unfortunately it involves me stepping into a ring and trading punches with somebody (chuckles).

I know that professionals such as yourself do not like to look ahead of their next opponent but what do you see in the future for “Magnifico”?

I would like to fight bigger names. No disrespect to “Choko” Hernandez, but I’m looking for bigger fights with bigger names, go up in weight and look for championship fights.

So if you had to mention a name, who would it be?

Pacquiao, I would like to face him. He knows me and I know him from our sparring, I think it would be an interesting fight.

At what weight would you like to face him, 126, 130lbs?

I think it would be at a catch weight, 128lbs.

Thank you Israel and good luck on Saturday night

It’s all in God’s hand now and I want to thank you for taking the time out to speak to me.