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Jorge "Travieso" Arce (44-3-1, 34 KOs) is one of the most entertaining prize fighters in boxing today. Ranked #1 by the WBC in the super flyweight division, Arce is battling WBC #3, Masibulele 'Hawk' Makepula (28-3-0, 18 KOs), in a World Boxing Council 115-pound eliminator. The Top Rank championship card will be held at the Dodge Arena in Hidalgo, Texas, this Saturday, Sept. 23 and will be broadcast on HBO After Dark. Fightnews had the opportunity of getting an exclusive interview with "Travieso" Arce who did not hold back any punches, in this "tell it like it is" chat with Fightnews.

You are back in the Rio Grande Valley, only this time you are here to fight and not as a spectator.
I am very happy, tranquil and relaxed, but of course I made a promise that I would come back here. I was here before as a spectator and I promised the people from the Valley that I would come back and fight for them here. I am full filling my promise and I hope the people will respond that promised to support me, so I am waiting to see all the people there on Saturday and I am ready to give them a great fight.

How was your training camp, what did you work on for this fight?
It was a great intense preparation, two months in the Otomi Mountains, where I always train for my fights. Right now I am ready, here we are just resting, relaxing and maintaining weight and we are very happy for this new opportunity.

What do you know about your opponent Masibulele 'Hawk' Makepula, other than he has 28 wins and 3 losses and is here by way of Africa?
Well, that he is a very strong fighter, battle tested and he has a good record. It seems he has a good punch but I really don't care what he can do, I always put in great work and physical condition and I always do my best at coming in at 100 percent and when I am good, nothing wrong happens for me in the ring.

Speaking of which, in your last fight, sometime in April you fought against Rosendo "El Buffalo" Alvarez, you looked very good and dominated, knocked him out in the 6th round. What do you remember the most in that encounter? Talk to us about that fight.
Well, it was a fight where Rosendo was talking too much. It really got to me, everything that he was saying about me. I really was expecting a much tougher fight but it didn't happen, he was actually a better talker than a fighter and, well, he fell in the sixth. I was expecting a great fight and to see if all the talk was true and I wanted to take all that loudmouth out of him and I did, but it didn't last that long, I thought that sixth round was too fast. I was disappointed in him as a fighter. Because if you are going to talk, you better back it up. I don't like for opponents to talk too much. I try to respect my opponents and I do my talking with my fists in the ring. When they talk too much, believe me, the fight is going to end sooner than later, you know. Rosendo talked too much and that is the reason the bout didn't last, which I was disappointed in but at the end I was happy because I won the fight and I beat the loudmouth out of him. Today we are ready physically, mentally and have great motivation to give the fans from the Rio Grande Valley a great show and with it be successful in my career for my family and me.

What do you think about the bout your opponent Masibulele 'Hawk' Makepula had against Irene Pacheco in which the IBF flyweight title was at stake and Makepula lost by unanimous decision?
Travieso: I have that fight on video, I feel that they stole that fight from him. Makepula put up a great fight and I think the judges favored Irene. I think that Makepula should have won by a point or two. He gave a good fight and unfortunately they didn't see it that way and he lost on points to Irene Pacheco. That's why I don't like to leave it (the fights) in the hands of the judges, I do my work so they won't steal from me, so nothing wrong will happen. I always try to knock them out before the fight is through and I hope this time I will do the same and knock him out.

In a fight where you also didn't let it go to the judges and you were in severe problems (cuts), your first fight against Hussein Hussein, the warrior in you really came out….
Oh, I always put in hard work in my training camps like I have told you before and a cut is not going to stop me from winning my fight. I will talk to the Doctor and tell him that even if I have my face all cut up, not to stop my fight. The day I feel really bad I will let them know and be honest with them that I can't continue. But if I am good, healthy and even if I have cuts on my eyes, my nose and my mouth I will not give up and I will try my best to give the paying public their money's worth. If I lose, well, I would have given it my best and I will still hold my head up high and if I win, I win like a real warrior with humility and just like I did against Hussein, a cut will not stop me. I won't let them.

You talk to your corner about this?
Of course, they know better. They know that no matter what happens in the fight they are not to stop my fight, I am a warrior up in that ring. If I shall die, I will die fighting. If they kill me or I kill them, die or kill.
Did you see the fight between Israel Vasquez and Jhonny Gonzalez?
I was not able to see it but I was told about it. I would not have liked for my corner to stop my fight. I have told them never to stop my fights unless I tell them, let me in there until the final moments. I have never let it go to that (his corner stopping the fight) because I never stop from throwing punches and I never let my corner even think about it.

This fight is for the right to fight the WBC super flyweight champion Masamori Tokuyama. What would you like to say to him through Fightnews?
That his days are numbered as a champion. After this fight, he is next. He is next, he better start forgetting about his belt because I will take it away from him after this fight. God willing I I come out ahead after this fight and Tokuyama is next and his days are numbered as a champion.

In the super flyweight division the WBA champ is Nashiro Nabuo, IBF is Luis Perez and WBO is Fernando Montiel. What do you think of them?
They are all good champions and great fighters. I admire and respect them all, but here is their Daddy, here is their Papi. They are all trembling because "El Travieso" is here in the super flyweight division and they know who I am and what I am all about and for sure they are trembling in fear by knowing that they might have to face me. Anyone of them all who wants to fight against me has his days numbered.

A match up that I would really like to see, would be you against Martin Castillo…
I am also looking for that fight but it has not happened because he lost his title fight (lost WBA belt, 10th round TKO to Nobuo Nashiro in July) recently but If I win the WBC I will, with pleasure, give him an opportunity to fight me for it to prove that I don't refuse to fight against no one. I will face the best in the world. Whoever is ready, whoever just says frog and I will jump....What do you think, Jose?

That this is why your fans love you.
Of course because I don't back down and they know when they buy a ticket to see me fight, they get a guarantee to see a great show, a great fight and not to see someone running around. They are not going to see a horse race or car race. Who ever wants to run inside that ring better join a track marathon and get down. In the ring it's a fight and you have to throw punches.

What initiated your career in boxing? What motivated you to be a boxer?
Well, in my neighborhood when I was a little boy, I would put on the boxing gloves with all the kids from there. My Dad really liked it. He always wanted to be a boxer but they didn't allow him and he felt frustrated. I guess I inherited that from him, the love of boxing, you know, and here I am a world champion and I have demonstrated to my father that I am a good boxer and everything that I do, I do it for him because he is my inspiration. He wanted to be a boxer but they didn't allow him, and now he reflects in me and I don't want to disappoint him.

The nickname "Travieso" (rascal) where did you get it or who gave it to you?
My trainer who discovered me when I was a little boy. Who was Fernando Montiel's father "El Cuchilito," he was the one that taught me boxing when I was a little boy. He gave me that name because I was very hyper and that's where the nickname came from.

I have also heard people call you "Stitch" (from the disney cartoon Lilo & Stitch). Which I think suits you great since it's a small character that seems to be indestructible and anything that comes at him he demolishes and destroys.
That too, but I have now changed my alias, I call myself "El Amoroso" Arce, because I really like El Amor (the Lover) or the Playboy, ha,ha,ha.
What are your long term plans?
I want to unify the titles at super flyweight and with it be world champion in three different weight categories. I have the light-flyweight and flyweight world titles and now I want to win the super flyweight world title. If everything goes as planned I will eventually go up to bantamweight but right now I will be at superfly and remain here. We will see what happens later in the future but I want to continue fighting. I am 27 years old and I would like to retire at 30 years old -- young, bonito (pretty) and with money. I would like to be a sports commentator or broadcasting in the news. I would like to continue my studies after retiring from boxing but not until after I make and save some money.

What achievements in boxing are you most proud of?
Well, being a two division world champion, I feel very happy, very proud.
The satisfaction that I have given to my family and myself. I am very grateful to God because he has permitted for me to get here. The fame I have acquired and the love from the people. That's something I won't exchange for anything in this world. I am very happy with what I have accomplished until now. If they were to tell me today that I can not fight anymore, I would be satisfied but with God's permission, I will continue to fight until the fans don't want me to and like Chente (Vicente Fernandez, Mexican Singer) if the people don't stop applauding I won't stop singing. Well, I won't stop from throwing punches. I will keep giving the fans great fights and I hope one day to be a star on HBO and maybe PPV.

What would you like to say to our readers here on Fightnews?
I would like to tell them that I am very thankful for all their support. Every time you see me fight, I will try my best not to disappoint them. I will always be ready for war, and I am very proud of all my fans and may God bless them all.