"Chad can make 68. My guy was working with him and Chad will make 68 without a problem. It's gonna be a great fight between two guys at the top of their game, and you couldn't ask for better timing. These are two guys at the top of their game in their respective divisions and they are both world champions and may the best man win. This is the best fight in boxing right now and I'm glad these guys are stepping up to the plate, and it will be a great fight," stated world-class trainer Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, who shared his thoughts on a number of topics, including Hasim Rahman's rescheduled bout with Alexander Povetkin, Wladimir Klitschko's recent performance, and upcoming fights for Adrien Broner, Andre Ward and Chad Dawson. Check it out!
PC: Very disappointing situation with Hasim Rahman getting injured and being forced to withdraw from the Alexander Povetkin fight. How is he doing?
EMM: Well, number one, Hasim had an operation on his wrist, but it came out 100% okay. They had to remove a cist on that wrist. He went in and in a couple of hours, he was out. I saw him on Friday night and he's doing real good. I think they have rescheduled it for September. We were a mandatory and we had everything in order as far as doctor paperwork that needed to be presented to the WBA. Hasim was in great shape mentally and physically, but you know, this is boxing and these things happen. But it's always good to have doctor's notes and the whole nine yards.
PC: We saw another dominant performance from Wladimir Klitschko against Tony Thompson. What do you feel are the keys to dethroning Wlad?
EMM: I don't think he [Thompson] had a game plan, and once he got hit, he went into another mode and it didn't include pressure. If you pressure these guys with your hands up and you fire back on 'em, they'll back up. Tony's plan was to put pressure on him, but once he got hit with that straight right hand, all of the plans went out of the window. I'm not saying that Tony went over there to pick up a check, but listen, if I'm not mistaken, I think he made over a million dollars for that fight. Where else is he gonna get that type of money from? Like I said, I'm not saying he took a dive or anything like that. He got hit and he saved it for another day.
PC: Eddie, you came up in the hard era of boxing where you guys went through hell and back. Where do you stand on the Victor Ortiz situation where he chose not to fight with his jaw being broken in two places?
EMM: I'm like this here, and I'm a firm believer, if you quit once, you will quit again, and I told everybody that. If you quit once, you will quit again. Technically, he mentally checked out of the fight with Floyd; he just didn't stay on his stool like he did against Maidana and now Lopez. I'll reiterate it, if you quit once, you will quit again and that's the bottom line.
PC: Timothy Bradley seems to be the most disrespected champion out there right now. Whether or not you agree with the decision, he wasn't judging that fight. What are your thoughts on that situation?
EMM: It's like this here, I have nothing against Timothy Bradley, and it's like you just said Percy, Timothy Bradley was not judging that fight. I blame the judges, and over 95% of the people that watched the telecast on HBO, they blame the judges. It's not Timothy Bradley's fault. He's just a victim of a victim. He's a double victim in this case because Pacquiao is a victim and Timothy Bradley had nothing to do with it.
PC: You recently had a guy on ESPN fight. Tell us about him my man.
EMM: Yeah, I had a guy fought on ESPN at the Hard Rock named Ronald Gavril. He scored a 1st round knockout, he is now 3-0 with 2 knockouts, and he's going to be something in the 168-pound division.
PC: Do you enjoy watching the younger guys like Adrien Broner, who has a fight coming up?
EMM: I like Adrien Broner. He brings a lot of class and style to the game. I don't want to say he is another Floyd because before there was Floyd, there was Ali and Leonard. Now there is Floyd and after that, there will be Adrien Broner. He will step into the light combing his hair (laughing) and that's good for TV. But the bottom line is that kid can fight. He can back up all of his actions. He could comb his hair while whoopin' your behind.
PC: You have worked with Chad Dawson in the past. Can he make 168 pounds comfortably?
EMM: Chad can make 68. My guy was working with him and Chad will make 68 without a problem. It's gonna be a great fight between two guys at the top of their game, and you couldn't ask for better timing. These are two guys at the top of their game in their respective divisions and they are both world champions and may the best man win. This is the best fight in boxing right now and I'm glad these guys are stepping up to the plate, and it will be a great fight.
PC: Thanks as always my man. Be sure to keep me posted on what you have going on. Is there anything you want to say before I let you go?
EMM: Listen, you guys are the best as always Percy. You my man, fifty grand!
[ Follow Percy Crawford on Twitter @MrLouis1ana ]