"Definitely 160. My goal as a professional is to be a champion at 160, 168 and 175. And then if I get to 175 and I feel that I can go up, I will do that. I definitely think I'm going to make a lot of noise at 160. I'm fast, powerful, slick; I can do it all. I definitely think 160 will be my stomping ground though," stated amateur standout Kevin Newman II, who talked about his future plans of turning pro, what he's learned from working with Jeff Mayweather and Floyd Mayweather Sr., and much more. Check it out!
PC: Congratulations on becoming the Ringside Tournament Champion. You were out of the ring for a year and a half and jumped right into a tournament format. How did you feel?
KN: It was good. I felt that I needed to get into a tournament because I knew I was gonna have to train extra hard and it was gonna get me ready. I knew I would feel real good about training hard and it would get me ready. I would make me train harder than I would have to for a show fight, so I felt good.
PC: You fought 3 times in 3 days. How did you feel mentally and physically from fight to fight?
KN: Before I even left, I knew I wasn't going way out there to lose, so my mental mindset was like, I'm going to win by any means necessary and I was definitely in a zone and I wasn't taking anything other than a W home. Physically, I felt good. I felt strong. You know, boxing is mostly mental, but I felt really strong physically. I felt sharp. I didn't feel as sharp as I thought I was gonna be, but everybody else said I did excellent and I got the win, so it felt good. It helped boost me into the next day, so I did feel great.
PC: What was the opposition like out there? Tougher than expected or a little easier than expected?
KN: The first guy I fought, I actually became friends with him afterwards. He was a real cool and supportive kid. He was from Mexico City and he was the hometown favorite in Kansas. He was fighting out of Kansas. He was a tough Mexican kid and he was real strong and physical, as most Hispanic fighters are. He was relentless with his attacks, but I didn't wilt or wither at all. I stayed in front of him and just beat him up. The next cat was from Pensacola, Florida. He was one of Roy Jones Sr.'s fighters. He was a tall southpaw. I knew with him, he was probably going to try and fight like Roy Jones. I figured he was going to try and do a lot of counter punching and be real speedy, so the first day we had fought, I jumped on him quick and showed him that I'm the better fighter and I was the faster fighter. I beat him at his own game. I jumped on him and made it real easy and then the disqualification came. And then the next time we fought, which was in the finals, I just pressed him hard and stayed on him from round one until the end of round three. I was just on him and there was nothing he could do about it.
PC: How much did it help you prepare in training not only in the Vegas heat, but that Mayweather Gym is a sauna? How much did that help?
KN: It definitely helped me be prepared to the fullest, especially being in that hot gym, it's like 115 degrees in there. I was just in dog shape and in tip top shape, so it made it really easy for me. Nothing was hard out there for me at all. It was just real easy and I did it with ease and it felt good.
PC: Are you looking to enter another tournament this year or you plan on going in another direction?
KN: I'm definitely going to fight in the tournament that's held October 1st-6th. And then early January next year, I will do the US Nationals again and win that one. So I want to do these last 2 tournaments and then turn professional. I need the experience and it's good for my confidence. These are two goals that I have and I'm going to get them both done and be successful and win both of them.
PC: As a professional, what weight class will you make your mark at?
KN: Definitely 160. My goal as a professional is to be a champion at 160, 168 and 175. And then if I get to 175 and I feel that I can go up, I will do that. I definitely think I'm going to make a lot of noise at 160. I'm fast, powerful, slick; I can do it all. I definitely think 160 will be my stomping ground though.
PC: What did it mean for you to win that tournament and have that title wrapped around your waist?
KN: It meant everything to me. That's what I worked so hard for and hard work does pay off and it felt great. It was a big accomplishment to win my first national title. It felt great and it was a weight lifted off of my shoulders and at the same time, I put extra pressure on myself because it's like, we got one down, now we gotta go and get two more. So it's one down and two more to go. I'm pumped and I can't wait for the next two.
PC: What do you take away from the tournament as things you can go and work on in the gym?
KN: One thing I feel I can take away from this tournament is I felt like I could have done more. I could have boxed a little more, but I wasn't so pressed on making sure I got the win. I was just pressuring guys and beating them to the punch every time. I think next time, I will box more and use more of my skills and my arsenal and show them what Kevin Newman is all about and what I can really do.
PC: Best of luck to you in the next tournament and congrats again on winning this last one. Is there anything you want to add?
KN: I just want to thank my trainer, Jeff Mayweather, and Floyd Mayweather Sr. for working with me also. Nate Vasquez played a part in helping me get ready also and King Mo. All of those guys, and Nate Jones also played a key role in helping me get prepared for this thing and do the best that I could; especially my mother, I gotta thank her. She reallyÂ…if it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be doing any of this stuff, so definitely thanks to all of those people.
[ Follow Percy Crawford on Twitter @MrLouis1ana ]