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SEMAJAY THOMAS: "IT'S TIME TO MOVE DOWN...WE GOING TO MAKE 140 WITH EASE AND DOMINATE AT 140"

By Percy Crawford | June 30, 2015
SEMAJAY THOMAS:

"I feel it's time to move down and start making my way at the 140 pound championship. I heard my boy Danny Garcia is supposed to move up and vacate some belts. I'm trying to grab them. We going to move our way up in the rankings and go grab them... We going to make 140 with ease and dominate at 140," stated fast-rising jr. welterweight Semajay Thomas, who talked about his decision to move down to the 140-pound division, his future plans, and more. Check it out!

PC: You were supposed to be in Adrien Broner's camp helping him prepare, but you weren't able to get there. Tell us about it.

ST: I had my daughter around that time. I had to do my daddy duties. I had to be there. I gotta be in my daughter's life at these little stages in her life and I have to help my girl out. She had to get a c-section, so I had to be there to help out with my daughter. But we feeling good though. She's here, she's healthy, she's beautiful, and now it's time to get back to camp down in Houston in a day or two.

PC: Does being a father now change your outlook on your career or change your approach at all?

ST: It just makes me want to go harder. I want to take my time. I don't want to move through anything too fast; just take my time and do everything precisely. Everything will get better with time and I feel I'm next up.

PC: You're coming off of a 2nd round knockout back in April. How did you feel about your performance?

ST: I liked the performance. The guy was a lil' rugged. He was a little strong. We just fought our way through it and we got him out of there. He was from Puerto Rico. I think he was ranked #3 in Puerto Rico. We ain't taking no bums. He had all knockouts. He just came off of knocking out a 3-0 guy before he fought me. We took him on, he was tough, but we had to get him out of there. My next fight, if not this fight...that fight was at welterweight, so I'm going to move down to light welterweight and move down to 140 and start making my way to the 140 pound championship.

PC: What brought upon that move down?

ST: I could make 140 with ease. I don't have a problem making weight. If I'm handling these guys at and I dominated at 140 in the amateurs, me going back down there, it will be an awesome move for me. These guys at 47 are much bigger than me and taller than me and I'm handling them well. I'm getting them out of there and beating them to the punch and just moving forward with them and keep racking up them W's. All of my pro fights been at welterweight; all 6 of them. I feel it's time to move down and start making my way at the 140 pound championship. I heard my boy Danny Garcia is supposed to move up and vacate some belts. I'm trying to grab them. We going to move our way up in the rankings and go grab them (laughing).

PC: You can't go wrong in either division as far as the competition goes. Both are great divisions.

ST: Real hot, and you know I feel that me being ranked #1 in the amateurs at 140, I feel that that will play a big part with me handling the 140-pounders. Like I said before, when I started off my career, I was at welterweight. My last fight and all 6 of my fights was at welterweight. These guys are big and tall. You talk about tall, guys are 6'1" and 5'11" and I'm only 5'6" and I weigh-in at 143; 3 more pounds ain't nothing. We going to make 140 with ease and dominate at 140.

PC: You said you will be headed to Houston soon; next fight looking like July. Tell us about that.

ST: My next fight I'm hearing is July 18th. I don't know for sure yet, but when I get down to Houston, we will put a stamp on it. I've been working out here in Chicago with Jeff Mason. He's a champion creator. He worked with me in the amateurs. I won both of my national championships with him in my corner. I trust him on getting me ready to head to Houston and put my finishing touches on out there with Coach Ronnie Shields and Plex and Danny Arnold.

PC: I can tell you now, it is hot in the south. How do you make the proper adjustments from the midwest to the south with the climate change?

ST: (Laughing) I know it's hot down there. It's been low key hot in Chicago right now too, but not as hot as Houston. But we gonna work through it. You know, practice makes perfect. I'm not saying I'm going to love it, but I'm going to be down there. I heard it's a good weight maker, so I don't have to wear all of that albolene or no plastic or anything.

PC: You're improving with every fight. What are you looking to show each time out from here on out?

ST: I just want to show them that Semajay Thomas is a strong name. I want to be put on that list of fighters to look at and be noticed. I'm putting the work in and I just don't want my work to be unnoticed. I take pride in what I do, I put my all in it, and every time I fight, I'm going to be in tip top shape. You don't have to worry about me not being in shape because I'm going to be in shape 24/7. I'm going to remain humble and show my skill and show the world that Semajay Thomas is here to stay.

PC: Give me your thoughts on the Broner-Porter fight before I let you go.

ST: I was a little disappointed. I wanted Adrien to win. I think that was supposed to be a fun fight for Adrien because of Shawn Porter's style. I think Adrien was supposed to throw more punches and be a little more slicker on his feet. Everything is all good, it's just time to bounce back. He took a loss before and bounced back and I think he's going to bounce back. A lot of people say the same thing about me, "Semajay, you gotta be focused focused. Focus on one thing." That's what he gotta do too. And that's what I'm doing. Once I had my daughter, I'm focused on one thing now. I'm putting everything on the side and I'm going to get what I want. I think big bro, if he put his mind to it, he could be one of the all-time greats, but it's up to him. Shout out to AB and the whole Band Camp and the About Billions movement. They show me nothing but love every time I step out with them and come to the fights and everything. So shout out to AB and his entire team.

PC: Best of luck to you out in Houston, and hopefully we see you again in July. Is there anything else you want to add before I let you go?'

ST: Shout out to Plex, Team Al Haymon for giving me this blessing and this opportunity, and shout out to the whole Chicago. I'm going to have y'all on my back and I'm going to make y'all proud by being a world champion and bringing a world champion back to Chicago.



[ Follow Percy Crawford on Twitter @MrLouis1ana ]

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