"We are fighting a whole different style than the fight before. We know that Eddie Chambers is a very skilled technical fighter that can box really good from Philadelphia. We prepared for this one and we ready to rock...I just gotta keep him at bay and make sure all that speed can't come into play...I've always stepped up and fought experienced guys and now I want to take charge in this fight and let the beast out," stated heavyweight contender Gerald Washington, who talked about his upcoming clash with Eddie Chambers. Check it out!
PC: It was a big disappointment, I'm sure, to have your last scheduled fight cancelled. It's gotta feel good to come back against someone with the credentials of Eddie Chambers though.
GW: Yes, it feels real good. We are fighting a whole different style than the fight before. We know that Eddie Chambers is a very skilled technical fighter that can box really good from Philadelphia. We prepared for this one and we ready to rock. We still have the same mindframe for this one as far as being in the ring and taking charge and taking control and being more aggressive.
PC: Was this two long consecutive camps for you or did you take a break when the last fight fell out?
GW: It was pretty long because I didn't really stop training. I didn't even take a whole week off. I was supposed to fight on Saturday, and that Monday, I came in and sparred 10 rounds. It's a constant thing and it was good for the training and the mentality; toughen up a little bit.
PC: Chambers, like you said, is a different style from what you were supposed to face and definitely a different style from what Amir Mansour brought to the table. What adjustments did you have to make heading into this fight?
GW: I just gotta keep him at the end of my punches and just kind of watch him because he's real slippery. I watched all of his fights on YouTube and just been studying him a little bit to see how he likes to fight. I just gotta keep him at bay and make sure all that speed can't come into play.
PC: The fact that he hasn't been the most active fighter and you're coming off of a very long camp, do you think that benefits you even though he has the edge in experience over you?
GW: You know what? I had quite some tough off myself. Before the Mansour fight, I hadn't fought since March. I'm still in school as far as where I'm at in my career. I'm still learning day to day, so every time I get in the ring and every sparring session that I have, I take something from it. I critique my style and try to get better every day. I take my time off to get better. I take advantage of that time and I'm glad I can learn from it and I'm sure he's been doing the same thing.
PC: When we see heavyweights on the bill, we already expect fireworks, aggression, and knockouts. You're a physically imposing guy and when anyone sees you, they expect everything that I just named. Is that what you want to showcase?
GW: Yeah, I definitely want to impose myself and my strength and I just want to prove something to myself. I know what I get from the critics. I was fighting in the manner because I was learning on the job. I didn't want to put myself in a bad situation while I'm trying to come up the ladder. It don't work like that if you're in there with a guy that knows what he's doing. I've been in there with...all of the guys I've been in there with had more experience than me. You can't take any of these guys for granted. You see what one punch can do in this division and it can set your whole career back. I take my time, I learn, I might get some critics here and there and I'm doing it the way I want to do it. I've always stepped up and fought experienced guys and now I want to take charge in this fight and let the beast out.
PC: You mentioned the critics. You have the opportunity on Saturday night to silence them. What bothered you the most about the aftermath of the Mansour fight?
GW: I mean, I thought I won the fight still. He couldn't hit me with anything. The thing that bothered me the most were the people trying to insinuate that I wasn't in shape. I wouldn't have been able to move this 250-pound body around like I was if I was out of shape. If you're not in shape, you're going to play the ropes and slow up. I am in great shape and it was just a mental thing. It was a mental correction that I had to make and I made it. I was disgusted by it because it was right there, but I still feel I won the fight. Whether it was crowd-pleasing or not, I landed more punches. But I take that as a learning lesson and I have fixed it and I'm ready to start moving up. We got 3 world champions out there and people are getting their opportunities and I want to put myself in position to get those opportunities, so I'm definitely looking to go out here and impress.
PC: Do you have it in your mind what you are expecting from Chambers or is this a matter of getting in there with him, seeing what he's about, and making adjustments?
GW: Yeah, you gotta make adjustments. I can't say he's going to do this or do that or what he's going to do. I know he has a lot of skills to do whatever he wants to do, but it's my job to implement my skills and not allow him to do that. I saw how he fought against Klitschko, but I also saw how he fought against Dimitrenko. That guy let him walk all over him. I'm definitely not going to allow that and I'm going to impose myself and he's going to have to come through some heat if he wants to get to me and I'm going to have some waiting for him.
PC: I appreciate the time. I won't hold you too long. Best of luck and we will speak afterwards. Is there anything else you would like to add before I let you go?
GW: I'm just looking forward to this. I always like stepping up to the challenge. It's always critics out there, but the boxing world knows that Eddie Chambers has skills and he has a name and those are the guys I like to fight, people with recognition and a name. He's been in there with world champions and the best guys. I look forward to fighting him and seeing where I stand at compared to everybody else.
[ Follow Percy Crawford on Twitter @MrLouis1ana ]