"I'm going to be aggressive. It's not going to be no pitty-pat or laying back. I'm trying to take him outÂ… I want to take this division by storm. I don't believe there is no one in this division that can stop me. I don't think they're going to be able to handle my pace or my punching power. I'm going to be the Mike Tyson of this cruiserweight division. I'm going to be right there in their face trying to break them down. I want to take over this division," stated Adam "Swamp Donkey" Richards as he talked about his move to the cruiserweight division and his upcoming fight this weekend against Gustavo Enriquez at the Fitzgerald's Casino & Hotel in Tunica, Mississippi. Check it out.
PC: How has training camp been for your fight Saturday night?
AR: Training has gone great. We've just been kind of winding down each week. Everything has been going perfect; the way camp should be.
PC: How much do you know about Enriquez?
AR: I know enough. I've been watching some film on him and I know he's not a real busy fighter. He loads up on power punches. He hasn't fought in two years, so I'm going to take the pressure to him.
PC: With that type of layoff, I assume you would apply pressure on him until he eventually cracked.
AR: Yeah, and the way we train, I'm a pressure fighter and a power puncher anyway. I want to try to outwork him and make him run out of gas until I stop him.
PC: You came in very light in your fight against Chazz Witherspoon. Were you contemplating a move to cruiserweight then?
AR: We had talked about it. My conditioning was getting better and better. I always came in shape, but I've wanted to get my weight right. For that fight, I had to eat three times just to weigh 217. By Sunday morning, I was already down to 210. Prize Fight offered me a move down to cruiserweight and said I could be in line for a title fight and I figured that would be best for my career. I feel better as well. I feel lean and trim and as strong as I was at heavyweight.
PC: So your body feels good at cruiserweight?
AR: Yeah. My whole camp, I haven't been above 205-206 the entire camp. I don't even need to go on a diet. I already eat really good and my weight is perfect. After the Witherspoon fight, I took about 4 to 5 days off and I came right back to camp, so I'm prepared. I really never left camp. That's why, when they called me for this fight, it was perfect for me.
PC: I've been to a couple of your fights in Mississippi and you always have a huge following. Where does all that support come from?
AR: Everywhere man (laughing). People like me as a fighter and as a person and everywhere I fight, all of my fights are serious. I don't go in there to play around. I go in there for a war man. I'm sure they like the "Swamp Donkey" thing too. I have a great following and I've been really blessed for that and I'm sure you will see that on Saturday.
PC: How did you deal with the Witherspoon loss? That was your first loss in 7 years.
AR: It happens man. I didn't tell a lot of people, but I got my eardrum busted. People look at that like I'm making an excuse and I'm not, but it affected the way I fought. He won. If we fight again, I'll get him the next time. It's nothing to dwell about. That's why I'm looking forward to this fight Saturday to get this taste out of my mouth.
PC: I assume you will be looking to make a statement.
AR: You will see on Saturday. That's all I can say. I'm going to be aggressive. It's not going to be no pitty-pat or laying back. I'm trying to take him out.
PC: The cruiserweight division is hot and cold. Right now, it's slowed down with Haye leaving the division. Are you looking to put it back on the map?
AR: I want to. I want to take this division by storm. I don't believe there is no one in this division that can stop me. I don't think they're going to be able to handle my pace or my punching power. I'm going to be the Mike Tyson of this cruiserweight division. I'm going to be right there in their face trying to break them down. I want to take over this division and then move up or whatever I gotta do.
PC: What do you feel you bring to the table that other cruiserweights lack?
AR: Aggressiveness! Trust me, my style is not to run from anybody. I'm not a very hard guy to find.
PC: Good luck in Tunica, Mississippi on Saturday night. Is there anything you want to say in closing?
AR: I've had a great camp. I want to thank my friends, family, training partners and promoters, Prize Fight Boxing. I want to give a shout out to Kermit Cintron. That's my boy. I want to shout him out and all of my friends and family.
[ Follow Percy Crawford on Twitter @MrLouis1ana ]