"I knew how to fight a taller guy with longer reach and I wasn't worried about anything. If I do decide, or if I had the opportunity to come back again, I know how to fight the Klitschkos. There is no intimidation or fear in my heartÂ…I'm 42 years old right now. I think Evander is what, 48 or something like that. When I fought Foreman, he was 45. And in this day and age, 40 is the new 30 as long as you take care of yourself; age is just a numberÂ… I think I may have walked away too early, but you never know what the future may hold and I always say, if it's meant to be, it will be," stated former heavyweight champion Michael Moorer, who was less than impressed with the performance of Eddie Chambers in his challenge to take the titles from Wladimir Klitschko. Moorer was so unimpressed that he actually started contemplating a comeback. Check it out!
PC: How is everything going Champ?
MM: Everything is going great. I can't complain. My daughter just turned 8, so I'm living that life.
PC: I have to ask the former heavyweight champion about the Klitschko mystique. What is it about them to where these guys talk a good game, but after a couple of rounds, they shut it down?
MM: I think it is a lot of intimidation; not verbal, but feeling their power, their size and their height. They know how to use their reach to their advantage and their height. A lot of American fighters haven't fought these Russian and a German fighters, as far as amateur level is concerned. I just think it's going to take somebody who has fought these guys before and to just go out there and not be intimidated. You're going to have to know how to fight somebody with a longer reach and taller than they are and then you're going to have to go out there and do it. Like you said, they can all talk a good game and say they are in the best shape, and they are in better shape than they are normally in, because they are going to be put on a pedestal if they beat these guys, but that's not always enough and it doesn't pan out that way all of the time.
PC: I think it will take a James Toney or David Tua, a veteran to knock them off; kind of like when Lamon Brewster was able to do it.
MM: Absolutely, I believe that.
PC: At any point of your retirement, have you got that itch to want to try these guys out?
MM: I have thought about that and there are still thoughts of that today. I don't take anything away from those guys. They are doing what they are supposed to do. They are being dominant and they are doing what they are supposed to do. On the other hand, like you said, it's going to take an old school fighter to go out there and beat these guys. I think about that every day. If the right opportunity came towards me, I will be in shape, as they say, and guys that know me know that I will be in tip top shape.
PC: Is it somewhat surprising to you that Evander Holyfield is still fighting? I mean, you fought him twice and you have retired and this guy has never officially retired.
MM: It's surprising, but you can't take anything away from Evander. Evander has been a fighter his whole life, so for him, to go out there and display his talents, like when he fought Valuev; they said he won the fight and they took it away from him. So he's still a formidable opponent.
PC: My partner said he would have given Wladimir a tougher fight than Eddie Chambers did.
MM: Absolutely. He's a warrior and he's been in there with guys like that.
PC: I remember you knocking out a giant, I can't remember his name, and that was a case of you closing the distance and getting to this guy and setting up the knockout.
MM: Yes, his name was Mike "The Giant" White and he was 6'11. I did everything right when I went into that fight. I knew how to fight a taller guy with longer reach and I wasn't worried about anything. If I do decide, or if I had the opportunity to come back again, I know how to fight the Klitschkos. There is no intimidation or fear in my heart.
PC: I know how close you are with Teddy Atlas. If you were to make a comeback, would you go to him to train you again?
MM: If there was a comeback, I would call Teddy and talk to Teddy, but Teddy is training Povetkin now and I don't think Teddy wants me to fight again, but that's not up to him. It would be totally up to me. I'm 42 years old right now. I think Evander is what, 48 or something like that. When I fought Foreman, he was 45. And in this day and age, 40 is the new 30 as long as you take care of yourself; age is just a number. If you know you can do it, you go and do it.
PC: What were your thoughts on Pacquiao-Clottey? I think Pacquiao basically did what he could do for what he was offered?
MM: I thought it was a boring fight on Joshua Clottey's part. He didn't come in there to fight, he didn't come in there to win, he came in there to survive. He just wanted to say he's been in there with Manny Pacquiao, he didn't get knocked down or hurt and he didn't get knocked out. Pacquiao did what he was supposed to do. He went out there and displayed his skills and took the fight right to him. He was trying to get him to open up, but Joshua Clottey kept his composure and he just wanted to survive. Manny threw over 1,200 punches in a 12-round fight and that's phenomenal. He is the only fighter in this day and ageÂ…and I can only say this because I've been around it, but he trains his behind off. And that's the type of fighter that you want; someone who is going to dedicate themselves to do the right thing. When they get in the ring, they are always prepared; always!
PC: The other big welterweight showdown will take place May 1st between Mayweather and Mosley. Who do you like in that fight and why?
MM: I like to see a good fight. I think it's going to be an interesting and entertaining fight. My thing is this, Floyd Mayweather better not look past Sugar Shane because Shane is a very tricky guy. And he's going to be out there to win the fight. He's not going to be out there to survive. He's going to be out there to win a fight. Floyd is a great counter puncher, but you have to remember, he's going to get hit in this fight. Sugar Shane is going to hit him because he don't back down from nobody. I'm not going to pick a winner, but I would like to see a good fight.
PC: Do you have any regrets about your career?
MM: I thought I needed the break. I have done everything that I wanted to do. I think I may have walked away too early, but you never know what the future may hold and I always say, if it's meant to be, it will be.
PC: It's always great to catch up to you. Good luck in whatever you decide to do. Call me anytime. Is there anything you want to say in closing?
MM: I appreciate it Percy. I want to thank all of my fans that have supported me over the years and if at all possible, and I can make that comeback, I will do it and give the fight fans someone to root for in the heavyweight division.
[ Follow Percy Crawford on Twitter @MrLouis1ana ]