"Short term, the goal is to compete and start getting exposure. I got enough experience under my belt to let the world know that I am here and that I am a top contender to be reckoned with. I have a ton of sparring experience with top level guys and I'm doing well with everybody. So short term, I want to make my mark, get TV exposure and within the next year to year and a half, contend for a title," stated super middleweight Dyah Davis as he talked about his future plans as well as his work with Allan Green as he helped him prepare for his Super Six showdown with Andre Ward. Check it out!
PC: Congratulations on your win last month. How do you feel about your performance?
DD: Thanks man. I felt like I did good. I came out aggressive in full command. I always like to let my opponent know I'm there and I mean business. We always start off with the jab and look for other openings from there. I saw that the body was a little weak. The left hook to the liver sat him down and we stayed on top of him until his corner threw in the towel.
PC: Every fighter is different. After their fights, some guys take a little break and some go right back into the gym. Where do you stand on that?
DD: Oh no, I'm right back in the gym right now as we speak. I'm in training camp right now with my stablemate Allan Green. He's getting ready to fight Andre Ward on Saturday in Oakland. We're in the gym; we're boxing, man, 3 to 4 times a week and I'm getting him in the best shape. But at the same time, I'm staying sharp. I'm in there with a top 10 veteran and a top 10 super middleweight and working on my craft while helping my man out for his fight.
PC: There is no blueprint out there on how to beat Ward. How do you think Allan has to attack him?
DD: I definitely think Allan is going to have to be the aggressor, being that the fight is in Andre's hometown. He's going to have to be the aggressor, work behind his jab. Allan is a puncher. Andre Ward has to worry about that. In his 29 fights, he has 20 knockouts. His record proves that he's not only a smart boxer, but a puncher who is very aggressive. It's a pick 'em fight, but I'm going with Allan on this one. He has the experience over Andre I believe.
PC: You have the best of both worlds training with a top guy in your weight division at super middleweight and of course your dad, Howard Davis Jr., being a 1976 Gold Medalist. How has that helped the progress of your career to this point?
DD: My dad is the #1 benefit of my career. He set the foundation for me. When I first told him that I wanted to box, naturally I sought him out and he set the foundation for me. We've just been moving up from there. We came to a point where we just hit a wall with each other and we felt like maybe we should seek other trainers out. I trained with Floyd Mayweather Sr. for a little bit and now I'm with John David Jackson. He is my head trainer now and everything is going well.
PC: Sometimes it's hard for pops to let go. What was the process like for you guys?
DD: The problem with me and my dad is that we're so close. And the problem with that is, he may see some things that he wants to try, but as I'm developing and growing into the fighter that I am, there are some things that I would like to try on my own. So you never want to disrespect your trainer and if he sees things that he thinks should be done...you just don't want to do that. With that in mind, we didn't want to ruin the father/son relationship and have no one go behind the others back or I do it my way or you're going to do it this way, so we just thought maybe we should bring someone else in and that's what we did. It was an easy discussion that we had.
PC: You got a late start in the sport. What are your goals?
DD: Short term, the goal is to compete and start getting exposure. I got enough experience under my belt to let the world know that I am here and that I am a top contender to be reckoned with. I have a ton of sparring experience with top level guys and I'm doing well with everybody. So short term, I want to make my mark, get TV exposure and within the next year to year and a half, contend for a title.
PC: Is there any pressure to being the son of Howard Davis Jr.?
DD: At first, naturally. Now I have grown and I'm evolving into my own fighter. My dad had his career and now it's time for me to focus on my own. He had a wonderful career and I'm just trying to evolve on whatever he fell short on. He never won a title and that's #1. He had an outstanding amateur career, he won the Gold Medal and he had an outstanding boxing career and I'm just trying to pick up where he left off. No pressure on me. This is my career and he knows that and I'm seeking my own glory.
PC: The 168-pound division is very hot right now with the tournament going on. Is that where you plan on making your mark or can we expect a move up or down?
DD: No, 168 is perfect for me. When I started out, I was a light heavyweight and then, when my body started to develop and I got boxing experience, 168 was a natural feel. I'm still going to school and still learning though man. Every day I'm going to my University of Boxing. I'm getting more experience and I'm loving it, so 168 is my home man. I'm staying right here until my body decides it can't hold it anymore and wants to go up. Hopefully I can win a super middleweight title.
PC: Your middle name is Ali. I'm sure Howard had something to do with that. With that being said, who are your boxing idols?
DD: You said it man, Ali. That's who I modeled my style after when I first started boxing. The first thing I was working on was that Ali footwork and then, as I continued watching other styles and other fighters, Sugar Ray Leonard, Roy Jones Jr. and just pure boxers. I like pure boxers. Floyd Mayweather is another one. I enjoy the Sweet Science. It's good to have power, but when you can get in there and mess with a guy and break him down doing different things and still get the knockout, to me, that's beautiful. There is nothing more pure than that.
PC: You are the first boxer signed to Get'em Boy Clothing. What does that mean to you and what do you think of the gear?
DD: I love the clothing man. I love everything it represents. Get'em Boy is me and we gonna be doing big things. My man Lou is the man. He's a cool dude, so we're family now. This is it; it's edged in stone. It's a match made in Heaven.
PC: Best of luck to you Dyah. Tell your dad I said what's up. Is there anything you want to say in closing?
DD: Thank you for the interview and all of the support. I appreciate all of my fans out there. Look for us in 2010 and 2011. We're doing big things and we look forward to staying on a winning streak. We on a title hunt and we will be there soon!
[ Follow Percy Crawford on Twitter @MrLouis1ana ]