"He is the guy everyone is calling the best and he's the guy I have to get pass. I'm going to go out there and do my best to win this fight on November 27th and I'm really preparing to do that. Andre Ward won gold in the Olympics, he is a world champion, and he beat Allan Green, so for me, he's a credible opponent, but I don't really care who he beat because he has not fought nobody like me before. On November 27th, I look forward to beating Ward and maybe stopping him in the fight...It will also give me the opportunity to become the WBA world champion. If I beat Andre Ward, then I can fight anyone I want. It doesn't necessarily have to be in the Super Six. He may go on to win the Super Six, but he won't beat me on the 27th. I just want to show the people that I'm the better fighter and bring the belt back home," stated super middleweight contender Sakio Bika as he talked about his upcoming November 27 clash with WBA super middleweight champion Andre Ward. Check it out!
PC: How is everything going Sakio?
SB: everything is going really good. Training camp is going really good. I'm here training really hard and it's going really good.
PC: I understand you're out in Houston, Texas training. Are you getting some good sparring out there?
SB: Yeah! I'm getting some really good sparring out here. I have "Sugar Poo" [Buchanana] and Prince Badi [Ajamu]. I also have some other sparring partners coming in this week. I have good sparring; everything is really good and training camp is really good. We are pushing really hard and I can't complain at all.
PC: I personally thought you should have replaced Jermain Taylor in the Super Six when he went down. I understand this fight with Ward is not a Super Six fight, but you have to be pleased with the opportunity to fight the guy most consider the best in the tournament.
SB: I was looking forward to replacing Jermain Taylor in the Super Six. They had many things going on and I didn't get to replace him and Allan Green did, but for me, at this moment, I'm not really worried about the Super Six. I'm just worried about Andre Ward. He is the guy everyone is calling the best and he's the guy I have to get pass. I'm going to go out there and do my best to win this fight on November 27th and I'm really preparing to do that. Andre Ward won gold in the Olympics, he is a world champion, and he beat Allan Green, so for me, he's a credible opponent, but I don't really care who he beat because he has not fought nobody like me before. On November 27th, I look forward to beating Ward and maybe stopping him in the fight.
PC: He's been the hometown guy for his last 2 fights and he will be again in this fight. Are you comfortable fighting him out in Oakland?
SB: I don't care who I'm fighting or where. When you are a professional fighter, you're going to have some situations like this, and I'm sure he will have people there to support him, but when you see my record, I have fought everywhere in the world; Germany, England, Japan, and in the States. I don't care where I fight. It's more important for me to go there and do my business and win the fight. It's more pressure fighting like that because he will be fighting in front of all of his friends and all of his family, but for me, I just have to do my job. I'm very comfortable. I just have to go there and fight my fight and win the fight. I don't care who I'm fighting or where it's at. It's more important for me to go over there and show the people that I am the better fighter at 168 pounds.
PC: What would you like a win over Andre Ward to do for your career at 168 pounds, considering he's one of the best?
SB: Andre Ward is the guy who a lot of people look at as the best, so for me to go there and win the fight on November 27th will prove that I'm the better fighter in the division. It will also give me the opportunity to become the WBA world champion. If I beat Andre Ward, then I can fight anyone I want. It doesn't necessarily have to be in the Super Six. He may go on to win the Super Six, but he won't beat me on the 27th. I just want to show the people that I'm the better fighter and bring the belt back home.
PC: How much are you using this fight to erase the memory of the John Paul Mendy fight in which you were disqualified?
SB: I'm not happy about the memories of my last fight. I was very disappointed about the Mendy fight. I came out good and was looking to stop him in the 1st round. I didn't see his knee touching the canvas and I was just looking to do my job and the referee, Joe Cortez, wasn't close to me to jump in and tell me to stop, so it was just a very bad moment. The people that truly know me know that I wouldn't do anything like that intentionally. But I will just try to move forward past what happened against John Paul Mendy and get this win against Andre Ward and make it better for myself. I just want to win this fight, be happy, and become one of the best in my weight class.
PC: I appreciate your time. I wish you the best of luck on the 27th. Is there anything you want to say in closing?
SB: I want everyone around the world to see that Sakio is back on the 27th. I think everyone should see this fight because it may be one of the best fights of the year. I appreciate everyone who will support this fight and I'm looking forward to showing my fans that I'm back.
[ Follow Percy Crawford on Twitter @MrLouis1ana ]