"Philadelphia has a lot of fighters here. Everyone all over the world knows that Philadelphia is the home of boxing. I'm just thankful to have the opportunity because my dad is who he is and I get the opportunities that other fighters don't being from where I'm from. I get to go to different places and get fights and it's really a blessing because it can only help in the long run. I'm not naïve. I know I don't get those types of opportunities solely on my skills. I know that because of who my father is, he's helping me out a lot and I owe a lot to him for getting me these experiences. I'm taking full advantage of them and that's what's going on," stated lightweight prospect Tim Witherspoon Jr., who talked about his fight this Friday as he continue his rise through ranks to become a world champion like his father. Check it out!
PC: How are you doing Jr.?
TW: Everything is good. I'm just preparing for this fight next week. I'm just training really hard and getting ready for it.
PC: Your last couple of fights have been in the UK. What is it like for you to be returning to Philly to fight?
TW: I feel really good about it. Everyone has been waiting and asking me for the last 2 years when am I gonna fight in Philadelphia. It's finally happening and I got a lot of support coming from Philly and where I was raised in Bucks County, and I'm really looking forward to putting on a show and letting everyone see my progression. I haven't fought in Philly since '08 and I want to show everyone how far I've come since then.
PC: I'm sure you are gonna have a huge support system down there. How do you not let it become a distraction to fight in front of family and friends in your hometown?
TW: It's a professionalism that you have to take into it. Your fans can only help you and they can only hurt you if you let them. You just gotta go into knowing that you're going to get the job done no matter what. I don't even think about who is gonna be there or who is supporting me; I just know I have a job to do and that's what I plan to do.
PC: How important has it been for you to be able to fight away from home, and not just in another state, but in another country? Do you feel that is preparing you for when you have to go to hostile territories later on in your career because you're doing it at a very young age?
TW: Yeah it's very important. First of all, not too many people get the opportunity at the level that I'm at right now to go to a different country and fight people in their own backyards. It's not like I'm going from Philadelphia to New Jersey. I'm going from Philadelphia to a whole different country and they are going to support their countrymen. It's just like any other sport, like when we go face them in soccer or basketball or whatever. They take it very serious and it's very important for me because I don't know where I am going to have to go next, Australia or somewhere, to get that experience. Not just the fights either; I'm talking about the training aspect too. I've been working with different fighters over there, seeing how they fight and being around other professional world champions. It's great experience to see how people all over the world do what they do and how they go about their business.
PC: It's rare to see a kid 7 fights into his career and not have all of his fights in his own backyard. That can only help you.
TW: Philadelphia has a lot of fighters here. Everyone all over the world knows that Philadelphia is the home of boxing. I'm just thankful to have the opportunity because my dad is who he is and I get the opportunities that other fighters don't being from where I'm from. I get to go to different places and get fights and it's really a blessing because it can only help in the long run. I'm not naïve. I know I don't get those types of opportunities solely on my skills. I know that because of who my father is, he's helping me out a lot and I owe a lot to him for getting me these experiences. I'm taking full advantage of them and that's what's going on. I get to come home and train at gyms and other fighters asking me how was it. They can only ask me because I get a chance to live it. I've been to Ireland and seeing what their boxing programs are like, that's a blessing man.
PC: No doubt your dad's name helps you from a marketing standpoint, but how does he help you from a boxing standpoint, being that he is your head trainer?
TW: When I first started boxing, he was still fighting, so he sent me with my uncle and he used to live in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. So I started boxing there, but ever since like my 4th amateur fight, he's been my head trainer and he's taught me all that he knows about the sport of boxing as far as how to box. But on the other hand, he has taught me about the business side of boxing. He's introduced me to people and just has helped me all around. Just living with him 24 hours a day, I just get 24 hours of knowledge in the game. That's something a lot of other fighters don't get. He's been there before at a high level. The biggest thing that he gives me is confidence. Not a lot of other fighters have someone that's been a two-time heavyweight champion in their corner. He makes me feel comfortable when I'm about to go in the ring because he knows what I am going through. He knows what I'm going through when I gotta wake up before the sun is up and go running, or if I have family problems, because he's been there before. So that's what my father really brings to the table. All together, that gives me a lot of respect for him and he has a lot of respect for me because we both know what we have to do and how to get there. I got nothing but respect for him for that.
PC: You are still a very young fighter in this game. Who are some of the guys you take things from when you're in there fighting?
TW: Being from Philly and seeing some of the things I have seen in the gym from guys like Yusaf Mack and Eddie Chambers doing their thing, I look up to them guys down there like they are my big brothers. But as far as watching people, I learn a little bit from everybody, but right now, this day, I will tell you that I watch a lot of Floyd Mayweather. I'm sure I'm not the only fighter that does that. But I can't say nothing bad about him and what he does because I enjoy watching him. I like to imitate some of the things that he does because I think that he is a special athlete and he's gifted. I would like to emulate him and even when I do become world champion, I will still say those same words: I would like to be like Floyd Mayweather.
PC: What are you looking to show on the 28th that you have been working on? What do you really want to have clicking that night?
TW: In this fight, I'm looking to put together everything that I have learned in my first 7 fights and then make this one the best one yet. I just want to go out there and do what I have been doing in the gym. I'm not going for the knockout because I know if I do everything that I've been doing in the gym, it will come. There is not one thing specifically, but a whole group of things that we put together and I'm looking to execute all of it on that night. I hope it will all come together. I know that it will.
PC: Best of luck to you on Friday. I'm sure I will be speaking to you on a regular basis in the near future. I appreciate your time Jr.
TW: Definitely man. Thank you for having me on. We will do it again.
[ Follow Percy Crawford on Twitter @MrLouis1ana ]