"Training is going really well. This is the last hard week in Oxnard. This is my 7th week in Oxnard. I've got great sparring. I'm just ready to go...I don't know too much about him, honestly. I haven't seen much tape. I've seen some clips on YouTube and stuff, but from what my coaches have seen, he is a tough guy from Texas who comes forward. He's a durable guy; never been stopped. He should come to fight and put on a show," stated undefeated jr. welterweight Chris Algieri, who talked about his upcoming July 28th return to the ring to face Raul Tovar. Check it out!

DK: Chris, good to speak with you. How is training going for your fight on the 28th?

CA: Training is going really well. This is the last hard week in Oxnard. This is my 7th week in Oxnard. I've got great sparring. I'm just ready to go.

DK: Tell us about your opponent, Raul Tovar.

CA: I don't know too much about him, honestly. I haven't seen much tape. I've seen some clips on YouTube and stuff, but from what my coaches have seen, he is a tough guy from Texas who comes forward. He's a durable guy; never been stopped. He should come to fight and put on a show.

DK: You're quickly working your way into being one of the biggest draws on the east coast as you've been fighting in your hometown of Huntington, New York. How has the support been for you?

CA: It's pretty amazing. It's humbling. The crowds get bigger every time. People on fight nights are asking when the next fight is. Plus it's my hometown. I see these people. I know these people. They are a part of my everyday life. It's special. My social network has helped, through Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, but I know most of these people and that's how you want it to be because you keep your fans that way.

DK: You have an interesting background, having been a two-time world champion kickboxer before making the transition to boxing. You are currently 14-0 with 7 knockouts. How do you feel that your progress is coming along?

CA: I think I'm still learning. I had no amateur background. My first fight was my pro debut. I'm still developing as a boxer, but kickboxing definitely helped. I was a professional. There was no headgear, so defense was very important. Also, just being on big stages with big crowds and going through training camps. It prepared me for the boxing lifestyle.

DK: You're training out in Oxnard, California at Robert Garcia's gym. How much has that helped?

CA: I mentioned the lifestyle. The quality of sparring is second to none here. I've been sparring with Marcos Maidana for the last three and a half weeks. Last fight, I was sparring Brandon Rios. Here, I'm 100% boxing. My job is to get up, run, rest, eat, rest, box, rest, and eat right. Sleeping is training. That lifestyle is possible here, more so than at home.

DK: You've had one 10-round fight in your biggest win against Bryan Jargal, but this is your 3rd straight 8-rounder. At what point do you step it up to 10 round fights full-time?

CA: Um, it's not really my decision. It's up to my team and management. I'm an endurance guy anyway. It's not up to me. I want to be fighting 10-rounders yesterday, but that's up to my team. When, where, and how it comes about, they will decide. I will just keep on fighting.

DK: I know you have mentioned in the past that you have a clock on your boxing career. You want to go to medical school. Is that still the case? Do you know when you will step away from the fight game?

CA: All fighters have a clock, but the clock can change depending on how damaging the fights are, and fights play out over a career and so on. My clock is different because my next career is already in the works. I'm just kind of playing it by ear, but right now, I'm in it full bore and I'm focused on nothing except for boxing.

DK: Alright Chris. I don't want to keep you much longer because I know you're working hard preparing for the fight. I appreciate you taking some time to speak with me so close to the fight. Any final thoughts to the fans out there?

CA: I want to say thanks to all the people who come out to support me and check in with me on Facebook and Twitter and stuff. I get messages on social networks all the time and it means a lot. Tune in and keep telling people about me. Soon we'll be nationally televised and please keep on supporting me. You can follow me on Twitter @ChrisAlgieri.

DK: Alright Chris, good luck to you and we'll have to get you back on after the fight.

CA: Absolutely. This is great.

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