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ROD SALKA ON FACING DANNY GARCIA AT 142: "IT'S NOT GOING TO AFFECT ME ONE BIT"

By Ben Thompson | July 23, 2014
ROD SALKA ON FACING DANNY GARCIA AT 142:

"It's not going to affect me one bit. It's not affecting my game plan and it's not gonna affect anything I'm doing whatsoever. All it's affecting is I'm getting more money. Like I said, he can come in at 150 if he wants to come in at 150. It's way more money and when I win the fight, it's that much sweeter," stated lightweight contender Rod Salka, who spoke to FightHype.com shortly after we broke the news that his upcoming August 9 clash with unified jr. welterweight champion Danny Garcia is taking place at 142 pounds. Check out what he had to say about the weight and much more.

BT: I was told that you and Danny will be fighting at 142 pounds. How did that decision come about?

RS: They came to me for the 2 extra pounds, so we negotiated that as far as what it would cost to come up 2 extra pounds. If he comes in anything over that, I'm fine with that too because it's already neotiated what he's gonna have to pay if he comes in over that, you know what I mean. Whatever he wants to do. I'm the smaller guy whether he comes in at 40 or whether he comes in at 42. I'm the same size guy; he's the same size guy. It's just a matter of how bad he wants to get down to weight. Is it really gonna drain him? It's not going to affect me one bit. It's not affecting my game plan and it's not gonna affect anything I'm doing whatsoever. All it's affecting is I'm getting more money. Like I said, he can come in at 150 if he wants to come in at 150. It's way more money and when I win the fight, it's that much sweeter.

BT: You normally fight at 135, but you've had some previous fights at 140. How comfortable are you fighting at the higher weight?

RS: I mean, I'm the smaller guy at the weight class for sure. It's not like I campaigned at 140 to where my body's used to being there and I walk around heavier now. I can walk around heavy if I want. I can walk around 160 and not be out of shape really, but I've got my body down to where I'm comfortable walking around at 148 or 150 and I cut from there to 135, which is no problem. I mean, I say it's no problem, but the shit wasn't easy. It was meticulous, but I could do it and I could feel strong doing it, but 140, it's just easier. I can throw different things into my workout now. I can do some pull-ups and some different stuff to where I feel good. I feel strong. I mean, I feel strong at the weight. I know he's going to be the stronger guy, but I'm a strong guy, period, at whatever weight. I'm not sitting there punching; I'm moving around and boxing, but if I want to, I can sit there and push you around. You're not going to bully me.

BT: So you don't feel like you have to put on any extra pounds in order to account for the 142-pound weight limit?

RS: I'm going to come in wherever I'm comfortable, man. He might be a little bit bigger, but I feel like I'm the man in the ring at all times. If I want to box and move around, which is what I do, that's what I'll do, but if I feel like I want to get in there and put my forearm in your throat and push you off of me, I'm gonna do that. I mean, I wrestled since I was a little kid. I coach wrestling, so if someone wants me to pick them up and slam them on their on head, I'll pick them up and slam them on their head, whether they're 150 pounds or 250 pounds. That's just my mentality though, you know what I mean. I understand that I'm the smaller guy and he's the bigger guy and I'm gonna fight a smart fight, I'm not stupid, but at the same time, I'm still a fighter, I'm still a man, so I'll do whatever I have to do.

BE SURE TO CHECK BACK SOON FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH ROD SALKA



[ Follow Ben Thompson on Twitter @fighthype ]

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