"That's what I've been working my whole career for, is that shot at something big. To be able to match my skills up against someone like Paul, with his résumé, that's what excites me. I get up for that type of challenge...Hopefully I'll be able to neutralize that speed by having my own speed. I'm not too slow myself. I think it's going to be a battle of the minds," stated welterweight contender Danny O'Connor, who spoke to the media during a recent conference call to promote his upcoming May 29 clash with two-division former world champion Paulie Malignaggi. Check out what else he had to say!
Danny O'Connor: I want to thank everyone for being here. I'm very excited about this opportunity to fight Paulie and to come down to New York and showcase my skills at Barclays Center. I've worked my whole career for this. I put a lot of effort and sacrifice in my life to get here. I'm very excited and I'm ready for the task at hand.
Q: Danny, in a situation where you're fighting a guy who in his last fight was TKO'd, does that make you think of coming in a different way than you ordinarily might, really target him and be more aggressive than usual being that he was stopped in his last outing?
D. O'Connor: No, I don't. Anything can happen on any given night in boxing. That's what we do we get punched in our face. Because of that, I'm not looking at anything differently.
Paul had some time off to recover and recoup. I'm expecting Paul at his best. I want him at his best. The better he is, the better challenge that lies in front of me. The more excited that makes me. My game plan is going to be my game plan regardless of the outcome of his last fight.
Q: What was your reaction when your name was picked? You're fighting Paulie Malignaggi, a former world champion. Did you think it was a joke or did you see it as you're getting a fight at an elite fighter that will springboard you?
D. O'Connor: I was excited right off the rip. That's what I've been working my whole career for, is that shot at something big. To be able to match my skills up against someone like Paul, with his résumé, that's what excites me. I get up for that type of challenge. I didn't want to get my hopes up in case something fell through. Boxing, anything can happen. As it got more and more real it was excitement. It's all about excitement.
I've been working a very long time to get to this spot. I put in a lot of work and I deserve to be here. I'm excited to take this chance and to showcase my skills against Paul.
Q: You have a tremendous amateur record, 110 wins, only 11 losses. Is that part of the training ground that you've had to put you into this position now?
D. O'Connor: Yeah. I think with anything in life, experience is going to get you places. The more experience you have, the more comfortable you're going to be, the more savvy you're going to be. I think along with that, the type of person I am, my work ethic, how hard I've worked, it's got me far so far.
Q: A victory over Paulie will put you on top of the radar charts for the other 47-pounders. There is a grand central community of 147-pounders. Is that what you're looking for?
D. O'Connor: It's not even in my mind, man. I don't look at all past Paul. He's a tough fighter. I'm focused at the task at hand, and that's Paul. That's all I'm looking at.
Q: Paulie is fast. How do you intend to deal with his speed?
D. O'Connor: Hopefully I'll be able to neutralize that speed by having my own speed. I'm not too slow myself. I think it's going to be a battle of the minds.
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