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RANCES BARTHELEMY SAYS SHAFIKOV IS NEXT FOR 135 TITLE, BUT EYES BIG FIGHTS AT 140: "I CAN COMPETE AT ANY WEIGHT CLASS"

By Percy Crawford | July 06, 2015
RANCES BARTHELEMY SAYS SHAFIKOV IS NEXT FOR 135 TITLE, BUT EYES BIG FIGHTS AT 140:

"I felt real strong, I felt good, and we are aiming for 135. That's the ideal weight, but me and my team saw the opportunity to fight at 140 and we will do that to fight some of the bigger fights and the bigger names, and the weight came on well. I felt very strong and the possibility of a lot of big fights at 140 is there and there is also the possibility of winning a world title at 135 as wellÂ…I'm fighting Shafikov next. Shafikov is fighting July 18th and as long as he gets by that fight we will fight for the vacant 135-pound title," stated world champion Rances Barthelemy, who talked about his recent win, his future plans, and more. Check it out!

PC: Congratulations on your win over Antonio DeMarco. You looked spectacular in that fight. How did you feel in there?

RB: I'm really satisfied with the win. It was a lot easier than expected. Antonio DeMarco is a veteran fighter and he is a guy who has beat a lot of top fighters. We expected a much tougher fight, but I think that shows the work that me and my trainer Ismael Salas do in the gym and it's all paying off.

PC: So even you were surprised at how little resistance DeMarco presented? He's usually a game guy; you just looked to outclass him in every aspect of the game.

RB: I definitely expected it to be a little tougher than it was. He didn't put up much resistance, but I really think it had a lot to do with my training camp and my preparation and the way we prepared for this fight. Obviously there were some doubts because everybody that I spoke to told me that I made a mistake and that this was a tough fight, this guy is a natural 40-pounder, and that I was only a 30-pounder. So I went in thinking it was going to be a lot tougher than that. I made it look easy and that's just going to give me confidence moving forward and it doesn't matter what weight class it is at.

PC: Was there a certain point during the fight where you realized this fight was going to go your way and that you would be able to do pretty much what you wanted to do in there?

RB: Everybody knows DeMarco is a fighter that comes on late in the fight and I was expecting him to come on real late. His record says that, just like he did with Linares and other fighters where he was able to come on late. I think about the 3rd round, I realized it was my fight. I dictated the pace of the fight and my rhythm was on and I was superior to him. But I think about the 3rd round, but I never let the confidence get overwhelming either because, like I said, we expected him to come on late. I stayed with the gameplan and that's how we were able to win every round.

PC: You look real natural at 140, but it seems as if the plan is to come down to lightweight and contend. Is that what we can expect and how did you feel at the weight?

RB: I felt real strong, I felt good, and we are aiming for 135. That's the ideal weight, but me and my team saw the opportunity to fight at 140 and we will do that to fight some of the bigger fights and the bigger names, and the weight came on well. I felt very strong and the possibility of a lot of big fights at 140 is there and there is also the possibility of winning a world title at 135 as well.

PC: With Mickey Bey vacating the IBF lightweight title, they have now ordered for you to fight Denis Shafikov. Is that the next planned step for you?

RB: Absolutely! I'm fighting Shafikov next. Shafikov is fighting July 18th and as long as he gets by that fight, we will fight for the vacant 135-pound title.

PC: Did you take any different measures to bulk up or put weight on to go up to 140 pounds?

RB: I think I was putting on the weight well. I was eating well and feeling strong, but obviously it was getting tough to make 130 pounds. Everyone said the safe bet was to go to 35, don't rush and make a big jump, but I know the capabilities of my body, my height, and my size and my range and I can compete at any weight class.

PC: You always look so relaxed in there and we see that with a lot of the Cuban fighters. Is that just because you are so comfortable in the ring that it feels like another day in the office for you?

RB: It has a lot to do with going back to my roots and training with Ismael Salas, who is a Cuban trainer, but who has been here in the States forever and has taught me a lot of different things and angles and things of that nature that he learned in Cuba. So I'm just going back to my roots and I have built the chemistry with a trainer and finally being able to mesh with a trainer and that helps me relax. The amateur experience that I gained as well, but I think finally being comfortable with my corner and knowing you have a good gentleman behind you helps a lot.

PC: You switch your stance a lot from southpaw to orthodox. Is that intentional to bother your opponent, just what the flow of the fight allowed, or something that you work on in the gym?

RB: A lot of trainers will try to say don't switch, but for me, it's something that comes natural. I'm naturally left-handed. Everything that I do in any form of life, I do it southpaw, but one thing I did learn how to do is fight right-handed and that's why it comes so natural. It just happens naturally. It's not something that I look for and plan it and it works great.

PC: How soon can we expect you back in the ring?

RB: I think it will be late October or early November.

PC: I appreciate your time and thanks for entertaining me and I'm sure a lot of others on Father's Day. I look forward to seeing you in there again. Is there anything else you would like to add?

RB: I want to thank you and FightHype and all of the fans and media for all of the support and everyone that tuned in to CBS to watch the fight, but most importantly I want to thank Al Haymon. I want to thank Al Haymon for becoming a part of my career and a part of my life because since Al Haymon has become a part of my career, my whole life has changed. I'm able to take care of my family now and I just want to thank Al Haymon for changing my life!



[ Follow Percy Crawford on Twitter @MrLouis1ana ]

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