"I'm just happy to have an opportunity like this one August 1st at the Barclays Center. I've been preparing for this moment all of my life and now it's here...this is destined to happen. There is nothing that he can do. There's nothing that his trainers can do. This is destined. I've been working so hard. I've been waiting on this moment for a very long time and my skills are definitely one of the things that's going to stick out...I've been working on this goal and it's my moment," stated up-and-coming super featherweight Omar Douglas, who talked about his upcoming return to the ring this Saturday on the undercard of Garcia vs. Malignaggi. Check it out!
JR: How's everything been with you, Omar?
OD: Everything has been going great. I'm just happy to have an opportunity like this one August 1st at the Barclays Center. I've been preparing for this moment all of my life and now it's here.
JR: Years ago, you had a chance to be included in Danny Garcia's camp helping him prepare for a fight. Now he's the headliner of the event that you're participating in on Aug. 1st in New York. How does that bring things into perspective for you?
OD: It just shows you that with hard work and dedication that you can achieve your goals. I knew one day that this would happen. I've been putting in the work for a long time and I just figured that one day that it would happen. He's one of the biggest boxers in my area and I've been in that gym with him getting him ready for several fights. I watched him come up as an amateur when I was a kid and all that, so it's great to have an opportunity to be on the same card with him.
JR: You're getting a heck of an opportunity to display your talents on probably the biggest stage that you've been on. How have you been able to remain patient being considered one of the best guys at super featherweight that a lot of people have not heard of?
OD: I just figured like everything takes time. Some guys rush it and it doesn't happen, but I'm a firm believer of my dreams. I believe that this is God's work and with God, anything is possible and you just have to be patient. I had to be blessed with the patience because I've been grinding for so many years and I'm just glad that I have the opportunity that I do have.
JR: Everyone knows that Delaware is a small state. Not too many boxers make a name out of there except Mike "No Joke" Stewart. How have you've been able to make a name for yourself coming out of Delaware, which is not known for boxing?
OD: For real, for real, it's not really known for boxing. I've always had to travel 30 minutes up the road to Philly to box. I was a 6-time Pennsylvania Golden Gloves Champion and it was rough because me not being one of those guys coming up, they had to grow to love me. Sometimes I feel I didn't get a fair shake when I was fighting as a kid, but they grew to love me. It's like my second home. As a kid, I was back and forth when my father stayed in Philly, and when I was up there, I would go around and get work. Of course I always came back to Delaware, but with Philly being my second home, I had to do all my amateur work there and travel through the states for the PAL and the Nationals. I was always one of those guys on the Philadelphia team, but I just so happened to be from Delaware. It was always weird because when I was in the registration line, some people didn't know the abbreviation for Delaware, which is DE. On my USA boxing book, it would read DL and all types of crazy stuff. It was weird, but Philadelphia is my second home.
JR: Do you feel that Delaware has warmed up to boxing now and accepted it? Also, do you think you've been looked at as a guy to help bring boxing into the forefront there?
OD: I believe that they will miss me because it is nothing going on boxing-wise in Delaware. I think places like Dover Downs, they will miss me and the sport of boxing for right now. I will miss them because I love fighting at home. I love Dover Downs because, like I said, as a kid, I had to travel to Philadelphia to fight and being at home was new to me. I think they're warming up to it a little bit, but with me not being here, it's kind of hard. I mean, you have guys like Tyrod Davis. It's really not a lot of athletes from here. Maybe one day, one day I can come back and they will welcome me back with open arms. Until then, I have no problem staying on the road and doing what I always had to do.
JR: You may have a tough opponent in Frank De Alba and he seems to be hungry and has not lost a fight since his very 1st fight coming in at 16-1. With De Alba also coming in with a lot to prove, what do you think will be the difference that the judges and the audience will see between you two?
OD: The skill! It's very simple, the skill! I believe that I have been putting in work way much longer than he's been putting in work. Like, this is destined to happen. There is nothing that he can do. There's nothing that his trainers can do. This is destined. I've been working so hard. I've been waiting on this moment for a very long time and my skills are definitely one of the things that's going to stick out. As an amateur, I've been on the big stage before, but not as big as this one. But really, at the end of the day, forget all the lights and the TV and all that. At the end of the day, I step into the ring every day. That's my office! I go to the gym every day, I step in there and do my thing, and nothing will change. It'll hit me afterwards, but once I step through those ropes, that's my office, that's my cubicle, and that's where I've been all my life since I was 8 years old. I've been working on this goal and it's my moment.
JR: When do you think you'll be able to defend your NABA title?
OD: I'm not sure. I'm not even sure. Since I've made the promotion change, I'm not too sure where that leaves me now. I'm not sure when there is a mandatory, but I'm ready and I will gladly defend it.
JR: All the best on the upcoming fight, Omar. Anything you would like to say before I let you get back to taking care of business?
OD: Like I was saying before, it's just my time. One of the biggest things that I do in the ring well is my ability to think. You will see a smart fighter that night, you will see drama, you will power, and a lot of speed. It's my moment and I've been waiting for a very long time for this opportunity. Now I've got the opportunity and here it is.
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