"I'm not just looking to be a great fighter, I'm looking to be remembered for a long time. I think that's the way it has to be done. You have to give the fans what they want to see and that's power and knockouts. I am cautious, though I just know when to be cautious and when not to be cautious...I try to be a complete fighter. That's my main focus when I'm in the gym because you have to expect the worst situation in boxing, just like in life, so I try to be prepared for everything," stated fast-rising light heavyweight Ahmed Elbiali, who talked about his upcoming fight tonight against Fabiano Pena. Check it out!
PC: We get to see you in action again on Fox Sports tonight against Fabiano Pena. How was preparation for this fight?
AE: I've just been preparing well and training hard as usual. I'm trying to work on some things that I want to perfect and that takes time, so I'm just taking it fight by fight.
PC: The light heavyweight division is kind of wide open after the two guys at the top, Kovalev and Stevenson. When you look around the division, what do you think of the landscape?
AE: I think it's great for boxing, good for the division and good for the sport that the top 5 guys in the division are power punchers. It's always good to have punchers in a division like this.
PC: In your last fight against Donta Woods, you kind of threw caution out of the window and you came out throwing bombs that he just couldn't stand up to. How important is the excitement factor for you; not just winning, but looking good while winning?
AE: (Laughing) It's probably the second most important thing after winning. But of course I want to look good. In all of these sports, it's about making an impression. You can't just keep winning all the time during the fight. At some point, you have to win the fan's heart over and make them want to see you. I'm not just looking to be a great fighter, I'm looking to be remembered for a long time. I think that's the way it has to be done. You have to give the fans what they want to see and that's power and knockouts. I am cautious, though I just know when to be cautious and when not to be cautious.
PC: How much do you know about Fabiano?
AE: He's coming off of a win, so I'm sure he's looking to keep that going. I'm sure he's training hard and looking to give his all, like I will be doing.
PC: You have been getting a lot of TV exposure and you've delivered every time out. What is it like to be a part of this movement Al Haymon has going that allows young guys like yourself to be televised so often?
AE: It's such a privilege. It's good for me to help really develop my career and it's awesome. It's a dream come true. Everything that's happening, I envisioned. I even envisioned working with Al Haymon before I got signed by him, so it's all just a dream come true and I'm very grateful and blessed to be a part of this.
PC: Only one of your 11 opponents saw the final bell. Sometimes great punchers fall in love with that power and they don't concentrate on other aspects of the game. Do you feel you are becoming more and more of a complete fighter every time out?
AE: I feel like I haven't been able to show everything that I have as far as my talents and skills. Fight after fight, you get more comfortable in the ring and you learn how to develop certain things and it'll all come. I try to be a complete fighter. That's my main focus when I'm in the gym because you have to expect the worst situation in boxing, just like in life, so I try to be prepared for everything.
PC: Do you feel like you're letting your knockouts come to you or at times do you feel like you try and force them?
AE: I'm human, so of course I get antsy. I'm still young, so I probably do force it sometimes. I'm not really looking for it; it kind of just happens lately. If it happens, it happens. My main goal is to always get the win and give the fans a good fight.
PC: Pena's only two losses are to undefeated fighters. What do you feel you have to do to become the third undefeated fighter to defeat him?
AE: I just have to do what I've been training to do and do what I do best and that's just box and use my boxing ability to the max and look for an opening.
PC: Thanks for the interview. I appreciate your time and best of luck in your fight. Is there anything else you would like to add?
AE: I hope everybody tunes in, and thanks to everyone for their support. It's going to be a good night of boxing. Be sure to catch it.
[ Follow Percy Crawford on Twitter @MrLouis1ana ]