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SEMAJAY THOMAS: "I'M LOOKING TO GET THE TITLE AT 14, 15, 16 AND 0"

By Percy Crawford | October 12, 2015
SEMAJAY THOMAS:

"I want to be a title challenger early in the year and then win a title. I've seen a lot of guys win a title at 15, 16-0 and that's what I'm trying to do. I know with my talent and my charisma and my hard work and dedication, I'm looking to get the title at 14, 15, 16 and 0. Floyd did it and a lot of other champions did it and that's what I'm looking at," stated fast-rising jr. welterweight Semajay Thomas, who talked about his future plans and more. Check it out!

PC: You're out in Texas, so I take it something is brewing for you.

ST: Just getting some wonderful work out here. It's been good. Heard a few possible dates, the 13th of November or the 25th of November and definitely December 12th, so I got two big dates lined up for me. Everything is going good. I'm back in training camp and putting this hard work in at the Plex Gym.

PC: Having your fight dates lined up like that's gotta make your job easy. You just have to worry about training and fighting.

ST: Yeah, that's all, training and fighting and keeping my mind right; putting God first and just keep winning.

PC: I know you probably can't go into detail, but you obviously ran into a situation recently and it landed you in a place where you don't want to be. How do you get past that and move forward with your life and your career?

ST: I just keep a strong mind and a positive attitude. Like a lot of people say, you gotta take the good with the bad and learn from mistakes like that. I'm still here, I'm still talented, gifted, and I still work hard. And they not beating me. They are not beating me.

PC: That's a fitting motto because you made that for your in the ring moniker, but obviously you're using it as your out of the ring moniker as well.

ST: Most definitely!

PC: Last time we spoke, you were talking about a move down to 140. Is that still the case or do you plan on fighting a few more times at welterweight?

ST: My next fight, I will be at 140. My next fight will be at 140 so I can break in the rankings there and start getting in line there and start developing as a true 140-pounder. You know I had the number one spot at 140 pounds in the amateurs and I'm aiming to do the same as a professional now.

PC: Danny Garcia has moved out of the division, Matthysse seems to be on the other side of his better days. The division is wide open right now.

ST: Most definitely! It's my time now. All I gotta do is grind hard, keep God first, and keep going forward. Ain't nothing like a motivated fighter.

PC: So we can expect to see you at least two more times this year, right Semajay?

ST: At least two more times. And next year, I promise, you could put my name on it, I will be the busiest I have ever been in my career.

PC: You're out there with Jermall Charlo, who you call a mentor and big brother figure. How important is that for you at this point in your life to have a mentor that's in the same sport as you and just accomplished what you hope to accomplish in capturing a world title?

ST: It's very important. Like you said, he just won a world title with a brilliant performance over K9 Bundrage. To see him grow from one point to this point is truly amazing and it just shows me that I can do it. I remember watching him when I first came down to Plex two years ago and watching him grow as a fighter just shows me a lot. I see a lot of myself in him sometimes with the stuff that he does and he says the same thing about me, so we're like brothers and he mentors me. We had a long talk today and it didn't do nothing but motivate me. It's nothing but love.

PC: You've been in camps and in the presence of Floyd Mayweather, the Charlo brothers, and Erislandy Lara. Do you try and take little things away from all of these guys when you're around them or is it just a learning experience from a boxing standpoint?

ST: I've learned how to get out there and make your name bigger. I've also learned how to handle yourself to win big fights and just things like that. It's just amazing to be a part of a lot of great athletes and great fighters' lives. It just motivates me. A lot of people can't say that they have been around people like that and it's just truly a blessing, man; like for real for real.

PC: The two tentative dates for November are only a week and some change away from one another, but obviously you want to peak at the right time. Are you all in with the gym work right now or just waiting to see if it's the 13th or 25th?

ST: Coach Ronnie was out in San Antonio and now he's in New York. I'm just waiting on him to get back. When he comes back, we will have a date officially locked in. It's either the 13th on Edwin Rodriguez's undercard in Biloxi, Mississippi or the 25th in Miami on the Lara undercard. I'm hoping they put me on that Biloxi undercard, man, so we can link.

PC: Where would you like to be at this time next year my man?

ST: I want to be a title challenger early in the year and then win a title. I've seen a lot of guys win a title at 15, 16-0 and that's what I'm trying to do. I know with my talent and my charisma and my hard work and dedication, I'm looking to get the title at 14, 15, 16 and 0. Floyd did it and a lot of other champions did it and that's what I'm looking at.

PC: With exposure comes fans and critics. What can they expect to see from you when they tune in to watch you fight?

ST: My talent. My talent speaks for itself. Every time I fight, I put on a great show. I got the skills and the mindset, I got the personality, and I have that "it" factor. A lot of these fighters don't have that "it" factor. I got a lot of stuff that a lot of people want to see. It's a blessing. I put on a lot of great shows in Chicago, but now it's time for me to put them on around the world; Mississippi, Miami to Vegas to Colorado. It's time to show me to the whole world. I truly believe with my mind how I am right now and the dedication and the motivation that I have right now, I will be the champion of the world.

PC: I wish the best for you and definitely looking forward to seeing you in there in November. Is there anything you want to add before I let you go?

ST: We going to continue to take these lil' dudes out, take these lil' steps to get to the world championship and that's my goal. Shout out to all my fans and supporters, I love y'all. And shout out to my family. A big shout out to my family, Team Thomas, I love y'all and I'm doing this for us baby. Shout out to FightHype too!



[ Follow Percy Crawford on Twitter @MrLouis1ana ]

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