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JOSEPH ELEGELE EAGER TO FIGHT AGAIN ASAP: "I DIDN'T GET TOUCHED...I'M BACK"

By Percy Crawford | February 08, 2016
JOSEPH ELEGELE EAGER TO FIGHT AGAIN ASAP:

"Al called me and we talked last night and he's going to let me know something in the next week to week and a half so I should know something. Listen, I didn't get touched in that fight. The only thing I hurt is my left knuckle a little bit, but I would be ready tomorrow if they let me know something. But honestly, I'm hoping to be back in next month...I'm back," stated welterweight Joseph Elegele, who talked about his recent win, his future plans and more.

PC: De Jesus wasted no time getting under your skin when he was instructed by the referee to touch gloves he gave your gloves a little extra hit. What was going through your mind?

JE: (Laughing) You know me; I'm a very humble dude, but I feel like it was very disrespectful for him to do that. He came off like he was a cool dude and a humble dude leading up to the fight and then he did that. He tried to show out and that made me mad.

PC: Yeah, you gave him the "you're about to get it" stare.

JE: Oh yeah, I told him, "I got you!" That's what I told him and I had to deliver on my part.

PC: You were getting work with Erickson Lubin, so I'm sure you were used to the southpaw stance, but is that an uneasy or uncomfortable feeling for you to face another southpaw?

JE: With me sparring against Erickson Lubin, it made fighting him so much easier because that kid is one of the best at it and he's left handed. It did make the fight easier, but with me fighting another southpaw, it's kind of awkward because the shots that I like to throw and when I like to slip and counter with shots, they're not really there for me, so I had to make them happen.

PC: You got a couple of knockdowns en route to the stoppage. How did you feel about the performance?

JE: I felt really good. It's more that I have to work on, but after being off for a year and a half and coming back and performing like that with my punches being on point and my timing was on, I felt real good. It had been a long time since I fought and since I had on 8oz gloves, so with the time that I had off, I felt real good.

PC: You told me pre-fight that you wanted to look sharp and showcase that you had worked on your defense. I think you passed both tests against very good opposition. Do you feel like you were able to showcase the things you wanted to showcase going into this fight?

JE: Yes sir! I feel like I was able to showcase everything that I wanted to. I felt like there is more I can work on, like I said, but all in all, I felt with my defense, I needed to be more relaxed and run off combinations and not just wait on counters. I wanted to make things happen and I felt I done that.

PC: I was very impressed with your stamina and conditioning and you weren't conservative. You let your hands go and didn't seem to tire out at any point.

JE: Ah man, listen, I have a great strength and conditioning coach named Nelson Rodriguez. We've been working hard and honestly, I've only been in camp with them for like 2 weeks. The thing is, majority of it had to do with me being comfortable with who I am and finding out who I was. Me being comfortable with who I am takes me a long way, inside the ring and outside of it too.

PC: Did you feel any rust at all or did you feel sharp from start to finish?

JE: I felt sharp from the beginning, honestly. I have been getting great sparring and that had a lot to do with it. I was sparring Daquan Arnett when he fought against Yudel Johnson. We had great, great sparring, so it started there and then I got in camp with Lubin and that was even more great sparring, so that was even better.

PC: Were there any surprises from De Jesus? Did you expect something different or was he pretty much who you thought he was?

JE: Me being on the B-side and the hype of him being a Puerto Rican Olympian, I came in extra sharp because I'm thinking it was going to be a test. I guess I was the underdog and the way I came out, I made it not look like I was the underdog.

PC: Your overhand left was working all night. Was that something that you felt would work going into this fight from watching De Jesus or did you figure that out during the course of the fight?

JE: It was just me working on different punches and making everything count. Also me being left handed and people don't understand I'm a counter puncher, so I'm studying. Anytime he would throw a punch, I'm thinking in my head, "What shot could I throw to counter," and that's how I picked that up; counter him over his jab.

PC: When did you kind of get the sense that it was going to be your night?

JE: I would say like the 3rd round when I started walking him down. I walked him down and just stood in front of him and slipped him and countered him. But like I said earlier, me finding out who I was and me being comfortable just being me, I feel like I had the fight won on January 1st when they told me I had the fight (laughing). I just had to be me and learn who I am and be comfortable with who I am, and once I did that, I knew I had it with no problem, no matter who I got in the ring with.

PC: How soon would you like to get back in there?

JE: Al called me and we talked last night and he's going to let me know something in the next week to week and a half so I should know something. Listen, I didn't get touched in that fight. The only thing I hurt is my left knuckle a little bit, but I would be ready tomorrow if they let me know something. But honestly, I'm hoping to be back in next month.

PC: For sure, man. Congrats on the win again. You put on a great show and got your opponent out of there and became the first person to stop him. Is there anything else you want to add before I let you go?

JE: Just let people know I'm back and much love to my county [Brevard] and the people that came out and supported me and the people watching all over the world! I just want to thank them!



[ Follow Percy Crawford on Twitter @MrLouis1ana ]

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