"We want to actually start fast this fight. Normally, I kind of start slow and break my opponents down. We want to dominate the whole fight...The last time I didn't get a knockout was at MSG, so I'm gunning for the KO. It puts a little pressure on me to get the knockout, but you know me, I always want to be exciting and give fans their money's worth," stated fast-rising jr. welterweight Mike Reed, who talked about his upcoming clash with Marco Lopez. Check it out!
JR: You are wrapping camp up against one of your most experienced opponents in Marco Lopez at a bigger event at MSG. This is your second time fighting at MSG. How has it been for you and how do you feel about this match-up?
MR: You know, I think that the match-up is a very good match-up for me being at 17-0 now. You look at Marco Lopez's record and he's had some hard times when he has faced opposition, but he's a real good opponent and does tricky things to win rounds. We want to actually start fast this fight. Normally, I kind of start slow and break my opponents down. We want to dominate the whole fight.
JR: Who would you say Marco Lopez reminds you of from the opponents that you've faced so far?
MR: If I had to compare him against anybody, it will actually be Luis Gonzalez, who I fought the last time at MSG. It's because it seems he doesn't want to engage, wants to be clean, pick his spots, and take the fight slow. That's kind of how Luis Gonzalez fought for the first four rounds when I fought him. Then round 5 came and he switched to southpaw. I would say they're the same because it looks like both of them pick their places where they want to actually engage and fight.
JR: How has it been for you with your preparation and sparring because it seems like everybody in the DMV area has a fight right around the same time as you? Have you noticed this?
MR: Yes, you know, it's crazy, man. It's crazy. It's a few fights cards here and everybody is looking for work. It was hard for me to get work because nobody was out here willing to spar southpaws. The best work we got this camp was putting in a lot of rounds with Emmanuel Taylor. Manny [Emmanuel Taylor] is actually fighting a southpaw that's kind of built like me and we've been getting it in. It's been good work. We got some rounds in with Ty Barnett, who fights a southpaw in Daniel Attah in a few days as well.
JR: In your last fight, when you faced Rondale Hubbert in Las Vegas, you were nominated by your promoter with 3 other guys for Knockout of the Year. When you receive nominations like this, what does this do for your mindset and do you feel the need to bring a performance like that here on out?
MR: Well, I just want to say if I would have caught him with the uppercut, he would've been sleep on the ropes and it would've looked better. But to answer your question, it lets me know that I'm doing something good. It lets me know that I'm being noticed as not just a guy that was signed to a promotion, but as a guy who can be a force in the Jr. Welterweight class in years to come. It's a small pat on the back. Top Rank doesn't have a lot of African American fighters, but the ones that they do deal with, they show a lot of love to. The last time I didn't get a knockout was at MSG, so I'm gunning for the KO. It puts a little pressure on me to get the knockout, but you know me, I always want to be exciting and give fans their money's worth.
JR: Are you looking at this opportunity as what you do gets you a shot to be seen on national television in the next one or two fights? How important is that to you and do you believe if you get a stoppage that it will come?
MR: Yes, I believe that if I get a stoppage that the opportunity will come. If you look back two fights ago, they showed my highlights on national TV. It was good because I got to say I was on national TV and stopped Rondale. But I would rather not have the TV exposure than to have the exposure on the card. I would want TV exposure with a big name card because if I'm 18-0 after this fight, then I would think it's about that time. I have to continue to do what I do. We've talked to Top Rank about TV, talked to them about 10 rounds, and they said they would rather have me on the undercard of Terence and the undercard of Verdejo. This is because I could fight either of those guys down the line if all goes well.
JR: In the event that you look successful against Lopez and get him out of there early with no injuries, do you throw your name in the hat for the undercard of Pacquiao vs Bradley 3 almost a month later?
MR: You know what? That's a quick turnaround. I'm going to keep it 100! I haven't heard anything about Top Rank having a card the day before Pacquiao vs Bradley 3, but I hope that they do. I think they would show it on TV and I can get some TV time on that also. So yes, I would put my name in there. That would be perfect for me. If Top Rank does have a card before Pacquiao-Bradley 3, then I would much rather get on that than the actual Pacquiao-Bradley 3 undercard.
JR: I know you've been asked about the headliner in Crawford vs Lundy a lot, but what's your thoughts on Felix Verdejo and William Silva and do you eventually take a look at that winner down the line too?
MR: I think Top Rank is doing a hell of a job promoting Verdejo. I look at Verdejo and I say that's how I want Top Rank to move me. Verdejo is getting exposure, TV time, but he's also getting his opponents out of there. If I would've made the Olympic team, we would've been on the same team for that year. I think they're focused on getting Verdejo a title at 135 with William Silva; I don't know too much about him. I know that he has a good record and he kind of reminds me of the guy Jamel Herring just fought [Luis Flores]. Those guys are big lightweights. I love boxing, so with me, like you said, I could possibly fight these guys down the line and look at their records to see who have they fought. If I'm being honest, I think Silva has a padded 21-0 record. Verdejo should get Silva out of there in either Round 4 or 5 because he's a spectacular athlete.
JR: I know you don't make predictions, but at the end of the day, how do you see this fight going for you?
MR: Honestly, I think around round 3 or round 4, I'm going to start giving him problems. With me starting fast like I mentioned earlier, a lot of guys get confused with my angles or get gunshy. I think I'll have opportunities to get in some good shots. So after a few rounds and some body shots, I think I can finish it from there.
JR: I'm going to let you go Mike. Anything else that you want to say before your fight on Feb. 27th?
MR: Nah, I'm just ready to fight. I've been tired of training for about a week now. Every day I've been in the gym for two-a-days. I look at the gym, I say, "I'm here again." I'm ready to go to New York and put on a show.
[ Follow John Russell on Twitter @theJ_Russ3ll ]