"My mindset is right. I'm just ready to be in there...I waited and got what I wanted and these guys are really looking forward to the future of my career and me as a person, so it's a real good thing...Sitting watching them makes me more eager to fight and more hungry and determined. That's like my family so to see my family going out there and fighting hard and doing good and winning makes me more eager," stated Charles Conwell Jr., who talked about his upcoming pro debut. Check it out!
PC: You're making your pro debut Friday, April 21st. I'm sure the anticipation is killing you. How has preparation been?
CC: Man, training has been going well. I'm feeling good, training real hard for this first one, and my mindset is right. I'm just ready to be in there.
PC: You were a 2016 Olympian, the youngest USA boxer to ever qualify, but obviously you have to make that transition into the pros. What are some of the things you have been working on?
CC: It's not just one thing. We've been working on everything and getting things back sharp. The things that we feel like we missed in the Olympic fight, we've been working on all of those things that didn't get me the win. We've been working on all around game; speed, power, precision, timing and accuracy. We have been working on everything.
PC: You made the Olympic team while still in high school. What type of learning experience was that for you?
CC: Just keeping my head on straight. That was the biggest thing throughout all of those things, like you said, school and the pressure from the Olympics; just keeping my head on straight. I have to not worry about the pressure and just go in the ring and do what I do best.
PC: You signed with Lou DiBella and Holden Productions. I'm sure that was a weight off of your back that now allows you to focus mainly on the in-ring aspect of the game.
CC: Ah yeah, that was a real blessing. It felt like a long wait. After the Olympics, I felt like I was waiting and waiting like, "When is this going to happen." I'm glad I waited it out because without the wait, everything probably wouldn't have been the way it is now. I waited and got what I wanted and these guys are really looking forward to the future of my career and me as a person, so it's a real good thing.
PC: Nico Hernandez just had his debut, Claressa Shields has fought twice already, and Shakur Stevenson is close to making his debut as well. You're right in there. I know that brotherhood is tight and to see everyone kind of getting going now has to be a great feeling.
CC: Man, it's crazy. Sitting watching them makes me more eager to fight and more hungry and determined. That's like my family so to see my family going out there and fighting hard and doing good and winning makes me more eager. I want to fight today. It's just more motivation and fuel to my fire to keep me training and keep me going hard.
PC: With this being fight week, what are the nerves like for you right now? Are you more nervous or excited to get this thing on?
CC: I'm just real eager to get in there and see how everything goes. I know it's going to go well. I've been training hard. All of that hard work we've been putting in, the sky is the limit. I'm just real anxious to get in there and broadcast my talents.
PC: Another guy fighting this weekend, Shawn Porter, is from that Cleveland area. Mickey Bey is from there as well. I'm sure you are looking to keep the tradition of talented Cleveland fighters going.
CC: Ah yeah, most definitely. We have a real good history of talented fighters coming out of Cleveland, so I'm just trying to keep that going and keep Cleveland strong.
PC: You guys had a crazy situation go down in Cleveland over the weekend. Cleveland is synonymous with this guy right now. A win and you could shed a little positive light back on your city and I'm sure that's your goal.
CC: It's really a sad thing to see anything like that happen in my city, knowing there are great people out there and then there are a few like that that steal headlines doing crazy things sheds a bad light on Cleveland. I'm just trying to put something positive back in the city of Cleveland and promote positivity.
PC: What impressions are you hoping to leave on the fans come Friday night?
CC: I want them to say, "this guy is no joke and he is a future world champion and a future legend." I want to be a multiple weight class champion. I'm a pure fighter and I'm going to be the next big thing in boxing. Right now, we are at super welterweight. I would love to move down to welterweight one day if I hopefully stop growing real soon. We are at super welterweight right now; hopefully I will go down to welterweight at some point and end my career at middleweight.
PC: Do you feel like you can stay in Cleveland and get the proper work or do you see yourself moving around or traveling to get work?
CC: We doing okay for sparring. We have been traveling to Philly and D.C. for sparring. I really don't know, man, it just all depends and it's hard to say right now.
PC: I feel you. Good luck on Friday night. I hope to speak with you again soon and we will be watching for you. Is there anything else you want to add before I let you go?
CC: Keep following me and my career and everyone can follow me on my social media @CharlesConwell.
[ Follow Percy Crawford on Twitter @MrLouis1ana ]