"I got knocked down twice in the 4th round and I came back and knocked him out in the 5th round...My whole game plan for real was to make him quit or knock him out...I had to derail all of their plans. That was my motivation because I knew it was set up for me to lose.," stated jr. middleweight contender Tyrone Brunson, who talked about his knockout victory over Kermit Cintron. Check it out!
PC: Congratulations on the knockout win over Kermit Cintron. How do you feel about your performance?
TB: I appreciate it. I feel great about the performance. You know, I got knocked down twice in the 4th round and I came back and knocked him out in the 5th round.
PC: When you were knocked down, were they flash knockdowns? Were you truly hurt? What was going through your mind?
TB: They were flash knockdowns. That happened to me against Carlos Garcia, flash knockdowns. I be in shape and I do a lot of exercises for my neck and I'm built for that. I don't be hurt or nothing. I be fully alert and I have my senses.
PC: What was the game plan going into the fight and do you feel like you were able to execute it?
TB: My whole game plan for real was to make him quit or knock him out.
PC: After the knockdown, you jumped right on him. Did you sense he was hurt that badly or was it just instincts to jump on him immediately following dropping him?
TB: In the 2nd round, when I hit him with a left hook, I knew I could hurt him. I knew it was just a matter of time and when I saw that I hurt him again, I knew he was done.
PC: You guys are both from Pennsylvania; came up on some of the same circuits I'm sure. Did you ever feel like at some point you and Cintron would fight?
TB: We are both signed with the same promoter, so I knew it was going to happen eventually.
PC: Was there anything about Kermit that surprised you or was he who you expected him to be?
TB: Nah, he still strong. He was real strong. He caught me with a left hook and I realized then that he still had that power.
PC: You have been wanting a big fight. What's next for you?
TB: I'm ranked #1 for the USBA and my promoter told me I was going to be #15 for the IBF, so we just climbing the ladder. Hopefully I can get on that Floyd card (laughing) and fight one of his fighters.
PC: What has this journey been like for you, because it's been a rollercoaster ride?
TB: A lot of ups and downs, like you said, a rollercoaster ride for sure. This win meant a lot to me because, like you said, I have been through the ups and downs, wins and losses. I've pretty much been through it all. This win right here...I hope it let everybody know that I'm coming now. And my last win over Brandon Quarles too, that was a big win over a solid guy. But this win was even better over Kermit Cintron because he's a former two-time world champion. People can say he's old and this and that, but that guy still can punch and he can still fight.
PC: You say you wanted to make him quit or knock him out. Was it not enough in your mind to just beat him? Do you feel like you had to make some sort of statement in that fight?
TB: I wasn't going to get a decision over there because they wanted him to win. By me understanding the business, they were trying to get him back and into a bigger fight. So they knew a win over me would catapult him, so I had to derail all of their plans. That was my motivation because I knew it was set up for me to lose.
PC: What keeps you motivated and hungry through all of the ups and downs of the sport?
TB: I want a better life for my children. And I know I got talent and power, but honestly, my kids are my main motivation. I'm not trying to be no opponent. I'd rather go work a job before I become an opponent. I've had to play the opponent role before, but I've always told myself that I'm going to be a world champion.
PC: But you always come to win even when the deck is stacked against you. I have never seen you show up to collect a check.
TB: It's bigger than just a payday to me. I'm trying to become a world champion. That's my ultimate goal. I feel like I got too many years in this boxing game. I got over 20 years in the game; I gotta leave with something. I'm not satisfied just making a little bit of money and not having those straps.
PC: How soon can we expect your next move?
TB: I know something big is coming. I'm just going to continue to stay ready and just keep working until I get that phone call.
PC: Congrats again on the win, best of luck, and I hope something big is around the corner for you. Is there anything else you would like to add before I let you go?
TB: I just want to say thank you and thank all of my fans that's been riding with me. They can look for good things coming from me in the future.
[ Follow Percy Crawford on Twitter @MrLouis1ana ]