"I would love to fight Arreola, but I'm not gonna fight him in Mexico though. I learned my lesson from the Travis Walker fight. Chris Arreola thought Travis Walker hit hard, wait until he gets hit by me. If Travis Walker dropped him...Travis Walker ain't drop me and I dropped Travis 3 times. If I hit Arreola on the chin, I can definitely put him out. That's who I want. That would be a late Christmas gift if I can get Arreola in the ring...Hopefully I can get Arreola. If he sees that, tell him he fought the wrong Butler. I'm not Raphael. I'm Alonzo Butler and his management gotta get it right and come at me right. They didn't have to get a fake Butler; they could have gotten the real one...Me and Arreola would be a good fight. He don't like to quit and I done quit, so it will definitely be a good fight. He may not quit, but I know I will beat him. I'm taking Mexico back. I would come out wearing a sombrero," stated heavyweight contender Alonzo Butler, who would love nothing more than a clash with fellow contender Chris Arreola to prove he's more than ready to get his career back on track for a title run. Check it out!
PC: What's up big man? How you been?
AB: I'm good man, just chillin'.
PC: I understand you definitely want in on these heavyweight talks and everything that's been going on. Have you seen the back and forth between Kevin Johnson and Malik Scott?
AB: Oh, they beefin' with each other?
PC: Yeah, they have been going back and forth for a few weeks now.
AB: I think Kevin will get him, man. Kevin...I sparred with Kevin and Kevin hard to hit. I'm a big fast heavyweight too and I can't hit him clean. I'm close to Atlanta and that's my dude.
PC: I know you have a date in March scheduled. Are in you in training or were you taking it easy through the holidays and just gonna get it started afterwards?
AB: Nah, I been training, man. I been training through the holidays. I been in the gym for about 3 or 4 months now.
PC: I'm sure that majority decision loss to Travis Walker left a bitter taste in your mouth...
AB: (Cutting in) Tell Travis I will fight him anytime (laughing). I can't fight him in his backyard no more though. You know how that is. They took a lot of points from me too, so...
PC: What has training been like for your fight in March? Obviously you're trying to erase that memory.
AB: Training been good. I got a new conditioning coach named Nate, but he been getting me right, toning me down and getting back down to 250-245. I'm getting ready to rock.
PC: If this is truly the Klitschkos last year or so in boxing, how does that change the elements of the heavyweight division?
AB: Man, it's going to be hell in the division when the Klitschkos leave, in my opinion, because it's going to be wide open. I think it will be good for the division, but I would still like to get a piece of them before they leave.
PC: You were a person on Chris Arreola's radar at one point. Is that a fight you're hoping to get still?
AB: I would love to fight Arreola, but I'm not gonna fight him in Mexico though. I learned my lesson from the Travis Walker fight. Chris Arreola thought Travis Walker hit hard, wait until he gets hit by me. If Travis Walker dropped him...Travis Walker ain't drop me and I dropped Travis 3 times. If I hit Arreola on the chin, I can definitely put him out. That's who I want. That would be a late Christmas gift if I can get Arreola in the ring. Me and Kevin Johnson cool, but if I get up there and he up there and it's a money fight, we will fight. I would have to accept it because it's business, but honestly, I would like to see that fight between Kevin and Malik Scott. Malik been around for a minute, but at the same time, it's good to see Malik back in the picture. That's good for him. There is money out there to be made.
PC: NBC and Main Events are bringing the heavyweights back to mainstream, so with a few new fresh names and the exposure, it's looking up a little bit for the division.
AB: Yeah! I'm just trying to be...I got my new style coming out with the American Kilt on, so I'm trying to get all of the foreigners out of the way. That's my new style. I've been fighting in a Kilt since I left Banner Promotions, but we still on good terms and might do some business later on down the line. But other than that, I would love to fight Arreola. That's been on my mind for a minute.
PC: How do you feel you match up with him?
AB: We match up good. I'm 6'3", about two fitty. He lost weight. I just think what Friday [Ahunanya] did to him; Friday hurt him and Friday got me off of a 2-year layoff. I take responsibility for the loss, but I have moved on from that.
PC: How busy are you looking to stay this year?
AB: I'm just trying to get me a couple of fights. Hopefully I can get Arreola. If he sees that, tell him he fought the wrong Butler. I'm not Raphael. I'm Alonzo Butler and his management gotta get it right and come at me right. They didn't have to get a fake Butler; they could have gotten the real one.
PC: My man Henry Ramirez, Chris' trainer, reads the site and I'm sure he will hit me up and let me know what's up.
AB: Me and Arreola would be a good fight. He don't like to quit and I done quit, so it will definitely be a good fight. He may not quit, but I know I will beat him. I'm taking Mexico back. I would come out wearing a sombrero.
[ Follow Percy Crawford on Twitter @MrLouis1ana ]