"Everybody was talking about Saki's hard work and his shape. We prefer to train in all quietness and sometimes late at night or early in the morning when the gym was closed. And when people asked, we were just laughing, so they assumed that we didn't train or were fooling around. Believe me, the hardest thing in the world is to make simple things look difficult, but easy. The fight might have looked easy, but we simply did our homework and came with a beautifull game plan. Than I was very lucky that Badr always sticks to the plan...He is one of the best kickboxers there ever was, and probably the best, but for sure the most talked about and discussed. There will be haters, as always, but be honest, he is something else...For the heavyweights, see you sooner than you'll know,"," stated world-class trainer Mike Passenier, who talked about Badr Hari's impressive 1st round TKO victory over Gokhan Sakit this past weekend, his transition to heavyweight boxing, and much more. Check it out!
PC: Big night for you and Badr Hari in his farewell to kickboxing; he scored a 1st round TKO over Gokhan Saki. Congratulations my man.
MP: Thank you. We gave the people what they came for, as always. Nothing bad about Saki, but when Badr is in such shape, nobody can beat him in a single match. I already told you in my previous interview the man is hungry and in shape, but most of all, his hands is working, as you could see.
PC: I know you guys put in a lot of hard work. Do you think that is the main reason why the fight looked so easy, because it's hard to make a guy like Gokhan look bad?
MP: We have worked very hard and almost every day; no time off or waisted. Everybody was talking about Saki's hard work and his shape. We prefer to train in all quietness and sometimes late at night or early in the morning when the gym was closed. And when people asked, we were just laughing, so they assumed that we didn't train or were fooling around. Believe me, the hardest thing in the world is to make simple things look difficult, but easy. The fight might have looked easy, but we simply did our homework and came with a beautifull game plan. Than I was very lucky that Badr always sticks to the plan.
PC: What was the game plan going into the fight and did you know the uppercut would be key to Badr walking away with his hands raised?
MP: The plan was to beat Saki on his physical disabilities, so Badr used his length and stayed away from Saki so Saki had to come close and walked into the uppercut, which he never expected because he is the smaller fighter.
PC: Badr looked very intense and focused before the fight. What was your message to him before you guys walked out?
MP: Stay focused and stick to the plan, and don't let him get into your head or annoy you.
PC: We always knew how scary a focused and motivated Badr Hari could be. You truly feel he could knock anyone out, but were you a little surprised in the manner in which he disposed of Saki?
MP: No, absolutly not. I know him and what he is capable of. When we train or warm up, he shows moves and sharpness you have never seen. When he is in his zone, he really is poetry in motion.
PC: Where do you place Badr's legacy in the world of kickboxing?
MP: He is one of the best kickboxers there ever was, and probably the best, but for sure the most talked about and discussed. There will be haters, as always, but be honest, he is something else, isn't he?
PC: He definitely is. There is no denying that, even from haters. What is the process now? Will Badr take some time off and make a permanent move to the States to begin training with Naazim Richardson or will he just come down here to strictly train?
MP: He is going on a little holiday, as always, for a few days and then we are off to America to train with Naazim to see if it's a fit.
PC: You also had Melvin Manhoef on the "It's Showtime" card and he dropped a decision to Tyrone Spong. What did you think of his performance and the fight itself?
MP: Melvin had a very hard period the last 1 1/2 year and seemed to have closed that; from that prospective, it was okay. He wasn't the Melvin as we know him, but he is getting there. He was rusty because he hasn't been fighting for 9 or 10 months. Don't get me wrong, these are no excusses, but just some knowledge behind the fight. Tyrone couldn't make the difference either in my opinion, but he won fair and square. Both fighters were careful.
PC: You have so many guys. Did you have anyone else on the card and what did you think of the overall show?
MP: We had 2 other fighters on the card. First of all, Ricardo van den Bos, and Sahak hak Parparyan. The last one fought 2 weeks ago at 85 Kg. and was a late substitute against Mourad Bouzidi, a well-known heavyweight who dropped to 95 Kg. Hak won on points, so I was very pleased by that (laughing). The show was great, as always. The crowd was fantastic and supportive. Of course hats off to Simon Rutz and his crew. The only downpoint was the negative media before the show. For the rest, it was a faboulous day; one to remember.
PC: I hope to see you guys in May at the Floyd Mayweather fight. Are you guys still planning on attending?
MP: We will be there and wouldn't miss it for the world, but we will see you before that, I promise.
PC: Any message to the heavyweights in boxing before I let you go, and is there anything you want to say or anyone you want to thank who helped you guys out during this camp?
MP: Well, Badr thanked everybody already in his closing speech, and I feel the same. I want to also thank the members of our gym and fans for always believing in us, and my wife Sylvia and my children Montell, Maricya, Summer and Jordan for completing my life and their support. For the heavyweights, see you sooner than you'll know.
[ Follow Percy Crawford on Twitter @MrLouis1ana ]