"I'm going to go out there and, as always, put on an exciting fight. October 11th, I will be ready. Everything else that I can't control, I don't worry about. I'm definitely going to go out and put on an exciting fight," stated former IFL welterweight champion Jay Hieron as he talked about his upcoming October 11th clash with Bryson Kamaka at "Night of Combat II." Check out what he had to say about the fight, his opponent, his future plans and much more.
PC: How is training holding up?
JH: Training was great. I feel healthy, mentally readyÂ…everything is good.
PC: A little change of plans from the fight with Drew Fickett. How important was it for you to fight on October 11th still?
JH: It was kind of big for me to stay active man. I haven't fought since April. I was really looking to fight on October 11th and thank God something came up on the same day and everything worked out.
PC: How much will the late opponent change affect your approach to this fight?
JH: Not much really. I'm going to go out and do the same things; go out and force my will and press the action for myself.
PC: After the Affliction card was postponed, how did this opportunity come for you to fight on this card?
JH: Kim Couture actually has a lot to do with the show so that's pretty much family right there. When the Affliction card got put off, I called them and asked them and they agreed to let me fight.
PC: What was your initial reaction when you heard the Affliction show was postponed?
JH: It is what it is. It's the story of my life; ups and downs. It ended up being a great thing because then I heard they went into a deal with Golden Boy Promotions so that's pretty big.
PC: Are you a boxing fan too Jay?
JH: Yeah, I love boxing.
PC: Who do you enjoy watching?
JH: I grew up watching Sugar Ray Leonard; him vs. Hearns and Hagler. I like Hopkins, De La Hoya and Pacquiao.
PC: Are you hoping to still fight Fickett in January?
JH: I'm on the card still and I hope its Drew Fickett. I've already been training for this guy and that's the guy I would like to fight. I hope they make that fight happen. I think it's a good matchup. He's a tough guy and I think he'll bring his A game and we'll have a good fight.
PC: Do you know a lot about your October 11th opponent Bryson Kamaka?
JH: Yeah, I heard he's a scrappy guy; a Hawaiian guy. You know a lot of those Hawaiian guys like to come out and bang. I expect him to come out and put on a fight. I'm going to come out and try to impose my will to what I've been training in the gym and let everything flow. I feel I train every aspect of the game equally. That way, when I get in the fight, I just try to let it flow and that's what I plan on doing.
PC: On paper, he doesn't look like he's on your level, but we've seen fights not go the way they are supposed to.
JH: Oh yeah! Man, I never look past anybody. Both guys have 4 oz. gloves on and anything can happen on any night. Once you start looking past somebody, that's when stuff happens. I'm training just as hard. I didn't stop training when the Affliction card got postponed. I stayed in the gym. I train every fight like I'm fighting for a world title.
PC: How important is it for you to look impressive in this fight?
JH: I think it's important to look good in every fight, but I don't try to worry about that. I go in and try to have a clear mind. When I do that, I think I look good. I'm going to go out there and, as always, put on an exciting fight. October 11th, I will be ready. Everything else that I can't control, I don't worry about. I'm definitely going to go out and put on an exciting fight.
PC: With all of the guys at Xtreme Couture training for fights, what is the atmosphere like around the gym?
JH: It's normal man. That's weekly; daily up in there. There is always somebody getting ready for a fight. There is always a camp going on. I'm blessed to be a part of it. Since I've been a part of Xtreme Couture, it's taken my game to the next level and that's one of the reasons because we always have fighters in there getting ready. After my fight, we still have fighters competing. Tyson Griffin and Gray Maynard are coming up right after me so I'm getting back in there and helping them guys out just like they're helping me out for my fight. It's more like a family atmosphere and it's incredible to have great training partners and great guys around you. It's incredible in there and you have to have you're A game up. It's always great training in there.
PC: Good luck my man. We'll get together again after your fight. Is there anything you want to say in closing?
JH: Yeah, just call me up man and I want to thank all of my training partners at Xtreme Couture and definitely all of the fans that support me.
[ Follow Percy Crawford on Twitter @MrLouis1ana ]