Two weeks ago, Chauncy Welliver was in New Zealand helping Shane Cameron prepare for his upcoming fight when he received the call every prospect dreams of
an opportunity to fight on the big stage for big money and a chance to make the jump from prospect to contender. Welliver, who has become extremely popular in New Zealand and in the Northwest region of the United States, will take on 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist Odlanier Solis in a 12-round fight on the undercard of Peter vs. Klitschko.
Both Solis and Welliver are moving up in competition in their young careers (although Chauncy has 44 fights, he is only 25), with one fighter moving forward and the other remaining a prospect or falling to journeyman. Chauncy took some time to speak with FightHype about his big fight this weekend and his future as a fighter and promoter.
CP: Chauncy, you took this fight on a couple weeks notice. How has training gone for this fight?
CW: Training has been good. My diet hasn't been so great, but I came straight home as soon as I got the fight and I feel ready to put up a wonderful fight.
CP: Solis is a step up from your usual competition. Have you worked on some new things?
CW: I have, but it's my old habits that will help me in this fight, like going rounds and making it a rough and tumble fight. I feel good and I know this fight will be a good one. I look forward to fighting a fighter of his caliber. I'm just like my nickname, "The Fat Dorky White Guy," so a fight this big is my world title shot, Olympic gold medal and life all rolled into one.
CP: Your common opponent is Chad Van Sickle. Are you concerned about him knocking Chad out in the first round and you going the distance twice?
CW: Simple
I'm not a puncher and he is. Chad is a tough fighter and I give credit to Solis for stopping him in the manner and time he did, but I'm a man on a mission and need to prove myself in this fight.
CP: Solis has stopped the guys he should have and went the distance with tougher boxers. You being the latter, do you expect to go the distance?
CW: I think it will go the distance, which will hopefully be in my favor, but I know for a fact he has been working with JC Gomez for his fight with Virches so Odlanier is ready.
CP: Your recent competition is described as soft. Do you think the fact that you haven't faced anyone really dangerous for a long time will have a negative effect on you?
CW: I think that will help me. My body hasn't taken much abuse other than at the dinner table (laughs). No, I do feel good and no, I haven't been in with a fighter like him ever, but with all due respect to all his past opponents, he hasn't seen a Chauncy Welliver.
CP: A victory by you will certainly elevate your status in the division. Will you continue to step up your competition if you are victorious?
CW: Of course! I will call out the great ones like Butterbean and Peter McNeeley (laughs). But really, I leave that up to the people and I feel, with having John Glozier keeping me big in the South Pacific, I don't see why a fight with John Hopuate can't come into play, which would be big in my part of the world.
CP: Anything new on the promoting front?
CW: Working on a couple things in New Zealand and also dreaming of promoting a show in Vanuatu. Nothing too big. Hey, I'm a broke kid just trying to figure this game out. I wanna at least be the best promoter in the Northwest so I'm working hard at it.
CP: Anything you would like to say in closing?
CW: I fight for 2 countries, New Zealand and America. I love both places and after this fight, win, lose or draw, I will defend my titles, New Zealand and WBC, and though I have a lot of fights, I feel this is the time to show the world what I got and back up all I've been pumping up of myself. Check out the fight October 11th and be entertained.