"I am just trying to make a statement in the boxing world that I want to fight the best. I've been a professional for five or six years and I want to take a chance and prove myself and show people I am here for business. I'm out there and I'm serious about this and I want to be champion...You know, keep a look out because we going to keep working hard and pushing hard. Yeah, it's definitely Hawk Jr. Time now," stated rising super middleweight Aaron Pryor Jr., who talked about his recent win over Dyah Davis, his future plans, and much more.
EB: Congratulations on your win in your last fight. How do you feel about performance?
AP: Thanks a lot man. It was a good win. Dyah came to fight and do his thing. I just outworked him and worked my distance, which is something we worked a lot on in training. We worked to keep the distance and, you know, it really worked out in the game plan.
EB: So it looks like your next fight will be with Rodgriguez, who fought on the same card. That seems like a risky move on both of your parts.
AP: Really, I am just trying to make a statement in the boxing world that I want to fight the best. I've been a professional for five or six years and I want to take a chance and prove myself and show people I am here for business. I'm out there and I'm serious about this and I want to be champion.
EB: So are you a promotional free agent?
AP: Right now I am free. I do a lot of work with my father. He has been looking out for me and taking a more active role in my career, so we are just doing what we have to do until we get that deal or break.
EB: Yeah, your dad [Aaron Pryor Sr.], he has been in a fight or two, so he may know what he is talking about (laughs).
AP: (Laughs) Yeah, he has been around.
EB: Was your dad a little more happy for your win? You got a little revenge for his loss to Howard Davis Jr. over thirty years ago.
AP: Yeah. A lot of people talked about my dad and Howard Davis, but I never looked at it that way. My dad and Howard, that was their thing. They were both two great fighters and I have a lot of respect for Davis and his family and what they did. But I never went into the fight thinking it was revenge. I just didn't want to get sucked into all that, like this is for my father and all that. I just went out there and concentrated on what I had to do to win the fight. I looked at it as any other fight and any other opponent I faced.
EB: Well, you are tall and have extremely long arms. Are you trying to stay at Super Middleweight or move up in weight?
AP: Right now, I feel very comfortable at 168, but my trainer, [James Ali] Bashir thinks Light Heavyweight is where I will eventually end up at. But right now, I am cool at 168. I don't have any issues making weight. When I was at middle or low 160's, that was where I was having the trouble at.
EB: So man, what is your reach? I saw you on tv and thought you ain't got to get in the ring to hit the guy (laughs).
AP: (Laughs) I've been told it is 84" and I've been told 80", so I will say somewhere in between. People compare me to my dad; like how are you so tall when your dad is short? I tell people my dad had big dreams. I'm just a tall lanky guy, but I use it to my advantage.
EB: Yeah, with the reach you have, you can use the jab to make sure no one gets close to you.
AP: Yeah, that's the plan, not to let those little guys get underneath me. I still got a lot of learning to do in the game. I strive in the gym to keep learning and get my skills better; just keep working harder and outworking my opponent and keep my work ethic up.
EB: So are you working out at the Kronk gym or in Ohio?
AP: Yep, I'm back in Cincinnati. I still work with Emanuel, but I do a lot of work with my dad now. I still do my thing at the Kronk when I can.
EB: Is there anything else you want to say to your fans out there?
AP: You know, keep a look out because we going to keep working hard and pushing hard. Yeah, it's definitely Hawk Jr. Time now!
EB: Appreciate you taking the time man, talk soon.
AP: Thanks.