By Ian Aldous: Former WBA, IBF light-heavyweight and WBA cruiserweight world champion, Virgil Hill (50-7) is on a journey back to the ring. At 48 years of age and over four years since his last fight, Virgil wants to make one last stand in the sport he loves. Here, Freddie Roach’s first world champion talks with me about his comeback.
First of all, it’s been over four years since we saw you inside the ring. Why do you now wish to return to the sport?
VH “Well, I tell you my father passed away in October and what inspired me was that he said to me that he had some regrets and didn’t do certain things in his lifetime. I vowed right there and then that I’m gonna want to go out on my own terms in boxing and not leave anything that I’m gonna have to look back on and have any regrets for. You know, that inspired me and I started doing basic stuff like walking and push-ups. It escalated to Freddie Roach’s gym, The Wild Card Gym out in Hollywood and training there.”
How’s it been training and working with Freddie Roach once again after all these years?
VH “It’s fantastic, I mean Freddie’s always gonna be Freddie, he’s a funny guy. The one thing that he’s got is an incredible passion for what he does. I mean, he’s out there overseas with Pacquaio and other international fighters but when he’s at the gym it’s at 7:30am and he doesn’t leave ‘til 4:00pm.”
What weight will you be fighting at and when are you looking to make your return?
VH “Well, I’m gonna fight at cruiserweight and I’m already under the weight limit at 194lbs. Potentially it (first fight) may be in Germany. I’m gonna go to Germany and re-connect with a guy named Roland Suttner (promoter) and talk about doing something in Germany. I think I have a little better name in Europe than I do over here in the States.”
What are your thoughts on the cruiserweight division? It’s a very European orientated division right now.
VH “That’s where it is and I enjoy fighting in Europe anyway. I mean, they appreciate the pugilist, the boxer, and I’m not the one-punch knockout guy, I’m not that type of a fighter, I’m more of a polished boxer. In Europe they appreciate that more than they do here in the States.”
You defended your multiple world championships on more than 20 occasions during your career throughout the 80’s, 90’s and 00’s. At 48 years of age, is it realistic to think that you can recapture those glory days?
VH “I don’t think that I can grab hold of all of them, you know, I don’t want to. I want a shot at the championship and to try to make history and try possibly fighting Bernard (Hopkins) but if not, I can easily end my career in Europe. I would be happy getting a shot at the championship and fighting over there as most of my memorable fights have been in Europe.”
Where do you see yourself in a year’s time?
VH “Hopefully competing for the championship. I mean, I am on a short, short run. I started training in September just slowly, taking baby steps and I’ve come to this point where I’m in the ring sparring and moving around with these young kids. I have a good day and then I have a bad day, some days they go home with a black eye, some days I go home with two black eyes. (Laughs).”
What would you say to the doubters who will disagree with your comeback? Because when you see guys fighting on way after they should have retired, there’ll undoubtedly be fans out there that will call for you to stay retired.
VH “If it’s not gonna work them I’m just not gonna do it. I don’t want to harm myself but I still think that I can compete at a world-class level. What names are there out there? These belts are changing hands like they’re the alphabet soup, you know. There’s not just one person that’s dominating the division but I’m happy that it isn’t like that so I do have a shot. Believe me, when I first step out in my fight, I’m not gonna look like a 48 year old guy trying to make a comeback. That’s not what I want people to see. I’m in the best shape that I’ve been in that I can remember in my last two fights that I had. Freddie (Roach) told me to come out to California when I said that I wanted to make a comeback and he said he wanted me to come out and him assess me and he’s gonna tell me the truth of whether I should or I shouldn’t (comeback). I’ve been out here for three months now and he hasn’t said a word. If I look like a 48 year old man on a comeback, then I don’t need to do it.”
Comments are closed.