“I’m tired of this waiting, I’m a prize fighter not some dude working in a restaurant serving food” said Deandre “THE BULL” Latimore after a morning run in Las Vegas.
“Every day I’m in the gym here in Vegas and when we finally get in the ring I’m going to take out all my anger over this waiting out on Cory Spinks, he’s going to pay for these delays” said the St. Louis native.
The cross-town showdown between junior middleweight Latimore and former world champion Spinks for the vacant IBF Junior Middleweight title has been in the works for months but no date has been set. The IBF has ordered the title fight between Spinks and Latimore, who are ranked #3 and #5 respectively, which is set to take place in St. Louis.
Training in Las Vegas with Kenny Adams since his ESPN2 knockout of Sechew Powell last June, Latimore has grown weary of the delays. “We’ve wanted this fight since last summer, then they made it for the title when Verno Phillips vacated. I fought eleven times in 2006 the year I turned pro, eight times in 2007 and now I’ve been off nine months and I’m very upset about this.”
The 23 year old Latimore carries a record of 19-1-0 (16KO’s). Growing up on the mean streets of South Side St. Louis he always knew about the older Spinks who was raised on the North Side.
“It was never personal but it is now, all this making me wait. Maybe where he comes from it’s cool to fight once or twice a year, but I want to fight four or five times a year. I’m ready to show the folks back home who the boss of St. Louis is and then I want to prove it to the rest of the division.”
Latimore is managed by Jerry Giuliano’s Sandman Boxing Management LLC and promoted by DiBella Entertainment and Rumble Time Promotions of St. Louis..
SIX QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH LUCIAN BUTE
Montreal hero defends IBF title against hard-hitting Fulgencio Zuniga
Friday, March 13, On a Special Edition of ShoBox: The New Generation
Live on SHOWTIME, 11 p.m. ET/PT, From The Bell Centre, Montreal, Canada
NEW YORK (March 10, 2009) – Montreal-based Romanian Lucian Bute took time out of his busy fight-week training schedule to answer a few questions from SHOWTIME. The 29-year-old undefeated Bute risks his International Boxing Federation (IBF) super middleweight crown against hard-hitting Fulgencio Zuniga on ShoBox: The New Generation on Friday, March 13 (live on SHOWTIME at 11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast) at the Bell Centre in Montreal.
Bute is making his third defense of the 168-pound title he won with an 11th-round TKO over Alejandro Berrio on Oct. 19, 2007, in Montreal, where the defending champion’s last 11 fights have taken place.
Last Oct. 24 in Montreal on ShoBox, Bute dominated the initial 11-plus rounds against Librado Andrade but fell apart late and was brutally knocked down in the final seconds. Visibly shaken and hurt, Bute barely made it to his feet, but he beat the referee’s “10-count” to retain his belt on a lopsided decision.
SHOWTIME: How important is Friday night’s fight to you and the people of Montreal?
LUCIAN BUTE: “Montreal has become my second native land. I came here to fight my pro debut and just fell in love with the people and the culture. We’re going to keep bringing the major, major championship fights to Montreal because I know the main thing that we are doing here is selling out and that is something not too many promoters can do in other places. This is a tough time for many with the economy where it’s at but boxing still remains an important part of everyday life in Montreal.
“I like being on SHOWTIME and I like being on TV. That’s the way you build up to the big fights. You have to make your name in America. To make the big money you have to be involved in the big fights and SHOWTIME and ShoBox are giving me that opportunity now.”
SHOWTIME: Do you feel like fighting in Montreal gives you a clear-cut advantage in your fights?
LUCIAN BUTE: “When you are fighting at home there are some slight advantages but once that bells sounds there is no one that can help you but yourself. Sure, the arena is packed and they are screaming your name but no one can help you. You are all by yourself and you have to perform. Between the ropes there is no more advantage.”
SHOWTIME: What do you think about Fulgencio Zuniga?
LUCIAN BUTE: “I’ve been watching Zuniga’s fights on tape, especially his last three fights. Of course, I saw his fight against Denis Inkin (for the WBO super middleweight title in which Zuniga lost in a controversial 12-round decision). It was a really, really close fight and I even thought Zuniga won the fight. But the fight was in Germany. I do think that if that fight was in America that Zuniga would have been declared the champion.
“I also have watched his fight three years ago against David Lopez, who like me is a southpaw. (Lopez) was beating him until the final round when Zuniga knocked him out. That just shows me how much heart Zuniga has. He will never quit in a fight, especially a title fight. I also saw his fight against Victor Oganov. I feel like I’ve got the speed on my side. I’ve got the boxing ability and I will make sure we will keep fighting on my level. At my level, speed kills.”
SHOWTIME: Can you compare Zuniga to your last opponent Librado Andrade?
“They are a little similar. I would say that Andrade is a busier fighter and physically a little bit stronger. In fact, probably quite a bit stronger. But on the second punch Zuniga is probably quite a bit stronger. He has more power on every single punch than Andrade does.”
SHOWTIME: Many call your win over Andrade controversial because of what happened at the end of the fight. What are your thoughts about the way the fight ended?
LUCIAN BUTE: “I think it was not a mistake on my part. I just got so tired in that last round. A 126-pounder could have knocked me out I was so tired. I learned from that experience. When I went down there were four seconds left in the fight so all I needed to do was stand up. There were eight seconds when I got to one leg. Whether the ref told Andrade to go back to his corner or not, it’s irrelevant because with just four seconds left in the fight I knew he couldn’t hit me anymore. So I think the referee did the right thing.”
SHOWTIME: Would you like to fight Andrade again?
LUCIAN BUTE: “Absolutely. It’s a must. We have to fight again. Hopefully he will win his mandatory fight aginst Vitali Tsypko (on April 4, also from Bell Centre) and he will be my next opponent for the fall. We need to settle this. I need to do this and he also deserves it.”
BJ FLORES FACES JOSE LUIS HERRERA ON MARCH 21ST!!!!!!!!!
UNDEFEATED CRUISER FEATURED ON ROY JONES PPV
World ranked cruiserweight BJ “EL PELIGROSO” Flores returns to action on Saturday, March 21st to face Columbian banger Jose Luis “EL PANTERA” Herrera in Pensacola, Florida in a twelve round bout for the NABO Cruiserweight Title.
“I’m very excited for this opportunity, Herrera is a very hard hitting veteran, I saw what he did on ESPN with his great win over Aaron Williams last year and know that I’ll have to be at my very best to beat him” said Flores. ‘He’s a legitimate force in the division and has never gone the distance, either he knocks me out or I knock him out which should make for an action packed fight for the fans.”
The Miami based Herrera brings a record of 16-5-1 into the battle with Flores, all of his wins and losses coming by knockout.
The Flores/Herrera bout is the co-main event to “MARCH BADNESS” at the Pensacola Civic Center featuring the return of native son and boxing legend Roy Jones Jr. who will battle Omar Sheika in the main event.
The Arizona based Flores, 22-0-1 (14KO’s), now training in Las Vegas is ranked #7 by the WBO and the WBA, #9 by the WBC and #12 by the IBF. He returned to the ring on January 23rd in Las Vegas with a third round knockout of Matt Hicks.
“It was great to get back after an 11 month layoff against Hicks, but I really want to fight often this year and I’m looking forward to putting on a great performance on March 21st. Roy has been a legend in boxing and I’m honored to fight on this show in front of his hometown fans” said Flores.
“I’ve wanted to fight for a world title for a long time and in 2009 I hope to finally get my opportunity. If I beat Herrera, I want to face WBO Champion Victor Ramirez immediately. I don’t want to waste any time, if it means going to Argentina, then that’s what I’ll do.”
Prior to facing Hicks, Flores won an ESPN televised twelve round decision over Darnell Wilson o February 8, 2008 for the USBA Cruiserweight Title.
“MARCH BADNESS” is promoted by Square Ring Promotions in association with Hirsch Borao Boxing and the Pensacola Civic Center. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster and the Pensacola Civic Center box office.
The “MARCH BADNESS” pay per view is being distributed by Square Ring Promotions, Inc. live on pay per view at 9:00PM ET/6:00PM PT in North America, on cable and satellite via iNDemand, TVN, DirecTV and Dish Network in the United States, as well as Viewer’s Choice, Shaw Cable, Star Choice and Bell TV in Canada, for a suggested retail price of only $29.95.