Elvir Muriqi Interview
By
IKE
ENWEREUZOR
Elvir Muriqi was born in Albania
and started his
amateur boxing career at age 9, he won several titles as an amateur including
the
New York Golden Gloves in 1995. He made his professional
debut on June 19, 1998 with a first round technical knock out (1st
TKO) over Nicholas Robles in Atlantic City, NJ.
On January 9, 2007 Muriqi lost a 12 round
majority decision
to former Light
heavyweight king
Antonio Tarver for the IBO
Light heavyweight.
On Saturday February 14, 2009, Muriqi now fighting out of New York
City will face former world champion
Clinton Woods of the UK in an IBF Light
heavyweight eliminator. Here's what Muriqi had to say about his pass
and upcoming battle with former
champion Clinton Woods.
Q: How is training coming along for your fight with former world champion
Clinton Woods?
A: Everything looks good, I just finished talking with my lawyer
Q: What are your thoughts of Clinton Woods?
A: I respect him, he's a good fighter and former world champion. He was one
of the big names in the light
heavyweight division just like Roy Jones and Antonio Tarver. They
were the biggest names in my era. Your time comes and goes.
Roy Jones jr and
Antonio Tarver times have come and go. I proved
it with my fight with Tarver. It's my time now and no one can stop me.
This is our time now, me, Chad
Dawson and Shaun George. I believe I'm the
best light heavyweight today and I'll prove it Feburary 2009. I'm taking
this fight for at most no money to prove that I deserve to be on HBO or
Showtime. I showed it with
Antonio Tarver fight.
Q: Please. tell us how you started your amateur boxing career?
A: I started boxing when I was 9 in Kosovo, during that time was bad
situations, I boxed for 2 years then I left it and started kickboxing, I won
some championship while in Kosovo. At 17 I began boxing again. I moved
to New York and won the New York Golden Gloves
Q: Tell us about your first professional bout?
A: It felt good to be in the ring with commentator with sponsors logos
like budweser and more. It was a new experience fighting without your
shirt and no headgear. I put on a great performance that night.
Q: Did you learn anything from your fight with Antonio Tarver?
A: I love challenges. I learn that when people don't believe in me to
believe in myself. I proved I can hang with the best in the light
heavyweight division. My confidence sky rocked that night.
Q: Your thought on the Dawson-Traver2 ?
A: I'm so mad about that fight. Why don't I get a chance to fight them.
The fans want to see a rematch with Traver or I deserve to challenge
Dawson for the title but I have to face Clinton Woods now. Tarver knocked
out great Roy Jones jr when people when thought Roy couldn't loose. No one
can deny it he was the first to KO Roy Jones jr. Tarver is still living of
that.
Q: Your thoughts on Joe Calzaghe-Roy Jones jr fight?
A: I thought
Joe Calzaghe was going to win the fight from beginning but Roy Jones
got cut so the blood was going into his eyes, so he couldn't
really see, that didn't help him at all though I pick Calzaghe to win.
Q: Tell us about your last fight? Why haven't you been active enough?
A: I fought a tough guy and veteran Jameel Wilson, he was only stopped once
before facing me. It was a good fight for me.
As for why I have fought only once, it's not my job to get the fights. It's
my promoters job, my job is to train and that's what I do. My promoter told
me that a lot of the top
light heavyweights don't want to face me. Jeff Lacy didn't want to
fight me and many others. If it's left to me I want to fight 4 times a year
at least
Q: Any comments to boxing fans?
A: I want the fans to turn in if they can, the new era is here. Thanks to
all the fans that have supported me all these year.
Q: Any news about your friend Kemo, who was killed few year ago?
A: America most wanted is still loose, I hope the cops will do their job.
I believe they are trying buy maybe not enough. Nothing has been done
to find this guy who committed such crime, murder!! Kemo is part of me
anywhere I go. I want to achieve what he would have love to achieve
even though he is not here with us any more.
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