WEBVTT 1 00:00:02.560 --> 00:00:04.719 It is my great pleasure to welcome back as a 2 00:00:04.719 --> 00:00:08.439 guest Where podcast once again, top junior middleweight contender in 3 00:00:08.480 --> 00:00:10.439 the world, the Virgil Ortiz Junior. Virgil, thank you so 4 00:00:10.560 --> 00:00:12.400 much for being on with me today. I really appreciate it. 5 00:00:12.400 --> 00:00:15.199 We have a lot of discuss have you been, Yeah, we. 6 00:00:15.199 --> 00:00:17.320 Do, man, Thanks for having me on. First of all, 7 00:00:17.719 --> 00:00:19.800 I've been. I've been really good man. You know, train 8 00:00:19.920 --> 00:00:22.079 has been going well. You know, this year has been 9 00:00:22.079 --> 00:00:22.519 great for me. 10 00:00:22.600 --> 00:00:26.199 This is my third fight this year and everything's going good. 11 00:00:26.199 --> 00:00:27.399 Everything's going as we expected. 12 00:00:27.480 --> 00:00:29.120 We're going to get into all that, so we'll let 13 00:00:29.199 --> 00:00:31.519 the folks know. You have a I would guess actually 14 00:00:31.600 --> 00:00:35.000 from the stakes anyway standpoint, maybe even the competition standpoint, 15 00:00:35.520 --> 00:00:38.119 the biggest and best and toughest fight on paper anyway 16 00:00:38.159 --> 00:00:40.439 of your career, You're going to take on the WBC 17 00:00:40.600 --> 00:00:44.799 Interim Junim middleweight title holder Sari Boachik in a really 18 00:00:44.840 --> 00:00:47.200 interesting fight in my opinion anyway, You'll fight him on 19 00:00:47.240 --> 00:00:49.200 August the tenth. It'll be the Golden Boys main event 20 00:00:49.240 --> 00:00:51.560 on his own at one of my all time favorite 21 00:00:51.600 --> 00:00:53.920 venues in the in the in boxing in the world, 22 00:00:54.320 --> 00:00:58.960 Mandalay Bay. The michelob Ultra Arena. I know it's been 23 00:00:59.399 --> 00:01:00.799 a long time. I'm coming for you to get a 24 00:01:00.840 --> 00:01:02.640 fight like this, but I got to go back and 25 00:01:02.759 --> 00:01:05.040 discuss how it got to this point. It's a great 26 00:01:05.120 --> 00:01:12.079 matchup started off, go ahead, not glad, I was gonna say. Originally, 27 00:01:12.359 --> 00:01:15.079 your next fight was supposed to be what was a 28 00:01:15.200 --> 00:01:17.920 fantastic fight that everybody seemed to be awfully excited about 29 00:01:18.359 --> 00:01:21.560 against him Zoo for the WBA interim title at one 30 00:01:21.640 --> 00:01:24.000 hundred and fifty four pounds. They were going to put 31 00:01:24.040 --> 00:01:26.840 that on the big August third card in Los Angeles, 32 00:01:26.879 --> 00:01:29.760 the first ever riadd Seasons card in the United States. 33 00:01:29.879 --> 00:01:32.439 A huge card, you know, Terrence Crawford in the main 34 00:01:32.480 --> 00:01:36.200 event fighting for the WBA full title against Madromov in 35 00:01:36.280 --> 00:01:38.920 the main event, and just a loaded show. But to 36 00:01:39.040 --> 00:01:42.400 many people, Virgil, your fight with Zoo was the best 37 00:01:42.439 --> 00:01:44.879 fight on paper on that card. And then we know 38 00:01:44.959 --> 00:01:47.079 what happened. Zoo had the injury, the cut from the 39 00:01:47.120 --> 00:01:49.959 previous fight in March against Fandora. He was ruled out 40 00:01:50.000 --> 00:01:52.400 by his doctor and so that fight was off. And 41 00:01:52.480 --> 00:01:54.200 then there was a lot of sort of talk, you know, 42 00:01:54.280 --> 00:01:56.120 he'll stay on the card, they'll find a different opponent 43 00:01:56.200 --> 00:01:58.719 for you that didn't happen. So I want to just 44 00:01:59.000 --> 00:02:01.799 hear from you, like sort of like the emotional roller coaster. 45 00:02:02.239 --> 00:02:05.400 You're on this great matchup, your opponent's out, Maybe you're 46 00:02:05.439 --> 00:02:07.959 gonna stay. Now you're off the card, They're gonna try 47 00:02:07.959 --> 00:02:09.199 to get you a new opponent. Now you have a 48 00:02:09.280 --> 00:02:12.199 new date. Now you're fighting Boachek for for a different 49 00:02:12.280 --> 00:02:14.360 version of the interim title. Was it a little bit 50 00:02:14.360 --> 00:02:15.960 of up and down for you over the couple of 51 00:02:16.000 --> 00:02:16.759 weeks that was going on. 52 00:02:18.199 --> 00:02:22.080 Uh, you know, it's uh, throughout my career, gone through 53 00:02:22.599 --> 00:02:25.400 my ups and downs, and at this point, I'm kind 54 00:02:25.400 --> 00:02:26.960 of I'm not really surprised. 55 00:02:26.560 --> 00:02:27.840 About any of it anymore. 56 00:02:28.520 --> 00:02:31.840 It's just just how the sport is and uh, things 57 00:02:31.879 --> 00:02:35.759 can happen. So I kind of, honestly, I kind of 58 00:02:35.879 --> 00:02:38.080 expected it, Like I didn't want to get my hopes 59 00:02:38.120 --> 00:02:39.680 too high, because you know, I tend to get. 60 00:02:39.520 --> 00:02:43.520 Disappointed, you know, Like I was supposed to fight We 61 00:02:43.639 --> 00:02:43.879 were in. 62 00:02:44.000 --> 00:02:46.520 Talk spot to fight Thurman one time. Man, I was 63 00:02:46.719 --> 00:02:49.280 super excited about that one, and you know, it didn't 64 00:02:49.319 --> 00:02:53.759 end up happening. I don't think I've ever said this before, 65 00:02:53.879 --> 00:02:57.240 but those even talks with Manny Pacia at one time. 66 00:02:58.439 --> 00:03:01.120 When I stuff, I don't know when it was. 67 00:03:01.280 --> 00:03:03.800 I was the wb A goal and he was the 68 00:03:04.039 --> 00:03:08.520 WBA Champions to and so that would talks, very low talks, 69 00:03:08.599 --> 00:03:08.840 but you. 70 00:03:08.840 --> 00:03:11.680 Know that ignited like some kind of hope in me. 71 00:03:11.759 --> 00:03:13.439 I was like, oh, this could actually happen, you know. 72 00:03:13.560 --> 00:03:15.360 And of course it didn't. 73 00:03:15.159 --> 00:03:18.000 Happen, obviously, but uh, you know, I think I'm gone 74 00:03:18.080 --> 00:03:21.800 through these uh these really highs and after the highest 75 00:03:21.840 --> 00:03:23.840 and low because you know it didn't happen, I'm just like, man, 76 00:03:23.919 --> 00:03:26.280 you know what, I'm just if it happens, it happens. 77 00:03:26.360 --> 00:03:28.960 If it doesn't, I'm just gonna I'm just gonna keep 78 00:03:29.000 --> 00:03:29.439 on my thing. 79 00:03:29.599 --> 00:03:32.800 So with this Tims you thing, uh, you know, I 80 00:03:32.960 --> 00:03:37.240 was really excited. I was happy that, you know, his excellency. 81 00:03:38.199 --> 00:03:40.000 You know, he was like, hey, will like you on 82 00:03:40.120 --> 00:03:42.360 the card, and uh what about. 83 00:03:42.120 --> 00:03:44.039 The Tims you fight? Like shit, helly do the Tims 84 00:03:44.039 --> 00:03:44.400 Youth fight. 85 00:03:45.520 --> 00:03:47.520 But back in in the back of my head, I 86 00:03:47.599 --> 00:03:51.879 was just like, something could happen. You know, he just 87 00:03:52.439 --> 00:03:55.960 had a horrible cut, and I thought about that exact 88 00:03:56.039 --> 00:03:58.400 same you know that you know, that thing that that 89 00:03:58.919 --> 00:04:02.159 could potentially prevent the fight from happening, and that's what 90 00:04:02.280 --> 00:04:05.199 it ended it up to be. As far as now, 91 00:04:05.199 --> 00:04:09.240 we've got a big fight WBC interim with Sergey. 92 00:04:09.000 --> 00:04:10.879 You know, and uh, it's it's gonna be a good fight. 93 00:04:10.960 --> 00:04:13.159 You know, we should spare a lot, so, uh, I 94 00:04:13.360 --> 00:04:16.839 know that I know exactly what kind of fight it's 95 00:04:16.879 --> 00:04:17.160 gonna be. 96 00:04:17.800 --> 00:04:19.560 Well, we'll get to that, but you can start by 97 00:04:19.560 --> 00:04:20.800 telling me what kind of fight is it gonna be? 98 00:04:20.839 --> 00:04:22.279 When you say that, I'm intrigued. 99 00:04:23.319 --> 00:04:26.480 There's it's gonna be uh, close quarters the whole time range. 100 00:04:26.480 --> 00:04:28.759 There's there's gonna be no boxing. 101 00:04:30.360 --> 00:04:33.879 Well, the way you described your situation, it seems to 102 00:04:34.000 --> 00:04:37.519 me that in the years of your career you've grown 103 00:04:37.639 --> 00:04:40.319 some wisdom, like you kind of it seems like you 104 00:04:40.439 --> 00:04:43.160 are able to more maintain and even keel because of 105 00:04:43.240 --> 00:04:45.199 there's so many emotional ups and downs with fights that 106 00:04:45.279 --> 00:04:48.680 are made not made, injuries, cancelations, postponements. Do you feel 107 00:04:48.720 --> 00:04:51.040 like that any of the stuff that comes your way 108 00:04:51.040 --> 00:04:52.600 you can deal with now with you know, whatever it 109 00:04:52.639 --> 00:04:56.160 may be when it comes to that type of situation, Yeah. 110 00:04:56.120 --> 00:04:58.319 I'm I think I don't want to say I've been 111 00:04:58.360 --> 00:05:00.360 through it all. You know, I can't say that, but 112 00:05:00.759 --> 00:05:03.720 I think I've been through my fair share. I think 113 00:05:03.720 --> 00:05:06.160 I'm mentally prepared for everything at this point. 114 00:05:06.759 --> 00:05:08.680 What was it like when you thought that, you know, 115 00:05:08.800 --> 00:05:12.079 you're off the August third card. There were still conversations 116 00:05:12.160 --> 00:05:14.759 going on because I think Golden Boy and Bochek's promoter, 117 00:05:14.839 --> 00:05:16.759 Tom Loffler, I think a lot of the fans and 118 00:05:16.839 --> 00:05:18.360 media were like, yeah, I mean, okay, I'm not really 119 00:05:18.399 --> 00:05:20.639 sure why the Saudis didn't want to include that particular fight, 120 00:05:21.120 --> 00:05:23.279 even if maybe it wasn't the same name recognition as 121 00:05:23.319 --> 00:05:25.600 at Tim Zoo, where you were sort of in that 122 00:05:25.680 --> 00:05:27.279 limbo area where you weren't sure if they were going 123 00:05:27.319 --> 00:05:29.839 to make that fight for you or maybe some other fight. 124 00:05:30.519 --> 00:05:32.319 You know, you're gonna get your own date. Obviously, Design 125 00:05:32.399 --> 00:05:34.600 and Golden Boy work together, so they've been featuring you know, 126 00:05:34.720 --> 00:05:37.160 you and other fighters on Golden Boys, so that didn't 127 00:05:37.160 --> 00:05:39.480 really seem to be the issue. But were you concerned 128 00:05:39.519 --> 00:05:42.040 at all that you would have another longer layoff because 129 00:05:42.040 --> 00:05:44.519 of what happened with the postponment or cancelation of the 130 00:05:44.639 --> 00:05:45.000 Zoo fight. 131 00:05:45.959 --> 00:05:47.759 I don't think so, because you know, we did have 132 00:05:47.879 --> 00:05:50.360 some options, you know, and you know we will with Seray, 133 00:05:50.399 --> 00:05:53.040 which I believe is the hardest option that we could 134 00:05:53.079 --> 00:05:54.600 have went with, you know, but I feel like it's 135 00:05:55.240 --> 00:05:58.519 the one with the most opportunity, and you. 136 00:05:58.560 --> 00:06:00.519 Know that's that's one that we chose to to go. 137 00:06:00.920 --> 00:06:03.439 And you know, I'm not want to shy away from 138 00:06:03.480 --> 00:06:06.040 a heart fight. You know, this is exciting for me. 139 00:06:06.160 --> 00:06:07.639 This is why I'm in the sport. You know. 140 00:06:07.680 --> 00:06:09.519 I want to give the heart I want to give 141 00:06:09.560 --> 00:06:12.279 the exciting fights. I want to be a part of them. 142 00:06:12.319 --> 00:06:14.319 That's what motivates me to chain, you know. 143 00:06:14.680 --> 00:06:16.480 And I mean that's it. 144 00:06:16.800 --> 00:06:19.079 I mean, I just want to I just want to 145 00:06:19.160 --> 00:06:21.879 show down the bets because. 146 00:06:21.639 --> 00:06:22.480 I believe I am. 147 00:06:22.959 --> 00:06:25.040 So when you go in this, in this fight, and 148 00:06:25.079 --> 00:06:26.519 even if you had gone in the fight with Zoo, 149 00:06:26.759 --> 00:06:28.519 You're gonna be fighting for an interim world title. It's 150 00:06:28.519 --> 00:06:30.199 not a full world title, but it's obviously a little 151 00:06:30.240 --> 00:06:32.800 more meaningful than no title. What is your position on 152 00:06:32.879 --> 00:06:33.959 sort of and what does it mean to you that 153 00:06:34.319 --> 00:06:36.079 it's for an interim title. Some guys are like they 154 00:06:36.160 --> 00:06:38.480 love it. Some guys realize it's a stepping stone to 155 00:06:38.560 --> 00:06:40.879 a big title. You know, certain guys we've seen in 156 00:06:40.959 --> 00:06:43.839 recent times. I just interviewed Boots and it's not that 157 00:06:43.959 --> 00:06:47.639 long ago. He he was elevated from interim to full 158 00:06:47.879 --> 00:06:50.800 and Walter wait because Crawford moved up and wasn't going 159 00:06:50.879 --> 00:06:52.639 to fight him. So what's your take on the interim 160 00:06:52.680 --> 00:06:54.199 aspect of these title fights? 161 00:06:55.399 --> 00:06:58.120 So I am grateful for the opportunity for sure. You know, 162 00:06:59.720 --> 00:07:01.879 it's uh, it's it's a belt. It's just because it's 163 00:07:01.920 --> 00:07:05.560 the insterim doesn't mean nothing. But what I recognize myself 164 00:07:05.600 --> 00:07:09.000 as a world champion, No, because you know, that's just 165 00:07:09.839 --> 00:07:10.720 you're the vice president. 166 00:07:10.759 --> 00:07:12.199 You know, just because you're the vice president, you're not 167 00:07:12.279 --> 00:07:13.360 the vice president. 168 00:07:14.839 --> 00:07:16.680 I've been doing this a long time, man, I have 169 00:07:16.759 --> 00:07:19.240 written about interim title fights and interview guys a thousands. 170 00:07:19.279 --> 00:07:21.399 I have never heard anybody referred to it as the 171 00:07:21.519 --> 00:07:25.519 vice president. That is absolutely perfect. We perfectly said that's 172 00:07:25.600 --> 00:07:26.199 that's how it is. 173 00:07:26.240 --> 00:07:29.120 You're the vice president. You know, like you know, when 174 00:07:29.199 --> 00:07:31.279 when people think of the president of the United States, 175 00:07:31.439 --> 00:07:31.879 you can. 176 00:07:31.959 --> 00:07:34.720 You know, corredate that like the world champion. We don't 177 00:07:34.800 --> 00:07:35.079 think of. 178 00:07:35.160 --> 00:07:38.079 Kamala Harris or Joe Biden when it was Obama. You know, 179 00:07:38.240 --> 00:07:40.240 that's just not to bring politics into it. 180 00:07:40.600 --> 00:07:43.519 That's just how you know. So anyways, uh, you know, 181 00:07:43.800 --> 00:07:46.519 I don't I don't bring anyone down when. 182 00:07:46.360 --> 00:07:46.800 I say that. 183 00:07:47.120 --> 00:07:50.519 Just for me, I just I won't be satisfied. And 184 00:07:50.600 --> 00:07:51.759 so I have the actual title. 185 00:07:52.560 --> 00:07:55.079 Now you mentioned that you and sorry bull check of 186 00:07:55.560 --> 00:07:57.439 sparring sessions together. Is it a lot of rounds or 187 00:07:57.439 --> 00:07:59.000 a little rounds or like, how how much do you 188 00:07:59.079 --> 00:08:01.480 know them from the ring experience with him? And then 189 00:08:01.560 --> 00:08:03.800 you know, not a real fight obviously, but just in 190 00:08:03.879 --> 00:08:05.639 a sparring session of a lot a lot of rounds with. 191 00:08:05.680 --> 00:08:08.120 Him, we've we've gone a few rounds. 192 00:08:08.160 --> 00:08:10.519 He actually not only you know, when I was with 193 00:08:10.600 --> 00:08:13.160 Manny Roebliz over there was I sparing him, but he 194 00:08:13.639 --> 00:08:16.879 actually got me ready for the mean machine fight. 195 00:08:17.160 --> 00:08:17.439 Okay. 196 00:08:17.720 --> 00:08:21.360 He came from South to Riverside when I was still 197 00:08:21.399 --> 00:08:24.079 at Roberts and we were sparring there too, So I'm 198 00:08:24.399 --> 00:08:25.439 very familiar with him. 199 00:08:25.519 --> 00:08:27.319 And of course that means he's familiar with you. But 200 00:08:27.360 --> 00:08:29.959 you're twenty one and o with twenty one knockouts. He's 201 00:08:30.000 --> 00:08:32.360 twenty four and one with twenty three knockouts. Not a 202 00:08:32.440 --> 00:08:35.000 lot of distant fights when it comes to you guys. 203 00:08:36.039 --> 00:08:38.360 First of all, you know, I know that it's not 204 00:08:38.639 --> 00:08:41.240 a full actual fight, but you must feel some power. 205 00:08:41.679 --> 00:08:44.639 I guess, if he's got that many knockouts, what kind 206 00:08:44.679 --> 00:08:47.039 of punching power does he has? From your recollection, because 207 00:08:47.039 --> 00:08:49.840 he does have so many knockouts, you're both obviously punchers. 208 00:08:51.399 --> 00:08:56.600 I would I wouldn't say that his knockouts come from power. 209 00:08:57.799 --> 00:09:00.840 He does have some. It's more consistent. You know, he 210 00:09:00.919 --> 00:09:03.320 has a really good conditioning. I would just say it's 211 00:09:03.519 --> 00:09:06.639 the pressure. Yeah, I feel like the main. 212 00:09:06.600 --> 00:09:10.879 Reason now when when you go into the ring you 213 00:09:11.240 --> 00:09:13.600 do have it. As I mentioned the perfect knockout record. 214 00:09:14.080 --> 00:09:15.679 I wonder when you get to the point where you're 215 00:09:15.720 --> 00:09:18.200 twenty one to oher and got twenty one knockouts, is 216 00:09:18.240 --> 00:09:19.919 it all in the back of your mind or meaningful 217 00:09:19.960 --> 00:09:21.679 to you to continue the knockout shriek? 218 00:09:24.000 --> 00:09:27.240 Well, you know, sometimes I do think about it before 219 00:09:27.279 --> 00:09:29.240 the fight, but when I'm in the fight, I'm just thinking, 220 00:09:29.320 --> 00:09:29.879 all right, how. 221 00:09:29.799 --> 00:09:30.759 Am I going to avoid this? 222 00:09:30.840 --> 00:09:31.879 How am I going to wear that? How am I 223 00:09:31.960 --> 00:09:33.159 going to get to him? You know, And then it 224 00:09:33.279 --> 00:09:35.879 just comes into play. And then next thing, you know, 225 00:09:36.000 --> 00:09:37.679 if I see an opportunity, I just. 226 00:09:37.799 --> 00:09:40.440 I just I jump on it, all right. So when 227 00:09:40.480 --> 00:09:44.559 you guys were the fight got announced. And then on 228 00:09:44.639 --> 00:09:47.639 July eleventh, the day that Golden Boy had arranged for 229 00:09:47.720 --> 00:09:50.679 the press conference for you and Boltchak to kick things off. 230 00:09:51.080 --> 00:09:53.279 Right before the press conference, Golden Boy announced that you 231 00:09:53.480 --> 00:09:56.600 and the company had agreed to a contract extension to 232 00:09:56.799 --> 00:09:59.360 keep you with Golden Boy for the next period of time. 233 00:10:00.159 --> 00:10:02.240 How did how How did that? I mean it got 234 00:10:02.279 --> 00:10:04.159 done I guess kind of quick relative to when the 235 00:10:04.200 --> 00:10:06.360 fight was announced to is this something that was being 236 00:10:06.399 --> 00:10:07.639 worked on for a while, and just how do you 237 00:10:07.679 --> 00:10:09.919 feel about having that sort of stability and that your 238 00:10:09.960 --> 00:10:13.120 business situation is handled before this big fight for you? 239 00:10:14.120 --> 00:10:14.639 Yeah, of course. 240 00:10:14.720 --> 00:10:17.480 I mean we knew that the previous contract was was 241 00:10:17.600 --> 00:10:19.759 coming to a close, and we're just thinking, okay, so 242 00:10:19.960 --> 00:10:21.320 like how are we doing this? 243 00:10:21.480 --> 00:10:24.440 You know, like just talking to Golden Boy, like you know, 244 00:10:24.519 --> 00:10:26.080 what's up? And it took some times. 245 00:10:26.600 --> 00:10:28.399 I wouldn't say it took a whole lot of time, 246 00:10:28.519 --> 00:10:30.240 not like it took a whole lot of convincing, because 247 00:10:30.279 --> 00:10:32.600 you know, we work well with each other. You know, 248 00:10:32.919 --> 00:10:36.600 it's just ironing out, you know, the small things. And 249 00:10:37.679 --> 00:10:42.840 I mean I'm like I said before, I'm very happy 250 00:10:42.879 --> 00:10:47.039 to be here. Goldenway has always treated me in the 251 00:10:47.120 --> 00:10:50.879 best way. I'm very happy here, and why would I 252 00:10:50.960 --> 00:10:51.519 go anywhere else? 253 00:10:51.919 --> 00:10:53.879 No, I just wanted to ask, because it's it's, uh, 254 00:10:54.360 --> 00:10:57.120 you know, in sports in general, whether it's box or otherwise. Uh, 255 00:10:57.440 --> 00:11:00.480 some people like yourself, they don't necessarily think the grounds greener, 256 00:11:00.519 --> 00:11:03.360 and they're comfortable with their circumstance. They got themselves a 257 00:11:03.399 --> 00:11:05.679 deal they're happy with financially, and whatever else goes along 258 00:11:05.720 --> 00:11:08.320 with that. Other guys, like other sports, want to test 259 00:11:08.360 --> 00:11:10.120 the market and see what else is out there for them. 260 00:11:10.440 --> 00:11:12.720 So I'd always sort of gauge the mentality of the 261 00:11:12.759 --> 00:11:13.960 athlete of what they're thinking. 262 00:11:14.759 --> 00:11:15.720 Oh yeah, true. Yeah. 263 00:11:15.840 --> 00:11:19.600 Unfortunately, here for me, I was very fortunate to you know, 264 00:11:19.720 --> 00:11:21.519 found a great promoter and all that stuff, you know, 265 00:11:21.600 --> 00:11:24.799 and it's just it really is a blessing to be here. 266 00:11:25.440 --> 00:11:27.440 I feel like Virgil, it's sort of like the opposite 267 00:11:27.480 --> 00:11:29.159 of what we had talked about in a couple previous 268 00:11:29.200 --> 00:11:31.879 times when we've done interviews where unfortunately we had to 269 00:11:31.919 --> 00:11:34.639 talk about, you know, no fights in twenty twenty three 270 00:11:34.759 --> 00:11:37.720 because you had the medical issues and the postponements and 271 00:11:37.759 --> 00:11:40.559 the ultimate cancelation of the amount to stanielons fight just 272 00:11:40.559 --> 00:11:43.360 a one fight in twenty twenty two. Now fast forward 273 00:11:43.360 --> 00:11:45.279 to where you are sitting here today. You're one of 274 00:11:45.320 --> 00:11:47.279 the busiest top names in the sport. You got two 275 00:11:47.320 --> 00:11:49.919 fights under your belt already in twenty twenty four. You 276 00:11:50.000 --> 00:11:51.759 got a third fight that we're talking about here against 277 00:11:51.759 --> 00:11:55.960 Bochek coming up on August tenth. How does it feel 278 00:11:56.000 --> 00:11:57.799 for you now to finally be like it feels like 279 00:11:57.879 --> 00:12:02.679 in a groove, regular fights, irregular activity, you know, fight, 280 00:12:03.440 --> 00:12:05.399 take a little time off, training camp, get a fight, 281 00:12:05.480 --> 00:12:07.080 get paid, you know, all the things that go along 282 00:12:07.120 --> 00:12:07.279 with it. 283 00:12:08.360 --> 00:12:10.000 It feels really good, man. And I'll tell you what 284 00:12:10.200 --> 00:12:12.720 I think. The thing I like the most about it is, uh, 285 00:12:13.360 --> 00:12:15.519 the activity is keeping me sharp. 286 00:12:15.960 --> 00:12:18.679 Like sometimes I would go back to the gym and 287 00:12:18.679 --> 00:12:21.159 I'm like, goddamn, Like I'm rusty as hell, Like I 288 00:12:21.679 --> 00:12:23.799 don't make these mistakes, you know, But when I go 289 00:12:23.960 --> 00:12:26.799 back to the gym, I'm just like, damn, like I 290 00:12:26.840 --> 00:12:29.879 feel like I haven't, like I didn't take any time off, 291 00:12:30.320 --> 00:12:32.879 and I'm just I'm sharp as ever. Like this, I 292 00:12:32.919 --> 00:12:35.279 could give me like two weeks of conditioning and I'll 293 00:12:35.279 --> 00:12:36.159 go another tour ground. 294 00:12:36.639 --> 00:12:38.759 I'm like, like fair to say you don't need as 295 00:12:38.799 --> 00:12:40.639 long as a training camp. You don't need like ten 296 00:12:40.720 --> 00:12:42.919 weeks if you've already fought and you've been active. Am 297 00:12:42.960 --> 00:12:43.279 I wrong? 298 00:12:47.879 --> 00:12:48.960 That's kind of a hard one. 299 00:12:50.000 --> 00:12:52.240 I say that because partly part of training camp, you 300 00:12:52.279 --> 00:12:54.840 know you're making the weight if you if you fought recently, 301 00:12:54.879 --> 00:12:56.519 you know you don't have that much time to go 302 00:12:56.679 --> 00:12:58.440 crazy in terms of moving, you know, going up and 303 00:12:58.879 --> 00:13:00.720 and and the weight and you're and you're just like 304 00:13:00.799 --> 00:13:02.480 you said, you stay sharp, you stay conditioned. 305 00:13:03.320 --> 00:13:04.960 Yeah, as far as as far as that you know, 306 00:13:05.080 --> 00:13:07.639 the physical aspect, No, I'm good. And you know even 307 00:13:07.720 --> 00:13:11.120 mentally the mental clarity is still there, and uh it is, 308 00:13:11.200 --> 00:13:13.759 it's getting better as I'm staying more active. 309 00:13:14.000 --> 00:13:15.840 So we talked about the activity. So the two fights 310 00:13:15.840 --> 00:13:18.039 you had were Frederick Lawson and then you had to 311 00:13:18.080 --> 00:13:20.600 fight with Thomas Lormet. So on the good hand, it 312 00:13:20.639 --> 00:13:23.399 seems like you're as active as can be relative to 313 00:13:23.480 --> 00:13:25.440 the other names in this you know, the top names, 314 00:13:26.240 --> 00:13:28.200 and maybe it's bad, maybe it's good. You tell me, 315 00:13:28.799 --> 00:13:30.200 do you knocked them out in the first round? I mean, 316 00:13:30.240 --> 00:13:31.960 obviously as the old saying goes, you don't get paid 317 00:13:32.000 --> 00:13:33.399 for overtime, and it's always good to get a big 318 00:13:33.440 --> 00:13:36.159 win and get a knockout, but it is only less 319 00:13:36.159 --> 00:13:38.279 than two full rounds. Is that a positive or negative? 320 00:13:38.360 --> 00:13:39.240 As you go into this fight? 321 00:13:40.360 --> 00:13:42.399 So you could you can see it both ways. I 322 00:13:42.480 --> 00:13:44.240 see it as a positive pause. The first one. 323 00:13:44.720 --> 00:13:46.720 We came up a long way off. We needed to 324 00:13:46.720 --> 00:13:48.919 see how how if I was still the same or not. 325 00:13:49.480 --> 00:13:54.360 You know, I feel pretty rusty physically and mentally. But 326 00:13:54.559 --> 00:13:56.279 you know what, we we got a good training campaign, 327 00:13:56.320 --> 00:13:58.600 we got some good sparring h and we got that 328 00:13:58.679 --> 00:13:59.320 fight out of the way. 329 00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:00.879 Thomas the Lord man. 330 00:14:01.120 --> 00:14:04.120 You know this fight, I felt I was starting for myself, 331 00:14:04.320 --> 00:14:06.919 kind of getting into that group again. Not quite there, 332 00:14:07.039 --> 00:14:09.279 but like you know what, I'm I'm I'm feeling better. 333 00:14:09.360 --> 00:14:11.000 This is seeming kind of familiar again. 334 00:14:11.639 --> 00:14:13.919 And uhh, when. 335 00:14:13.799 --> 00:14:17.120 We find him, I was expecting to go in my opinion, 336 00:14:17.240 --> 00:14:18.879 I thought the fight was gonna end like in four 337 00:14:19.720 --> 00:14:20.360 five rounds. 338 00:14:20.879 --> 00:14:22.080 But I was just. 339 00:14:23.879 --> 00:14:25.240 When I got him out of there in that first 340 00:14:25.320 --> 00:14:27.559 round without trying to, and I saw everything in so motion, 341 00:14:27.679 --> 00:14:29.919 I just hitting with that body shot, I was like, okay, Yeah, 342 00:14:30.000 --> 00:14:33.519 that's where I'm back. Like that's it, and now that 343 00:14:33.600 --> 00:14:37.279 I've started this camp, definitely feel like I haven't left 344 00:14:37.320 --> 00:14:39.279 the gym at all. It's I'm I'm the best I've 345 00:14:39.320 --> 00:14:39.679 ever been. 346 00:14:40.080 --> 00:14:43.240 Well on your fight with Thomas Lormey, who I've known 347 00:14:43.279 --> 00:14:45.399 for many years and have nothing but love for Thomas Lommy, 348 00:14:45.519 --> 00:14:47.960 a great guy. My prediction on that fight was Virgil 349 00:14:48.039 --> 00:14:50.120 Ortis in the first round, So I feel like I 350 00:14:50.200 --> 00:14:51.360 did a pretty good job on that one. 351 00:14:52.120 --> 00:14:52.440 I did. 352 00:14:53.440 --> 00:14:56.200 So now that you've had the two fights that we mentioned, 353 00:14:56.200 --> 00:14:58.799 you got this fight coming up with Bulichak. If everything 354 00:14:58.840 --> 00:15:01.360 goes how you hope it goes, and you win this fight, Uh, 355 00:15:01.480 --> 00:15:03.919 it's only gonna be August. There's still plenty of time 356 00:15:04.039 --> 00:15:05.759 left this year. Are we gonna see Virgil Ortiz in 357 00:15:05.759 --> 00:15:09.279 the ring a fourth time in twenty twenty four? Yeah, 358 00:15:10.200 --> 00:15:13.679 that was a quick answer. Yeah. So yeah, then the 359 00:15:13.799 --> 00:15:15.440 question becomes, I mean, I know you got to fight 360 00:15:15.519 --> 00:15:17.799 the fight, and it's uh, you know, uh, you know 361 00:15:18.000 --> 00:15:20.559 that's what's right in front of you. But you're weight class. 362 00:15:20.759 --> 00:15:22.759 You know, August third, the week before you fight, you're 363 00:15:22.799 --> 00:15:26.000 gonna have Crawford Mademov a good chance at Uh, you know, 364 00:15:26.120 --> 00:15:28.759 Crawford is crowned the champion. If it's Magemov, he's pulled 365 00:15:28.759 --> 00:15:31.240 the humongous upset and he becomes a big name. He's 366 00:15:31.279 --> 00:15:33.360 still got Fondora out there, who's gonna come back from 367 00:15:33.399 --> 00:15:35.519 his issues probably at the end of the year. Uh, 368 00:15:35.679 --> 00:15:37.840 Tim Zuo is gonna be ready to fight at some point. 369 00:15:37.879 --> 00:15:39.279 He's you know, just because he can't go in August 370 00:15:39.279 --> 00:15:41.480 doesn't mean he can't fight at some point later in 371 00:15:41.519 --> 00:15:44.159 the year. There's the IBF champion, not the most well 372 00:15:44.200 --> 00:15:46.320 known guy in terms of Martazla, but like, what in 373 00:15:46.399 --> 00:15:47.919 your mind is like if you could pick your fight, 374 00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:49.159 what would you want to do after this. 375 00:15:52.039 --> 00:15:55.159 Either Tim Zoo or the winner of Fondora and uh 376 00:15:55.399 --> 00:15:58.639 Spence if they if they fight, I'm just yeah, that's 377 00:15:58.879 --> 00:15:59.879 I've been here rumors, but. 378 00:16:02.519 --> 00:16:04.840 I've always wanted to fight Spence in the Cowboy Stadium. 379 00:16:05.039 --> 00:16:07.879 And that's and I always say to that one fifty four. 380 00:16:08.039 --> 00:16:09.759 Late's not gonna have that one forty seven. I already 381 00:16:09.759 --> 00:16:12.159 know one four. I'm telling you, I'm I'm calling it. 382 00:16:12.240 --> 00:16:13.159 It's it's gonna happen. 383 00:16:13.240 --> 00:16:14.960 And both of you guys being you know, from the 384 00:16:15.039 --> 00:16:16.879 Dallas area that would probably do a big crowd in 385 00:16:16.960 --> 00:16:18.200 a in a in a you know a lot of 386 00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:19.600 fans that would turn out for that kind of fight. 387 00:16:20.440 --> 00:16:22.519 Yeah, of course, exactly be a huge fight. 388 00:16:22.840 --> 00:16:24.279 All right. So before I let you go, I got 389 00:16:24.360 --> 00:16:26.279 to ask you with Boichak, you know you are familiar 390 00:16:26.279 --> 00:16:26.759 with each other. 391 00:16:27.159 --> 00:16:27.279 Uh. 392 00:16:27.360 --> 00:16:29.799 You both guys have accomplishments and a great and great 393 00:16:29.840 --> 00:16:32.159 records and lots of knockouts. Uh, how do you think 394 00:16:32.200 --> 00:16:34.039 this fight goes? Are we going to see another classic 395 00:16:34.120 --> 00:16:35.240 Virgil Ortiz knockout? Or what? 396 00:16:36.679 --> 00:16:40.679 You're gonna see a brutal fight. That's so I'm gonna say, 397 00:16:40.720 --> 00:16:43.519 I know how he fights, we know how I fight. 398 00:16:44.039 --> 00:16:46.240 It's it's uh, it's gonna be a brutal fight. 399 00:16:46.759 --> 00:16:48.240 Well, I'll tell you this when I just thought of this, 400 00:16:48.279 --> 00:16:49.679 when you said it's gonna be a brutal fight, you're 401 00:16:49.679 --> 00:16:51.879