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- It was probably one of the easiest fights in your career?
- Naturally, tuned in for a longer match. He studied the opponent well and wanted to defeat him in a different way. Therefore, it is still slightly disappointed.
- For those three rounds that we managed to spend, it was difficult to give preference to someone.
- These rounds are not indicative. My tactics was designed for a longer battle. He was going to win by knockout after the sixth round, when McCline sat down. And I have reason to believe that it would be so. In the first rounds, the American began to quickly get tired, without giving me any serious problems. And he fell also for this reason. It can be said that the fall of the applicant was inevitable. I would not have fallen, so I would have helped him in this.
- So McCline did not impress you?
- I was just sure that my tactics were correct, that it would bring results. But we don’t know one hundred percent how the battle would have developed had Jamil not been injured.
- After the winner was announced, you went up to the opponent and said something ...
- I can’t remember word for word. I tried to support him, he said that he was a good boxer. And he replied that we would still meet in the ring.
- Shortly after the fight, McCline smiled and joked, as if he had won. How can you explain this behavior?
- I do not think that the American was pleased. But boxers have a very strong psyche. Therefore, I can assume that this was a defensive reaction to what happened. He simply did not want to betray pain and resentment.
- In terms of experience, did the battle give you something?
- In a sporting sense - not as much as we would like. But hopefully this will not be a big loss. The promoters are very attentive to my training and offer very serious sparring partners. Some are in no way inferior to McCline. Therefore, I will gain experience in training and in the next battles.
- Your closest rival is Ruslan Chagaev. And the battle with him will be the first mandatory defense of the title. Already have thoughts on this?
- The coach and I began to prepare for the fight with Chagaev last year. Will we start the final stage of preparation? in March. But I do not want to comment on all the details yet.
- This year you can conduct a unification battle with one of the champions in other versions. Who do you think is your most interesting opponent?
- Believe me, I do not care. A professional boxer should be ready to enter the ring against anyone and not look for convenient or interesting opponents. And then, if it seems to you that some boxer suits you for some reason more than others, he will certainly surprise you with something unpleasant. My promoters will be selected by my promoters based on their ideas. And my task will be to prepare for this match as best as possible. ?
Andrey IVANTSOV