MG:     What do you think of the big fights coming up in the welterweight division, Miguel Cotto vs. Shane Mosley? "I think it will be a great fight.  The better prepared fighter will be the winner."
 
MG:     Floyd Mayweather vs. Ricky Hatton?
 
AM:     I think the pressure Hatton applies will win him the fight.  Jose Luis Castillo proved in his first fight with Mayweather, which I think Castillo won, that pressure could do him in.  I think Hatton will be able to do harm to Mayweather with his pressure.
 
MG:     Kermit Cintron mentioned that he would like to avenge his knockout loss to you.  He stated that he now better prepared to face you.  After seeing his devastating knockout of Walter Matthysse, how do you think he would do against you?
 
AM:     He has kept his career going well; I have been keeping an eye on him.  He is a very strong fighter and a champion.  I do think he has gained some experience, but I still see the same fighter.  That’s great that he wants revenge, he is a world champion.  We would be very happy to give it to him.  We were in talks to make it happen, but I think he rescheduled his fight with Jesse Feliciano.  I would be more than happy to fight him this year or the next.
 
MG:     What did you think of your fight with Paul Williams?
 
AM:     You know, honestly, during the fight I thought I was well ahead on the cards.  But then when I sat down to watch the fight, I saw that they gave him the fight just because he threw more punches, like an amateur fight.  I connected more blows than him and he simply slapped.  He threw double what I threw and I landed more punches.  It seems the judges scored his slaps instead of the punches that I got through.  Although, as everyone mentioned, I did learn from that fight that I can no longer be slow-starter.  From now on I plan to get right to it from the opening bell, I learned plenty from that fight.  If they would like to do it again, I would be more than happy for a rematch.
 
MG:     What did Paul Williams present that gave you trouble?
 
AM:     No, sincerely, he gave me no problems.  I was overconfident, as you could see I was blocking most of his punches.  In all truth, he really didn’t land any solid punches, except for maybe two or three.  He did not present any problems, neither his height nor his reach as I found my distance well.  The only problem was I got started pressuring late.  If I started a bit earlier, I feel I would have won the fight.
 
MG:     You were so close to securing a huge fight with Miguel Cotto that could have gotten you the respect you feel you deserve from the boxing community with a win.  Where do you feel your loss to Paul Williams has left you?
 
AM:     Yes, it would have been a big fight.  But I think I demonstrated in that fight that I have not taken any steps back.  And very soon I will recapture a world title in a great fight.  Paul Williams really did not damage me; it was just a bad night.
 
MG:     What would you like to say to your fans?
 
AM:     I want to say thank you for supporting me.  Keep believing in me, this is just a setback.  Very soon I will be world champion again, I am thankful of your support.

M

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