Blair Cobbs targeting spot on Canelo-Jacobs card following big win over Kerobyan

By G. Leon

27/03/2019

Blair Cobbs targeting spot on Canelo-Jacobs card following big win over Kerobyan

Greg Leon: Congrats on your victory over Ferdinand Keroybyan. Can you give us some thoughts on your performance? Blair Cobbs: "My performance was ok. It went down kind of like I planned it, I didn't thinkhe would last past the fifth round, but he pulled it out and I was impressed he was able to stay in there. I was pretty much dominating the fight the whole time except for maybe the second round." GL: Was there anything else about Kerobyan that surprised you? BC: "In the eighth round, the last round he did something that I didn't think he would have the guts to do, he switched southpaw and then was trying to land the left hand. In my mind I've been thinking, I've been beating you the whole time what do you expect this to do? So I stood in the same stance that I normally would for an orthodox fighter because I expected him to switch back at some point and he didn't. He stayed in the southpaw and landed one good shot and I had to take defensive measures to recover while being offensive at the same time."
 
GL: Were you concerned about getting jerked on the score cards? As it is, two of the judges had it one round a way from a draw.
 
BC: "That was crazy and I was a little worried about that, but I just kept having faith in myself and having a hopeful future. That was crazy though, you can't give that boy more than two rounds. You could possibly give him the eighth round, possibly. But then you've got to think about it like this, if you had scored the fight minute by minute, he lost two and half of those minutes and won the last thirty. The scorecards, I was a little worried and I didn't know how it was going to go, I was just happy that it went my way."
 
GL: Was it extra satisfying getting this win knowing that they were bringing you in as the opponent?
 
BC: "It was crazy and I didn't even know how much of an opponent I was until we got there. I didn't know what the odds were and I didn't think about that, but when I was there I was like oh man, this whole set up is for him to win this fight. It was a very interesting experience that's for sure, but I showed up and showed out became that guy that everybody wants to see."
 
GL: And where does that guy go from here?
 
BC: (laughs) "I think that guy goes pretty far. This fight was a big test for myself and my team and I think we're just going to keep moving forward. I'm looking forward to fighting for a bigger title in a much bigger fight. I'm in the best division for boxing and there's plenty of mega fights that can be made."
 
GL: Any early indication as to when the next one might take place?
 
BC: "I'm looking to get in there as soon as possible. I have a very good team, I have good sponsors who are helping me heal up my body really well, but we're trying to get right back on the Canelo-Jacobs fight and so far those negotiations are looking pretty hopeful, now that I've won this fight."
 
GL: How did you and Malik Chambers first link up?
 
BC: "I've known Malik from way back when I had nothing in Philadelphia. I had a very rough go at trying to create some momentum in my boxing career. My skills never really equaled my background because we kept moving from place to place, but I'm the guy who is going to catch everybody off guard. I'm way better than what my record shows. I'm ten times better than the guy you just saw beat Kerobyan and the next person who fights me is going to see a completely different fighter than the one who was in that fight because I'm just now getting the experience of being in the ring. My skills are superior to what I've displayed thus far."
 
GL: How did you feel going your first eight?
 
BC: "Really good. I never really got winded, but my body was fatigued a little bit towards the end and I got a little sloppy. Those minor mishaps will be worked out and it's all going to come in time with the experience. It was a very good experience going the eight and I know I can definitely go ten."
 
GL: At 29 years old is there any pressure to get on a fast track? How are you approaching your development?
 
BC: "It really doesn't matter. On paper my age is 29, but I'm very young. My body is very young and my career is very young, so I'm not really 29. From last year until now I've had another growth spurt, my body has been delayed in its growth and I've taken care of my body at a high level. I was mentored by Bernard Hopkins and he taught me a lot of things on taking care of your body to withstand the test of time."
 
GL: When did you first fall in love with the sport? 
 
BC: "I just loved fighting from the beginning and if you want to hear something funny, when I was like five years old the first thing I wanted to be was a Power Ranger. I realized later on that they weren't real and I guess boxing was the next best thing for me. I started boxing in Mexico and that was at a very strange time in my life. My family was on the run and I was going through all kinds of changes just trying to figure out and find myself and I found myself in a boxing gym. Little by little I started to get better. I never knew if I was going to be great, but I knew I had what it takes to put myself in better circumstances through boxing."
 
GL: Closing thoughts for the fans.
 
BC: "My closing thoughts is we're moving on and moving forward. Look out for me @Blair.Cobbs and Blair Cobbs on Facebook. Woooo! We're on our way!"
 

Send questions and comments to: Boxingtalkg@Yahoo.com