GL: Can you give us some thoughts on you receiving a title shot at WBO heavyweight champion Sultan Ibragimov? "Well you know I'm definitely thankful. I thank God for allowing good things like this to happen. I've been waiting for this a long time and it goes to show that patience pays off."

GL: What do you think about Ibragimov as a fighter?

Evander Holyfield: "He's definitely a good fighter. I saw his fight with Shannon Briggs and he's a worker. Pretty much when you have fighters like that, the big thing is youth and he's a very busy fighter, which allows him to be able to beat Briggs."

GL: When did you first find out about this opportunity?

EH: "Yesterday. Kathy Duva gave me a call and said, 'Evander, God sure has to be with you for this fight to happen to you.' She told me it was a miracle that the other guy got sick and they wanted to fight me."

GL: Ibragimov is a lefty, does that concern you?

EH: "I think Michael Moorer might be the best left handed big guy there's ever been. I did pretty good with him and I was able to make adjustments. Life is all about adjustments."

GL: The last southpaw you fought was Chris Byrd. I'm sure he'd be helpful in preparation for Ibragimov and you'd be able to help him prepare for Povetkin. If the opportunity presented itself to work with Chris, would you be all for it?

EH: "Well, I don't have a problem with that. I think that if that's something that can be made it would be great. It would be just like Sugar Shane Mosley and Oscar De La Hoya working together, so if it was possible it would be a good thing. A lot of things like that don't happen often and it's sad."

GL: If you captured the WBO title in October would you retire or look to further unify?

EH: "I'd look to unify. That's what I been preaching. It makes no sense to get it if I don't unify. The fact of the matter is I done things that people might not ever do. I've always told people it's how it ends. We can't choose our begininng, but we can choose our ending. I want to retire as the unified undisputed heavyweight champion of the world."

GL: How do you feel about going to Moscow for the fight?

EH: "When you're in the position I'm in, there's not many decisions you can make other than accepting the facts if that's what you want to do. There's only so many decisions you can make when you're trying to get your opportunity, but do it your way at the same time. That's not what life is all about. You have to pay some kind of price. If you're able to accept the fact that I have to show you that I'm the best on your turf, I'll do that."

GL: Do you believe that other name fighters in search of opportunities should act the same way in similiar situations?

EH: "I think in one sense or another it all depends on how much you want the opportunity. If you want the opportunity you take it. It all comes down to who has the ball, right now he has the ball which is the belt, so I got to go take it on his terms on his terms. If the guy has my belt over there, how will I bring it back here if I don't go there. That's how I look at it. He has my belt and I got to go over there to get it."

GL: Does fighting him in Moscow mean you're going to be gunning for the knockout?

EH: "Not necessarily. I'm not going to put that much pressure on myself by looking for the knockout. I have to be impressive during the fight and I have to go out there and look my very best. If that's what it leads to, that's what it will be. But I'm not going to put myself in a position where I limit myself and all of the skills I have to go in there to knock somebody out."

GL: Do you feel you can get a decision over there?

EH: (laughs) "It's possible, but I'm going to have to go in there and get him real good for that to happen."

GL: When do you plan on leaving for Moscow?

EH: "We haven't decided yet."

GL: Is there anything you'd like to say in closing?

EH: "God is good and he is an on time God and it's my time."

M

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