Boxingtalk sat down with former Contender 1 star, Ishe Smith. Ishe informs us that a jump into the UFC is something that he is definitely considering,but makes it clear that he wants to box as well. Ishe Smith just wants to fight, and he wants his next fight to be against a named opponent, against an opponent that will mean something more for his career.


BT - What's up Shay ?

IS - Not much just relaxing, staying in shape, and waiting to hear word.

BT - Last time we spoke you had a tentative fight scheduled, is that still up in the air ?

IS - Yea, I guess. This is boxing so sometimes it's hard to get call backs, and to get people to return calls. I am just waiting for the I's to be dotted, and the T's to be crossed, so I am just waiting to see what happens.

BT - Do you anticipate being on some of the Golden Boy cards coming out ?

IS - I don't know, they have signed some good fighters obviously. My concern is not about the fighters that they have signed, my concern is about me getting fights as a fighter, and at the end of the day I have to take care of my family. I have to make sure that I am getting the right fights for myself. being self managed is tough because you have to take on a lot of the responsibility yourself.

BT - Are you in the market for a new manager Ishe ?

IS - I thought about it, I am very marketable. If the right deal comes along, and it can take some pressure off of me and my family, that would be great.

BT - So it's safe to say that you are announcing here that you're looking for a manager, and if the right offer comes, you are interested.

IS - Most definitely, because you need a manager to count on that can work hard for you. It's rough on me not knowing the next fight date, it bogs you down. It would definitely take the pressure off of me as a fighter, and I would just be able to go out there and do my best. Golden Boy signed some great fighters, but like I said, my concern is not about the fighters that they have signed, I am concerned about my career. I fought former 2 time world champion, Randall Bailey, David Estrada, and those are the types of fighters that I am looking for now. Maybe it would have more meaning if a manager talked for me, instead of me saying it. It's tough when you call for the best fights, and they don't come about. I don't want the easy way, I wanted to start out at the bottom when I signed with Golden Boy. I have two fights behind me now with Golden Boy, and with my name being well known, I have worked my way up. The fight I am interested now is with Verno Phillips. I don't want to fight guys like the Thompsons, and the Gonzales' anymore. When I say that it, it may not seem as important as if when maybe a manager says it.

BT - Ishe is Golden Boy not doing enough for you to get the fights that you feel you deserve, or do you think it's just that you don't have a manager helping you with this ?

IS - That's a good question Brad, sometimes I ask myself that. I don't know, but you see a guy like Kassim Ouma get fights offered. I remember right after I fought Thompson Lou DiBella called me and offered the Sechew Powell fight. I talked to Gomez, and I told him that I wanted that fight. I am not afraid of anyone, so when they offered me that fight, I jumped on, it but it didn't happen for me. I am not saying that Golden Boy isn't a great promoter, I am just saying that I wanted that fight, and a few days later Kassim Ouma got the fight. I just want an opportunity, because I will cash in. I just want to do what I need to do as a fighter, and as a father. I feel it's time for me to get that marquee name to fight, and Verno Phillips is who I want. Maybe when I say it, it doesn't have as much meaning as if a manager would say it. I just want Golden Boy to have confidence in me, and if I say I will deliver, I will deliver.

BT - Ishe are there any managers out there that you respect the most that you would be interested in working with ?

IS - It just depends on what they are capable of doing, and what they are willing to do for me as a fighter. It doesn't have to be a top named guy, it's just a guy that can get the job done for me. I just need someone to push the envelope instead of me having to do it. Don't be surprised if in a year or two I jump into the UFC. It's something I am willing to do, so don't be surprised if I fight in the UFC. I know Dana White (UFC President) for a long time.

BT - Shay if you fight in the UFC, would you quit boxing? wouldn't that be a conflict with Golden Boy's contract with you ?

IS -  You know with me it's just about doing something different. I wouldn't do it for money, or fans, I would do it because I think I can win at it. I think Chuck Liddell is a beast, those guys are great athletes. I think my experience with my hands, and if I can get the wrestling technique down, I will be fine. Boxing wouldn't have to hit a roadblock, but if boxing is slow for me, and the UFC presented an opportunity for me, It is something that I would explore. I have been to a few of those fights and the atmosphere is great, and a lot of their fans recognized me from boxing. The UFC fans are loyal, the atmosphere is unbelievable. If I feel that boxing isn't doing enough for me, I will dabble with the UFC and train with those guys, and learn how to do it right. The UFC guys are a great bunch of guys to be around, its something I would have to think about with my wife, if the chance did come up. I don't think it would be a conflict with Golden Boy because there job is to promote my boxing matches, which they have done a great job doing. I want to point out Brad, Golden Boy has done a good job for me. When I look on line, and I see the NABO title vacant, I want the opportunity, and a manager could do a better job at getting me a fight like that. I want a fight that means something for my career, so when I see the NABO title vacant, I want the opportunity because if you win that fight, you put yourself in a position for a world title. A manager could make that call for me, instead of me having to do it, and when a manager makes that call, it's different than if I made the call for the fight. If I fight in the UFC it would be a great test for me. I want to try something that I have not done before, it's a challenge. I would just have to learn how to wrestle. I already know how to fight. At some point and time within the next few years I will be in the octagon, you can count on that.

BT - Dana White probably reads Boxingtalk, so if you get a call from him offering you a contract, what will you do Shay ?

IS - It would depend. I would do both, fight for Golden Boy and the UFC. If the opportunity presented itself for me to be great in the UFC, and just mediocre in boxing, I would have to make a decision. There are a lot of politics in boxing, I hate the politics in boxing and the way fighters get treated, managers wanting 30 percent, and people talking behind your back, I hate that part of boxing. If I could be great in the UFC, and not just some sideshow, and I felt I could hold my own against those guys, I would definitely do it. My goal has always been to leave a legacy in boxing, to make the Hall of Fame, and if some point in time came where I didn't feel like that was going to happen, I would have to explore every option, including the UFC. I possibly will do both boxing, and UFC, but boxing is full of politics, and it's rough not having a manager to make my calls for me.

BT - Basically what I got from this interview is a few things. One being, you are looking for a manager, and the other thing is you are seriously taking a look at the UFC.

IS - That pretty much sums it up. I just don't trust a lot of people, my circle is pretty small. Besides my kids and my wife, I basically don't trust anyone. I don't come into boxing to make friends or buddies, I come here to fight, make money, and take care of my family. I don't trust what a lot of people tell me in boxing, that's just me. I do what I feel is comfortable for me and my family. If I felt like I wasn't moving as fast as I should be, at some point I will try out the UFC. I am just a competitive person. I would definitely like a manager or some type of agent that can facilitate what goes on behind the closed doors for me. By no means am I replacing boxing with UFC, Golden Boy is a great promoter, I am just saying that I am going to fight in the UFC regardless at some point. I am with great promoters in Golden Boy, I just get frustrated when I don't get the fights that I want. I am no different from any other fighter. Any fighter would get frustrated when they don't get the fights that can put them in a position to fight the big fights. I am not saying that if I don't get a big fight, I am going to fight in the UFC, I plan on doing that anyway. I am just tired of the politics in boxing Brad. Golden Boy didn't create the politics. If Politics is moving my career slowly, I will take a look at the UFC.


BT - Closing thoughts Shay ?

IS - I want to thank Boxingtalk for giving me the opportunity to do the interview. I think Golden Boy is a great promoter that has been great for me, and my family. It's not Golden Boy that has me frustrated, it's the politics in boxing that has me frustrated. I don't want the people that read this interview to think that I have a problem with Golden Boy, it's not them, it's the politics involved in boxing.

M

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