Former IBF super featherweight champion Steve Forbes recently sat down with Boxingtalk to discuss his upcoming fight against Francisco Bojado.  This fight is scheduled for September 15, 2007 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and will be broadcast on HBO pay-per-view.  Forbes is coming off of a highly controversial loss to Demetrius Hopkins, in what most people call one of the worst decisions in quite some time.  Forbes is hungry to get back into the ring, and he pulls no punches in this interview.

BT – You have a big fight coming up against Francisco Bojado, on HBO PPV.

SF – I think it's a good fight for TV.  I read his little interview on Boxingtalk, and I got a good little laugh out of it.  This guy is already talking about Paulie Malignaggi, when he needs to be worried about me, and REALLY worried about me.  I think it's going to be a fun night for me, I am really hyped up for the fight.  Bojado is not a runner, so he will be right in front of me, so I plan on picking him apart.

BT – Does that get on your nerves when a young kid like Bojado is talking as if it's a done deal that  he's going to beat you and move on to The Magic Man?

SF – It just shows you how immature he is, when you got a giant obstacle in front of you, and you're not even worried about that?  It's not very smart, I plan making him disappear again after this fight.

BT – Coming off your loss against Hopkins, which most thought you won, I am guessing you are very hungry to get in there and impress.

SF – Absolutely, especially coming off my performance against Hopkins.  With Bojado, I got a guy around my height.  He's not tall like Hopkins, and I love fighting guys like Bojado, it's going to be fun.  Like you were saying, most people know I won that fight against Hopkins, but I got robbed, and I will look to send a message against Bojado.

BC – How's camp going so far?

SF – It's going good, I plan on going to Vegas soon to get some good work in.  I am working with a lot of highly skilled fighters in order to get ready for this fight.

BC – Talk about the importance of getting back on HBO.

SF – Oh it's real important because HBO is pretty much running boxing.  HBO and Showtime are the two premium channels that control boxing.  You can be the most skilled guy out there, and if you're not on HBO, then you haven't arrived in boxing.  HBO is what people watch, and for me, coming off of the Hopkins fight, even though I know I won that fight, I was worried about what HBO was thinking.  I may not be the biggest puncher, but where I am at now in my career, you get a lot bang for your buck.  I just hit my prime, I am 30 years old, and I am right at the peak of my career. 

BT – One important thing is that you have never taken an ass beating thus far in your career.

SF – No, not at all.  I never have taken an ass-whooping (knock on wood).  People are used to seeing me back in the day when I was 130lbs.  I was killing myself to make that weight, and I was a world champion.  For me to go from 130 to 150 pounds in The Contender, and to go all the way to the end, only to lose a split decision, shows what I can do.  I asked to fight Demetrius Hopkins, The Contender wasn't thrilled about giving me that fight, but I knew I could beat him. Now Bojado is talking about I'm not going to make the distance?  Well we will see about that, I am going to punish him for making those comments.  I am a guy coming off one of the worst controversial losses in a long time, I am eager to make a statement.

BC – Are you concerned that you may try too hard to knockout Bojado with how you got robbed against Hopkins?  Are you concerned you may make a mistake trying too hard to get him out of there in order for the fight not to go to the cards?

SF – Well I am human, so I would be lying if I said that the thought didn't cross my mind.  Hopefully we will have a meeting with the commission, and we will get a message to them about the judging.  I never thought that it would happen to me, but it did, I got robbed, and I just hope it doesn't happen again.

BT – In your words, where does a win against Bojado put you in relation to the elite level of your division?

SF – I think a win makes me one step closer.  The jury is still out on him because he's been off so long.  I think a win over him just brings me a step closer to where I want to be, and that's a championship fight. 

BT – Let's talk a little bit about The Contender 3.  Have you had any involvement with that?

SF – I can't talk much about it, but I'm excited about it.  I am really liking this Contender 3 though.

BT – Steve you mean you don't have the 5 million in fines that you want to pay to tell Boxingtalk about the Contender 3? (laughs).

SF – (Laughs), Noooo I don't want that man.  My grandkids will be paying that fine off for me, (laughs).

BT – Do you have any closing thoughts for the fans?

SF – It's going to be a great show for boxing, don't miss this fight.  Stay tuned to Steve Forbes!

SS

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