Despite sporting an excellent record, Chauncy Welliver has yet to gain the recognition most other young heavyweights receive earlier in their careers. The Hillyard Hammer is 14-0-1 with one no-contest in his last 16 fights since his back to back losses in 2004. A globetrotter, Chauncy has traveled to New Zealand several times to fight as well as being a mainstay in the Northwest of the United States. See what this 23-year-old heavyweight has to say about his upcoming bout with the fight who snapped his 13 fight winning streak, Chad Van Sickle, as well as his plans for the future.
BT: Chauncy, you’re scheduled to fight Chad Van Sickle once again this Thursday, how do you feel this fight will differ from the last one?Â
CW: I feel I won the first fight, but there was still so much I should have done, but you learn from your mistakes, and I will show I learned plenty in the last fight with a victory here.
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BT: Van Sickle stopped a 13 fight win streak you were on, is there a measure of revenge you’re looking for in this fight?Â
CW: Not revenge so much, just want to clear my head from all the mistakes I made in the first fight. That last fight messed with me so much at first because I seen what had to be done, just couldn't put it together.
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BT: Van Sickle’s been knocked out twice since the draw, do you feel this can give you a psychological edge this time around?Â
CW: I feel I do, but Chad is very tough mentally and he's not dumb and he knows I'm not a huge hitter like Bergeron and Dimetrenko, so odds are he has his bags packed for a long trip.
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BT: You’re normally a pretty busy fighter, what was the reasoning towards your periods of inactivity last year and are you expecting to be busier this past year?Â
CW: I love to keep busy, but this past year has just been weird. I have been scheduled to fight a bunch, but promoters can never secure opponents for me even if I tell them they can take money out of my purse to keep them happy.
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BT: Despite your excellent record of 30-3-4, you have not received the attention most young heavyweights with similar accomplishments have, why do you feel you are being ignored?Â
CW: I know why. I'm fat! It's just hard to get me on TV for fights that will push me to the next level. I am very ready, just still too out of shape to be on TV, they say. I ain’t no bigger than Joe Hipp was and he made a good career for himself on TV.
I am very willing to fight anybody, but nobody seems to want to fight this "fat guy"!
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BT: Even with your impressive record, you’re still only 23, what kind of things are you working on to improve your skills in order to take the next step up?Â
CW: After 38 fights, if I have to improve my skills, I better get out quick. (laughs) But to better my career I do need to find a 24 Hr Fitness and get my body presentable for TV. I promise, whenever TV decides to put me on, they will love me and my exciting style. I'm never in a bad fight.
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BT: Anything you would like to say in closing?Â
CW: I would like to say guys like Devin Vargas, Shane Cameron, Kali Meehan and Tommy Morrison, get out my way. I'm on my way to the top and guys like you are the ones I gotta prove myself against to hit the top 10. Thank you Charles and Boxingtalk for this great opportunity to be heard!
Boxingtalk would like to thank Chauncy Welliver for the interview.
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