Ivan Montiel: We got a big three-belt title fight between Artur Beterbiev (who you train) and Joe Smith Jr. in New York City this weekend.
Marc Ramsey: It is a big fight and it’s a good challenge. A good opponent, and we are going into the enemy’s backyard [Smith is from nearby Long Island, New York]. It’s a good challenge since from the beginning we have wanted to get another world title.
IM: Are you guys worried about going to Smith’s backyard?
MR: No not really. One worries when knowing that a fighter can be influenced having outside stuff. Right now that’s not the case. Beterbiev is very stable with his emotions but also with his boxing. You have to understand he’s had 200 amateur bouts. He’s fought professional in and out of his country from the start. A ring is a ring for Beterbiev.
IM: I was just watching Blood, Sweat and Tears from Top Rank Boxing and noticed Beterbiev saying that after he got badly cut against Marcus Browne in his most recent fight, it only made him mad. We saw the results of that fight. [Berterbiev brutally broke down Brown for a ninth-round knockout].
MR: Beterbiev is a good boxer. He’s aggressive and can raise his game when needed. It’s a very good tool for us, his coaching staff.
IM: What do you say to those critics who claim that Beterbiev is just a puncher and not a boxer?
MR: To be honest I am okay with that. Somewhere we have this little reputation but for me it’s a good tool. A lot of guys underestimate Beterbiev’s capacity to box. When you see him, he’s a raw guy, very strong guy who can punch. But he’s way more sophisticated than what guys can see and we will prove it again vs. Smith.
IM: What do you think about Smith? He is also a big puncher.
MR: Of course! Smith is a physically strong fighter. We have to be careful when fighting a fighter like that. Smith doesn’t have a bad night. He always brings his A game and we respect him a lot.
IM: Have you seen Smith yet and has he said anything to you guys?
MR: No not really. It was a very cool training camp. No trash talk from both fighters. It was very professional. Both guys are doing the best they can on each side to deliver their best performance next week.
IM: I have to ask you about Canelo Alvarez’’s loss to Dmitriy Bivol since many of wanted to see Beterbiev versus Canelo for the undisputed world light heavyweight championship.
MR: Yes but at the same time, we already had a contract to fight Smith. It’s a cliche to say that we focus on that fight, but that is really the case right now. Smith is a serious challenger [Actually, he is WBO champion]. It’s a serious challenge for us. We’ve decided a long time ago not to wait for Canelo. We do what we have to do fight by fight. If one day that fight happens, it will happen. We don’t wait for anyone, we just continue to fight the best guys.
IM: A lot of us also want to see Beterbiev versus Bivol…
MR: Of course that is also an interesting fight for us. Bivol also has a title [WBA]. It’s never personal… nothing against Bivol. We want all the belts. It’s never personal. We want the same thing by fighting Smith.
IM: I spoke to your collegue John Scully who mentioned Beterbiev being a monster inside that ring yet being very humble outside the ring.
MR: Yes, very low profile. He’s very humble and very fun to work with. He’s a smart guy who we can talk to about anything. We let him express himself unlike other fighters who we have to dictate to a bit. We work well together with John Scully.
IM: I heard Beterbiev doesn’t like to talk about boxing…
MR: At all!
IM: At all?
MR: Well for him that’s the way he lives his life. Boxing is the way he provides for family. He loves to study himself but he won’t watch fights. For example, I can guarantee that he has not watched Bivol vs. Alvarez.
IM: I can never understand how someone like Beterbiev does not follow the sport of boxing.
MR: Well, he does follow boxing, but right now he’s not interested in anything but Joe Smith Jr
IM: I also have to ask you about David Benavidez who just beat David Lemieux. I asked Benavidez prior to that fight if he’s thinking about moving up in weight. He said it’s a possibility.
MR: Of course [we would consider fighting Benavidez]. It’s the same thing with Canelo and Bivol. Especially if Benavidez has a world title. If possible, we want the guys with titles. Our team is chasing those world titles… but Smith is a serious challenge.
IM: What are your thoughts when hearing people say that Beterbiev is the favorite and Smith has no chance to win this upcoming fight.
MR: One has to be careful with that, it’s a fight. To us it’s not very important; our focus is what we’ve prepared and what we want to impose on that fight. We don’t care about who’s the favorite.
IM: In other words you’re not underestimating Smith?
MR: No not at all, everything that he has, he will bring on fight night. We respect that.
IM: I must mentioned that my friend Russ Anber once told me that Bernard Hopkins does not get knocked out… yet Smith knocked out Hopkins in 2016!
MR: I don’t know what to say, it was a special night. It was the end of the road for Hopkins. It reached a point for Hopkins where at his age [50 at the time] that his body didn’t want to do it any more. I think that was the case for that night. At the same time, I don’t want to take anything away from Smith. He went in there with the right game plan and won that fight.
IM: I don’t see this fight going the distance. To me, it’s a 50/50 fight. This fight will bring pure fireworks.
MR: Of course— looking at both styles the fans have a guaranteed good fight!
IM: Marc Ramsay thanks again for your time; it’s always a pleasure talking boxing with you. Good luck on fight night!
MR: Thank you Ivan.
