What is your first reaction to Remillard’s statements? Well he says I can’t imitate him in sparring. I don’t need to imitate him, I’m better than him. I will give Perez work that will get him ready for Remillard or somebody better than Remillad. Fighting Remillard will be easy for Manny after the way we’ve been going at it. Remillard never faced no body like Perez. He will get his first loss on Friday night. And even then I will still give him a shot.
What do you say to him calling you a ‘clown’?
Call me what ever, I will give him a clown boxing lesson.
Did you ever fight him in the amateurs?
No, he never made it to the finals. He was always watching me as I got to at least the semi finals. He was always done on day one.
He and his promoter say if you want it you can get it next, after they beat Perez. What do you say to that?
Make it happen. I’m helping Manny. They got mad because I wouldn’t give him any information. They called me and asked me to give them a scouting report on Manny. I told them no as I’m working with Manny getting him ready.
We are working together, no sparring partners, I’m no sparring partner and neither is Manny.
Promoter Jimmy Burchfield says he hopes you have tickets to the fights, I guess he doesn’t know that you will leading Perez to the ring that night and Bouie will be in the corner?
Tell him we can get tickets. I understand he don’t want the crowd cheering against the hometown kid. Rashiem Jefferson and Bouie will be in the building you can bet on that!
How do you see Perez fight against remillard playing out this weekend?
Remillard likes to bang but Manny can box or bang or do whatever. How he (Remillard) comes out and how Manny adjusts will decide how the fight goes. Manny’s been training too hard for this one. He will adjust and win. I think Manny’s gonna blow him out the water.
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Would you be willing to sign to fight Remillard next while you are at the fights? Should Birchfield put a contract where his mouth is?
Lets sign it right there. We will sign it at weigh ins, they won’t want it after the fight. As for me not trying to fight him I know exactly when it was. It was a card that Eric Harding fought on. They were matching us up for the NABA belt, but Remillard wouldn’t take it. Now Johnny Edwards has that belt. But that doesn’t matter though. After Manny beats him, I’ll be happy to give him loss #2.
How would a fight between you and remillard play out?
Me beating him up any way he wants. Exciting for the crowd, it would be an easy boxing lesson. I can also mix it up. Depends on where it’s at. He’s from Connecticut and doesn’t leave home so if I fight him there, I have to get him outta there fast.
Another thing. Manuel Perez is a much better fight than he was when I fought him, and no disrespect to Manny. I won that fight, so why is Remillard going after someone I already beat? See if he can get approved to fight for a belt and we can do this.
Anything else in closing?
2008 is Rahiem Jefferson’s year. Anybody who wants it, can get it. I’m training my A-S-S off here in Colorado and if you’re not a champion, you can’t beat me.