Joshua Clottey: "Corrales is coming from lightweight to welterweight and seeing me in his first fight, he's going to have a problem!"

By G. Leon

12/03/2007

Joshua Clottey: "Corrales is coming from lightweight to welterweight and seeing me in his first fight, he's going to have a problem!"

GL: Can you give us some thoughts on your April 7 showdown on Showtime Championship Boxing against Diego Corrales? "I feel good about the fight and I'm looking forward to fighting Diego Corrales. He's been a great champion in two weight classes so if I fight him and I beat him it will put my name there so I'm very happy about that."

GL: You hurt your hand against Antonio Margarito, has that injury fully recovered?

Joshua Clottey: "You know I feel good. The hand wasn't broken bad, it was stress fracture. I had to rest the hand so I went to Africa and I rested the hand for nine weeks and when I came back here I went to the gym and hit the bags and it felt like nothing so I'm feeling very good right now."

GL: Do you think Diego Corrales is biting off more than he can chew by fighting you in his welterweight debut?

JC: "You know I was a little surprised by it, but as you can see he is a warrior and so am I. Against Margarito I was fighting someone who could be a 154 fighter and I felt nothing from him. Diego Corrales is coming from lightweight to welterweight is too much for him and seeing me in his first fight, he's going to have a problem. Look at it like this, my last fight with Margarito I was supposed to win but I injured my hand. The punches that I was throwing at Margarito, Diego cannot take this. Margarito is Mexican so that's why he took it. I lost my last fight and I don't want to lose twice so I'm coming to this fight crazy."

GL: In other words, you're looking at this fight as your last chance?

JC: "That's what I'm talking about. I never lost two fights in a row and I'm not going to let it happen now. I don't think Diego can stand with me and throw the punches. If he can, I will be very surprised because coming from 135 to 147 is too much."

GL: So you don't think he's going to stand and trade with you?

JC: "I don't think so because he's not a puncher. If he tries that he's going to be in trouble. How else can he fight me? He doesn't know how to do anything but fight."

GL: If he tries to box you will you look to force him into a fight?

JC: "Right away."

GL: Diego told me the fight will be taking place in Miami or Oklahoma. Do you have any idea where it's going?

JC: "I just know the fight is happening. I don't know where and I didn't even sign a contract yet, but I know I'm getting ready to give the fans a great fight against Diego Corrales on April 7."

GL: Is there anything you'd like to say in closing?

JC: "I want to thank my entire team, my manager, my promtoer and Showtime for putting me on again. I'm going to put on a great show against a two divison champion and it's going to be a great night for me."

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