Jantuah also working with Floyd Mayweather Sr.!

Boxingtalk recently caught up with former two-time world title challenger “Sir” Kofi Jantuah 30-3(19) to get the latest on what’s going down. “I have been laying low, and I am a free agent now” stated the heavy-handed Las Vegas based Ghanaian, who s eagerly awaiting his return to the ring since unsuccessfully moving up in weight and challenging undefeated IBF Middleweight champion Arthur Abraham in May of 2006. With the help of his new manager Mike Criscio, Jantuah now feels he can focus more on fighting, rather than having to worry if the business aspect of everything is in check. “I feel that I will do much better having somebody in front of me, rather than trying to do everything myself like calling promoters, negotiating your own purse and everything like that. It made things much tougher on me. So now I don’t have to worry about all of that stuff. Now I can concentrate on just fighting.” The changes didn’t stop there, after getting the business aspect in check Jantuah felt he needed to change up his “Knockout first” mentality, which lead him to acquire the services of none other than Floyd Mayweather Sr. Read on as Kofi gives us the run down and much much more.

RC: What’s going on Kofi?
KJ: I have been laying low, and I am a free agent now. I am no longer with DiBella entertainment my contract is over with them. I have been talking to different promoters trying to get a better deal

RC: Can you give a little info on who has been showing interest in signing you?
KJ: Well you know, coming back with your last fight coming off a loss, it puts you in a tight situation. I have been trying to get some fights on my won, I have been working with Mike and we are trying to line some fights and see what happens from there. In boxing everybody remembers you from your last fight so I have to erase that memory from their heads. So I have talked to different promoters but basically I have to get a fight and show people out there that I still got it.

RC: You recently signed with Mike Criscio, who also manages undefeated Light heavyweight contender Chad Dawson. What can you tell us about that? And what do you feel he brings to the table for Kofi Jantuah?
KJ: Actually Mike is a cool guy; we are looking at a lot of different things. In the past I did it all by myself. But there comes a point where you need somebody to take some of the burden off of you. Someone to make the phones calls for you, go out there and get you the necessary fights. I feel that I will do much better having somebody in front of me, rather than trying to do everything myself like calling promoters, negotiating your own purse and everything like that. It made things much tougher on me. So now I don’t have to worry about all of that stuff. Now I can concentrate on just fighting. Mike will be the man handling all of that other stuff and guiding everything for me

RC: Do you feel that by you having to deal with all the previously mentioned tasks that could have affected your preparation and performance?
KJ: I mean, it was hectic, especially when you are getting ready to fight, and then you have to deal with promoters. You have to go back and forth with them by yourself. It was tough; in this case you have somebody making the calls for you, cutting the deal for you. Believe me it will make a big difference. So now I will just be fighting instead of worrying about everything else going on. I have talked to different promoters. I have to get a fight and show people out there that I still got it.

RC: Working with Criscio, it’s obvious you have made the necessary changes you needed to make for the guidance aspect of your career, but after loosing two out of your last four, what changes do you feel you have to make to be successful at the end of the day?
KJ:  I have been a certain style for a long time and it now reaches a point that I need to make adjustments to my style. All the time I have gone in the ring, I don’t necessarily think about going in there to box, to fight or to win on points or anything. Anytime I get in there, I let my emotions overcome me and I end up getting away from what I trained for. But I realized that you can’t knock everybody out in a fight. Sometimes you try and try and try and you try to knock them out, and in the mean time they keep piling the points. So at the end of the day, you end up going 12 rounds, and you end up loosing on points. That happened to me, back to back with Ouma and Arthur Abraham.

So now I am working with Floyd (Sr.). I am working more on my boxing. I can box, I have a good jab and I have a good right hand. Those are the tools that you need, and I have it but I haven’t used it to the best of my ability. This is my last go around, right now I am 32 so I have to fight smart. I have to go out there, don’t get hit, and don’t worry about knocking people out and win fights. If the knockout comes, fine, if it doesn’t it doesn’t.

RC: What has it been like working with Floyd Sr. making those changes to your style?
KJ: I have seen Floyd (Jr.) all this time (At Top Rank) so I know how their system works. They are more about, movement and things like that so that is what I have been working on,. I use my left a little bit more, use my speed and I am using my reach. I have a good reach, but I am always closed in on people trying to knock them out. So that is one of the things that I have been working on.

RC: Do you guys have anything lined up for 2007 as we speak?
KJ: We have a few things lined up right now, but nothing specific yet. In March I will be back in the ring hopefully. I am getting in shape and I am looking forward to going out there and showing people what I can do.

RC: Your last fight took place at Middleweight against Arthur Abraham, did you move up for the opportunity to challenge for a world title, or do you actually plan on campaigning there from here on out?
KJ: That was more of an opportunity, but it doesn’t really matter. At 160lbs or 154lbs, I can campaign at both divisions. If the opportunity arises at 160lbs, I will step up and take it. If not I will fight at 154lbs. I don’t have a problem making 154lbs, and I can hang with the 160lbs fighters, because I am a strong guy and I can punch. So that doesn’t take anything from me, power wise I can be 160lbs and still be as affective as I was at 154lbs.

RC: What are your thoughts on the upcoming match up between your former stable mate Sechew Powell and Ishe Smith, a guy you have sparred with on man occasion?
KJ: I think it is a good match up; they are both young up and coming fighters. Fighters that both believe in themselves. Style wise, they are the same to me. It is a good match up; I see this fight being very interesting. I know Sechew and I know Ishe. I mean, Sechew is a good fighter and Ishe is a good fighter. I mean…. (Short Pause)…. (Then slight laugh)… I can’t predict one on this fight
Both of them have to bring their “A” game with them. This is a major win for either one of them so it should be very interesting.

RC: A guy like yourself would probably be a good match up for the winner of that bout, would you throw your name in the mix to want to face the winner of that fight?
KJ: Ooh yeah. I am fighter. If it happens to be anyone of them then no problem.


RC: Is there anything else you would like to add before I let you go?
KJ: I have been out of boxing for a while, since my fight in Germany I haven’t seen any action, so I am working hard. I want to show up in a real good way so that the people can say, “oh this guy is still out here” I know a lot of people are like “What’s happened to him?” wondering what I am doing, or where I have been. But I am still here, I am still training trying to put things together and very soon you will see me out there doing my thing.

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