BT:  Yoel how's it going? "It's going good, beautiful, everything is going good.  We're particularly getting ready for April 13th.  Saturday night fights on ESPN2.  We've got a suitable opponent. Getting ready to come back after being suspended for whole year.  Zab is in good shape, he's training good, and we're getting ready."

BT: In this fight coming up, with Zab back on TV, are you worried about any type of letdown since he's not fighting a bigger named opponent?

YJ: No

BT:  Everyone knows about the big fight that's signed for June, against Miguel Cotto. Do you feel this is a trap fight for Zab, that he might not take this guy seriously?

YJ:  We know Cotto's there on June 9th, but we're looking at the guy on April 13th.  We're training for him, and we're going to do what we've been training for.  Our mind is set on him, and we're not looking at Cotto.  We're looking at Cotto after the 13th.  That's how we're doing it, one step at a time.  After so many years of being in the game, you learn.  We know what we're doing.  We're taking our time, April 13th.

BT: Can you tell us anything about this opponent? Have you been able to see any tape on him?

YJ: No, it's Ruben somebody, I don't know. Everybody that fights Zab gets something from him.  Everybody going to be a test. So he's going to do what he's got to do.  He's taking Ruben seriously just like he is Miguel Cotto, or anybody else.  So, we're just getting ready for that basically.

BT:  You mentioned Mr. Cotto, he fought last week.  Can you give me an assessment of how he looked?

JJ:  I think he looked good for what he accomplished in his fighting.  I thought Cotto was aggressive, a good puncher, relentless.  He's sharp as hell.  Urkal stood in front of him, wasn't nothing slick about him.  I think his level is going to go ten degrees up if he fights Zab. 

BT:  Earlier you mentioned this is Zab's first fight since his suspension. Some people felt it was unjust.  How difficult was it being out of boxing for so long?

JJ:  The Nevada State Commission did a very dirty thing.  People are going to see, they're paying for it.  It was a dirty move, they shut us down,  they kept Floyd around.  Floyd even said it was wrong.  He said they started hitting, why'd we get such a harsh treatment, on our part.  That's what Nevada do.  They'll get theirs.  We're men, we're strong, we suck it up, we're going to come back stronger.  They call Zab the "Comeback Kid"; he’ll be back on top in one minute.

BT:  June 9th is kind of a make or break for Super, do you feel that the public has yet to see the best of Super Zab?

JJ:  I think they will see the best of that night June 9th, because Zab is definitely more mature. He's more focused, plus having a year off, outside the ring.  It does a lot for a fighter.  His body got a chance to rest.  Mentally, he had a lot of time to gather up a lot of thoughts together.  He's a different fighter, much more accomplished.  Which you'll see June 9th, but first on April 13th.

BT:  You have two other sons who are also boxers.  Can you give us an update on Daniel and Josiah?

JJ:  Daniel will probably be somewhere on Bernard Hopkins' card, Winky Wright, I've got Daniel on that card.  Josiah will be on Zab's card on June 9th.  I'm also training  heavyweight champion Shannon Briggs.  I've got Shannon Briggs who's fighting on June 2.

BT:  Shannon, of course, was supposed to be on this card.  Can you give us an update on his health right now?

JJ:  I was training Shannon for about three weeks in Florida, and I went with him to the hospital.  He did have asthma, and a walking pneumonia, which he didn't know.  It was bonafide, he doing the medical, he's getting treatment right now.  They said it'd going to be about three or four weeks for him to get right, even to start training.  It was a legitimate medical excuse. 

BT:  So, I imagine you'll be watching this main event tonight with a lot of interest against Mr. Ibragimov. 

JJ:  I'm scouting him.  We're gonna fight him next.  We're gonna scout him next, and do our thing.  I got my man Cello, who's on our team, over there.

BT:  Thank you for your time, and best of luck June 9th.

M

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