INTRODUCING WELTERWEIGHT MICHAEL ANDERSON
By Stephen Edwards

BT: Can you tell me a little bit about yourself? "Yes, I'm 6-0 with 1 draw and 4 KOs. I fight at 147lbs. I'm from Newark, NJ and I train out of the Jamal Carter Foundation Gym in Newark."

BT: I bet your draw was in a four-rounder. Those are tough because if you lose one round you have to sweep the rest of the fight in order to get a win and not a draw.
 
MA: You're right.
 
BT: Are you signed with a promoter?
 
MA: I'm actually about to sign with Gary Shaw.
 
BT: Do you have any fights lined up?
 
MA: Yes August 6th in Minnesota, then another on September 17th in Primm, Nevada.
 
BT: Ok, that sounds good. Can you tell me what you do for an average day of training?
 
MA: I wake up at 5am. I run 6 miles every other day.
 
BT: Do you time yourself?
 
MA: Yes I do my six miles in 30 minutes.
 
BT: My goodness that's flying my man. I know 12 round championship level fighters who can barely run 3 miles in that time.
 
MA: I have little feet. I don't jog, I run. You fight how you train. I also do wind sprints and shadow box in intervals of one minute, so I can be explosive when I fight.
 
BT: I understand you are 29. Why the late start?
 
MA: Well I turned pro in 2007. Before that I was in real estate, so I didn't need money. I took things slow because I know without the proper promoter or management things can go bad. I found Shane Mosley on myspace, and I hooked up with him and I got some exposure on a few of his undercards. I actually sparred in front of his [cornerman] Elliot Ness and he told he had to hook up with me. Shane called me and told me to be on the next plane down. (Laughing) He told me he was going to beat my ass. But we never got to spar. I did get to spar Librado Andrade and Francisco Bojado.
 
BT: How was that?
 
MA: Andrade was so strong and he wouldn't stop coming. It was difficult. Plus the altitude took me some time to get used to. The next day, I sparred Bojado and I did really well, I got the better of him.
 
BT: I saw you on youtube, under real slick 147. You can punch and you are really sharp. You seem to have a bright future.
 
MA: Thanks a lot.

Send questions and comments to: dabreadman25@hotmail.com