BOXING NEWS Q&A: WBC super middle champ Sakio Bika training in St. Louis for first world title defense By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing WBC super middleweight world champion Sakio Bika (32-5-2, 21 KOs) talks to Fightnews about his upcoming fight with Anthony Dirrell (26-0, 22 KOs) on December 7 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. It will be the 34-year-old Bika’s first defense since winning the vacant belt last June against Marco Antonio Periban. “The Scorpion” mentions he wants a rematch with Andre Ward, whom he says he has already beaten in Ward’s hometown, and also thanks his many fans from Australia and the Cameroon for their support. When did you go into training camp in St Louis? Training Camp started in St. Louis on October 28 after training a few weeks in Australia. Are you training with Kevin Cunningham for your WBC title defense against Anthony Dirrell on December 7th in New York? Yes we have been training at The St. Charles Boxing Gym. Who are your sparring partners? Have they given your good work? I have been sparring with Radivoje Kalajdzic, Dhafir Smith and a local St. Louis boxer named Charles. They have given me great work and pushed me hard so I get the work I need. Have you seen Anthony Dirrell fight? He has 22 KOs in 26 fights with no losses. Do you regard him as a big puncher? Yes I have seen him fight. He has a good record and a lot of knockouts, so on paper it says he is a good puncher, but he is fighting at a different level now. Anthony Dirrell has no big names on his record. like his brother Andre who dropped a split decision to Carl Froch. Is Anthony on the same level as Andre? I don’t think he is on the same level and he will realize this when we step into the ring on December 7. You captured the WBC title earlier this year in one of the toughest fights of your career defeating Marco Antonio Periban. Are you expecting another competitive twelve round contest or are you looking for a KO victory? I always go there looking to win the fight. I expect every opponent has trained hard so it makes me work harder to be ready for 12 rounds if need be. Your journey to winning the WBC title was a difficult one when you gave two of the greatest super middleweights, Joe Calzaghe and Andre Ward, their toughest fights in losing world title challenges. Are you a better boxer now that you are world champion? I always feel like I am a better boxer and winning the WBC title showed that I have always belonged at the top. Many people have known this for a long time. I feel like I was the better fighter against Calzaghe in the UK and Ward in the USA. Even with their advantages I feel I beat them both. Did you see the recent Andre Ward WBA title defense against Edwin Rodriguez? Were you impressed? Is he beatable? Have you targeted a rematch with Ward? I watched the fight and Ward looked good. I already feel that I beat Ward in his hometown and I know I could beat him again if he accepted a rematch. Carl Froch is IBF/WBA champion and won a disputed ninth round stoppage of George Groves after being dropped in round one and staggered several times during the fight. Would you be confident of defeating Froch? Is he still on your radar? Of course he is on my radar. This is a fight every boxing fan would love to see. It would be an exciting fight and I feel I would beat Froch. Have you any messages for your many supporters in Australia and the Cameroon? I am thankful for all the support coming from Australia and Cameroon. This is a fight everyone should go and watch as I am Australia’s and Cameroon’s only current world boxing champion and I plan on returning home with my belt again.
Posted on: Sat, 30 Nov 2013 06:27:55 +0000