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NABF Lightweight Champion Michael Clark
Julius Stecker: How is everything going since you victory over Antonio Ramirez?
Michael Clark: Good, everything is going good right now, just hoping right now I get some credit from Ring Magazine after my performance.
Julius Stecker: Do you think that winning such a tough fight will now lead to a shot at a world title?
Michael Clark: I'm hoping so, but if not, at least I am looking for an eliminator bout for one the titles.
Julius Stecker: A few months back you manager Pat Nelson and you were looking for a fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr, is that fight still what you are looking for?
Michael Clark: Oh yes, we were looking forward to getting Floyd in the ring the weekend of the Ohio State-Michigan college football game, it would have been a great promotion that would have been beneficial for both of us, but that did not happen. (Michael Clark is from Columbus, Ohio and Mayweather is from Grand Rapids, Michigan)
Julius Stecker: If you don't get a shot at Floyd, what fight would you be looking for most?
Michael Clark: I would love to fight Leonard Dorin, he brings it and throws a lot of punches with not a lot of power, but I think I match up well with him.
Julius Stecker: You have a good record 32-2, and you have beaten solid guys like Gary Balleto, Mauro Lucero, Levander Johnson, Steve Quinonez and now Antonio Ramirez, and you went the distance Vivian Harris, but do you feel that you are underrated as a fighter?
Michael Clark: I do believe I am underrated. There is not much going on right now in Columbus as far as boxing goes and I think that tends to make me a somewhat an underrated fighter. For example, I have the same record as Juan Lazcano, yet I do not have the same ranking as he does...I do think I am a top ten fighter.
Julius Stecker: I have seen you fight a lot, you are a good boxer who is not afraid to mix it up when he has to, but how would you describe your style as a fighter?
Michael Clark: I am really just a boxer, at my age right now of 30 I am better suited to be a boxer. I don't have many knockouts but I have always said in boxing it is not where you hit a fighter, it is when you him him. It is the punches that you don't see are the ones that do the most damage.
Julius Stecker: In your career what was your proudest moment as a fighter?
Michael Clark: I would have to say when I fought Mauro Lucero, he was like 26-1 and I was 18-0. I was the underdog and it was on ESPN2 and they thought that I would not win, it was for the IBC title. I came out in my hometown of Columbus, Ohio and I beat him hands down and that was at a time when he was beating a lot of guys.
Julius Stecker: I have seen you get up numerous times off the canvas to come on the fight even harder and better, namely in this last bout against Ramirez. Also in your fight with Harris you were down 4 times yet you finished the fight on your feet and you won some rounds in the process, what do you attribute your fighters heart to?
Michael Clark: I think being at the Kronk Gym with Emanual Stewart made me tough, being around that kind of envoirment made me realize that you had to be tough just make out that gym daily.
Julius Stecker: Who are the fighters you looked up to most?
Michael Clark: All respect to Meldrick Taylor. I loved watching him, also my good friend Virgil McClendon and all the fighters who came before me in Columbus, Ohio. Guys like Hilmer Kenty, and Buster Douglas.
Julius Stecker: In closing Michael I ask this of everybody, What can the boxing world expect from you over the next year.
Michael Clark: Still a lot of close fights...you will see an overall very skilled fighter who gives great fights...and I will be a world champion next year.
TalkingBoxing would like to thank Michael Clark for taking the time out of his busy day to talk with us. We wish him the best of luck in his next defense of the NABF lightweight title.