|
|
|
Top welterweight contender, Hicklet Lau
TalkingBoxing: How did the Cintron fight come about? Having never been dropped and by no means an easy fighter, why did they choose you?
Hicklet Lau: There was a friend of mine who I was sharing how frustrated I was with the division and the sport itself and how I wanted to leave my job to fight full time, but was not possible becasue i was constantly being turned down for fights becasue of my height or years of experience. Recently I had been turned down by the likes of Angel Manfredy, Jessie James Leija, Ricardo Williams, just to name a few. So this friend of mine asked me if I would like to go up to 147 to fight Cintron? I was like hell yeah I will fight him. I have been wanted to move up to 147 for quit a while, I was always told I was a natural welterweight. I also felt I had not reached my potential due to lack of nutrition and supplement in fear of gaining weight. I remained in the 140-lb division, as long as I did because I liked the competition and now what a talented division it is. I didn't wanna take any easy route to the top, but it seems like the division top fighters give me no choice but to go up. Hopefully the welterweights will feel an advantage against me thinking that I am a smaller natural fighter and thats how the fight came about. Why they chose me, I dont care. Maybe they haven't been doing their homework or perhaps they have forgotten how hard it was for those who were given a decision win over me.
TalkingBoxing: When do you leave for Arizona for the fight on Dec. 12th?
Hicklet Lau: I will be leaving for Arizona on Wednesday, December 10th.
TalkingBoxing: You are an exciting fighter to watch and a dangerous late substitute, can you steal the show from Cintron?
Hicklet Lau: I plan not only to steal the show from Cintron, but from Vargas as well, I know people will always love my style of fighting. I'm am a natural showman.
TalkingBoxing: What are some things you been working on differently for Cintron?
Hicklet Lau: Well before the Bruseles fight early this year in March, I was given less then a week for that fight. I had not fought for over year before that fight and felt I was still a little rusty, as well as for the Mausssa fight. I have remained in the gym ever since those to fights and will feel natural and smooth once again. I believe that when I am at my best I cant be beaten. Besides, for the last five years I have had an injured right hand, until recently I was giving these champs, future champs, and former champs a run for their money with one bad hand, I will be going into this fight with my full arsenal.
TalkingBoxing: It seems like a few weeks isn't enough, but do you think you have adaquete time to prepare for his style and for the magnitude of the fight?
Hicklet Lau: Luckly for me I was on a leave of absence from work when I got the offer for this fight. When I took the two weeks of from work I decided I wanted to train like as if I was getting ready for a title fight. I was able to do this because with all the free time I was able to train as hard as I would always like and have time for plenty of rest. This fight came to me a very good time. I am back at work, but all that is left is just to maintain. I did all the hard work during my time off from work. As for his style, I havent even see a tape on this guy yet, I will soon though, but from what I heard is that he's just a big guy, and he has not been tested, be sure that I will test him in all departments.
TalkingBoxing: What should we look for from you as far as style going into the ring?
Hicklet Lau: Well as far as my style, I will always be me. I dont think there is much change I need in my style to be a champ, but to be a 100%, for this fight, I will not be rusty for one thing, nor will I have to fight with one hand, and I was able to get in the right shape due to my time off from work. And one last important thing, I have been able to eat all the foods necessary to feel strong, so you might see a little more agressiveness coming from me. I feel so strong at my new weight.
TalkingBoxing: The fight is at 147. You usually fight at 140 or below and even though you are 6-feet tall, will you have any issues with the added weight?
Hicklet Lau: No way will I have any problem in this weight class. When I got the call for this fight, I was leaving the gym 141-lbs, but as soon as I got this fight all I had to do to gain weight was eat like a normal person. I have now reached a new body weight that I have never reached, so I hope to feel good and healthy for these fights.
TalkingBoxing: Your first 20 fights, you took on Michael Lerma, Ben Tackie, Rafael Ruelas and Rocky Martinez to name just a few...Looking back, would you have slowed things down?
Hicklet Lau: IF I was running my carreer perhaps I would have slowed down. I didn't know much about the politics of boxing or how much my record was going to affect my inactivity. I use to think, "hey I will always have fights, people will always enjoy my fights," but unfortunately, boxing is not about what the people wanna see, its about who can protect their fighters the best and make the most money doing it. Here, I am willing to fight anyone under any circumstances, a promoters dream, I still can't stay busy. I fought all those names because thats who Team Freedom was asking me to fight, and I really thought I could beat those guys when I fought them. I just wasn't prepared. Now that I understand the sport or should I say the bussiness a little better, perhaps I should have said no. I have no regretes. I fought those guys, none of them were able to hurt me or convince me of retiring and if I was to able become champ, I would not hear what you often hear about the champs not being tested, I have been tested and I am still here! Besides the ugly looking record, I am proud of most of my performances. To me they are classics and something I will always be proud to show my children when they grow up.
TalkingBoxing: Not to look past Cintron, but what can we look forward from you in the upcoming year?
Hicklet Lau: I plan to beat Cintron and perhaps finally be recognized as one of the divisions best, but for some reason after getting robbed by former world champ Ruelas or losing a close decision to Ben tackie on my first 10 rounder comming up from a six-round fighter on ten days notice and a rip off draw with Rocky Martinez, who was ranked #2 by the WBO, I was never ever able to get any recognition for doing what most couldnt under better conditions. I hope for things to change and go my way at this new division. What will happend after this fight can go so many directions. I hate to plan or predict what will happend, boxing is going through a rough time right now, so we will just have to sit and wait to see.
TalkingBoxing: What are your career goals?
Hicklet Lau: My goals has not been to just be a world champion, but to be one of the best world champions. After all I have gone through and all my wars to become a champ, now would be such a beautiful way to end a fairytale, perhaps thats what keeps me going. But yes, I plan to become world champion and come down in history as one of the fight games truest warriors. I wouldn't have it any other way.
TalkingBoxing: You are the only man to take Carlos Maussa the distance in 16 fights, what is your take on the Miguel Cotto-Maussa fight this Saturday?
Hicklet Lau: It was a fight I took on two weeks notice, but I will not take anything away from Maussa. He is a good fighter. I take my hat off to him, things happen for a reason. I would like to see him beat Cotto, perhaps that would help me get more recognition. As for the fight i think it will be an interesting one. I believe there are some style and angle that Cotto has not seen from a fighter and Maussa will introduce him to many. Although I think Maussa can be beaten this will defintily be a fight to watch. It will be a good test for Cotto, a win for him would convince me of his greatness, but a loss would only convince me of mine.
TalkingBoxing: Anything you would like to add in closing?
Hicklet Lau: I urge many to watch this fight (Telefutura, Dec. 12th). It will be a good one perhaps my best fight EVER! You dont want to miss it. We will truly find out if Cintron is really what he has been made up to be. I wont be testing him, rather he will be testing me!
TalkingBoxing would really like to thank Hicklet Lau for taking time out of his very busy schecule to discuss his upcoming fight and career goals with TalkingBoxing.com. We wish you the best of luck on December 12th and hope you achieve you goals!!!