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09.01.2003
Michael Lerma: Junior Middleweight Contender
Lerma in his fight with Kassim Ouma |
Michael Lerma: Training is going great, I am training here in Waco with my esteemed trainer Henry Mendez
Julius Stecker: What do you know about Verno Philips?
Michael Lerma: The only thing I gather is that he has faced and beaten his last two southpaw opponents, but those two opponents do not have the strength and punching power I have. Everybody knows that the Bronco McKart he fought is not the same one I fought a few years back, and the Shibata Flores he fought is on his way out as well.
Julius Stecker: Do you think a win will propel you into a title shot?
Michael Lerma: That is wishful thinking but unfortunately it does not always happen like that. You got Oscar De La Hoya fighting guys like Yori Boy Campas, which is a embarrassment when see that all the top guys in the division are fighting each other. I have five straight wins against top guys, and you see this all the time with top guys in the division fighting each other and not getting a dime. Fighting a guy like me would be too dangerous and too risky for people like a Fernando Vargas or De La Hoya to take.
Julius Stecker: Ever since the Ouma fight you have been on a roll, what do you attribute that to?
Michael Lerma: My trainer Henry Mendez is taking me back to a time earlier in my career, to more of a boxer, the people of Waco, and Paulie Ayalya always new what I had. Television always got this perception of me being a one dimentional straight forward fighter, but what did not realize is that against certain guys for example, JC Canadelo you had to go straight at him because of his reach and height. In the Alex Bunema fight you saw me box and they gave me a draw, which was a robbery, I clearly won that fight. Henry has taken me back to the things I do well and that helps make me successful.
Julius Stecker: You come from a strong amateur background and a fighting family, do you think that helps make you a successful fighter?
Michael Lerma: Definitely, My brother Jamie is a good fighter, but when I was very young my father put us all into boxing. Ironically, when I was young I was the the one always playing around having my mind on other things, but now I am the one who is the having the great success in the ring.
Julius Stecker: Who would you want to fight the most?
Michael Lerma: Obviously Oscar De La Hoya, and not just for the money, it has always been a dream of mine to be a world champion, my trainer former trainer who passed away in 2001 thought I could do it, the city of Waco thinks I can do it. There is only one gym in Waco and I am the best boxer there, Waco is not really known as a fight city and I want to start a tradition. I want to show the young people of Waco that it is possible to be a world champion and what better person to prove it against then Oscar De La Hoya.
Julius Stecker: What do you do outside of the ring?
Michael Lerma: I am a full time boxer, I have a beautiful wife who works full time to make up for the times I am not fighting, I have three great kids, Michael Jr, Elijah, and Isiah, and I live a very clean life. I do as much as I can in the community of Waco. I work on different youth commisions, I speak to the community and to the troubled youth in general. I have been where most of them have been, my father passed away when I was 6 years, I was raised by a single mother, living on social security. I feel I am an example of someone who is making it and doing the right things. I also travel all over the country speaking about my faith in the lord and savior Jesus Christ, and to youth about the virtues of abstinence.
Julius Stecker: What do you want to do when your career is over?
Michael Lerma: I don't know exactly right now but I will be serving the youth, I love children, and would like to have as many as ten one day (laughing) but my wife doesn't agree. But I definitely will be more involved in my community helping children do the right thing.
Julius Stecker: Who wins De La Hoya-Mosley II
Michael Lerma: De La Hoya wins this time, I was at the first fight and people say Mosley has De La Hoya's number but I don't think so. De La Hoya will be stronger at the heavier weight, Mosley is fast, but so is De La Hoya, and as the later rounds go on De La Hoya's accuracy will lead him to a decision victory.
Julius Stecker: What can we expect from Michael Lerma on September 5th
Michael Lerma: Expect vintage Michael Lerma, I will be exciting, and I will come out on top. I will do what ever it takes to win the fight, and fight fans will get their money's worth, and what would be better then spending there worthwhile time getting a real fight, from a real fighter.
TalkingBoxing.com would like to thank Michael Lerma for taking time out of his busy schedule to talk with us. May the best man win on September 5th.
