Talkingboxing.com got a chance to speak to the trainer, Stacey McKinley, for both Ray Mercer and Tito Mendoza, and he was gushing with excitement at the progress of his two world class fighters.

      McKinley stated that, "Ray Mercer and Tito Mendoza are in fantastic condition." While he was excited about both fighters, he seemed elated at Tito Mendoza's progress as a fighter, he commented on Mendoza by saying, "Tito Mendoza is one of the best fighters in the world right now, he is ready to fight Bernard Hopkins, Joe Calzaghe and any of the top Middleweights or top Super Middleweights." He also commented on Mendoza's superb condition by saying, "The two best conditioned fighters in the world are Roy Jones Jr. and Floyd Mayweather Jr. and I think in one more fight, Tito Mendoza will be right up there with those two fighters in terms of physical condition." McKinley also said he has added to Mendoza already potent arsenal, by combining a Panamanian pressure style of fighting with a North American boxing style. All this postitive news in regards to Mendoza can only be good news for the middleweight division, and will add more excitement to the sport as a whole.

      For how happy McKinley was about Mendoza he was equally as pleased with the progress of Ray Mercer. Ray Mercer is already a very accomplished fighter in his own right, he is a former Olympic gold medalist, a former WBO heavyweight champion, and he holds the destinction of giving Lennox Lewis his most physically gruelling fight of his career. McKinley said, "Mercer is in great condition and is ready to fight." Mercer has been always known for his toughness and great durability and now add that with McKinley's training methods, Mercer could see himself getting back in the title picture with a few more good performances.

      Mercer though, would love a crack at Mike Tyson and a rematch against Lennox Lewis, and McKinley had this to say about the prospects of those two fights, "We tried to get a fight with Tyson, but his people thought Ray was too tough for him, right now Mike can't beat Ray, he does not have the conditioning to beat him." In regards to Lennox Lewis he stated, "I watched the first fight and Ray won that fight, so we are definitely looking for a rematch." Stacy McKinley enthusiasm got me kind of excited about these two fighters prospects, and with the divisions that they both are fighting in, Mercer and Mendoza are positively in the picture for a big fight. So August 23rd looks to be a big day for the Warrior Boxing Promotions and the boxing world in general.

comments? send to jstecker@talkingboxing.com