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Syd Vanderpool
Julius Stecker: First things first how is training going, and when is your next fight going to be?
Syd Vanderpool: Next fight is going to be July 12th on the Mayorga-Forrest undercard, and training is going excellent, I don't know who my opponent is going to be but I am very prepared
Julius Stecker: Did you get a chance to see the Calazaghe-Mitchell fight this past weekend?
Syd Vanderpool: No I did not, but I saw the results
Julius Stecker: At Super-Middleweight you have guys like Sven Ottke and Joe Calzaghe, which guy would you like to get in the ring with?
Syd Vanderpool: It really doesn't matter, I have watched the tape of the Ottke-Mitchell fight, but to me it really does not matter which guy I get in the ring with.
Julius Stecker: In 2000, you fought Bernard Hopkins, and you gave him quite a bit of trouble, but what did you learn from that experience?
Syd Vanderpool: I learned a lot, I learned what it takes to be a champion, Hopkins is a very crafty fighter who does things that are not always legal but he is savvy, overall it was a great learning experience and now I know what it will take next time I'm in a big fight, I also think I am a more complete fighter now
Julius Stecker: You have had an great amatuer career and and excellent pro career, but what are you looking for most in your career right now?
Syd Vanderpool: I really want to fight great champions, fight a possible rematch with Hopkins, fight Sven Ottke, guys like that, maybe moving up fighting Light Heavyweight, or even possbly fighting at crusierweight, someone like a James Toney.
Julius Stecker: Speaking of moving up, would you like to fight Antonio Tarver for his Light Heavyweight belts?
Syd Vanderpool: Oh I would love to fight Tarver, in fact if I could get Tarver in the ring I would fight him on four weeks notice, I am ready for him.
Julius Stecker: What so far in your career was your best moment as a fighter?
Syd Vanderpool: Right now the best is yet to come, I visualize in my head my best moment, I just focus and manifest things in my mind, winning big fights in mind.
Julius Stecker: Who was your hardest opponent as a professional?
Syd Vanderpool: I would say Hopkins, he knew he wasn't faster then me or stronger then me, but he was crafty and that made him difficult.
Julius Stecker: What do you enjoy doing outside of the ring?
Syd Vanderpool: I enjoy spending time with my 2 kids, they are 3 years and 1 years old right now and I love to spend time with them, I also enjoy spending time helping kids out a youth recreational facility.
Julius Stecker: Speaking of kids, while doing research on you and your website, www,sydthejewel.com, I found soemthing very interesting, you started something called Pryde, can you tell our readers about a little something about that?
Syd Vanderpool: It stands for Positive, Reenforcement, Youth, Development, Entertainment. It is based on teaching kids life skills through boxing, things like discipline, mental toughness, and competition, and other life skills.
Julius Stecker: In closing Syd, where did you get the nickname the Jewell from?
Syd Vanderpool: I got from my ex-manager Ray Taylor, He said I needed a nickname and it was was either Syd the Mule or Syd the Jewell, I think I made the right choice.
Syd Vanderpool is a class act and would like to wish him good luck on his upcoming fight and for more info about him check out his site www.sydthejewel.com. Thanks again Syd, from Talkingboxing.com.