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I hope fans enjoy this boxing interview as much as I did conducting it. This is what "PRINCE" had to say.
"Prince" Badi Ajamu
Brad Cooney: "Prince", thanks for talking to me. You have a very big fight coming up on ESPN2 Tuesday Night Fights, July 27th against Fred Moore. This fight will be a Co-Main Event fight. Tell your fans how important a big win would be for you.
"Prince" Badi Ajamu A win would be very important for me.. to be able to beat this guy after coming off of a very close decision loss to another south paw. I am fighting a guy in Moore that has knocked out 96/97% of his opponents... a taller guy.. I want to dominate this guy, and beat this guy so that I can use this fight to campaign into the top 10 in the World.
I can use this fight to campaign into the top 10 in the World  |
| Badi Ajamu |
"Prince" Badi Ajamu My fight with Fred Moore coming up is going to be on neutral ground... and that is the way it should have been when I fought Rico Hoye, on neutral ground. And the same way for Otis Grant.. that fight should have happnened on neutral ground as well. This fight is going to be different.. it is going to be on neutral ground, and I believe that the fans will see a completely different outcome.
Brad Cooney: For those of you who dont know you, tell the boxing fans where you are from and who you train with, and where you currently train.
"Prince" Badi Ajamu I train out of the James Shuler Memorial Gym...Its almost like a Light Heavyweight/Super Middleweight haven.. guys like Houson Mack, David Henderson.. we have a lot of guys that come out of there.. those guys frequent that gym quite regularly... I was 32-3 as an amateur fighter.. I fought a lot of Olympic guys during my amateur days.. Joe Pastorelo, Orlando Anderson... etc..I guess my only thing now is in the professional ranks.. I am a much better fighter... I guess I am a power boxer style of fighter.. I can adjust to whatever my opponent brings though.. I have a built in radar.. I can use it to take you apart...
Brad Cooney: If you had to put one word to describe the type of fighter you are, what would it be?
"Prince" Badi Ajamu Adjuster... I can adjust my style to whatever my opponent brings.. think of me as someone that is going to come forward.. sometimes you get some judges that do not appreciate the art of boxing.. the hit, and don't get hit ..sometimes you have to ... I guess you have to look aggressive... if you have to punch gloves.. punch through them.. if you have to hit forearms.. break them... Sometimes this is what has to happen.. but on neutral ground, I am not going to take chances with this guy.. I just want to dominate him.
Brad Cooney: Talk about your team around you, they all expect big things from you over the next year or so. Where do you expect your career to be within the next year or two?
"Prince" Badi Ajamu Oh man.. that is a very very good question.. in the next year, year and a half I expect to dominate my weightclass.. with the caliber of people around me.. like Jim Kurtz.. Aaron Jacobs... very smart boxing.. I have an excellent trainer.. he is like a scientist in the lab... Denny Brown... I have the best cut man in the business.. Leon Tabbs.
Brad Cooney: Prince that is huge isn't it? To have a solid team around you and all boxing minds?
"Prince" Badi Ajamu It's huge... it gives you and edge in avenues that most don't recognize... if I am cut in a fight.. I don't even worry about it.. I just go back to my corner, and let the guys work on it.. It doesn't even bother me, because I know they will take care of it...
Brad Cooney: How big is that? Tthat has to be huge because if you weren't confident with your cutman and you were bleeding, it would take your mind away from the fight, and you could end up on the canvas.
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I have the whole Robinson family helping me with the fight.. I have been working with a southpaw as well.. he gave Robert Allen his first TKO loss... Horace Cooper is his name. These guys have all helped me prepare.. the only thing left now is to get in the ring with Moore..and see what he has..and he will see what I have.. I am really glad I will have the opportunity to be on ESPN.. all the fans.. all the boxing fans need to see this.. the whole boxing world..period
Brad Cooney: You are getting to a level of competition now where if you are not mentally ready for these guys., you can get really hurt. Of course you can get hurt at any level of boxing, but you are beginning to elevate your career to where you are fighting world class fighters. Does this put any additional pressure on you?
"Prince" Badi Ajamu Actually.. no. The way I see it, it puts more pressure on the rest of my opponents....I like to look at myself as the guy that now has the opportunity, that these other guys once had. The thing about it.. some of these guys are in a better position than I am because they don't want to fight down.. so I am looking to fight some guys to get in there positions.. sometimes you have to knock those guys off..and claim there fame..
Brad Cooney: Nobody is doing you any favors in there (laughing), you have to take it if you want it.
"Prince" Badi Ajamu (laughing) Yeah...I won't duck anyone..I will fight anyone..Rico Hoye is number one now...I am looking for a rematch with him.. but he may not be interested in taking that chance.. going into these guys backyard is something I have done already.. now I am looking for fights on neutral grounds...I am looking to fight guys like Glencofe Johnson, he is a hard worker like I am.. I don't think he would be any harder than a Derrek Whitley...
Brad Cooney: I am guessing that one of the worst jackets to wear in boxing is to be labeled a ducker...
"Prince" Badi Ajamu exactly..
Brad Cooney: Who was the toughest figher you have ever faced?
"Prince" Badi Ajamu As a pro.. I would have to say Derek Whitley was the toughest guy I ever fought.. he brought a lot of guts, and a lot of heart..and a lot of strength..he impressed me.. he was conditioned.. it was one of the highest punch counts in awhile..
Brad Cooney: Let's talk a little bit more about your ESPN2 Main Event fight coming up. What do you know about your opponent, Fred Moore?
"Prince" Badi Ajamu The only thing I really know about him is that he likes to get people out of there.. he is used to stopping people.. I didn't watch the tapes on him..because everytime I watch film on someone, they don't do what they did on the tape.. but Moore is a guy that takes people out .. but I don't know if he will be able to take the amount of pressure I am going to give him.
Brad Cooney: You will be one of the best opponents he has ever faced, wont you?
"Prince" Badi Ajamu Yes I believe that .. I believe that not just on paper..but in actuallity.. I think it is going to be an exciting fight, because he is going to come right at me..and I am not going back up.
Brad Cooney: A win against Moore in impressive fashion will give you a nice bump up in the rankings, especially with the fight on ESPN. With a win against Moore, who is someone you would like next?
"Prince" Badi Ajamu I would love to fight a Julian Letterlough, a Rico Hoye.. any of the top 10 guys.. any of the top 10 in the world.. Montel Griffith is another one.. but he probably wont take that chance with me.. too dangerous..
Brad Cooney: You fight out of the Philadelphia area, are you from Philly? Where were you born and raised?
"Prince" Badi Ajamu I was born and raised in Camden, New Jersey... and then moved to Phildelphia.. 90 percent of my boxing comes out of Philadelphia.. I did fight out of a boys club in New Jersey... but you could say I am a Philadelphia fighter..
Brad Cooney: (laughing) Where is your backyard man?
"Prince" Badi Ajamu (laughing) Tri State Area... both Jersey, and Philadelphia...
Brad Cooney: Fair enough... Tell your fans what they can expect from you down the road.
"Prince" Badi Ajamu Well everyone once and awhile boxing hits a lull.. but the boxing fans rally around someone to bring it back to life.. I want the fans to look at me to re-ignite the sport of boxing.. we haven't seen the likes of Sugar Shane as of late.. or Duran..names like that... I want people to watch me closely, so I can manifest into being that guy to re-ignite the sport of boxing.
Brad Cooney: I hope that guy is you. I really enjoyed the interview and look forward to talking to you again.
"Prince" Badi Ajamu Brad, thank you....
** Very Special Thanks goes out to Jim Kurtz for assisting me in arranging this interview**
Email Brad Cooney with Comments at bradcooney1@bellsouth.net
