Talking Boxing with "MIGHTY" MIKE ARNAOUTIS
Mike Michael: "We would love to fight David Diaz...We'd fight Speedy Gonzales...Demetrius Hopkins is a good fighter, but I don't think he's got the fire that my boy has"
by Julius Stecker
12/16 - Cestus Management's jr. welterweight sensation "Mighty" Mike Arnaoutis has completed his 5th and final week of sparring in preparation for his much-anticipated showdown with top 140 pound warrior Jauquin "The Killer" Gallardo this coming Friday evening, to be broadcast live on the Showtime Network's ShoBox: The New Generation series.

At 16-2-1, and with his only two defeats coming by way of close and hotly contested decisions, Gallardo's impressive record reinforces his reputation as a tough and tenacious competitor. Nevertheless, "Mighty" Mike is without fear.

Says the undefeated Greek phenom, "Gallardo, he fights very hard. He's a strong fighter. That's good. We will have a good fight, everyone will watch. It will be a good, strong fight for the boxing fans. But at the end, I will win."

The first person to correctly answer these questions gets a 'Mighty Mike' T-shirt and a signed 'Mighty Mike' postcard. Here are the questions:

-Mike Arnaoutis and his Cestus Management team often say that Mike will be the second Champion from Greece. Who was the first and only Greek to hold the recognized world championship in his weight class? What was his record? What years did his career span? E-mail the answer here to, news@talkingboxing.com

MIKE ARNAOUTIS

TalkingBoxing.com: How did training go for this fight?

Mighty Mike: Training went very well. Training is always the same. We always train hard, we always work like crazy. (laughs) The only thing that's different is that every time we go to a different fight we try to train harder than the last time and we train to do different things. We train to do the things we didn't do as much last time. That way, every time we add something new. Every time, we add a new weapon.

TalkingBoxing.com: What do you know about Gallardo?

Mighty Mike: I know he has a reputation as a tough guy. I know he has fought some good fighters. I saw his tape, he is a tough fighter, very strong. It will be a very good fight. I like when the other fighter is strong, that way we have a good, strong fight and the fans get what they come to see. But I know that he can't beat me. If he has been training like I have been training, then it will be a good fight. But he can't beat me.

TalkingBoxing.com: You have been very active as of late, what is the plan for the coming year?

Mighty Mike: The plan is just to keep going like we are going. I have my Cestus Management team, and they make sure I get the fights I need to become a World Champion. That's the plan for next year, to keep getting closer to the World Championship. I like to stay active. I never lose my conditioning, because after a fight I will take a week, ten days, maybe this time two weeks for Christmas to see my family, but after that I go back in training and make myself even stronger than before. I will fight as many times as I can next year.

TalkingBoxing.com: What type of time frame are you looking before you are ready for a title shot?

Mighty Mike: I am ready now! (laughs) Big Mike, you say! (Big Mike refers to Advisor Mike Michael)

I like to stay active. I never lose my conditioning, because after a fight I will take a week, ten days, maybe this time two weeks for Christmas to see my family, but after that I go back in training and make myself even stronger than before

Mike Arnaoutis

Mike Michael: Mighty Mike will be ready to fight for the junior welterweight Championship of the World by the start of 2006. We'll be spending the next year basically taking out all the roadblocks in our way. I'm talking about the Bojados of the world, the Ben Tackies, the Mike Stewarts, Jesse James Leijas, Ricky Hattons.

Anyone who is going to get between Mighty Mike and that belt, we'll take care of them. They'll get exactly what they're looking for, maybe even a little more than that. We are going to come out in 2005 with both barrels locked and loaded, and by the time next year is over, this boy is going to get his crack at that title.

TalkingBoxing.com: What is your opinion of some of the other young jr. welterweight prospects, namely Paul Malignaggi, Demetrious Hopkins, Al Gonzales, and David Diaz etc?

Mighty Mike: Paul Malignaggi! (laughs) Paul Malignaggi is a pretty man. Maybe if he fights me, I'll make him ugly like he says I am. He likes to talk, but if he wants to fight me, we can fight. He might be pretty before the fight, but I will make him ugly before the end.

Mike Michael: Everyone knows how we feel about Malignaggi. That's not even worth talking about, because by the time his hands heal up we'll have moved past him and he can chase us if he wants to make the fight happen. We'd love to take that fight, not because it means anything but just to shut his mouth. After we let Mighty Mike loose on Malignaggi, he'll be talking through broken teeth!

Demetrius Hopkins is a good fighter, but I don't think he's got the fire that my boy has. I don't think he'll be able to stand in there with Mighty Mike for twelve rounds.

Speedy Gonzales is a good fighter. He's got fire, he's got heart. He's another kid that's been taking the fights that other guys won't take, just like we have. We'd fight Speedy Gonzales. I think Mighty Mike is too fast for him, but it would be a good fight because they both have heart.

David Diaz is another kid like Speedy Gonzales. He's got heart, he's got balls, he likes to really take it to you. Out of all those guys, David Diaz is the guy we're really going to be gunning for because he's had a few more fights and he's further along. A fight with David Diaz would be a good fight. Mighty Mike would beat him, but it would be a good fight for the fight fans. We would love to fight David Diaz. Anytime, anywhere.

TalkingBoxing.com: If Gatti wanted to fight you in 2 months would you be ready?

Mike Michael: Absolutely. People say Mighty Mike is like the young Gatti, a natural boxer who loves to fight. We'd take that fight in a second, and that's the God's honest truth. We'd put Mighty Mike in with Gatti, and I honestly think that Mighty Mike would have too much for him. I think Mighty Mike hits just as hard, has just as good a chin and is faster. Plus, Gatti is one of his favorite fighters, so it would be a great show. The new Gatti against the old Gatti.

TalkingBoxing.com: Will you be the future of the Jr. Welterweight Division?

Mighty Mike: I am the future now. I am here, I am fighting and I am winning. Maybe I only have 13 fights, but I will fight anyone and I will beat them. So maybe I wait a year before I fight for the Championship belt, but I will fight hard all year and I will make everyone watch. I want everyone to watch, to see me fight, to enjoy the fight. So every time I will go out and I will make a great fight, so everyone will know that I am the future. And the fans will see.

TalkingBoxing.com: What can we expect on Dec 17th?

Mighty Mike: The same as always...the best fight of the night! Gallardo is strong, but I am ready for him. Everyone should watch, because I am going to fight as hard as I can and give a great fight. And of course, I am going to be the winner. December 17 on Showtime, it's going to be Mighty Mike time!

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