Talking Boxing with SYD VANDERPOOL
by Julius Stecker
10/20 - Coming off a difficult loss at the hands of the current IBF super-middleweight champ Jeff Lacy on October 2nd,
Syd "The Jewel" Vanderpool, 35-3, is disappointed, but knows he left it all out in the ring that night. "Sure I would have liked the outcome to be in my favor, but it wasn't, and I accept that because I entered the ring as a warrior, and I left the ring as one," said Vanderpool, who is your 'no excuses' type of fighter, refreshing to say the least. Vanderpool, who saw his seven-bout winning streak come to an abrupt end that night, isn't done fighting and striving for a world title.
Although a re-match with Lacy might not be in the immediate future for Vanderpool, he still would like that chance, soon. Vanderpool said, "the fact is that Jeff Lacy is the IBF world champion, a title that I want to hold, and I
would love to fight him again one day...soon!" In the meantime, how does Vanderpool versus top-rated Danny Green sound? "Any fight with a fighter who is being touted as the best super-middleweight is a good fight for me, and one that I want. A Vanderpool versus Green fight would be a sleeper. I don't think it's a boring fight. I mean somebody will be taking a nap before the final bell sounds," said Vanderpool.
SYD VANDERPOOL
Julius Stecker: How are you feeling since the fight?
Syd Vanderpool: You know of course I am disappointed with the
outcome. I trained, and
prepared myself to what I thought was the best of my
ability. Sure I
would have liked the outcome to be in my favor, but it
wasn't, and I
accept that because I entered the ring as a warrior,
and I left the
ring as one.
Julius Stecker: What is your impression of Jeff Lacy and do you
think
there should be rematch?
Syd Vanderpool: Impressions, and opinions are a dime a dozen. The
fact is that Jeff
Lacy is the IBF world champion. A title that I want
to hold, and I
would love to fight him again one day...soon!
Julius Stecker: You fought well the entire fight, and some people
had the fight even in the 8th, that said do you think
there was an early stoppage?
Syd Vanderpool: You know really at the end of the day it's like
this. Jeff Lacy is the
new super-middleweight champion of the world, and Syd
Vanderpool has to
work his way back to the top. It is not productive
for me to dwell on
what might have been or could have happened. What
happened, happened,
and what I need to do is simply what I do best, and
that is to get
back
in the ring and win!
Julius Stecker: Would you be willing to move up to
light-heavyweight
if there is fight out there for you?
Syd Vanderpool: Well boxing is a business, and I respect my
manager Stan Hoffman, and
Warrriors Promotions to find me the most attractive
fights to advance
my
career, but from a fighters perspective I just want to
fight the best
fighters out there. super-middleweight, or
light-heavy.
Julius Stecker: There is a lot of talk of Danny Green as the best
Super-middleweight, would that be a good fight for
you?
Syd Vanderpool: Any fight with a fighter who is being touted as
the best super-middleweight is a good fight for me, and one
that I want. A Vanderpool versus Green fight would be a sleeper. I don't
think it's a boring
fight. I mean somebody will be taking a nap before the
final bell
sounds.
Julius Stecker: What did it mean to you to have Wayne Gretzsky
ringside supporting you, and what kind of relationship
to you have with him?
Syd Vanderpool: My publicist, Shevaun Day Cressman just called
Wayne up and told him
about what I was trying to achieve, and Wayne was all
over it .It was
nice to have Wayne Gretzky a guy who grew up 45
minutes from where I
live make a special trip to come and show his support
for a fellow
Canadian athlete.
Julius Stecker: In closing, what can your fans expect from you in
the
future, and what do you have to say to your fans?
Syd Vanderpool: Fasten your seat belts. The Jewel express hit a
little bump, but is
about to hit warp speed on the way to a World Title!
Discuss this at our Boxing Forum
