TalkingBoxing with "MIGHTY" MIKE ANCHONDO
"I’ve always had tough obstacles; this is just another test he’s got for me"
by
Jason Peck
3/8 - The super-featherweight division is alive again, catapulted into the mainstream boxing media with the arrival of featherweight stars Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera and Manny Pacquaio. And looking for a fight with every one of them is the new WBO super featherweight champion,
Mike Anchondo.
Anchondo, 25-0 with 18KOs, has a wicked sense of humor that turns serious when he discusses the sport of boxing. Boxing is something he takes seriously, and the results are evident. At the age of twenty-two, Anchondo holds an unbeaten record and a world title belt in one of boxing’s most competitive divisions.
Next on schedule for the rising star from La Puente, California is an April 8th fight with Jorge Rodrigo Barrios, best known for his 12th round TKO loss to Acelino Freitas in a grueling fight whose 11th round became Ring Magazine’s 2003 Round of the Year. Preparing for the fight of his life, Anchondo answered a few questions for TalkingBoxing.com.
MIKE ANCHONDO
Jason Peck: Why don’t you tell us a little about yourself.
Mike Anchondo: Well, I’m an Aries, I like long walks on the beach… (laughs) I’m kidding…
I been fighting since I was five years old. Boxing has opened a lot of opportunities, a lot of doors, this is going to be another door that opens.
Jason Peck: That’s one hell of a title defense you have.
Mike Anchondo:
Most definitely, In my life I’ve always had tough obstacles; this is just another test he’s got for me. That’s all.
Jason Peck: What are you expecting from Barrios? What did you learn about him from watching his fight with Freitas?
"I’ve always had tough obstacles; this is just another test"
Mike Anchondo:
This is how it is. Barrios is a tough fighter, I’m not going to take that away from him, but it’s going to be as easy as I make it. He’s wide open, and I’m going to go straight down the middle. I’m also working on my defense because with that kind of guy you need a great defense.
Jason Peck: Barrios recently went through a tragedy in his personal life. Was there ever any talk of the fight being cancelled or postponed?
Mike Anchondo:
I wouldn’t have been surprised if it did, that’s a tough, sketchy subject. My deepest condolences go out to him, but he said he’s a fighter and he’s not going to cancel. Like I said, it’s a rough situation, and you have to be able to move on, and I guess that’s what he’s doing-- moving on.
Jason Peck: What kind of effect do you think his problems will have on him in the ring?
Mike Anchondo:
I’m thinking ahead, you know. I’m thinking it’s only made him stronger, so he’s going to be in the best condition he’s ever been in. That’s great, I’m training for that.
Jason Peck: For awhile super featherweight division was in the spotlight with Freitas, Corrales and Casamayor. Then they moved up to lightweight. Now you have Barrera and Morales moving up, so it seems like the division is in the public attention again.
Mike Anchondo:
No doubt. It’s one of the toughest divisions in boxing right now. I got to be ready for all that. There’s a lot of guys out there and I’m going to run into them sooner of later
Jason Peck: Speaking of which, do you have any predictions for the Morales-Pacquaio fight?
Mike Anchondo:
I could tell you who will win and won will lose if they do what and what. If Pacquaio gets Morales to fight in front of him, he’ll win. If Morrales doesn’t get sucked into showing how big he is, he’s going to beat him. I’ve seen him [Morales] do it, kind of pick apart his opponents.
Jason Peck: It seems like a lot of super lightweights wind up moving to lightweight. Are you comfortable at your current weight, or are you contemplating a move in weight?
Mike Anchondo:
Not right now. I’m going to make some defenses, do what I have to do. The only way I’ll be pulled out of that division is with a substantial offer, but I’m in here for now. Like I said, if one of them is like Freitas at 135, then why not?
Jason Peck: Any fighters you’re looking forward to fighting?
"I want Barrera, he’s a good skillful fighter"
Mike Anchondo: I want to fight the fighters that everyone wants me to fight. I want Barrera, he’s a good skillful fighter, and great fighters make great fights. The greater the opposition, the greater I perform. That’s the type of fighter I am. You can’t forget about [Carlos Alberto] Hernandez, those guys are like steam engines.
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