TalkingBoxing Interviews
Talking Boxing with DOMINICK GUINN
MON September 26, ANDRES CARRIEDO - Following his seventh round TKO victory over Michael Grant and hard fought, but decisive 10 round unanimous decision triumph over Duncan Dokiwari, Dominick Guinn seemed destined to play a pivotal role in the future of the heavyweight division.
Two years have passed since Guinn’s fight with Dokiwari on that September night on HBO. In that span of time, Guinn’s record reads 1-2-1 with 1 KO. The two losses have come at the hands of contenders, but the fact that Guinn has not been able to progress in the last two years brought doubts where before there were only high hopes and great expectations. Perhaps most troubling, in recent fights Guinn has not exhibited the grit and determination that helped him prevail against Dokiwari.
This Saturday night on SHOWTIME Championship Boxing, Guinn will have an opportunity to turn his career back around. He will be fighting for the IBA heavyweight title, which probably guarantees the winner an improved standing in the heavyweight rankings (Guinn is not currently ranked in the top 15 by any of the major sanctioning bodies), but more importantly Guinn’s opponent is none other than future hall of famer James “Lights Out” Toney.
The last time Toney exited a boxing ring he had just lifted the WBA heavyweight title from John Ruiz this past April. A failed drug test ensued as did the accompanying three month suspension and a sizable fine, but now Toney is back in the mix. A win over the former four division champion would do wonders for Guinn’s career and prospects of fulfilling the potential that seemed all but assured of being realized less than two years ago.
TalkingBoxing caught up with Guinn to see how his preparations for fight are coming along.
Andres Carriedo: How is training camp going?
Dominick Guinn: It’s been going well. We’ve been working hard and now we’re looking forward to fighting on Showtime.
Andres Carriedo: Who have you been sparring with?
Dominick Guinn: We have a lot of guys in here…about 10 guys. Kelvin Davis just got into town. So, we’re going to start going at it tomorrow. Other than that it’s mostly guys who I’m not too familiar with.
Andres Carriedo: Where exactly have you been training?
Dominick Guinn: I’m out here in California; at Goosen’s gym in LA.
Andres Carriedo: What is your target weight?
Dominick Guinn: 218.
Andres Carriedo: What has been your reaction to your recent losses to Monte Barrett and Serguei Lyakhovich and the draw against Friday Ahunanya?
Dominick Guinn: I’ve just put those losses behind me. They were lackluster fights and I’m focusing on what I need to do so that I can be successful again.
Andres Carriedo: How do those setbacks compare to the setback you faced as an amateur when you failed to make the Olympic team?
Dominick Guinn: I don’t think that I could compare the two. There are completely different. I’m just moving forward and focusing on this fight.
Andres Carriedo: What is your game plan against Toney? Do you plan to exploit any of his recent injuries and/or apparent lack of conditioning?
Dominick Guinn: No. I’m just going to go out there and be first. I’m just planning take the fight to him and to do the things that I know how to do so that I can win this IBA title.
Andres Carriedo: James Toney has a knack for winning close rounds. Have you been working on anything offensively because you have lost a lot of close rounds in your recent fights?
Dominick Guinn: No, I’ve just been working on things that I normally do.
Andres Carriedo: How do you approach this fight against a future hall of famer like James Toney? You’ve fought on HBO a few times before. So, you’re clearly accustomed to the spotlight, but Toney is the most accomplished boxer you’ve ever faced. How do you account for that in the ring come fight night – if at all?
Dominick Guinn: I know that I’m the more talented boxer and that I’m bigger than him. So, I just need to stay focused and concentrate on executing and doing the things that I know I can do. I just have to go out there and do what I know I can do.
Andres Carriedo: Not that this should affect your performance or preparation for your fight, but how do you feel about competing for viewers against the Tarver-Jones PPV fight that same night?
Dominick Guinn: No, I don’t care about that because I know that it doesn’t matter who is watching. If I didn’t have a fight on the same night, I’d be at that fight myself because I’m a big fan of Roy Jones Jr. and I like [Antonio] Tarver too. I know what I have to do. It wouldn’t matter if nobody was watching the fight. I’d still have to go out there and win. So, I just have to go in there no matter how many people are at my fight in Reno because I have a job to do.
Andres Carriedo: It has been two years since your last win on television. So, do you feel any sense of urgency to win this fight?
Dominick Guinn: I didn’t even know that until you mentioned it, but yeah I think that there is. I feel like this is my welcome back party. I feel like I’m making my pro debut again. I just recently got a new manager and a promotional contract. So, I feel like this is my opportunity to get myself back and what better way to start it off than with an IBA belt?
Andres Carriedo: Are you aware of any stipulations that the winner of your fight may be in line for a title shot?
Dominick Guinn: No, I haven’t heard anything like that.
Andres Carriedo: Do you have any predictions for how the fight will play out on October 1st?
Dominick Guinn: I’m going to win.
Andres Carriedo: Is there anything else that you’d like to say to your fans?
Dominick Guinn: Thanks for your support and come out to see a great fight.
Andres Carriedo: Thank you Dominick for taking the time out to do this interview and good luck on October 1st.
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