Interview by Declan Warrington
BN: Your previous combat, October’s victory over Mexico’s Eduardo Hernandez, was maybe the best of your profession. Why go away Matchroom for High Rank?
OF: As a result of the whole lot about that combat wasn’t real. I used to be handled just like the B-side. They did the whole lot to get the benefit – which you’re speculated to do – however as a promoter, I feel you’d be sort of, in between. However it’s all good. That’s why we’re right here now – I felt real love from High Rank, and it simply felt like the proper alternative.
BN: …you assume Matchroom needed you to lose?
OF: It was deeper than simply me and him combating. For certain.
The ring was comfortable; the ring was small; there was every kind of issues happening with that combat [staged in Cancun, Mexico]. The judges – one choose received me down; the opposite choose gave him the primary seven or eight rounds. It’s loopy.
BN: They should have tried to maintain you after an thrilling combat like that?
OF: You realize, I didn’t have any talks with them. Not even for [Joe] Cordina – nothing.
I imply I had presents [from other promoters] earlier than the Hernandez combat, however like I stated, High Rank – they confirmed me essentially the most love, and like I stated, I at all times needed to combat on ESPN. All people got here by way of High Rank; Muhammad Ali, all the best way all the way down to Floyd [Mayweather]. It’s at all times been a dream of mine to be nice and do nice issues, and I feel that is the trail to it.
I used to be certain that [the dramatic knockout of Hernandez] was the explanation why [Top Rank wanted me]. I used to be capable of present rather a lot in that combat, and I’m not going to lie, High Rank was not who I assumed was going to come back for me. It stunned me, and it was all love that it labored out.
It was one of the crucial thrilling moments of my life, to simply be part of one thing that appears like they need me. I don’t really feel like I gotta go on the market and attempt to knock my man out each time, simply to get the win, so I’m glad.
BN: Was the potential for a combat with Emanuel Navarrete talked about to you as a part of the deal?
OF: I feel it’s a risk. They’ve received loads of choices, however firstly the primary goal is to unify, and so I feel it may very well be a risk. You’ve received two champions with the identical motive, so it shouldn’t be that tough to make.
We’re at all times up for unifying – that’s one thing we’ve been screaming since we received the [WBC] title, however we perceive that some fights should be constructed, and the method of it, so we positively need it. It’s a risk, for certain.
However one factor about it, he’s received to need it too – I’m finished chasing these guys. That’s one factor about it [that] I might say – calling out [Joe] Cordina. I used to be a free agent earlier than he fought the man that he fought, even earlier than the purse bid, so I’m finished chasing these guys. I’m gonna name them out, but when they wanna combat, it’s received to be a two-way avenue.
BN: How good a fighter is he?
OF: I’ve at all times loved watching him combat, particularly when he first got here on the scene, as a result of I assumed it was one of the crucial awkwardest, weirdest combat kinds which have ever got here by way of the sport, but it surely labored for him. It was entertaining, so I feel he’s a very good, awkward fighter – he does issues {that a} regular fighter can’t do. I’m speaking about being out of place – these issues that he does [laughs]. He’s an awesome champ, he positively deserves the clout that he will get.
I assumed that he was going to beat [in August 2023 Oscar] Valdez. That combat with Valdez, it made me see that he’s a bit smarter than what I considered him at first. I noticed one thing like that.
BN: Does it shock you Matchroom didn’t make a combat between you and Joe Cordina?
OF: Yeah we’d’ve fought, however he did say loads of occasions that he didn’t need the combat with me, to allow them to’t pressure him to combat. Like I stated, the whole lot that went down with this final combat, and even earlier than the combat, issues that I can’t discuss [that] they know – it actually simply wasn’t going to work out.
I do know that after his combat, he stated that there wasn’t no cash [in] combating me and issues like that, so I simply stopped taking note of it – I’m not going to misinform you – as a result of like I stated, I used to be a free agent earlier than his final combat, and he didn’t have an obligation to do a compulsory [fight] or something, so we might’ve finished it then. Clearly if I’m prepared to go to Mexico, I might’ve gone wherever – I’ve proven that I’ll go wherever, it might have been the place him and [Edward] Vazquez fought [Monte Carlo, Monaco], so it’s all good, man.
BN: Is Cordina adequate to threaten Shakur Stevenson, as has been mentioned?
OF: After that [November’s fight with Vazquez], I don’t actually see [Joe] Cordina beating the elite guys – I truthfully don’t. You realize, anyone that steps within the ring [has] received a puncher’s likelihood, however I don’t see it being a aggressive combat with him and Shakur [Stevenson].
[Stevenson is] an awesome fighter. He is aware of the way to use his vary nicely; he’s received velocity; he’s simply actual good, and he does his factor.
Simply look out for me [against Abraham Nova] – 2024, I’m gonna begin it off with a bang.
