Interview With Brian Adam
By Ike Enwereuzor / JacBoxing.com
20.11.01 - This is an interview with
former amateur boxing star Brian Adam from Brooklyn,
NY. On ESPN2 Friday Night Fights, November 23, at
Roseland Ballroom, NYC, Brian Adam will take on Richard
Killey (14-2-4). Adam came into the boxing game at
17, had a very successful amateur career winning the
Nationals. Here's what Adam had to say.......
How are you preparing for your
upcoming fight with Richard Kelley?
Every thing is going well.
What do you know about Kelley?
We sparred together with him during amateurs. I like
him but he's stepping in the way of me trying to improve
my boxing career. He's a tough guy who I know will
come to win. When I was first told about this fight
it was difficult to focus because I like the guy but
I like myself a lot better. He took the fight so we
have to do it, he's standing in my way to progress.
Your thought of other boxers in
your division?
I have the most respect for Paul Spadafora. Many don't
give him the credit he deserves. He's a good boxer
difficult to hit. I would fight him if opportunity
comes.
Your impression of Acelino Fretias?
Good fighter and a big puncher. I don't think much
of his style. I would love to fight him. I think his
style is perfect for me.
What was your amateur record?
(97-13). I started boxing when I was 17.
Why did you decide to box?
I love the game of Boxing. I grew up in the projects
so my cousins were into the game, John Meekin. My
cousin John fought in 1980, he fought Meldrick Taylor.
Shannon Briggs started to box around the same time
I did. I heard Zab Judah say in some interview that,
you get prepared for your opponent. I think a true
fighter is ready to fight anytime.
How is Shannon Briggs doing these
days?
I spoke to him about 3 weeks ago before his last fight.
I think he's going to be at my fight November 23,
at Roseland Ballroom, NYC. He lives in Miami, Florida
now.
Your thought on Tszyu-Judah fight?
They are protesting the quick stoppage, well one thing,
Kostya is a great puncher but Zab Judah had the skills
but needs to have his mind right to beat Kostya Tszyu.
He stayed on Judah's chest which never gave Zab a
chance to think like his other opponents did. Zab
had no respect for Kostya.
Hopkins-Trinidad?
Great performance by Bernard Hopkins. He had respect
for Trinidad.
Rahman-Lewis?
Lewis had no respect for Rahman the first fight and
Rahman had no respect in their second fight. This
is one thing I have never done. I have respect for
all my opponents.
Your favorite fighters?
Right now, I would go with Floyd Mayweather and Roy
Jones jr. What Roy and Floyd do is not easy. They
will beat their opponent the entire round. What Tyson
and Trinidad do is easy to do just training for power
so knocking someone out is easy to do. How many fighters
do you think can win every round?
Who do you think made the biggest
payday in Boxing today?
I'll say Oscar De La Hoya or Kevin Kelly. The public
started to demand for smaller fighters. Oscar brought
some money into the game, everybody wanted to be affiliated
with him.
Who do you think is the richest
Boxer in the world?
I'll have to go with Evander Holyfield,#1 and Oscar
De La Hoya,#2. Holyfield has been get huge paydays
since 1990. Evander is a great fighter.
Your thoughts on Buddy McGirt,
and how long did you train with him?
Great experience working with Buddy. I worked with
him between 1995-98 No knock on other trainers I had
since then but Buddy was the best trainer I worked
with. He's very smart and crafty. He doesn't want
you to impress him but yourself. Ifelt very comfortable
with him.
Why did you stop working with him?
My management then kept Bull shitting so Buddy got
impatient though he had got hook up with some investors
who wanted him to just train their fighters only,
so he had to make a living. so he moved to Florida.
What do you remeber from your professional
debut?
I remember being in a zone, 100 miles an hour. Buddy
McGirt told me to slow down, I just wanted to knock
the guy out. I thought it was just another fight but
it was just a different level. It was a wierd feeling.
Your toughest fight since pro debut?
I fought a guy name Gilbert. It was the draw on my
record, it was a six round fight and I believe I lost
that fight. I was 7-0 before the fight, first 3 round
I hit him with all I got he was still coming, I became
a little frustrated this guy wasn't backing up. I
think I won 3 round and he clearly won 3.
Describe your fights with Bernard
Harris?
I had the fight under a new management Arnie Tuk Rosnithal.
I outboxed Harris. I won 5 out of the 6, it was a
very tough for me and I learn a lot from that fight.
It was much harder than the decision shows. He was
a smart fighter and he caught him with some good shots.
He thought me a little thing as he kept playing hurt
a lot. It taught me how to protect my body.
Lemuel Nelson?
Wrong fight for me at that time. I just came back
from a hand surgery my manager put me into that fight
and just took it because it was a title shot. I had
no money so I took it just to say I fought for a title,
I wasn't ready for it. I had no winning in my mind
but I wasn't looking to loose either. It's hard to
fight with a mind like that. The most I went before
that fight was 6 round but I went 12 rounds with Nelson.
I felt good that I went 12 rounds for first time.
Calvin Davis?
It was on the Hopkins-Holmes card. I think It was
a solid performance and I was very focused. I trained
hard for that fight I didn't know what to expect.
I knew it was a turning point of my career.
Compare your two fights with Stephon
Owusu?
First one was on Derrick Gainer's card in Atlantic
City, NJ. I beat Stephon by 6 round decision. They
claim I didn't really dominate the fight so he thought
he won. Three weeks later, him and his manager kept
talking about being robbed, so I asked them if they
wanted to do it again? They wanted it again so I began
to train for Stephon like a mad man. He never been
Knockout before I did. I really beat him the second
time by knockout so I did what I was set to do.
Any words to your fans? Iunderstand
there will be an after fight party Nov.23?
November 23, is the night to be. A lot of people have
seen me from amateurs or professional. I always like
bumbing into people who know me from the amateur they
always ask me, "what's going on with your boxing
career, you're a great fighter?" I'm tired of
hearing that. I want my fans to know that I had a
management that kept me 4 years without keeping me
active. I know I have produced some good Boxing exhibition
and I'll continue to do so for my fans and I love
them all.
Thank you for taking out time to chat
with us.
