Interview with "Dangerous"
Dana Rosenblatt
By Ed Ludwig
16.01
- This evening I had the pleasure of speaking with
Super Middleweight contender "Dangerous"
Dana Rosenblatt (37-1 23 KO's). Dana is set to make
his return to the ring on March 22nd against an
opponent to be announced. He last fought in October
2000 when he defeated Will McIntyre and since then
he has been recovering from injuries to both of
his shoulders. Dana has had to endure many months
of rehabilitation and now he will be making his
long awaited return that many boxing fans are looking
forward to. I would like to thank him for his time.
Ed Ludwig: You last fought in
October of 2000 when you defeated Will McIntyre.
Was your inactivity a result of an injury?
Dana Rosenblatt: I tore my rotator
cuff on my right shoulder. I was in rehab and resumed
my training. Then I separated my left shoulder and
the doctor said that I had a torn labrum and that
resulted in me having surgery. I had to miss all
of 2001 but my rehab has gone well and so has my
training. I could not lift much weight during that
time but now I am in good condition and my weight
is 175 lbs.
EL: Have you been training on
a regular basis during your time off?
DR: I have been in therapy since
the end of February 2001 and I have been running
everyday and I am doing well. I have stayed in shape.
EL: It is being reported that
you will face the winner of the upcoming Eric Lucas
vs. Vinny Paz WBC Super Middleweight title fight,
is that true?
DR: It looks that way. Things change
rapidly in boxing but I am getting ready for Eric
Lucas.
EL: The last three opponents
you have faced, Vinny Paz, James Crawford and Will
McIntyre have had, or will receive a title shot,
your thoughts on this?
DR: It's ironic that they got title
shots after I fought them. I beat Paz and McIntyre
and I had a technical draw against Crawford. My
time will come and I will be ready.
EL: Once in awhile we hear Paz
call you out for a rubber match. Are there some
bitter feelings between the two of you?
DR: He may have bitter feelings.
I love the guy. He fills my pockets full of money.
I would not hang out with him. He can do what he
wants.
EL: Prior to his loss to Thomas
Tate, Omar Sheika is another fighter who has called
you out. Would you consider him as a future opponent?
DR: Absolutely. I have had phone
calls from his people but no solid offers. If we
could agree to financial terms then it would happen.
He never got back to us.
EL: Will ring rust be a problem
when you resume boxing?
DR: I am not going to be naïve.
I have to keep that in mind and work hard in the
gym.
EL: Is there anyone in particular
that you would like to meet in the ring?
DR: No, no one in particular. I
don't like the stuff Sheika says. Maybe him. I wanted
to fight Bernard Hopkins then Don King came up with
the tournament and it fell through. I would like
to fight Hopkins at 168.
EL: If you could not get the
fight you wanted, would you consider moving down
to 160 or up to 175?
DR: I have no problem with staying
at 168. I had to work very hard when I was at 160
and I could not move down. I will stay here.
EL: Who was your toughest opponent
to date?
DR: I would say Brett Lally and
Troy Watson. Terry Norris was pretty easy until
the end when I was very dehydrated. Paz was very
tough too. I think Eric Lucas will stop him in four
rounds or less. Had Dingaan Thobela beat Lucas then
I would have had the title shot.
EL: Of the current Super Middleweight
champions, Sven Ottke, Eric Lucas, Byron Mitchell
and Joe Calzaghe, who do you think is the best?
DR: I'd say Sven Ottke, for two
reasons. First, he is a solid and very sound boxer
and reason number two, he never fights outside of
Germany.
EL: Why was Anthony Mundine granted
a title shot vs. Sven Ottke after ten wins against
limited opposition?
DR: Well, it's all about the money.
Television rights in Germany and Australia are huge.
The promoters made a lot of money. The comments
made by Anthony Mundine in regards to the terrorist
attacks were horrible. My thoughts on him are as
follows, "Lighthouse on the shores of ignorance"
EL: If you were to challenge
Lucas, Ottke or Calzaghe in their home countries
do you believe that you would get a fair shake if
it went to the scorecards?
DR: Absolutely not. My best shot
would be against Lucas in Canada. In England or
Germany, not a chance.
EL: What was your pick for Fight
Of The Year in 2001?
DR: I would say Bernard Hopkins
vs. Felix Trinidad in terms of significance. I knew
Hopkins would win. The Rosenblatt synopsis, the
boxer was the bigger guy and not the puncher. The
puncher was the smaller guy. I went with Hopkins
all the way.
EL: You have a black belt in
Karate, a brown belt in Judo and you are a former
U.S. amateur Kickboxing champion. Why did you choose
boxing as your profession?
DR: There was no future in Kickboxing.
I defeated the French National champion and when
I came back from the tournament in France I went
pro and I made fifty dollars in each of my two fights.
After that I decided to turn to boxing.
EL: At what age did you start
competing in individual sports?
DR: I started Karate when I was
thirteen and I had my black belt when I was sixteen
and then I took up Judo at sixteen. I like competitive
sports.
EL: Was it hard for your family
to watch you compete when you were growing up?
DR: Not with Karate and Kickboxing.
As for boxing today my wife and parents don't like
it but they are very supportive. They would rather
see me do something else.
EL: What are your plans when
you retire from boxing?
DR: I recently got into the mortgage
business. I will continue to do that and also do
a lot of public speaking at kid's camps and at schools.
My fight this March will be broadcast on Fox Sports
New England and after that I will be broadcasting
for them on a regular basis. I have worked for Direct
TV in the past and I plan to concentrate on broadcasting.
EL: Is there anything you would
like to say to your fans?
DR: I really appreciate all of the
support from my fans during my fights and with my
broken hand in 1997 and with the shoulder injuries.
The boxing business is dirty and nasty but the fans
make it worthwhile.
For more information on Dana please
visit www.danarosenblatt.com
