National Conference Call Transcript:
WBC Junior Welterweight Youth Champion Francisco "Panchito"
Bojado
31.10.01 - Question: How does it feel
to be 18 years old and featured in the biggest fight
of the year?
Bojado: It feels good to be 18 and
featured in the biggest fight of the year. It is a
good feeling knowing that I am doing well, and I am
doing something that I love. It is such a good feeling
to know that I am going to be opening up such a great
fight. I am putting everything together. I know what
I want, and I love this sport to death. It is just
a good feeling to know that all this hard work is
paying off.
Question: What is your goal?
Bojado: I want to be more than a champion.
I want to be more than just any fighter. I want to
do something here. I want to become history. I want
to be history. Ever since I started boxing, I knew
that I wanted to do something. As soon as I turned
pro, I said I wanted 10 to 12 fights this year. At
this rate and, at the pace we are going, I think we
will accomplish that. As soon as I am done, I have
to concentrate and get ready for the things coming
up.
Question: How do you feel you are
handling the hype and attention?ojado: It has been
fast. It has only been nine months since I turned
pro. I think one of the main things that have helped
me out with this was when I went to the Olympics.
Before we went, we had a lot of press, especially
because I was on the Mexican team. The press and attention
that we received helped me to control it and it was
a good experience for me. Now that I am here as a
pro, and I am receiving attention from media and the
people around me, I know what to do and what not to
do.
Question: Do you feel a little frustrated
that you do not get more rounds?
Bojado: With every fight I go into,
I think I am going to go some rounds, or maybe this
guy will take me the distance. I train hard. It feels
good to finish the fight early. If I can do that,
then that is good. If I cannot and I go the distance
with someone and win, it is even better because I
get experience. Sooner or later, someone will take
me the distance.
Question: How do you handle the pressure?
Bojado: I do not sit down and think
about the pressure. The only thing I want is to concentrate
on my fights. I am just so glad and happy and thankful
for what I have. Concentrating on the fight takes
away a lot of the pressure and the things that would
be a distraction for me. If I keep concentrating and
knowing that I am going to have a fight sometime soon.
then I do not let any thing else distract me.
Question: How did you feel coming
back from Sydney without a medal?
Bojado: Coming back from Sydney was
something hard for me. Knowing that I had my eye on
the prize, and when I did not achieve it was just
devastating. My family and friends helped me out a
lot. When I came back to L.A., the only thing I thought
was to get back to the gym and train. The Olympics
are over and in the past. From there, I knew all I
could do was keep training hard and just turn pro.
That is what I did. To this day, I am just grateful
for turning pro. It is just a good feeling that all
that hard work is paying off.
Question: How did you start boxing
as a kid?
Bojado: I am the first guy in my family
in boxing. My little brother, Angel, is the second.
I did not know I was going to turn pro or go to the
Olympics. I did not know I was going to stay this
long. All I knew was I wanted to stay in boxing, and
that I wanted more trophies for my trophy case.
Question: Did you have any favorite
boxers growing up?
Bojado: When I was growing up, I was
really into the amateurs. If there were a really big
fight on television, I would watch it because it was
boxing. However, there was no one in particular I
enjoyed watching. The only people I would watch by
myself and I would have them on tape were old fighters
like Sugar Ray Leonard, Joe Lewis, and Muhammad Ali.
Question: How important is it to you
to remind people that you were born in Mexico, and
that you are Mexican?
Bojado: It is very important to remind
people that I was born in Mexico. I am Mexican and
proud. I let people know that I am going to keep representing
them. That is the reason I went to Mexico to try out
for the Olympic team. It is a pride thing. I grew
up in Los Angeles, and I will represent them too.
The main thing I want to do is represent my country.
Question: Who do you think will win,
Tszyu or Judah?
Bojado: Judah was hungry for this
fight. He has a great chance of coming out with a
victory. He wants it bad and has been training hard
for it.
Question: When you look at these fighters
(Tszyu and Judah) do you feel far from their level?
Bojado: I feel I have the talent and
I am a great fighter. The only thing I lack is the
experience and maturity that they have. But, ability
wise, I feel I am at their level or more.
Question: Are you concerned about
the speed that your career has been moving?
Bojado: I am not concerned with how
fast we are going. I am very satisfied with the pace.
I believe would have had a few more fights by now
if I would not have gotten sick, or the fight had
not been postponed. I am satisfied with my performance.
The quality of fighter I have been fighting is good,
and that is what I want. I know I am young. I know
I am capable and confident about my ability.
Question: Do you feel your personal
life is different from people your age?
Bojado: I am missing a lot of things
that a normal 18-year-old would be doing, but I love
this sport. To gain something, I am going to have
to sacrifice something. Maybe later in the near future,
I will have time to relax. For now, this is what I
love. I am going to stick to it.
Question: Do you have something to
fall back on if boxing does not work out?
Bojado: It has been so hectic that
I have not had time to do anything. But, I have been
going to school nearby. We are going back on some
things, so when I get started, I am not too far behind.
Question: Do you have time for girlfriends,
or is that another thing you are sacrificing?
Bojado: I am not dead. I have been
going out with someone. She has been helping me out
a lot also. When I am tired, she will take me to the
gym.
Question: When did you move to the
United States?
Bojado: I moved to the U.S. when I
was two or three. My father was here first. He came
to see where he would work. He came back, and then
we all moved here together. He had a steady job in
the U.S. working in refrigerating. My mom used to
work in a toy factory, I think. We did well at first,
but then business started getting slow. We were like
that for a few years. That is when I went to Mexico
to join the Olympic team for three years. My dad is
currently working with me at the gym. He does not
currently have a job. His job is with me. I bought
my mom a little video store and she is working there.
Question: Do you feel you are poised
to help your family out a great deal?
Bojado: I want to help my family out.
If I am capable of doing that, then I am going to.
People have been helping me out. Right now I have
the ability to help my family.
Question: Do you have any other interests?
Bojado: Right now, my only interest
is boxing. I eat, sleep and eat boxing.
Question: Did you use a portion of
your first check to move your family?
Bojado: Moving my family was one of
the first things I did. We were staying in a small
place. There were nine people living in a little house
in East L.A. with a living room, kitchen and a bathroom.
We moved to a three-bedroom place in Huntington Park
(Calif.).
Bojado (8-0, 8 KOs), of Los Angeles,
by way of Guadalajara, Mexico will battle former Mexican
State junior welterweight champion Mauro Lucero (34-8-1,
22 KOs), of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP
BOXING from The MGM Grand/Hotel Casino - The City
of Entertainment in Las Vegas, Nev., on Saturday,
Nov. 3. In the main event, one of the year's most
highly awaited matchups, World Boxing Council/World
Boxing Association (WBC/WBA) Super Lightweight Champion
Kostya Tszyu (27-1-1, 22 KOs) of Sydney, Australia,
by way of Serov, Russia, will take on International
Boxing Federation (IBF) Junior Welterweight Champion
Zab Judah (27-0, 1 NC, 21 KOs), of Brooklyn, N.Y.,
in a 140-pound world unification title bout. SHOWTIME
will televise the Millennium Events Inc./Main Events,
Inc.-promoted card at 10 p.m. ET/PT
