Hackensack Police Athletic League Gym
Hackensack, New Jersey
Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008
SHOWTIME boxing analyst Steve Farhood caught up with Jr. Welterweight World Champion Kendall Holt at a light, private training session on Tuesday, Dec. 9 in Hackensack, N.J.
Holt (24-2, 13 KOs) defends his WBO 140-pound title against undefeated, world-ranked challenger Demetrius Hopkins (28-0-1, 11 KOs) in the main event of Saturday’s special edition of ShoBox: The New Generation, live from Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ, (SHOWTIME at 11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast).
Before Holt’s interview with Farhood, the SHOWTIME cameras picked up this gem.
(On Torres and Hopkins)
HOLT: Ricardo Torres, pulling a stunt like this so close to the fight. They had to get Demetrius Hopkins, who I like, to fill in. He’s a good fighter who is technically sound. But, because of Ricardo Torres – and I want all the Demetrius Hopkins fans to blame Ricardo Torres – because now Hopkins has to face me and now his “0” must go.
I don’t want everybody to blame me and be mad at Christmas time because Demetrius Hopkins doesn’t have a goose egg anymore because he has his first loss.
Highlights From Interview with Farhood
(On Torres Pulling Out)
HOLT: I think he didn’t want to take the fight from the beginning. I think he was just going through the motions because he’s a boxer. When push came to shove, he realized that he really didn’t want this fight.
(On change in style from Torres to Hopkins)
HOLT: Hopkins is a talented fighter. He has speed, he’s rangy and he has long arms and good foot movement. A lot of mental toughness will come into play on Saturday. Emotionally, physically and mentally I was preparing for a different type of fight. Two months of preparing that way, (now) to a couple days to do a complete (180) is going to be mentally challenging.
(On facing Bradley to Unify the Jr. Welterweight titles in 2009)
HOLT: I’m definitely looking forward to the Bradley fight. I achieved one of my dreams of becoming World Champion. Now, my ultimate goal is to unify the titles. I’ve already signed on to fight (Bradley) so, I just have to get past Demetrius Hopkins and I am on my way to unifying the titles.
PHOTOS BY: TOM CASINO/SHOWTIME
