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Pastimes : Boxing: The Sweet Science -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: freelyhovering who wrote (3714)	5/11/2001 11:49:48 PM
From: mr.mark	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 10489

Chat Reel: William Joppy Joppy up to Trinidad's challege Posted: Tuesday May 08, 2001 5:41 PM Updated: Tuesday May 08, 2001 5:41 PM CNNSI Host: Welcome to today's chat with William Joppy. Welcome William and thanks for joining us! William Joppy: Glad to here with you, and I'm ready to roll. From Travis in Fayetteville, Ark.: A whole lot of people are labeling you the "underdog" in your upcoming fight against Trinidad. What do you think about this, and how will you use this motivation to your advantage? William Joppy: That is nothing new to me. I've labeled as the underdog all my life -- not just in boxing. When I went to Japan in 96' I was the underdog the whole country was against me. So I'm a professional at this. From James Strickland in Fort Hood, Texas: I know that this fight is your main focus right now, but are looking to face a showdown with Roy Jones Jr. at any time in the future? William Joppy: Well, if the opportunity presents itself then yes. But right now I'm focused on the Sugar Ray Robinson Trophy. I'm focused on Trinidad then Bernard Hopkins. And if the situation is right I will meet Roy at 168 pounds. From Cesar A Loyola in Las Vegas: How will you defeat Felix Trinidad, and what are his disadvantages against a boxer like you? William Joppy: As you know I'm a multi-dimensional fighter versus Trinidad who is a one-dimensional fighter. De La Hoya laid down the blue print to beat Trinidad. But I knew how to beat him before that. We will see May 12. From Carlos in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico: The Trinidad camp has been training at closed doors for this fight, and they say it is because they are working on something new that everyone will see during the fight. Do you have any information on what this might be? Are you ready to adjust to anything that Trinidad might come up with? Are you at all concerned about this? William Joppy: I'm not concerned about that. In training I use all different styles of sparring. So whichever way he comes at me I will be ready for it. I train with guys of championship quality. So whatever he brings I will be able to deal with it. From Arturo Gatti in Montreal Quebec: You have the perfect style to beat Trinidad fast hands and good lateral movement, but how do you plan on keeping this a boxing match instead of a slugfest which is what Tito wants? William Joppy: Well, that is all about staying focused. I'm a boxer, so I'm going to do with I do best. He is at his best when you stand there with him, and I like a challenge. So, I'm not going to box the whole fight I will slug with him also. And show him he can't back me up. From Andy Minich in Toronto, Canada: William, first, good luck on your fight with Felix. Second, please explain to the rest of us what it feels like knowing that the fight with Trinidad will be the biggest boxing experience of your life. William Joppy: Well, I don't consider it the biggest boxing experience of my life, because all my fights are big fights to me. If I had lost my past fight, then I wouldn't be here. So I don't put one fight above another. From Guest: That you only started fighting at age 20 is very impressive! What was your record as an amateur? And how difficult was it to fight opponents that I'm sure had as much as eight years experience on you? William Joppy: My record as an amateur was 32-4. I was an amateur for a little over a year. The experience factor makes no difference to me. I've always been confident in myself as a fighter. So, I don't care who is in front of me or how much experience they have. I feel that I can't be beat. And if I felt any different I wouldn't be a fighter. From Jamal in Wilmington, Del.: Growing up as a child, was it your dream to be a boxer? William Joppy: Yes, it was something I always wanted to do. But one thing about boxing is, you have to eat, drink and sleep boxing. And as a young person growing up I wasn't dedicated. I wanted to hang with my friends. From Glen Baxter in San Jose, Calif.: I believe you are by far Trinidad's toughest opponent. Once you whip Trinidad and Bernard Hopkins, whom are you looking to fight? William Joppy: By them I hope that Oscar De La Hoya has moved up or Roy Jones has come down to 168 pounds. I want to be in Trinidad's situation where I call my fights. So I want to fight who I want to fight -- the big fights. From Treddick in New York: In both the Pernell Whitaker and the Fernando Vargas fight, Felix Trinidad seemed vulnerable to a body attack. This I think, with your movement and boxing skills, may be your chief weapons against him. Do you agree, and do you plan on exploiting this weakness in Tito? William Joppy: Whatever he gives me I will take it. If the body shot is there I will take it. If the hook is there I will take. But I won't know until May 12. You have to adjust to your opponent. So I will adjust to him and he will adjust to me. From Miguel Alcazar in Anaheim, Calif.: Coming into this fight, do you feel that to win this fight you are going to have to out-box Tito knowing that he has problems with guys that move? Or do you feel you will have to duke it out, knowing that you will be fighting in a pro-Trinidad crowd on Saturday night. Good luck champ! William Joppy: I like a challenge. I know I can out-box Trinidad. I think I can out-slug him too. So I want to beat him at his game. I think I can beat him all around. But for the most part I will box him. And thanks for wishing me luck. CNNSI Host: That's all the time we have today with William Joppy. Thanks for joining us and good luck this Saturday. William Joppy: Thank you. sportsillustrated.cnn.com