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Interview Alfred Ankamah

By Ike Enwereuzor

WBC #.4 jr middleweight contender Alfred "Torpedo" Ankamah made his professional debut 1992

Q: What are you doing these days?
A: I just came back from Ghana. I went to go visit my family and everyone 
was fine. I'm just coming back from the gym, I'm back to work now hoping 
that Vargas and Winky will step up to the table, the winner can now get to 
fight for the WBC jr middleweight. We need to fight each other to prove 
who's the best 154 pounder. Felix Trinidad's a good fighter but I hope he'll 
stay at jr middleweight to face tough fighters like myself.

Q: What can you tell us about your fight with Ike Quartey as an amateur?
A: It was a very good fight. It was in 1988, they wanted me to move
147 pounds unless if I fight Ike Quartey. I went on and took Quartey, it was 
a real war. They just gave him the decision. It was a very close fight it 
could have done either way. They wanted Ike to go to Olympics anyway. We 
trained together as pros too. I know Ike well.

Q: Who's your current manager?
A: Cindy Hubert

Q: Trainer?
A: Fredy Roach

Q: How long have you been working with Freddie?
A: About two years now. We really get along well and I love training with 
Freddie.

Q: We read that you and your camp wants to fight Fernando Vargas, could you 
tell us a little about that?
A: I'm ranked No.4 by WBC, I hear them talking about him fighting Javier 
Castillejo. Vargas just lost his IBF to Trinidad. He should fight me an 
elimination bout first, if he beats me then he can fight Castillejo. I heard 
they are looking for opponents for him, I'm right here in California. I'll 
take him on anytime. They robbed me in Mexico
for my title and gave it to Kirino Garcia. I beat him  twice. They stopped 
me a minute before the end of 12. I was beating him all rounds untill then, 
I was just robbed the WBC International title. I want a rematch with Kirino 
in United States. Then, I promise I'll stop Vargas if the fight is made. 
Vargas is a good fighter but I don't think he want to fight me because he 
know how dangerous I could be. He just experienced what a puncher can do by 
fighting Trinidad, I don't he wants a big puncher like me but he has no 
choice but to fight me if he want to fight for the WBC belt.

Q: Your prediction if you ever meet Vargas in the ring?
A: It will be a great fight boxing fans want to see.Vargas thinks he's carky 
but he'll have a lot take from me. I wouldn't take away anything from him 
but I know he can't take my punch, it will be a war. We'll be throwing some 
bombs. I destroyed his boy Shabita Flores when I was a welterweight he weigh 
in as a jr middleweight, so Vargas knows me. I weigh in at 149 pounds and 
Flores was full 154 pounds but I beat the scrap out of him. So they know me.

Q: Your thoughts on the Vargas-Wright fight?
A: I think Winky won that fight without a doubt but last two rounds
could have made the change.

Q: Your impression of Roland "Winky" Wright?
A: He's a good fighter, a little awkaward and he can box, if he comes to 
slug, I'll take him out quick. I've beaten 3 southpaws and lost to one 
southpaw. I'm hungry to fight, it's my turn to fight for the world title. I 
would love to fight him anyday.

Q: Please, describe your fight with Oba Carr?
A: I had a bad hand before that fight but I went on to fight him anyway. I 
had only one hand and he was like a veteran. He just didn't allow me to win. 
They know I'm a Ko artist.

Q: Tell our readers about your fight with Rodney Jones?
A: He's real good but awkaward. I was a better man that night. I knocked him 
out in the third round.

Q: What's your impression of Derrell Coley?
A: He's fast, smart, comes with more pressure but I'll not give him a good 
fight. I'm ready to fight anyone, I saw him fight Oba Carr.
I sparred with Oba Carr many times since after our fight.

Q: What do you think of a fight with Anthony Jones?
A: I can beat Jones, style makes fights.

Q: What were your thoughts on the Tony Marshall-Anthony Jones bout?
A: I think Jones won that fight, he's a boxer puncher. I don't know Marshall 
well but I'm not afraid to fight anyone. My goal know is to KO jr 
middleweight they put in front of me.

Q: Tell us about your two fights with Kirino Garcia?
A: They were so nasty, didn't care what happened they started throwing 
things at us. As far as I'm concern I beat the heal of him twice. We've 
asked for a rematch but they wouldn't give it to us. I told my manager to do 
the rematch in USA but they kept pushing me to Mexico. I was so mad before 
that trip I didn't want to go but they traitened to strip my WBC 
International belt. I had a bad experience from the first fight after we 
beat Garcia in Mexico, the fans just started to throw bottles at us. I had 
to hide, It was a crazy experience I never had before. They wanted to kill 
us there.

Q: Tell about your fight with WBA welterweight champ, James Page?
A: I don't like to give exuses but I can tell you I wasn't 100% at that 
fight. I was having a shoulder problem, I just told them to stopped it. 
People still knew I was the man. I was on him in first
minutes of the first round but my hand came back so he threw a left hook 
that caught me. He can punch but I beat myself in that fight, I couldn't 
fight with one hand.
Comments and questions invited email: Ike_fightnews@hotmail.com