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Kirino Garcia Interview
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Entrevista en español: Audio solamente: 699 KB
TheFightGame.tv's Al went down to Mexico to interview the former WBC International middleweight champion Kirino Garcia, who'll be in action on Thursday night (4/29/04) against the NABF middleweight champion Kingsley Ikeke in Laredo, Texas. The fight will be televised on HBO Latino (check local listings). The following is transcribed and translated from a video interview. We've translated it for easier reading. To read a little background on Kirino, click here.
Al: This is Al Nava for thefightgame.tv and I’m here with professional boxer Kirino Garcia, who’s held many boxing titles. Kirino, it’s a pleasure to meet you…We can see here all the titles that you’ve won, can you tell us what each one is, what each one represents and how hard you have worked to get them.
Kirino: Well, to you tell the truth, as a boxer, you work extremely hard. The first title I won was the Mexican super welterweight title against Jorge Vaca in ’95, then it was the PENTA Continental title against Luis “Baby Tyson” Vasquez, a training partner for Julio Cesar Chavez…both titles were on the line and I defended mine and I won his. Then I fought Lalo Guiterrez and won the IBF-UAIB title. Then I won the WBC International light middleweight title from Terence Ali. And then, the last title I won was against Lalo Guiterrez for the Mexican middleweight title…I’ve been the Mexican champion twice.
Mexican Super Welterweight Title PENTA - Continental Title IBF-UAIB Title
Al: How many times have you fought here for each title and have you defended them?
Kirino: Yes, I defended the Mexican super welterweight title like six or seven times and then I won the PENTA Continental and I defended it…it’s just that the commissions don’t like for boxers to have too many titles. Then I had to relinquish the PENTA Continental title and the IBF-UAIB title and then I won the Mexican middleweight title and I had the Mexican super welterweight and middleweight titles but they are the same and they don’t let you have two of the same titles, so I had to vacate one of them, so I relinquished the super welterweight title and I stayed with the middleweight title.
Mexican middleweight Title
Al: So you have the Mexican middleweight title that’s active and the rest are retired.
Kirino: Yes, because they (commissions) don’t let you have a lot (of titles).
Al: What weight is the middleweight title in pounds for the people in the U.S. and how many times do you plan on defending it?
Kirino: It’s middleweight, 160 pounds and I’ve defended it already three times and I’ll defend it until they won’t me.
Al: When is your next fight going to be and will you defend the Mexican title or will you be fighting for another?
Kirino: I’ll be fighting on April 29th. I’ll be fighting for another title that’s on the line…the champion is from Africa (Kingsley Ikeke), it’s a fight that Oscar De La Hoya promotes on April 29th and I’m going in as the challenger.
Al: And do you know where the fight will take place?
Kirino: Yeah, I’m not exactly sure where but I know it’s in El Paso, Texas...about 5 hours from here. Close by.
Al: And do you know if it will be on television or cable?
Kirino: I believe it will be on HBO Latino or something like that.
WBC International Title
Al: As we can see the WBC title, it’s perhaps the title that is know best in the U.S., when you fought for it, was that fight hard for you?
Kirino: Yeah, all the championships are hard but this title is just under the World Title and if you win the WBC International title, then you get ranked to fight for the world title.
Al: Do you plan on fighting in the United States more or are you planning to stay here in Mexico?
Kirino: Well, I’m well known here but I hope they give me more fights in the U.S. and I win so I can make a career over there.
Al: How many more years do you expect to be a professional boxer?
Kirino: This year I hope they line up some good fights because I’ve been the Mexican national champion since ’95 – I’ve been fighting and winning, and it’s like I don’t get a lot of attention fighting Mexicans so hopefully I’ll get an opportunity at a world title – it’s the only title I don’t have, see (pointing to all of his titles)…so yeah, just need a world title.
Al: You still have a lot of titles and your very well known around these parts and all, but for the people in the U.S. who may not be familiar with you, a lot of people don’t want to match you up with someone (contender implied) because they know that you could probably beat them and then where will they be.
Kirino: There have been a lot of fighters who may not have popular names but we give a good fight and we’re winning against the popular fighters who are well known to the world organizations.
Al: How about your training here?
Kirino: I go running in the hills or in the evenings. I train from 10 am to 12 pm or 1pm in boxing, and when there is a lot of time before a fight, we lift weights a few weeks before the fight.
Al: Is it hard to lose weight, at the weight you have to weigh-in?
Kirino: Yeah, all boxers have to diet. I think the only ones that don’t are the heavyweights (chuckling).
Al: Well Kirino, It’s been a pleasure. Reporting from the city of Juarez in Mexico, Chiuhauahua, Alfonso Nava with Kirino Garcia...The Champ.
TheFightGame.tv would like to thank Mr. Garcia and all his family and friends for all their great hospitality.
(4/27/04)
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