Chicago Trainer Joseph Awinonya Interview: Why Adama Will Beat GGG in Monte Carlo
By Robert Brizel, Head RCM Boxing Correspondent
In an international Real Combat Media exclusive, Joseph Awinonya of Joliet, Illinois, the Chicago area trainer of world ranked middleweight contender Osumanu Adama of Ghana, and the trainer of French Welterweight champion Ahmad El Moussoui, outlined the reasons why he believes Adama will defeat Gennady ‘GGG” Golovkin and win the World Boxing Association World Middleweight title in Monte Carlo, Monaco, on February 1, 2013. Awinongya was interviewed in a four way cellphone conversationwith Chicago Fight Club promoter Cynthia Tolaymat and Chicago Fight Club manager Wasfi Tolaymat on Sunday, December 22, 2013.
It will be the second attempt to win the world middleweight title with Osumanu Adama by trainer Awinongya, once a top flight cruiserweight boxer who lost an eight round decision on the scorecards to Steve Cunningham he still believes he won, and believes he would have won the decision if he had accepted an offer from promoter Don King to sign with him before the Cunningham bout which took place in July 2002 at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Adama, with Awinongya, lost a 12 round decision for the international Boxing Federation World Middleweight title to Daniel Geale in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, on March 7, 2012. Promoter Tolaymat was engaged in off again, on again negotiations with the Golovkin camp to get a world title shot for a year and a half, an opportunity Adama wanted and willing accepted when it was offered to him on December 2013. At the time Adama signed for the Golovkin bout, trainer Awinongya was in France with his other fighter Ahmed El Mousaoui, preparing him for a French regional title bout.
Real Combat Media: “Osumanu Adama was offered such fights as Carl Froch and Matthew Macklin and turned them down. Why?”
Promoter Cynthia Tolaymat: “This is up to the fighter and trainer, and they decided they did not want the fights, and turned them down.”
Joseph Awinongya: “Yes, I was in France training my welterweight Ahmed El Mousaoui when Adama signed to fight Golovkin. Before I left, I stated to Osumanu whatever fight we gonna see, we gonna get, and nobody is gonna stop us. After he signed the contract to fight Golovkin, and said we got the fight, and I said to Osumanu that’s good. Osumanu was looking for that fight so he was happy to sign the contract to fight Golovkin.”
Promoter Cynthia Tolaymat: “I have been working on this fight since last October 2012. They (the Golovkin camp) fought Nobuhiro Ishida, Curtis Stevens, Gabriel Rosado, and they wanted Hassan N’ Dam N’Jikam, but I was pushing it (a bout between Golovkin and Adama). We could not tell Adama who the fight was and what the contract stated till he had signed, for any reason, so the proposed bout did not get cancelled or fall apart.”
Manager Wasfi Tolaymat: “Adama’s contract gives Tom Loeffler and K2 Promotions (stipulates) a three fight option. It has a rematch clause. The other two fights for Adama can be against an opponent of their choice.”
Real Combat Media: “Do you have Adama in the position you want him to be in?”
Promoter Cynthia Tolaymat: “Adama’s in a position to be at the top. That is what every fighter wants. Every fighter strives for that position. That’s our goal. Adama’s very happy. Adama has had his shot at three world titles, IBF, WBA and WBO.”
Real Combat Media: “Gennady Golovkin came into camp weighing 168 pounds. How much did Adama weigh at the start of his training camp?”
Joseph Awinongya: “Adama’s weight was 174 pounds when he started training two weeks ago. When I came back from France I picked up Adama’s training. Yesterday after training, Adama weighed 167 pounds. Adama is doing good. He has an opportunity to win the Golovkin fight.”
Real Combat Media: Why would you choose a dangerous fighter like Gennady Golovkin, when you could have fought an aging Sergio Gabriel Martinez, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., Peter Quillin or Marco Antonio Rubio. Why did Osumanu Adama want this fight?”
Joseph Awinongya: It’s not a dangerous fight. Both fighters have two hands.”
Manager Wasfi Tolaymat: “I decided to go for this fight after I spoke to Adama, and I talked to Golovkin. We will fight Golovkin anywhere, anyplace, anytime for free. We will pay for our airplane tickets and our food. Osumanu Adama has been on the rise since 2004, and is ranked third in the world and they (the Golovkin camp) didn’t want to fight him, and this is not right.”
Reader’s Note: Osumanu Adama is officially ranked number three in the world by the IBO, 14th in the world by the WBA and BoxRec, and fifth in the United States by the USBA as of December 2013.
Real Combat Media: “Joseph, have you seen Gennady Golovkin’s fights with Kassim Ouma, Curtis Stevens, Gabriel Rosado and Nobihiro Ishida?”
Joseph Awinongya: “I saw all of them. Golovkin is a patient guy. He always plays a chess game. When the other fighter can keep up with him, Golovkin can punch also, and he can find a way to stop you.”
Real Combat Media: “It seems Golovkin’s trainer, Abel Sanchez, has always found the game plan for GGG to to win his fights. When Adama fought Daniel Geale, you had no change in the game plan from the fourth round on and lost the world title bout. How will this fight for your fighter Adama with Golovkin be different?”
Joseph Awinongya: “The first time he had an opportunity, it was the first time, the pressure of being in a championship bout. All of these things create a different world, a different energy. That’s why this fight (Adama’s second world title fight) will be different.”
Real Combat Media: “Golovkin’s trainer, Abel Sanchez, claims this will not be a long fight for Golovkin. Your reply to this?”
Joseph Awinongya: “We believe a different way. Golovkin can punch. I don’t take it away from him. Abel Sanchez talks about Gennady Golovkin like he’s the next Floyd Mayweather Jr. Yeah, Adama will win. Whether it is a short fight or a long fight. We are not going over there (to Monte Carlo) to lose.”
Manager Wasfi Tolaymat: “We are going over there to get the world middleweight championship belt, and bring it back to America and Chicago.
Real Combat Media: “Fearless Fernando Hernandez trained Chicago welterweight David Estrada to a stoppage win over 29-0-1 Orlando Lora on ESPN in April 2010, an Abel Sanchez trained fighter. Cynthia, as the management team handling David Estrada at that time, what did you and Wasfi learn about Abel Sanchez from the Estrada win?”
Reader’s Note: Chicago welterweight David Estrada hoped to fight Philadelphia’s Mike Jones in the summer of 2010 after defeating Lora, a bout negotiated by his then promoter Dr. Mario Yagobi of Boxing 360 which ultimately never materialized.
Promoter Cynthia Tolaymat: “Seeing Fernando train Estrada as the underdog and won. Fernando knew the way Abel Sanchez was training Lora. He knows Abel Sanchez’ training techniques he uses with his fighters. Even if Fernando is marginally involved with Adama and Joseph now, Fernando’s understandings of Abel Sanchez is a keen advantage.”
Manager Wasfi Tolaymat: “Forget the trainers. The fighter is the one getting in the ring.”
Real Combat Media: “Wasfi, you have scored some surprising wins as a boxing manager. David Estrada defeated Orlando Lora, as we just mentioned. Albert Mensah, another of Joseph’s fighters in your stable, beat Mike Katsidis. Ahmed El Mousaoui defeated Frank Horta. Carl Davis defeated King Arthur Williams. Osumanu Adama defeated Marcus Upshaw and Roman Karmazin. How much does wining a world title mean to you?”
Manager Wasfi Tolaymat: “My whole life I’m hearing I had a fighter named Muhammad Ali and this is what I’m hearing. This is my time for my dream come true. I dream this time I have the world champion, and that is why I invested all of the money on Osumanu in his first title fight with Daniel Geale.”
Joseph Awinongya: “”I try to tell Osumanu, all of your energy, you put it into the fight. This is a different day for his getting an opportunity. He understands that now. There’s a lot of things that happened in the Geale fight. The past is the past. The Golovkin fight gonna be difficult. We have experience. You will see different things we are going to do. We are not going to put our secrets out there.”
Real Combat Media: Who will be in your corner, Joseph?”
Joseph Awinongya: “Cut man Sam Colonna will be with us. I’m not 100% sure yet of the others. Ike Quartey might be coming.Wasfi.”
Manager Wasfi Tolaymat: “I will be working the corner with Joseph. My presence will help Adama in the title fight, because Adama listens to me and every word I say.”
Reader’s Note: Wasfi Tolaymat worked the corner of Albert Mensah in the welterweight’s 12 round decision loss to Denis Shafikov in Cozumel, Mexico, in December 2012.
Real Combat Media: “Golovkin’s trainer, Abel Sanchez, says it will be a mistake when Adama takes the fight to Golovkin.”
Joseph Awinongya: “That’s what we are going to do, that’s what we have to do. We gonna be prepared for it.”
Manager Wasfi Toaymat: “I have all my confidence Osumanu will win this championship. Osumanu will win the championship. I know Osumanu. I know my fighter.”
Real Combat Media: “Wasfi ,why were you not in Australia in March 2012 when your fighter Osumanu Adama lost to Daniel Geale?”
Manager Wasfi Tolaymat: “My wife went to Australia with Adama. United States passport was in the process of being renewed, but my new passport unfortunately did not arrive in time for me to go to Australia. My renewed passport since been received, so that is not an issue. I attended the World Boxing Council’s 50th anniversary convention in Cancun, Mexico, from December 2 to December 8 in 2012, so this is no longer an issue.”
Real Combat Media: “Abel Sanchez says Curtis Stevens is a better fighter than Adama.”
Joseph Awinongya: “I don’t think Curtis Stevens, if he had the chance, would fight Adama.”
Manager Wasfi Tolaymat: “I believe in God, and Osumanu will not leave it to the judges. Adama will stop Golovkin before the 12th round like he did with Roman Karmazin and Marcus Upshaw.”
Cynthia Tolaymat: “Adama can go 15 rounds, when he is in top shape and prepared for a fight, like the good old days. Adama doesn’t get tired, like most fighters who get tired in a few rounds.”
Real Combat Media: Gennady Golovkin or Osumanu Adama-which fighter will control the tempo of the bout?”
Joseph Awinongya: “I know Osumanu will control Golovkin. You can’t take anything away from Golovkin, but I know Osumanu can control he fight. We have to be careful also, and not fight carelessly. This is a very exciting fight for Osumanu, a dream come true. Guess what? Adama signed for an opportunity. He’s in the gym sparring. We’re gonna shock the world.”
Real Combat Media: “Adama lost an IBF world title bout to Daniel Geale, a very short fighter. Adama followed the loss with a year’s inactivity. What happened?”
Manager Wasfi Tolaymat: “We werein negotiations for the Golovkin fight since October 2012.”
Jsoseph Awinonya: “We learned a lot from the Geale fight, and our minds are over that.”
Wasfi Tolaymat: “Osumanu has been training hard with Joseph in Joliet. I put all my confidence in Joseph that Adama will win and will be the world champion. I always seen Adama also in my main Chicago Fight Club Gym training hard. Joseph is training him good, and he is doing a great job.”
Promoter Cynthia Tolaymat: “It wasn’t inactivity. We wanted the Golovkin fight for Adama.Each time Golovkin’s promoter would delay when we were offered the fight. Each time I would call, the bout would be in the hands of Abel Sanchez, and each time he offered us the bout it fell through.”
Real Combat Media: “A turning point for Osumanu Adama’s chances of landing the bout might have been my international story where Adama called Golovkin out which circulated over the internet earlier this year.”
Reader’s Note: Osumanu Adama Interview With Real Combat Media: Gennady Golovkin is Afraid of Me! By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
realcombatmedia.com/tag/osimanu-adama-interview-with-real-combat-media-golovkin-is-afraid-of-me/#&panel1-1 also found at www.zimbio.com/Peter+Quillin/articles/k6smDVQsCp0/Osumanu+Adama+Interview+Real+Combat+Media
Real Combat Media: How do you feel about fighting Gennady Golovkin for the WBA World Middleweight title in Monte Carlo, Monaco?”
Promoter Cynthia Tolaymat: “I don’t feel any different as long as the fighter is mentally and physically prepared and focused for that fight in the ring.”
Real Combat Media: “Cynthia, when you traveled to Australia with Joseph and Osumanu for the Daniel Geale IBF world middleweight title bout, there were no officials in the corners during the fight. What will you do differently to insure this situation does not happen again?”
Promoter Cynthia Tolaymat: “The WBA and the IBO are different organizations. I’ll make sure someone (ring officials watching the fighters in each corner) are in the corners in Monte Carlo. Each country makes their own rules (in addition). I don’t know the rules in Monte Carlo.”
Real Combat Media: Joseph, as the trainer you saw former world middleweight champion Kassim Ouma’s brilliant but losing effort against Gennady Golovkin?”
Joseph Awinongya: “Ouma was a southpaw. Kassim was a good fighter, he was on the way down and tired against Golovkin. Kassim had lost six of eight bouts at that point. He was doing good, but Golovkin can hit. Golovkin landed a couple of big punches, and Ouma was done in the tenth round.”
Real Combat Media: Does Adama have any edge or special ability on Golovkin?”
Joseph Awinongya: “The best thing I can say is we are going to win Golovkin’s championship belt and bring it back to Chicago. That’s it. My way is to get the fighter in the corner the way he was from the beginning (into the favorable mindset)when he signed with Wasfi. That’s the way Osumanu gotta be that day, that night.”
Real Combat Media: “Will the officials give the bout to you, or do you think they will be against you if it goes to a 12 round decision on the scorecards?”
Joseph Awinongya: “To be honest, sometimes it’s fair, sometimes it’s unfair. I think they (the ring officials in Monaco) are going to do the right thing. There’s a rematch clause. It’s going to be hard.”
Manager Wasfi Tolaymat: “I believe we are fine because the venue is neutral. There will be neutral officials of the WBA and the IBO, and because Monte Carlo is a neutral country. The venue does not favor Golovkin (from Kasazhstan) or Adama (from Ghana), and we leave everything up to God.”
Real Combat Media: “What other fighters besides Osumanu Adama are you current promoting and showcasing in the Chicago Fight Club stable?”
Promoter Cynthia Tolaymat: “Our other fighters include Rico Hoye, Ahmed El Mousaoui, Ahmed Cheikho, Boban Simic, Vivian Harris and Derrick Findley. Our light middleweight Cheikho is fighting on January 3, 2014, at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on the undercard of a USA ESPN2 Warriors Boxing and Iron Mike Tyson Productions card.”
Reader’s Note: Argenis Mendez and Rances Bathelemy fight in the IBF Super Featherweight world title main event of the televised portion of the ESPN2 Minnesota card.
Real Combat Media: “Adama weighed 159 pounds when he fought Daniel Geale in 2012. However, more recently, Adama has dealt with weight issues. When Adama fought Grady Brewer earlier this year in March, hecould not lose half a pound and though he won the bout, was ineligible to win the sanctioned two regional belts at stake in Massachusetts. In August, Adama weighed 161 pounds for Doel Carrasquillo in Illinois. Do you anticipate any difficulties with Osumanu Adama making the 160 middleweight limit for Golovkin?”
Manager Wasfi Tolaymat: “I told Adama he has to leave the United States for Monte Carlo weighing 158 or 159 pounds at the most. For Golovkin, Adama cannot go any higher. Adama needs to stay focused for this fight, owing to how important it is. We have Adama on the scale every day. We do not have time to deal with weight issues over there.”
Real Combat Media: “In the past you have had weight problems with your fighters David Estrada and Angel Hernandez.”
Manager Wasfi Tolaymat: “Yes, because I feed them too much. I take care of my fighters better, which is different than other managers. They get spoiled when they eat too well.”
Real Combat Media: “Is Adama hungry?”
Manager Wasfi Tolaymat: “This time Adama is game. This is a world championship bout, and he must be ready for it.”
Joseph Awinongya: “Yeah. Adama is hungry! He’s been looking for this fight for a long time. He was happy about it (signing to fight Gennady Golovkin). Adama has made a name for himself, and it is Osumanu Adama’s time to shine!”
Manager Wasfi Tolaymat: “Thank you.”