Michael Slick Anderson Interview: Rogelio Castaneda, Come Prepared To Fight!
By Robert Brizel, Head RCM Boxing Correspondent
In a Real Combat Media interview exclusive, welterweight contender Michael ‘Slick’ Anderson discussed his upcoming bout this Saturday night in Parsippany, New Jersey. Anderson, from Newark, New Jersey, will fight the eight round main event against Rogelio Castaneda Jr., a Mexican out of Sacramento, California. A five bout professional card has been matched by Mike Melendez and will be promoted by Michael Daugherty’s All Out Promotions. 14-0 Cuban cruiserweight Yunieski Gonzalez will fight the eight round preliminary bout to the main event.
Anderson, 13-2-1, ten knockouts, is coming off an eight round decision win over George Sosa in Newark in November 2013. Castaneda, 26-20-3, eight knockouts, is a dangerous experienced veteran who has fought such notables as Lucas Martin Matthysse, Lamont Peterson, Francisco Bojado, Demetrius Hopkins, and Jose Armando Santa Cruz, and is a former WBC Fecarbox and International Boxing Association World Light Welterweight champion. Castaneda’s record includes a win over 15-0 Ernest Johnson.
Real Combat Media: “Michael, how do you feel about fighting in Parsippany, New Jersey?”
Slick Anderson: “It doesn’t change anything. It is home (New Jersey).”
Real Combat Media: “Rogelio Castaneda, your opponent, fought a No-Contest with Lucas Martin Matthysse. As such, Castaneda is an extremely dangerous fighter to face.”
Slick Anderson: “I guess we are all dangerous if we have two hands. My style is different than Lucas Matthysse. I’m always sure with eight ounce gloves I punch harder than Lucas Matthysse, and I’m faster than Lucas Matthysse.”
Real Combat Media: “Have you studied footage on Castaneda?”
Slick Anderson: “Yes, on YouTube.”
Real Combat Media: “Castaneda has a reputation as a dirty fighter. How will you deal with him?”
Slick Anderson: “Castaneda’s not going to get close enough to me to get dirty.”
Real Combat Media: “What if Castaneda does get in (inside and take the fight) close?”
Slick Anderson: “There’s going to be a lot of pain (experienced by him). I have a lot of power when you get in close, that’s going to make opponents not want to get (fight on the) inside.”
Real Combat Media: “Nick Casal, who you lost to a few years back, who later got cut up in a knife fight, is making a comeback on August 23 at the Main Street Armory in Rochester against 8-1 Clarence Booth. Would you like to fight a rematch with Casal?”
Slick Anderson: “Oh yeah. That would be great!”
Real Combat Media: “Your bout with Castaneda is an eight rounder. Will you step up to fighting 10 round bouts after this bout?”
Slick Anderson: “Yes, I’m ready. We (my team) can fight 10 round bouts easily.”
Real Combat Media: “You have some big fight offers pending on the table. Would you take a big fight next, or fight Nick Casal next?”
Slick Anderson: “I will fight whichever bout makes the biggest sense, whichever bout makes the most money, but in the meantime we would like that (to fight a rematch with Nick Casal).”
Real Combat Media: “How do you feel coming back from a nine month layoff?”
Slick Anderson: “Sometimes we’ve got to play the hand (in life) we are dealt.”
Real Combat Media: “What different things has your trainer Charles ‘Dewdrop’ Young been doing with you in your boxing training in preparation for this fight?”
Slick Anderson: “We are doing a lot more foot movement, working out my legs more.”
Real Combat Media: “What about power training and conditioning?”
Slick Anderson: “We do that two days a week.”
Real Combat Media: “How has your sparring for your next bout been coming along?”
Slick Anderson: “I have sparred with Kendall Holt and Derek Edwards where I train at the Charles Young Gym, the Dewdrop Boxing Club.”
Reader’s Note: Super Middleweight Derek Edwards, also trained by Charles Young, scored a first round knockout over 16-0 Badou Jack on February 28, 2014, at Turning Stone Resort & Casino, Verona, New York.
Real Combat Media: “What features do you like about training in Dewdrop’s Gym?”
Slick Anderson: “A lot of pros train there. Dewdrop’s Gym is a throwback to the way it used to be, a gym atmosphere with a lot of boxing. It is a nice to gym.”
Real Combat Media: “How do you think the fight with Castaneda will turn out?”
Slick Anderson: “If I’m going to stick to the game plane, it is going to be an easy night. Sometimes things don’t always go according to plan.”
Real Combat Media: “Will Castaneda survive the full eight rounds?”
Slick Anderson: “With me wearing eight ounce gloves, I don’t think so. He (Castaneda) might try to slug it out.”
Real Combat Media: “”You think Castaneda might just slug it out with you toe-to-toe and go for broke?”
Slick Anderson: “He might try. Sometimes when you cannot outbox your opponent, they try to make the bout into a dogfight. We’re (my team is) prepared for that (contingency).”
Real Combat Media: “Best wishes Michael for an exciting fight!”
Slick Anderson: “I feel strong, I feel good, and I’m going to be fine. I have a message for Rogelio Castaneda. There’s a lot of pain involved when you fight me. Just come prepared to fight!”
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