Ex-cruiserweight Champ Robert Daniels Calls Out Tony Tubbs-Says He’ll Knock Him Out
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
On August 30, 2015, former World Cruiserweight champion Robert ‘Preacher Man’ Daniels will turn 47 years old. Now training amateur boxers, and in magnificent daily gym condition, Daniels is calling out former World Heavyweight champion Tony TNT Tubbs for an eight round challenge bout. The bout, if it takes place, would be for a newly created vacant Seniors World Heavyweight title in Michigan, under noted promoter Eddie Jaafar.
Robert Brizel: “Former world heavyweight champion Riddick Big Daddy’ Bowe refused a call out by Tony TNT Tubbs, citing health concerns. Bowe, at over 300 pounds, has been out of shape and of the gym for eight years, and is more interested in promoting his new Bowe’s Chicken Restaurant in Harlem. Now you are calling out former world heavyweight champion Tubbs. Why do you feel you can beat Tubbs? You claim 60 pro bouts experience (50-10-1 with 44 knockouts) to Tony’s 57 pro bouts experience (47-10 with 25 knockouts).”
Robert Daniels: “I have 44 knockouts in 50 fights. I can knock Tony Tubbs out! I think so.”
Robert Brizel: “Tony Tubbs is currently training and sparring his unbeaten heavyweight prospect Ray Edwards, a sparring partner of WBC World Heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, in the Deontay Wilder training camp in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Tony claims to be in good fighting condition. Is Tony TNT Tubbs too old for this comeback fight with you?”
Robert Daniels: “I don’t know. It depends on how good he’s been taking care of his body.”
Robert Brizel: “Why do you think you can beat Tony Tubbs?”
Robert Daniels: “Tony Tubbs is pretty much made to order for short guys, because the time when I saw Tony fight short guys, he pretty much had to punch down, and that’s not his style.”
Robert Brizel: “So you think he’ll have too much trouble with you?”
Robert Daniels: “I think so. I’m 5’11” and he’s taller at 6’3” (size versus fighting style).”
Robert Brizel: “Tony is 6’3”. Why is being a taller fighter an obstacle?”
Robert Daniels: “Honestly, I prefer fighting taller guys than shorter guys.”
Robert Brizel: “How will break him down?”
Robert Daniels: “Fighting him down, fighting up and down, and reaching up.”
Robert Brizel: “You think Tony will be too confused with your plan of attack?”
Robert Daniels: “I don’t know about confused. He still has experience.”
Robert Brizel: “The last three fights you had, did you properly prepare for them?”
Robert Daniels: “I beat Aldo Collander twice in his hometown in six round fights. I’m not a six round fighter. I’m not gonna say I got robbed twice. I know I won the first fight in Sweden (a six rounder by decision and) that’s why they brought me back (or the rematch. The crowd was booing. During the Victor Bisbal fight, I was going through a lot of drama in my life. I was going through a bad divorce. It affected me a lot. I couldn’t really train the way I wanted to. I would have done a lot better than I did. Honestly, my mind was not even on that fight, period. But now all of that is behind me and I’m ready to move forward.”
Reader’s Note: Swedish heavyweight Aldo Collander retired in 2007 after his two bouts with Robert Daniels. Puerto Rican heavyweight Victor Bisbal, who won 16 bouts in a row, got knocked out twice after his 2012 bout with Daniels, and his career appears done.
Robert Brizel: “In your Hialeah gym, what fighters are you training, and who is training you?”
Robert Daniels: “I am training amateur boxers. (As for myself now) I am being trained by Olympic trainer George Rubio, who also trains WBA and WBO Super Bantamweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux, and who has worked training Amir Khan before. I’m doing good now (training) with George. My gym is a boxing, Mixed Martial Arts and fitness Gym in Hialeah. There are a lot of up and coming fighters there (in the gym).”
Robert Brizel: “How do you feel about going eight rounds with Tony Tubbs?”
Robert Daniels: “I can do pretty good in the ring beating Tony Tubbs. I have to fight a smart fight, because those guys there (like Tony Tubbs) are like natural heavyweights.”
Robert Brizel: “Would you go up in weight for the fight with Tubbs?”
Robert Daniels: “Yeah, if the money is feasible. I really wanted to go back down to cruiserweight and win a (another world title) belt.”
Robert Brizel: “Are you currently licensed in Florida as a fighter and as a trainer?”
Robert Daniels: “Yes I am. I have no problem getting licensed and getting medicals (in another state). Right now I am probably about 212 pounds. I’d probably come in and fight Tony at 220 pounds. I’m still quick!”
Robert Brizel: “Do you think you could out jab Tony?”
Robert Daniels: “I think so. Just because a guy is taller than you, it doesn’t mean he can out jab you, because there are certain ways you can out jab a guy to outreach him.”
Robert Brizel: “Is your frame of mind right to beat Tony Tubbs?”
Robert Daniels: “Right now I do have the right frame of mind. Right now my mind is in fighting mode. Physically I feel good. I take care of myself, run, I’m in good shape. Emotionally I feel good. I have no distractions.”
Robert Brizel: “Is boxing your life, or do you work in other fields?”
Robert Daniels: “I have boxing. I train boxers, I train people for physical fitness and to lose weight.”
Robert Brizel: “Preacher man, is your age a barrier to your comeback plans?”
Robert Daniels: “My age doesn’t bother me. I am still able to do the same things I used to do. I still run at four in the morning. I still work out for two hours. My age doesn’t bother me. Life is okay, I’m not gonna complain. I want to pull myself out of this pit I’ve been in since my last fight (with Victor Bisbal). My last fight has been haunting me, I want to redeem myself and clear up my name.”
Robert Brizel: “The Bottom line. Make a prediction. Can you beat Tony TNT Tubbs? Will you outpoint Tony TNT Tubbs? Or will you knock him out?”
Robert Daniels: “I know I can win the fight. I’m going there to win (to fight and defeat Tony Tubbs). I probably need about six weeks in training camp to prepare properly. I already stay in shape with daily conditioning and strength training. I’ll be ready!”
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