Cruiserweight Willie Herring Speaks on Silgado versus Lebedev WBA Bout
*All photos copyright Robert Brizel, Real Combat Media, All Rights Reserved
On December 17, 2012, at Crocus City Hall, Myakanino, Russia, Columbian boxer Santander ‘Demolition Man’ Silgado, 23-0, 18 knockouts, now fighting out of Brooklyn, New York and represented by Havoc Boxing Promotions, will fight Denis Lebedev, the interim WBA cruiserweight champion from Russia, for the vacant full WBA cruiserweight title which was finally stripped from Gullermo Jones of Panama for failure to defend. Lebedev, 24-1, 18 knockouts, who lost a split decision to March Huck in a bid for the WBO Cruiserweight title in December 2010, holds a tenth round knockout victory over Roy Jones Jr.
One person who knows how Silgado fights is cruiserweight boxer and physical trainer Willie Herring of Orlando, Florida, who lost a disputed eight round decision to Silgado in March 2012. One judge had the bout 77-75 for Silgado, and Herring still maintains he won the bout. In his last outing, Herring scored a first round knockout of Joseph Rabotte in his hometown of Orlando in July 2012.
In an exclusive telephone interview with Real Combat Media, Herring stated for Santander Silgado to defeat Denis Lebedev in Lebedev’s home country, the Russian Federation, “Silgado has to knock him out. Hell no, he cannot beat Lebedev by decision in Russia. Just like me with (not getting a decision with) him in New York.”
Ring Combat Media: “Can Silgado overcome Lebedev’s home country advantage?”
Willie Herring: “Silgado will go to Russia and try to beat Denis Lebedev. But can he do it? Someone else, Lebedev, is now representing his country in a multimillion dollar camp. I’m a personal trainer, and I felt like I was winning the fight with Silgado. If he doesn’t knock Lebedev out, Silgado is not going to win.”
Ring Combat Media: “Silgado is a strong fighter. Will this factor in to his chance of beating Lebedev?”
Willie Herring: “Silgado is not as strong as people think he is. The opportunities which happened when other people get overwhelmed in combat created
opportunities for Silgado to have the showing he had in his previous three fights (with Herring and two bouts with Joell Godfrey). With me and Silgado, it was like being in a matrix. I seen the shots coming, and I complimented those shots, and I controlled the action the whole time. never did I feel I was fighting for my life because I trained to fight a quicker fighter, not just someone that was strong. Speed kills, not just muscle and might.”
Real Combat Media: “How will speed figure into the WBA Cruiserweight bout?”
Willie Herring: “Silgado has got to be faster and be in better condition, especially than he was with me, and he’s gonna have to fight for his soul, being he’s fighting on
someone else’s card against someone else fighting for his country in their country.”
Real Combat Media: “What does Denis Lebedev have to do to beat Silgado?”
Willie Herring: “For Lebedev to win, he’s definitely gonna not have to fight
Silgado’s fight. If you just sit there and fight a rock’em sock’em deal, because of the angles Silgado throws his punches from, he can get the lucky punches in. One punch can change the fight. Lebedev should definitely fight this fight from the outside. He can get his range and his tempo set, and build his confidence as well.”
Real Combat Media: ” Is Silgado is overhyped going into this WBA title bout?”
Willie Herring: “Nobody should take Silgado lightly.”” Silgado is a game, strong fighter, but strength doesn’t kill, speed kills. Having the right timing at the right time will get you the right outcome.”
Ring Combat Media: “Where should Lebedev fight this fight against Silgado?”
Willie Herring: “Lebedev should definitely start from the outside. Silgado is comfortable from the outside or the inside planting his feet and throwing bombs. Silgado is not comfortable with throwing punches in motion from the outside or the inside. Lebedev should get Silgado out of his comfort zone to establish his own rhythm. Lebedev should make Silgado fight on his terms, and that’s going to have to be with movement.”
Real Combat Media: “Tell about Silgado’s ability to take a shot, and his comfort zones.”
Willie Herring: “Silgado is strong, but can he take a good shot? No. When I had him in trouble, the referee intervened. I cut him over both eyes, and every time I got a good shot on him, the referee intervened. Now the tables are turned tremendously. Silgado is going have to fight out of his safe zone, and Lebedev is going to have to make the fight so Silgado is uncomfortable, so he can reach the desired outcome which is for him to be the victor, not Silgado.”
Real Combat Media: Willie, you are primarily a physical trainer. How does strength and conditioning fit into a world championship bout?”
Willie Herring: “The answer today lies in Plyometrics. As much as boxers today do strength and conditioning, without Plyometrics (as quick you get something out and retract it as well) you are not going to reach your full punching potential if you do not realize that. Roy Jones mastered hand speed, and got comfortable with not embracing the basics of boxing which is ‘the best offense is defense and the best defense is offense’. And he got a bit too comfortable with that. Lebedev beat him.”
Real Combat Media: “Silgado threw a lot of bombs in his bout with you. They missed. Will he try this approach again, and is this aspect of Santander Silgado’s fight plan something Denis Lebedev has to be careful about?”
Willie Herring: “Silgado throws bombs, and Lebedev better have his hands up, and
maintain his poise about him as well. For the one second Lebedev is overwhelmed by Silgado, the tables can be turned tremendously in this title bout.”
Prediction
Santander Silgado has appeared to be fighting to the levels and abilities of his opponents and mirroring them in recent bouts, much like Tomas Adamek does at heavyweight. Silgado has managed to be the busier fighter against his opponents in terms of punches thrown and punches landed. His defense is rock solid, but his game plan is predicated on getting inside on his opponent and keeping the fight there.
Silgado by 12 round unanimous decision if he can keep the fight on the inside against Lebedev and fight his inside style fight. Lebedev by late round stoppage, between rounds 8 and 12, if Lebedev can land power shots and jabs from the outside and move on his feet rapidly enough to frustrate Silgado and prevent him from scoring jabs, countering or holding. Expect the fight to be a world class fight at a furious pace. Silgado could surprise Lebedev if he turns out to be a better boxer than his last several bouts have revealed, as Silgado only did what he needed to win. In this fight Silgado will have take the fight to Lebedev to win rounds on points. Silgado will also have to overcome the difficulty of winning rounds in foreign territory.
Much like the recent WBA light middleweight title bout at Madison Square
Garden between Austin Trout versus Miguel Cotto, the hometown advantage can be neutralized if the underdog can fight his fight, stick to his game plan, and not let his opponent get inside and get lured into exchanges. Trout demonstrated great speed, timing, ability to land punches and get out of harm’s way, maintain poise under pressure, and keep control of the ring.
For Silgado to win, the same themes mastered by Trout must be accomplished. Also, whether Silgado or Lebedev turns out to be the better power puncher could factor in. Lebedev went 12 rounds with Marco Huck in a serious power punch war, and experience would seem to favor him. Silgado remains an unknown commodity, and
his fight footage does not substantially reveal style elements and boxing flaws, which
may make it difficult for Lebedev’s Russian camp to adequately prepare for him.
It isn’t exactly like Rocky Balboa versus Ivan Drago-unless you are Willie Herring.
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