Travis Kauffman Interview: Hungry Heavyweight Warrior Wants Klitschkos
By Robert Brizel, Head Boxing RCM Correspondent
World Boxing Association top ten world heavyweight contender Travis Kauffman of Reading, Pennsylvania will fight in the preliminary bout to the main event of a nine bout card promoted by King’s Promotions on Saturday November 30, 2013, in Reading.
Kauffman, now 26-2, 19 knockouts, will battle Manuel Quezada, 29-7, 18 knockouts, a Mexican fighter now out of Wasco, California, in a ten rounder for the vacant World Boxing Union Intercontinental Heavyweight championship. Quezada’s record includes a 12 round decision loss to Chris Arreola, making him perhaps Kauffman’s most difficult opponent to date.
In an exclusive interview with Real Combat Media, Kauffman talked about his training methodology, his family, the world of boxing, and his desire to fight the Klitschkos.
Real Combat Media: “What is your training camp like, Travis?”
Travis Kauffman: Reading (Pennsylvania, where he is from) is a tough place. Every fighter goes through their stages, where they want (consider) to quit. If you give up, you lose (to yourself). I look at the end of the day. I go through this pain. I’ve never had a 9 to 5 job. I do it (boxing) because I have skills, I do it because I love it, to put my kids through college, I know I’m going to be blessed with something (ultimate success in boxing).”
Real Combat Media: “Has you dad (noted trainer Marshall Kauffman) pushed you for the Quezada fight?”
Travis Kauffman: “My dad pushes me all the time. My dad and I bump heads a lot. When I have a title around my waist and a couple of million dollars in the bank, my dad will have helped me into being the man I have become. I believe I’ll become the next heavyweight champion of the world, but if not-my dad’s recognition is I pursued my dream and did something for myself. Boxing is all I have. This isn’t an easy way to make a living. I have no backup plan. I have a wife and five kids. This has to work-and I’ll do my damndest to make it work.”
Real Combat Media: “Tell me about your diet for your upcoming big fight.”
Travis Kauffman: “I eat four pounds a day, eating every two to three hours. My metabolism’s on fire. I stay away from fried foods and junk foods.”
Real Combat Media: “How’s your sparring been coming along?”
Travis Kauffman: “I’ve been sparring with world class competition. I’ve been preparing for a 10 rounder. Now, after sparring, I hit the heavy bag, jump rope, hit the speed bag. When I’m tired I push my body to the second level to gain my second wind. I’ve been sparring with Tomasz Adamek and Bryant Jennings.”
Real Combat Media: “Travis, are you hungry?”
Travis Kauffman: “This is the hungriest I’ve been since before Tony Grano.”
Real Combat Media: “What happened to your supposed bout with Seth Mitchell?”
Travis Kauffman: “We accepted it in October of 2010. They (Golden Boy) called me on the day of my hand operation to fight him in December. They called a few weeks before, and we said yes, send us the contracts. Golden Boy called three days later, and Seth’s people said they didn’t want to fight me.”
Real Combat Media: “Chris Arreola took Seth Mitchell out quite easily.”
Travis Kauffman: “Arreola is a puncher, that’s one thing I admire about Chris. Either he’ll knock you out or you’ll knock him out. He comes to fight!”
Real Combat Media: “Would you fight Alexander Povetkin for a world title next year?”
Travis Kauffman: “Absolutely. The first thing I have to focus on is my bout with Manuel Quezada. The reward (when you fight) has to outweigh the risk. Mago (Magomed Abdusalamov) just fought for forty thousand dollars, and he’ll never be able to fight again. I’m in the top ten in the world (WBA heavyweight rankings). I’ve got skills. I have to feed my family and send my children to college. That’s my motivation to win.”
Real Combat Media: “Who would you prefer to fight first-Wladimir or Vitali Klitschko?”
Travis Kauffman: “I’d rather fight Wladimir first (for a share of the world heavyweight title). Vitali is the tougher of the two brothers.”
Real Combat Media: “Let’s talk about the Mexican heavyweights, Manuel Quezada, Chris Arreola and Andy Ruiz Jr. (who just beat Tor Hamer in Macau in the Pacquiao-Rios undercard).”
Travis Kauffman: “I feel Quezada is very tough. The typical Mexican takes a good punch. Quezada has not fought in two years, which is to my advantage in this fight. Andy Ruiz punches with fast hands. He has a lot of potential.”
Real Combat Media: “You have gone eight rounds twice. How do you feel about going ten rounds for the first time?”
Travis Kauffman: “It’s my job. I always prepare for 10 or 12 rounds. I’m in shape. I just ran 12 miles yesterday. I don’t think about the rounds. I’m in good enough shape. My recovery time is going to help me recover. It is in between rounds when you recover. The most important thing in that minute (between rounds) is how you recover.”
Real Combat Media: “How come nobody tries to beat the Klitschko brothers these days?”
Travis Kauffman: “The problem is nobody wants to take chances to beat them. I’ll knock Wladimir out, or he’ll knock you out. Go in front of him, fight him to the death, he’s beatable. Wladimir is a better boxer, but Vitaly has a bigger heart and is willing to take chances. People just want to get paid instead of going in there and knocking them out. Heart will take you up and over to the next level. The only way to beat Wladimir is to go to war, make it a street fight, and make him lose his focus. He’s been knocked out in the past. The only way to beat Vitaly is to hit him with big and long hands. Vitaly has a better chin than Wladimir. David Haye could do it (knock either of the Klitschkos out) but he didn’t take chances (against Wladimir).”
Real Combat Media: “What do you think of Bryant Jennings, who called out Arreola?”
Travis Kauffman: “Bryant’s work ethic is unbelievable. Bryan reminds me so much of Evander Holyfield. He’s progressed so much in 17 professional fights, and is world ranked.”
Real Combat Media: “what do you think of Deontay Wilder?”
Travis Kauffman: “He can punch.”
Real Combat Media: “What’s up with Tomasz Adamek?”
Travis Kauffman: “I was in camp with Tomasz. Adamek was really sick recently with the flu and a sinus infection and had to back out of his scheduled Main Events fight with Vyacheslav Glaskov at Turning Stone Casino.” (Pennsylvania’s Garrett Wilson substituted for Adamek and lost a ten round decision to Glaskov).
Real Combat Media: “Travis, will you fight anybody?”
Travis Kauffman: “There’s not anybody I wouldn’t fight. I’m a fighter. Money talks and bullsh-it walks. I’ve got five kids to feed. If I had to fight King Kong, I’d fight King Kong. The Klitshckos won’t be around boxing forever. The Klitschkos need to find me. I’ll knock them out, or they’ll knock me out. They’re gonna get a fight.”
Real Combat Media: “What’s the difference between the Klitschko brothers and David Tua? What’s the ultimate key to success?”
Travis Kauffman: “The Klitschkos live boxing 365 days a year. Tua don’t live it no more (Tua, 41, retired last week after losing a ten round decision to Alexander Ustinov in New Zealand). Look at Bernard Hopkins. He’s 48 years old. He never takes off a day. He’s always in the gym. Discipline is the key to success.”
Real Combat Media: “”Did you follow the recent Mike Perez versus Magomed Abdusalamov heavyweight 10 round bout at Madison Square Garden?”
Travis Kauffman: “My fats off to both of them for a great fight. I hope he (Abdusalamov remains in the hospital in a medically induced coma) pulls through. It’s a rough way to earn a living. As fighters we entertain the fans. As fighters, we take our hats off to other fighters. I take my hat off to Abdusalamov. That’s why we have a corner. That’s why we never say quit.”
Real Combat Media: “Would you still fight Seth Mitchell if you got the chance?”
Travis Kauffman: “I’d love to fight Seth Mitchell. I’d knock Seth Mitchell out. He’s a nice guy, a likable guy. The difference between Mitchell (a former college football player) and a boxer is a boxer is willing to die in the ring.”
RealCombat Media: “Your dad trained the late WBA Super Middleweight champion Steve Little of Reading to his world title in 1994.”
Travis Kauffman: “You cannot underestimate my father. My dad took Kermit Cintron from scratch to the International Boxing Federation World Welterweight title. I was ranked number one as an amateur and I’m 26-1 as a pro and ranked tenth in the world.”
COMMENTS
English