Nazim Richardson and Al Ice Cole Interview: On Adama Versus GGG in Monte Carlo, and Floyd Mayweather Jr. versus Amir Khan
By Robert Brizel, Head RCM Boxing Correspondent
Bernard Hopkins trainer Nazim Richardson, and former world cruiserweight champion Al Ice Cole, after working the corner of WBA number nine world ranked heavyweight Travis Kauffman in his ten round win over southpaw Jason Thompson for the vacant WBA Fedalatin title, in an international Real Combat Media exclusive, talked about the upcoming Gennady Golovkin versus Osumanu Adama WBA and IBO World Middleweight championship bout on February 1, 2014 in Monte Carlo, Monaco, and WBA and WBC Light Middleweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. versus Amir Khan coming up.
Real Combat Media: “Your heavyweight fighter, WBA number nine world ranked Travis Kauffman, just won the World Boxing Association Fedalatin heavyweight title with a ten round unanimous decision win over Jason Thompson, the first time Kauffman has gone the ten round distance. Thompson talked some real jive talk at the prefight press conference.”
Nazim Richardson: “we expected it. What world did Thompson think he was fighting in? Pluto or Saturn? He was telling everyone he was the next heavyweight champion of the world. Jason Thompson is a professional tie up master. He don’t fight to win against a real fighter. Any punch you throw, he’ll grab and hang on. The dude probably went home and is telling his people he got robbed by a hometown decision. That’s the way he fights, he counters with a wraparound hug. Travis stayed focused. Travis Kauffman is very focused and very professional. Thompson is a professional survivor. He’s stopping (the action), grabbing and holding. He tries to make his opponents frustrated in every round.”
Al Ice Cole: “Travis has not gone the distance in a long time. Winning a ten rounder was a good experience for Travis.”
Real Combat Media: “ Nazim, you trained Bernard Hopkins as undisputed world middleweight champion for over a decade. Let’s talk about Gennady Golovkin versus Osumanu Adama, the World Middleweight championship bout in Monte Carlo coming up this Saturday night.”
Nazim Richardson: “GGG hits hard enough to knock out farm animals. There’s a difference between punching power and ultimate sense. GGG punches hard enough to knockout guys with a good chin. Special kid. Kids like that come along once in a while. He didn’t show that kind of knockout power in the Olympics against Andre Dirrell. He didn’t show it. You can’t always tell.”
Real Combat Media: “How can Osumanu Adama defeat Gennady Golovkin?”
Nazim Richardson: “I’m not going to give away all of my secrets. (I will say) Adama’s biggest strength is the sneak attack. GG’s camp doesn’t see Adama as a serious threat. Adama’s power and movement are not going to intimidate GGG. Adama’s got the Buster Douglas angle working for him. As we’ve seen, people (fighters) can win with the Buster Douglas (underdog) angle. Not a lot of people were leaning for Cassius Clay (against Sonny Liston) or Buster Douglas (against Iron Mike Tyson). I never thought anybody could walk to Bernard Hopkins (Felix Tito Trinidad tried to do it) or George Foreman and beat them.”
Reader’s Note: “Osumanu Adama’s contract contains a mandatory rematch clause with Golovkin if he beats Golovkin, and a three fight option. Such would not seem to indicate overwhelming confidence in Golovkin by Tom Loeffler and K2 Promotions, who handle Golovkin. The handlers of middleweight Gregorz Proksa wanted a similar arrangement before fighting Adama. Instead of Adama, Proksa lost to Golovkin and then Sergio Mora.
Real Combat Media: “Explain the fundamentals of the middleweight sneak attack.”
Nazim Richardson: “Osumanu Adama can sneak up! GGG is such a gladiator! Trainer Abel Sanchez is in the business selling fighters with the big names, and increase their legacy and career.”
Real Combat Media: “Osumanu Adama of Ghana, his trainer Joseph Awinongya, manager Wasfi Tolaymat and promoter Cynthia Tolaymat of Chicago Fight Promotion have been trying to get this fight between Adama and GOlovkin to happen for over a year. Abel Sanchez says Adama’s weakness is inactivity. In fact, Adama’s inactivity was caused by broken promises of a fight between him and Golovkin. Adama and Awinongya have wanted the fight badly.”
Manager Wasfi Tolaymat: “They are ducking us. I told Gennady Golovkin’s people Adama will fight Gennady Golovkin anywhere, anyplace, anytime for nothing. We will win this fight. It’s no problem.”
Trainer Joseph Awinongya: “Adama’s gonna win. We (Adama’s team) are gonna win. We will shock the world.”
Trainer Abel Sanchez: “Adama’s problem is too inactive. We keep Gennady busy fighting regularly. You cannot win a world title if you have periods of inactivity like Adama has.”
Promoter Cynthia Tolaymat: “Adama’s periods of inactivity were caused by Golovkin’s people, not Adama. We wanted this fight, Golovkin’s would offer it to us, and then they kept backing out, time and time again they said they would fight us and then backed out.”
Real Combat Media: “Why did Golovkin’s camp avoid fighting Adama for so long? What about Adama’s game plan?”
Nazim Richardson: “Why would I want to fight a guy like Adama ranked 24th in the world if I knew he’s going to give my fighter such a hard time and nobody knows who he is?”
Real Combat Media: “Osumanu Adama and trainer Joseph Awinongya are in a good position because they have wanted this fight for a long time and have prepared for it while waiting for the fight opportunity. Having been denied their chance to fight Golovkin after many promises of the fight, their advantage is now that they are fighting Golovkin they will be most prepared for anything Golovkin brings. They’ve had a lot of time to think about it. However, the bottom line is still do you believe Adama have a real chance of beating Golovkin?”
Nazim Richardson: “Osumanu Adama has a chance. He’s great. He’s got talent, and he’s not on the radar. He’s dangerous. If I were Abel Sanchez, I wouldn’t want this fight!”
Real Combat Media: “What kind of work does Adama have to do to beat Golovkin? Does Adama have any weaknesses?”
Nazim Richardson: “Adama’s got work on his hands. When GGG’s sparring partners come out of the gym, they say ‘GGG hurt me’. And these are guys that are good. Adama’s weaknesses? GGG has such a gift he can create weaknesses.”
Real Combat Media: “Does Gennady Golovkin have any weaknesses?”
Nazim Richardson: “Adama’s advantage is he’s Osumanu Adama, and that is Gennady Golovkin’s biggest weakness. Adama is a cat that’s hungry, and is willing to learn. Adama’s got a chance. The dude brings his ‘A’ game. Adama’s not scared of anybody, all things considered.”
Real Combat Media: “What other fights would you like to see in 2014?”
Nazim Richardson: “I would like to see Timothy Bradley versus Danny Garcia.”
Reader’s Note: Bradley has to win his upcoming rematch with Manny Pacquiao first for Bradley versus Garcia to be considered later in 2014.
Real Combat Media: “Does Floyd Mayweather Jr. have an easy fight in Amir Khan? Khan did beat Maidana.”
Nazim Richardson: “Floyd Mayweather Jr. versus Amir Khan? We don’t know (what will happen) till that fight takes place. Amir Khan possesses range, youth and agility. Amir Khan has a style which could give Floyd trouble. Of course, Mayweather’s proved himself by now. The only thing that can beat Floyd is father time.”
Real Combat Media: Do you have any parting thoughts for Adama?”
Nazim Richardson: “Adama has the nuts and guts, wanted this fight and got it. He’s had a year of extra mental preparation time to get ready for the fight as he wanted it. Adama has to stay sharp and stay focused on the game. That’s half the battle. Adama still has to believe in himself, and trust his corner. When it is the most dangerous times in the fight with Golovkin, that’s when Osumanu Adama has to trust his corner the most.”
Real Combat Media: “Ice, you were world cruiserweight champion. You fought in Madison Square Garden and the casinos of Las Vegas and Atlantic City a combined 26 times. You fought outside the United States in Montreal, Canada. You fought in Gauteng, South Africa. You fought three times in Karlstad, Sweden. You fought in Moscow, Russia. Can you clarify the difference in terms of the edge a fighter has or gives away when he or she fights in a foreign country? Is Osumanu Adama at a disadvantage going to Monte Carlo? Gennady Golovkin may be better known in Europe.”
Al Ice Cole: “The big difference is everyone always says you have to worry about favoritism with officials and judges, in everything, (when you fight) in someone’s backyard. You just gotta do what you gotta do, and if you knock him out (you’re opponent) you don’t have to worry about that.”
Nazim Richardson: “GGG doesn’t have to worry about favoritism. GGG can fight his own way. GGG doesn’t leave his fights to the judges.”
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