Boxing Talk
By G. Leon
Super middleweight faces Christopher Brooker on December 1st
Greg Leon: How’s everything going in preparation for your upcoming bout against Christopher Brooker [12-4] on December 1st in Philadelphia?
Brandon Robinson: Camp is going great. This is my first real camp in like three fights, so I’ve never felt like this. I never felt this strong, I never felt this crisp. I never felt my IQ this high so this is one of my better camps.
GL: What makes you say that this your first real camp in three fights?
BR: “I’ve fought eight times in twelve months so I’ve basically been riding one camp from the time I fought Peason all the way up to Shepard. I was riding off one camp for all those fights, but with this camp I’ve had a good eight weeks of camp and I still got four weeks left. I feel like if the fight was Friday I can fight.”
GL: Why such a late start?
BR: “I was playing football straight out of high school at the Valley Forge Military Academy. I wasn’t really into the school part of the situation, but I still wanted to pursue my athletic abilities, so I started to box.”
GL: What are your thoughts on Christopher Brooker as a fighter?
BR: “He’s a good strong fighter. He’s done a lot of good things about a year and a half ago and I think he’s going to bring out the best in me in this fight.”
GL: This is a step up fight for you, do you consider it a must win situation considering the age you turned pro at? Is that how you’re looking at it?
BR: “Yes sir. Every fight at my age is a do or die fight for me. Every fight is a must win.”
GL: Do you want to get some get back with Mike Hilton [who beat you in your pro debut] or what?
BR: “It’s crazy you say that because I was just asking Garrett Wilson to get at him for me. I wasn’t supposed to be fighting that guy in my pro debut. I was fighting two pounds out of my weight class, that was a cruiserweight fight and I’m really a super middleweight. I came in at 182 for the fight and woke up at 183. Hilton came in at 200 and I’m sure by the next day he put a lot of weight on.”
GL: Brooker’s year hasn’t been as successful as yours. He’s lost two out of his last three including a stoppage loss in his last fight when he moved up in weight to fight Ahmed Elbiali. Do you feel like you’re getting him at the right time?
BR: “Timing is everything. This is the right time to fight Ice Cold and the sport is a non-forgiving sport and it’s what have you done for me lately sport and you see what I’ve done and you seen what he’s done.”
GL: What are you hoping a victory on December 1st leads to?
BR: “More opportunites to get good wins. I want to be able to stay busy and go to other camps and learn new things because this is like my boxing college, I’m getting my education now and I want to learn as much as I can and I want to be able to build myself into a brand.”
GL: Are you expecting to stay this busy next year?
BR: “Absolutely. I love staying in the gym, I’m there everyday and I get there early all the time. My coach Rashad Brown be looking at me like chill out, we’re not starting for a minute. I’m there early, I leave late, I just love the gym.”
GL: What do you consider your biggest advantage over Brooker?
BR: “I can do just about anything, so I would say everything. I do everything well, I would say I’m above 85% in all areas, I can brawl, I can box, I can punch with box hands. I’m slick, I can be a dog, I can do everything. Christopher Brooker is a good fighter, but all he can do is come forward. When he goes to do something else, he’s not too successful with it.”
GL: Are you expecting the fight to go the distance?
BR: “I’m expecting the fight to go the eight, I’m training for ten and I’m expecting him to be there.”
GL: You haven’t gone more than four yet, are you sure there won’t be any problems going eight for the first time in a step up fight?
BR: “Not at all. I’ve been sparring ten rounds at a time for every fight I’ve had so far, so it’s not going to be a problem at all. I never look for knockouts, but if I got a guy hurt I look to get him out of there, but I have no doubt that going distance ain’t going to be a problem at all. Our strengh and conditioning is crazy right now.”
GL: Closing thoughts?
BR: “I’m just trying to establish myself and mold myself as an old school fighter like Marvan Hagler or Julian Jackson. Look for me to do some blue collar work behind a nice jab while I give the fans what they want to see.”
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