GL: How is everything going in preparation for your mandatory defense against Zhanat Zhakiyanov on February 10? "Everything is going well, I'm up here in DC working with Barry (Hunter) and Lamont Peterson and I'm getting the best work I could get up here. Right now I'm on weight, I'm like a pound or two from weight every time I leave the gym and all I'm doing is building up strength and doing new things. I'm watching my opponent more and more everyday and I'm hoping that when we get into that ring it's going to be a good fight because that's what everybody is expecting, but it's going to hard for anybody to get this title from me. I still ain't even get my belt yet, so I'm still on my grind. I'm going into that ring like I ain't even got no belt."

Rau'Shee Warren: "Yeah man, it's crazy. I don't know if they think that's going to play with my head, which it's not. It's not going to take me off my focus of what I got to do in the ring."

RW: "I've made it my business to take a look at him. Fighters like that and the type of fighter I am is going to make me showcase what I really do. I don't want to be in the ring with no bum and I checked him out, he loves going for the one shot, and he's not as busy as Payano was, but he's the top contender, he likes to knock people out and it's going to be a great fight."

RW: "I ain't really looking too far ahead yet, right now my focus is on Zhanat and taking care of business on February 10. I'm watching him now, but it's like I always tell other fighters, when you're sitting down to watch a guy don't expect him to fight you the same way, people are always going to have to fight differently against different competition. People don't fight the same when they come to me. People thought I was going to come out there and bang with Payano, I don't know what he thinks he's going to come in there to do, but it's going to be a totally different experience than he's expecting. I'm bringing out my boxing book for this man, I'm bringing out all the tricks."

RW: "I feel great, especially being on the undercard of my brother Robert Easter. This is the stuff we talked about when we first turned pro and it's happening now. We're going to bring the whole area out for this. Robert is fighting at home and my whole city is going to be up there for this one, so it's going to be a big event. Hopefully after this one we can do the next one in Cincinnati, but I'm going to focus on this one now and we'll see what happens next."

RW: "Me and Zhanat for sure. Of course I know there's other fights out there and I want to unify the entire division, but for that to happen I have to be focused and ready on what's in front of me and that's Zhanat. I want all the belts at this weight, I come from an era where there was only one champion. Now there's four belts and guys try to stay safe when they get a belt. Let's fight title for title and let the best man win. But this game ain't the same as it was back then, now it's always a money issue or people don't want to fight in certain places, but I'm a dog and if they want to get in the ring with this dog, they're going to get bit."

RW: "I wouldn't say that because Payano was the champion. Zhanat is a good fighter, but I'm really the first guy he's fighting that's at the higest level. People said I never fought nobody until I fought Payano and then I did what I did, so I ain't taking nobody lightly and I'm focusing on putting on a show on February 10."

RW: "Keep your eyes on Rau'Shee Warren, I'm going to have a big year this year. I'm going to win this mandatory fight, I'm going to showcase my talents and I'm going to look good doing it. I'm the peoples champion, I'm a world champion even though I don't have my belt, but being the people's champion is what's most important to me."