QUEZADA TUNES UP VS. FIRTHA THIS WEEK
By Doveed Linder

Heavyweight Manuel Quezada, 28-4 with a seventeen-fight win streak, spoke to Boxingtalk ahead of Thursday's tune-up bout against Nicolai Firtha, 16-6-1 on a two-fight losing streak.  The ten-rounder will take place at the Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino in Leemore, California.

Boxingtalk: You have a fight coming up this Thursday against Nicolai Firtha (16-6-1).  How did your preparations go?

Manuel Quezada: Oh, good.  Everything went good.  Real smooth.  Everything’s perfect.  I’m in shape, I’m ready to go.  Actually, I think this time I’m in a little better shape than when I fought Travis Walker.  We had a little bit of problems here and there…  Not with me, but with my sparring partners.  We were having problems, but…  I feel great and everything went great.  My sparring partners…  Everything was perfect.  We had a good camp, so we’re gonna be ready to go. 

BT: What do you know about your opponent and how do you expect things to play out in the ring?

MQ: I know he’s a big guy.  He’s a tall guy.  He’s heavier than I am.  But he’s kind of a boxer.  He’s not a big puncher.  So we’re gonna get in there and pressure him a little and work his body and kind of wear him down and break him down.  And I honestly see myself doing it.  So I don’t think he’s gonna expect the pressure.

BT: Assuming you are victorious over Firtha, what’s next for you?

MQ: I’m not sure.  Whatever my team has for me, that’s what we’re gonna do.  I leave it up to my promoters and let them handle it.  But I’m always in the gym, I’m always ready, and I’m always in shape.  So whatever they think I’m ready for, we can go for it.

BT: You have a few losses on your  record from earlier in your career, but you are now on a 17-fight winning streak [28-4 overall].  How did you turn this around?  Did something change?

MQ: Oh, yeah…  Definitely changed.  My preparations for my fights, my training…  I train down there with Joe Goosen and his team and I love it.  Everything’s changed, everything’s different and I’m now in better shape for my fights.  All of my early losses were because I wasn’t ready to fight.  I never sparred, I was never in shape…  I didn’t get ready for fights.  And now that I do know how to get ready for fights and I do get ready for fights, everything’s turned around and it’s a lot better for us.

BT: In your last fight, you scored a first-round knockout over Travis Walker, pretty much without breaking a sweat.  And of course, Walker is best known for going life and death with Chris Arreola and even knocking him down.  Does this comparison mean anything?

MQ: No…  You know, a lot of people ask me that and I don’t really look into it that much.  I just think I caught him with a good combination in the right spot.  You know, just like I caught him, I think he could’ve caught me.  You know what I mean?  But luckily we were ready to move and box well and we were able to catch him at the right time.

BT: What’s the big picture for you?  How far do you see yourself going in boxing?

MQ: I could end up going for a while.  I’ve had 32 pro fights, I’ve never been cut luckily, you know…  Thank God and He’s been taking care of me.  And I’ve never been cut, never been dropped really…  So I see myself going for a while.  I’m 32 years old now, but I feel like I’m in the best shape of my life now.  I’m even in better shape now than when I was 22.  I take real good care of myself and I feel good.

BT: So are you looking at a world title?  Is that something that you see for yourself down the road?

MQ: Oh, yes.  Definitely.  As long as we keep winning, I’m pretty sure I’ll get my chance.  I’m not in no hurry.  I want to keep learning under Joe Goosen and his training and his teaching.  And hopefully after every win, we can get something out of it and keep moving on up and hopefully I’ll get my title shot soon. 

BT: Right now, the Klitschko brothers are sitting on top of the heavyweight division and the popular opinion is that no one on the scene can beat them.  What are your thoughts on this?

MQ: No, man.  Nobody’s unbeatable.  I just think it takes the right game plan and the right scheme to get in there and do it.  You just have to do it to perfection.  These guys have been up there for so long…  But if you get in there and get the opportunity, I think you have to go all out and I’m willing to do that.  So hopefully I can get a chance and I’m gonna prove people wrong.

BT: Is there anything you would like to say in closing?

MQ: Oh, man…  I just want to thank everybody for all the support they give us.  Not just me, but all the fighters out there.  I want to thank my team, my promoters, I want to thank Mario, I want to thank my coaches, my trainers, everybody…  My family, my kids…  I appreciate everything you do for us.