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11/09/2005 Archived Entry: "Juan Lazcano Talks About Friday's Bout vs. Burton and More!"
Juan Lazcano Talks About Friday's Bout vs. Burton and More!
By Juan C. Ayllon
CHICAGO, November 8, 2005 – Unwinding after a three-hour evening flight from Los Angeles and a long day of training, prizefighter Juan Lazcano contemplated the stern test ahead.
(photo: www.goldenboypromotions.com)
At 34-3-1 and 26 knockouts, Juan “The Hispanic Causing Panic” Lazcano is ranked #7 in the world by the WBC and #11 by the WBA at lightweight. With a height of 5’ 9” and a 72” reach, the lanky Lazcano generates great torque in his punches, as evidenced by the fact that 76% of his wins came via knockout.
Having lost a close and hard-fought unanimous decision to former WBC Lightweight Champion Jose Luis Castillo in June 2004, Lazcano has shown that he can compete with the best in the world. After all, this is the same Castillo who split a pair of “fight of the year” wars with current WBC and WBO Lightweight Champ Diego Corrales, losing the first by kayo and returning the favor in the second, only to forfeit his title shot by coming in overweight on the scales.
Still, Lazcano is not taking Friday’s opponent, Courtney Burton lightly. After all, Burton knocked out talented former WBU Super Featherweight Champion Angel Manfredy in 2003, edged always-dangerous Emanuel Augustus in 2004, and fought a life and death, “fight of the year” caliber battle with former WBO NABO Light Welterweight Champion Ebo Elder this last December.
Moreover, this bout will be only Lazcano’s second fight at junior welterweight, a step up from lightweight. While the move is only five pounds up, history has shown that for some fighters, such a move has proven disastrous.
Even so, Lazcano is ranked #15 in the world at light welterweight by www.boxrec.com .
Taking some 30 minutes after a long day of training and travel to entertain the media, Juan Lazcano granted an exclusive cell phone interview regarding preparations for this fight.
How was your flight in from Los Angeles?
Ah, it was a good flight. It took three hours to get here, but we’re finally here and I’m happy to be here.
You know, this is a championship city. The White Sox won the World Series! I am a fan because of this one reason, because the Sox had gone on for so long without winning a championship. And, yeah, I was rooting for them!
How has training been going? Describe a typical day in training camp.
Great, under Freddy Roach and Macka Foley, my trainers! We had a great camp and we’re ready to take care of business come Friday night.
A typical day at training camp, I get up at five, I do my roadwork [i.e., running], come back to the apartment, take a shower, have breakfast, take a nap, get up at 10, eat a really light snack before I go to the gym at 11:15, 11:30.
And then my day starts at the gym. I’m there 2 ½ hours and on some days, it’s strictly sparring and [hitting the] double end and speed bag, and [skipping] rope. And on other days, it’s the floor work, which is [hitting] the mitts and the punching bag and things of that nature. And it’s just, you know, we feel great, we feel great, and we feel great!
Are you lifting weights and if so, what exercises, sets and reps do you use?
Ah, not really weights. We implement just a lot of different work into my strength training and it works out pretty good. I feel real good. Well, I guess I would have to put the strength training coach here for that. You know, it consisted of many things, and it implemented some weights, but mainly calisthenics.
When running, how far do you run, what pace and do you incorporate interval training and wind sprints?
Yeah, I incorporate interval training in there. Sometimes I do long distance, sometimes I do interval, sometimes I do hills, and sometimes I’ll shake out and just move around—you know, side-to-side, backward movement, walking, shadow boxing. So, it’s just a combination of a lot of things, you know, about 35 minutes to an hour.
Who have you been sparring with? How has that been going?
Oh, we had a couple of good sparring partners in there. I don’t know their names, but you know, it’s at the Wild Card Boxing Gym in L.A. It’s always full of good fighters. James Toney trains out of there. Manny Pacquiao trains out of there. Israel Vasquez, Brian Villoria, so you know, there’s lots of great talent and great fighters that go into the gym.
Are you sparring with any of those guys?
No, not any of those guys there. Israel Vasquez is too light for me and I have my own set of sparring partners.
What’s your assessment of Courtney Burton as a fighter and what would you say are keys to victory in this bout, especially in light of his victory over Manfredy and his tough, fight-of-the-year effort against Ebo Elder?
Well, you know, Burton is a real tough guy. He’s someone you can’t overlook. You know that my goal is to be champion of the world, to be up there with the best and if I want to be there, I have to get through guys like Courtney Burton. So, he’s a good test to me and it’s good to showcase my skills and my talent and the level of boxing that I have at this point.
What do you make of the fact that Burton has been stopped in three out of his last four fights—that is in the 8th round to Rolando Reyes for the Vacant WBO NABO Lightweight Title in July; versus Ebo Elder in the 12th for the WBO NABO Lightweight Title in December 2004; and against Julio Diaz in the 11th in March 2004? Do you think you’ll knock him out as well?
Well, you know, it’s just like the baseball hitters, you know, the guys with the pop that can get the ball out of the park. I mean, they have the swing, [but] I’m sure that they’re not looking to kill every ball because then they would be the “King of Strikeouts.” If they make contact, I’m sure the ball is going to go far!
So, that’s how we feel. We’re going to go in there, be patient, the way we have to do it, and then the opportunity will come. And when it comes, I’ll take full advantage of it.
For those who haven’t seen you, describe your style as a fighter.
I’m a counter punching boxer-puncher.
What are your strengths? Best punches? What would you like to improve on?
Well, I mean, if I gave you all of that, I’d be giving all my arsenal away! But, that’s not for me to say. I just keep it cruising and that’s my main concern for me, to keep improving, to keep getting better. And that’s one thing I guess that’s a strength that I have, that I keep growing and learning. And at this stage in my career, I have the experience that I have, and still be motivated how I am.
In 9 of your last 10 wins, you’ve won by stoppage or knockout. Overall, you have 26 KO’s out of 34 victories. What do you think accounts for your power?
Well, I guess I have a decent punch. You know, I feel like I don’t just solely rely on my punch. I like the game of boxing; I like to set things up. I’m just a student of the game and I love boxing. And here it goes for Part II of Juan Lazcano!
You had some major pressures and decisions to make when you were 16 years old. Tell us about them.
Well, I was a kid, I mean, my girlfriend was pregnant—those were the decisions at the time. And, my decision was either to stick with her and take care of business or just go my way. I decided to stay the course and I vowed that I would do everything to make it better for them and for myself. And boxing was my way of doing it.
So, here we are, 13 years later, still together, with the family strong. And, it’s just been a great journey.
One reader wanted to know how you came up with your nickname. Can you tell us about that?
You’ll have to ask my best friend, Harold Anderson.
There’s a story. It goes, when I moved into a neighborhood, it was in Fort Louis, El Paso, Texas, a military base, and there was a lot of diverse cultures and ethnic groups there—a lot of African Americans, a lot of Samoans—and one day on the basketball courts, after a while of them picking on me, I finally snapped and I went after these two guys. And after that, they gave me some respect.
Another reader wanted to know if you’ve worked out your problems with Don Chargin. What can you tell us about this situation?
Oh. That’s ancient history. There were problems and misunderstandings. I think all that has been cleared, and everything’s cool and there’s no animosity, not on my part. You know, business is business. And in business, sometimes things happen. And now, I’m looking forward to bigger and better things.
What’s it like working with Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions?
It’s a great opportunity being involved with Golden Boy. They’re looking out for my best interests and looking to make big fights in the future. And I’m really very happy working with them.
In 1998, Golden Johnson stopped you in three rounds, handing you your only stoppage loss. Can you tell us about it and whether or not you would like to avenge that loss?
Oh, definitely. I had been out for a year. [Editor’s note: Lazcano’s cell phone transmission and reception began breaking down badly, garbling his words badly and rendering the rest of his answer inaudible].
You keep cutting in and out. Do you have any short questions you could ask? I’d be happy to answer any short answers I may have for you.
In your bout against Jose Luis Castillo, you landed a lot of flush shots on him. Have you ever hit anyone harder than that? And, were you surprised how he took your punches?
Yeah. I did hit him hard, but I didn’t hit him with snap. And, yeah, it did surprised me how he can take a good punch. He’s a strong guy. You know, hey, you can’t take nothing away from him. I learned a lot from this fight.
Do you think he really made weight, or do you think he brought an unfair weight advantage on the day of the fight?
[Laughs]. Well, you know, who knows? I don’t know if his uncle (?) was standing anywhere around the scales at the time of the weigh-in was happening! That was a long time ago.
But now, I’m at 140. And, hopefully—I know that he can’t make 135, so—you know that’s a very good possible fight in the future for me. But, I have to take care of business first.
Both Castillo and Diego “Chico” Corrales came in weighing as heavy as welterweights in when they fought. What do you think about that?
Well, I think they ate a lot after the weigh-in! [Lazcano laughs]
Do you feel that they should mandate same-day weigh ins or continue with the current system of weighing in the day before the fight?
I think it’s fine how it is.
Assuming all goes well on Friday, what is your short list of fighters you would like to face and why?
I think with my actions, I think that it’ll get a lot of opportunities. So, we’ll see, you know? It’s up to me to perform on Friday. And we’re ready. And, you know, after that fight, you can ask me that question.
Your last fight was at light welterweight. Was this a one-time thing and do you plan on returning to lightweight, or do you see yourself moving up in the next year or two?
If the fight’s right, yeah, we’ll do it. If the fight’s right, [and] if the money’s right, I can go down to 135.
What are your goals in the next year?
First, my goal, first and foremost, is Friday, taking care of business. Then, next year, in 2006, I want to set up the biggest fights and fight the best!
This Friday, Juan Lazcano will fight Courtney Burton in "Pride and Glory," an evening of professional boxing at the Aragon Ballroom promoted by Dominic Pesoli's 8 Count Productions and Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions. This event is part of the internationally televised Solo Boxeo de Miller Friday Night Series broadcast on Telefutura/Univision.
