Troy Ross: "I am as good as ever!"

[WelshDevilRob]

Troy Ross: "I am as good as ever!"

 

Written by Frank Bleydorn

 

Yoan Pablo Hernandez (26-1, 13 KOs) is aiming to defend his IBF Cuiserweight

Title for the second time in a row. The Cuban made the title his own after

dethroning then champion Steve Cunningham last October, as well as winning

the rematch against the American just four months later. His next opponent

is Canada's Troy Ross (25-2, 16 KOs) who he will take on at the Stechert

Arena in Bamberg, Germany on September 15. Ross, who is the mandatory

challenger, has been part of the professional boxing scene for eleven years

and fought in five different countries. The IBF Title contender flew into

Germany on September 1 and trying to get used to the six hours time

difference between Germany and his hometown Toronto, Canada. Before the

fight he took some time out for an Interview.

 

Troy Ross, your last fight was in February against Lukasz Rusiewicz which

you won by a unanimous decision. Now seven months on, how do you feel about

that fight and what will you take out of it for your upcoming bout?

 

Troy Ross: I did really well during that fight. I proved that I am a

technically gifted boxer. Beforehand I have not been inside a ring for quite

a while, so I was still a bit rusty. Nevertheless, I was the dominant boxer

throughout the fight and Rusiewicz didn't stand a chance. Now I am back to

my best and as good as ever.

 

Two years ago, you already had a title shot for the IBF crown, against

then-champion Steve Cunningham. That fight ended in a loss. Do you feel

added pressure now that you will have your second chance for the IBF title,

which, given your age of 37 years, could be your last?

 

Troy Ross: It doesn't bother me in the slightest. I am fully concentrated on

myself and don't pay attention to anything else. I am in really good shape

and therefore I don't fear anyone. I have matured since my last title bout

and gained more experience. That will show on September 15.

 

Your next opponent, current IBF Champion Yoan Pablo Hernandez, dethroned

Cunningham and has since won a rematch against him. You were actually

present during the rematch. How do you think he performed against Cunningham

and were you impressed?

 

Read More: http://www.ringnews24.com/index.php/boxing-news/65291-troy-ross-qi-am-as-good-as-everq.html#ixzz265TZ7zXI

[brooklynbrawler]

This should be a barnstormer of a fight...

 

Ross is probably the most underrated or underappreciated fighter in the division at least.

He is a very solid unit, with a cracking dig and Hernandez won't steamroll him like he did with Cunningham.

Ross is the type of guy who will keep coming back no matter what you throw at him and I fully think he'll take the title from Hernandez, who I also happen to rate very highly.

[davemurphy]

At Ross' advanced age, this is almost certainly his last shot at the title, it's hard not to root for a guy who's got his back up against the wall and battling time. Go Troy!!

[iamasadlittleboy]

...am I really the only one who thinks Ross has no chance?

[brooklynbrawler]

Maybe you've seen more of Ross than I have or maybe you've seen some flaws in the guy that I've missed?

Maybe you just rate Hernandez more highly?

From what I've seen of him, he's a bit of a monster cruiser and bar any injury concerns carrying over into the fight (I know he's spent a fair amount of time out of the ring due to injury recently), I don't really see how you can't give him every chance?

 

Ross was giving Cunningham a good doing before he was fouled out of the fight, a good year before Hernandez had similar results.

Hernandez may have a few fighters on his record who are a good bit better than the majority of Ross' opponents, but I just can't picture the guy being knocked out, whereas going by the Braithwaite fight, Hernandez can certainly be tagged.

 

How do you see this one going Scott? KO or wide points?

[iamasadlittleboy]

I think my issue is that Ross has been really inactive (1 bout in almost 2 years) and at 37 is stupidly old for a fighter trying to take his chance. He'll know his backs against the wall but with the bout in Germany he'll not get a decision and Hernandez, whilst certainly not the most durable is capable of controlling range well.

 

Ross giving Cunningham a good bout says more about Cunningham who had fought just once in the previous 18 months

 

Going for Hernandez on points.

[davemurphy]

I think my issue is that Ross has been really inactive (1 bout in almost 2 years) and at 37 is stupidly old for a fighter trying to take his chance. He'll know his backs against the wall but with the bout in Germany he'll not get a decision and Hernandez, whilst certainly not the most durable is capable of controlling range well.

 

Ross giving Cunningham a good bout says more about Cunningham who had fought just once in the previous 18 months

 

Going for Hernandez on points.

 

Scott-

I think inactivity is something that effects different fighters in different ways, and Troy Ross might be one of the rare ones where it doesn't really factor in that much. He got kind of a late start and I also think that his management made a huge mistake in thinking that winning the last of the Contender TV Shows would give him a greater boost than was actually the case. That being said, I wouldn't necessarily dismiss him on that count alone, especially given that this is his dream shot and Hernandez has also shown some vulnerability in the past.

[iamasadlittleboy]

Is there any real evidence to suggest that it wouldn't make him suffer? I know he's had long spells out before but the competition he came back to was awful (Hastings Rasani, Kendrick Releford and Lukasz Rusiewicz are hardly even decent journeymen). Had he got this fight immediately after the Cunningham fight I'd certainly give him a chance but just can't see it here.

[davemurphy]

Is there any real evidence to suggest that it wouldn't make him suffer? I know he's had long spells out before but the competition he came back to was awful (Hastings Rasani, Kendrick Releford and Lukasz Rusiewicz are hardly even decent journeymen). Had he got this fight immediately after the Cunningham fight I'd certainly give him a chance but just can't see it here.

 

No, by-and-large your right that too much time off is NEVER a good thing, I'm just pointing out that the affects vary from fighter to fighter, but as you point out, this isn't Layoff-to-tuneup but Layoff-to-title fight, so who knows. I'd have preferred he fought largely-AWOL WBA Champ Guillermo Jones instead of Hernandez, but beggars can't be choosers.

[brooklynbrawler]

He's spent a long time out because of injury. Taking the right amount of time out to get some proper healing is a lot better than coming back too early and aggravating the effects and putting him out of the picture indefinitely.

He's no spring chicken, but plenty of fighters have shown that age doesn't play a significant factor at the higher weights.

He isn't built for speed anyway and relies more on power and accuracy, which doesn't fade as much as reflexes and speed with age.

I personally don't think the time out will affect him adversely, but we'll soon find out...