Q&A: Carlos Cuadras

Sep

Carlos Cuadras (photo: Promociones del Pueblo)

Earlier this month we saw three flyweight title fights. This weekend the boys three pounds north at junior bantamweight will get their turn.

Tonight, WBO kingpin Omar Narvaez meets Felipe Orucuta for the second time. On Saturday evening in his hometown of Guamuchil, Mexico, Carlos Cuadras will put his WBC crown on the line for the first time against fellow Mexican Jose Salgado.

Cuadras (30-0, 24 knockouts) appreciates that Salgado is a dangerous challenger, having accounted for 27 of his 34 wins inside the distance.

“He punches really hard,” Cuadras told RingTV.com through a member of Team Cuadras. “[He] has fought many more rounds than me so he has experience.”

Though ultimately Cuadras believes what he does will be the deciding factor in the fight.

“I don’t think he will be able to take my punch,” he said.

While Cuadras isn’t looking past Salgado, he does have big plans for the future.

“I am just starting,” said the recently turned 26-year-old champion. “I want to defend the WBC belt many times. I want to be recognized as a great champion.

“I want to make Mexico proud of me, I want to conquer the fans of the world. I hope to win the WBC bantamweight title in 2016 or 2017.”

Here’s what “El Principe” had to say on a variety of subjects, including winning the world title, his first defense and life away from boxing.

Anson Wainwright – What are your thoughts on your fight with Salgado?

Carlos Cuadras – I know it is a risk, I know he is very tough and has great KO percentage but I need to show to my hometown, Guamuchil, that they have a WBC world champion. I could have faced another opponent but I like challenges and I am ready to defend my title.

AW – You won the WBC 115-pound title back in May, when your fight with Srisaket Sor Rungvisai was stopped because you were cut. How bad was the cut, how quickly did it heal?

CC – It was a huge gash. I was not happy to see the fight end in such manner. I wanted to win the championship without any stains, but I was so happy to have dominated a great champion. I had surgery and took very good care of the wound.

AW – It seemed Srisaket was unfortunate to lose the world title in such a way in what was shaping up to be a very interesting fight. Would you give him a rematch?

CC – Yes, I want a rematch. My promoter paid him a lot of money to defend against me and he was not happy with the result. I was not happy either but I know I was going to win. He did catch me with a solid body shot early in the eighth round and I managed to box and finished the round strong so he can not complain. He simply could not beat me. He cut me with a very strong headbutt. Even though I believe it was an accident, it is a problem as he is used to going in with his head leading his punches.

AW – What did it mean to you when you were heard those words, “… and new WBC junior bantamweight world champion”?

CC – I close my eyes and still feel that moment, it was the greatest one in my life. My family, my wife and my baby which was ready to be born ÔÇª my promoter, Akihiko Honda, who has helped me so much for so many years. Don Jose Sulaiman who cared for me and helped me throughout the most difficult dark moments in my life and was my inspiration. My manager, Salvador Briman ÔÇª I am living in a dream that I don’t want to see ever end.

AW – The junior bantamweight division may not be as well known as others in boxing but there are some very good fighters who fight at 115. What are your thoughts on the division and current champions?

CC – I am the WBC champion. I am the champion of the world. That is all that I care [about]. I am willing to fight anybody as WBC champion.

AW – If we go back, what was your youth like growing up in Guamuchil?

CC – Love the food, happy memories and I left young to try my amateur career in boxing.

AW – How did you become interested in boxing?

CC – My father and uncle. Julio Cesar Chavez was my hero and I wanted to be like him.

AW – Unlike most Mexicans who turn pro early, you enjoyed a solid amateur career.

CC – My greatest highlight was to be Pan-American champion with a gold medal. Due to injustices in the amateur program I was not given the opportunity to win a medal for Mexico in the Olympics.

AW – Tell us about your life away from boxing.

CC – I like to dance, I love la tambora ÔÇª I want to be a great father and husband, a role model for my generation.

AW – In closing do you have a message for Jose Salgado?

CC – May God bless both of us, may the best man win and I will give my life in the ring to be the one with the belt on September 20th.

Questions and/or comments can be sent to Anson at [email protected] and you can follow him at www.twitter.com/AnsonWainwright