Status: WBC Middleweight champion. Will box Paul Williams in rematch in Atlantic City on Saturday night. Record is 45-1-2 (24 KO’s).
Ht: 5-10 Wt: 158
DOB: February 21, 1975 In: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Inspiration: “I want to be the best pound-for-pound fighter. That is my inspiration.”
First Boxing Memory: “I started boxing when I was 20 with my uncle Ruben. I had my first amateur fight five weeks later and I won it. I had 41 amateur fights.”
Hobbies/Leisure Activities: “I’m very into tranquility in life. I like reading books. The country. I look like much older out of the ring that I am in the ring. I don’t go out, no parties, nothing that can effect my career. I also like paintball.”
Last Book Read: “Marina, by Carlos Ruiz Zafon.”
Favorite Movies: “Midnight Express. And Kevin Spacey, Benicio Del Toro in The Suspects.”
First Job: “In construction with my father. And metallurgy.”
First Car: “The first car that I have ever is the car that I just bought – a yellow Corvette.”
Favorite Meal: “Regular steak. Argentinean steak.”
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Dulce de leche. The typical of Argentina.”
Pre-Fight Feeling: “Always just thinking it’s work. I need to do well from the beginning to the end. I’m thinking every moment of strategy, how I will plan the fight.”
Greatest Sports Moment: “Kelly Pavlik was the greatest moment of my life.”
Most Painful Moment: “When I broke my hand and the doctor tell me that I cannot fight any longer. Middle knuckle on left hand. I fought four years with the broken hand, then the doctor told me I cannot continue my career at age 25. But I prove him wrong, after a year I came back. I was very poor and wanted to continue making a living fighting. So, for four years I fought with a broken hand.”
Funny Boxing Memory: “In boxing there’s nothing funny. Maybe emotional or sad, but not funny.”
Embarrassing Boxing Memory: “[Smiles] no, never in boxing was I embarrassed.”
Strangest Fight: “On 16 of February 2008. David Toribio of Santo Domingo (W4 in Las Vegas). That was the most strange, unwanted opponent that I ever had. (Why?) Because I didn’t know what that fighter want. If he want to fight. If he want to go home. If he want to get paid. And it was a horrible fight that I never forget. If you want to call it embarrassing, that was the most embarrassing fight that I ever had. Even though it was a very dangerous fight because every time he punch, he punch with the power. But it was a horrible fight. And it was a horrible moment.”
Favorite Boxers To Watch: “Always it was Sugar Ray Leonard and Pernell Whitaker.”
Last Vacation: “In Argentina with my family and my mother.”
Childhood Dream: “Always I thought I’d be in a sport, but I didn’t know what sport. I was dreaming to be a sportsman. I saw the Olympics in 1984. And it was unbelievable the first time I saw the Olympic Games. Then I was dreaming to be a soccer player. After that I was dreaming to be a cyclist. And one time I was thinking to be an astronaut. Always have many dreams.”
Which Fight Were You At Your Very Best: “Looking at the circumstances of my life of fighting, when I fought the first time for a title in Manchester (IBO 154). 21 of June 2003 against Richard Williams (W 12). From that moment it start to open the doors worldwide.”
Toughest Opponent: “Paul Williams. (Why?) His physical is very tall. His technical is very good. He’s an athlete. His preparation is unbelievable – 100%. And now I can’t talk too much of Williams because I need to confront him. I don’t want to get so upset that he can beat me up now [laughs].”
People Qualities Most Admired: “The guy from the tennis – Rafa Nadal. (Why him?) Because he’s great. You need to meet him to know how great he is. He’s a great person. I had the pleasure to shake hands with him, I did not meet him personally, I know him from that side, like a fan, not like a person or a friend. He was one of many that I shake hands and it was a great moment for me.”
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