Did Michigan’s great boxing environment help steer you toward the profession?
Believe it or not it didn’t. It’s strange because all my motivation to get and be in the sport was all self-motivated. It’s almost to the point where if you put a bomb in the middle of a building on an extremely hot day, it’s eventually going to explode. That’s what boxing was inside of me. It just took 14 years for it to explode in me.
How would you describe your late friend and mentor, Emanuel Steward’s legacy?
You’re talking about a legend and someone who lived their dreams and life to the fullest. He was just talented and was able to share it with the world. He took me under his wing and by the time I was 19, I was actually living with him. One day he just randomly taught me how to use a straight razor [laughs], but there was so much he was able to show me and [it was] a phenomenal situation.
How do you try and remember Steward?
Winning impressively would make Steward happy. He would rather lose impressively than win in a boring situation. He was a man of knockouts so that’s the best way I can carry on the dream and legacy of his that he wanted.
Describe the feeling of beating Seth Mitchell for the title back in November?
It was cool to wake up one day and be the No. 1 heavyweight in the world. I’m very humble for the opportunity to perfect my craft like I’m doing.
When is your rematch with Seth Mitchell?
Feb. 16
