EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: DAN GOOSSEN
"Sugar Ray Leonard is one of the best examples of a fighter losing and overcoming the loss toward greatness. After his first professional loss in a title defense against Roberto Duran, he utilized the loss as a learning experience and became such a better fighter thereafter, including beating Duran in the immediate rematch. I can't wait for June 7th to come along, because I believe that's what we're going to get with Paul Williams. I don't want to say that we underestimated Quintana the first time, but I don't think there was anyone in the boxing world that gave Quintana a shot to beat Paul." "One thing we've come to realize after all these years in the boxing business is everyone's got a shot to win. Sometimes, you're inclined to keep your guard down when you believe something is in the bag, when it really may not be an accurate picture of the reality. There's something to be said about hunger in an athlete. When you've got that hunger you can overcome a lot of adversity. Quintana had that hunger. I believe Paul's got it going into this fight where he can taste that belt, and wants to get it back so badly." GL: If Paul is successful and regains the title, will he continue to campaign at 147, or will he move up to junior middleweight? Dan Goossen: This was a discussion we had after his last fight, because it was the first thing that popped into everyone's mind. With his size, the first thing you ask, is he having weight problems? Most were emphatic that he was having weight problems and the reason he loss. We certainly had conversations in that regard, and between George Peterson and Paul they said weight was not a problem. They said it wasn't the issue leading into the fight, and it wasn't the issue coming out of the fight. He had no problem making weight, he still doesn't at this point. At some time, obviously with his bigger frame, he will be moving up to higher weights when he starts maturing, as you do when you start putting the years on. GL: You've got James Toney and Hasim Rahman on July 16th. DG: I'm excited it's probably the biggest heavyweight fight you can announce, other than a heavyweight world championship fight. To get Rahman and Toney to agree to the fight, to get Bob and Todd, and our end to agree to the fight, it says a lot about our collective thoughts that the winner will earn the right to again challenge for a heavyweight world championship. We're going to name this one "Last Chance" because that's what it is for both fighters. The loser goes home, and the winner has the opportunity to capitalize on the victory on July 16th. GL: Give me closing thoughts. DG: Toney-Rahman will be hosted by Pechanga Resort and Casino and broadcast on FSN's "Best Damn Sports Show Period." We've also have a few other big fights coming up with Paul on Showtime this Saturday. On June 5th we have a solid main event with our upcoming HP Pavilion and American Metal "Fight Night at the Tank" shows. A young heavyweight out of California, Manuel Quezada is fighting Teke Oruh in a 10-round bout. It's a big opportunity for Quezada who's taking his first step up in competition, although he's already has 21 victories with 15 KO's. This bout will determine where he is in the heavyweight division. In addition, we've got the "You Be The Judge" series continuing exclusively at HP Pavilion. The fans have really enjoyed this concept which seems to bring added excitement. We expect another 4000 fans in attendance. June also has Andre Ward challenging Jerson Ravelo on June 20th, at the Cayman Islands on ShoBox; heavyweight contender Eddie Chambers fighting that same night against Raphael Butler; Also in the Cayman Islands, Wayne McCullough, in his first fight in three years is stepping up to the plate fighting a tough customer in Juan Diaz. If Wayne is successful in this one, it will definitely catapult him right to a title fight. It won't be an easy task though, Ruiz is a tough challenge for him. The next night I'll be in Memphis, TN with Cristobal Arreola where he will challenge another undefeated heavyweight in Chazz Witherspoon on HBO. That's 6 big fights this month, looking for 6 big wins leading us into July with the WBO/IBF heavyweight championship with Tony Thompson on July 12 against Wladimir Klitschko, also on HBO and the biggest non-world championship fight in the heavyweight division a few days later on Fox, Toney-Rahman.
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