Q & A WITH JERMAIN TAYLOR

Excerpted from June 7, 2006 Pre-Fight Conference Call

QUESTION:
Compare your preparation for Bernard and for Winky. This has been a different kind of promotion, not only physicaly but also mentally, now that you are defending your title.

TAYLOR:
You know, the Hopkins fight was a situation where I had to take the title from him and it was really my first fight on the big stage. This fight with Winky, I'm the world champion and he has to come in here and take my title from me, so my approach and mind set is different than before.

QUESTION:
And then that kind of leads into my next question--what is a better accomplishment to you: winning or being recognized as a world champion or defending successfully against a fighter like Winky?

TAYLOR:
I want to hold on to the belt for as long as I can. You know, that means more to me than anything in the world. Just holding on to it.

QUESTION:
I'm curious what do you think it is about Winky's style that gives so many fighters such difficulty?

TAYLOR:
He is awkward, but everyone knows he has very good defense and it's very hard to get through his defense, but Emanuel Steward has put together a good game plan that I feel real good about.

QUESTION:
How important was it for you to get this fight here in Memphis?

TAYLOR:
When we step into that arena there is going to be so much energy, just on my side. Little Rock will be in the house supporting me and I like that, it inspires me to perform at a high levels I think all professional fighters dream of moments like this when you are performing on the big stage and have hometown support.

QUESTION:
I wanted to ask you also about little bit about Winky's style -- he is kind of known for defense and for having a very good jab. Is there anyone of those areas that's going to be your concern in training or your emphasis on I mean that it is more important for you to get through that defense and more important for you to, you know, kind of nullify his jabs.

TAYLOR:
I'm not worried about his defense or his jab. I'm going to be very aggressive and dictate this fight with my own jab. I have a couple of new moves to counter his jab that I have learned from Emanuel Steward. I'm going to be using a lot of my skills in this fight... I think I have one of the best jabs in boxing and with Emanuel teaching I have learned how to use it more effectively. I will be busy all night with my jab.

QUESTION:
I was wondering, after you beat Hopkins you were the guy that's stopped this streak he had of 25 title defenses. Is that possible for you?

TAYLOR:
Anything is possible. Man you know, if you work hard you know, anything is possible. I do think feel like it's possible.

QUESTION:
And do you feel that you are going to stay at the middleweight division for a while or are you going to move up in a couple of years and...

TAYLOR:
I am going to stay here for as long as I can. Then I will be moving up, but I don't know when that will be. I will sit down with my team and discuss things and we will go from there.

QUESTION:
Can you pinpoint any particular thing that you have done in your career that allows you to be so successful at a relatively young age? You have gone through the Olympics, you have had a great undefeated run, what is it that you have done that allowed you to become undisputed world champion when others had fallen by the way?

TAYLOR:
I am always working hard. I worked just has hard as I did when I was a amateur. Actually I have to work even harder because I have to keep what I have because there a lot of guys out there wanting to take away what I have.