Q & A WITH CALVIN BROCK

QUESTION:
Do you feel a responsibility to the American public to show them there is a quality heavyweight out there?

Calvin Brock:
I feel like I have a lot to prove to be the heavyweight champion of the world. If I have to gain the attention, the respect of all the boxing fans to gain the heavyweight throne, then that's what I plan on doing. I will have to prove that by going in there and making a statement each time out.

QUESTION:
Why do you feel most of the heavyweight champions are from the former Soviet Bloc?

Calvin Brock:
Most of the athletes today are playing football, basketball and baseball. I played baseball and football but I never had a desire to be a professional in those other sports outside of boxing. Boxing was always in my heart and I had that desire since I was eight years old.

QUESTION:
What was the appeal of boxing?

Calvin Brock:
I think the appeal was the one-on-one competition. Everything is up to me. I like the preparation for it. I like the excitement of it. I liked the tournaments and the traveling and the television. I like everything about it.

QUESTION:
Are you satisfied at where you are at right now?

Calvin Brock:
I am a young 31 years old, and I achieved my dream of going to the Olympics and graduating from college. If I had turned pro in '96 and not gone to the Olympic trials, I may have been in the shadow of Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis and some of the others, and my body was not developed the way it is now. There would have been a longer way to get where I am right now if I started earlier. Right now I just put everything in God's hands and everything has worked out just fine. I have a good nine years or so left in this sport. Look at Bernard Hopkins and what he did to Antonio Tarver - he looked like he was 21 years old.

QUESTION:
With the college degree, do feel like you are one of a kind in boxing?

Calvin Brock:
I do. If you go off to college, you get pulled away from boxing. First of all, it is very hard to make it in - it is a longshot. People that go to college, all you think about is going out into the work force and having a secure career. My security was not going to go out into the work force. My security is obtaining my dream to become the heavyweight champion of the world. With my confidence and my ability and God's blessing, I will become the heavyweight champion of the world. It comes from home too, both my mother (Alean) and my father (Calvance) have college degrees.

QUESTION:
How did you manage to do both?

Calvin Brock:
Being a workhorse. From sun-up to sun-down.

QUESTION:
What do you know about your opponent??

Calvin Brock:
What I do know about him is that he is undefeated, 21-0 with 1 draw. He is an outside boxer. I plan on getting him out of there by landing my shots. I am good at finding my opponent and landing my shots. Once I land my shots, he'll be out of there.

QUESTION:
What fighter do you want once you get past Ibragimov?

Calvin Brock:
There is no one in particular that I want. Whatever is economically the best. I am thinking this year (to fight for heavyweight championship) but you may want to ask Carl Moretti what he thinks.

QUESTION:
What areas do you think you have improved in the most?

Calvin Brock:
All around. Jab, offense and defense. All around - we work on everything. You will see a better jab. A faster, better defense. Better balance. I will be at a lighter weight - 225 or under, and you are going to be impressed.

QUESTION:
Do you think people are taking Calvin Brock seriously at this point?

Calvin Brock:
Yes, I think so. For one, I am the hottest heavyweight contender in the world. Secondly, I think that everyone knows they are going to have to fight me.