By Jeff Zimmerman
How you would rate your performance?
I think my first round was OK. I almost got him out of there. I am kind of proud of myself how I stepped back and tried to analyze the situation. In rounds two, three and four, I got a little off track and I just had to listen to my corner and that’s when everything fell into place.
How tough was Orozco?
It took everything I had to get him out of there. I thought I was going to knock him out in the 4th or 5th round, he was so tough, tougher than I imagined to be honest.
You called Orozco a big rock to climb, do you feel like you climbed that rock?
Definitely. He is the toughest opponent I have had in the amateurs and pros. I had some tough amateur fights. He definitely takes the cake for toughest opponent.
Did Jose Ramirez prepare you well for Orozco?
Oh definitely. Ramirez is one hell of a fighter. I respect him on a whole different level. I hope there are many successes coming his way and I hope to be part of it.
What’s next?
Every fight I have been taking one step, one step and this was a huge step and next time I will be happy to take a bigger step. I want to fight one more time this year.
So he is a welterweight? 21 years old. 5’10. #10 in the WBA. He was #5 in the WBO at 140. Exactly 147 lbs at the weigh in for this fight. Why can’t Golden Boy fighters fight Top Rank fighters? Make a card with Adames vs Rashidi Ellis as co main event, and Crawford vs Patrick Teixeira (#2 WBO, 154) at 151 lbs as the main event. Crawford mentions there are guys who want to be on different sides of the street and not wanting to fight him. But he claims everyone is on his side of the street. I doubt PBC fighters like Garcia and Lipinets get matched with Crawford though, they don’t mix with Top Rank fighters. Is Crawford going to make that much fighting Kavaliauskas or Mikka Shnena? And Jessie Vargas is at 154 now. Who is the top 8 in the WBO at 147?
1 Egidijus Kavaliauskas LIT (Top Rank)
2 Jessie Vargas USA
3 Danny Garcia USA
4 Segey Lipinets RUS
5 Mikka Shonena (WBO Africa) NAM
6 Luis Alberto Veron ARG
7 Custio Clayton (WBO International) CAN
8 Mikael Zewski (NABO) CAN
He should be a good mix-in with the other top welters. Not saying he would beet those guys but his fan friendly style will make for exciting matchups as he matures.