'This kid is not a little cry baby' - Choi's verdict on his next opponent
Rio di Caro writes: Choijiljavyn Tseveenpürev, better known to British fans simply as ‘Choi’, is set to face WBC Asia champion Bandung Patavikorngym at the Spencer Fearon and Ciaran Baynes Hard Knock Boxing Promotions ‘This is Hard Knocks' event at York Hall in London this coming Friday.
On Friday last week I caught up with Choi to have a quick chat.
Rio - My first question focuses on the magnificent battle with Jackson Asiku back in June. What are your thoughts on that great victory?
Choi - Before the fight everyone was expecting Jackson to win. He was very confident, he was very tough. He’s a very dangerous guy, if I gave him chance he’ll try it. He’s a warrior, I’d fight him again, I like tough guys. I like to fight Warriors, I like them to come and fight. That fight was a very, very hard fight you know. Jackson is very tricky, talented fighter. Me and him it was like a war you know, from first round to the last round it was just like war. Everyone was very excited in the hall, it was just mad, people was shouting Choi, Choi, Choi and Jackson, Jackson, Jackson. It was small hall but big crowd.
Rio - You’re headlining Hard Knocks Boxing’s first event to be covered by Premier Sports against Bandung Patavikorngym. Can you tell me your thoughts on this?
Choi - Hard Knocks Boxing Promotions is rising now, getting TV is a big achievement. This kid I will be fighting is a very good, very talented, tough fighter. He’s very tough boy from Thailand, one of the real fighters, not a little cry baby you know. He’s won nineteen fights, ten knockouts. It’s a good achievement. It’ll be a hard fight. I wish that after this fight, after I knock this kid out, I want title. I’ll fight anyone, Americans, Mexicans anyone. I want a big title, believe me I’ll show them my power and strength.
Rio - You touched on my next question already, are you looking to get back into contesting for Championships again?
Choi - I had two World titles, I want a third. (As much as I like Choi, Ed. writes, this is somewhat questionable given that they were the WBF and then the WBU baubles) I gave back my first belt to fight for the WBU title, I won but never got another fight to defend it. Ricky Hatton defended his WBU title many times, I defended mine none.
Rio - Is there any particular title you are looking at, or any champion you want to challenge for their title?
Choi - Now the WBU is back I want to defend my title or fight for another one. I’ll fight for any sanctioning body but I want a big belt. I’ve waited for this chance for ten years, Hard Knocks Boxing Promotions promise me that I will fight for a big title for the British fans. I’m ready, I’ll fight any of the Americans, Mexicans, Asians that hold the belts, I’ll fight Gamboa (WBA champ Yuriokis Gamboa).
Rio - You had some time away from the sport between winning the titles and Prizefighter, why was that?
Choi - In two years a lot has happened, I hurt my leg and then retired, but many people wanted me to fight again.
Rio - I understand that you do a lot of charity work when you’re not preparing for a fight, can you tell us a little about this?
Choi - When I’m not boxing I work for home for homeless children. There are hundreds and hundreds of kids living rough in the towns and mountains in Mongolia, they don’t have many clothes and no food. They’re living like rats, you know, eating anything they find. I want to give them all a home that is warm, really warm I work for one charity, I go round and offer help. When I fight I give as much as I can and always help to look after them. On 10th October this invitation for Charity event at the House of Lords “Let’s build a home for Mongolian children”.
