In his own words “Don’t call it a comeback…i’ve been here for years” However Saturday will become the maiden voyage of phase two of Sergio “The Latin Snake’s” Mora’s career. The pride of East L.A now 29, gets back to work after a 18 month hiatus when he makes his Golden Boy debut. In the opposite corner will be tough veteran Calvin Green. Mora 21-1-1(5) has fitted a lot into his career winning the Contender and then going onto win the WBC Light Middleweight title against the late Vernon Forrest. Here’s what Mora had to say.
Hello Sergio, welcome to 15rounds.com
Anson Wainwright – Firstly how are things? Your back after an 18 month hiatus, what can you tell us about that and what have you done with your time since?
Sergio Mora – Well it’s going to be a 19 month hiatus but if it sounds familiar Floyd Mayweather Jnr did it. If he can do it i can do it. I’ve been busy with commentating on professional fights and doing appearances and just staying in the gym and staying focused. I haven’t been inactive i’ve been in the gym sparring 3 times a week. I had 3 fights cancelled last year so it’s not because you know i’m stagnant on purpose. It’s because i was forced to be inactive. I was with a promoter who didn’t fight me. But know i’m with Golden Boy who are going to fight me and keep me busy. You guys are going to see me at least 3 times this year.
Anson Wainwright – You will be fighting veteran Calvin Green 21-4-1(13), what do you know about him? What are you looking for from this fight?
Sergio Mora – I know absolutely nothing about him. This is the fourth opponent they’ve replaced him with. First i was supposed to fight Daniel Edouard, then it became a Canadian Jason Naugler then a guy from Baltimore Ishmail Arvin and now this guy. I couldn’t get no youtube video’s or DVD’s in time to study him. From what i can see it looks like he’s a hard puncher and i’m expecting a tough good fight. He’s a Texan everything is big from Texas so i’m expecting him to want to win.
Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about your team who is your manager, trainer and Promoter? Also what gym do you use regularly to train at?
Sergio Mora – I train at Montebello Police Athletics. My coach who used to be my manager is John Montelongo he’s a police officer in Montebello. My trainer, my long-time trainer, the only trainer i ever had is Dean Campos and my newly assigned manager is Cameron Dunkin.
Anson Wainwright – Growing up in East Los Angeles as a kid, can you tell us about your early years and how you first became involved in Boxing?
Sergio Mora – I got involved in Boxing in East L.A there’s a lot of gyms in East L.A there’s a lot of liquor stores too! I chose the former and went that route. Me and my friends used to get together like little rascals and fight in alley’s and backyards. I beat up all my friends…i was like 15-0! Haha
So from that i decided to go into sanctioned Boxing travelling to other countries and states got me hooked to Boxing and that i was good at it naturally.
Anson Wainwright – You turned pro in August 2000 what can you tell us about your amateur career? What titles you won and who you fought? Also what was your final record?
Sergio Mora – As an amateur i had about 40 wins 10 loses. I had about 50 fights i’m estimating. I won the state Golden Gloves twice. I won the Blue & Gold national. I made it to the National trials and lost in the finals to Jermain Taylor who won a bronze medal (At the 2000 Olympics). So i got very far with only 50 fights as an amateur.
Anson Wainwright – You were the winner of the inaugural Contender series back in 2004/2005 that really put you on the map. What can you tell us about how you look back at the tournament and what it did for you?
Sergio Mora – Wow i could tell you so much, one day i probably will and write a book, because that changed my life. A lot of people ask me what was bigger winning a world title or the contender but it’s just different dreams. One changed my life and one was a dream come true. The contender in my eyes opened so many doors. People around the world watched the show from England to Africa to Latin America to South East Asia. I get e-mails & fan mail. The Contender was huge in retrospect. I don’t regret anything except the inactivity.
Anson Wainwright – Obviously before you had this break away you won the WBC 154 title from the now sadly departed Vernon Forrest. Those fights must of been great learning curves for you?
Sergio Mora – Unbelievable learning experience. I can’t really put it into words. Just something i’m going to display Saturday because this is my first after i fighting Vernon Forrest. Going 24 rounds with a man of his experience and stature is just unbelievable. Like i said I can’t put it in words but i will display it this Saturday.
Anson Wainwright – Hopefully all being well Saturday you’ll get the victory and back in the win column, what are you looking to do next? Who are your targeting at 154?
Sergio Mora – I’m just looking to have a great performance Saturday. I can’t just win have to win with flying colours and i expect to do that. I expect to put on a show and if god has everything on my favour and he opens the next door. I’d love to fight Kelly Pavlik. That’s the one i want at Middleweight. But at Jnr Middleweight whatever Golden Boy presents in front of me i’m going to take down.
Anson Wainwright – Since you last fought at 154 the landscape of the division has changed quite a bit with several young guns coming through like Alfredo Angulo, Vanes Martirosyan & Erislandy Lara all breaking through. How do you see the Light Middleweight division now?
Sergio Mora – I think it’s finally picking up. I think it was really dry for a long-time. Guys like Paul Williams, Sergio Martinez umm Perro Angulo but he hasn’t really fought any big names and when he did he lost to Cintron. Cintron’s up there. Lara isn’t really experienced yet so i won’t throw his name in there. It’s a lot better more exciting. James Kirkland that’s a guy you guys missed. I sparred with him several times and he’s a beast at 54. So hopefully it can pick up and be one of the Marquee division’s.
Anson Wainwright – For you what do you think is the best part about being a boxer? And the worst?
Sergio Mora – The best part about being a boxer is the appreciation of every athlete in the world. After winning the show (Contender) i had huge Basketball stars, Baseball stars, Hockey stars. Football stars especially their the biggest Boxing fans you know. They want to talk to me, hang out with me, take pictures with me. It was real flattering because everyone respects a guy who can put his body on the line especially in a dangerous sport like Boxing and as historical Boxing that’s the good part. People also respect a fighter. The bad part about being a fighter is that your doing just that for a living. Your taking punches to the head, your denting your nose your hurting your hands your getting injury’s everywhere else. People say your shortening your health. So that’s the bad part.
Anson Wainwright – Finally do you have a message for your fans?
Sergio Mora – I have a message for the fans, real simple and plain. This isn’t a comeback because i’ve been here a very very time like i said in the press conference. I’m finally at the peak the zenith of my maturation as a man as an athlete and professional fighter and i’m ready to show the world. It’s my time i’m 29 years old, i’m in my prime.
Thanks for your time Sergio.
Anson Wainwright
15rounds.com
