Live as befits a world champion “- Aftonbladet

LAS VEGAS. Badou Jack receives in his two-storey suite on the 23rd floor of the luxury hotel MGM. The view from the large balcony over the southern part of the Las Vegas strip is breathtaking.

– Now you live as befits a world champion, says Badou smile.

Early on Sunday Swedish time he will defend his WBC världsmästarbälte against Tuffe Englishman George Groves.

– It feels good. Really good. I’m in better shape than I was last game. Everything is as it should be.

Still, he has a few kilos to pick to come down to super between weight 76.2 kg. When he reached there, he picked nine to ten kg’s overweight as he went up for his title victory over Anthony Dirrell April 24 this year.

A sensational world title for a time in Sweden virtually unknown Swedish boxer that went to the US to give his dream a chance.

– It has been an incredible journey. The first night in the US I actually stay in a suite, Cosmopolitan, but the following day I ended up in the slums, and after that it’s been tough. But now that I’m back and atop the all the hard work has been worth it.

Everything to lose

First title defense is considered as the most difficult match, a boxer can go. Suddenly, the man demands and expectations, and everything to lose instead of the previously everything to gain.

– They say there. George Groves is a tough opponent, all respect to him. But I know what I must do to win.

It is less than five months after the triumph in Chicago.

– Everything has gone so fast. It feels like I went straight from the last game of training camp before this match. Twelve hard weeks of training and three lighter before then. It has been a long camp and I’ll take a vacation after this game.

In the next week, he travels to Jamaica.

– Have never been there. Have heard that it’ll be fine and I like the culture. Their food, reggae music. Hip hop is okay, but for me it is most reggae that apply.

“Focuses on Groves’

Obviously, he intends to celebrate the holidays as a world champion and then the new big games.

– I just focus on Groves wins but I’m waiting for a big game. With the really big money.

He will serve well against Groves but boxers are several title defenses needed to reach multimillion fights at the highest level.

– I do not become financially independent for the rest of life on this game, although I earn good at it. I’m certainly not complaining, it becomes more and more money for each match. There is much money to be made.

A title defense in Stockholm, maybe in the middle of the night that Alexander Gustafsson’s UFC fight curls. Jacks promoter, superstar Floyd Mayweather Jr. has already opened it.

– Absolutely. Floyd has said that the plan is that I will box at home and defend my title there.

A giant gala in such cases.

“Will Steal the Show”

But first you have to win over Groves until the loss against Carl Froch was the weight class coming man. A hard-hitting British boxing after the attack is the best defense.

– He will try to knock me. I will try to knock him out. Both want to steal the show. It will be a really explosive and tough match. But I’ll be smarter. That way I will win.

– I have two former world champions in my ring corner. I listen to them, it should not be any problems, says Badou.

As started thinking about changing weight class.

– Maybe I’ll go up to light heavyweight. I feel that it’s getting a little harder to make the weight. My body grows. I’m getting older. Then it is not as easy to take down the weight. Maybe I have three or four matches before I go up.

Erik Skoglund next Saturday boxes historical tolvrondare in Nyköping is also at light heavyweight. Perhaps a future Swedish meeting on a World Title?

– hmmm. Could not believe it. He is not at this level, dissar Badou.

Not now. But maybe then, when it may be time. Swedish professional boxing is strong today, and superstar called Badou Jack. Sporting seen his match Saturday’s absolute best and most interesting.