By Sylvana Ambrosanio
‘Prizefighter’ Heavyweight Champion Michael Sprott (36-18) sat down for an exclusive interview. Sprott briefly held the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles, and was a European heavyweight title contender. He won the fourth heavyweight tournament of the knock-out series ‘Prizefighter’ and talks about his upcoming fight. Check out what he had to say:
SA: You will fight undefeated Edmund Gerber (20-0-0) on September 15th in Germany. What do you know about your opponent?
MS: Yes, that’s right. I fight Edmond Gerber next Saturday. What I know about Edmond is he is a good up right boxer, and he got a dig in his right, and not a bad mover.
SA: How is training going and what is your favorite part?
MS: My training is going very well these past few weeks. My favorite part is pads, speed ball sparring, explosive weights, and sparring. I love all things to do with boxing as boxing is an all area sport.
SA: You have about 60 amateur fights winning 50 of them. What got you into boxing and made you decide to turn professional?
MS: What got me into boxing was when I was about 8 years old my dad loved his boxing so much that he would be there watching all the fighters and boxers, and watched a lot off Ali fights and I was there watching it with him. One day when we were watching an Ali fight with my dad, I started punching the air, shadow boxing. My dad saw talent in me and wanted me to join a club, but at that time my mother said no as she did not like boxing, let alone that I was too young to start. I waited till I was 13 and joined a club called the Bulmershe Boxing Club run by George Costan and still run by him. He’s a great trainer.
SA: You won the fourth heavyweight tournament of the knock-out series ‘Prizefighter.’ What did this tournament mean to you, did it open any doors for you?
MS: Well, winning the fourth prizefighter meant a lot to me, cause I was to be in the 3rd prizefighter, but had to pull out due to losing my sister. So when this one came about I knew I had to win this for my big sister as she was going to come to the 3rd one and she would so want me to win this fourth series of Prizefighter. So I went on it to win and I did win. I was over the moon along with my family, friends and all from my hometown, Reading. So after I won Prizefighter, I was expecting doors to open as it has in the past. There was talks of title fights, etc, but I didn’t get to see anything. I was so gutted.
SA: You as the former British and Commonwealth champion sparred hundreds of rounds with the IBF, IBO and WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko, as well as helping his brother Vitali Klitschko out at training camps in Austria and Germany as a regular sparring partner. What are your thoughts on about the upcoming fight, Vitali Klitschko vs. Manuel Charr?
MS: My thoughts on the coming fight is it be a good fight as Charr is unbeaten, young, and hungry to taste glory, let alone win the WBC TITLE. On the other hand. Vitali shows some signs of better days, but is awkward, very experienced, strong, good chin, and uses his size to the full potential. I feel Vitali will win by UD on points. I would of thought Charr be studying videos of Vitali’s last fight with Derek “Del Boy” Chisora, as Del gave him a tough time in there. Maybe Charr is looking to the same way to beat Vitali. Vitali got to be at his very best and make a strong statement to the heavyweight division.
SA: Boxing fans talk about you challenging one of the Klitschko brothers. How do you feel about that?
MS: Oh, really I didn’t know if boxing folks would talk about it, but very touching to know. I just want to thank all my fans and believers. This I would love to happen; fighting the brothers. I sparred with both of them and I feel that I have what it takes to take the belts off them. A win on the 15th of September could get me a step closer to making it happen. There are a lot of people thinking I am mad, but remember you only live once and you have to go with what you believe in. When it comes to boxing, I am a dark hose. Don’t look at my record, as I am well better than that. I have so much experience and love what I do, you can’t buy that.
SA: If you could choose who you could fight in the heavyweight decision, who would it be and why?
MS: If I could choose a fight out there with all the heavyweight boxers it would definitely be the Klitschko brothers as they hold what I been fighting to be, the ‘HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD.’ I feel that Vitali holds the most important and top belt apart from the British title which I think is the best belt in the world. The ‘WBC’ belt is the only and best belt until they started to bring all these other belts.
SA: What do think of people saying that boxing is dying?
MS: In a way I do feel that boxing is slowly dying. Boxing is not what it was like from back in the day. No more boxing on tv like it used to be. You can ask people on the street who the heavyweight champion of the world is right now, and they won’t even know. But ask you who it is. If boxing was like football, everyone would know who the heavyweight champion of the world is today. Also, I feel the kids today turn to other sports and stuff. Kids still start boxing, but it’s unfortunately not as it once was.
SA: Have you ever done any MMA training prior?
MS: I have done MMA training before. It’s great stuff and can work with boxing.
SA: Would you be willing to fight any UFC fighter?
MS: I would be willing to try an MMA fight, as it’s great and very skillful movements there to do. It would be something different. I would fight any MMA fighter out there as long as the money is good and right. LET’S GET IT ON!
SA: What do people not know about you?
MS: What people don’t know about me is I am trying to start my own clothes business.
SA: What do you do in your free time to have fun and relax?
MS: In my free time out of boxing, I like to chill with the kids, get them together and have a good time – plus I love staying fit.
SA: What can we expect from you near the future?
MS: In the future I aim to fight for the world title and to run my own business, watch out.
SA: Do you have anything you would like to tell the fans?
MS: To my fans I just want to say thank you for following my career and supporting me all the way. I am 37 and aim to carry on boxing until I am 40years young, so I shall give you more good fights to come yet. Once again, I’d like to thank you all.
