JAMES McCLENDON
James is a fresh new face on
the Ohio boxing scene. Backed by a solid amateur career which includes a
record of 83-15 and a National Bronze medal winner in 97, 98 and 99. His
pro career is 1-0 with 1 KO.
"I was always interested
in boxing. My stepfather Greg Richardson was a World Champion and I
would watch him on TV. He was the WBC Bantamweight Champion of the
World. He [Greg] showed me many things but was not my trainer."
TW How are you managing
your career with work and home life?
"When it is time to train it is time to
train. I have to find a job that cooperates with my schedule. I
run in the morning, rest and then go to work. I hit the gym in the
evening for about two or three hours. Work is a job and boxing is a job.
After you get used to it a routine develops. I am at 140 and I think I
could make 135 but I will cruise around 140."
TW How does your
amateur career compare to your pro career?
"It's basically the same as amateur. With
professional boxing you are not gone as long. In 97 when I was picked
for the select team we went to camps for months at a time. When I came
home I had to make up work in school. That was real stressful for a
young person."
TW What do expect from
you manager and trainer?
"I expect my manager to represent me to the
best of his ability and to treat me with respect. This means financial,
picking the right fights and the whole thing. You have to have some
say-so. Some fighters might not want say or speak up. If you are
going to make a career of this boxing game, you have to speak up. When
you are starting out you don't really need video and much information about
the opponents. There might not be any type of information on a new
fighter. When you get into the big time fights you got to have some type
of information. You need to know if he is a big puncher and the film
will show that and you can work from there. My trainer since day one has
trained me to have multiple styles. I do not want to be a one dimensional
fighter. I can't really classify my style. Maybe I am a boxer
puncher but I can fight backing up, counter punching, stick and move, off the
ropes and out of the corner. I know I could not manage myself. Too
much stress. When I go into a fight all I want to worry about is my
opponent. Nothing else."
TW James,
it is five years later and you are a contender. How do you want the
money to be handled?
"Right now I have a standard contract.
I would like more but I am not going to take any more than my 60%."
TW Where do you want to
be five years from now?
"I will sum it up in one sentence.
World championship belt."
