James Kirkland Eyes Title: "I'm Better Than Mike Tyson"
There is one difference, Kirkland says.
"Tyson had some gifts, power, movement, some things he can do in the ring,” Kirkland said. “But I’m better than Tyson. I can box, move, the whole nine yards. My style’s like his, I’m coming straight at you, but when I meet someone that can counter that style, I will still find a way to knock you out. Tyson was a one-dimensional fighter. So when someone compares me to Tyson, I say "Thanks," but I’m better than him."
It is that kind of supreme confidence that Kirkland (22-0, 19 KOs) is bringing with him into one of the biggest fights of his life, a 10-round junior middleweight fight with Ricardo Cortes (22-2-1, 15 KOs) on Friday, September 5, on the 10th anniversary show of ESPN’s Friday Night Fights. The fight will take place in Kirkland’s hometown of Austin, Texas, at the Austin Music Hall. Ticket prices for the show, presented by TKO Boxing Promotions, are $100, $75, $50, $40 and $25; prices $5 more day of the show and VIP tables are available. Doors open at 6:30, first bout at 7:30. For tickets go to www.gettix.com or call (866) 443-8849.
Kirkland’s confidence is backed up by more than just his words. There is his unblemished record, including an 86-percent knockout rate. There’s his recent destruction of promising boxer Erosomele Albert on HBO, a knockout that took all of 66 seconds. And there is also his trainer, world-renowned former women’s champion Ann Wolfe, who trains Kirkland in Austin out of Ann Wolfe Boxing Gym. Wolfe ended her career with a 24-1 record with 16 knockouts and multiple world championships.
"She uses a lot of old-school tactics, and they are going to help me a lot,” Kirkland said. "It is old school," Wolfe said. "By that I mean, they used to be so strong and in great shape. You have to be strong from head to toe, mind and spirit. If James keeps up training, he’s got the power, skill and determination, he’ll do great things."
Kirkland has already accomplished plenty in a career that began in 2001, after Donald “Pops” Billingsley successfully got a “street-fighting” kid off the streets of East Austin and into a gym.
Kirkland is currently the WBO / NABO junior middleweight champion, and is ranked No. 3 by the WBA, No. 7 by the WBC and No. 5 by the IBF at 154 pounds.
But none of that is good enough for Mandingo. He wants that title shot.
"It seems like there’s been big opportunities to fight on certain card, and they pull me off," Kirkland said. "I’ve been proving myself, and feel I really deserve that shot to get a title. But they won’t give it to me, and I’ve been put in that category of ‘too dangerous’ to fight. I don’t blame them for being scared. I’d be scared of me, too."
"James Kirkland is one of the most exciting fighters out there today," said TKO Boxing Promotions promoter Chet Koerner. "He will eventually get his opportunity for a title shot and when that happens he will hold those titles for a long time, he has all the skills and talent to go a long way in this sport, he's just that good ."
The most frightening part of Kirkland’s game is his left hand. It packs power usually reserved for much bigger boxers, and coupled with Kirkland’s relentless style, it usually makes for a short night for opponents. Kirkland is sure it will for Cortes.
"I know this fight on September 5th is not going to last," Kirkland said. "You can’t keep up with that type of pressure, speed, power. I’m left-handed, I’m a presser, I know where I’m going with my hands, I’m accurate, and I’m coming."
And so is ESPN, for one of the biggest nights in the long-running tenure of one of boxing’s most successful shows.The acclaimed series Friday Night Fights began 10 years ago, and has featured many champion fighters over the years.
The September 5th show will feature Brian Kenny working ringside with Teddy Atlas. The viewing audience will be treated to a feature on Ann Wolfe as well as the results of ESPN’s 10th-anniversary fan voting, which include results for the KO of the decade / Fight of the decade / Most Memorable Fighter of the decade on Friday Night Fights.
But the biggest show is going to come in the main event, when a hometown fighter takes another step to a title he knows he’s ready for.
"It’s great, and I really thank ESPN for giving me a opportunity to show them I can fight for a title," Kirkland said. " Got the city behind me. More than a blessing to show people in my town show what capable of doing."
There is one difference, Kirkland says.
"Tyson had some gifts, power, movement, some things he can do in the ring,” Kirkland said. “But I’m better than Tyson. I can box, move, the whole nine yards. My style’s like his, I’m coming straight at you, but when I meet someone that can counter that style, I will still find a way to knock you out. Tyson was a one-dimensional fighter. So when someone compares me to Tyson, I say "Thanks," but I’m better than him."
It is that kind of supreme confidence that Kirkland (22-0, 19 KOs) is bringing with him into one of the biggest fights of his life, a 10-round junior middleweight fight with Ricardo Cortes (22-2-1, 15 KOs) on Friday, September 5, on the 10th anniversary show of ESPN’s Friday Night Fights. The fight will take place in Kirkland’s hometown of Austin, Texas, at the Austin Music Hall. Ticket prices for the show, presented by TKO Boxing Promotions, are $100, $75, $50, $40 and $25; prices $5 more day of the show and VIP tables are available. Doors open at 6:30, first bout at 7:30. For tickets go to www.gettix.com or call (866) 443-8849.
Kirkland’s confidence is backed up by more than just his words. There is his unblemished record, including an 86-percent knockout rate. There’s his recent destruction of promising boxer Erosomele Albert on HBO, a knockout that took all of 66 seconds. And there is also his trainer, world-renowned former women’s champion Ann Wolfe, who trains Kirkland in Austin out of Ann Wolfe Boxing Gym. Wolfe ended her career with a 24-1 record with 16 knockouts and multiple world championships.
"She uses a lot of old-school tactics, and they are going to help me a lot,” Kirkland said. "It is old school," Wolfe said. "By that I mean, they used to be so strong and in great shape. You have to be strong from head to toe, mind and spirit. If James keeps up training, he’s got the power, skill and determination, he’ll do great things."
Kirkland has already accomplished plenty in a career that began in 2001, after Donald “Pops” Billingsley successfully got a “street-fighting” kid off the streets of East Austin and into a gym.
Kirkland is currently the WBO / NABO junior middleweight champion, and is ranked No. 3 by the WBA, No. 7 by the WBC and No. 5 by the IBF at 154 pounds.
But none of that is good enough for Mandingo. He wants that title shot.
"It seems like there’s been big opportunities to fight on certain card, and they pull me off," Kirkland said. "I’ve been proving myself, and feel I really deserve that shot to get a title. But they won’t give it to me, and I’ve been put in that category of ‘too dangerous’ to fight. I don’t blame them for being scared. I’d be scared of me, too."
"James Kirkland is one of the most exciting fighters out there today," said TKO Boxing Promotions promoter Chet Koerner. "He will eventually get his opportunity for a title shot and when that happens he will hold those titles for a long time, he has all the skills and talent to go a long way in this sport, he's just that good ."
The most frightening part of Kirkland’s game is his left hand. It packs power usually reserved for much bigger boxers, and coupled with Kirkland’s relentless style, it usually makes for a short night for opponents. Kirkland is sure it will for Cortes.
"I know this fight on September 5th is not going to last," Kirkland said. "You can’t keep up with that type of pressure, speed, power. I’m left-handed, I’m a presser, I know where I’m going with my hands, I’m accurate, and I’m coming."
And so is ESPN, for one of the biggest nights in the long-running tenure of one of boxing’s most successful shows.The acclaimed series Friday Night Fights began 10 years ago, and has featured many champion fighters over the years.
The September 5th show will feature Brian Kenny working ringside with Teddy Atlas. The viewing audience will be treated to a feature on Ann Wolfe as well as the results of ESPN’s 10th-anniversary fan voting, which include results for the KO of the decade / Fight of the decade / Most Memorable Fighter of the decade on Friday Night Fights.
But the biggest show is going to come in the main event, when a hometown fighter takes another step to a title he knows he’s ready for.
"It’s great, and I really thank ESPN for giving me a opportunity to show them I can fight for a title," Kirkland said. " Got the city behind me. More than a blessing to show people in my town show what capable of doing."
