Q & A with Oleg MaskaevJune 13th

picture (c) boxen.com

Veteran boxer Oleg Maskaev (32-5) took the time from his training camp in the Poconos, New York, to answer questions about training, his fight with Rahman, the WBC belt, and his predictions for the outcome of the fight.

mma365: How has training been for you so far?
Oleg Maskaev: Good, good, I'm training hard.

mma365: Your training and running in the mountains, do you believe this will give you an edge over Rahman, stamina wise?
Oleg Maskaev: Yes. Exactly. What is wrong with that?

mma365: Nothing, its a great plan. What do you think about weight-training in boxing, is it just for show, or does it really help a boxer?
Oleg Maskaev: It really helps, yes, it helps alot.

mma365: Do you do some weight training yourself?
Oleg Maskaev: Yes.

mma365: Rahman didn't look his best in his last two fights against Barrett and Toney, have you watched his last two fights, and what do you think of them?
Oleg Maskaev: Actually, I watched all his fights.

mma365: What did you think of the last two?
Oleg Maskaev: He did OK.

mma365: What about his fight with Barrett?
Oleg Maskaev: Yeah that fight you know, against Barrett, he didn't look good the first five, I believe, four rounds, there wasn't much action.

mma365: What does winning the WBC belt to you at this point of your career?
Oleg Maskaev: It means alot, to be a champ, to continue my career, and to be a real champion. I wanted to be a champ since I was a child, since I was a kid.

mma365: Rahman has been labeled as Americas "Last line of Defense", what can you attribute to the fall of the American dominace over the heavyweight division, was it
just a matter of time after the fall of the Soviet Union?
Oleg Maskaev: I can't say anything about this right now, but there is something to say about this a little bittle later. It's going to be a surprise.

mma365: What are you thoughts about Rahman as a person?
Oleg Maskaev: As a person? I don't know him very well as a person.

mma365: The last time you fought Rahman, the result was a spectacular knockout in the 8th round, what is your prediction for this fight, knockout or decesion?
Oleg Maskaev: I don't have any predictions for this fight right now, I know one thing, its going to be a tough fight, and the best will win, thats what I believe in.

mma365: Thank you for the interview, the entire Russian community in New York is behind you for the fight, good luck!
Oleg Maskaev: Thank you very much.