‘Hammerin’ Hank Lundy RCM Interview on WBC ESPN Vegas Bout: I’m A Dangerous Fighter!

‘Hammerin’ Hank Lundy Interview on WBC ESPN Vegas Bout: I’m A Harmful Fighter!

By Robert Brizel, Head Actual Fight Media Boxing Correspondent

 By his personal phrases, Henry “Hammerin’ Hank” Lundy remains to be a harmful fighter. This Saturday evening, on Might 22, 2022, within the televised preliminary to the principle occasion on ESPN, a assured Lundy, 31-8-1 with 14 knockouts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, age 37, will problem for the World Boxing Council Silver Tremendous Light-weight title in opposition to high rated contender Jose Zepeda, 33-2 with 26 knockouts, La Puente, California, in a scheduled 10 rounder, on the Virgin Inns in Las Vegas, Nevada.

In would be the first time in 41 skilled bouts in a 15 years profession which started with a primary spherical stoppage of Steve Thomas in July 2006 in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, that Lundy has traveled to Las Vegas to struggle a challenger within the middle of the boxing storm. Zepeda holds wins over Ivan Baranchyk and Jose Pedraza, however is 0-2 with two no contests in opposition to different high flight opposition, elevating questions. However, Lundy, who was already 10 weeks right into a deliberate 12 weeks coaching camp to struggle Mason Menard when his scheduled opponent withdrew, and who took this struggle on solely three weeks of discover at his personal motivation, needed to justify his preparations have been satisfactory for his bout Saturday evening with Zepeda on this interview. Lundy, who additionally owns and operates a profitable industrial cleansing enterprise, additionally needed to justify the deserves of working the standard 9 A.M. to five P.M. schedule, after which coaching afterwards.

A former Common Boxing Federation World Light-weight champion (a lesser title), the large time world titles have thus eluded Lundy in his profession, which has fallen one massive win wanting greatness, expertise apart. Lundy is at present managed by high promoter Diane Fischer Di Maio. Lundy is one among 12 fighters at present within the Di Maio secure, together with mild heavyweights David Murray of Delaware and Dhafir Smith of Pennsylvania.

Robert: “Is Henry’s age an element at age 37 on this crossroads bout?”

Promoter Diane Di Maio: “Henry runs on a regular basis. Henry is all the time working. You gotta have coronary heart. Hank has coronary heart. He is aware of what the (boxing) recreation is.”

Robert: Fifteen years into your profession, in case you win this struggle, you would struggle the winner of the Josh Taylor versus Juan Carlos Ramirez tremendous light-weight world title unification bout. Taylor is 17-0, Ramirez is 23-0, and the WBC, WBA, WBO and IBF world titles will probably be on the desk, with the unified winner going through the winner of your bout with Zepeda. If that the true struggle you’re angling for by going through Zepeda?”

Hank Lundy: “That’s why I we’re within the sport for, to be the unified champion of the world.”

Robert: “You fought Terence Crawford in 2016 for the World Boxing Group World Tremendous light-weight title. Would you like a second crack at that belt?”

Hank Lundy: “Sure I do. I wouldn’t be right here if I didn’t.”

Robert: “What’s going to Hank Lundy do completely different now within the ring than 2016?”

Hank Lundy: “Stick with my recreation plan. Be Hank Lundy. Simply field. I assure they are going to increase my hand as the brand new World Boxing Council Silver champion, and (later increase my hand) because the unified world champion.”

Robert: “You’ve fought for a World Boxing Council Silver title earlier than. How do the WBC’s specific guidelines slot in?”

Hank Lundy: “it’s the identical guidelines.”

Robert: “Josh Taylor and Juan Carlos Ramirez are combating for all of it. Which one would you reasonably struggle in case you beat Zepeda?”

Hank Lundy: “I wish to struggle each of them. I’ve fought fighters with each form of type. To maintain from combating Taylor in the UK, I would like to struggle Ramirez over right here (in america), as a result of each time I crossed the highway (the ocean to struggle), I  acquired robbed (of selections I felt I gained), like my struggle within the Ukraine with Victor Postol.”

Robert B: “Whereas Zepeda is 33-2, he didn’t make it out of the primary spherical with Jose Alfaro, didn’t make it out of the second spherical in opposition to Terry Flanagan, and didn’t make it out of the third spherical with Eleazar Valenzuela. He gained none of those three bouts. Is Zepeda a unclean fighter?”

Hank Lundy: “From what I’ve seen, yeah. Zepeda likes to hit behind the pinnacle. My palms will probably be up (in protection) to forestall that from taking place. That’s what I noticed him doing in his earlier (current) fights. I’ll make the referee conscious of it. I’m getting into (to Las Vegas) to struggle my struggle.”

Robert B: “Las Vegas is a promoter’s edge metropolis, with ESPN serving as a showcase for the favored fighter. Are you able to win a call in Las Vegas combating on the ‘B’ aspect of the cardboard?”

Hank Lundy: “Most positively. I make it (the bout) all about Hank Lundy. I’m assured I can win if once I are available in on the ‘B’ aspect. I’m popping out on the “A” aspect of the cardboard.”

Robert B: “When was the Mason Menard bout speculated to happen?”

Hank Lundy: “I used to be speculated to struggle Menard in February 2021. Extra so, the meant bout acquired pushed again, I assume as a result of Menard acquired harm. We had been within the health club already, so we had been searching for one other opponent. Once we heard Zepeda’s opponent fell out, we (my workforce) jumped on it.”

Robert: “How has the pandemic affected your coaching routine?”

Hank Lundy: “Truly, it hasn’t. I’ve been coaching (all alongside) at a personal health club the place I’ve entry 24/7.”

Robert B: “Did you lose time between the Menard bout falling off, and the Zepeda bout approaching?”

Hank Lundy: “No. I stayed within the health club, and I stored working.”

Robert B: “At 37, even Hank Lundy should know the struggle bout in entrance of him represents a final shot of pictures on the highway to a world title. So what occurred within the Avery Sparrow (misplaced majority choice 10) and Zaur Abdullaev (misplaced unanimous choice 12) fights, which (after 22 rounds of struggle) you misplaced?”

Hank Lundy: “The Avery Sparrow, I feel I acquired robbed in that struggle. I had switched up my nook. Somebody went over my coach’s head, and it value me. With Zaur Abdullaev, if I had fought him over right here (as a substitute of within the Russian Federation), I might have knocked him out. Then he comes over right here, and will get stopped by Devin Haney on a jab (inside 4 rounds). C’mon.”

Robert B: “Hank, you might have a profitable industrial cleansing enterprise, an excellent essential enterprise offering a public service, particularly through the Covid-19 Novel Coronavirus pandemic. How will you stability each worlds, enterprise {and professional} boxing?”

Hank Lundy: “On the finish of the day, I get my shoppers, I make massive cash. It’s work. I get off at 5 P.M., and I am going practice. My enterprise helps me out, so I don’t have to take petty fights.”

Robert B: “I need to return to Atlantic Metropolis in 2012 once we had been collectively for the Raymundo Beltran bout. Did you beat Beltran, sure or no?”

Hank Lundy: “I beat him (Beltran).” Lundy misplaced a majority choice over 10 rounds. Beltran was lower over the left eye by a Hank Lundy punch within the third spherical. The bout was an NABF regional light-weight title bout.

Robert B: “Did you beat Victor Postal in your subsequent struggle in March 2013?”

Hank Lundy: “I beat Postol, they usually robbed me too.” (The Lundy versus Postol bout was in Kiev, Ukraine. At that time in 2013 Kiev was nonetheless thought of to be a subcomponent of the Russian Federation regardless of declaring independence in 1991. Protests in November 2013 in opposition to then Ukrainian President Victor Yanukovych escalated to violence in January 2014 because of anti-protest legal guidelines. Yanukovych was eliminated by the Ukrainian Parliament on February 22, 2014, and subsequently fled the nation for asylum within the Russian Federation. Petro Poroshenko was elected the brand new Ukrainian president on Might 25, 2014, on a Professional-European Union platform. The historic context in vital, because the local weather in Ukraine as we speak is significantly extra open than it was when Lundy fought Postol within the Ukrainian capital for the vacant World Boxing Council Worldwide Tremendous Light-weight title).

Robert B: “So, is it actually doable to beat a promoter’s fighter on the scorecards wherever on this planet?”

Hank Lundy: “Sure it’s! Most positively. Nevertheless, you have to perceive situations make a giant distinction geographically. There’s a massive distinction if you journey to struggle a hometown fighter within the Russian Federation or abroad in Europe, then the situations are if you struggle somebody in your house nation, which for me, is america. Everyone forgets once I turned the lights out of former World Boxing Council World Light-weight champion David Diaz in Chicago to win the NABF Light-weight title in March 2011. Diaz had gained the title from Erik Morales, and had fought Manny Pacquiao and Humberto Soto for the WBC World Light-weight title earlier than he fought me.”

Robert B: “Is there anyone on the market you all the time needed to struggle?”

Hank Lundy: “Nice query! Sure. Former World Boxing Affiliation World Welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse of Argentina (retired in 2018). His camp didn’t need to struggle me. They had been frightened of me.”

Robert B: “What a struggle between Hank Lundy and the late Edwin Valero when the 2 of you had been each in your prime?”

Hank Lundy: “Wow! I needed to struggle him! He was operating via all people!”

Robert B: “How deep are your preparations by the calendar? What’s your struggle weight earlier than heading out to Las Vegas?”

Hank Lundy: “Proper now, I’m at 140 kilos. I’ve been in camp for the Zepeda bout for 3 weeks. I’ve been in camp altogether eleven weeks.”

Robert B: “Let’s discuss two Joses now. Jose Zepeda beat Jose Pedraza. Is Jose Zepeda invincible as he sees it? Is Jose Zepeda invincible as you see it?”

Hank Lundy: “Jose Zepeda is aware of he’s in a struggle with me! This struggle is a very completely different struggle. It is a actual struggle with a talented fighter who is aware of his method across the ring.”

Robert B: “What holes and flaws do you see in Zepeda’s type?”

Hank Lundy: “Zepeda runs an excessive amount of. He’s not quick. He lacks hand pace, and will get hit with jabs.”

Robert B: “Can you alter your recreation plan through the Zepeda bout midstream?”

Hank Lundy: “Sure. I’m a flexible fighter. I’ve acquired all of the instruments to do what I have to do to get the win.”

Robert B: “Will Zepeda takes any probabilities through the bout with you?”

Hank Lundy: “Zepeda will, however he’s going to pay for them when he takes them.”

Robert B: Let’s talk about the size of the bout, t10 rounds, versus 12 rounds. Is the shorter size of 10 rounds a bonus to both fighter? Why or why not?”

Hank Lundy: “With me, I’ll win on the playing cards, whether or not it’s 10 rounds or 12 rounds. I’m gonna struggle (to the ultimate bell) regardless. I’ll do no matter I’ve to in an effort to win.”

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