Canadian cruiserweight Ryan Rozicki (15-1, 14 KOs) gets back to action on December 2nd in his hometown of Sydney, Nova Scotia. The former World title challenger currently sitting at #13 in the WBC rankings talks exclusively to ProBox News on a 22 hour drive across eastern Canada for training camp in Ontario.
“I did get an offer to fight Ilunga Makabu (WBC Cruiserweight World Champion). I agreed to fight Makabu on two-weeks notice in his hometown. I signed the contract and then the fight had to be postponed, but it’s still in the mix, so I’m just waiting for a new a date for that fight. So I asked my promoter to get me another fight while I wait.”
Rozicki takes on Allan Green (34-6) while he plays the waiting game for a shot World honours.
“The fight is in my hometown, place holds about 5000 people. I got a pretty good name in my province. Boxing is really coming up around here, I went to a fight this Saturday in Nova Scotia. The last 4 or 5 years, things have really picked up.”
Rozicki competed for the first ever Bridgerweight World title last October against the Columbian Oscar Rivas. Rozicki picked up his first career defeat in an intriguing contest created by the WBC at 224 pounds.
“Well honestly, I didn’t really think about the fact it was the first Bridgerweight World title fight. I got the call saying it was Oscar Rivas, my first thought was that Oscar has about 40 or 50 pounds on me. I walk around at about 190 to 195 pounds, I don’t cut any weight. I’m more of a light heavyweight. I believe in the old-school Rocky Marciano days.
“The night before the weigh-in me and my fiancé went out to eat. I had to eat that much, I was nearly getting sick. When I stepped on the scale I was 203 pounds, but I was retaining 15 pounds of water. The day of the fight I walked in just over 190, Oscar after cutting to 225 pounds I think he rehydrated to at least 235 or 240. So the night of that fight was more like a light heavyweight vs a heavyweight. It’s kinda of crazy, it would be like Bivol fighting Anthony Joshua.
“I do think that where I don’t cut the weight it helps me absorb the punishment. I believe it plays a big role in my chin, which is shown in the fight against Rivas.”
Rozicki’s last dance came this past May, taking on the undefeated Argentine Yamil Alberto Peralta for the WBC International Cruiserweight title. In a close fought contest, Rozicki took the split-decision win. However, after a WBC ruling, the title remained vacant and Rozicki’s ranking had fallen a few steps after a rematch was ordered.
“First of I would like to take my hat off to Peralta. He was probably the best boxer I have ever faced. And to be honest with you at one point in the fight I thought there were a few guys in there hitting me. I thought I won the fighting part of it, I roughed him up and pushed the action. But I thought he outboxed me, I was surprised when I got the decision. I’m not biased with myself.
“It does kinda piss me off a little bit (after dropping in the WBC rankings). I think for the lack of experience I have and that I went into the Oscar Rivas fight and then I went in there with a two-time Olympian in Peralta, I’m doing good things for somebody with my experience. Then they stripped me of the belt, it pissed me off! I feel both these fighters just survived against me, I was pushing the fight in both. There are two fighters out there with WBC belts that belong to me.”