Editors note: It took almost a year from this interview, but Ravelo is fighting for the NABO Super middleweight title on Showtime against Andre Ward on Friday, June 20th!
By: Danny Serratelli (Aug 1, 2007)
Newark New Jersey’s Jerson Ravelo is always in shape and ready to fight any of the top names in the super-middleweight or middleweight division. The natural 168 pounder said he has no problem making 160 and would even go as high as 175 for a title shot. The San Cristobal, Dominican Republic native wants to bring the title back to the Brick City, Newark, New Jersey as well as his native country the Dominican Republic. Jerson truly believes it is his destiny to become world champion and is determined not to let anything stop him until he achieves his destiny.
He is coming off of a victory over England’s Paul Buchanan in a fight in which he handed Buchanan his first loss as a professional, but unfortunately he also broke his hand early in the bout. Despite the break, he easily out boxed his opponent with one hand to earn a unanimous decision and help team USA earn the Sugar Ray Leonard cup in the USA vs. UK Contender Challenge. Jerson has been a professional for almost 8 years and has encountered many ups and downs and bumps in the road. Most problems were beyond his control, however he still possesses the ability and the confident swagger to become world champion as soon as the opportunity presents itself.
Danny Serratelli: What’s up Jerz? How is the hand doing?
Jerson Ravelo: My hand is much better, I’m punching and been punching for about a month and half now, I’m looking to get back in the ring as soon as possible.
DS: I know you hurt it in an impressive performance over Paul Buchanan on the Contender’s USA vs. UK challenge and helped guide the USA team to victory. Do you know how and when you hurt it?
JR: I hurt my hand in the 3rd round when I knocked him down with a right hand over the top, that’s when it happened and I couldn’t use my right hand for the remainder of the fight.
DS: I saw that. Did you think about knocking him out at that point were you just glad that you were able to easily outpoint him with the 1 hand?
JR: Well everyone who saw the fight knows that the knock out was on it’s way hadn’t I broken my hand, but I’m actually glad the fight ended the way it did, not with a broken hand, but just the fact that I beat this guy with one hand in his home country and his home town.
DS: There have been some rumors that you would be participating in the next season of the Contender which we understand will be at 168lbs, your weight class, is there any truth to these rumors?
JR: Yeah I guess they were just rumors, if I was gonna participate on season 3 I wouldn’t be here still in Newark, getting ready for my next fight, but I will gladly fight the winner of Contender season 3.
DS: How was the USA vs. UK Contender experience in Europe?
JR: It was a great experience for me, I would definitely love to do it again if we happen to go and fight against another country.
DS: What did you think of Gomez, K9, Brinkley and the rest of the guys on the USA team?
JR: All those guys were great; we all became real good friends out there. I’m happy for Alfonso and his victory over Gatti.
DS: What did you think of the recent fights between, Miranda-Pavlik and Taylor-Spinks?
JR: Well I seriously think that Spinks beat Taylor and so do many other people who watched the fight. The Miranda-Pavlik played out exactly the way I expected, I kept telling people that Miranda was gonna get knocked out. I think the Taylor-Pavlik fight is going to be a good fight, but I believe Taylor will win the fight. He will be fighting a real middleweight in Pavlik, not a slick southpaw like Spinks or Winky.
DS: Do you know any of those guys from the amateurs?
JR: Yes I know all of them from the amateurs, Spinks last year as an amateur I believe was 1997 when he won the golden gloves national, that was my first year going out to the nationals. Taylor and Pavlik were both in the amateurs at the same time I was, but they fought at 156lbs and I fought at 165lbs, Miranda was at the Olympic Qualifier in Tijuana, Mexico, same weight class as myself, but he got knocked out cold, if he had won he would have faced me. I knocked out the guy who knocked him out the next day and then won the gold medal in Mexico. Both Talyor and Pavlik walk around heavier than me now, and I would love the opportunity to fight either of them any time.
DS: What fights do you want right now? Who do you want to get in the ring the most?
JR: I would fight anyone, all the top guys around my division. I believe that if I am 100% no one gives me any problems; I would love to fight Allan Green again though. When he won recently on ESPN afterwards he said he’ll fight anybody, then there’s my chance I guess, that is a fight I really want. I would also love to fight Taylor, but then again who doesn’t want to fight him, he has only fought one real middleweight, Bernard Hopkins.
DS: What do you feel you have to do at this point to line yourself up with a shot at the title?
JR: I guess I just have to keep fighting, I mean I’ve never been ranked in the top 10 in any of the main titles, I was 13-0 at one point never ranked, you have guys who are 8-0 and get ranked in the top 10,but let’s also remember that I manage myself, and I don’t really have the money to make donations if you know what I mean.
DS: Where would you prefer a shot 160 or 168?
JR: I would take a shot at whatever weight, 160 pounds, 168 pounds, or even 175 pounds, but will I ever get it? The only thing I could do is keep fighting, taking one fight at a time and next thing you know I’ll be inline for a title shot.
DS: Do you have any problem making 160?
JR: No problems making 160 pounds, my last fight out in the UK I weighted in at 161, and I wasn’t struggling to make the weight.
DS: Would you like to get a shot at any of the old guys before they hang them up?
JR: The one guy who I always wanted to fight from day one was Tito Trinidad, I could just imagine Trinidad and I fighting at the Garden, it would be crazy, I hear his making his comeback in January, hopefully I’ll get my wish after his return.
DS: Who are you favorite fighters to watch out there now?
JR: I like Floyd Mayweather, he’s an all around fighter, but my main fighter that I love to watch has always been and it’s still Roy Jones Jr., he still got it and he will become world champion again, mark my words.
DS: What’s the plan short term and long term?
JR: The short-term plan would be to become world champion and make enough money so that my family and I would live a good life, and I would stay involved in boxing later on for the long term.
DS: Anything you would like to say in closing to your fans out here?
JR: I would like to thank Brickcityboxing.com Doghouseboxing.com and everyone for their support, only God, my Family and I know that I’ve been through hell and back, but I’m still here, and I won’t stop until I become what I was destined to become, World Champion. As soon as I get the opportunity that title is coming back to San Cristobal D.R./Newark, New Jersey.
DS: Just keep punching and your day will come soon my brother.
JR: Thank you.