Kerry Hope will be fighting one of Minnesota’s hottest prospects this Friday at the St. Paul Armory. Since he is not your average opponent I knew we had to get to know him a little better. From training and Sparring with Joe Calzaghe to fighting in front of 30,000 fans, this guy has been around and seen a lot in his short career. Unlike many opponents brought in to fight a prospect, Hope is still on his way up with dreams of making it to the highest levels. Learn more about Kerry Hope below.

M…Thanks for taking the time to let Minnesota fight fans get to know you a little better.

Hope….Your welcome, and i would like to just say to everyone in Minnesota thanks for the opportunity to fight there on Friday I’m feeling good and looking forward to the occasion.

M….How old were you when you first picked up boxing and what got you into the sport?

Hope….I did karate from the age of 4, but boxing has always been in my family so then i moved onto boxing aged 13 and here i still am 15 yrs down the line.

M….I know you don’t train there anymore, but I have to ask, what was it like training under Enzo Calzaghe and did you spend much time sparring with Joe Calzaghe?

Hope….I started my professional career with the Calzaghe camp in Newbridge Wales, Enzo is a great trainer and until last yr when everything started going wrong, out of the 8 boxers in the gym 4 were world champions 1 commonwealth champion, 1 welsh champion and the rest of us were unbeaten. So the gym had a lot of credentials. The training regimes we used to go through were torture, but that was Enzo’s way to get the best out of his fighters. Training with Joe everyday was a great experience, he was also a southpaw which benefited me as i used to try copy some of the things he used to do. And sparring with him was also something that will benefit me for the future because i know i will never share the ring with someone so fast and with such a high work rate. It sure helped my boxing develop.

M….Are there many differences in training in the United States with John Tandy?

Hope….Training with John Tandy is a whole new ball game. Every session is one on one so theres no cheating, and its all to your maximum effort. I brought my speed from the Calzaghe camp but John has developed my power and my fitness is now at another level even though Ive always trained hard and been fit. I know i got the fitness to up my work rate and go through the gears whenever i want during a fight.

M….Do you have any high profile sparring partners where you train now?

Hope….My sparring has been second to none, its varied from big strong guys to the smaller and faster. But i have had no problem with any of them, John has got me in awesome shape and ready to deal with whoever is put in from of me. It was only last month that i was sparring Alfredo Angulo(WBO Interim) at the Wildcard and i really wish i had the video evidence to show everyone how it went. That could be a fight I’d welcome in the future.

M….This will be your second fight in the US, your first being a UD in Los Angeles CA. What are your thoughts coming to the cold of Minnesota to fight one of our rising prospects?

Hope….This will be my second fight, the first i won by a unanimous decision even tho it didn’t go as id of liked it too because i picked up a mild form of pneumonia the week before the fight, but it went ahead because i was keen to make my American debut after being let down on the Roy Jones/Joe Calzaghe undercard in New York last November. The trip to Minnesota to fight your prospect is something ive welcomed, i was the one who asked John for the fight. I know the crowd will all be there to support Caleb which is understandable but may the best man win. It is Caleb’s home support so i believe he’s the one with all the pressure on his shoulders. Its nothing i haven’t had to deal with before now, fighting in front of 30,000 in the Millennium Stadium on a Calzaghe undercard is an experience in itself. The cold wont be a problem, Wales aint the most climate friendly place in the world so I’m able to deal with with whatever Minnesota has to throw at me.

M….Do you know much about Caleb Truax?

Hope….I spent a week in camp with Caleb not so long ago, and i know he’s a strong guy and his record suggests he can punch. I got the opportunity to watch him spar in that time also, I’m an educated fighter and theres a lot of things i can take from that and work against him. I have a lot of respect for Caleb and every boxer who walks through the ropes, but when someone is standing as an opposition to me at the other corner of the ring it all goes until the final bell. I been in this game a long time so i know how it works.

M….How would you describe your boxing style?

Hope….My boxing style can vary, I’m an intelligent fighter and i can adjust to however i need to overcome my opponent.

M….Are there any fighters you have tried to mold yourself after?

Hope….I have my favorite fighters but i do try to mold myself on Joe(Calzaghe) being another southpaw, there aint many fighters who clean up and retire undefeated which i admire about him. But when you spend time training with every day and watching him work the only way i can describe the man is a freak of nature. So means we had the same trainer for long i guess i have some of the attributes he had which is good.

M….What should Minnesota fight fans expect to see from a Kerry Hope fight?

Hope….I’m just looking forward to boxing in front of the people in Minnesota, its a big occasion for both myself and Caleb. I’m coming to win and give a good showcase of myself Ive trained hard so let it be a good fight for everyone watching.

M….Thanks again for taking time to let us get to know you. Is there anything else you would like to tell our readers?

Hope….Lastly i know it may seem early but i would like to just wish everyone in Minnesota a great up and coming Christmas and a happy new year