Karl 'Dynamite' Dargan: "I can't compare myself to other Philadelphia fighters, my style's versatile so I can do different things"
 By Jenna Jay, OnTheRopes Boxing Radio, Doghouse Boxing (Nov 1, 2012) Doghouse Boxing
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Exclusive Interview by Jenna Jay, Doghouse Boxing. On my 179th edition of "On
The Ropes" boxing radio, I had a chance to catch up rising lightweight
prospect Karl ‘Dynamite’ Dargan. Karl Dargan (11-0 6KO’s) is currently
trained by Naazim Richardson, and recently returned from a 13 month
layoff, scoring a TKO 4 victory over Jesse Carradine. Karl spoke about
his career so far, his recent victory, working with Naazim Richardson,
learning from Bernard Hopkins and Shane Mosley, where he sees himself in
the lightweight division, some intersting thoughts on Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao and much more! Here is what he had to say...
Jenna Jay: Hey Karl, for the fans hearing about you for the first time, tell them a little about yourself.
Karl Dargan: First
of all, thanks for having me on your show. Yeah, I am a light weight
prospect. 135 pounds. Philadelphia Pennsylvania. Mainly known winning
the Pan Am games in 2007. You know fighting my way to the pros to the
top actually. Coming along with a lot of experience, but I still have a
lot to learn. People seen me fight before, but no one has seen really
the best of me yet.
Jenna: You recently returned from a long layoff, how do you feel you preformed?
Dargan: My
performance it was, it was satisfying. I had a lot about a 13 month
layoff. I had a little ring rust a little bet. But I got the job done.
So I was satisfied with my performance overall.
Jenna: Was there any reason why you were out of the ring so long?
Dargan: Well
there wasn't any particular reasons. It’s hard to find guys to fight
actually. It would be, hey do you want to fight Karl Dargan, and they
say yeah will fight Karl Dargan. Than they find out it’s Karl “dynamite”
Dargan, and then they don’t want to fight. They pull out, or they price
themselves out because they want to so much money.
Jenna: You are a Philadelphia fighter, what does that title mean to you?
Dargan: Well
a Philadelphia fighter, it’s like a trend, I am versatile, so I can’t
compare myself to other Philadelphia fighters even though I am from
Philly, my style versatile, I can do different things.
Jenna: What are your strongest attributes in the ring?
Dargan: It’s my intellect, I am very intelligent. I am smart in the ring. My intellect is my biggest attribute.
Jenna: You are trained by Naazim Richardson, what’s it like to work with someone who has worked with so many great fighters?
Dargan: I
grew up learning from not even just learning from when he is teaching
me, but when he is training, Steve Cunningham, Shane or Bernard, I am
always there and learning I think he is going to go down as one of the
best trainers in the game. You know hopefully I’ll be a part of that.
Jenna: You just talked about those former champions, what do you think you learned from them?
Dargan: Bernard is you know his determination his work ethic. Shane, loves the
sport. Like the love that Shane has for the sport, it’s like, it’s hard
for them guys to really walk away from the sport, because they love the
sport so much, you know it’s just a lot of things you just pick up from
being around.
Jenna: Where do you see yourself among the fighters at Lightweight?
Dargan: My position fighting in this weight class is that I am still learning.
Within in the next year or two, you know I am looking forward to being
in the ring more you know, and you guys seeing me more so you know it
will be a lot of competitive fights coming up this year, and going on to
the next year. Actually the top of the year going on to next 2 years.
You know it will be exciting, and I just hope you guys tune in.
Jenna: What fighters do you look up to from the sport?
Dargan: I can really say that I look up to Bernard Hopkins. I’ve been around
Bernard, for since I was about 10 years old or 11 years old. You know I
pick from Bernard. I learn from Bernard. You know I also actually look
up to Bernard as a person. In this sport, I watch I mainly watch a lot
of people that I know, like Andre Ward, that’s a good friend of mine, I
watch him. I watch Victor Ortiz, of course Floyd. Everybody watch Floyd.
I pick up from Bernard his technique, Bernard doesn’t have a lot of you
know, he doesn’t have, everything he has is like, he doesn’t have
natural talent, and everything he does he worked for it and he actually
learned it. Except for like the defense, there are certain things you
can’t teach. But you know I pick from a lot of him, when I am watching
him fight and that’s about it that I watch, I don’t really watch boxing
that much
Jenna: I ask this to a lot of my guests of
late, and I want to get your view also. Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny
Pacquiao, do you think the fans still want to see this fight?
Dargan: I would. Actually every wants to see that fight, so I like Floyd. To me
I like Floyd. I will like Floyd to win in a 12 round decision. However
it might go. It might be exciting. But that’s a fight that I think will
be either completely boring or completely exciting.
Jenna: You have the nickname of “Dynamite”. How did that come about?
Dargan: My trainer, he gave me that name and he gave me that name so long ago,
that I was either 6 or 7. I really don’t remember how I got the name
Jenna: When can we expect to see you back in the ring?
Dargan: Hopefully
before this year is out. I may be looking at, December 8th date. So we
looking in to that. Hopefully I am trying to get back to that date. But
within the next 3 months for sure.
Jenna: How important do you think that will be for you to get on ShoBox or Friday Night Fights?
Dargan: TV fights those are good you know. It’s a lot of people, that watch
boxing, a lot of people that I know, they say I’ve heard you fighting,
but they never got to see me fight, so I am looking forward to be on TV
whole lot this coming up year.
Jenna: Anything you want to say to your fans in closing?
Dargan: I just want to thank everyone for there support and following me, and you know tune in it’s going to be an exciting year for me.
***
I’d like to send out a special thanks to Tim for helping to bring this article to boxing readers.
LISTEN NOW! Just press play on the (arrow icon) green player to listen to the full Karl ‘Dynamite’ Dargan Interview. (Please allow 10-15 seconds to buffer.)
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