Mike Arnaoutis: “I am a volcano ready to erupt!”
 Interview conducted by Benny Henderson Jr - A.K.A "Big Dog" (Nov 15, 2006) Photo © Tom Casino/SHOWTIME
With five years, 86 rounds, 19 fights and 17 wins under his belt, the moment of truth is at hand for the undefeated junior welterweight contender ‘Mighty’ Mike Arnaoutis, 17-0-2 (9), who takes on the once beaten Columbian Ricardo Torres, 29-1 (27), in a 12-round WBO junior welterweight title clash this Saturday night, November 18th (9 PM ET / 6 PM PT) ,at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, NV live on the HBO Pay-Per-View televised undercard to Manny Pacquiao vs. Erik Morales III.
The Greek southpaw has ‘ooh-ed’ and ‘ahh-ed’ the fight world with some entertaining throw downs in his time as a professional fighter. He earned this title shot with a list of fallen foes that include Jesse Feliciano (TKO 1) which earned him the WBO NABO light welterweight strap, Jose Moreno (KO 1) and Roberto Cruz (MD 10). The 140-pound sensation is ready to put an exclamation point on his climb to the top with a win this Saturday night, and a win he guarantees.
As he prepares for his championship match-
up, Arnaoutis took the time to speak to the Doghouse and gives his thoughts on his upcoming match-up. Enjoy.
Benny Henderson Jr.: Give us your thoughts on your championship match-up against Ricardo Torres.
Mike Arnaoutis: I am thankful and very honored to have the opportunity to fight on such a big stage for the world title and that my management company has made that happen. I am just happy. I can’t put it into words.
BH: You are facing a massive power puncher in Torres. He has knocked out all but three that he’s fought. How does his power affect your fight plan in this fight and is it a major concern?
MA: There is always a danger when fighting punchers but I am the matador and you know what a matador does to a bull. He puts a sword straight between his eyes and takes him out and that’s what’s going out happen. My shots are going to take him out. It doesn’t matter how big of a puncher he is or what he does. He is going down.
BH: How much do you feel you have grown as a fighter this past year or so?
MA: I came to America and Cestus Management groomed me and made me into a professional athlete and made me think like a professional person. I understand where I am at and I just developed into what I am. You know what I am.
BH: What are your thoughts on the 140-pound division and its major players and even more so, where do you see ‘Mighty’ Mike in this crop?
MA: The 140-pound division is a group of good fighters but I will dominate them as soon as I win this title. I will keep going and keep progressing and you all know what I can do and I am going to do it even better once I pick the title up. You will see what is going to happen.
BH: If victorious over Torres, what will be next in line for yourself?
Mike Michael: Not ‘if’ we beat Torres, but ‘when’ we beat Torres, we won’t sit back. Our major goal is to defend the title as much as we can. We do not want to sit there and be an inactive champion, fight twice to a max of three times a year. We want to go back to the old school which is defend, defend, defend and whoever is put in front of us, we will beat them. We want to be a true champion who the fans can see defend his title and not be in hibernation like a bear.
BH: If you could send a message out to the fight world, what would it be?
MA: Get ready because I am a volcano getting ready to erupt.
BH: Anything in closing?
MA: First of all, thank you, Benny for interviewing me and always taking the time out to do so. Secondly, I want to thank my management company who has been with me for so long, Cestus Management. Thirdly, we will speak again when I have the belt around my waist after Saturday night.
Mike Michael: As a company, we have worked and groomed Mike Arnaoutis. We have worked hard and whatever we needed to do, we are proud of our achievement and we are proud that Mike is even challenging for a world title. We want to thank everybody that has participated with us along the road. We want to thank everybody that was good to us and even bad to us. We thank you. We just want to thank everybody.
I would like to thank Mike Michael of Cestus Management and Mike Arnaoutis for their time and thoughts.
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