Status at time of interview: WBO Welterweight champion.

Ht: 5-11 Wt: 147

DOB: March 18, 1978 In: Tijuana, Mexico

Childhood Heroes: “Tom and Jerry [laughter]. In boxing - Julio Cesar Chavez.”

Nicknames: “Tony The Silencer - my manager (Sergio Diaz) is trying to give me that nickname, because he says my punches are silent but deadly.”

Hobbies/Interests: “I like to go to movies. Go out to eat and be around my wife (Michelle) all the time.”

Early Boxing Memory: “When I was young my father used to take me to go watch fights and he used to take me to go watch Julio Cesar Chavez. And the one thing that I will never forget - and I still have a photo of it - is when I was young, Chavez got me and sat me on his leg. And my father took a picture of me with Julio Cesar Chavez (age 9).”

First Job: ” Selling newspapers - El Negro (age 9).”

First Car: “Toyota Tercel.”

Favorite Meal: “It’s a Mexican dish - it’s boli boldi - a ground meat soup.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “I like all ice cream.”

Pre-Fight Feeling: “I’m thinking about winning. The strategy of getting ready for this fight. And getting ready for what I expect his strategy will be.”

Childhood Dream: “I dreamt about becoming a champion. My father used to tell me, If you’re gonna do this business, don’t be in it for the money like everybody else. Be in it because you want to become a champion.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “Winning that world title (TKO 10 Antonio Diaz in 2002). But now I want all the titles. That’s the memory, that’s the greatest moment I want now.”

Most Painful Moment: “I fought in Texas and the day before I fought, my manager called me and told me my brother was murdered. And I still fought. My body was there but my mind was with my brother.”

Favorite Boxers To Watch: “Julio Cesar Chavez and Oscar de la Hoya - who have won a lot of different titles.”

Favorite Fights: “The first fight between Julio Cesar Chavez and Oscar de la Hoya. As a Mexican, I had a lot of pride seeing Chavez going against the Golden Boy. And unfortunately, Chavez lost. But that’s one of my biggest favorite fights.”

Funny Boxing Memory: “I’ve never really laughed at any funny moments in boxing. But I do smirk when fighters are fighting and when they want to quit, they turn around and they give their back to a fighter. One thing I’ll never do is that.”

On Being Ducked by Floyd: “Gayweather, excuse me, Mayweather is ducking me because he knows I’m the bigger and stronger of the two. I’ve been told that he won’t fight me because of the trouble he had with Castillo. That is not true, I really believe he would fight me if he felt I was another Castillo. He won’t fight me because he knows I don’t fight like Castillo. I will knock that “Pretty Girl” out!”

On Sparring with Oscar: “I did spar with Oscar, but I used him as my sparring partner. Oscar and his trainer wanted me to be their dummy. They would tell me to let him hit me, not to throw any punches. Then I would be told to throw at him, but not hard while he was throwing hard. I’m a person with a short temper, all this was only making me furious, so naturally, I would let go of my punches with power. On two different occasions I made him bleed. Once from the nose and the other time from the ear. Unfortunately, both times they sent me back down.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “I admire everybody the same. Honesty is a big thing. People that are honest to me, I respect them a lot.”