Status: Heavyweight contender

Ht: 6-1 Wt: 225

Born On: August 19, 1972 In: Fort Dodge, Iowa

Childhood Hero: “Marvin Hagler.”

Nickname: “Lil Ali -when I was a kid.”

Hobbies/Interests: “Drumming, I play drums. My wife and my kids.”

Favorite Movies: “Life with Eddie Murphy. And American Presidents I. I’m a film freak. I like old Cheech and Chong films, old Benny Hills [laughs]. I’m going deep man.”

Musical Tastes: “I love everything. I listen to a lot of salsa and merengue. And I’m into country music now. Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, Tito Puente, Tito Nieves, Kumbia Kings.”

Favorite TV Show: “Discovery Channel.”

Early Boxing Memory: “Saturday’s ABC, watching the fights on Saturdays with my dad…Marvin Hagler, John Mugabi, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, Dwight Qawi, Alexis Arguello, Aaron Pryor…I mean, I’ve been in boxing my whole life. My dad’s a huge fan, boxing trainer. Even though I didn’t want to, I had to watch the fights. My childhood memories are sitting down on Saturday afternoon watchign boxing with my dad.”

Pre-Fight Feeling: “I’m on a whole ‘nother trip baby. Focused. I’m here doing this, but I’m really not. I’ve had Attila Levin on my mind for 3 1/2 months. My subconscious is always thinking. I’m in the shower throwing punches, don’t even know it. My wife walks in, Wwwhat are you doing? I’m constantly working this fight out in my mind. Thinking about how to be better. Don’t lax. I get bored in fights. Boxing after two or three rounds, I’ve figured him out, beat him up a little bit, I get bored, thinking about what I’m gonna do after this. Boom! Then I get clipped. Oh, shit, now it’s a fight again. You know what I mean? Can’t have these kind of lapses. So I’m constantly reminding myself to stay in the fight. Stay motivated. Do what I was trained to do.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “Still looking for it.”

Most Painful Moment: “Take your pick, man. I’ve fought some tough guys. Tough guys (including Marion Wilson, Frankie Swindell, Larry Donald, Bert Cooper, Everton Davis, Jesse Ferguson, Henry Akinwande, Maurice Harris, Ron Guerrero, Gilbert Martinez, Al Cole, Andre Purlett.).”

Funny Boxing Memory: “Oh, I was fighting David Tua. No, not David Tua. A really short…his name escapes me now. He was a good light heavyweight, came up to heavyweight. In Philly I think. We’re fighting. And I hit him, Boom! And he turns over. And it’s on ESPN - and he spits out a few teeth. And I look over, he looks over, like everybody looks this way. The camera looks over to the ring…and you see teeth on the ground. And Al Bernstein says, He spit out some teeth. It was the funniest shit ever. I remember going back and watching the tape and laughing my ass off. So funny.”

Favorite Meal: “Arroz con pollo (rice and chicken).”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Coffee.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “I like just good people. I’m a people person. So I like people.”