Status: Junior Welterweight contender.

Childhood Heroes: “Muhammad Ali, Arturo Gatti, Roy Jones, Pernell Whitaker, Floyd Mayweather - as I got older. Love all stylistic boxers.”

Nicknames: “I have two fight nicknames right now - The Magic Man and The Dead End Kid. People choose whichever one they want.”

Hobbies/Interests: “I just like to really chill out. When I’m not training and I get a chance to hang out, I like to go to clubs, go to bars, watch TV, just the same stuff everybody else does. I’m no different than anybody else.”

Favorite Movies: “Braveheart. Other than that, I like those mob movies like Scarface, Goodfellas.”

Favorite TV Shows: “Growing up, I like Diff’rent
Strokes, Fresh Prince, stuff like that.”

Musical Tastes: “Mostly hip-hop but also a little bit of rock.”

Early Boxing Memory: “My first live fight was eight years ago - Kevin Kelley-Naseem Hamed. I just started boxing then. I didn’t have any fights yet. I bought a ticket and went by myself. I had a great time that night. It made me really want to do it even more. I had just started doing it. And it made me look forward to being here, in this situation I have now. I told myself I’d be here one day. There was no doubt in my mind. I knew this was gonna happen. And being here now it makes it that much sweeter.”

Pre-Fight Feeling: “Really focused. I’m not really thinking about anything. Just staying relaxed and staying focused and doing what I’ve got to do.”

First Job: “Was in a pizza kitchen when I was 15.”

First Car: “Was a 2001 Ford Mustang, yellow. I didn’t have a car until I turned pro. I couldn’t afford anything [smiles].”

Favorite Meal: “Pasta.”

Favorite Breakfast Cereal: “Fruity Pebbles.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Vanilla.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “Thus far, winning the U.S. championships as an amatuer (2001 in Colorado Springs vs. Louis Merced). I was ranked number one in the country as an amateur. And probably right now, getting this opportunity to fight for that world championship.”

Most Painful Moment: “Breaking my hands.”

Favorite Boxers To Watch: “Nowadays I like Floyd Mayweather. He’s my favorite fighter right now. Arturo Gatti, obviously. I love him.”

Childhood Dream: “I really didn’t know what I wanted to be when I was young. I was all over the place. I wasn’t sure where I was gonna go as a kid.”

Funny Boxing Memory: “My first time sparring when I was 16, I was so excited that I was finally gonna get to spar that I went to get the equipment, I got the cup and I put it on my head. And I was asking my trainer, How do I put this on?! And it was a cup [smiles]. He’s like, Man, that’s a cup, not a headgear. I was like, Oh, that’s why it doesn’t fit right [smiles].”

Favorite Vacation Spot: “I like cruises. That’s probably the best. Cruises take you to a lot of different places. Also, Italy. Sicily. I’m from Sicily, so Sicily definitely has to be the one.”

Favorite Fights: “The Gatti-Ward trilogy. Chavez-Taylor I. And Corrales-Castillo.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “Honesty - that’s the most important quality. I don’t like people that pretend to be who they’re not.”