Sunday, August 20, 2000
Five Questions with: TIM AUSTIN
By Mike Mudd
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Cincinnati's Tim Austin solidified his spot as one of the world's best 118-pound boxers last weekend in Las Vegas.
His dominant 12-round victory over top contender Arthur Johnson was Austin's fifth defense of his International Boxing Federation bantamweight title he won in 1997 and improved his record to 21-0-1.
After training in Florida for two years, the 29-year-old Austin is back in Cincinnati, where he has gotten engaged and reacquainted himself with his boxing roots by hanging out at the Shamrock Boxing Gym in Covington. He took time this week to answer some questions:
1. Now that you're based back home, any chance you may hold a title fight in Cincinnati?
I definitely want to bring a fight home to the people who have supported me. My managers tell me it's going to happen, I just have to be patient. I hope it would be received well. I think fans have a hard time supporting a champion in such a small weight class as mine. For boxing to get popular here, we need a heavyweight champion. People relate and rally around a heavyweight more. Larry (Larry Donald, a Cincinnati heavyweight fighter) needs to win a title.
< 2. Heard you've been working out with Cincinnati boxing legend Aaron Pryor. What has Pryor been helping you with?
I've always respected Aaron. Aaron's helped me on tactics and putting punches together, and also keeps me motivated and focused. He's given me advice on how to be a professional, how to handle changes in my career. He's been very important to my development.
3. In the movie Rocky, Sylvester Stallone's title character had a training routine that included breaking open several eggs and drinking the yolk out of a glass. Do you have any off-the-wall training habits that seem to work for you?
Actually, it's funny, I saw that movie when I was young and it inspired me to start drinking eggs. Never thought doing that helped me physically, but mentally I thought I was tougher, because I had the courage to drink something like that. Then I learned how bad eggs are for you, and I stopped. Now I do Zen-type things. I like to meditate, talk to myself. This a pressure business. Doing this helps me control my nerves and improve my balance.
4. You won a bronze medal in the 1992 Olympics, and now you have a world title belt. Is one of them more important than the other?
Nothing compares to my Olympic medal. It's my biggest prize. That set the stage for my career. The Olympic experience made me stronger, gave me encouragement for my pro career. The world title is nice, but it was all set up by what I built at the Olympics. Nothing would take the place of my medal.
5. You said your next goal is to unify the bantamweight titles and prove you're the best in the division. But is there one opponent out there that would be a dream fight for you?
I'm very happy with where I'm at in my career, but I only have so much time left in this business. So without a doubt — Prince Naseem Hamed! (126-pound champion) He's the biggest challenge out there. He's a strong guy. He can punch hard. That would be my toughest fight. I would want to do it because it's a big challenge, but the nice money you get from fighting the Prince would be nice, too, of course.
FUTURE PLANS?
During his 12-round decision victory last weekend, the Showtime network touted Cincinnati's Tim Austin as the “best kept secret in boxing.”
Here are some suggested future opponents for Austin:
• Paulie Ayala (bantamweight): Not a big name himself, but a bit more known than Austin because last year he upset former 118-pound champion Johnny Tapia. Ayala (WBA champ) is out of Texas and would test Austin with an aggressive, hard-nosed style he hasn't yet faced.
• Johnny Tapia (bantamweight): Tapia has been a big player in boxing's smaller weight divisions for years and is renown for his tough chin, tenacious offense and stunning knockouts. Problem is, criminal charges now have clouded his future. But if Tapia can return in strong form, an Austin-Tapia match would be the best at 118 pounds in more than a decade.
• Erik Morales (super bantamweight): Morales, from Mexico, awaits one division above at 122 pounds and the undefeated WBC champ has emerged as one ofthe best pound-for-pound action guys between 115 and 135 pounds. Showed he can deliver and take punches as well as anyone in a memorable split decision victory over fellow 122-pounder Marco Antonio Barrera in February.
• Eric Morel (flyweight): A '96 Olympian who earlier this month won his first pro title at 112 pounds. Like Austin, he's a left-hander blessed with a lot of speed and is very crafty around the ring. Morel will likey move up in weight, and it would be a treat to see these two ducking and feinting each other, sticking hard jabs in as they go and displaying some of the best skills in the business.
• Prince Naseem Hamed (featherweight): The Prince, at 126 pounds, is the pinnacle payday for any fighter within 10 pounds of him. This is well within Austin's reach if he decides to move up in weight, and providing the Prince would risk fighting someone as talented as Austin.
Sports Stories
Grand opening for Paul Brown Stadium
Bengals 24, Bears 20
Warrick promises more leaps into crowd
Warrick familiar with reverse
Bengals finally capitalize in red zone
Players: Opening night 'electrifying'
Bears-Bengals Stats
Stadium chow gets standing ovation
SULLIVAN: Bengals give fans hope
DAUGHERTY: The Man focuses on The Game
BRONSON: Thank you, Mike Brown
List of 'firsts' at Paul Brown Stadium
Opening Game Notebook
Reds 7, Pirates 1
Box, runs
Bichette sheds goat horns
Five outs no sweat for Reyes
Reds' 'Doc Hollywood' likes inside view
UC defense dominates scrimmage
