Cory Spinks and his team left their families and friends behind several weeks ago and headed to Las Vegas to prepare for Saturday night’s highly anticipated rematch with Zab Judah. At the press conference to formally announce the fight, Cory’s manager and trainer Kevin Cunningham explained that they always train out of town to focus and eliminate distractions. I spoke with Kevin as he and Cory were preparing to break camp and return for the biggest fight of their careers.
First off, how has training camp been going?
Kevin Cunningham: It’s been going great. Everything’s right on schedule. The training camp for this fight has been great.
How important is it for you to hold him up a little at this point so that he doesn’t leave too much in the gym?
KC: Well, you know, that comes from experience ( a trainer knowing what to do with his fighter. To answer your question, yes, it’s extremely important to know when your fighter is peaking.
Is your strategy for the rematch different from your strategy for the first fight with Judah?
KC: Yeah, we’ve got a couple of new twists, you know, without divulging our strategy. We’ve got a couple of twists we’re going to throw in there.
Do you foresee a problem keeping Cory focused as he performs on such a big stage in his backyard?
KC: No, I don’t think it will be a problem. Cory’s a pro’s pro. He’s used to being on the big stage and he’s used to fighting in St. Louis in front of his friends. He’s a cool customer. He’s focused and he’s prepared. So, no, that’s not going to be a problem.
How pleased are you with the terrific ticket sales for the fight?
KC: Oh, man, we’re overwhelmed. Cory and I are deeply appreciative to the fans. We’re die-hard St. Louisians, and we try to represent St. Louis every time we step out of the dressing room and everywhere we go. The fans have shown their appreciation for Cory, and Cory is going to show his appreciation for them with his performance on Saturday night.
Do you have a message to pass on to the fans back home?
KC: Yeah. We’ve heard that ticket sales are moving great, but if you don’t have a ticket, get down to the Savvis Center or call Ticketmaster. Don’t wait until the last minute. Make sure you’re on time and in your seat and strap on your seatbelts, because Cory’s going to take you for a ride.
