Mehdi Bouadla (26-4, 11 KOs) will be traveling to Nuremberg, Germany next week with a lot of self-confidence. The man from France will take on WBO Super-Middleweight World Champion Arthur Abraham (35-3, 27KOs) on December 15. And the 30-year-old is prepared to cause a big upset in his first world title bout. Although his training schedule keeps him very busy, he managed to take out some time for a quick interview.
Mehdi Bouadla, you are currently riding on a wave of success. You won all of your last four fights. How are you feeling ahead of December 15?
Mehdi Bouadla: Of course, I am feeling really good. My last bouts all went to my full satisfaction. But I will feel a lot better once December 15 is over and I am able to wear that WBO Belt around my waist.
The last time you found yourself on the losing side of a fight was against Denmark’s Mikkel Kessler back in June 2011. What went wrong for you back then?
Mehdi Bouadla: Kessler, who was boxing in front of his home crowd, was the better boxer that night. It is as simple as that.
Did you learn any valuable lessons from that fight, something that might help you against Arthur Abraham?
Mehdi Bouadla: Kessler and Abraham are two real champions. But that is the only thing they have in common. Of course, I took something out of the fight in Copenhagen, but I was a good boxer before that night anyways. The bout against Abraham will be something completely different, as his style is completely different to Kessler’s. The preparation for Nuremberg is going really well. The training is very intense but that is the way it is supposed to be.
Where do you see the strengths as well as the weaknesses of your opponent?
Mehdi Bouadla: I know that it won’t be easy against Abraham. He has tons of experience and participated in many world title fights. Therefore, he knows what the pressure feels like. You will understand that I cannot talk about his weaknesses. I will reveal them to everyone watching the fight on December 15.
What will your days leading up to the big night look like for you?
Mehdi Bouadla: We have almost completed my sparring and will travel to Germany on Tuesday. Once we get there, I will try to relax and just keep my focus. But it is always like that ahead of a fight. It has become part of my routine.
What kind of person are you outside of the squared circle? What do you like to do during your spare time?
Mehdi Bouadla: When I am not inside the gym of my hometown of Aulnay sous Bois, I like to be around my family and friends. There is nothing better than surrounding yourself with your loved ones. I also enjoy watching good movies and sports in general.
What will be the outcome of the world championship bout on December 15? Will it go the distance?
Mehdi Bouadla: Unfortunately, I can’t predict the future so I am not able to tell you the way the fight will end. But I can promise you one thing: I will definitely give it my all. No matter if the fight goes the distance or not. I will push him from start to finish.
