Kavanagh ready for June 8th!

After a stellar amateur career, an eighteen year-old  Jamie Kavanagh  made a decision to pack up, cross the Atlantic ocean and test the waters in Los Angeles. With no real idea of what was in store, the Irish fighter soon found himself in Hollywood California at the world famous Wild Card Gym and in the ring, trading shots with names like Manny Pacquiao, Amir Khan and Jorge Linares.

5 years later, under the watchful eye of trainer Freddy Roach, the undefeated lightweight has racked up a record of 13 wins, 0 losses, 1 draw with 5 wins coming by way of knockout.

Kavanagh, 23 and still riding with his amateur trainer Sedano Ruiz recently made a trip out to Indio Ca. where he enlisted the Diaz brothers,  Joel and Antonio to help prepare for his upcoming bout on June 8th.

Though his opponent is still unknown, Kavanagh says:

“We’ve been training hard and we don’t care who it is.”

Standnfight’s Dominic Serna caught up with the fighter called “the Nuisance” just as he closed camp, here’s what he had to say:

DS: You have a fight coming up this Saturday, how has training camp been?

Kavanagh: Training camp is good. the first two weeks of training camp we were in Los Angeles and then made the move out here to Indio California to work with Joel and Antonio Diaz.

People were saying there’s nothing to do down here and there’s not a lot compared to Los Angeles. That’s true but as far as work goes, this is the best work I’ve had. I’m here for boxing, I’m in the states for boxing so if it’s going to help me, I’ll make the move.

DS: In L.A, is there a quite a bit of distractions?

Kavanagh: No, but there are distractions if you allow yourself to be distracted. I eat, train and sleep, and rest is a big factor in my training.

The weekend, yea there’s more to do (in L.A) but it’s not the end of the world. Like I said I’m here for the training.

DS: You had a stellar amateur career and made the move to the states as a pro, how was the move?

Kavanagh: Yea it was a big move and actually when I came here is when I turned professional because I didn’t know what I was going to do. Keep going as an amateur… I just came to try it out and I had a chance to work with Freddy Roach in L.A.

I signed a contract with Freddy and my manager and after that the team started to progress and it was like a snowball effect. Then I signed with Golden Boy and got great sparring from (the Wild Card) like Manny Pacquiao, Amir Khan, Jorge Linares, Steve Forbes, people that for me… I’m from Ireland, Ireland is a small little island. We only see them on TV and all of a sudden I’m in the ring, trading blows with them. It was a bit surreal.

DS: At any point did you feel it was going too fast and wanted to slow it down a little bit?

Kavanagh with Amateur trainer Sedano Ruiz

Kavanagh: uh.. yea but I had good people around me. My manager, my trainer (Sedano Ruiz) from Spain who made the move with me and my dad was here a lot and he was trying to keep my head screwed on. For a young kid, when I came here I was eighteen. Being here in Los Angeles, Hollywood and seeing famous people and big boxing names come into the gym… You can lose yourself.

DS: How has it been, being with your trainer for so long.

Kavanagh: I’ve been with him for thirteen years and I spend more time with him than I do my family or my girlfriend because he’s with me all the time. Not in that way (laughing). Nobody knows me like he does. He knows how to push the right buttons if I’m having a bad day and everybody should have that but not everyone is willing to sacrifices and come over here.

DS: A lot of boxers or trainers aren’t willing to incorporate other trainers into their camp but you made that choice with Freddy Roach and Joel Diaz, how do you feel about it?

Kavanagh: I’m luck to have a guy like him that’s willing to do it. Boxing is a sport and if you’re the trainer, you want to be the head trainer. Everyone is not willing to work with everyone so..

Like I said, I’ve spent a lot of time with him and he’s like a father figure but the important part is; he’s not my dad. He doesn’t cross that point.

DS: You’re scheduled to fight this Saturday on the undercard of Marcos Maidana vs Jose’sito Lopez, what do you know about your opponent?

Kavanagh: My opponent, I don’t know. We’re still trying to find an opponent because there has been an issue with the opponent but I’m ready for whoever, whenever. We’ve been training hard and we don’t care who it is.

DS: What’s it like fighting under the Golden Boy banner?

Kavanagh: It’s been great. I was the first Irish guy to sign with them and that’s great.

DS: What’s it like when you return home?

Kavanagh: It’s good. Everyone is congratulating me. everyone kinda wants to be around me but I stick to my family. I’m a humble person and I’ll do anything for anyone but like I said, when i’m here I train, train, train and when I get home It’s time to relax.

DS: Anything you’d like to say to your fans?

Kavanagh: Just thanks for continuing to watch me. My twitter is @JamieKavanagh90 or my Facebook, you can hit me up there or ask questions.