Interview with Matt "Sharp shooter" Remillard!!!

At just 23 years of age Matt "Sharp Shooter" Remillard is one of the brightest talents to not only emerge from the featherweight division but to emerge from any of the boxing ranks. He currently holds a unblemished record winning all of his nineteen fights, eleven inside the distance taking the WBC Youth Featherweight title and NABF title along the way.

You would be entitled to think that Matt is a natural for the sport, who maybe boxed from a very young age and grew up training and honing his skills in the gym but you would be mistaken to think so.

Throughout his early life Matt grew up a very angry young man who got into a lot of trouble while hanging out with the wrong kind of crowd like many of the youth's today and things could have taken a very different route for Matt. He wasn't even interested in boxing until one day when he was at the age of 13 a local police officer by the name of Anthony DeJulis walked him through the doors of Manchester PAL gym to perform some community service for various indiscretions on Matt's part.

Not wanting to take it easy on the young tearaway, trainer Paul Cichon gave Matt some of the worst jobs in the gym in the hope it could possibly take the chip of his shoulder, these jobs included amongst others, cleaning the bathrooms, carrying spit buckets and vacuuming the gym from top to bottom. Many thought that this would have been enough to drive the youngster away from boxing and back into the streets of Manchester, Connecticut but it had a reverse effect and after a time trainers around the gym sensed a change in his attitude and witnessed a willingness to learn. After a couple of weeks of Matt continually asking if he could box, Paul finally gave in and I suppose you could say a star was born.

The change in attitude was evident from that moment on and was highlighted in 2000 when Matt was urged by his two friends to join them on a joy ride in a stolen car. In the past he may have jumped in the back seat but he was a changed person and instead decided to hit the gym. Later he found out the news that those same two friends had been involved in a car accident which rendered one paraplegic, and the other in jail, later committing suicide.

Due to that very decision, Matt is now on the road to a world championship instead of in Jail or maybe worse. For those of you that are yet see him fight let me be the first to say "You really need to check this guy out".

We caught up with Matt and his co-trainer Iceman John Scully last week where he gave us this great Interview.

So Matt, let’s start from the beginning, could you tell us how you got started in boxing?

I got started in boxing in early 2000 after getting in trouble hanging out with the wrong crowd. I made the right decision to stay in the gym one day when I was walking to the boxing gym and one of my buddies that I had got in trouble with pulled me over to talk while he was driving a random car that I knew was probably stolen or borrowed for a joy ride. I told him I wanted to change and start doing something for my future. He kinda laughed and drove off. Later that night I found out that after he left from talking to me, he had a bad crash and was paralyzed for life. I knew then that I had to change for the better and boxing was a way out for me. I have been in the gym ever since, you can call me a gym rat.

I would describe my style as a boxer puncher. I know whenever the tough gets going that I can dig down and overcome whatever is in front of me. I have been working on my boxing skills a little more because I already know I can bang if I have too. I have only shown my boxing skills in maybe 2 or 3 fights, the main one against Mauricio Pastrana. Utilizing my movement and jab is going to allow me to fight the bigger names and stay in the game longer. I do realize that you have to hit without being hit.

Right off the bat I would say the left hook to the body but the more I think about it I would my say my jab. It as been getting better with each fight and something I work on everyday. I try to use the jab as not only a way to set up my other punches but also as a weapon that is just as strong as my right hand.

My strengths would have to be that I am always in shape. I get better as the rounds increase and just love the sport. I try to stay in the gym as much as possible because you never know when you might get a phone call. Each fight I feel I am getting stronger and learning more. I feel that my weaknesses are limited and that I sometimes like to fight and stay in the pocket too long. The longer the fight goes and the later the rounds I feel benefit me more.

The biggest influence would have to be my family. I work hard for them because they have supported me through everything. They knew I was heading in the wrong direction as a kid but they stuck by me. They traveled to see every single amateur and pro fight and I had over 150 amateur fights. One day I will give back to them and help them the way they did with me. My father works over 80 hours a week and it would be great if I could take some of that stress away.

You compiled an impressive amateur record of 115 wins with only 12 losses but your trainer Paul Cichon stated recently that he always believed your style was more suited to the professional ranks. Why do you think this is?

The amateurs is more about who can through the most punches in the round. I guess I picked my punches too much. I didn't like to just throw punches unless they had a chance to land. Being only 3 or 4 rounds in the amateurs wasn't enough time for me to be effective the way I wanted to be. I definitely agree that my style was more suited for the pros and it didn't take me long to get used to the transition.

You have said in past interviews that if it wasn’t for boxing you would probably be dead or in jail. Could you elaborate on this?

Like I said before the friends I hung around with weren't that great of a crowd. If I had got into that car that night who would of known what would of happened to me. My other buddy spent one night in jail and decided to hang himself with his t- shirt in prison. I learned that my friends of the past weren't really friends. I just needed a little help in changing the path I was on. My team and family are a big part of why I straightened my life out.

Boxing saved your life in many ways and this couldn’t have been more so in 2000 where I understand two friends of yours was involved in a bad car accident after crashing a stolen car while joyriding. This resulted in one of them being rendered paraplegic and the other later committed suicide by hanging himself in jail. I also understand that you turned down their attempts to go with them instead opting to go to the gym. Is this something that you often think about?

I think about it on the way to the gym a lot. On days I feel like not going to the gym or going for a run. I actually see the kid sometimes in his wheel chair. We don't speak but kind of just give each other a look to let each other know we see each other. I just hope he learned from the experience and that god is giving him a second chance that most people don't even get.

At the time of writing your professional record stands at an impressive 19-0-0 with 11 of those wins coming by way of knockout. Throughout these wins you have taken both the WBC Youth World super featherweight & NABF featherweight titles. What so far is your greatest career accomplishment?

I would have to say that winning my first Youth Title in my home town was the greatest experience. I went ten rounds for the first time and broke my left wrist so early in the fight. I overcame it and did what I had to do to win a UD. Every fight is an accomplishment to me, I am just blessed to be given the chance to fight for the WBC. They have been very good to me and I appreciate all the opportunities.

Congratulations on your win last time out where you beat a very good fighter in Rafael Lora who at the time held a record of 11 wins without defeat. What did you know of Lora before the fight and what was your game plan going in?

I didn't know very much about Rafeal Lora other than he was a good fighter and better than his record showed. He was a little wild at times but had a pretty good boxing background. I don't take any fighter lightly and train for everything that can happen in a fight. Its the only way I can have a clear mind walking to the ring and feeling confident.

Who’s up next? Has anyone been mentioned for your next fight or maybe someone you would like to be matched against?

I haven't heard too much about what's next for me at this time. There is talk about me fighting in November which would be great. I feel that I have the best Manager ( Bret Hallenback ) and promoters ( TKO promotions ) and trust them with my career. Whoever they feel I should fight I will trust my team. I am a fighter and feel that I would get in the ring with anyone giving the right opportunity and if the team think its the best move.

Right now I don't have a certain dream match. I would like to fight a seasoned veteran that would show me things I haven't seen before. A hard 10 round fight that would prepare me for the champions in my division and force me to overcome adversity.
The featherweight division is a hot one at the moment with the likes of Chris John, Elios Rojas, Steven Luevano and Yuriorkis Gamboa applying their trade.

Who would you say is top fighter of the division at the moment (excluding you of course)?

Right now in that list I would have to say that Steven Luevano is probably the toughest fighter. A very slick south paw who to me is under rated in the divison. Yuriokis Gamboa is also a tough fighter but hasn't been tested against the elite yet and makes a lot of mistakes that can be covered up by his speed and power hence the reason he has hit the canvas a number of times. I think Chris John will start having more appearances in the United States after his two fights with Rocky Juarez where he looked pretty good. I haven't seen too much of Elio Rojas other than he is a pretty slick boxer. All and all the division is full of talent and great matches.

Did you catch Gamboa’s performance on the weekend? If so what did you make of it?

I didn't see the fight but I did see a few clips of it. I think once the guy tasted his power he got right out of his game plan and kinda folded. Gamboa will definitely overwhelm you if you let him which he has done a great job so far with his opponents.

Manny Pacquiao will take on Miguel Cotto in November and I have asked a few boxers their take on the fight. Many are claiming that either Manny is too fast or Cotto is too big as their overall deciding factors. How do you think the fight will unfold?

I think that Manny is pound for pound the best fighter. I just think he will be too fast for Cotto and maybe even be a little stronger because of the way he throws his combinations. Its going to be an interesting fight and I just think Pacquiao will come out on top and maybe even stop Miguel Cotto. Cotto just hasn't faced anyone as fast or with the movement Pacquiao is going to bring in November. I would like to see Mosley fight the winner. A fighter who is just as fast as Manny and with similar speed and movement.

I have read that you have sparred with Manny Pacquiao in Los Angeles. What was that experience like and what did you take from it?

Sparring with Manny was great. I took in every moment of it. After leaving Wild Card and coming back home it gave me a new look at how to train and prepare for a fight. I only had a few fights back then and I hope to get the chance to work again with him and some of Roach's team. I had also worked with Isreal Vasquez while I was there.

Do you think that Manny is still the number one Pound 4 Pound king at the moment or do you believe Floyd Mayweather was able to step into that spot when he dismantled Juan Manuel Marquez last month?

I would still have to go with Manny Pound for Pound. Maybe they will get a showdown together and everyone can see who is the Pound for Pound but right now I would say that Floyd is right below Manny.

I know that you are co trained by our good friend “Iceman” John Scully and it is down to him that I managed to get this interview. What is it like working with John and what has he added as a trainer?

Working with John has been great. He knows how to get in my head and focus me like no other person can. I don't know what he does but it works for me. He's fought before and experienced everything that I feel before and during a fight. He has shown me that a jab is not only to set up punches but also a weapon. I am just starting to work with him more and everything is going smooth. He shows me what I need to know before making the step up to world class competition.

You have fought a high level of competition so far in your career including Lora, Pastrana and Jose Hernandez. Which fight so far as been your most difficult bout? And why?

I would say that my hardest fight would have to of been Pastrana. It was more mental tough then anything physical. I used my jab and actually boxed that fight. He was very strong and was actually talking to me the whole fight to bang with him. I had to stay in control and fight in spurts. I think without my corner that night I maybe would of listened to Pastrana and maybe had a different outcome.

When you retire the boxing, What would you have liked to have achieved e.g. Unified World Champion, Multi Weight world champion, P4P King etc?

My dream is to become World Champion. After that I can set bigger goals but my main focus is becoming Featherweight Champion of the world. Everything after that is just a bonus. I know what I can do and how I can fight that with the team I have now my goal is very achievable.

Is there anything you would like to say to the readers of TopClassBoxing and your fight fans around the world?

I want to thank my family and friends, my whole team, and TopClassBoxing for taking the time for the interview. Remember my name and I truly believe 2010 will be my year to come out and surprise people. Thank You again.

On leaving I just want to Thank both yourself and John for making this Interview possible and wish you all the very best for the future with many world titles along the way.

"Iceman" John Scully as many of you will have already guessed is a great friend of ours here at TopClassBoxing and the one responsible for getting me this great Interview with Matt. Ice is the man responsible for co-training Matt so as the old saying goes "I thought why not kill two birds with one stone?" and decided to ask Ice his thoughts on the young fighter and his prediction for the upcoming super fight between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto. This is what the great man had to say:

Every fighter in the world needs to work on things in the gym. What kind of things are you going through with Matt at the moment?

On my end, I tend to work with Matt on the technical aspects of boxing and the mental aspects of boxing. I focus on his balance, on his distribution of weight when he throws his punches, on the placement of his feet when he lets them go. I focus on the mental hurdles he will meet when certain situations will arise. Those are kind of like my areas of expertise when it comes to him and that's what I focus on.

I think there are so many guys out there in his division across the world and the thing is that the landscape can change on an almost daily basis depending on how the other guys are doing in their careers. For me I think Matt is at that point where I'd like to see him matched with a former champion or former top contender in a ten or twelve round fight. Kind of like a test run for a fight with a current young champion.

For me, I think that Freddy roach is a master strategist and that he has a man in Manny who can follow his plans with almost surgical precision. I think Manny has the speed and the explosiveness and especially the accuracy to take advantage of Cotto's aggressiveness. I think his speed and very direct -almost laser beam like punches- will completely catch Cotto by surprise and that Manny will win the fight.

All depends on who he fights and how he does against them. I would like to think and assume that he will be in the top 5 at some point but there's a lot of things that have to happen before that happens. If he keeps doing his part, which is to keep training unbelievably hard and stay unbelievably focused, then it is a very real possibility.

My only plan is to keep working on his boxing skills and his mental strength. He has a very dedicated coach in Paul Cichon who is with him most days and he has a great manager in Bret Hallenbeck who takes care of things on the business end and so far he's doing a very, very good job so whatever he brings to us is pretty much what will happen. I am assuming that 2010 is going to be the most exciting year of Matt's career, though.

Thank you John. For all your help with the Interview and I wish you every success for the future.

If you are involved in boxing in some way and have an interest in doing an Interview with us at TopClassBoxing. Please email me your name and email address to Paul@TopClassBoxing.co.uk.