About.... Urbano is the youngest of four children born to Urbano and Amelia Antillon. He is a Mexican born fighter who started boxing at an early age. He was known as a decent amateur although only staying in the ranks for just 40 fights before deciding to dip his toe into the waters of the professional ranks. Since that day he hasn't looked back and today is known as one of the best fighters within the Lightweight division holding a record of twenty six wins with just one defeat. His style hasn't gone unnoticed by the world best trainers either who have knocked on Urbano's door to employ his services as a main sparring partner to some of today's best fighters including the great Manny Pacquiao and the hard hitting Edwin Valero. He is a very skilled rough and tough kind of fighter that is not afraid to go toe to toe with anyone throughout the boxing world with many around his gym in Maywood commenting on his style with a particular word being mentioned repeatedly, that reoccuring word is "Strong" and many have commented on how much strength Urbano possesses. The current Pound 4 Pound king Manny Pacquiao told reporters recently when asked about Urbano “He’s a good fighter, a strong fighter,” with Alfredo Angulo also stating the same sentiment “He’s very strong,” We caught up with him last week to set up an Exclusive Interview with us here at TopClassBoxing. Interview.... So Urbano, let’s start from the beginning. How did you get involved in boxing? My father working in construction at the time had my brother German and I into taekwondo (martial arts). Due to a rainy season the monthly payment for teakwondo was a little difficult for my father to pay. There was a free boxing gym next door to the teakwondo. So boxing it was. Never did I think that it would become more than a after school activity. Who influenced you the most to become a boxer? The people that influenced me the most to be a boxer were the local professional fighters. Some by the names of Genaro “Chicanito” Hernandez , “Sugar” Shane Mosley, Carlos Hernandez, David Kamau, Jorge “el maromero” Paez, “cobra” Alejandra Gonzalez. These were some of the many fighters who I had the opportunity to see train in the same gym where I trained for many years. I even had some sparring sessions with some. So I believe that had a huge influence in what I wanted to due when I grew up. You are a boxer of Mexican decent and I understand your parents came from Namiquipa, Chihuahua in Mexico and it’s easy to see within the ring the Mexican way of fighting. How do you believe you came to fight this way? Was it taught to you by Mexican trainers or your family or do you believe that way of fighting is something that is in the family genes? I really don’t have an explanation for my style of fighting. My brother German and I had the same trainer and had completely different styles. It's just the way that I would always fight. Even as a kid fighting in the school playground. I would always fight coming forward. The people of Maywood in California hold you in very high regard and support you whenever you fight. What does it mean to you to get that kind of support? The support given by the people from Maywood is unbelievable and very motivating. I have had fights anywhere from New Mexico, Nevada, Texas, Arizona , Mexico and I have always had a great following. For that I am very thankful and truly blessed. Can you tell us about your days as an amateur fighter? Could you tell us what your amateur record stood at before you turned professional and which of the fights throughout those amateur days were your most satisfying? As an amateur I was just an average fighter. Nothing special. I wasn’t fast, strong or even a great boxer. My record was something like 22-15. Did you win a lot of titles / medals in the amateur ranks? In local tournaments I would make it to the finals in many occasions but would always lose to the top fighters. The biggest tournament before turning pro was the 2000 national Golden Gloves tournament. That was my first big and last tournament I would enter before turning pro in November of 2000. But the amateurs was a great experience and was a great time. What do you consider to be your main strength / weaknesses in the ring? My main strength in the ring has to be my body punching. Like the great Julio Cesar Chavez would say ’Hit the body and the head will fall’. My weakness would have to be my fearlessness. I believe that having a little fear is always good cause it has you a little more alert and on your toes. Which fighter did you look up to when growing up? Julio Cesar Chavez is my idol. All my family would get together to watch his fights. He would have to be the fighter that I wanted to be like. I mean look what he accomplished. Your current record stands at 26-1-0 with 19 Knockouts. It has seen you beat fighters such as Bobby Pacquiao, Daniel Attah and Tyrone Harris. Which of the wins throughout your career do you consider to be the most rewarding? All the wins I have had are very rewarding. But if I really had to pick one it would also be my most difficult fight against Ivan Valle back in 2003. I was very young and very inexperienced at the time. I maybe should have not taken that fight at that point in my career but I just had to prove to myself what I was capable of. I was almost knocked out in the 2nd round of my first 10 round fight. I had never been past the 6th round in my young career. I came back to win a decision. But most importantly I proved to myself that I had the will power to fight on under any circumstance. Last time out Miguel Acosta caused a big upset when he knocked you out in the ninth round. What was your feeling after the bout? I am not at all worried about the Acosta fight. I had a bad night and Acosta had a great fight. I know I am much better than what I performed that night. I will be back better than ever. I am currently working with Freddie Roach and hope to benefit from the change in the future. Many fighters claim they learn most in defeat because you learn from your mistakes etc. Is this also true for yourself? If so what did you take from that fight?  My dreams and goals have not changed after the loss. I still see myself fighting and beating the best in the division. Lightweight is a hot division at the moment with the likes of Juan Manuel Marquez, Joan Guzman, Edwin Valero plus many more looking for a title. Which fighter would you love to be matched against at this moment in time and why? The top guy in the division to me is Juan Manuel Marquez. Like I said I want to fight the best . You are over in the Philippines at the moment where you have been helping the P4P king Manny Pacquiao out with training / sparring for his massive match up with Miguel Cotto. How is the Pacman looking for his big fight? Manny is about a month into his training for Miguel Cotto. All I will say is that Manny is coming around and looking very sharp. As the weeks pass he is looking sharper and on point with his conditioning. I know it’s a stupid question but who do you believe wins the fight and by what (stoppage, knockout or decision) The reason that I believe that Manny will win the fight will be cause of his speed and his footwork. I will not try to predict how he does it. But I see Manny being victorious. Freddie Roach likes to use you for sparring with Manny. Why do you think this is? Pacquiao needs good sparring in preperations for his fights. So I beleive that’s the reason that Freddie Roach likes to use me. I beleive I give him quality rounds. With Freddy Roach giving out $1000 to drop Pacquiao, I bet you are in the money LOL!!! Has any fighter managed to score the elusive knockdown yet or is Manny still standing? Nobody has collected on the $1,000 this time around. Manny is still standing. It is clear to see you are in an elite bunch of fighters who are knocking on the door of a world title but what does the rest of 2009 / 2010 hold for you? I want to finish off 2009 with one more fight. I was hoping to be a world champion this year but 2010 will have to do. On leaving is there anything you would like to say to the readers of TopClassBoxing and your fight fans around the world? I would love to thank everybody who has looked out for my fights and if you have not yet seen one check them out. Check out my page @ urbanoantillon.com. Interview conducted by: Paul Daley Banner designed by: Wayne Wiliams 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.