One On One With The Champ

One on One with the UCA Cruiserweight Champion Brian Stevens – Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department

It has been said once you become a champion you become a better fighter. Do you feel you are a better fighter physically or mentally now that you are a champion?

Becoming a champion definitely gave me confidence, which I think is very important in boxing. It gave me the validation I needed that I could compete with anyone. There is so much doubt that goes through your head before a fight, it can cause guys to lose a fight in the locker room. I know that I am the champion, and whoever is standing across from me knows it too. There is a reason why I am a champion, because I put in the blood and sweat that it takes to win, because I have a world class trainer, and because I have champion sparring partners. It gives me the validation to keep pushing when I’m tired and hurt, because I know that it works. The belt is proof.

Do you feel that you have to workout & train even harder now that you are the champion and everyone is gunning for you?

Every fight for me is a championship fight. There are no easy fights. I fight the number one contender and they want to know what it feels like to hold the belt. I can not let them want it more than me. Imagining someone training harder than me keeps me up at night. It makes me push, and make sure every day I work harder than whoever that person is.

If you could call anyone out to test your skills against who would it be? 

Guillermo Garcia, LAPD He has been calling me out for a while now, he’s the number one contender, and he’s gonna get what he’s asking for. I think he has a style similar to mine, except he is a southpaw, so I think it will make for an exciting action packed fight. Anytime you have LASD vs. LAPD there is a rivalry, but I also fought his trainer John Negrete, LAPD which I’m sure adds a little extra motivation in his corner.

In all of the divisions is there anyone you would not want to fight due to their style, power, height, speed, etc?

That would have to be the super cruiserweight champ Alan Rojas. He is strong, fast, and has the best trainer.

When will you be back in the ring?

Hopefully soon, I am working on the details with my trainer now.