Gerald Washington Interview- "I Will Be In Deontay Wilder's Camp For Anthony Joshua Fight!"

This is Rico here for No Smoke Sport

with the legendary, and I do say legendary, Mr. Gerald Washington. Gerald, how are you

Thank you, man. Thanks for having me. It's an absolute pleasure. Thank you so much for coming over the pond

giving us such a great display that you did against Awan Cesora

Obviously, you've got a lot to say. We've been speaking, obviously, and I gave you my opinions and just everything in regards to the whole fight

But I want to know, well, first of all, let me ask you, how are you doing

I'm doing good, man. Doing good. Got back home safely. I'm grateful for the opportunity

I'm grateful for Derek Chisora to offer me that fight there at the O2 in London

It was a wonderful event, big time boxing, and I'm grateful to be a part of it

that's incredible uh gerald one thing um you know uh that i wanted to ask obviously i've been

speaking to malik an absolute like yourself an absolute gentleman and a scholar how we would say

over here in the font um what's it been like obviously you know you've obviously been with

malik you've seen him as a fighter how is he as a trainer he's wonderful man because he understands

he understands the uh what's going on you know what I mean he understands what you're feeling

he understands the different scenarios inside their ring he knows what what the fighter is

going through man so that's a big part of it and also I met Malik very young in my career man I

started working with him you know I sparred with him as you know as I was coming up in the game

so he's just been a guy that I've always learned a lot from I always thought he was a very smooth

the slick boxer and um it was just always uh just somebody that I could feed off of and just kind of

learn from on my way up no that's incredible but I mean you know um it seems for me having watched

your fights previously um that you've gelled quite well with Malik am I right in saying that

yeah definitely man um we've been doing very well like as far as training goes and you know

and getting things done and challenging ourselves and sparring and stuff like that

That fight was quite messy to me. You know what I mean

It's not the type of fight that it's not easy to look good fighting against a guy like that

So it's like, you know, we had that to go up against. But, you know, we still feel that we did our thing

No, I think you definitely did do your thing. Considering the circumstances, considering everything, you know

you put on a very, very, very good display of yourself, Gerald. Can I ask you, you know, because obviously we've been speaking

what did you think about the result? Actually, what do you think? We'll go on to the result in a minute

But what did you think going into the fight, how the fight went

Just I want to hear your honest opinions and what you thought about everything. well throughout the fight in 10 rounds of boxing i didn't get hit with a clean

solid shot like i feel like i was i was landing the jab uh i was scoring i was defending i was

keeping my space the only time that it was clean boxing is when i when i would punch and move at

the same time it was like very uh you know it was very difficult to just you know make the fight

clean you know and that that might have been uh one of the strategies there to make it look like

that to make the fight messy. But I never got, I never

was connected with anything clean. I was never hurt. I was fine

throughout the fight. I was landing the better cleaner shots. I was looking for counters over the top underneath

Like I said, I was defending well. I came back pretty much unscathed

That's the way the story goes you know i should have been looking for more of a finish you know and uh because i

know that some people i'm not saying it's the right thing to do but they they judge the fight

of energy who's bringing the fight you know but i was uh i was always you know i've been trained

to box smart and and fight the fight you know the good fight and clean i mean for my own personal

opinion i did think you got the cleaner shots out there's a vast majority of people gerald that

think that you actually won that fight what would you say in regards to the scoring um you know it's

it you know even if it over in america even if it in the uk it just always no carry on carry on to me when I heard the first scorecard say 98 92 I already knew what the situation was going to be

You know what I mean? I already knew what time it was. So 98, 92, 97, 93, those scorecards are very like..

Come on. Vast. I mean, the closest one that we had was like, you know

where I could have been lying. If it was like that across the board there, it was 96-94

That's a little more even. That means he won one more round than I did

But to say that I've lost eight rounds out of the 10

and then they took my knockdown away, which is like, clearly I rolled a punch and I came back with my counter punch

and I hit him and he fell down. The bell sounded after that and they didn't give it to me

They called it a slip. But it was a clear defensive move with the offensive move behind it

And they didn't give it to me. So it was in, you know

In my own personal opinion, and a lot of quote-unquote journalists wouldn't actually say this, but I did think that was a knockdown

You know my own personal opinions about the fight. It's... Does this discourage you from coming back here and fighting again, Gerald

uh it it does in a way because it's like you know you're up against that um

you know but like you know the styles make the fights as well you know what i mean like

if they if they scored them off of you know coming like that and bringing the funk okay cool

right but that that's not the way that that is supposed to be it's supposed to be you know the

clean effective punches and uh and um and I feel like I landed them you know like I said

it was it was a good it was a good scrap but I didn't feel like I was in a scrap afterward you

know what I mean I should have uh you know did my better controlling them and just you know

nullifying them and just stopping all that try to get away from that wrestling because it just became

messy in there and it's like hard i guess it's hard to tell but as he was coming in i was trying

to clip him throughout the fight catch him coming in do you feel like you kind of fell into this

thing because the one thing about derrick is that even with the alexander usick fight he call it unorthodox call it whatever you want to call it but he he almost makes you fight his

fight. Was that kind of the scenario within there? He brings it so hard

I have to give that up to him. He's a tough, strong man

that can take it. That's always been the case with Derek Trasora. He's a very

gritty fighter where he's going to pull you into this fight and he's going to try to wear

you down from there and then try to catch you. But I didn't

let myself fall into that trap. You know what I mean? I just stayed tight when he came in. If he if he would grab or whatever, I would I would shut down

I would shut down the shot. You know, I would I would I would stay tight in the clinch, get my head over to the side

So because I know they were reaching for the back of the head there. So I get up my head, I'll get my head over to that side and try to protect myself from that

And then, you know, wait for the break and get back to boxing. But it was just a constant, a constant

uh you know and it became a very you know it was an ugly fight man I like I watch it

I'm in disgust when I see that you know what I mean it's like it's like that's not that's not

my style of fighting but I understand why it had to be done that way absolutely Gerald um I just

want to say well done an incredible showing from yourself and I hope that we see you back in the

on because you know it seems that you with obviously the link up with Malik it seems like

you you have more to give in the heavyweight division so I really hope that I that we get to

see you back just adding on from that I felt really good I felt like I could have kept going

I was never and never exhausted I was never I was never tired in the fight I didn't really

feel I had an opportunity to get to it because it was just like it was so much you know holding

and the rest of it was just a big mess up in there

But, you know, all the best to Derek Trisor, man. I hope that he gets a big fight off of this

And like I said, he's a good friend of mine, and I'm grateful for this opportunity that he gave me

So that being said, man, all the best to him and his family and his team

They're wonderful people. He takes great care of me. I've been to camp with him three times

and he's taking great care of me every time I've been there, man. He looks out for me

He's a brother of mine. So I'm grateful to him. You are definitely a UK brother, man

I give you the citizenship if nobody else does Just obviously adding on from that Gerald is there I know it very fresh obviously considering that you just fought

but is there plans of another fight on another card? Do you want to fight before the end of the year

I was hoping to secure the victory there and then come back and look for a fight here, you know, on this side

You know what I mean? And just because the guy's been sitting for a while

I'm also working with Malik Scott, and they were trying to set up a fight with Andy Ruiz

but that wasn't going through with Deontay Wilder. I thought maybe I could step in there and secure that fight there

after a victory with Derek Chisor. So, I mean, we'll see how it goes

I feel like we know the story. The people have seen the fight, and they see that, you know

they can score for themselves and see how it went. But let's see how that goes, man

Maybe it's still a possibility, and then we'll get active soon. I mean, I don't think anybody has..

Thank you for the exclusive, by the way, Gerald. I don't think anybody knew that you were trying to step in for Andy Ruiz

Is that... Obviously, you know, you... Does Andy want to fight anybody, Gerald

I don't know. Realistically. I don't know what he wants to do, but that was going to be the goal

I was trying to go get a big fight there, come back, and see if we could just get Andy Ruiz going

You know what I mean? trying to put something to the table

And that's what I was trying to go out there and bring a fight like that with Derek and, you know, and just – and then see if I can put this thing together

But we'll see what happens, man. We'll see what the cards come out, how the cards come out

what's on to our team and see where we can go from there. But, you know, before that, man, I haven't fought for, you know

since January 2022. too you know it's been it's been quite quite uh you know over a year seven months and some change

you know i mean it was a long time so i can't do that again i have to fight here sometime soon

and uh hopefully i'll get some action soon if not then then we'll see where we go from there

thank you so much um i just want to ask uh ask your opinion on uh obviously you saw the anthony

Joshua fight what was your because obviously we are uh looking at Anthony Joshua versus Deontay

Wilder in January Gerald I believe that fight happens next I'm really trying to get um get

get your man Malik down for uh for for an interview you know and Malik is a brother so I know that he's

he's definitely gonna um you know we're definitely gonna chop it up yeah but what's your opinion on

AJ's performance I didn't see the entire fight but I did see the knockout man and it looked good

You know, he threw his jab to the body. You know, whatever he did, he slipped his jab and came over with the right hand or whatever like that

So he secured the knockout victory. You know, he secured the win

And now it's time for big-time boxing again. It's going to be time for him versus Deontay Wilder

And it's going to make for an exciting fight that the whole world wants to see, man

So we're all excited about that. I'm sure I'll be in camp with Deontay, helping him out and helping him get ready for that, helping him prepare

And then from there, man, we'll be on the poppin'. I know it's quite hard

because obviously I've got my opinion you've got your opinion I think that's what makes this interview so great

who do you think wins and in what fashion do you think that they win Gerald

Well I mean I've happened to step in the ring with Deontay Wilder man I know what he's capable of

I've seen him throughout his career and I've seen him in the gym

and I've seen Anthony you know I've shared the ring and I've watched him in his career too

It's going to make for a good boxing match. Classic, old school

We got Anthony Joshua. It's going to be real technical. And then we got my man Deontay, man, that just lets things go, man

It's like there's no doubt about what he does and what he brings, man

So he's going to bring that power, man. It's definitely dangerous. You know what I mean

So it's going to be up to Anthony Joshua to avoid it, man, for the whole time

But, you know, that's hard to be, it's proven hard to be done, you know what I mean, throughout the course of a fight, man

Deontay's long, fast, snappy, and he will catch you. Thank you so much

Carry on, carry on, Carr. When he lands, man, he lands, he's putting, he puts everything behind it, man

He puts his whole spirit and soul behind that shot, man. So it's like, when he does get you, man, it's like, boom

Lights out. thank you so much Gerald only two more questions for myself and I'll let you go and again I just

want to say thank you so much so just you know regarding

you know you said obviously if Deontay wants you in camp and everything like this you obviously going to be there From your knowledge how likely are we to get this fight next

I think it's written, man. I think it's done. I think it's a done deal

I think Joshua's, you know, he's went through his course. I think I heard him say he wants another fight or two

I'm not sure. I thought I heard something like that. But, I mean, it's all set

It's all set to be done. You know what I mean? It's set to be completed already

Go ahead and line it up, man. Go ahead and go to camp now, and you guys can have at it

You guys have time from now until January or whenever you guys decide to do it

Go have a good time. Make lots of money, man, and enjoy yourselves. Just one more question for myself, Joel

Do you find that inactivity will hinder Deontay Wilder in terms of performance

or do you think that it will make a difference, considering that Anthony Joshua has fought twice

and Deontay Wilder within the last two years has fought a total of two minutes and counting

I don't think Deontay Wilder is that type of fighter, man. I think Deontay Wilder is the type of fighter

where I don't think that that bothers him like that. You know what I mean

Like, I don't see that affecting him like that, man. The time off, like, he knows what he has to do

I just have to put this on your chin and that's it. You know what I mean

he knows what he has to do and he's cleaning up his game he's being sharp you know I mean he's

keeping his he's he's where he's working on his tools you know I mean in the meantime don't think

that he's not and then from there man he'll be able to deliver on fight night thank you so much

Gerald I really really appreciate your time I always appreciate the the the time of of of

such as yourselves you know you you put quote unquote your life on the line for all of us and

I just want to say on behalf of the whole boxing community and everything that thank you, Gerald. Thank you for giving us an incredible display and an incredible fight

I don't know if anybody's actually told you that from the media world, but I like to give flowers where flowers is due

One thing that I like to do is for my interviewees is that at the last stage of the interview

if you want to shout out your team, fans or anybody or any special or just any just just just anybody that you just want to shout out or just be you

you know, or, um, yeah, man, just, um, you know, I'm grateful to all my people, man

rest in peace to my father, uh, Gerald Leon Washington, man. I'm very sorry for your loss, Gerald. I'm very sorry for your loss, brother

Thank you, man. So, uh, you know, rest in peace to my father, man. And, uh

and just, uh, you know, I'm grateful to my team, Malik Scott. I'm grateful to my brother, Jonathan, for, for, for coming over there, man

and experiencing that with me, my, my cut man, uh, magic and everybody around me

that supports me brick house boxing is uh it's been it's been you know a home for us a place for

us to work and get better and to build you know we couldn't do it without those guys man so we're

very grateful to them um i'm grateful to my you know my pbc team and all him and you know and

just everybody that stands behind me man and helps me you know help me throughout my career and where

i'm at today man i'm very grateful um to everyone you know i mean i without mentioning names just

everybody that has contributed to where I'm at today and to my success and to where I'm at

I'm grateful to them. You know what I mean? I'm here to help or do whatever I can for anybody

man, because I know how important it is to have support, man. So if I could help anybody in any

way, man, you know, reach out to me, man. I'm here for you. Well, you've definitely helped me

with such an incredible interview. If I can be so cheeky, Gerald, just for one more question

is there anybody in terms of that we should be looking out for talent

because you seem to me that somebody who's a connoisseur of the sport

I would just like the boxing fans to know from your point of view

who should we be looking at as the next big thing yeah man

check my guy out Emmanuel he's waiting for his pro debut man

but I got to meet him a couple times I got to work with him down there

when he was helping Chisora get ready for the Tyson Fury fight

Him and my man Magic out there, man. There's some young prospects from England, man

I know they can do some big things, man. There's some big punchers and smart fighters

So, you know, and then, yeah, man, we'll see who else has come

I don't know too many young guys coming up the ranks, man, but those two for sure that I've met and I know, you know what I mean

They come to get it, and their skill set is already good for where they're at right now, man

So definitely those guys. This is Rico for No Smoke Sport with the legendary, and I did say legendary

Gerald Washington. Thank you so much, Gerald. You are an incredible human being, and God bless you, my brother

I hope nothing but the best for you. Thank you so much for the interview. Bless you, my man

Peace