Normally, when boxers get a chance to fight in the ring for the first time in 18 months, they would get a fight against someone that is very beatable for their respective level, but for Carlos Negron, he's going to be making in exponential jump in competition in his first fight back.
Negron has a chance to pull off one of the biggest upsets of the year when he takes on heavyweight contender Dominc Breazeale. The two are set to square off on December 22 in Brooklyn as part of the Premier Boxing Champions card that will be televised on FOX and it is Negron's first big fight on a major platform.
When it comes to his opponent, Negron spoke to Fightful on why he wanted a fight against the mandatory challenger to the WBC title currently being held by Deontay Wilder. Negron spoke on how the fight came about and why he chose the fight.
"He’s a name that people know around the world. He’s a good boxer and ranked at the top and I know I have a good chance at beating him. This fight may have come to a surprise to a lot of people, but not for me. I’ve been asking for this fight for a long time to my manager. I’m at the age where I have to be looking for these kinds of opportunities. Right now, I can’t be fighting [low-tier] boxers because I want to take that next step and look to fight guys that are ranked," Negron said.
The Puerto Rican heavyweight expanded on the details of how the fight became a reality and said it came down to a talk between his manager Jay Jimenez and PBC founder Al Haymon. After some chatter between the two, all sides agreed to Negron being Breazeale's opponent after Breazeale spent 13 months out of the ring, hoping to get a shot at the WBC title.
"Well, my manager Jay Jimenez was talking to me about, not just Dominic, but other guys that were also ranked in the top 10. And I came to my manager and said, ‘This fight is one I like. I want this fight with Dominic Breazeale.’ My manager stayed silent and then a week later, he told me that he spoke to Al Haymon and asked what I thought about fighting him. I said, ‘Yeah let’s do it. I’m ready, I feel great and I’m well conditioned. I don’t smoke or drink. Let’s get on it,’” Negron said.
The heavyweight bout will be the opening fight for the card that will be headlined by interim WBC middleweight champion Jermall Charlo taking on former title challenger Willie Monroe Jr.
