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kenyan_cheena · 03-12-2005, 11:05 AM

* * *

PART ONE OF A TWO-PART INTERVIEW

"Know, y'all, we been back in Florida two weeks now, see?" Elmer said. "An' my man Tee, he flew out to Japan a week ago. Says it's jus' wild over there, they goin' crazy over him."

"That must make you happy, that he's already gained that kind of fame?" asked Poe.

Ray nodded. "Definitely, man. Definitely. It's jus' how we planned it, man."

"Planned it?"

"Yeah, man. No doubt. Me and Terone, we sit down together 'n' discuss our whole gameplan back in September, see? On the very day that President Vincennes announce the tourney ... man, we both knew."

"That's really interesting. So, I guess what might confuse some people is, why didn't both of you audition for the tournament?"

Ray laughed. "This is the thing, see? Now, everyone was runnin' 'round, worried 'bout qualifying for the tourney. But Terone and me, we thinking that the HBF's gonna have to need some new blood down the street, y'know? See, they say 128 men in the tournament, but how many of those dudes still be fightin', even three years from now? Me and my cuz, we both got the tools to get to the top in this sport, see? But we don't wanna be up there at the same time, understand? Don't wanna be fighting each other jus' yet. So we jus' flip a coin to see who'd audition."

Poe smiled. "So what your saying is that the boxing public should prepare for Hastings, Florida to dominate the HBF, right?"

Ray nodded again. "Most definitely, man. We gonna put this little town on the map, no doubt. I'm hundred percent, sho' nuff. No jokin', I'm deadly serious 'bout bein' the first HBF World Champion. An' if that don't happen straight away, I be close enough at the top to make it happen 'ventually. And with Terone's skills, dude, ain't gonna take more than couple years 'fore he's up there with me."

"How will you feel if you have to fight your cousin?"

"We talk about that. You know, we cousins, an' we got that family love, see. But if it happen, gonna be all business. See, money ain't gonna matter 'cause we be rollin' in it by then, anyway. But if I'm Champion, and the day come when I defend that title 'gainst Tee, no way I'm gonna lie down for him. He gonna have to kill me."

"How have the people of Hastings responded to your sudden popularity?" Poe asked.

Elmer laughed. "The old folks, they treatin' me jus' the same," he said. "But some of the kids, they be comin' up and askin' me for cash, you know? Think I'm a millionaire, now."

Poe laughed and smiled. "Speaking of money, all the winners in the first stage of the tournament take home $16,000 prize money for each victory. Is it okay, if I ask what you've done with your prize money?"

"No problem at all," said Ray, smiling. "Put thirteen G's into a term deposit, other three into ma mother's bank account. You know, we ain't livin' high on the hog down here. Those three G's, they gotta last 'til 15 February. Jus' hope and pray this thing can make my mother not have to worry 'bout where the next dollar's comin' from, see?"

(PART TWO OF THIS INTERVIEW TO FOLLOW WITHIN 24 HOURS)

03-12-2005, 11:05 AM	#105 (permalink)
kenyan_cheena Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 4,390	* * * PART ONE OF A TWO-PART INTERVIEW "Know, y'all, we been back in Florida two weeks now, see?" Elmer said. "An' my man Tee, he flew out to Japan a week ago. Says it's jus' wild over there, they goin' crazy over him." "That must make you happy, that he's already gained that kind of fame?" asked Poe. Ray nodded. "Definitely, man. Definitely. It's jus' how we planned it, man." "Planned it?" "Yeah, man. No doubt. Me and Terone, we sit down together 'n' discuss our whole gameplan back in September, see? On the very day that President Vincennes announce the tourney ... man, we both knew." "That's really interesting. So, I guess what might confuse some people is, why didn't both of you audition for the tournament?" Ray laughed. "This is the thing, see? Now, everyone was runnin' 'round, worried 'bout qualifying for the tourney. But Terone and me, we thinking that the HBF's gonna have to need some new blood down the street, y'know? See, they say 128 men in the tournament, but how many of those dudes still be fightin', even three years from now? Me and my cuz, we both got the tools to get to the top in this sport, see? But we don't wanna be up there at the same time, understand? Don't wanna be fighting each other jus' yet. So we jus' flip a coin to see who'd audition." Poe smiled. "So what your saying is that the boxing public should prepare for Hastings, Florida to dominate the HBF, right?" Ray nodded again. "Most definitely, man. We gonna put this little town on the map, no doubt. I'm hundred percent, sho' nuff. No jokin', I'm deadly serious 'bout bein' the first HBF World Champion. An' if that don't happen straight away, I be close enough at the top to make it happen 'ventually. And with Terone's skills, dude, ain't gonna take more than couple years 'fore he's up there with me." "How will you feel if you have to fight your cousin?" "We talk about that. You know, we cousins, an' we got that family love, see. But if it happen, gonna be all business. See, money ain't gonna matter 'cause we be rollin' in it by then, anyway. But if I'm Champion, and the day come when I defend that title 'gainst Tee, no way I'm gonna lie down for him. He gonna have to kill me." "How have the people of Hastings responded to your sudden popularity?" Poe asked. Elmer laughed. "The old folks, they treatin' me jus' the same," he said. "But some of the kids, they be comin' up and askin' me for cash, you know? Think I'm a millionaire, now." Poe laughed and smiled. "Speaking of money, all the winners in the first stage of the tournament take home $16,000 prize money for each victory. Is it okay, if I ask what you've done with your prize money?" "No problem at all," said Ray, smiling. "Put thirteen G's into a term deposit, other three into ma mother's bank account. You know, we ain't livin' high on the hog down here. Those three G's, they gotta last 'til 15 February. Jus' hope and pray this thing can make my mother not have to worry 'bout where the next dollar's comin' from, see?" (PART TWO OF THIS INTERVIEW TO FOLLOW WITHIN 24 HOURS) Last edited by kenyan_cheena : 01-09-2006 at 05:20 PM.