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Home Boxing Zachary Wohlman Interview: "There's no substitute for experience in this sport, prize fighting is no joke!"
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Zachary Wohlman Interview: "There's no substitute for experience in this sport, prize fighting is no joke!"

 

zachary wohlman boxer interviewConvictedArtist.com Lead Writer Chris Strait spoke with young prospect Zachary Wohlman to discuss how his young career has progressed since we last spoke with him, and what he has learned thus far in boxing.CS: You suffered your first defeat since we last spoke to you.  What happened that night, from your perspective?  
 
ZACHARY WOHLMAN: That was over a year ago. In retrospect I think I got too much success (press, attention, whatever) too quickly. I wasn't behaving like a fighter anymore outside of the gym. Eric and Freddie told me that I wasn't ready to fight on short notice, but I didn't listen. Sure enough, by the third round I had no gas in the tank. I used to make all kinds of excuses about this fight, but I don't anymore. I'm human like any other fighter. I train hard and act accordingly now.

CS: I was in the crowd that night, and spoke to Paulie Malignaggi minutes after (whom you have described as being like a big brother to you).  He said he was more concerned about how you would mentally handle a first loss, saying that the next few days after a first defeat are the toughest on a fighter.  Was that your experience with it?

ZACHARY WOHLMAN: Well... I had my head cracked open from a head butt the fight before that (38 stitches). Took my first loss, then I had my jaw broken in the gym (mouth wired shut for 6 weeks). So more like a tough few months, opposed to a tough few days.  As far as the night of the loss, I'll never forget that. Paulie had tears in eyes, he said, "You gotta have a short memory in this game, you gotta train hard and you can come back from this." Since then I've come back strong which helps the pain subside. But I don't forget what happened.  Sh*t like that makes a man out of you.
 
CS: You haven't so much as lost a round since then, even staggering both of your opponents on multiple occasions.  Do you approach training or the sport differently now?
 
ZACHARY WOHLMAN: Yeah, I mean there's no substitute for experience in this sport, prize fighting is no joke. I've definitely grown along the way. I have good boxing ability, I'm learning to trust in myself. Starting to become the fighter my coaches, manager and team knew I could be.I remember in my Pro debut I put on those tiny 8oz gloves for the first time. I looked at Freddie and said " He's wearing the same ones huh?...Sh*t." That little bit of fear keeps me sharp. I approach my fights with the same attitude now. Keep my hands and my head moving, pray for the best.CS: Who is handling the majority of your training these days?
 
ZACHARY WOHLMAN: Eric Brown and Freddie Roach. They've been switching days lately, today was sparring with Eric, tomorrow is mitt work with Freddie. Taylor Ramsdell is my strength and conditioning coach. Everyone works well together, I'm lucky to have them.CA: What would you like to work on in the future?ZACHARY WOHLMAN: Boxing wise, I'm just working on sitting down on the hard shots once they're set up, but I'll learn along the way.  This has been my dream since i was a kid. I've been though some hard times.  The fact that I'm a professional boxer is unreal. But I'm here and its awesome. I try to stay out of the future or past.  I want to stay focused and put on a great show fight night :)photo by: ConvictedArtist.com Lead Writer Chris Strait spoke with young prospect Zachary Wohlman to discuss how his young career has progressed since we last spoke with him, and what he has learned thus far in boxing.CS: You suffered your first defeat since we last spoke to you.  What happened that night, from your perspective?  
 
ZACHARY WOHLMAN: That was over a year ago. In retrospect I think I got too much success (press, attention, whatever) too quickly. I wasn't behaving like a fighter anymore outside of the gym. Eric and Freddie told me that I wasn't ready to fight on short notice, but I didn't listen. Sure enough, by the third round I had no gas in the tank. I used to make all kinds of excuses about this fight, but I don't anymore. I'm human like any other fighter. I train hard and act accordingly now.

CS: I was in the crowd that night, and spoke to Paulie Malignaggi minutes after (whom you have described as being like a big brother to you).  He said he was more concerned about how you would mentally handle a first loss, saying that the next few days after a first defeat are the toughest on a fighter.  Was that your experience with it?

ZACHARY WOHLMAN: Well... I had my head cracked open from a head butt the fight before that (38 stitches). Took my first loss, then I had my jaw broken in the gym (mouth wired shut for 6 weeks). So more like a tough few months, opposed to a tough few days.  As far as the night of the loss, I'll never forget that. Paulie had tears in eyes, he said, "You gotta have a short memory in this game, you gotta train hard and you can come back from this." Since then I've come back strong which helps the pain subside. But I don't forget what happened.  Sh*t like that makes a man out of you.
 
CS: You haven't so much as lost a round since then, even staggering both of your opponents on multiple occasions.  Do you approach training or the sport differently now?
 
ZACHARY WOHLMAN: Yeah, I mean there's no substitute for experience in this sport, prize fighting is no joke. I've definitely grown along the way. I have good boxing ability, I'm learning to trust in myself. Starting to become the fighter my coaches, manager and team knew I could be.I remember in my Pro debut I put on those tiny 8oz gloves for the first time. I looked at Freddie and said " He's wearing the same ones huh?...Sh*t." That little bit of fear keeps me sharp. I approach my fights with the same attitude now. Keep my hands and my head moving, pray for the best.CS: Who is handling the majority of your training these days?
 
ZACHARY WOHLMAN: Eric Brown and Freddie Roach. They've been switching days lately, today was sparring with Eric, tomorrow is mitt work with Freddie. Taylor Ramsdell is my strength and conditioning coach. Everyone works well together, I'm lucky to have them.

CS: What would you like to work on in the future?

ZACHARY WOHLMAN: Boxing wise, I'm just working on sitting down on the hard shots once they're set up, but I'll learn along the way.  This has been my dream since i was a kid. I've been though some hard times.  The fact that I'm a professional boxer is unreal. But I'm here and its awesome. I try to stay out of the future or past.  I want to stay focused and put on a great show fight night :)

Photo by Ian Flanigan

Chris Strait
www.convictedartist.com

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