OnThEGRiND BOXiNG

Thu. April 15, 2010
by Rev. Ringside

RR: Yahya what makes you want to be champion again?

YM: I’ve been sitting around for 10 years and been watching the Cruiserweight division and I don’t like sitting around on the sidelines, so I decided to re-enter the boxing game. I was training guys 10-15 years younger than myself, and would spar with them and whip them. The art of boxing isn’t being taught anymore and I am here to save the CW division. I feel that I am the “YASTER” and I have the knowledge, from both sides of the fence, from being a fighter, a trainer and promoter, so I’ve decided to use that same ideology that I used to help others and apply it to myself.

RR: Who are your major supporters in this comeback attempt?

YM: My wife, my small circle of friends and my community. See these guys are people that will tell you the truth no matter what, they’ll tell you the butt naked truth.

RR: So what are your plans on fighting in the cruiserweight division?

YM: I have no thoughts on fighting any champion out there. I feel that I can beat any top 10 CW out there. I have an old friend and we’ve kind of fell out and were not close like we used to be, he told me once if I crack the top 15 he’s going to have to come see me.

RR: Who’s that old friend?

YM: Antonio Tarver. He sent me a message via text, and he said that once I break into the top 15 he’d have to come see me, so I guess he’ll have to come see me as I plan on being champion in a year or less.

RR: Are there any specific belts that you want to go after, or do you plan to take whoever comes first?

YM: It doesn’t matter what belt or champion I get a shot at; WBC, WBA IBF, WBO, IBO. It doesn’t matter, all the champions out there suck. I shouldn’t say that but they can’t beat me, none of them can beat me. I don’t care if I have to go the champion’s country, their hometown. I won’t lose. I am bringing my two judges with me.

RR: At this stage of your life is it easier to train. Also what do you have to do differently now as opposed to when you were younger?

YM: I have a new wife, and a son. I am disciplined in the way I train, I eat right, and I live right. I’m a 42 year old man, with the body of a 22 year old. I‘ll fight any of the champions. For the last 10 years I’ve been putting my comeback off and on, but I feel it’s my destiny. I don’t want to sound disrespectful to any of the champs, but I believe that I can beat any of them.

RR: Thanks for your time and we at OTG wish you well on your comeback.

YM: Thanks Rev. and OtG for having me.

The late great Cus D’Amato said, “An old fighter has one last great fight in them.” Cruiserweight division - here comes the Yaster…an old fighter with some fight in him. McClain faces Jason Robinson in a scheduled 10 round cruiserweight contest Sat. April 17 at Wild Bill’s in Duluth, Georgia,

NOTE - OtG BOXiNG Family, Yahya McClaine’s record can be found under his birth name of John McClain at boxrec.