Interviewed by TXMMA.com just the other day, David Armas is walking into this title bout riding a wave of confidence buoyed by time spent dually training at his Silverback Fight Club home here in Houston along with Team Mohler in the Dallas area.
“I expect him to stand and then take it to the ground. I think he may try to submit me. I know he won his last fight by RNC but that’s not going to happen with me. This is going to be a great fight! I’m going to try to knock him out in the first round like I do with all of my other opponents.” says the Silverback fighter.
Not to be outdone, his opponent and our next interviewee Manny “el Animal” Lozoya is equally ready, stating that he’s trained too long and worked too hard to let this opportunity for his first title slip him by.
Read on in this, our pre-fight interview with Bushi Ban fighter Manny Lozoya.
Thanks for taking the time to talking to me, Manny. It’s fight week for you! How are you feeling?
Oh man, fight week is usually kind of crazy for me but for this fight, it’s been different. I feel focused. 100%. I feel ready man.
For those of our readers that don’t know about you, fill them in. Who is Manny Lozoya, the fighter?
It’s kind of funny because a lot of people say that Manny “the fighter” and Manny “the regular person” are two totally different people. Everybody knows me as just this regular guy – real calm, real respectful, and shows love to everybody. But my friends, my family, when they show up to watch me fight it’s kind of hard for them – like when they see me as a fighter, they say I’m like a whole different person. They say I even look different.
What about outside the cage – What’s life like?
Who are you main training partners at Bushi Ban?
Alex Black, Gerzan Chaw, Justin Murray, and Rey Trujillo, just to name a few. All them boys at Bushi Ban, man. Great family out there. Good, good fighters.
I’ve heard your striking style described as “unorthodox” by some. Why do you think that is?
I think it’s just the type of fight we bring. I don’t think anybody else has our style. It’s just something that we work on every day. Every day we work on everything and I’m not going to lie, I pick off little bits and pieces from my friends and training partners because they all have different strengths. They’re all good at something. For me myself, I want to become the best I can so I pick little pieces from them and try to put it all as one so I can be a complete fighter.
How would you describe yourself as a fighter now?
I’d say I’m aggressive. I’m going to bring the fight to whoever and I’m not going to back down from any challenge at all.
Your fight this Saturday at Legacy, its for the 135 title. What does that mean to you?
Oh man, it’s a dream come true man.
What are your thoughts on your opponent, David Armas?
My thoughts about him – I’m not going to lie, I respect the guy. I have tons of respect for him… but then again, I have tons of respect for everybody. He’s a good guy, he’s a good fighter, and he’s not going to back down but then again, those are the kind of finds I look forward to. It makes me train even harder and it makes me prepare myself even better.
How do you think you guys match up, style-wise?
Style-wise, I mean, I think we match up rather well. He’s aggressive, I’m also aggressive. He likes to stand and I like to stand but I’m always going to a be a step ahead, two steps ahead. He’s got to be ready for me. That’s all I’ve got to say.
As far as predictions, he said in his interview that he’s going to try to go for the knockout in the first round. What about you, what’s your prediction?
All I know is that (first-round KO) is not going to happen. I don’t know where he got that idea from but he ain’t knocking me out in the first round. That’s disrespectful to me and I’ve been training too hard, I’ve been working too hard, and I want this belt WAY too damned bad for that to happen.
Sounds like the makings of a good fight for both of you guys then. Why should fights buy Legacy tickets to watch you fight?
Anything else you’d like to say before Saturday? Anybody you want to thank?
First of all, I’d like to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It’s amazing what he’s done with my life and how he’s helped me turn my life around. I want to thank my family, my friends, my brothers, YOU, thanks a lot man, I appreciate the opportunity. Just everybody who’s shown support and who’s had my back since day-one, I really appreciate that man!
TXMMA’s Coverage of the March 14th Legacy Amateur series
- Interview – Legacy Bantamweight Title Contender Manny “el Animal” Lozoya – here
- Interview – Silverback’s David Armas; Fighting this Saturday for Legacy Amateur Bantamweight Belt! – here
- Legacy Amateur Series – May 14th Updated Fight Card for Houston! – here
