Bryan Vera: “If I don’t get Korobov out in the middle rounds, I think he’s going to wish that I did!”

Middleweight fighter Bryan Vera is a fan favorite, win or lose as he always brings action to his fights. Vera has scored upset wins in his career against Andy Lee, Sergio Mora and most feel he was robbed in his first bout with Julio Caesar Chavez Jr. Vera is coming off a one year layoff since a TKO loss to Rocky Fielding last year and is hoping to rebound big this Saturday night in a fight against 25-1 Matt Korobov.

In my interview with Bryan Vera I discuss with him his upcoming fight and get his views on where he is at in his career. Bryan also talks about what a win would mean to his career and if he thinks Korobov is taking him lightly. Additionally, Vera shares his views on Golovkin vs. Canelo and Thurman-Porter. Here is what Bryan Vera had to say.

Robert Brown: How are preparations going so far for your upcoming fight?

Bryan Vera: It’s been great, I’ve gotten good southpaw sparring here in Texas. I got with my old trainers that got me fourteen wins and no loses when I was with him. We reunited, we had a great camp, everything’s been great. I’m really looking forward to going out on the 25th and putting on a good show.

Robert Brown: Are you surprised you got this fight with Matt Korobov given your history of causing upsets and pushing top fighters to the limits, such as you did with Andy Lee?

Bryan Vera: Yeah that’s one of the reasons we took the fight because he didn’t look too great in his last performance, so we looked at it as if he’s taking me lightly and I think he’s making a mistake. I got to prove that on the 25th.

Robert Brown: Do you believe you will be able to exploit his recent inactivity?

Bryan Vera: Yes I think so. I know I haven’t been the most busy in the past eight months but I stayed in the gym and I fought the better opponents. I think he has an amateur background but I just feel like I’m going to be too much for him.

Robert Brown: Are you employing anything specific in this fight against Korobov?

Bryan Vera: No, we’re just going to be more aggressive. We’re going to try to put a lot of pressure. We do pretty well with southpaws. I’ve gotten in better shape and I feel real sharp. I took a long break and I feel like I’m refreshed and I’m ready to put on a good show.

Robert Brown: Assuming you get past Korobov, are there any other fighters you’re looking to get?

Bryan Vera: It puts me in a good position because we’re fighting in between middleweight and super middleweight, so it leaves me a lot of options in both weight classes. We would like to go back to middleweight, so it would be nice to get out there and maybe go to England and fight the champion out there, or maybe even fight a super middleweight. It opens up a lot of doors.

Robert Brown: Were you surprised that Canelo Alvarez decided to not fight Gennady Golovkin and relinquished his belt? What are your thoughts on that?

Bryan Vera: Yeah, I think it was probably a smart move for him, being that he’s still young and has a lot of fights left under his belt. The Golovkin fight was maybe too much for him right now and Golovkin’s 34-years old, so he needs the fight more than Canelo does. I think Canelo has a long future, so maybe next year or the following year he will fight him. I thought it was a smart move. I’ll fight anybody, anytime, so for me, I didn’t like it but I gotta look at his side and I think he made the right decision.

Robert Brown: Would you fight Golovkin if you were given the opportunity? How do you think you would do against him?

Bryan Vera: We got called to fight him a few years back out there in France I think, and my team didn’t like it, given that we had to go out there. I would definitely have to be the best I’ve ever been and put a lot of pressure and make it an ugly fight because he’s technical and strong, you gotta be careful at every second in there. I’m definitely not scared of the man because I’ll fight anybody, but I’ll have to give myself over one hundred percent preparation to do good against him.

Robert Brown: Do you think this fight with Korobov is your last opportunity at the elite level?

Bryan Vera: Absolutely, I think this is my last shot at it and we’re looking at it like that, and we’re training like that for nine weeks now. I’ve put everything into it and it’s like you said, he took a long layoff and I think he’s taking me lightly. I give him all the respect, I think he’s a great fighter, I just think I’m going to be the better man on the 25th.

Robert Brown: What is you official prediction for the fight?

Bryan Vera: We’re fighting eight rounds, but I don’t think it’s going eight rounds. I think I’m going to be able to get him out in the middle rounds. If I don’t get him out in the middle rounds, I think he’s going to wish that I did because I’m coming ready and prepared.

Robert Brown: We got Terence Crawford vs. Viktor Postol coming up, what are your thoughts on that fight?

Bryan Vera: I think it’s a good fight, I think Crawford is going to be a tough test for him. Postol was under the radar for a long time but he showed himself in his last fight and he proved that he belongs up there with the top guys, so I think it’s an interesting fight. I gotta give Crawford the edge, but you never know, Postol is a good fighter.

Robert Brown: Keith Thurman is fighting Shawn Porter, what are your thoughts on that bout and who do you think wins?

Bryan Vera: I would have to go with Porter because I think they will go out and fight smart. You gotta be careful with Thurman because he has that one punch but I think if Porter prepares the way that I think he will, I think he’ll outbox him and be smarter and more active. You can’t count out Thurman because he has that one punch. I would say Porter by decision.