Krzysztof Włodarczyk before the fight with Drozd: “Watch yourself!”

Krzysztof Włodarczyk cannot wait for his rematch with Grigory Drozd following his September defeat in Moscow. He says he will overcome the demons that have been tormenting him. In the second fight, he is expected to be determined, angry and ready to reclaim his world title. He does not rule out a stoppage victory.

- Are you counting on a rematch with Grigory Drozd, the new WBC cruiserweight world champion?
Krzysztof Włodarczyk: I cannot wait for it. September 27 was like Friday the 13th for me. And it ended very badly. I am still explaining it in terms of personal problems, but that was the reality. They affected my mental state and my preparation for the fight. I lost the entire month of July and more than half of August. I only found peace in September. It was too late. You cannot prepare properly mentally when your problems are piling up. I only started thinking about how the fight should look after the final bell. By then, it was all over.

- Is your health holding up?
KW: My right shoulder is bothering me. I am treating it and should be fully fit by the beginning of January. That is when I will start working hard.

- If the Russians honor the terms of the contract, when will the rematch take place?
KW: In April or May. I would prefer May. The more time I have, the better I will feel. I am talking about my mental state, because physically I am always in good shape. I am eagerly awaiting another training camp in the mountains. After the first day, you want to go home and rest for a week. The next morning, however, I wake up at seven and train hard again. That is exactly what I am missing. I want to work hard.

- Will such a determined Krzysztof Włodarczyk, free from unnecessary thoughts, outsmart Drozd?
KW: Włodarczyk can surprise any opponent and change the course of a fight at any moment—provided his mind allows him to. Every boxer imagines a fight. He walks in, sees the ring and thinks about what will happen. Before the fight with Drozd, I did not have such a thought even for a second. From the very beginning, everything was one big question mark. If my problems disappear before the rematch, I see no other possibility than victory. I may win before the final bell, but a points victory would satisfy me as well.

- The day after the fight, you made it clear: it was time to put your personal life in order. Is that process continuing?
KW: The situation at home is stabilizing. In the second „home” as well. I hope that some people will come back down to earth and stop making my life difficult. Everyone has to understand how important peace and quiet are in my sport. Without it, I will not win. When preparations begin, people need to leave me alone. Once I win the fight, we can bombard each other. First, we need to reach an understanding. I am returning to work in January.

- What would you say to Drozd today?
KW: This will be a completely different fight. Włodarczyk will be determined, frustrated and angry. Not at you, but at himself. Watch yourself!

- Will you change divisions and move up to heavyweight?
KW: That idea has been put on the back burner. I want to enter the lion’s den again and reclaim the world title in Moscow. A fight with Artur Szpilka definitely will not happen in 2015.

- Why did you two never become friends?
KW: I would say that we are not on the same page. Artur is different from me. We are on different wavelengths. He has his own world and lives differently. At the gym, I sometimes joke around with the guys, but when training starts, I isolate myself. I prefer to keep to myself.

- Didn’t it bother you that Szpilka became very popular, even though you were the world champion?
KW: Artur had serious problems in his life. You cannot blame him for wanting people to talk about him. He wanted to show himself, to post a photo online. That is simply who he is. Everyone has their own goal. I intend to reclaim the title and defend it, perhaps for several years. Artur also wants to earn a shot at the championship, although he may be going about it in a more controversial way.

- Is a fight with Mateusz Masternak becoming more realistic than it once was?
KW: It will probably happen someday, but first I have to reclaim the title. And after that? If the money is right, anything is possible.

Interview by: Przemysław Osiak, przegladsportowy.pl