Ivan Robinson will be entering hostile territory on Saturday night when he faces Julio Cesar Chavez in
the main event on Saturday night from the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Robinson will be the guy facing
Mexican legend Julio Cesar Chavez in Chavez's final fight in front of a boisterous Mexican crowd. He knows he will have no allies, and hear no cheers, but he realizes that this may be his last big chance. The
rough and tough Philadelphia fighter is no walkover, and doesn't plan on being a token victim to Chavez. He will be in the spoiler role with a chance to ruin the night for a lot of people. Robinson is no cupcake, the
former title contender holds two victories over Arturo Gatti, and a draw with Vivian Harris. Robinson is
32-9-2, and knows that it could it be adios for himself if he loses on Saturday night. Robinson took some time out from his press conference for the fight and spoke with me for a few minutes, and here's what
he had to say.

Q: What do you hope to gain from this fight?

IR: Well, basically it's a gamble, it's like going into a casino and hoping to roll sevens and win big money.
I think a win on Saturday could get me that one final shot at a world title that I've been dreaming about
for the last 6-7 years. So, we're going to go out there and do what we have to do.

Q: Does the hostile environment worry you at all?

IR: Oh I know it's going to be a hostile environment. I mean, shit, I got some family coming, but it's only
a handful of people coming. So, I mean everything else will be for him. So now I'll know how an NBA team
feels when they go into another team's arena and plays. I'm just going to try and block the crowd, and
do what I do best, and that's box and win.

Q: You've got some pretty good victories on your resume, where would you rank a win over Chavez on that list?

IR: It's gotta be at the top. But, then again I'd have to look back at the tape and see what I did, how I did
it, and how it turns out. It may not be as good as my fights with Gatti, or it may be better, I don't know.
On top of that you guys get to vote, and I wait back and see what ya'll think.

Q: You hold two victories over Arturo Gatti, a lot of people think that Gatti has evolved and became a
different fighter under Buddy McGirt, do you think he has improved that much since your fights with him?

IR: He has improved, but with Gatti it's like teaching an old dog new tricks, it's hard to totally change
him. I don't think that Buddy Mcgirt did much with Gatti, except to teach him how to not get beat up so
much, and taught him to use his jab more. But, he already knew how to throw a jab from his younger days.
But, I do think he is boxing better. A lot of people say when you move up in weight you lose your punching
power, shit, evidently Gatti got stronger, because he moved up in weight and is just as strong as ever.
Against Mayweather I give Gatti a puncher's chance, but as far as boxing, excuse the expression, but Floyd Mayweather will beat the shit out of him. When you talk about boxing, it's like playing chess, you got to be a good chess player, and make good moves. Look at Winky Wright, he beat the shit out of Trinidad, and all he did was box. He made the right moves, countered well, and punched well.

Q: What was your defining moment in boxing?

IR: Of course my defining moment was with Gatti. A lot of people saw that, and people saw the best of Ivan
Robinson. But, with this hostile crowd on Saturday I'm going to come to turn the lights out. It's not going
to be a James Toney turn the lights out, but I'm pretty much going to try and silence this crowd, and
bring them to a quiet. If I can do that I know that I'm controlling the fight. So that's what I want to do, I want to control the fight. It won't be easy, because even though he's older, Chavez is still one of the best. They say a cat fights best with it's back against the wall, so shit, I'm a scared cat with his back against the wall, so I'm going to fight my best.

Q: Do you like being in the spoiler role?

IR: That's exactly the role I'm in. But, just like in Basketball one good shot and it's lights out, and in Boxing it's one great punch and it's lights out. One great night and it's lights out. Just like in 98 with Gatti, I don't think anyone could have touched me with a ten foot pole. This is definitely a defining moment because Chavez is one of the all time greats, if not the greatest. Then we'll be performing in front of 20000 people in Staples center, and many more watching on Showtime. I'll be ready for it.

Q: What did you do when you first found out that you would be fighting Chavez?

IR: It was a dream come true. I thought somebody was playing. But, then later on the matchmaker faxed me
the contract, and told me look this is for real, because I'm sending over the contract. I looked at the contracts, and my daughter said to me, Dad you know what you got to do. So, I signed the contracts and I
was like let's go. Right after that I opened up camp, and I've been in camp ever since.