A newly inked contract with Warrior's Promotions in Hollywood, Florida, a new trainer and a long stint in Don King's training camp in Fort Pierce, Florida, have set the stage for the return of Tito "El Misil" Mendoza, who boasts a very respectable 27-4, 20 KOs record.

Born in Santiago, Panama the 12th of July 1976, he stands at a tall 6'3" and came in almost two pounds under the contracted 168 pounds weight for his fight against Raymond Berry. On the line is the WBC Latin American Super Middleweight title.

Mendoza was in good spirits, and agreed to this interview from his room at the toney and gorgeous Windham Resort in Weston, Florida.

QUESTION: Tito, how did the nickname "El Misil" come about?

MENDOZA: Well, I was fighting in Anaheim, California and my friend Demetrio Pambele Ceballos kept yelling out "el misil," "el misil"... and I had no clue what it meant. When I returned to the corner, I asked him what the heck was he talking about? He said the straight right, that's "el misil," throw it! Well, I did, and I knocked out my opponent, and that has been my ring name since. Actually, back home, a great majority of the people simply call me "Misil."

QUESTION: You have been inactive for almost a year, any particular reason?

MENDOZA: Well, I was ready to retire, and my manager told me he would look for a third opportunity for me. Signing with Warrior's gave me that third chance, and here we are, ready to fight and win again.

QUESTION: You have changed trainers, is it a permanent arrangement?

MENDOZA: No, not really. My other trainer is in Panama, he works for the government, but whenever I feel I need him he will be in my corner again.

QUESTION: Fair to say it is an amicable separation?

MENDOZA: Absolutely!

QUESTION: Talk to me about your contract with Warrior's Promotions?

MENDOZA: It's a 3 years contract, 5 fights per year.

QUESTION: Should you win this fight, what's the plan? Do you stay here to train or are you going to train in Panama?

MENDOZA: Well, I am going to Panama for two weeks, I need a vacation. I have children and a wife in Panama , and I can't wait to see them. I've been States bound for 5 months. My youngest daughter is only 4 months old, I left her when she was only days old, and the other children keep asking when am I coming back. That hurts my heart, thank God the fight date is here and on Monday the 30th I will be returning to Panama.

I will be there with my family but also in the gym, because I have a fight coming up in August. I will return to Florida in two weeks to continue my training here.

QUESTION: What was it like when you fought now IBA Americas light middleweight champion Julio "The Cuban Lover" Garcia back in February of 2001? I've heard his version of things, I would like to hear yours...

MENDOZA: He was 16-0 at the time with about 13 KOs and one decision. I was coming off a victory against Maselino Masoe for the Vacant NABF Middleweight Title. I have a great reach and I can box, it was that simple. He has moved down and I've moved up, but if he was another go at it, I will beat him again. My technique has changed a lot, and I have worked on a lot of my mistakes.

QUESTION: So, you are telling me that since you two fought you have improved on a lot of things, and it's fair to say that he has done the same, and is now a champion...

MENDOZA: He has improved a lot, of course. He continues to win, and a fighter who wins -good wins- is an improving fighter. I wish him the best, but if he hooks up with me again, I'll beat him again.

QUESTION: I'm curious to know... When you fought Julio Garcia, were you aware of the fact that he had no amateur experience and that basically he was a kick boxer trying to cross over to boxing?

No, I knew nothing about Julio, I knew nothing about his background. Just like this fighter I'm going to fight on Saturday. I don't know his story, I don't know a thing about him, I don't even know his record. I come to fight! I come to win! I don't care who this fighter is, if he is the best fighter in the world, I am focused on winning, and I am going to win.

I made a pledge to shut this Panamanian's mouth... He is a journalist, Juan Carlos Tapia, who had a lot to say when I lost to Robert Allen.

QUESTION: What did he say?

He said that I lost because I was out partying, and drinking, and running around with women, and that is NONE of his business. He is a sportswriter, he has a TV show in Panama called "Lo Mejor del Boxeo" ("The Best of Boxing"), and although he lives off boxers, he goes out of his way to hurt boxers.

QUESTION: Well, was he telling the truth?

Look, I train hard, it's one thing for me to go to a discotheque, I can do that, I can go out, I am a FREE man. He didn't need to sic a bodyguard on me; he never saw me with a beer in my hand until after the fight.

QUESTION: You know, this conversation brings to mind some of the accusations that have been lodged against Ricardo Mayorga... and look what he has been able to accomplish...

MENDOZA: Exactly, and let me tell you this... Mayorga's opponent, Vernon Forrest, he better be good and darn ready because Mayorga is training very hard. I've seen his sparring sessions, and he has been awesome. By the end of next week he will be like a sharp knife, ready to fillet whatever meat comes his way.

QUESTION: Mayorga said that his fight against Forrest will be the best two rounds in the history of boxing... Your take on that comment?

Well, if he said, it could very well be true. If Forrest runs from him it might take more than two rounds, but if Ricardo said two, I'm with him.

QUESTION: What was your experience with Mayorga like?

MENDOZA: He was always pleasant with me, a quiet guy, focused on his training 100%. He is a good guy.

QUESTION: I understand that you have been sparring with heavyweights in Don King's camp in Fort Pierce. True?

MENDOZA: Yeah, pure heavyweights. I've been sparring with "Friday the 13th" Fres Oquendo and several others in the camp, including a guy who came in weighing 240 pounds; I put such a hurting on him they wouldn't let me spar with him again.

QUESTION: When you spar with a heavyweight -at 168 lbs- what do you feel?

MENDOZA: I feel that if I hit him hard, he is going to hit him harder; therefore, I have to my speed, to assimilate his punches and get out of harm's way.

QUESTION: What is life in a training camp like?

MENDOZA: Look, in 1989 I was in Los Angeles in camp, I went back home for 10 days and I returned for 2 more months. I did it again in 1990, staying for 8 to 10 months at a time. My biggest problem here is that most people only spoke English, and although I am learning, it's difficult for me still... I got along well with all the guys, we became good friends and we were very comfortable in the camp.

QUESTION: The best part about being in Don King's camp in Fort Pierce was...?

MENDOZA: The best part was the comraderie, we were all friends, we would all say good morning to each other, we treated each other we a lot of respect.

QUESTION: The worst part?

MENDOZA: To be locked up in there for 4 months, unable to be with a woman, unable to party ... I mean, I like to party, I love to drink beer, I like all that...

QUESTION: Would you like to send a message to your many fans?

MENDOZA: I want to send a very warm greeting to my family and I want to thank you for this opportunity. I want to send a big hello to all the Panamanian people worldwide. To my followers I'd like to say, not to worry, my defeat against Allen will be avenged and we will be victorious from this point forward.

Thank you, Tito, and we wish you the best tomorrow and always.

6-27-2003