Brick City Boxing

By: Chip Mitchell

I recently had the opportunity to interview one of the hottest east coast prospects in James “Keep’em Sleepin” Stevenson (9-0, 8 KO’s). Stevenson prepares to battle Ken Dunham on Saturday July 25 in Baltimore, MD.

CM: James, thanks for granting us this opportunity to interview you before your fight. How has training gone for you?
JS: Pretty good, man. Excellent, excellent.

CM: Last time out versus Manuel Guzman, you weren’t able to record a knockout for the first time in your professional career. How disappointed were you?

JS: I wasn’t really disappointed man, I just wanted to show everybody I could go 8 rounds… a tough 8 rounds. So it let everybody know I could get the win. I got a chin as everybody saw so it was a good fight.

[More:]

CM: Your bout this Saturday is against Ken Dunham. He’s an opponent that you’ve seen before and beaten. What are your thoughts about his skill set and does a rematch play to your advantage or Dunham’s?

JS: It plays out to my advantage because I stopped him in the 2nd round before. I know he’s going to train a lot harder so I’m going to train extra hard. I’m not going in with the mindset that I’m going to knock him out. I’m just going to go in there and just box and whatever happens will happen.

CM: Describe your fighting style to BrickCityBoxing.com readers out there who have never seen you fight.

JS: I’m all-in-one. I can box, I can brawl, I’m fast. Like I said I’m all-in-one. So I don’t just have one style.

CM: Let’s talk about your moniker. Tell BrickCityBoxing.com readers how your nickname Keep‘em Sleepin came to fruition?

JS: After my first 4 knockouts my manager said if I get one more knockout we’re going to name ourselves Keep‘em Sleepin. So we went out there and knocked him out and that’s where we got that name from Keep’em Sleepin!

CM: How did you get your start in boxing?

JS: Aww man, you know I just walked past the gym one day. It was something I always wanted to do. I went in, talked to Mr. Mack (famed trainer Mack Lewis), and told him I’d be back the next day. I came back the next day and in the next 2 weeks I had a fight.

CM: Who do you consider your favorite boxers, past or present?

JS: Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson!

CM: Baltimore has produced world champions in the past such as Joe Gans, Hasim Rahman and Vince Pettway. Will we see James Stevenson’s name along with these men in the future?

JS: Oh yes sir, yes sir, yes sir!!!!

CM: What do you do when you are not in the gym training or sparring for your next fight?

JS: I’m always training everyday regardless. I have a job I work at Giant warehouse. I’ve been there for 8 and a half years. And I have a family. I’m also married so I spend time with my family when I’m not at the gym.

CM: In closing, is there anything you would like to tell BrickCityBoxing.com fans who are viewing this transcript?

JS: I’m coming! That’s all I can say is that I’m coming! Just believe what I say, I’m coming!!

CM: Thanks a lot James, and Keep ‘em Sleepin baby!!

JS: Laugh
Thanks to Matt Yanofsky for facilitating this interview.