MemphisBoxing.com speaks with Rayonta "Stingray" Whitfield! (2/29/08)
By: JD Meredith



Memphisboxing.com caught up with the WBO number two ranked 112lb in the world, Rayonta "Stingray" Whitfield and spoke with him on his progress & what's in store for him in 2008.
Whitfield's trainer, Tom Morates, also gave us some insight on Whitfield's growth.

MemphisBoxing: How's your training going?

Rayonta: I'm in great shape (have had a good camp) Has had lots of sparring.

MB: Are you training any differently for your upcoming fight with Hudgins?

R: ...Preparing for it like any other fight.

MB: Ray you are a long way from the first fight of your career... now you are ranked number 2 in the world (WBO). How does that feel?

R: It feels good. I just feel like I've been paying my dues. Its been a long time coming. I have been waiting on this for a long time. I'm feeling good right now.

MB: How do you feel you have grown as a fighter since you first started?

R: I'm sitting down on my punches and I have a lot more power than I had when I first started. I'm
a lot more comfortable in the ring. Focused and Calm.

MB: Talk about your unanimous decision victory over Carlos Tamara when you captured the vacant NABO Flyweight belt.

R: Going into that fight I had been in the gym and was in very good shape. That guy came with everything he had. He didn't want to lose that night. That was a real tough fight. It took me to another level to be able to go all out for twelve rounds.

MB: What does it mean to have captured the NABO Flyweight Belt?

R: It means a lot. To me, my family and everybody.

MB: What is your motivation for boxing?

R: I just want to be world champion.

MB: What is in store for you in 2008?

R: I want to be a world champion this year.

MB: Which of the current 112lb champions to feel you match up with best?

R: I don't have my eye set on one champion. I will take any of the champions.

MB: Where did 'Stingray" come from?

R: "Stingray" came from a camp I was at with Barry Hunter, the Peterson's coach, and I was getting lots of punches off on a guy and Barry was calling me Stingray and the name just stuck with me.

Tom Morates

MB: Talk about how far Rayonta has come since you first began training him.

Tom Morates: Mentally he is the same. Physically his has grown and matured by natural process. His mentality, His mindset, his work ethic...he's not changed a bit. He never takes a fight lightly. He trains hard for every fight. He is always in the gym. Even if doesn't have a fight he is in the gym five days a week. He's grown physically, he has matured mentally. He has so much strength. So much strength.

MB: From you perspective as his trainer, how do you feel about the Tamara fight? Do you feel like that was a stepping-stone?

Tom: Well definitely for him. We originally didn't want that fight because the guy had had several twelve round fights and we didn't have any. We hadn't fought over eight rounds. That was a turning point. Until you go twelve rounds, you don't know. As hard as you train, how many rounds you spar, how many miles you run. Until you go twelve rounds you don't know. The kid kept coming in that fight and Ray kept coming in that fight. It was a great fight. It definitely changed Ray as far as his future ability. It was a very physical fight. What we want out of this weekend are rounds.

Whitfield (19-0, 10 KO's) meets Kevin Hudgins (5-13, 2 KO's) on Saturday night (3/1) at the Fitz Casino and Hotel. "Fights at the Fitz" is promoted by Prize Fight Boxing.