The 29-year-old Frenchman spent 18 months without boxing, mainly due to the Covid pandemic, until his victorious return to a ring on March 11 against the Mexican Daniel Echeverria by stop of the referee in the 6th round.
So, "even if this sequence may seem quick," he agrees with AFP, the 29-year-old Frenchman no longer wants to waste time to make his way to the heights of the under 69 kg category, dominated by the American Jermell Charlo.
Unbeaten in twelve fights and as many victories, including eight before the limit, Cissokho will this time face a younger opponent, aged 24, but also of another caliber (16 wins, including 3 by KO, 1 draw , 1 loss), which has the same ambitions as him.
“This belt ranks you in the top 15 in the world.
Once in this ranking, the world champion who wants to defend his title has a dispensation to take a boxer in this top 15. Suddenly it can go very quickly, ”exposes the French.
"Conway is someone who knows how to box, who is technical and intelligent in the ring, tough," he describes, also emphasizing the fact that "he is tall and muscular for the category".
The poster which will oppose the two boxers before the clash of the evening between the Mexican star Canelo Alvarez and the Briton Billy Joe Saunders, for the unification of the titles in the super-middleweight, should initially have occurred in London last December .
But Cissokho was prevented for administrative reasons.
"Grandiose"
Souleymane Cissokho
After the frustration, it is the excitement that wins each of them at the idea of finally fighting in the middle of the AT&T Stadium, home of the American football team (NFL) of the Dallas Cowboys, in front of a record attendance for a boxing match in a covered enclosure in the United States.
What will constitute in fact the largest gathering for a sporting event since the appearance of the pandemic.
"It's surreal, but I can't wait to be in front of such a massive crowd reacting to your punches and cheering you on."
I made my way the hard way in small venues where sometimes you don't even get paid, so finding myself there is crazy, ”said the Englishman this week.
Cissokho has already known the thrills of the big halls, as when he boxed at the legendary Madison Square Garden in New York in September 2019, where the American Andy Ruiz had become world heavyweight champion to everyone's surprise that night. , beating Englishman Anthony Joshua.
"I'm happy to fight in front of so many people, it will be grandiose but you have to take a step back, I stay focused on my opponent", insists this follower of visualization, a mental technique which consists of closing your eyes and imagining what will happen. produce during combat.
And if he wins, how does he see the rest, since his goal is to become world champion?
“For that, you have to go get the belts, you have to box.
Charlo, I know that today I am not yet ready to face him, but soon it will not be a problem ”, he assures us.
“In France we look at these boxers with big eyes.
They are very strong.
But they have nothing more than us, if not the means.
"Pugilistically" speaking, I have nothing to envy them. "
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