EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: JOE MESI

GL: Congrats on the comeback win Joe. Most of us weren't able to catch the fight, what can you tell us about it? "It went very good. It was a eight round unanimous decision and a very easy victory. I won every round and didn't really get touched too much. I got a little mouse under my right eye because it kind of rubbed his arm, the wrong way. I took a few shots from a big guy and I think we silenced some critics about the so called medical condition and I think going eight rounds was the best thing for me."

GL: Were you looking for the KO coming in and...

Joe Mesi: (cutting in) "I really wasn't and part of the layoff may have brought back some inexperience. I went in there looking for the KO in the first three rounds and I had him wobbled several times in those rounds. I just didn't finish him and then I just went back to my jab and easily outboxed him. Going eight rounds and showing the people that I'm not injured was probably the best thing for me."

GL: After feeling yourself out for those eight rounds, how far removed from a serious elimination bout or title fight are you?

JM: "I can't really say just yet. It's just one performance. I'd like to get at least one more before we go back on National television on ESPN or HBO. I heard the Brewster-Liakhovich fight was a great one and those are the kind of fights I want. Barring any setbacks it's going to be a short matter of time before that happens because I plan on fighting four or five more times before the year is out."

GL: Will you be applying for a license in New York?

JM: "I will be fighting back home, it's going to happen. When and where I don't know yet. There are several states offering us fights and we imagine to be fighting there very soon."

GL: Will your next fight take place in America and when is your next fight expected to take place?

JM: "We're not sure where and when but we're pretty confident it will be in the States. Like I said there are sevreal States interested right now."

GL: How did you feel after going those eight rounds?

JM: "I felt good and conditioned. I wasn't 100% because I had to drop 30 pounds in a short matter of time. The more time I spend in the gym the better my conditioning will be so I'm just looking forward to staying very active."

GL: Is there anything you'd like to say in closing?

JM: "I want to thank everyone for their continued support and I'm looking forward to staying very active this year as I continue to prove the critics wrong."