Eight months ago, "American Boy" Allen Litzau (7-1, 4 KO's) was recovering from surgery to his right hand. In his third fight since the surgery, Litzau will be challenging Darby Smart (8-0, 3 KO's) for his Minnesota Featherweight title in the main event of the "It Finally Happens" fight card on Saturday, June 4th at CR's Sports Bar in Coon Rapids, Minnesota.
Before the surgery, Litzau had a record of 5-1, 2 KO's. After the surgery, Litzau has had a power surge knocking out his only two opponents in spectacular fashion. The 23-year-old Litzau, who is the older brother of undefeated Jason Litzau, says he knows Smart is a tough fighter, but he is confident Minnesota will have a new featherweight champion come Saturday night. Litzau spoke to Minnesota Boxing about his upcoming fight and his right hand.

How has training been going?
Training has been going good. I’ve been sparring with a left-handed fighter named Raul Gracia, who was a national champion in the under-19's. He just won the USA Regionals. He’s a good fighter and he fights at about 140. So he’s a little bit bigger, but its been good work for me. He’s a lot harder to hit than Darby is going to be. I put my work in and now its time to get this show on the road.

What is your game plan for this fight?
The game plan is go in there and relax. In the first round, just show him who’s boss and that I hit hard so I get his respect right away. In the second round, just put on a boxing show and let the knockout come.

What do you have over Smart in this fight?
I believe he’s a tough fighter, but I don’t think that he’s tough enough for me. My advantages: I train hard, I believe I’m definitely a harder hitter than he is and a much sharper boxer than he is. I believe that I am on top.....whatever it is.....in any area.

Fighting southpaws is difficult for some fighters. Do you have any concerns because he is a southpaw?
No, I don’t. I had my fair-share of southpaws in the amateurs and I know what to do with them. I’ve been putting my work in with Raul. Really, you have a game plan when it comes to a fight, but I’m just going with the flow. Whatever happens in the ring is the way its going to happen. I have tendencies and things I want to do, but if they don’t work, then I’ll make other things work.

You’ve gone as far as saying you will retire if you lose this fight. Did you really mean that?
I do. If I can’t beat Darby, then I can’t be a world-champion. I’ll just put it that. He has a great record (8-0), he’s the Minnesota Featherweight champion and obviously a tough guy. As far as boxing skills, I don’t really know if he has much of that. If I can’t beat him, then what’s the point? I have every tool in the box to beat him. So if I don’t beat him, I might as well retire.

There have been words exchanged between you and Darby, what do you think of him personally and professionally?
Personally? I really don’t know him on that level. Professionally? We did offer him to fight on April 9th, 2004 but he didn’t take the fight. After he beat Juan Baltierrez, he was talking and trying to call me out. I didn’t like that. When it comes to the boxing ring, its going to be business. After I do show him who is boss, I’m sure he’ll want to be friends. But if he doesn’t, oh well then that’s what its going to be. His brother says that I’m not a hard-puncher, but I guess I’ll have to show him. On the personal level, its whatever. But in the boxing ring, its business and I want to whoop (him).

You had surgery on your right hand in 2004. Before the surgery, you were 5-1, 2 KO’s. Since you came back, you have won both fight by knockout, including a 1st round knockout over Jesus Valasquez, who’d gone the distance with you before. How much of a difference has that surgery done for you?
A lot. As far as my first fight back, which was on ESPN, I was kind of worried about throwing a punch. I never thought my hand would ever go back to normal. After the surgery, it didn’t bother me anymore. Just knowing that my right hand is back to normal means a lot. As far as my confidence, I’m not worried about hurting it and I know I can hit harder with it. In my three fights before the surgery, I would throw my right hand and I’d hurt it. To the fans, they said I looked great. But to me, I knew that I had much more to offer so I knew that I had to get the surgery done now while I’m young so it could heal faster.

People have been talking about this fight for awhile now. Why is this fight finally happening?
Because I told my manager, “let’s put on this show.” I really wanted to fight him bad. I want to show Darby who is the man and who is the Minnesota Featherweight champion.

What would winning the Minnesota Featherweight title mean to you?
It’s a step in my career and it would mean something as far as a step up. But nothing is going to mean a lot to me until I get the world-title. For now, it is something to look forward to. It would be an extra booster to be the Minnesota Featherweight champ.

What is going to happen on Saturday night?
On Saturday night, I’m going to put a great show on. I’m going to go out there, be relaxed and hit him with some hard shots. First of all, get his respect and show him who is boss. Second of all, not look for the knockout and just let it come. I’m going to show him my boxing skills and what I have.

Any final thoughts?
To my fans and whoever comes to this fight: I just want to says thanks for the support. To anyone who has followed me or my brother’s career: we’re just trying to put Minnesota on the map and we appreciate all of the support. We just wish Minnesota would get behind us a little bit more. Spread the word about the “American Boys.”