Junior-middleweight prospect Matt Vanda (33-1, 21KO’s) is coming off a unanimous decision win over fellow East Side fighter Troy Lowry. Now, Vanda is setting his sites on propelling his career to the next level by taking on rugged Mexican Yory Boy Campas (86-7, 71 KO’s). Vanda was preparing to leave St. Paul for training camp with Team Freedom in Miami when he spoke to Fightnews Minnesota.

FIGHTNEWS MN: Knowing you could sell out in Minnesota against literally any fighter, why take this fight against Campas?

VANDA: It’s kind of a defining moment for me. If I don’t beat Campas I think I’m pretty much done. I have to be able to beat this guy to move on. They’re talking if I beat this guy possibly a fight with Fernando Vargas the next fight. But I really don’t know much about Campas, I haven’t seen him fight, so we have a lot of studying to do. But it’s kind of a defining moment. I gotta beat this guy to go on because if I lose I’m going to have to hang it up and look for something else to do because if I can’t beat this guy who can I beat.

FIGHTNEWS MN: This fight is obviously very important to you and your career, what was your reaction when this fight was presented to you?

VANDA: I told them I don’t care who I fight. I just told them do whatever you gotta do and give me a call. They pretty much had the fight set up before I said yes because they know I don’t care who I fight. Bring ‘em on and let’s do it. I just want to make better money and it’s for the IBA title and a big step up. I gotta do it and there is no reason to wait any longer. I’m 26, so let’s get it on!

FIGHTNEWS MN: Like you said, obviously Campas is a big step up from your last fight against Troy Lowry (which Vanda won by UD). Campas has been in the ring with Felix Trinidad, Fernando Vargas, and Oscar De La Hoya. Knowing Campas has fought at such a high level, how does this change the way you prepare in camp?

VANDA: I leave Thursday for camp and that gives me 7 weeks. It will be real intense I’m sure. Norman Wilson gets me ready to go. He’s going to push me harder than ever. I know I’ll be in good shape. I think that my youth and my quickness will be able to take him out. I think I’ll stop him.

FIGHTNEWS MN: Campas is a strong fighter who tries to get inside and go to work but has very little defense. Although he is definitely in a different class than Jesus Valverde (whom Vanda beat twice by UD in 2002) they share styles in that regard. Is there anything that you learned in those two fights versus Jesus that you can apply to this fight with Campas?

VANDA: I learn something from every fight. Those traditional Mexican fighters who get inside and bomb, forget the defense, that’s out the window. I’ll box him, I won’t let him pin me down and let him tee off on me so I’ll be moving around. I’ve been boxing a lot better but I can slug it out if I have to. It doesn’t matter to me either way but I’m not going to let him pound on me.

FIGHTNEWS MN: Speaking of your improved boxing skills and the work you have done with Norman, I spoke to Leon Margules (President of Team Freedom) last week and Leon said the Matt Vanda of two years ago couldn’t have beat Troy Lowry. Talk about the improvements you’ve made since joining Team Freedom.

VANDA: I’m punching a lot harder and throwing a lot more punches. My defense is gotten a little better. John David Jackson (who twice fought for a title himself, once versus Bernard Hopkins, and who is now training three time world champion Sugar Shane Mosley) is working with me on moving my head and slipping punches. My overall conditioning is just a lot better hitting the hand pads with Norman. He makes you throw so many punches on hitting the hand pads as opposed to the actual fight. So that’s probably the biggest difference in working with Normal Wilson.

FIGHTNEWS MN: You mentioned working on throwing more punches with Norman, tell us more about that.

VANDA: Norman wants four, sixes, and eights. Eight piece combinations, not ones, two’s and three’s. It’s not always easy to do but Norman wants at least four punches each time you’re throwing. Ones and two aren’t going to get it done but four’s, sixes and eights they aren’t going to see those coming and something is going to land.

FIGHTNEWS MN: You’ve said in the past you don’t think you could fight for a title here in Minnesota, any new thoughts on that?

VANDA: I don’t know it depends on how many people come out to support me for this fight. Obviously if there is a big crowd that’s what generates the money, but I don’t care where we fight. This is a title fight right here and I’ll go fight wherever for the next one. This is a small title, but it’s still a title.

FIGHTNEWS MN: Walk us through a typical day in camp.

VANDA: I wake up at 7 am and run a few miles. After running I shadow box in the park with my coach and do sit-ups and push-ups. Then I have a light breakfast. The morning work out is always a tough workout. Then I rest for a few hours before going to the gym. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays I hit the hand pads and the bag and Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays we spar. We work at a lot of different gyms and it’s hot down there! There are a lot of fights down there too so we go to a lot of fights too.

FIGHTNEWS MN: Speaking of going to fights, I know in the past you’ve gone to support your fellow Team Freedom fighter, Joel Casamayor, in some of his recent fights. Are you a fight fan as well and what fighters do you like to watch?

VANDA: I like Felix “Tito” Trinidad. I like to model my style after Tito Trinidad a little bit, but that guy, you can’t follow in his footsteps he’s a hard punching machine who just unloads on you. But that’s who I like to watch so I’m glad he made a comeback.

FIGHTNEWS MN: From a fan’s perspective I know what it feels like a few minutes before you enter the ring. Slayer is pounding over the speakers and the Hugo Hogs are revving up. Your fan support here in Minnesota is potentially the strongest of any fighter in the country. What’s going through your mind right before you enter the ring?

VANDA: Man, I’m just so pumped up! Whoever I’m fighting, I’m just thinking about smashing their face in! I’m just so amped, I’m trying to stay calm but right when the bikes get going, the music starts pounding, and then it’s all over. The energy level goes up and it’s hammer time!

FIGHTNEWS MN: Matt, thanks a lot for your time and good luck in camp. Is there anything else you would like to say?

VANDA: Let’s get ready to rock and roll and fight for a title!

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