By Richard T. Najdowski

BoxingScene.com caught up with the four main event fighters from ESPN’s 3/23 Chicago card at a recent media event. Two of the fighters, Donovan George is dropping into a new weight class for this week’s fight card. David Lopez is returning after being away from the ring for lengthy periods of time.

Donovan George (24-3-1, 21 KO’s) on his choice to compete at middleweight: “After the (Adonis) Stevenson fight, I reviewed the tape and noticed how big he was compared to me. And (Edwin) Rodriguez and all these big guys. I’m not physically strong like that. I want to be the big bully. The James Cook fight at 164 was to see if I could make it. I made it. At 160, I feel like it’s going to be even better. I haven’t been 160 since I was 16, but I’m going to do it. Usually people later in their career go up in weight; I’m going down like a weirdo. I spent almost a month training in Detroit at Kronk. I feel like my feet are a lot quicker."

"I feel like it really sped up my feet. I can’t wait to show everybody that I’m a serious middleweight. I’ve got an opportunity Friday, so I’m going to do it.”

Donovan also refers to himself on his Twitter account, @DonDaBombGeorge, as a full time poker player in addition to being a fulltime headlining boxer. I asked him between the two, which profession he thought has provided more and which has taken more from him. These were some of his thoughts:

“Boxing has definitely taken more from me, like about 50,000,000 brain cells and a lot more of my time, and my whole 20’s. Usually a 20 year old kid gets to got out, drinking, have a good time, eat. I didn’t get to do none of that fun stuff. Poker is just a way outside of boxing that helps me make money and I enjoy, I feel I’m kinda decent at it and I can pay the bills off it. I’m happy with it. I love it.”

David Lopez (41-13-0, 23 KO’s) through an interpreter, on his relative inactivity in the last 21 months, as well as fighting Don George and his boxing future:

“I wasn’t being active due to promotions and stuff. I’ve always been training and always been taking care of the weight. I’m back and I want to be back and stay for awhile. For the Trout fight, I wasn’t as prepared as I am now. Every fighter and every fight is tough. There are no easy fights. I want to show Don (George) that he hasn’t fought nobody of [my] caliber. I want to get this victory done. The goal is getting another title shot.”