By Troy Ondrizek

One of the more decorated amateur heavyweights on the American scene in recent years, Travis Kauffman was supposed to be a big thing.  However, things have been a bit tumultuous in the beginning, but the 23 year old from Reading Pennsylvania is finally getting some momentum going and has raised his record to a respectable 16-0 with 13 knockouts.  He has time and now some perspective on his side as he prepares to face off against Livin Castillo (14-6, 9KO) this weekend in his home town.  He took the time to talk with us about life and his career.

BoxinSscene.com:  Good afternoon Travis, thanks for taking the time to talk today, what have you been up to recently?

Travis Kauffman:  Just training my butt off.  I have some promotional things to do leading up to the fight, but besides that I’m in the gym.

BoxingScene.com:  Most people know your father (Marshall Kauffman) has been involved in the sport as a trainer and several other activities through the years.  So was boxing something you chose, or was it forced upon you?

TK:  Forced upon me.  I got into it at the age of 9 because my dad wanted me to.  I was out by the age of 10 after my grandma died.  I refused to do any sports for many years.  I never really had any fun doing them.  Then in 9th grade I got jumped by a group of about 5 guys, and one of them knew how to box.  I wanted revenge.  So I went to my dad and said I wanted to learn to fight.  Well that kid who knew how to box was entered in a local Golden Gloves tournament, and even though he was bigger we were in the same weightclass.  Not only did I beat the kid, but I won the tournament too.

BoxingScene.com:  How has your amateur career and family background correlated into success for you pro career?

TK:  It has helped me a lot.  My amateur record was 52-12 and I was rated number one in the country.  I was undefeated in international competition.  It really helps with Styles.  You never know who you’re going to have to fight in a tournament and you must be able to adjust to boxers or sluggers, southpaws and orthodox.  I think I had the right amount of experience.  Too much time as an amateur and you fight like that as a pro, which is bad.  I fought like a pro as an amateur and that hurt me in some big tournaments. 

BoxingScene.com:  Everything started off so well for the beginning of your career.  However, you were forced to miss a year of competition; can you explain the circumstances involved with your involuntary layoff? 

TK:  I don’t really want to talk about it, but I don’t have anything to hide.  Before I even turned pro I had a charge on me from being a stupid juvenile.  So everyone around town knew me, and my name.  This girl came up to me at a party, we hung out, and then some bogus charges came about.  I didn’t handle it right at first so more assumptions were made by people.  I got some good advice finally and when it went to court, the jury took like 30 minutes to set me free.  It almost cost me everything.

BoxingScene.com:  So what have you taken from that experience?

TK:  Like I said, I almost lost everything.  I’m not going to let that happen anymore.  I was undisciplined before, that has changed.  I could’ve lost my son and that would’ve been the worst thing for me.  I have a greater appreciation of my life and my family.  It was basically a big lesson in growing up.

BoxingScene.com:  Since your comeback the Castillo fight will be your 7th fight in a little under a year.  How has being so active helped you?

TK:  Fighters who are inactive can’t make it in this sport.  Especially at this stage in my career, I need to fight often.  I’ll admit that I have fought some stiffs, but the Malachy Farrell fight was a real good win for me.  He had only one loss on his record and some experts think he won that fight with Michael Marrone, and I was able to stop him.  Also my win over Cliff Couser was good for me.  Michael Moorer, Cristobal Arreola, and I are the only people to stop him in the 1st round.  That’s good company, a top young heavyweight and a former champion you know.  You know they are a couple good wins, plus I’m learning every time out there.  I feel that I am progressing with every fight.  And the day I stop learning is the day I stop fighting.

BoxingScene.com:  What are you expecting to see from Castillo in this fight?

TK:  A lot of lefts.  He likes to fight, but he won’t be able to handle my volume punching.  I throw a lot of punches and I am crisp.  I am a very crisp puncher, not a huge puncher, but one of the crispest.  I do punch harder than (Alexander) Povetkin and (Eddie) Chambers.  Castillo has been in with some good guys, but I will better than any of them.  All I have to do is stick to my gameplan and I will stop him.

BoxingScene.com:  With so much time left in this year, what are you plans for the rest of it?

TK:  Not sure.  I have good team behind me.  I just will leave it up to them.  There have been some good names mentioned and I would be excited to fight them.  But I’ll take whoever they put in front of me.  I just want to fight, that’s my job and setting up my fights is their job.  

BoxingScene.com:  There is no real top to the American heavyweight landscape, so there is more focus on the young Americans today than normal.  With names like Arreola, Kevin Johnson, Chambers, Malik Scott, and Deontay Wilder, why should fight fans follow Travis Kauffman?

TK:  I’m versatile.  I’m the “Great White Hope” at heavyweight.  There are no heavyweights like me.  I can box, I can punch, and I do what I have to in any given fight to win.  I can look good against power guys and against boxers.  My versatility will carry me past all the others.

BoxingScene.com:  I’ll let you get back to the daily grind, thank you for talking to us.  Is there anything you would like to in closing?

TK:  Thank you BoxingScene for talking to me and getting my name out there.  For my fans, look out for me, I am going to be heavyweight champion.