Justin Juuko
Juuko
Upset with Forbes’ Cancellation
Not in the
Mood
By Ed Castro
The Desert Sun
April 21, 2001
 COACHELLA -- The "Ugandan Destroyer" was in a bad mood
this week.
Having trained hard to wreck havoc on IBF super
lightweight champion Steve Forbes, Justin Juuko instead
will step into the ring against a last-second opponent on
Sunday at Fantasy Springs Casino.
"I’m so disappointed, so disappointed," Juuko said at
Thursday’s press conference announcing the fight. "I was
so focused on beating up Steve Forbes.
"I had trained long and hard to beat him. It’s
frustrating."
Juuko will defend his NABF title against Ernesto Zepeda,
the NABF’s No. 4 contender.
In the main event Sunday, Hector Camacho Jr. will fight
Larry LaCoursiere in a 10-round super lightweight bout.
Juuko (35-4-1, 26 KOs) is the former WBC International
champion and a former British Commonwealth champion. Juuko
(35-4-1, 26 KOs) was looking forward to his third world
title shot with his bout against Forbes, who selected
Juuko to make his first title defense.
Juuko was unsuccessful in his two previous title bids,
knocked out in the 10th round of a hard-fought contest
against Diego Corrales in June. Juuko also suffered a
ninth-round stoppage at the hands of WBC champion Floyd
Mayweather in May of 1999.
Juuko is on the comeback trail but doesn’t know much about
Zepeda (26-5-2, 21 KOs).
"I don’t know him, but I am a professional," Juuko said.
"It’s rough. I will have to make adjustments. But I am
prepared."
Juuko stopped former NABO champion Antonio Ramirez in the
ninth round in his last outing in January. Juuko sent
Ramirez, the WBO’s No. 9 ranked fighter, to the canvas
twice before the fight was stopped. It was Juuko’s first
fight back since his tough loss to Corrales.
"I’m in great shape and was ready to fight," Juuko said.
Juuko said his fists had a lot to do with Forbes’ late
cancellation. Forbes pulled out because of back spasms he
suffered during the last few days.
"He backed out because he was scared of me," Juuko said.
"He never wanted to fight me. He signed but he didn’t want
it. I could tell he didn’t."
A victory against Forbes would have thrust Juuko back into
the limelight of a high-profile weight class.
"I was so ready to beat him," Juuko said. "I could have
boxed him. I could have beaten him over 12 rounds. It
didn’t matter."
Zepeda has held the WBA-North America, the NABA and
WBA-Latin America super featherweight titles. In his last
outing, he recorded a first round KO of Arturo Campo.
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