Getting to Know - Guillermo Saputo

Two-time Argentine Olympian Guillermo Saputo returns to the ring on Friday, August 8, against veteran Alejandro Jimenez at the Pico Rivera Sports Arena. The welterweight prospect, 9-0 with 6 KOs, has already received positive reviews from boxing insiders, and is considered one of the sport's rising stars.

What's your earliest boxing memory?
I remember that when I was younger I used to fight a lot in school. In Argentina, the earliest age you can start is 16, but they helped me get stared at 13.

Who is your favorite fighter of All-Time?
Oscar De La Hoya. He's very smart in the ring and smart in everything that he does. I look up to that and I want to emulate him.

What was the greatest fight you ever saw?
When I saw Duran fight Sugar Ray in their second fight. I really liked Sugar Ray's style and I would like my own style to reflect that when I box. I admire his speed and his intelligence.

What were you like as a kid?
When I was younger I was very energetic, very happy. I liked to crack a lot of jokes. The only difference now is that now that I'm in America, I can't really joke that much because I'm not sure if I might hurt somebody's feelings.

What are your dreams in boxing?
My father told me that I was going to be an Olympic champion and a world champion and he believed it to be true. I never realized his dream of becoming an Olympic champion, so now my main goal is to become a world champion.

If you weren't boxing, what do you think you would be doing today? I work as hard in my training as if I was doing something other than boxing. I'd work at the same level in other types of work.

What's your favorite movie?
I really enjoyed Edward Scissorhands. I like that type of drama. In the ring I'm totally different than when I'm out of the ring. In the ring I'm very aggressive and I'm there to do a job. When I'm out of the ring I'm very sensitive and caring.

What's your favorite music?
Attaque 77. They're an Argentinean rock band. They're similar to the Ramones. I also like Cumbia and Classical music. I like everything from very energetic music to very mellow music.

What person has been the biggest influence on you outside of the ring? My father. He was so much help in keeping me on the right track.

What was your best day ever?
My birth. I feel it was a blessing to be born.

What was your worst day ever?
(Pauses) I'm thinking because I have great days every day. I'm very family-oriented, so when I have a fallout with a family member, those are my worst days.

When you're not in training, what's your favorite thing to do? I really like puzzles, and I like to be at home and fix things around the house.

If you could meet one person from any time, who would it be? Well, I know Oscar already (Laughs). I'm happy that I know who I know now, and I'm happy with that.