Kakutougi: You’re well-known K-1 trainer and boxer Steve Kalakoda's son, so you no doubt got an early introduction to fighting?

Virgil: Dad was a boxer and I always went with him to the gym, and so learnt by watching, since I was about 4 years old.

Kakutougi: You also grew up around the likes of Mike Bernardo when he was in his K-1 prime, did you guys train together?

Virgil: We trained together all the time. Seeing him fight in front of all those K-1 fans, it was something I always wanted to experience, but at the time, there were only heavyweights. So, when I heard about MAX, that’s when I knew I wanted in.

Kakutougi: Could you tell us a bit about your fighting background?

Virgil: My very first amateur fight was a kickboxing fight. I had 10 amateur boxing fights. I lost one in the final of the national tryouts. The guy I lost to, Ruben Groenewald, is the current World Champion.

I became a professional boxer in 1996 at 18 years of age; won the IBC World Title in 2000 and the IBF Africa the year after.

Kakutougi: You mentioned your first amateur fight was kickboxing. Did you have anymore kickboxing or Muay Thai fights before your K-1 MAX debut?

Virgil: I think only that one fight in kickboxing, against the regional champ. I stopped him in 3.

Kakutougi: Your debut in MAX was against the 2002 Champion, Albert Kraus. How were your preparations for the fight?

Virgil: I decided I wanted to fight in MAX a year ago, so that’s when I started learning more about low-kicks and how to change my style, coming from boxing. I found out I was fighting Kraus 6 weeks before we fought.

Kakutougi: You managed to take the former champ to a decision, and obviously impressed FEG a great deal. What’s your impression of the fight, and was it different to what you expected?

Virgil: I think I did okay considering it was my first fight. I was surprised at the amount of kicks he threw as I thought he would box more. I’ve been 12 rounds a few times, but 3 rounds in MAX is so intense. Taking those low kicks really took a lot out of me, and I definitely underestimated the sport. Most boxers do I think.

Kakutougi: Your next fight in MAX will be a Superfight at the GP in July against Yoshihiro Sato. What is your impression of him, and how if at all, will your preparation differ from that of it for the Kraus fight?

Virgil: He is a good kicker and throws excellent knees, so I am working a lot on checking and will be more aggressive to give him less distance to kick.

Kakutougi: Are you getting any special Muay Thai training right now?

Virgil: After my last fight, Kancho Ishii showed me some great front kick variations I’m working on, and I just heard that Masato’s camp would like me to come and do some sparring with him. So, I’ll be leaving this weekend and should be in his camp next week which is definitely going to help; training with the 2003 MAX Champ.

Kakutougi: About training, what was a typical week like when you were a boxer, and how if at all has it changed now?

Virgil: A typical week would start with me going to the boxing gym from 9:30 to 11:00 in the morning. I’d rest at home until about 2:00, and then I’d practice on my drum set for an hour (it relaxes me and, when I’m training I enjoy this as it keeps my mind off of fighting which for me is a good thing.) From 4:30 to 5:00, I would go for a run of about 6km, and from 5:30 to 6:30, I do weight training. At 7:00, I have supper and relax with my wife and child. Training is Monday to Friday. My training has just changed in that I work lots more on kick pads, where it was just punching. And now I try to include sprinting when I go for my runs as I think it helps with the fast pace of MAX.

Kakutougi: When you want to relax, what do you like to do, or where do you like to go?

Virgil: As I mentioned, I play drums and recently took up golf. Both my wife and I like going to restaurants to eat (which I’m currently missing as I have to make 70kg for the next fight, and currently I’m at 74kg). And I like going to the movies, and surfing the net.

Kakutougi: With focus on K-1 MAX, where does this leave your boxing career?

Virgil: I want to be the MAX Champion in 2006, so I think my boxing career is done. I am a former world champ, now I’d like to be the Max Champ.

Kakutougi: As most K-1 fans know, Steve is famous for his heavyweight fighters in K-1. Do you find yourself sparring with guys far bigger than yourself, or is there a lot of MAX size fighters there as well?

Virgil: I mostly spar with bigger guys. While I’m not trying to sound arrogant, the lighter guys can’t really take power punches from me. With the heavier guys I don’t have to hold back.

Kakutougi: We’ve heard from another source you have brutally hard body punches. Do you include specific strength training in your schedule, or is it an innate ability? Also, are your kicks getting to the point where they are just as powerful?

Virgil: My kicks I'm working on a lot lately, but it's going to take time. Body punching is something that came naturally to me. As for power, I do weight training but personally, I believe punchers are born with that gift. Albert was smart he never really traded punches with me. His trainer actually told me after the fight that this was his instruction to Albert during the fight; not to trade punches with me.

Kakutougi: From what you have seen so far, whom would you rank as the top three in MAX, and why does each earn that spot?

Virgil: Masato. He has all-round ability, good kicks and good boxing. John Wayne Parr also has this all-round ability, and is very aggressive and doesn’t give you time to relax. And, of course, Buakaw. Basically, I do not want to be kicked by that guy. He also has great endurance for the tournament and gets stronger with each fight.

Kakutougi: What’s your impression of the boxing skills in K-1 MAX?

Virgil: I can’t really say because Albert is one of the better boxers in MAX. Against me, though, he basically just kicked. There are great boxers in MAX though, Zambidis being one of them.

Kakutougi: Who is on your list of "want to fight" fighters?

Virgil: Mike Zambidis.

Kakutougi: I think we can probably guess ourselves, but why Mike?

Virgil: You guessed it! He’s a boxer, which would suit me. Also, I don't think he’s fought someone who can match him in that department, I can. But hey, Albert was supposed to punch me and ended up kicking me to pieces; Mike might do the same (laughs).

Kakutougi: What was it like standing in the ring that first time, everything you’ve expected?

Virgil: Something I have never experienced. The electricity in the air was amazing; it really had me pumped. I could sense though, that the fans were obviously more for Kraus as they didn't know me, which is fair. But I hope that I won over some of them.

Kakutougi: From an experience as good as fighting in MAX in front of tens of thousands of screaming fans and millions of TV viewers, you find yourself in a life-threatening situation just a few weeks later. Could you tell us what happened?

Virgil: I came home from the mall after I bought my wife a gift, pulled into my driveway and was about to enter my house when three guys just come from nowhere. One points his gun at me, and the other two searched me; taking my mobile, wallet and the gift I bought my wife. But, I’m just happy to be okay through the grace of the Lord, as nobody was in the street to see and I was alone at home...they could have taken me in the house cause they had a getaway vehicle.

Kakutougi: Last question, did you know you always wanted to be a fighter, or did you have other ambitions you wanted to accomplish?

Virgil: I was a good soccer player, which was my first love. As I said earlier though, I grew up in the gym. It just came naturally. I guess I was destined to be a fighter.

Kakutougi: Thank you for your time. We'd also like to wish you all the best in your training with Masato, and of course with your fight against Sato.

For any interested fans, Virgil has been kind enough to autograph ten photos to give away. If you would like one of them you simply need to post in the thread HERE.