EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: DMITRIY SALITA

GL: What's the latest and greatest with Dmitriy Salita? "First of all I want to say that I am the WBA #1 contender and I was supposed to be fighting Kotelnik. Now he's fighting Amir Khan, but I've been mandated to fight the winner. I'm here in the Poconos training for May 24 at the Buffalo Bill Casino in Primm, Nevada. Hopefully I fight on the Kotelnik card after that before the winner has no choice. I also know Ricky Hatton might be looking for a comeback fight and if that's something that becomes realistic, I'm all for it."

GL: How disappointed are you that you haven't faced Kotelnik already?

DS: "I'm very disappointed. The WBA sent me a letter to begin negotiations and then his next fight was announced. It's been taking a long time to get this guy in the ring. I've been working hard and my patience is running thin. I'm in a rush to get one of the top guys in the division."

GL: Who will you be fighting in your next fight?

DS: "I'll be fighting Raul Munoz."

GL: Do you know anything about him?

DS: "I respect every opponent and that's why I'm up to run at 5 in the morning. I always expect a good fight and a good performance and I hope to fight the big boys soon. At this stage of my career, it's harder for me to fight these kind of fights when I want the big ones. I hate the business of boxing, but I love the sport of boxing. I've been working hard and staying focused and that's why I'm 29-0 and I'm looking forward to another great outing on May 24."

GL: Who do you like in Kotelnik-Khan?

DS: "I think Khan is a good boxer, but he's a little chinny. I think Amir Khan is more known throughout the world and he would be a bigger fight, but if Andreas wins the fight, and I think there's a great chance he will. I really don't understand how he's the underdog for this fight. I think that either one of the guys would be a big fight, and beating one of those guys would give me good credibility."

GL: Closing thoughts?

DS: "I want to personally thank you for always giving me the time of day and allowing me to talk on Boxingtalk. I want the big fights and I want the suits that control boxing to give me the opportunity. I feel I've taken the long hard road and I want my opportunity, because I am the best junior welterweight in the world. All I need is the opportunity."