Click Here For A Replay Of The Weigh-In
Photo Credits- Dave Mandel/SHOWTIME
Tag: Javier Fortuna
GERVONTA DAVIS VS. HUGO RUIZ FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES AND PHOTOS
GERVONTA DAVIS VS. HUGO RUIZ FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES AND PHOTOS
Super Featherweight Champion Davis Joined by Promoter Floyd Mayweather Ahead of Title Defense Against Former Champion Ruiz This Saturday Live on SHOWTIME®
From Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. and Presented By Premier Boxing Champions
Photo Credits-Dave Mandel/SHOWTIME
LOS ANGELES (February 7, 2019) – WBA Super Featherweight World Champion Gervonta Davis and former world champion Hugo Ruiz went face-to-face Thursday at the final press conference before they go toe-to-toe this Saturday night in the main event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® from Dignity Health Sports Park, formerly StubHub Center, in Carson, Calif. and presented by Premier Boxing Champions.
Also facing off on Thursday were fighters who will enter the ring live on SHOWTIME in televised undercard attractions. Undefeated super lightweight Mario Barrios will be facing Mexico’s Richard Zamora, while former world champion Javier Fortuna will step in against lightweight contender Sharif Bogere as part of live SHOWTIME action kicking off at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
The event is promoted by Mayweather Promotions, TGB Promotions and Sampson Boxing and tickets are sale now and can be purchased at AXS.com.
Davis was joined on-stage by his promoter, legendary boxer and Mayweather Promotions President Floyd Mayweather. Here is what the press conference participants had to say Thursday at the Westin Los Angeles Airport before Saturday night’s event:
GERVONTA DAVIS
“I’m so excited to come back strong in 2019. This is the year that could put me over the top and put me at the highest level.
“The opponent change didn’t really affect me. In the amateurs we fought four or five times a week so we always had different opponents. I had been sparring someone taller than me in training camp anyway. I think a fighter should be ready and able to adapt to anything that is in front of him in the ring. I’m ready and I hope Ruiz is too.
“Training camp has been great. I’m ready for Saturday night. We planned on fighting Abner Mares, but he had an injury and we hope to still get him down the line if everything is okay with his health.
“Hugo Ruiz is a great opponent. He’s going to come to fight on Saturday night. He’s been telling the media he’s going to knock me out, so I hope we get an action packed fight for the fans. I’m glad Ruiz is coming for the knockout. We owe it to the fans and I’m praying that he comes ready to give them a great show.
“I feel like I’m the fighter that can be the next big star. I’m working towards it. I’m just a kid soaking it all in right now. Saturday night, I hope everyone is ready, because it’s going to be action.
“Ruiz’s record speaks for itself. I’ve watched him and he has some pop. He’s accurate and I’m ready for it. I don’t think I’ll have any ring rust. I’ve worked with a lot of great fighters in the gym. I’m just excited to get back in the ring.
“I want to give my fans all over the world a great show. Everyone tuning in is going to see a great performance. Hopefully Hugo will live up to his word, because I’m going to live up to mine.”
HUGO RUIZ
“I’m very happy to have this opportunity. I’m going to leave everything in the ring. I have a lot of faith in my boxing skills. I trust and believe that there is going to be a new world champion on Saturday night.
“I’m in rhythm and in shape. I’ve been very active leading into and since my last fight. Davis is a tremendous champion, but he doesn’t intimidate me. I’ll be ready for him come Saturday night.
“This is a great opportunity to fight a southpaw, as I had originally been training for a lefty before my opponent changed in my last fight. I also fought a southpaw in November. I’ve been training with a lot of lefties for a while. I’m more than ready for this opportunity.
“Davis is a strong champion and I know this is a big opportunity for me to fight someone of his caliber. I’m ready mentally and physically for the greatest opportunity that has been given to me.
“At 130-pounds I feel more power than ever and I will demonstrate that on Saturday night. This is a big challenge for me. This is the opportunity that I’ve been waiting for throughout my 12-year career. I don’t plan on wasting it.”
MARIO BARRIOS
“This is a huge opportunity and I’m very excited for it. I’m looking forward to going out there and putting on a great show for the boxing fans.
“I’m ready and I’m prepared to take full advantage of this chance to make a statement on Saturday night. I want any one of the champions in this division, but I’m not looking past Zamora. I just know that the work that I put in will pay off.
“I have big things on the horizon and Zamora is in my way. I’m focused and ready to make this a great night. If he wants a war, I’ll give him a war.”
RICHARD ZAMORA
“I’m very happy and thankful to be in this fight. This is the opportunity I’ve been looking for. I’m ready to compete and I’m not going to let this opportunity pass me by.
“This is definitely a big step for me in my U.S. debut. If I can get a win over Mario Barrios, then I would be able to reach a lot of dreams that I have.
“I come well prepared and I’m expecting a war. I’m going to be ready to go and battle until the end. You’ll see that I’m going to leave it all in the ring.”
JAVIER FORTUNA
“I’m going to give the best that I have in the ring. I’m going against a good boxer with a good record, but it doesn’t matter what obstacles are in front of me. I’m going to come through with a big win on Saturday night.
“We have a new team and a new trainer that is going to give the fans the best Javier Fortuna possible on Saturday.
“A victory against Sharif Bogere is very important for me and a stepping stone to where I want to get. It’s going to be a difficult fight, but I’m ready to make this a very tough night for him.”
SHARIF BOGERE
“We are going to make this a great fight on Saturday. Fortuna is a good fighter and tough guy. I expect him to bring a lot of fireworks. I’m prepared for it and I have the game plan to win.
“Every day is a tough test in life. This is going to be just another fight. I’m prepared and I have a great team behind me. I’m coming on Saturday night for what belongs to me.
“Fortuna has a big name and is a step up for me. This win will put me up there toward the top and I’ll be prepared for whatever challenge comes after that.”
FLOYD MAYWEATHER, President of Mayweather Promotions
“It’s great to be here with so many young talented fighters. I could remember 23 years ago when I was in that same position. When you’re in this position you have to take advantage of it. Opportunities like this come once in a lifetime. You must go out there and give it your all.
“I want to see these fighters become great and become stars. The records that I’ve set were made to be broken.
“I remember when Gervonta Davis first came to my gym. He worked hard and believed in himself. Sometimes we did two-a-days. If we didn’t think the job was done right, we’d come back and correct it. We continue to strive every day to be the best we possibly can be. Gervonta works extremely hard, but he can’t take anything for granted in this fight.
“I think Hugo Ruiz is more dangerous opponent than Abner Mares. Abner is a tremendous fighter, but Ruiz is very tough and he has good knockout power. This is a great matchup and the kind that people want to see. It’s all about putting on great shows and Saturday will be another blockbuster.”
LEONARD ELLERBE, CEO of Mayweather Promotions
“We have a great event this Saturday night with great fights from top to bottom of this card. This is going to be a great night of boxing.
“Gervonta Davis has reached goals beyond just the boxing ring. I know the impact that Gervonta has on the youth all around the world. When it comes to excitement, explosiveness and knockout power, this is something new that the fans are getting a chance to witness.
“At the young age of 24, fans have come to know Gervonta for his punching power. But he’s also a very skilled boxer. This is one of the things that he’ll be able to showcase moving forward in a number of big fights he’s going to have.
“We know he has a tough challenge in front of him. Anytime you have a last minute replacement who’s an excellent fighter, it’s a big challenge. Ruiz is an aggressive fighter and we expect nothing but a great fight.
“Gervonta Davis has the full arsenal. In my opinion, he’s the most exciting fighter and the biggest puncher in the entire sport. It takes more than knockout power and I think you’ll see an array of his skillset.”
SAMPSON LEWKOWICZ, President of Sampson Boxing
“It really is an honor for me to be involved in this great show. These are going to be three great fights. Hugo Ruiz had been training for a southpaw before an opponent switch led to him fighting a right hander last fight. After a few more weeks leading into this fight, Ruiz is 100 percent ready for this challenge.
“Trust me, this is going to be a rough fight. I believe that Davis will have his hands full with Hugo Ruiz. Ruiz comes from a family of fighters and he is a true Mexican warrior who will leave it all in the ring on Saturday.”
GERVONTA DAVIS VS. HUGO RUIZ FIGHT WEEK MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES & PHOTOS
GERVONTA DAVIS VS. HUGO RUIZ FIGHT WEEK MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES & PHOTOS
Photos Credits- Dave Mandel/SHOWTIME
WBA Super Featherweight Champion Davis Defends Title This Saturday Against Former World Champion Ruiz Live on SHOWTIME® From Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. and Presented By Premier Boxing Champions
SANTA MONICA, Calif. (February 6, 2019) – WBA Super Featherweight World Champion Gervonta Davis and former world champion Hugo Ruiz were on-hand at Churchill Boxing Club in Santa Monica Wednesday as they near their showdown that headlines SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® Saturday, February 9 from Dignity Health Sports Park, formerly StubHub Center, in Carson, California.
Wednesday’s workout also featured fighters who will enter the ring live on SHOWTIME in televised undercard attractions. Undefeated super lightweight Mario Barrios will be facing Mexico’s Richard Zamora, while former world champion Javier Fortuna steps in against lightweight contender Sharif Bogere in the opening bout of the tripleheader beginning at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
Here is what the fighters had to say Wednesday in Santa Monica as they prepare for their Saturday night attractions:
GERVONTA DAVIS
“I was just watching Hugo Ruiz as I came in here. All I know is that he is fast, he has some speed. It looked like he has some power and good timing. I actually think that this is not a walk in the park, like people think. The fact that this is a late change doesn’t concern me because once I get in there, I’ll be able to make adjustments. I’m ready.
“It’s great to make it to this level. To have people under me like ‘Truck’ [Lorenzo Simpson], it feels amazing to inspire them to go further in life. It makes me want to push harder so that I can become the best that I can be.
“I come from a city with a lot of violence and things like that, but my mind was always focused on what I wanted to be in life. I traveled when I was super young, so my mindset was never like a typical eight-year-old. I won my first nationals when I was 10 years old. I’ve seen the world and I’ve seen the bigger picture. At that time, coming up in the gym, there were guys that I was looking up to that were getting killed in the streets. There were days in the gym where we would get a call that guys we trained with had been killed. I knew that it’s either boxing or things wouldn’t turn out too good. I knew I had to stay in the gym and stay focused.
“Camp is going great. I feel ready for Saturday night. I’m disappointed that I’m not facing Abner Mares but it doesn’t change too much. I heard that he hurt his elbow at first, I didn’t know that it was his eye. Once I heard it was his eye, I took it more seriously.
“I wanted to fight Abner. We could probably have done it back home but I gave him the chance to fight in LA. I am the champion, so I’m willing to give him another shot.”
HUGO RUIZ
“I feel great. I just came off of training for my last fight but I just feel like I’m continuing that training. I think it’s going to serve as great preparation for this next fight. It’s only going to be a benefit for me.
“I think this is going to be an explosive fight. We’re both known for our knockouts and this is a fight that can end at any moment. It’s going to be by a knockout.
“Out of my 39 wins, 33 of them are knockouts so I can say with confidence that I can knock out Gervonta Davis. No fighter is invincible and that’s a really possible outcome on Saturday.
“Gervonta Davis is a great fighter. I’ve watched him fight and I know that he’s a very strong fighter with a lot in his arsenal. There’s a reason why he’s a world champion right now but we know what we’re looking for. We have the hunger and the ambition to be triumphant. We have everything we need to beat Gervonta.
“I took the fight on short notice and I just fought, but I am ready. I trained very hard for my last fight and I still feel more than ready to go. I’m very excited to have this world championship opportunity and I am going to take advantage of it and show the world what I can do.
“I had a fight in November where I was training for a lefty. I then had another fight in January where I was preparing for a lefty. They changed my opponent last minute but I was still ready to go. I’ve been preparing for a lefty for five months and I think that’s a huge advantage for me.
“The reason I have so many knockouts is because I like to surprise my opponents and I really think I have something that I can surprise Gervonta with. Come Saturday, we will see how many ways I can surprise him.
“Gervonta is a fighter just like I am. We both are going in there with all the will to win and come Saturday I think we are going to give the people the show that they really want to see. I am ready to put on a spectacular show.”
MARIO BARRIOS
“I feel great. I’ve been training out in the Bay Area with Virgil Hunter since the beginning of December. I was getting great work, sparring with Devin Haney. We got about two or three weeks of great work just going at it. That was tremendous experience just keeping up with him. He’s a very explosive fighter and ahead of the curve for his age. I finished off camp sparring with Amir Khan, who is getting ready for his Terrence Crawford fight. So overall, camp was great.
“This is going to be one of my toughest fights but I put in all the hard work in camp and I’m going into Saturday night with no doubts. If I get him hurt, I’m going to look to finish him off but the knockout is not something I’ll be looking for right away in the fight.
“I’m thinking about the weather a little bit, but at the end of the day I’m a fighter and I’m going to overcome anything I have to in the ring. Whether it’s raining, whether it’s cold, once the bell rings it doesn’t matter what the weather is.
“I always try to go into my fights being as smart as possible. I always want to box as much as I can but at the end of the day, I’m Mexican so if I get caught with a good punch I’m going to want to sit there and bang. I’m definitely expecting some fireworks. It’s going to be an action-packed fight and I guarantee you one of us is going to go down. I’ve worked my ass off to make sure I’m not going to be the one on the canvas.
“Sparring top guys like Devin Haney and Amir Khan has been great and a huge advantage for me. People would pay top dollar to see that, but all of us were just there appreciating the work because we all need it. That was world class work. You really can’t beat it.
“Texas has always been a hotbed for boxing, especially in the cities of San Antonio, Dallas and Houston. Now, we have a lot of upcoming fighters that are really showing out. It’s only a matter of time before Texas becomes one of the main capitals for boxing.
“In the next 18 months, I’ll hopefully get a shot at a world title. I want to face any one of the champions right now. I feel I’m ready. I’ve worked my ass off to get to this point and I feel it’s only a matter of time before we get that title shot. Right now, my sight is set on the junior welterweight division and we’re going to try to take over the division as much as I can. But at the same time, I’m 6’1″ and it’s only a matter of time before I outgrow the division but as long as I’m here and I can make the weight healthy and I feel strong, we’re going to continue to dominate.”
RICHARD ZAMORA
“This is my first time in Los Angeles and I’m really excited to fight in a place like LA. This is a really well-known place to fight that I’ve known about my whole life and I’m ready to put on a showcase that people will recognize. I want people to see me as a great fighter from here on out.
“I’ve been very focused this entire training camp. My opponent changed late but my objective has not changed whatsoever. Whoever I face on Saturday, I’m ready to fight.
“I’m only 25 years old. Some would say I got a late start because I only started training and boxing when I was 15 or 16 years old but it’s always been in my blood. My grandfather was a boxer and I always knew the sport was going to be my calling at the end of the day.
“We look forward to showing off this weekend. I’m ready to show the people of the United States who I am. I want to stand out and showcase what I’m all about. I’ve shown what I can do in Mexico and now I want everybody in the U.S. to show who I am in America now. To be surrounded by so many talented fighters here, this is the type of fighter I want to be. I want to be recognized the same way the other top fighters around here are.
“I think that Barrios’ height is something that I need to think about but I’m not worried about it. I’ve learned how to fight against different styles and I’ve fought many different fighters so I am ready for whatever comes my way. I just want to put on a great show so the fans will only have good things to say about me.”
JAVIER FORTUNA
“I feel good. We are in weight and in great shape. On Saturday, I will be the best fighter I can be. My new trainer and I are in top shape. We had a really good training camp. This fight is important for me. On Saturday my career at 135 will be defined.
“I have been working very hard in the gym. I have a great strategy and the fans will see on Saturday night what I’m all about. Bogere is aggressive, he comes forward and is a very good boxer but I’m not concerned. I move forward and I’m aggressive too. I can take him.
“Hopefully, that chicken Gervonta Davis will go up to 135. If not, I’m willing to come down to 130 to fight him. I want his belt. I respect his promoters, they know how to take care of him and I have no problem with that but I’m just hoping that he’s willing to fight me. He has shown a lack of respect as a human being. He hasn’t done what a champion should do and he’s fighting guys he shouldn’t be fighting.
“What do I think of Gervonta’s new opponent? Everybody has social media and can see what the fans are saying about it.
“My fight against [Robert] Easter is hard to swallow. It was one of those fights where you go in there, you work hard, you show you are the better fighter but the judges don’t reward you for it. I know I was the better fighter. I won that fight. A lot of people saw it the same way but sometimes the judges go for the business side of things. I was hoping for a rematch but nobody ever gave me the opportunity.
“I want to fight the best fighters out there. I don’t care who they are. If they have a title, I’ll fight them. If they are good, I’ll fight them as well.”
SHARIF BOGERE
“Javier Fortuna is a veteran. We have similar experience. He’s been there for a long time but so have I. I think we’re going to put a on a good show for the people. He makes mistakes and I’m going to capitalize on those.
“This is a dream for me. I’ve been doing this for over 20 years since I was a little kid. I have a passion for this sport and a lot of people to make proud. Those people keep me going through all of the tough times, the injuries, the setbacks, I’m just so thankful that I have another day and another blessing. I’m so thankful for this opportunity.
“I’m happy to have an opponent finally step up to the plate. I feel people have been avoiding me but he stepped up and I think we’re going to put on a great show. We both have an exciting style and I’m looking forward to Saturday. In his fight against Robert Easter Jr., I think he did his best to win the fight but he came up short.
“As my trainer always tells me, keep knocking on the door. One day, they’re going to open the door. Saturday, they will open the door. After Saturday night, the world is going to see the ‘The Lion’ back in the top ten in the world.”
LEONARD ELLERBE, CEO of Mayweather Promotions
“This is a guy [Ruiz] that just fought on the Broner card. He’s in great shape, he’s a great fighter and he’s coming to put on a performance on Saturday night. ‘Tank’ is in great shape but he’s got to be cognizant of a guy that he hasn’t prepared for. We’ve seen what has happened in other fights, specifically the [Jermall] Charlo fight. [Matvey] Korobov came in as a last-minute replacement and it was a tough fight. Certainly tougher than he had anticipated but that’s part of the sport. ‘Tank’ has to be ready for anything.
“Gervonta has a tough opponent in front of him Saturday night. Any time you are preparing for a specific guy, it’s going to take a minute to get used to your new opponent. It will be interesting. ‘Tank’ will have to figure it out but I think he will be able to go to work and figure it out.
“I’m always confident in ‘Tank’. He’s one of the top fighters out there in the sport. He’s the biggest puncher in the entire sport and he’ll eventually be the biggest star in the sport. This is the start of a very big career for all of his U.S. fans and the international fans as well. He’s ready to take over the entire sport and Saturday night is just the start.
“Anytime you lose a great fighter like Abner Mares from your card, obviously there is always a little bit of a shakeup. My prayers go out to him and his family and we wish him a speedy recovery. Abner is a great champion, a great human being and a guy that I have a tremendous amount of respect for. He will be able to hopefully bounce back.”
Errol Spence Jr. vs. Carlos Ocampo Final Press Conference Quotes & Photos
|
|
Super Bantamweight World Champion Daniel Roman Defends Title Against Unbeaten Moises Flores Saturday, June 16 Live on SHOWTIME®
|
|
UNBEATEN TOP MIDDLEWEIGHT CONTENDER SERGEY DEREVYANCHENKO HIGHLIGHTS ACTION-PACKED UNDERCARD SATURDAY, JANUARY 20 FROM BARCLAYS CENTER IN BROOKLYN
UNBEATEN TOP MIDDLEWEIGHT CONTENDER SERGEY DEREVYANCHENKO HIGHLIGHTS ACTION-PACKED UNDERCARD SATURDAY, JANUARY 20 FROM BARCLAYS CENTER IN BROOKLYN
Plus, Super Lightweight Contender Anthony Peterson Faces Luis Florez And Unbeaten Prospects Richardson Hitchins, Dylan Price & Keeshawn Williams Enter the Ring
in Separate Bouts
BROOKLYN (January 12, 2018) – Unbeaten middleweight contender and IBF No. 1 challenger Sergey Derevyanchenko (11-0, 9 KOs, WSB: 23-1, 7 KOs) will enter the ring for an eight-round bout as part of an exciting undercard on Saturday, January 20 from Barclays Center, the home of BROOKLYN BOXING®.
The Premier Boxing Champions event is headlined by welterweight world champion Errol Spence Jr. taking on two-division champion Lamont Peterson live on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT). Lightweight world champion Robert Easter squares up against two-division champion Javier Fortuna. The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP telecast will be available in Spanish via secondary audio programming (SAP).
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment and TGB Promotions, are priced starting at $50, and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased at ticketmaster.com, barclayscenter.com, at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center or by calling 800-745-3000. Group discounts are available by calling 844-BKLYN-GP.
Additional action inside of the arena will see the brother of Lamont Peterson, once-beaten Anthony Peterson (37-1, 24 KOs), facing Luis Florez (23-7, 19 KOs) in a 10-round super lightweight matchup plus once-beaten welterweight Ivan Golub (13-1, 11 KOs) in an eight-round fight against Colombia’s Fidel Monterrosa (38-14-1, 30 KOs).
Undercard fights continue with undefeated 2016 Haitian Olympian Richardson Hitchins (3-0, 1 KO) entering the ring for a four-round welterweight fight against Preston Wilson (4-2-1, 3 KOs), Philadelphia’s Dylan Price (4-0, 4 KOs) competing in a four-round super flyweight bout against Nestor Ramos (7-7, 3 KOs) and welterweight prospect Keyshawn Williams (1-0, 1 KO) taking on Denis Okoth (1-0, 1 KO) in a four-round matchup.
Rounding out the night is a four-round showdown between unbeaten Desmond Jarmon and Dallas-native Charles Clark plus New Jersey’s Matthew Gonzalez in a six round middleweight fight against Alexander Serna.
A highly decorated amateur who represented his native Ukraine in the 2008 Olympics, Derevyanchenko now lives and trains in Brooklyn and most recently earned the top spot in the IBF rankings with an impressive 12th round stoppage over Tureano Johnson. The 32-year-old also defeated previously unbeaten Kemahl Russell in 2017 after his 2016 saw him earn a TKO victory over Mike Guy in March before stopping former champion Sam Soliman in the second round of a world title eliminator in July. The unbeaten fighter defeated a slew of experienced contenders in 2015 with wins over Elvin Ayala, Alan Campa, Vladine Biosse and a third-round stoppage of Jessie Nicklow.
Derevyanchenko and Golub make it a pair of Ukrainian sluggers fighting out of Brooklyn who will compete on the undercard looking to put on impressive performances in their adopted hometown.
Robert Easter, Javier Fortuna, Marcus Browne & Adam Kownacki Media Conference Call Transcript & Audio Recording
|
Robert Easter, Javier Fortuna, Marcus Browne & Adam Kownacki Media Conference Call Transcript & Audio Recording
Click HERE for Audio Transcript
Lou DiBella
Thanks for joining us. Greetings from the blizzard in New York City. I know that Marcus Browne and Adam Kownacki are both local right now, so they’re experiencing this insanity with me, and I guess a lot of you are also. So we’re going to try to warm up this blizzard afternoon and talk boxing for a little bit.
Errol Spence versus Lamont Peterson, terrific fight Saturday, January 20, 2018 on SHOWTIME, 9 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT, presented by Premier Boxing Champions and of course at the beautiful Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Tickets for the event are priced starting at 50 bucks, and they can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com, BarclaysCenter.com, the box office at Barclays Center or by calling 800-745-3000.
We have a terrific undercard, and we’re going to talk to the principals on that undercard on this call. We’re going to start with two gentlemen that are going to be in two fights that are going to start our televised evening off on SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel and SHOWTIME Boxing’s Facebook page.
Marcus Browne, 20-0, 15 KOs in Staten Island, New York, coming off a sensational knockout of Seanie Monaghan, rated Number 3 by the WBC, 7 by the WBA, 6 by the IBF, 4 by the WBO. One of the rising stars at light heavyweight, making his 12th appearance at the Barclays Center and pretty much fighting and waiting out his chance for a huge fight and a world title fight that will be coming, I think, shortly in 2018.
But first he’s got to get past the tough Francy Ntetu. Ntetu is 17-1. His only loss was at the Barclays Center in a hotly contested bout with David Benavidez, the WBC 168-pound champion. The fight was stopped very controversially. Ntetu is a legitimate guy and a guy that’s going to try to test Marcus Browne.
But in getting in the ring with Marcus Browne, he’s getting in with one of the very, very best in the world. Marcus, want to say a couple words?
Marcus Browne
Thank you guys. How you doing? Most importantly, I’m just honored to be able to continue my career on the undercard with guys like Robert Easter, Jr., Adam, myself, and a couple other young fighters.
I know Francy’s a very tough, tough live game guy and we’re prepared for that. And we’re prepared for what he brings to the table. Come January 20, I just can’t wait to go to work, show my skills and continue that march towards the world title.
This is a guy that that’s definitely going to test me. He’s definitely going to be there all night and we got to convince him to not be there. That’s the plan.
L. DiBella
Thanks Marcus. Marcus has really been one of the cogs of the BROOKLYN BOXING®program at Barclays Center. This will be Marcus’s 12th appearance at Barclays Center. So he’s one of the fighters that’s brought the most in the building.
The other fighter on the stream telecast is one of the up-and-coming young heavyweights in the world. He’s already got a huge fan base with Polish fans and Polish-American fans. He’s got a history as a New York Golden Gloves fighter and a young fighter that’s been developed in the New York area, Adam Kownacki, 16-0, 13 KOs, out of Brooklyn.
Born in Lomza, Poland and he moved to Brooklyn with his family when he was 7-years old. Two-time Golden Gloves champion, rated Number 13 by the WBC. In his last fight, he had a sensational four-round knockout of world title challenger Artur Szpilka. That was on the same show that Marcus fought at at the Nassau Coliseum.
On the 20th of January, he’s going to take on a tough kid Iago Kiladze, Number 15 in the IBF. Kiladze is 26-1 with 18 KOs. This is really another step in the road for Adam toward a heavyweight championship opportunity. Adam?
Adam Kownacki
Thanks for the introductions Lou. I can’t wait to get back in the rings on January 20. I would say I’m very hard. I’m ready to shine and prove that I belong with the best heavyweights in the world. This fight will take me one step closer to being heavyweight champion of the world. I’ll prove it once again on January 20 that we’re ready to fight with these top-notch heavyweights. I’ll keep climbing up the ranks.
Q
Adam, how much do you feel that your win against Szpilka kind of legitimized you in being a heavyweight contender and show people that you might be ready for a title shot?
A. Kownacki
I think I showed that I’m ready to shine at the bigger stage. It took Deontay Wilder ten rounds to take Szpilka out of there. It took me four. So that was a big statement, and I’ll continue to improve on that statement on January 20.
Q
Obviously Deontay Wilder fights a lot at Barclays Center. It’s a place where you’ve also fought a lot. He’s probably going to fight there on March 3. But how much have you thought about the possibility of somewhere down the line maybe you challenging Deontay for the WBC title there?
A. Kownacki
My goal is to be world champion. Whoever has the title, that’s who I want. If it’s Deontay, then it’s Deontay.
Q
Marcus, what do you know about your opponent specifically since I know you just got him secured a couple weeks ago? But what have you been able to find out about him and what he brings to the table?
M. Browne
He’s a real scrappy guy in the category of a Sakio Bika kind of. He’ll make a fight ugly if you allow him to do it. Another thing is he throws a high line of punches and he’s real crafty. He may not look like what he seems in the ring on tape.
So I’m just prepared and ready for whatever he brings that night. And I’m just ready to implement our game plan that we have in order to break him down.
Q
Marcus, you obviously had a very good 2017 with some spectacular wins on your record. How important is it for you to kind of start this year off in a similar way and build toward a title shot later in the year?
M. Browne
It’s super important because at the end of the day this is the first actual big card of the year. I have to put the light heavyweights out there on notice that I’m here and I’m not playing.
Q
Marcus is there one guy more than the other that you want to fight or is it just whoever gives you the opportunity to fight for the title?
M. Browne
No, no one guy more than the other. I’m just ready and willing and waiting my turn for whoever gives me the chance at fighting. And I have no picks. I ain’t got no favorites right now. It is what it is. I’m at the point where you either eat or get ate, and I’m ready to eat.
Q
Hey Lou, can you speak on how far Marcus has come and maybe where he’s now in position to get a title shot later this year?
L. DiBella
I think when you look at the light heavyweight division there’s a tremendous demand for quality contenders, guys capable of taking on the top of the division. It’s sort of a division that’s got a little bit heavy at the top and there aren’t a lot of Marcus Brownes.
Marcus is one of the elite prospects in the division. But he’s past the point of prospects. He’s really at the point of contender right now just waiting for the biggest fight out there to materialize.
There’s some big light heavyweight fights on the horizon. Some of them I think will be announced fairly soon. I think in 2018 Marcus is going to get that huge opportunity. He deserves it because he’s really in that handful of top guys.
There are the champions and there’s like a handful of other guys out there. And those guys are all going to be competing in the next year and Marcus is going to get that opportunity. He’s also a professional. He knows he has to take care of business on January 20.
Ntetu, who’s moving up in weight for this chance, really doesn’t have anything to lose. So Marcus can’t look past that. He’s just going to go out there, do his thing. He knows that the title shot is waiting for him later this year.
Q
Can you speak on what Adam showed in the Szpilka fight, especially getting rid of him the way that he did and kind of opening some people’s eyes in that fight?
L. DiBella
I love Adam as a fighter. I’ve always loved Adam as a fighter. He’s a tremendously skilled boxer for a heavyweight. His natural build is not like King Kong. So people look at him and they tend to underestimate them. But what he has is everything – movement, speed, power, boxing skills.
This guy’s a legitimate heavyweight contender, like not like only just a prospect. He’s a legitimate heavyweight contender, and he showed that when he wiped out Szpilka. He didn’t just beat Szpilka, he destroyed Szpilka. No one expected that kind of victory.
Artur Szpilka was a perennial top 10, 15 kind of guy in recent years and a guy that everyone viewed as a tough, rugged heavyweight, certainly a huge test for a young heavyweight. Adam didn’t only pass the test. Adam blew him out of the ring.
In my mind, a couple of more performances like that just keeping the winning track he’s on is going to earn Adam a shot at a world title, particularly with the huge following he has in the Polish and Polish-American communities and the number of people he can bring out when he does eventually challenge for a title, particularly if that bout takes place at the Barclays Center.
Q
Against Szpilka, were you were sure that you were going to do what you did to him?
A. Kownacki
Yes, I told you that before it happened. I’m a man on a mission. That mission is becoming the first Polish, Polish-American heavyweight champion of the world. No one will stop me.
Q
It seems like you have a killer instinct in you that no one really sees until you like get into the ring. Can you talk about that?
A. Kownacki
Yes, as humbly as I can say it, I’m blessed with the talent that God has given me with boxing. I’m trying to build on this, maximize my potential and give my family a better life. But like you said, boxing is a war zone. We put our lives on the line when we fight. So it’s me or him, and I’m just going to keep putting the pressure on guys and making them fold.
Q
What have you heard from the Polish community since that fight? How much has that inspired you further?
A. Kownacki
A lot of doubters turned to believers. I was in Poland a month ago. The love I got there was ridiculous. I really liked that. I have to keep working hard, keep training hard and my goal is be world champion.
So I’m very focused on Iago Kiladze right now. I have to pass this next test on January 20 on my way to become world champion.
Q
Marcus, what does it mean for you to fight in your home state?
M. Browne
At this point, being an Olympian and just being an amateur who fought in different countries, the earth is my turf. Of course it’s cool to fight in New York and it’s a plus.
But it’s annoying at the same time because people ask you for tickets and things of that nature.
So I’m just at the point in my career where I’m just blessed to have the opportunity to fight in general. Fighting in New York is great though. It’s always a great thing to come out and see your people, your family and your friends. But where I’m at in my career right now and mentally, I really don’t care where I’m fighting honestly.
Piggybacking off of Adam, we’re all on missions. His mission is to be the first Polish heavyweight champion and mine is to be the first world champion from where I’m from. We’re on that mission and nothing going to stop that. Whether it’s fighting in New York, Guam, or Dubai, it doesn’t matter.
Q
Marcus, your last fight in Brooklyn, there wasn’t the definitive victory that you wanted. Do you want to return to Brooklyn and be more definitive than that?
M. Browne
Correct. There’s no pressure for me honestly. At the end of the day, we got the win and, everybody has their opinions and everyone’s entitled to their opinions.
But I’m just ready to go in there, implement our game plan, not put on a show for anybody, be defensively sound, be smart and take care of business and just break the tough guy down.
He doesn’t come to play. He comes to work and he’s a real live game guy. He’s not going to give you nothing so you got to take it. And that’s where I’m at with it mentally, physically and spiritually at this point in my career.
I don’t really have anything to prove to anybody. I’m going to just let my skills speak for themselves and not put pressure on myself to do anything that I don’t need to.
Q
But wouldn’t it be nice to keep that streak going?
M. Browne
Of course. It’s always good to knock this guy out. But like the great Bernard Hopkins always told me, take them how they come because they’re all not going to be that easy. So I’m just prepared. I’m prepared for however many rounds we’ve scheduled to fight.
If a knockout comes, it comes. I’ll be implementing our game plan and setting him up and doing what I got to do. I’m not forcing any issues. Because that’s when you get caught up with lunging and fighting outside of yourself and trying to impress people.
I’m going to just stay within myself and be the best Marcus Browne on January 20. I can’t wait to fight.
L. DiBella
One other thing to clarify. You said that Ntetu had been knocked out in his last time at Barclays Center. If you watched the fight, the fight was stopped in a tremendously controversial manner that caused the SHOWTIME announcers to call it one of the strangest stoppages they’d seen. No disrespect to the winner of the fight but I would say if Marcus was able to knock out Ntetu on January 20, he’d be the first person who ever did that.
Q
Marcus, you look really on the cusp of a major fight. If the two most likely fighters you’d fight I would assume would be Adonis Stevenson and Badou Jack. Just wondered if you could give your quick thoughts on each of those fighters.
M. Browne
Quick thoughts on each of those fighters. I’m super focused. I’m not super locked-in on Francy Ntetu at this point. I’m a fighter at heart. So I don’t see no special effects in either of those guys. Adonis is super strong. Badou is a work horse. He comes and he works.
But I don’t see any of them beating me personally. Speak to me after January 20. Then we’ll talk about it more. We can elaborate on it more, but at this point I’m focused on Francy. Those guys are definitely in my sights and I don’t really see nothing crazy impressive.
Q
Adam, can you talk about what we can expect in the fight with Kiladze? Kiladze had been a cruiserweight up until a few years ago. How will that affect your weight and what can we expect for this fight?
A. Kownacki
Like you said, Iago was a cruiserweight. I’m a real heavyweight, so he will feel the difference in the size. I plan to be around 250 come fight day. I’m in great shape though. Sparring ten rounds easily.
I put in great work with a lot of great guys. I’m going to have Bryant Jennings come spar with me. I’ll do what I did to Szpilka, get on the W and keep proving myself.
Q
Adam, where do you think you are in the heavyweight division? Because this year we’re going to see a lot of talk of various title fights, maybe unification fights and all of that. Where are you in the picture and what’s your timeline for getting a title shot?
A. Kownacki
I’m on top. It’s just a matter of time till I get my shot to prove it. That’s what my mind’s telling me. I think I’m the best heavyweight fighter. It’ll take fight after fight to prove it. Iago has it coming on January 20.
Q
Do you want to make a prediction for that fight with Kiladze?
A. Kownacki
Listen, like I always say, if I don’t knock him out, then I’ll take the punishment for ten rounds.
L. DiBella
So let’s start with Robert Easter. The IBF lightweight champion 20-0, 14 KOs, proudly represents Toledo, Ohio, where he’s got a huge following. A lot of his fans travel, so Robert I know we’re going to see a lot of your fans from Toledo there at Barclays Center on January 20.
This is his return to the Barclays Center for the first time since his fifth pro fight in 2013. He won the IBF lightweight title in September ’16 in a terrific fight against very talented Richard Commey. He defended that belt twice by unanimous decision since then.
Trained by his dad Robert, Sr., and he was a U.S. Olympic Team alternate in 2012. The IBF lightweight champion of the world and one of the best young fighters of the world, Robert Easter.
Robert Easter
It’s always a pleasure to fight in Brooklyn in front of my fans on the East Coast. I have a big fan base out there. You’re going to expect the same or even greater in this fight for me. Another victory, it may come by knockout. It may come by knockout.
Q
Do you feel like you are a little bit of a forgotten guy in your weight division and you want to wake people up to the fact that you shouldn’t be?
R. Easter
I wouldn’t actually say I’m the forgotten guy. I’m just the guy they don’t want to fight. You heard these interviews, these guys talking. They always bring up everybody else names except for mine. You cannot forget about me.
I’m tallest in the weight class, maybe the fastest and probably one of the strongest. Of course they’re not going to mention my name because they don’t want to fight me. I’ve been calling these guys out. I know they see that. So how can they not acknowledge that.
Jorge Linares and Mikey Garcia, they’re doing their thing. They’re winning these fights like champions supposed to. But it’s time we unify these titles like I’ve been trying to do.
Q
Can you tell me from your side of things how serious that discussion about fighting Mikey Garcia was and what that was about?
R. Easter
I wanted to fight. It was serious on my side. I wanted to fight. I didn’t care where at. I don’t care about any of that. I wanted to fight.
At first it was I didn’t produce enough fans or the fight didn’t make sense, which that didn’t make sense, and some other excuses the guy came up with. But like I said, I was ready to fight whenever, whatever, how much. It didn’t even matter.
We didn’t actually get an offer. I guess they made an offer towards him. Like I said, I didn’t really care.
Q
Do you feel like you’re just a huge favored in this fight against the smaller guy?
R. Easter
Yes. But, I’m taller than most of my opponents. That’s nothing new. Of course I’m the favorite. I’m the champion. And he’s a former world champion.
These guys haven’t faced nobody with the skills of mine so you’re going to see another great performance from me in this fight.
I would like to make the same statement I’ve been making and that’s why these guys are scared to fight me.
Q
How much longer do you think you can hold 135?
R. Easter
I can hold it just as long as they want me to. But like I said, I’m trying to unify these titles and then move up after that until my goal is reached. For now, I’m going to be at 135, giving these guys trouble.
L. DiBella
Javier Fortuna, 33-1-1 with 23 KOs. Born in the Dominican Republic. Now lives in Braintree, Massachusetts. Promoted by the illustrious Sampson Lewkowicz and Sampson Boxing. He’s a former two-time, two-division world champion.
He was a champion at featherweight and at super featherweight. Now he’s moving up to lightweight to challenge Robert Easter, Jr. So translator, if you could ask Javier to say a few words please.
Javier Fortuna
Good afternoon. God bless everyone. I’m very happy and fortunate that Robert Easter gave him the opportunity to fight for the world title. Nevertheless, it will be the end of his reign. I know he has his fans. He’s a champion. My goal is to become world champion again.
Q
If you win this fight here against Fortuna, do you think it’s realistic that some of the other guys will give you the chance?
R. Easter
When I win this fight. I don’t know. I’ve been calling these guys out for a while. It’s kind of up to them. I’ve been sitting back, taking these mandatory fights and fights that really don’t make sense like unifying the titles will.
Hopefully all the champions meet up and fight. So when I win this fight, hopefully.
Q
If you aren’t going to get the chance to fight one of the other 135 guys, is it possible that you go up to 140 for your next fight?
R. Easter
I don’t know. We’re going to sit back and talk to my camp and we’re going to see what’s the best move after that.
Q
Looking at Fortuna, he’s obviously a leftie, is there anything that you have to do training-wise or that you have done training-wise in preparation for him?
R. Easter
I’ve been facing left-handers my whole career, amateur and pro. I have to make a few adjustments. That’s what professionals do when they get in the ring. That’s why I really don’t study tapes or nothing because they might not fight you the same as what they fought the last person or how they fought an orthodox fighter.
So it’s all about making adjustments once you get in that ring. Whenever I’m in the gym I always give it 110% and I always train till I ain’t got no more left in the gym.
Q
When you’re looking at this fight going into it, what’s the thing more than anything else that you want to gain from fighting Fortuna?
R. Easter
Just keep putting on like I’ve been putting on. He’s going out there making these statements, telling people that “I can’t be beat.” Not only him but these other fighters. As you can see, none of the champions are heading my way, so obviously I’m doing something right.
Q
Do you get a sense maybe the Mikey Garcia fight might not happen for you because he doesn’t necessarily want it for one reason or another?
R. Easter
I’m sensing that. But if both camps come to agreement, I’m hoping we can face off one day – not only Mikey though. You still have Jorge. You still have him. He’s still a champion as well.
Q
Are you looking at it may be like if Garcia decides to stay at 140 pounds that the Linares fight is a fight that you could make for your next fight assuming you win on January 20 also?
R. Easter
Of course. It doesn’t matter if he stayed or he didn’t. I still wanted that fight. Like I said, I’ve been ready to unify these titles for so long. I’ve been sitting back waiting not only on Mikey but the other champions. Flanagan, he has moved up. And now we have Linares.
Q
What do you think of Linares from what you’ve seen from him?
R. Easter
He’s a crafty fighter, fast, moves a lot, but nothing I haven’t seen before. He’s nothing special I haven’t seen before.
Q
Fortuna’s obviously said a lot of things over the last week or so about knocking you out and the referee’s going to have to save you and things like that. What do you make of it?
R. Easter
Those are things he’s supposed to say. He’s supposed to hype himself up, and he’s supposed to hype the fight up. But he and his camp knows the truth. They know what they’re getting themselves into. I don’t really have to trash talk. My work is done in the ring. January 20 we’re all going to see that.
Q
Javier what do you think about Easter and why do you thinks it’s a fight that you’lll be able to win by knockout, maybe some of the flaws or whatever you feel are weaknesses that Robert has?
J. Fortuna
So of course he’s a tall fighter but it’s also very convenient to me. I feel that he won’t be able to hold my punches, the power of them. In this fight I’ll come more focused than any other fight.
I want to tell Easter that hopefully, there’s no excuses with him or his camp. I want the best Easter that could possibly come to fight.
Q
Robert what’s your response to that?
R. Easter
Like I said, he’s supposed to hype himself up. I never have made excuses in the ring. My record is perfect. I’m doing what I’m supposed to do, and I’m winning these fights. He’s trying to get where I’m at. He’s trying to get another shot which is going to fail coming January 20.
Like I said, he’s supposed to hype himself up. All this talk, I don’t get into none of that. Everybody has a game plan till they get hit.
Q
Javier you’re viewed as an underdog in this fight. How much has that motivated you?
J. Fortuna
That does motivate me much more. It gives me the opportunity to concentrate that much more. I’ve been the underdog a few times. Like the Omar Douglas fight, I surprised everybody in his hometown.
I would have liked for this fight to be in Ohio. That would have been much better for me because I perform better under pressure.
Q
What do you think of Robert’s last couple of fights?
J. Fortuna
I figure he’ll be a little better now because if he comes the way he fought his last fight, he won’t reach the fifth round. He’s got to reinvent himself because if he doesn’t, he won’t go far.
Q
So Robert do you think that this is just hyping the fight, or do you feel he has the power to knock you out?
R. Easter
Of course they’re just hyping the fight. He has had power in the lower weight classes. But like I said, all that goes out the window once you get hit. Once he gets hit by what I’m bringing, then all that talking is going to go out the window.
He hasn’t faced nobody with the skills I have. He’s been knocked out for one. He’s telling me I got to reinvent myself. He has to reinvest himself. You know, that’s why he’s trying to become a champion again as you said. You know, so I’m already a champion. I’m already in the shoes he wants to be in.
January 20 we’re going to put the gloves on. We’re going to get in that ring and I’m going to come out victorious like I’ve been doing.
Q
Do you feel that you can put together an offer to those other parties like Garcia and Linares to bring the fight to your hometown where you are popular?
R. Easter
That’s just a lame excuse to say when I fight, I don’t produce enough fans. What does Lipinets do? No disrespect to him, but come on now. Everybody knows that is not true.
I have fans all over. My fan base is big, and it doesn’t matter we if we fought in a room with nobody. It shouldn’t even matter to both parties, is the money good and the contract’s good, then we should fight. I wouldn’t care about fighting in front of nobody because I know what I’m going to do.
Q
When it comes specifically to the Mikey Garcia fight, is there maybe something personal there because of your promotion/affiliation with About Billions and Broner having that last fight with Mikey? What is it that you see or seem that you feel that you can do better than your big bro?
R. Easter
This has nothing to do with AB. This has everything to do with Mikey being a champion at 135 and Jorge Linares being a champion at 135. It’s time to unify.
If I was that much of an easy fight for them, the fight would have been made. After the offer they gave Mikey, it would have been made. It just didn’t make sense. I don’t make no excuses. I’m coming to fight and they know that.
Q
Do you think that maybe Robert is overlooking you and can you capitalize on that?
J. Fortuna
I’m just trying to get in position to fight Garcia. January 20 there will be history made in Dominican Republic because from what Easter said about me being knocked out, that never happened to me. I’ve been hurt but that never happened to me, so he got to look out for that.
Q
So can you just express to us how comfortable you’re going to feel at 135?
J. Fortuna
I’m going to be super good at 135 because I am very close to weight and I’ve made that weight a few times already in the last couple fights. I feel a lot stronger and a lot more prepared for this fight.
Q
Robert, just wondering if you can talk about your connection to your fans in Toledo and if you expect a good turnout at Barclays Center?
R. Easter
My connection to my hometown fans, my fans is important. I try to respond to almost each and every person who reaches out. People be so amazed that I do say something back on Twitter or Instagram or Snapchat.
All my fans is real, especially my hometown fans. They love traveling to see me fight because they know where I come from. We all grew up together. I’m first hand here.
I’m one of the only things they got that’s still here, that’s hands on with them. So they come and show support. I love that they always step out whenever they know I’m fighting.
Q
You had good offensive performances in your last three fights but couldn’t get a stoppage. So Javier is a very tough opponent but I’m just wondering if you’re gunning for a knockout, if you’re motivated to try to get back on the knockout track?
R. Easter
Shafikov was a tough opponent. Richard Commey was a tough opponent. Cruz is tough. All these guys are tough. We’re preparing. We’re making adjustments in the ring. And if a knockout comes, it comes.
I’m not going to shoot for a knockout, but I know I’m going to set something up to where I can knock him out. But like I said, if it comes, it comes. But ain’t no way he’s going to beat me. He knows that. His camp knows that.
Q
Javier I’m just wondering why type of sparring you’re doing in preparation for this, if you’re fighting bigger guys? If so, what weight classes they’re coming from? Because there really aren’t many guys at 135 who are that tall.
J. Fortuna
All the fighters that are helping me out sparring they’re 135, 140 and they’re part of my team.
I understand what Robert is saying that he’s more skillful but he can have more skill. He could have whatever he thinks he have. But he’s not going to have my will to win. The only way I can demonstrate it is in the ring.
L. DiBella
I think that’s right and we’re going to get the answer in the ring when champion Robert Easter takes on the challenge of Javier Fortuna. I think we’ve done enough talking for a snowy Thursday afternoon. Thanks everybody for joining us. Robert, thank you. Thank you, Javier. We’ll see you both fight week. And thanks everybody in the press.
Once again, tickets are on sale Barclays Center box office, Ticketmaster.com, BarclaysCenter.com. We hope everybody joins us at the Barclays Center on January 20 for a great night of boxing presented by Premier Boxing Champions.
And if they can’t be there, SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING starting at 9:00 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT with the earlier bouts featuring Marcus Browne and Adam Kownacki to take place on SHOWTIME’s Facebook page stream and SHOWTIME’s YouTube channel. So I look forward to seeing everybody fight week and brave the storm.
|
PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS TOE-TO-TOE TUESDAYS ON FS1 & FOX DEPORTES FIGHTERS MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES
Press Release For Immediate Release
Quotes From Carlos Velasquez, J’Leon Love, Andrew Tabiti & Mickey Bey, Before They Enter The Ring On Tuesday, September 29 From The Pearl At Palms Casino Resort
LAS VEGAS (September 25, 2015 ) Fighters competing on Tuesday’s Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) TOE-TO-TOE TUESDAYS on FS1 and FOX Deportes fight card held a media workout at the Mayweather Boxing Club in Las Vegas Thursday, as they prepare for their September 29 bouts at The Pearl at Palms Casino Resort.
2004 Puerto Rican Olympian Carlos Velasquez was on hand to talk about his showdown with super featherweight world champion Javier Fortuna that headlines the telecast, which begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
Also in attendance Thursday was super middleweight contender J’Leon Love who takes on Osumana Adama in a 10-round bout, undefeated cruiserweight knockout artist Andrew “The Beast” Tabiti who will take on Tamas Lodi in an eight-round affair and former world champion Mickey Bey, who returns in a 10-round lightweight bout.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Mayweather Promotions are priced at $100.50, $75.50, $50.50 and $20.50 plus applicable fees, and are on sale now. Tickets may be purchased at http://www.ticketmaster.com or by calling the Pearl Box Office at 702-994-3200.
Here is what the fighters had to say Thursday:
CARLOS VELASQUEZ
“All the training is over and now it’s time to fight. I had a great training camp and my body feels fresh. My weight is good I’m looking forward to putting on a great show for the fans.
“I’m ready for this challenge. Being the main event is a blessing and I’m going to make the most of this opportunity.
“It’s time to bring another world championship back home to Puerto Rico.”
J’LEON LOVE
“Camp has been tremendous. I’ve pushed my body to a new level. I’m in great condition. We’re just waiting for the 29th.
“I always try to add to my game in training camp. I’m trying to perfect my craft. Defense is one thing you can never have too much of.
“I want to make someone miss and make them pay. I’m focused on my balance and being aggressive.
“I’ve always been an intelligent fighter. I’m trying to stay two or three steps ahead of my opponent. I want them to adjust me. I can let my skill dictate the action.
“I’m visualizing an A+ performance on Tuesday night. I’m still learning and finding myself every day. I can’t wait to bring it all into the ring.”
MICKEY BEY
“I’ve had a great camp filled with hard work. I’m working hard for Floyd Mayweather Sr. to get myself ready for this fight.
“I’ve had to slowly get back to it after my hand surgery but I feel great now and ready to go.
“I’m anticipating a clean sweep Tuesday night. I can adapt to anything on the fly in the ring. I’m a smart, all-around fighter.
“Get your popcorn early because you’re going to see everything in the ring, you never know what you’ll see.
“I’m fighting for my family and friends. I’ve had so much support through my injury. I learned a lot from sitting out. I’m ready to get in there and test it out.”
ANDREW TABITI
“I’ve been working hard in the gym on my conditioning and just staying in great fight shape.
“The main thing I’m looking for is the win. I have to respect each guy in front of me and if the knockout comes, I’ll take it.
“I want to stay active and just keep gaining experience in the ring. I’m getting better with each fight.”
# # #
For more information visit http://www.premierboxingchampions.com, http://www.mayweatherpromotions.com and http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepage, Follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @MayweatherPromo, @FS1, @FOXDeportes @PearlAtPalms and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook atwww.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions and, http://www.facebook.com/foxdeportes http://www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotion. Highlights available to embed a www.youtube.com/premierboxingchampions.
CARLOS VELASQUEZ CAMP NOTES
Press Release For Immediate Release
CARLOS VELASQUEZ CAMP NOTES
PUERTO RICAN OLYMPIAN CARLOS IVAN VELASQUEZ PREPARES TO FACE SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION JAVIER FORTUNA IN LAS VEGAS TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 ON PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS’ “TOE-TO-TOE TUESDAYS’ ON FS1 & FOX DEPORTES
LAS VEGAS, NV (September 16, 2015) – Less than two weeks away from his Tuesday, September 29 super-featherweight world title showdown against undefeated world champion boxer Javier “El Abejon” Fortuna (28-0-1, 20 KOs), Carlos Ivan Velasquez (19-1, 12 KOs) is gearing up for the fight of his life. He fights on Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) TOE-TO-TOE TUESDAYS headlined by Fortuna vs. Velasquez, a scheduled 12-round bout from The Pearl at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT).
Velásquez was born in Cataño, Puerto Rico where he and his twin brother both competed in amateur boxing growing up. He was a member of the 2004 Puerto Rican Olympic boxing team, but also won the featherweight title at the Central American and Caribbean Games. Training out of Las Vegas, NV with esteemed boxing trainer Roberto Norris, Velasquez shares his thoughts on training camp, fighting for Puerto Rico and fulfilling his dream of becoming a world champion.
On fighting for the Puerto Rican fans in this first world title opportunity:
“I was born and raised in Puerto Rico and I love my countrymen and country. Becoming a world champion is something I’ve been working hard for my whole life. From coming up as an amateur and Olympian to now, I have dreamed about winning this title. The time has come to take my career to the next level. Being that this is my first world title shot, I’m fully prepared to show the world that I’m a great fighter and that I intend to bring the title back home to all my family, friends and fans on September 29th.”
On fighting undefeated world champion Javier Fortuna:
“Fortuna is considered one of the great fighters in the 130-pound division for a reason, he’s never lost. But he’s never been in the ring with a technical fighter like myself. He has a lot of flaws that we are going to expose.”
On his world title opportunity coming on FS1 & FOX Deportes:
“What can I say, I’m truly blessed to be fighting on PBC. FS1 and FOX Deportes are the new Tuesday Night Fight channels. TOE-TO-TOE TUESDAYS is great for the sport. I’m honored to be fighting in the main-event on a great network like FS1 and FOX Deportes. Boxing has now gone back to its glory days, and I’m ready to shine.”
On training with new coach Roberto Norris:
“I find myself in a comfortable position training with Roberto Norris, who is working great with the physical attributes that God has blessed me with. Being that Fortuna is a southpaw, a great game plan must be implemented, and Norris has a masterful strategy in place. The knowledge that Norris conveys is really making a difference in my approach. I’m confident I’ll be able to dictate the pace of the fight and negate anything Fortuna tries to impose.
On working with strength and conditioning coach Ángel “Memo” Heredia:
“Angel Heredia is one of the best strength and conditioning coaches in boxing. With all the work we’ve done, I’ve never felt stronger going into a fight. His techniques are second to none. My stamina will be at peak performance when I step in the ring. In addition, Memo brings a lot of experience to my corner.
For more information visit http://www.premierboxingchampions.com
http://www.mayweatherpromotions.com http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepage
Follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @MayweatherPromo, @FOXSports1, @PearlAtPalmsand @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at
http://www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions and http://www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions.
CARLOS VELASQUEZ SEEKS VICTORY IN FIRST WORLD TITLE BOUT
Photo By Marlene Marquez
Press Release For Immediate Release
LAS VEGAS, NV (August 12, 2015 – Fighting in his first world title bout on Tuesday September 29, 2015, Puerto Rican super lightweight contender (WBA #9) , Carlos Velasquez (19-1, 12 KOs), is eager to give undefeated WBA World Champion, Javier Fortuna (28-0-1, 20 KOs), his first loss. The PBC on FOX Sports 1 will televise the bout starting at 9PM ET Eastern Time / 6PM PT. Ticket sales and venue for Fortuna vs. Velasquez will be announced shortly.
Velasquez, who represented Puerto Rico in the 2004 Olympics, is thriving at the opportunity to fulfill his childhood dream of becoming a world champion. He believes he has advantages that will lead him to victory. On the line with be Fortuna’s WBA World title.
“Ever since I was a young boy, I always pictured myself as a world champion,” said Velasquez. “Now I have a golden opportunity to accomplish that dream. It won’t be easy. Javier Fortuna is a very tough fighter with an undefeated record. He’s considered one of the best fighters in the division. Stylistically, he’s never been in the ring with a fighter like me. When I bring home the belt, I hope I get credit for defeating a top fighter like Fortuna.”
Trained by boxing guru Roberto Norris, and guided by nutritionist/strength coach Ángel “Memo” Heredia, Velasquez feels he has the right team that can take him to the top.
“I believe I have a great coach in Roberto Norris, who understands Me.” continued Velasquez. “He’s got me working on all my strong points, bringing out the best in what I do best. Memo is getting my body in top condition. I feel great. I’m going to be at my best when I step in the ring with Fortuna.”
Mario Serrano
Publicist – Team Velasquez
Standing-8 