Saturday’s SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® Telecast Will Replay
Tuesday, June 5 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME EXTREME®
Available On Demand from Sunday, June 3, through July 1
CARSON, Calif. , (June 3, 2012) – The age-old question of who wins out – experience or youth – was only half answered Saturday night on a compelling night of fights on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIPS BOXING.
Former Light Heavyweight World Champion Antonio “Magic Man” Tarver (29-6-1, 20 KO’s), age 43, and unbeaten 29-year-old Lateef Kayode (18-0-1, 14 KO’s) fought to a 12-round draw while 28-year-old Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin (27-0, 20 KOs) took out 40-year-old former undisputed 154-pound champion Winky Wright (51-6-1, 25 KOs) by unanimous 10-round decision in the final two of four televised fights from The Home Depot Center.
Austin “No Doubt” Trout” (25-0, 14 KOs) and Leo “El Terremoto” Santa Cruz (20-0-1, 11 KOs ) both registered impressive unanimous victories in the first two televised fights.
Kayode, who had graduated from ShoBox to the big stage and was fighting in his first SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING bout, controlled the fight early on leaving Tarver to rally in the latter rounds. Tarver and Kayode each took a 115-113 score from different judges, with the third calling it 114-114.
“From the sixth round on I showed I still had it,” said Tarver, who resides in Tampa , Fla. “I put my punches together and I won down the stretch. We are going to stay busy and take a week off, but then get back in the gym.”
SHOWTIME expert analyst and noted boxing historian Steve Farhood was impressed with Kayode and his technical style. “It was a close fight and Antonio clearly controlled the second half of the bout but gave away a lot of the early rounds,” Farhood said after the fight. ”Kayode fought better technically than he has in a lot of his ShoBox fights.”
“Everyone knows I won this fight,” said Kayode, of Hollywood , Calif. , by way of Nigeria . “I’m better than him.”
In a middleweight featured attraction, Quillin took out Wright by unanimous 10-round decision, 98-91 twice and 97-92.
Quillin, from New York City , just proved too quick and elusive for Wright, of St. Petersburg , Fla. , who was fighting for the first time in three years and two months. Wright was knocked down by an impressive and powerful right hand to the head in the fifth round.
“I prepared for a 21-year-old Winky Wright and at times he fought like that,” Quillin said. “You can see from my face that I didn’t take a lot of punishment tonight.”
Said Hall of Fame analyst Al Bernstein during the telecast, “I agree with Steve Farhood - Wright might have been better off taking an easier tune-up fight in his comeback before taking on Kid Chocolate.”
Trout, from Las Cruces , N.M. , successfully defended his 154-pound WBA world title with a unanimous decision victory over Delvin Rodriguez of Danbury, Conn., (26-6-3, 14 KOs ). The judges scored the fight 117-111, 118-110, 120-108 with Trout outworking Rodriguez and landing 22 percent of his 699 punches in the 12-round battle.
“I did what I had to do to get the win," Trout, 27, told SHOWTIME reporter Jim Gray after the fight.
In the opening bout of the telecast, bantamweight Santa Cruz captured the vacant IBF belt with a unanimous 12-round decision over the IBF No. 1 contender Vusi Malinga (20-4, 12 KO’s), of Johannesburg, South Africa. The 23-year-old Mexican-born Santa Cruz, of Lincoln Heights, Calif., dominated the fight and won by scores of 120-108 twice and 119-109 while throwing an amazingly high 1,350 punches on the night.
Boxers Victor Ortiz, Canelo Alvarez, Sugar Shane Mosley, Abner Mares, Devon Alexander and more took in the rare four-fight telecast ringside. Other notables spotted in the crowd on the night were Los Angeles Lakers star Metta World Peace and rapper 50 Cent.
***
In an exciting bout aired live on SHOWTIME EXTREME between top super middleweights, Sakio Bika (30-5-2, 20 KOs), of Sydney, Australia, stopped Dyah Davis (21-3-1, 9 KOs), from Coconut Creek, Fla., in the final round (at 1:40) of a scheduled 10-round fight.
In another undercard bout featuring a ShoBox alum, unbeaten lightweight contender Sharif “The Lion” Bogere (23-0, 15 KOs) from Las Vegas by way of Uganda , registered a technical knock out over Manuel Leyva (21-6, 12 KOs) from nearby Downey , Calif. , in the second round (0:38) of a scheduled 10-round bout.
The night of fights will air on replay on SHOWTIME EXTREME Tuesday, June 5, at 10 p.m. ET / PT and will be available On Demand from Sunday, June 3 through July 1.
Gus Johnson called the action on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING with Al Bernstein serving as expert analysts. Barry Tompkins and Steve Farhood announced the fights on SHOWTIME EXTREME. Jim Gray served as ringside reporter. David Dinkins Jr. was the Executive Producer with Ray Smaltz producing and Bob Dunphy directing.
Showing posts with label Winky Wright. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Winky Wright. Show all posts
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Friday, June 1, 2012
"Four Warned" Final Press Conference and Photos
CARSON, Calif. (May 31, 2012) – All eight fighters participating in Saturday’s SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING “Four Warned” event and the SHOWTIME EXTREME fighters participated in a final press conference on Thursday, just two days before the highly anticipated June 2 Quadrupleheader which will be telecast live on SHOWTIME® (9:00 p.m. ET/PT) from The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.
“Four Warned,” a rare four-fight SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast, features former Light Heavyweight World Champion Antonio “Magic Man” Tarver (29-6, 20 KO’s) facing unbeaten Lateef Kayode (18-0, 14 KO’s) in a 12-round cruiserweight fight, former undisputed junior middleweight kingpin Winky Wright (51-5-1, 25 KO’s) returning to the ring to meet undefeated Peter Quillin (26-0, 20 KO’s) in a middleweight bout, Austin Trout (24-0, 14 KO’s) risking his perfect record and WBA Super Welterweight belt against Delvin Rodriguez (26-5-3, 14 KO’s) and IBF number one rated bantamweight contender Vusi Malinga (20-3, 12 KO’s) facing IBF number five rated bantamweight contender Leo Santa Cruz (19-0-1, 11 KO’s) for the vacant IBF bantamweight title. All four bouts are set for Saturday, June 2, airing live on SHOWTIME (9:00 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) from The Home Depot Center in Carson , Calif. “Four Warned” is presented by A.T. Entertainment, Golden Boy Promotions and Gary Shaw Productions with Trout vs. Rodriguez being presented in association with Greg Cohen Promotions and Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing and Malinga vs. Santa Cruz being presented in association with Branco Sports Productions. The event is sponsored by Corona and AT&T.
Headlining the SHOWTIME EXTREME preliminary fight telecast will be a 10-round battle for the NABF and vacant WBO Inter-Continental Super Middleweight titles between talented up-and-comer Dyah Davis (21-2-1, 9 KO’s) and perennial contender Sakio Bika (29-5-2, 20 KO’s), beginning live at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT. Also featured on the SHOWTIME EXTREMEM telecast (time permitting) will be highlights from the showdown between unbeaten lightweight rising star Sharif “The Lion” Bogere (22-0, 14 KO’s) and crafty southpaw Manuel Leyva (21-5, 12 KO’s).
Tickets for “Four Warned” are available for as low as $25, with VIP floor seats priced at $200. Other tickets in the 8,000-seat outdoor stadium at The Home Depot Center are available at $50 and $100. Fans can purchase tickets at AXS.com or by phone at 1-888-9-AXS-TIX (1-888-929-7849), as well as The Home Depot Center Box Office (open Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. PT). VIP Suites are available for purchase by calling 1-877-604-8777. For more information on group discounts or VIP packages, please call 1-877-234-8425.
Here’s what the fighters had to say on Thursday:
TARVER:
“Sometimes when you sign for a fight you never know how it will turn out, but this event took a life of its own. It wasn’t until the kickoff (press conference) when I realized what I was really in for. Everything had to take a back seat to my training. The passion and love for the sport still lives inside.
“Age is nothing but a number. I know this is the fight that will bring the best out of me because I know he will press hard all night long looking for that lightning in the bottle that I know won’t come. You’ll see on Saturday.”
“They (SHOWTIME) wanted to mic me up for the bout [to commentate and fight simultaneously], but I know I have my hands full with Lateef.
“I guess Lateef took offense to how I critiqued his fighting – he was used to the compliments. It’s different to look in the mirror and say I need to do this and that. We need training camp to become better, well-rounded fighters. I was trying to help him and he thought I was disrespectful.
“It’s going to be an interesting fight. Trust me, I’m in good shape. I haven’t taken him lightly. I know he has potential, I know he has the power to end the fight in one punch and that’s why I went back and trained hard for this.”
KAYODE:
“I’m ready for this fight. This is the happiest I’ve ever been. I stay in the gym, I work hard and I listen to my trainer.
“I’ve never fought anyone like this. For me to fight this man I’ll need to dig deep into my soul.
“I will knock you down. I’m sorry to say this to my brother, but on June 2, you will have to go down.
“He said I was too aggressive when I was fighting, but I’m going to show him aggressive on Saturday.”
WRIGHT:
“I’m so excited to be back in the ring – it’s been three years. Boxing got real boring for me and and no one wanted to fight me.
“Now that I’m back, I needed a great challenge. I’m coming back because I want to be champion. Peter is a great fighter, he’s coming to fight and I’m coming to fight. You’re going to see on Saturday. I wouldn’t come back if I wasn’t ready. I’m back to be the champ.
“To be the best, you got to fight the best, and Peter is a step in that direction.”
QUILLIN:
“I know this is a tough fight and a great opportunity for me. I trained harder than ever for my time in the spotlight.
“There are a bunch of inspiring stories on this card and I’m glad to be part of it.
“Hard work means easy work. I believe that I’m a future superstar of this sport.
“My dad came here 32 years ago on Saturday to this country for opportunity and now I’m fighting here for opportunity. I came from the floor to the big stage.”
TROUT:
“I can’t tell you how excited I am to fight alongside these guys. All excitement aside, I have my eye on the prize. I’m ready to make a statement.
“I want to be the pound-for-pound champ and I feel like Delvin is the gatekeeper to bigger and better things. I’m excited to get in there and put my stamp on the game. Win or lose, I’m going to give it all.”
RODRIGUEZ:
“This fight speaks for itself. The fans know it’s going to be exciting.
“Austin must be doing something right to be in the position he is now as an undefeated fighter, so we have a lot of respect for him.
“I’ve been training hard for this opportunity and this shot at the world title. I’ve been through a lot of ups and downs so to get this opportunity is a blessing. We trained for seven weeks and now the fight is finally here. It’s going to be a great night of boxing.”
MALINGA:
“I’m happy to stand next to these legends. I’m prepared and have been training very hard. I’m hoping to take the title to Africa and on Saturday. I’m going to win.”
SANTA CRUZ:
“This is my first time fighting for a title. This is what I’ve been training for. I know Malinga will come ready because he wants the title, but Mexicans are warriors, too.
“I trained harder than ever because I want this title and I want it to stay in California. I can’t wait to get in there and win it.”
DAVIS:
“There’s a lot of history here and I’m happy to be part of it. I’m ready and it’s my time to shine. I’ll let my fists do the talking.”
BIKA:
“I’ve trained very hard and I’m happy to be on the undercard of these legends. I’ll bring my best Saturday because I know everyone will be watching.”
BOGERE:
“We’re coming to fight. I’m the lion. I’m happy to be put on with these legends of boxing. This is like a dream come true and I can’t wait for my time to shine.”
“Four Warned,” a rare four-fight SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast, features former Light Heavyweight World Champion Antonio “Magic Man” Tarver (29-6, 20 KO’s) facing unbeaten Lateef Kayode (18-0, 14 KO’s) in a 12-round cruiserweight fight, former undisputed junior middleweight kingpin Winky Wright (51-5-1, 25 KO’s) returning to the ring to meet undefeated Peter Quillin (26-0, 20 KO’s) in a middleweight bout, Austin Trout (24-0, 14 KO’s) risking his perfect record and WBA Super Welterweight belt against Delvin Rodriguez (26-5-3, 14 KO’s) and IBF number one rated bantamweight contender Vusi Malinga (20-3, 12 KO’s) facing IBF number five rated bantamweight contender Leo Santa Cruz (19-0-1, 11 KO’s) for the vacant IBF bantamweight title. All four bouts are set for Saturday, June 2, airing live on SHOWTIME (9:00 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) from The Home Depot Center in Carson , Calif. “Four Warned” is presented by A.T. Entertainment, Golden Boy Promotions and Gary Shaw Productions with Trout vs. Rodriguez being presented in association with Greg Cohen Promotions and Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing and Malinga vs. Santa Cruz being presented in association with Branco Sports Productions. The event is sponsored by Corona and AT&T.
Headlining the SHOWTIME EXTREME preliminary fight telecast will be a 10-round battle for the NABF and vacant WBO Inter-Continental Super Middleweight titles between talented up-and-comer Dyah Davis (21-2-1, 9 KO’s) and perennial contender Sakio Bika (29-5-2, 20 KO’s), beginning live at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT. Also featured on the SHOWTIME EXTREMEM telecast (time permitting) will be highlights from the showdown between unbeaten lightweight rising star Sharif “The Lion” Bogere (22-0, 14 KO’s) and crafty southpaw Manuel Leyva (21-5, 12 KO’s).
Tickets for “Four Warned” are available for as low as $25, with VIP floor seats priced at $200. Other tickets in the 8,000-seat outdoor stadium at The Home Depot Center are available at $50 and $100. Fans can purchase tickets at AXS.com or by phone at 1-888-9-AXS-TIX (1-888-929-7849), as well as The Home Depot Center Box Office (open Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. PT). VIP Suites are available for purchase by calling 1-877-604-8777. For more information on group discounts or VIP packages, please call 1-877-234-8425.
Here’s what the fighters had to say on Thursday:
“Sometimes when you sign for a fight you never know how it will turn out, but this event took a life of its own. It wasn’t until the kickoff (press conference) when I realized what I was really in for. Everything had to take a back seat to my training. The passion and love for the sport still lives inside.
“Age is nothing but a number. I know this is the fight that will bring the best out of me because I know he will press hard all night long looking for that lightning in the bottle that I know won’t come. You’ll see on Saturday.”
“They (SHOWTIME) wanted to mic me up for the bout [to commentate and fight simultaneously], but I know I have my hands full with Lateef.
“I guess Lateef took offense to how I critiqued his fighting – he was used to the compliments. It’s different to look in the mirror and say I need to do this and that. We need training camp to become better, well-rounded fighters. I was trying to help him and he thought I was disrespectful.
“It’s going to be an interesting fight. Trust me, I’m in good shape. I haven’t taken him lightly. I know he has potential, I know he has the power to end the fight in one punch and that’s why I went back and trained hard for this.”
KAYODE:
“I’m ready for this fight. This is the happiest I’ve ever been. I stay in the gym, I work hard and I listen to my trainer.
“I’ve never fought anyone like this. For me to fight this man I’ll need to dig deep into my soul.
“I will knock you down. I’m sorry to say this to my brother, but on June 2, you will have to go down.
“He said I was too aggressive when I was fighting, but I’m going to show him aggressive on Saturday.”
WRIGHT:
“I’m so excited to be back in the ring – it’s been three years. Boxing got real boring for me and and no one wanted to fight me.
“Now that I’m back, I needed a great challenge. I’m coming back because I want to be champion. Peter is a great fighter, he’s coming to fight and I’m coming to fight. You’re going to see on Saturday. I wouldn’t come back if I wasn’t ready. I’m back to be the champ.
“To be the best, you got to fight the best, and Peter is a step in that direction.”
QUILLIN:
“I know this is a tough fight and a great opportunity for me. I trained harder than ever for my time in the spotlight.
“There are a bunch of inspiring stories on this card and I’m glad to be part of it.
“Hard work means easy work. I believe that I’m a future superstar of this sport.
“My dad came here 32 years ago on Saturday to this country for opportunity and now I’m fighting here for opportunity. I came from the floor to the big stage.”
TROUT:
“I can’t tell you how excited I am to fight alongside these guys. All excitement aside, I have my eye on the prize. I’m ready to make a statement.
“I want to be the pound-for-pound champ and I feel like Delvin is the gatekeeper to bigger and better things. I’m excited to get in there and put my stamp on the game. Win or lose, I’m going to give it all.”
RODRIGUEZ:
“This fight speaks for itself. The fans know it’s going to be exciting.
“Austin must be doing something right to be in the position he is now as an undefeated fighter, so we have a lot of respect for him.
“I’ve been training hard for this opportunity and this shot at the world title. I’ve been through a lot of ups and downs so to get this opportunity is a blessing. We trained for seven weeks and now the fight is finally here. It’s going to be a great night of boxing.”
MALINGA:
“I’m happy to stand next to these legends. I’m prepared and have been training very hard. I’m hoping to take the title to Africa and on Saturday. I’m going to win.”
SANTA CRUZ:
“This is my first time fighting for a title. This is what I’ve been training for. I know Malinga will come ready because he wants the title, but Mexicans are warriors, too.
“I trained harder than ever because I want this title and I want it to stay in California. I can’t wait to get in there and win it.”
DAVIS:
“There’s a lot of history here and I’m happy to be part of it. I’m ready and it’s my time to shine. I’ll let my fists do the talking.”
BIKA:
“I’ve trained very hard and I’m happy to be on the undercard of these legends. I’ll bring my best Saturday because I know everyone will be watching.”
BOGERE:
“We’re coming to fight. I’m the lion. I’m happy to be put on with these legends of boxing. This is like a dream come true and I can’t wait for my time to shine.”
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Antonio Tarver & Vusi Malinga "Four Warned" Workout Quotes & Photos
CARSON, Calif. (May 29, 2012) – Former light heavyweight kingpin Antonio “Magic Man” Tarver, hard-hitting world title challenger Delvin Rodriguez and IBF No. 1 rated bantamweight contender Vusi Malingahosted a workout for the Southern California media at The Rock in Carson, Calif., as they wind down preparations for “Four Warned,” the upcoming June 2 Quadrupleheaderwhich will be telecast live on SHOWTIME® (9:00 p.m. ET/PT) from TheHome Depot Center in Carson, Calif.
“Four Warned,” a rare four-fight SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast, features former Light Heavyweight World Champion Antonio “Magic Man” Tarver (29-6, 20 KO’s) facing unbeaten Lateef Kayode (18-0, 14 KO’s) in a 12-round cruiserweight fight, former undisputed junior middleweight kingpin Winky Wright(51-5-1, 25 KO’s) returning to the ring to meet undefeated Peter Quillin (26-0, 20 KO’s) in a middleweight bout, Austin Trout(24-0, 14 KO’s) risking his perfect record and WBA Super Welterweight belt against Delvin Rodriguez(26-5-3, 14 KO’s) and IBF number one rated bantamweight contender Vusi Malinga (20-3, 12 KO’s) facing IBF number five rated bantamweight contender Leo Santa Cruz (19-0-1, 11 KO’s) for the vacant IBF bantamweight title. All four bouts are set for Saturday, June 2, airing live on SHOWTIME (9:00 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) from The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. “Four Warned” is presented by A.T. Entertainment, Golden Boy Promotions and Gary Shaw Productions with Trout vs. Rodriguez being presented in association with Greg Cohen Promotions and Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing and Malinga vs. Santa Cruz being presented in association with Branco Sports Productions. The event is sponsored by Corona and AT&T.
Tickets for “Four Warned” are available for as low as $25, with VIP floor seats priced at $200. Other tickets in the 8,000-seat outdoor stadium at The Home Depot Center are available at $50 and $100. Fans can purchase tickets at AXS.com or by phone at 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849), as well as The Home Depot Center Box Office (open Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. PT). VIP Suites are available for purchase by calling 1-877-604-8777. For more information on group discounts or VIP packages, please call 1-877-234-8425.
Here’s what Tarver and Malinga had to say on Tuesday:
TARVER:
“When you’re fighting me, you have to have your emotions in check. It’s not checkers, it’s chess.
“I’m too old to run. I’m not going to go anywhere. I’m in this until the end.
“He’s never fought anyone with my speed, my power. The chin is not a muscle – when you get hit you get knocked out.
“He has a hell of a fight on his hands and I don’t think he’s prepared for it. He wouldn’t listen to my advice when I gave it to him [as a commentator] on ShoBox (The New Generation) and now he’s going to go back to school. I’ll teach him a few things on Saturday.
“A lot of people don’t realize what type of champion I am. You don’t become a five-time champion by accident. I’m going to add to my legacy on June 2.
“You can’t handicap me because of my age. The proof is in the pudding. I was too old when I started in ’96 and I’m too old now. I’m not stopping until I’m the heavyweight champ.
“Whatever he brings, it won’t be enough. The magic carpet ride continues on June 2.
“I’m not giving up until I win that heavyweight title. I’ll stop when I lose to a better man and that hasn’t happened yet.
“I got a few tricks up my sleeve and I’ll reveal one on June 2.”
MALINGA:
“Training was superb. We trained very hard for this fight. We arrived in the U.S. on Sunday and we are ready to go.
“I’m very excited to fight here and make my U.S. debut. I plan to show the fans what they’ve been missing.
“I don’t know anything about him (Santa Cruz) except that he’s right handed, but I’m preparing for anything. I’m very fit and ready to fight.
“It’s very important for me to win my U.S. debut. I must win in order to come back again and fight.”
Friday, May 25, 2012
"Four Warned" Conference Call Highlights: ANTONIO TARVER & LATEEF KAYODE, VUSI MALINGA & LEO SANTA CRUZ, WINKY WRIGHT & PETER QUILLIN, AUSTIN TROUT & DELVIN RODRIGUEZ, TRAINERS FREDDIE ROACH & JIMMY WILLIAMS
All eight fighters participating in "Four Warned," the upcoming June 2 Quadrupleheader live on SHOWTIME® (9 p.m. ET/PT) from The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., participated in media conference calls on Wednesday and Thursday as they prepare for next week's bouts.
Thursday's call featured Winky Wright, Peter "Kid Chocolate" Quillin, Austin "No Doubt" Trout, and Delvin "El Peligro" Rodriguez.
"Four Warned", a rare four-fight SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast, features former Light Heavyweight World Champion Antonio "Magic Man" Tarver (29-6, 20 KO's) facing unbeaten Lateef Kayode (18-0, 14 KO's) in a 12-round cruiserweight fight, former undisputed junior middleweight kingpin Winky Wright (51-5-1, 25 KO's) returning to the ring to meet undefeated Peter Quillin (26-0, 20 KO's) in a middleweight bout, Austin Trout (24-0, 14 KO's) risking his perfect record and WBA Super Welterweight belt against Delvin Rodriguez (26-5-3, 14 KO's) and IBF number one rated bantamweight contender Vusi Malinga (20-3, 12 KO's) facing IBF number five rated bantamweight contender Leo Santa Cruz (19-0-1, 11 KO's) for the vacant IBF bantamweight title. All four bouts are set for Saturday, June 2, airing live on SHOWTIME (9:00 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) from The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. "Four Warned" is presented by A.T. Entertainment, Golden Boy Promotions and Gary Shaw Productions with Trout vs. Rodriguez being presented in association with Greg Cohen Promotions and Joe DeGuardia's Star Boxing and Malinga vs. Santa Cruz being presented in association with Branco Sports Productions. The event is sponsored by Corona and AT&T.
Tickets for "Four Warned" are available for as low as $25, with VIP floor seats priced at $200. Other tickets in the 8,000-seat outdoor stadium at The Home Depot Center are available at $50 and $100. Fans can purchase tickets at AXS.com or by phone at 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849), as well as The Home Depot Center Box Office (open Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. PT). VIP Suites are available for purchase by calling 1-877-604-8777. For more information on group discounts or VIP packages, please call 1-877-234-8425.
Here are some highlights of what the fighters on both calls had to say.
ANTONIO TARVER
"We're doing really well. We just finished up some sparring. They said I went 13 rounds but I thought I went 10. I don't know but I lost track a long time ago. We feel real good and I have some good guys in there sparring with me. This has been a really, really good camp. We're peaking at the right time and the weight is down. I weighed in at around 205. I'm strong and focused. Now it's just about getting some rest and continue meditating on the vision and visualizing how this fight is going to go down and making sure we're ready for whatever he brings to the table.
"I'm excited to be back and fighting in America. It's been almost two years now. I'm excited. It's like, don't call it a comeback. I just want to let the people know I'm still here."
Are you surprised at Kayode's reaction to your comments while commentating on his fights?
"From an announcer's standpoint, yeah, I'm a little surprised. I'm not paid to stroke anybody or sit behind that desk and promote or market a fighter. I've got to see it with my own eyes and tell it how I see it. The way I see it may not be the way your average viewer sees it, but I come from years of experience as one of the most decorated amateurs of our time and I've been a very successful professional fighter so I think I know the game of boxing back and forth. I've had one of the best trainers and philosophers since I was 10 years old so I've been schooled very well. What I see may not be obvious from the naked eye. I wasn't ever trying to be overly critical of Lateef. He's a guy who is ranked high across the board and if he wasn't worthy then I wouldn't be fighting him. That's what he needs to understand. It's not all about him. We all need to go back to the gym every time.
"You don't think I didn't work every time to get better? Yeah, you always work to get better and there are always improvements that can be made. What I was telling him were the things that I saw that he could have improved on. I'm not thinking of him being able to hit somebody hard or whatever. I'm looking at the intangibles that you need to be a world-class fighter and he could not understand that. So he showed his inexperience and his youth by getting all emotional and out of whack approaching me and confronting me. Right there that tells me that his emotions got the best of him and now he's bit off more than he can chew. So now instead of trying to tell him what I thought he should do to improve, now I've got to show him. And this is going to be an experience of a lifetime for Lateef and he's going to remember this fight for his lifetime. This is where he is going to be compared and judged for the rest of his career. And if he's adamant about what he says he's going to do then I'm going to have to show him very early in this fight that I'm not some little boy he's been facing. I'm not one of these kids he can just run up to and bully. You can talk all you want but you can't bully me. Because your struggle is nothing compared to my struggle here in America and what I've had to overcome to get to where I had to go.
"I don't care anything about you being from Africa. I respect you because you're a brother from another but that don't mean anything to me because my struggles you can't relate to. I'm the fighter I am today because of what I had to overcome, you feel me? You've been here five years in America. I've been here all my life. I had to go through everything. There's no one that gave me anything. Not one thing. I didn't even have a promoter when I started boxing professionally. I was an Olympic bronze medalist. So you have no idea what it feels like to have to beat everybody in front of you to get to where you're going. You're in my way. I'm on to bigger and better things. I'm going for the heavyweight championship and I'm not going to let Lateef Kayode stop me from my destination. So I'm looking forward to June 2 and just like you hear it in my voice I am fired up, because this man has threatened me in so many ways. Coming up to me in the streets and saying, 'What are you going to do?' OK. That's all I need to hear. Be man enough to say what you're going to do and back it up. Because when I say something I'm going to do it. I'm going to defend my title with whatever I've got. I'm ready for whatever Lateef Kayode can bring. If he thinks he's going to be the bully in this fight then he's got another thing coming. If he thinks he's going to bring power to this fight he's going to find out early that he's got another thing coming. He better have an A, B, C, D plan because it's going to take more than one game plan to beat me. And just coming with power isn't going to do it. Because I've felt power punches before and I've knocked them out. I've fought bullies before and I've knocked them out. I've fought the very best in the world and I've beat them. So Lateef Kayode has a chance of a lifetime to be a legend for one night. But he's going to have to bring his butt to get it.
"I haven't taken Lateef Kayode lightly by any stretch of the imagination. That's what they need to understand. I take this guy as a serious threat. I know in this fight one punch can change the entire fight and one punch can end a fight. And what I've done in training camp is to eliminate any chance of him getting lucky and the only way I can do that is to make sure I'm in the very best shape mentally and physically. I haven't been this tense for a fight in a long time. This feels like it did before some of the biggest fights I've had. Because this guy is strong and has gone on record as saying he's going to knock me out. He's holding strong to that assumption. I know he's coming in strong to try and hurt me. That's just going to make me very strong and very alert and make me very sharp in that ring. I'm going to dial in on this guy and it's going to be tunnel vision. I think this fight is going to show everybody my ability and my skill.
"There isn't going to be no running. He doesn't have to worry about that. I'm 43 years old. I'm not trying to run anywhere unless I'm running in preparation for a fight. I don't have to run. I have confidence in my ability and I'm a sharp-shooter. I'm trying to hit that kidney and I'm trying to hit that chin. And I'm accurate. So you don't have to worry about me missing. I'm going to be on point. I'm going to beat you down with my defense. I'm going to trust my defense. I'm going to stay in close and I'm going to work. I'm going to work for the knockout. I'm not going to look for the home run. I'm going to put some shots on this guy combination style, something he doesn't know anything about. We're going to use our angles and we're going to out smart him and then when it's comes down to it we're going to show that he's not the only one with muscles in the fight. If I have to hurt this guy, that's what I'm going to do.
"I have never been hurt. I can rely on my defense to get me through. My instincts are still intact and my reflexes are there. I trust my defense. My coach tells me all the time we haven't gotten hurt yet, so we're not going to get hurt until I retire. That's my goal to walk away from the game with all my faculties and still have never been knocked down in a fight. That's what I pride myself on: never been knocked out, never been stopped. I feel good about June 2. I'm going to turn back the hands of time and you're going to see a 43-years-young fighter in the there, but you're not going to know which of us is 43."
LATEEF KAYODE
"I have something to prove to everyone and to Antonio Tarver. On June 2 I'm going to show that he's never fought anyone like me. I'm going to prove that all the things he said about me were wrong. First of all he said all my punches were sloppy and second of all he said I'm not fighting with any spirit. Every time I fight on ShoBox he says the same thing.
"I saw him in downtown L.A. and said, 'Why do you always says those things about me on ShoBox?' He said he's just doing his job. But when I was doing good and connecting on my punches he just quiets down and says nothing. He only concentrates on my mistakes.
"If this fight were in the streets I know I would win. I come from far away and have struggled all my life."
Do you view this fight as a crossroads fight to your young career? Is it a lose-lose for you?
"I don't really have much to lose in this fight. He's the one who has already lost and I'm undefeated. If I lose this fight there is happiness for me because I fought Antonio Tarver. If I win this fight there is happiness for me. I don't have anything to lose. What I want to do is show people that I am better than him. He's going to get hurt so bad, so bad. I'm coming for him.
"My prediction is that I think I'm going to knock him out in the fifth round or the sixth round."
JIMMY WIlLIAMS
"I'm from the old school. My philosophy is that we don't care what he does. We care about what we do. Antonio is a five-time world champion. He's a boxer, fighter, puncher, counter-puncher. Skill will beat will. We work smarter not harder. We're not running. He's punching harder now. He's ready for anything. I wish the fight was tonight. I wish it was yesterday. He's ready."
FREDDIE ROACH
"Lateef's training really hard to get ready for this fight. We're working on a game plan now. I wish Antonio the best of luck and I hope the best man will win."
How do you control the emotions of a young fighter like Lateef?
"It's definitely a challenge. He's a young fighter and he gets excited easily. But as far as the game plan for this fight we will keep his head on straight and we'll try and keep him calm. At times he may get a little excited but excitement makes good fights so I'm not really worried about it.
"(Antonio) is a Hall of Famer for sure and we know we have to beat guys like this to get to the top. We're training hard and we have a good game plan so we're going to do our best to beat him. We know we're in for a tough fight but that's what it's all about. I think we're ready at this point.
"I don't think experience will be an advantage for him. Whoever controls the fight and pulls it off will be the winner."
WINKY WRIGHT
"I'm happy to be back. I'm glad I have a formidable opponent. Peter comes to fight and we're going to show the fans why we do what we do."
What made you decide to come back to the ring now?
"I wasn't really retired yet. I thought if I wanted to get back in the ring I had to do it and do it now. I just turned 40 so if I'm going to do this I have to do it. We're glad to get an opponent like Peter. I'm here to prove that I want to fight the best. I'm not coming back just to fight and get a win, I want to fight the best. I want to be champion. If I can't be champion there's no reason to do this."
Why was there such a long layoff?
"First of all, there was no one significant that wanted to fight me. I couldn't get any big fights or any fights that meant something. I'm not just taking fights to entertain or taking fights just to fight. I want to fight because I want to be the best. None of the champions wanted to fight and I couldn't get any of them to sign on the dotted line. My legacy is in stone. I would love to fight, but if they don't want to fight forget it. So I had to wait, I did family things and enjoyed life."
How much of the Winky that we remember from 2004 is still there?
"Oh, he's still here. Like I said, tune in on June 2. I have a great opponent that will bring it out of me. I didn't pick a bum to come out and fight, I picked a kid that is undefeated, that is hungry, that wants to prove to the world that he's a great fighter. He's going to have to do that June 2."
What do you think of Peter's development and how he has come along?
"I think he's a good fighter. He's young, hungry, tough and that's what I'm looking for."
He hasn't fought anyone like you before. How do you think it's going to be different for him on June 2?
"I've never fought him and he never fought me, so it's going to be different for both of us. We both got to get in the ring with somebody we've never seen before or fought before. Like I said, I'm going to be in great shape, he's going to be in great shape and we'll just let the wheel get working and do what we have to do to win."
Do you think he will be prepared to step up to the level that you've been fighting at?
"Like he said, I got two hands and he has two hands. When we step in the ring we have to be prepared to do whatever it takes to win. Whoever can adjust and dictate what they want to happen in the fight is going to win the fight. I want to fight the best. I want a title shot. If I don't get a title shot then what I'm doing is not necessary. If you're not here to win titles and win belts then you're just doing it for the fun of it."
Has there ever been another fighter who had to take the same route as you - fighting in people's backyards?
"Maybe Marvin Hagler. Maybe a lot of people didn't have to take the route that I had to take to get where I got to, but I think taking that route made me a better and stronger fighter. It made me a tougher fighter because I knew that I could win no matter where I was. I didn't have to be home in front of my home crowd."
Who put the fire back in your belly to do this?
"I just turned 40 and if I want to continue to fight, I need to get out there and do it now and I need to fight the best. I'm not here to take easy fights and easy wins - that's cheating the fans. The fans come to see you fight and they want to see a competitive fight. They don't want you coming in with a bum or some guy you know you can knock out. You have to give the fans who they want to see. I want to fight whoever you want me to fight. Let's do it. I want the title.
"I know that I'm still in great shape, I'm still in great health and if I want to do this, I believe that I still have the ability to do this. I put in the hard work and put in the training. Training is the hardest part of boxing. The fight night is the easy part, that's just one night to get in there and do what you do. It's the training that hurts a lot of fighters. You have to learn how to train smarter and learn how to execute your game plan in the fight."
Did it take some time being used to being back in the gym and preparing for a fight?
"It took some getting used to. Anything that is worth having is worth working hard for. I work hard for this."
Did you stay in reasonably good condition while you were off? When you went back to the gym how much did you weigh?
"I'm not going to say I stayed in boxing shape. I wasn't fat, but I wasn't in boxing shape. I may have weighed 185, but I was in shape. It wasn't with a big belly and all that kind of stuff. It was a different kind of shape.
Do you think we need to change our perception of 40-year-olds boxing?
"Definitely, the game has evolved. Training is totally different. Fighting is totally different. You have to look at the individual, not how old the individual is and see how they fight. All you can do is watch them fight and see what happens."
PETER QUILLIN
"I think my advantage is I'm just going to be as sharp as I can on June 2. I'm prepared for anything. I'm prepared to fight King Kong if I have to. That's what I've been training to do. Training is the biggest part of a boxer's fight. I make sure that I have to endure every struggle while I'm in camp so I can see the glory when I step in the ring on June 2.
"I haven't been the distance in over two years now. My last five fights have been stoppages six rounds or less. Boxing is all about the challenges. And that's why Winky Wright and I took this fight.
"I never really said I was going to knock him out. When I say Pluto it's a metaphor for a place that we've never been to. He's never fought a fighter like me and I've never fought a fighter like him. The fans can expect a fight that they've never seen before. That's why this fight has been made on SHOWTIME. Who's better? This is the challenge. Knockouts come naturally. I'm never going to force the knockout. When I say Pluto, Pluto is a place that he's never been. Now if he happens to see stars then that's not my problem."
What do you think you'll see from Winky next week?
"I think we'll see the best of Winky Wright. I'm just super prepared for this fight. I'm ready and I'm not going to expect anything less than him throwing his two hands and I have to be ready for that. The No. 1 thing a fighter has to do is be able to adjust and that's what I'm going to be able to do on June 2."
Do you expect him to be best opponent you've ever fought?
"Every fight to me is the biggest fight of my career. Right now, I'm thinking this is the biggest fight of my career. As far as his long layoff, I can't necessarily say if that's going to hurt him or help him. I just know that I'm prepared for a 21-year-old Winky Wright and that's what I've been preparing for. I've been preparing for the best Winky Wright, not where he's at right now or his age."
When do you think you'll be ready for a title shot?
"I hope this fight right here sets me up for a title shot."
How much did moving out to the West Coast help you?
"I think moving to the West Coast has been a blessing. It's been a blessing in disguise to be around other champions, be around other guys that want to be champions, be around Freddie Roach with the eye that he has for boxing. I'm very blessed and I don't take any of this for granted.
AUSTIN TROUT
"It's going to be a great night of fights and I feel like me and Delvin are going to be the show stealers."
What are the keys to this fight?
"We do all the preparation in the gym. We know Delvin is a very high-action, fast-paced fighter, so we're going to have to take that pace and step it up a notch. We need to keep our combinations moving and our footwork. We need to use our feet. We don't want to stay right in front of him, but we don't want to run either."
Where does Delvin rank as the level of opponent that you've faced before?
"I think this is the hardest fight to date that I've had in my career. Delvin is a world class fighter. I've watched him on TV as a fan and I know the type of challenge that's coming forward. There's no way I can look past a fighter like Delvin. This is the toughest fight of my life."
Have you ever faced anyone like Delvin style-wise?
"The thing with Delvin is he doesn't fight the same every fight. He changes his style and he adapts. He's a smart fighter. I don't think I've ever fought anybody that has the diversity that Delvin does. We get ready with a bunch of different styles of sparring partners. In case he wants to box, we work on cutting the ring off. If he wants to bang, we have an idea that we want to do for that. We make our own camp diverse."
Do you think this is the fight where you can break into the mainstream?
"I definitely hope so. Going around the world and fighting off of TV has taught me a lot of different things, but I need that exposure and I feel like Delvin is the type of fighter to bring out the best in me. I want the world to see the best in me and I'm glad Delvin was able to accept the fight where we can bring out the best in each other and showcase good boxing for the world."
Who would you like to face in the 154-pound division?
"I want to get the rest of those belts. I feel like there are a lot of belts in my class and to be the true champion, you have to have them all. One of my goals is to be the undisputed champion. I'm looking at Canelo (Alvarez), I'm looking at K9 (Cornelius Bundrage) and, of course, everybody is looking at Floyd (Mayweather), but first I got to get past Delvin to make any of this possible. I look at Delvin as the gatekeeper. He's the one who's going to let me in or deny me. I have to get through him to get those other belts."
DELVIN RODRIGUEZ
"It's going to be a great fight. I have respect for him. He's an undefeated champion. I'm so hungry for a world title. He's coming and he knows he's facing a tough opponent and I'm sure he's prepared and so am I. I've been waiting years and years for this opportunity. I've been through ups and downs in my career and thanks to God I'm here."
What are the keys to this fight?
"I just got to do what I do. I have to go in there and put my combinations together. I haven't had any problems against lefties."
What will Trout bring to the table to challenge you?
"I have respect for Austin. He's a fine champion. I've faced a lot of tough opponents, but I think with Austin it's going to be different because he has a lot of skills. He's not just going to go there and fight just for the heck of it. I know that I have to be very focused. I'm facing someone that I know I can't make any mistakes [against] and I definitely cannot look past him."
Have you ever faced anyone like Austin style-wise?
"I know that Austin Trout has a lot of experience. He has good movement. He's always aware of where he is in the ring and that makes a big difference, but I feel very confident about facing a southpaw. For me, I've been comfortable every time I faced a southpaw opponent."
What was your reaction when you were offered the opportunity to fight for the world title again?
"I was very excited. I had to go back to the gym the same day. I think that people who follow my career know what I've been through - a lot of ups and downs. I've been waiting for this opportunity. When we finally got the news that we were fighting Austin Trout it was one of the most exciting things that's happened to me in a long time."
Who would you like to face in the 154-pound division?
"This fight is important to me and I'm excited about it. I don't want to go backwards and I don't want to go sideways - I want to go forward. I want to fight the guys that are on top of me and that are better than me. I just want to go forward."
VUSI MALINGA
"I'm very happy to fight on SHOWTIME. It's an important fight for me and I've been waiting for this opportunity for a long time. I'm training very well and I think I'm going to take the title.
"I'm coming to the United States (from Johannesburg, South Africa) on Sunday.
"I didn't know much about Leo Santa Cruz before I found out I would have this fight. I know I'm going to win this fight and I'm very fit. I've been waiting for this opportunity for a long time. I think it's my time to win this title.
"I think the advantage of fighting bigger fights is there. I think because I've been training so hard that I deserve to win this fight. I would never underestimate my opponent."
LEO SANTA CRUZ
"I'm very excited and happy for this opportunity that SHOWTIME is giving me to fight on such a big card. It's such a big privilege and an honor. I've been training really hard and I want to do my best to impress SHOWTIME but mostly I just want to win this title. Ever since I was a little kid my dream was to have the opportunity to win a world championship. I just started training really hard when I found out I would have this chance and have even hired a strength and conditioning coach. I've very concentrated on this fight and think I'll come out victorious on June 2.
"I don't know much about (Malinga) but I have watched a couple of videos of him. I know he likes to come forward and he's tough. He's a good fighter and he looks strong and he has a good uppercut. I've been learning how to block uppercuts. I've been just training here and learning how to fight him.
"I'm going to try and go to the body first and a lot but if it doesn't work down there then I'll try and go up because I think he has a weakness that he drops his hands so I'm going to try and take advantage of that. I'm not going to try and look for the knockout. I'm just going to try and win.
"I think he's the toughest fighter I've faced. I don't think his layoff will affect him. He's always been in the gym and sparring."
Who were some of your favorite fighters coming up?
"There was Julio Cesar Chavez, Oscar De La Hoya, a lot of the Mexican fighters, and Manny Pacquiao now."'
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)