Press Conference Quotes: DeMarcus Corley, Randall Bailey, Felix Machado
Photo: TOM CASINO/SHOWTIME
(Left to right): DeMarcus "Chop Chop" Corley, Felix Machado, Luis Perez and
Randall Bailey pose after Thursday's press conference in Washington, D.C.
03.01 - In the first major world championship fights of 2003, World Boxing Organization (WBO) Junior Welterweight Champion DeMarcus "Chop Chop" Corley and International Boxing Federation (IBF) Junior Bantamweight Champion Felix Machado will defend their titles in 12-round bouts Saturday, Jan. 4, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING. Corley will make his second title defense when he takes on former WBO and WBA 140-pound titleholder and current WBO No. 7 contender Randall Bailey. Perez will make his fourth defense time when he meets World Boxing Association (WBA) Latin Americas 115-pound kingpin Luis Perez. The Machado-Perez bout replaces the fight between WBA 108-pound champion Rosendo Alvarez and Beibis Mendoza, which was postponed earlier in the week after Alvarez was injured during training. SHOWTIME will televise the Don King Productions, Inc.-promoted world title doubleheader from the D.C. Armory in Washington, D.C.
DEMARCUS "CHOP CHOP" CORLEY (27-1-1, 16 KOs):
"I feel great and am very excited to be defending my title on my home turf in front of my hometown fans. This is going to be a great fight and I do not want to take anything away from Randall Bailey, but I know what I have to do and why I am here. This will be a repeat of my fight on June 30, 2001, when I won the title (by first-round knockout over Felix Flores on SHOWTIME). I have a game plan, am going to stick to it, and blow Bailey away. I am from the projects. He is not going to take anything away from my kids' plates. I want to thank Showtime, Don King and everyone involved who helped make this fight happen.''
RANDALL BAILEY (26-2, 26 KOs):
"The only thing on my mind is beating Corley. He is a good fighter but I am confident I will win and become a three-time world champion. There is no pressure on me. I never go out looking for knockouts. But if I hit him right, the knockout will come. I am thankful and grateful for this opportunity.''
FELIX MACHADO (22-3-1, 11 KOs)
"I am very calm and ready to defend my title. I have always done my talking in the ring. My opponent is saying a lot, but I plan to make him eat his words. I will silence him on Saturday night.''
LUIS PEREZ (20-1, 14 KOs):
"I am happy to be here and thrilled to be fighting for my first world title. I am well prepared. I do not fear the champion. This is the fight I have dreamed of since I started to box when I was 14. I am going to work his body until he slows down and has to fight me. I will fight from bell to bell and put on a good show.''
