Holyfield v Toney: Final Press Conference Quotes

Photo: Tom Casino/Showtime
Evander Holyfield (left), promoter Dan Goossen and James Toney pose after Wednesday's press conference at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. Four-time heavyweight champion Holyfield takes on three-time world champion Toney in the 12-round main event Saturday on SHOWTIME Pay Per View (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT) at Mandalay Bay.

02.10 - Final press conference for the 12-round heavyweight showdown featuring legendary four-time world champion Evander Holyfield against current International Boxing Federation (IBF) Cruiserweight Champion James Toney on Saturday, Oct. 4, at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Highlighting the undercard will be a 12-round IBF title eliminator featuring two of boxing’s most talented fighters, former IBF junior lightweight champion Joel Casamayor and former 130-pound world champions Diego Corrales. Both fights will air live on pay per view beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. Goossen Tutor Promotions will present the event, which will be distributed by SHOWTIME Pay Per View and carries a suggested retail price of $44.95. Tickets are priced at $650, $500, $300, $150 and $75, and are on sale now at the Mandalay Bay Box Office and all TicketMaster outlets. To order tickets by phone, call (702) 632-7580.

EVANDER HOLYFIELD

Photo: TOM CASINO/SHOWTIME Pay Per View
Evander Holyfield got a surprise visit from The House Of Blues Gospel Choir of Las Vegas Tuesday night when he showed up to train at Mandalay Bay. The choir sang for about 20 minutes as an obviously delighted and appreciative Holyfield looked on.

“My whole life, people have wanted to retire me. They have said that I was no good. They have said that I was too small, but all it is, is talk. The most important thing for me is not my age. It is that I have taken good care of myself. I am going to continue to fight as long as I feel that I can at the highest level. I have a lot left in the tank. If I knew how much I have left, I think it would be scary. The fact that I do not means that I cannot get over confident, and that I have to be smart.”

“I look at tapes and see that I do not do things the way I used to. But, since my shoulder surgery, I feel like I am getting back to the way I was. The combinations are coming back. This is going to be a good fight. I am ready. It is not about anything that James Toney does. It is all about him adjusting to me.”

JAMES TONEY

Photo: TOM CASINO/SHOWTIME Pay Per View
James "Lights Out" Toney and his trainer, Freddie Roach, pose Tuesday after meeting with reporters at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

“I am going to give everyone a great show on Saturday. I am done talking. I am ready to fight. I am ready to go to war, and I guarantee I am not losing. It is 72 hours until the heat is coming. I am coming for you, Evander.”

“What is going to happen when Holyfield hits me and there is no reaction? I have a chin, and I can take a shot. I have been fighting big guys all my life. This is what I do. I will be in front of him all night.”

“I will come into this fight at 217 pounds, which is my comfortable, natural weight. After this fight, I am going to go back down and defend my (International Boxing Federation) cruiserweight title. Then, I want to come back up and fight for the heavyweight title. In a year or so, that title should be vacated when Lennox Lewis retires.”

“I was not impressed with Holyfield-John Ruiz because Ruiz is just a club fighter. Everyone has an excuse for getting his ass whopped. Everyone has an excuse for not fighting me because they are scared.

“I want to fight Roy Jones Jr. I will fight him at cruiserweight, heavyweight, or wherever he is.”

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Interview Transcript: Evander Holyfield
Interview Transcript with Toney’s Trainer Roach
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