Press Conference Quotes: Tszyu, Leija, Abdullaev, Holiday

Photo: TOM CASINO/SHOWTIME

16.01 - One of only three undisputed world champions in boxing, Kostya Tszyu, will make the first start in his adopted homeland of Australia in nearly five years when he defends his World Boxing Council/World Boxing Association/International Boxing Federation (WBC/WBA/IBF) 140-pound titles against former WBC super featherweight titleholder and WBC No. 4 contender "Jesse" James Leija live on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING Saturday, Jan. 18, 2003, at 10 p.m. ET/PT. In a second 12-round fight at the Telestra Dome in Melbourne, Australia, undefeated contender and 2000 Uzbekistan Olympic Gold Medallist, Muhammad Abdullaev, faces former IBF lightweight titleholder Philip Holiday for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Intercontinental 140-pound title.

KOSTYA TSZYU (29-1-1, 23 KOs):

"I would like to thank Showtime and everyone involved for making this happen. I am pleased to be fighting back where my career began 11 years ago. When I came to Australia, it was for a visit. I could not speak the language and needed an interpreter. Now, it is my home and I would never want to be any place else. Not many believed an event like this could happen again here. But it is going to happen, and it is very important to me. More than 30,000 fans will be here and the atmosphere will be great. The excitement in the stadium is going to be tremendous.

"I am proud of what I have done in my career. Leija is 36, but I am going to be 34 this year. I have fought the best, first in the amateurs and then as a pro. Like Jesse, I cannot wait to jump in the ring for this fight. I am not going to make a prediction. We are both humans and anything can happen. But one promise I can make is that this fight is going to be very entertaining and one that fans remember for a long time.

"In America, boxers like to talk trash at a press conference. But not here, not for this show. Jesse has always been a class act and a credit to the game. We will do our business in the ring. I still feel I am improving. I am always experimenting and trying to improve my power, stamina, technique and defense. When a boxer stops improving it is time to quit. I have been planning to retire the last 3-4 years. But after each fight, I want to come back for more."

JESSE JAMES LEIJA (43-5-2, 1 NC, 17 KOs):

"If I did not think I could win, I would not be here. I thank Showtime for sticking with me. In 1992, they gave me the opportunity to fight Azumah Nelson in San Antonio. Then, they televised the rematch when I won the world title. I thank everybody on my team who has been with me all these years. And, Kostya Tszyu, I also thank, for this opportunity. It is strange for a guy my age to get this kind of chance, but I have beat four world-ranked guys in a row. The last time I was on Showtime, I beat Juan Lazcano and lost the decision, but everybody knows who won.

"I have had a long career, but it is not over yet. I have put in a lot of hard work for this fight. I have trained 18 weeks. Kostya Tszyu has a great right hand and is a great boxer. He is a true champion in and out of the ring. This is going to be a tough test for me, but I am not going to leave here without a fight.''

MUHAMMAD ABDULLAEV (10-0, 8 KOs):

"I am very excited and confident. Holiday is a physical guy that likes to get inside, but in a way that is perfect for me. He is a former world champion with a lot of experience, but I had a lot of experience too, but in the amateurs. As a pro I am gaining experience quickly. I feel I am progressing every time out. I do not expect an easy fight. Holiday has fought the best and has never been stopped except for out cuts. And I know he will be coming to win.

"I feel I am continuing to get the respect of the fans and media. This is another step up for me, but one I am looking forward to. I am willing to fight anybody out there. I beat Ricardo Williams (twice) and Miguel Cotto in the amateurs, but they have already said they do not want to fight me. In a way, I cannot blame them either. I thank Showtime for giving me another opportunity to fight on their network again. I am anxious to show what I can do and putting on a good show.''

PHILIP HOLIDAY (38-5-1, 22 KOs):

"It is great to be on a fight card like this with an opportunity to back in the ranking for a shot at the world title, which is what I want to do. Abdullaev is a strong guy and I am not going to say he is making a mistake fighting me because this is obviously what his camp feels he has to do. I just know that I have been working very hard and understand that this is a great chance for me to reestablish myself.''