The latest boxing interviews from boxers all over the world
Kelly Swanson
Thanks everyone for calling in. We’re talking about Fonfara versus Cleverly, Friday, October 16 from the UIC Pavilion in Chicago. It’s at 9 p.m. ET on Spike and I’m really looking forward to watching this fight. It’s an exciting fight in the light heavyweight division.
While proven names such as Amir Khan, Danny Garcia and Kell Brook are circling, Australian excitement machine Jeff Horn sits just below them looking for his opportunity to break into the top tier.
ABEL SANCHEZ: Good morning, everybody. We are extremely happy to be part of this epic event. I think it’s about time that promoters and managers and fighters put their records on the line, put their belt on the line, and the best fight the best, and I’m glad that Tom is the kind of promoter for Gennady that’s going to endorse everybody and Oscar being the same way, so we’re finally going to see a fight that the fans have been waiting to see, the kind of fight that the fans have been waiting to see.
DAVID LEMIEUX: It’s been a great camp. It’s been a great — it’s been a great training. Everything has been on spot. Never had a more complete camp than this. I have been pushing myself to the maximum with each training, with each exercise, with everything envisioning the big day ahead of me, October 17th, so I did everything I had to do to make sure I have no regrets October 17th, because the plan is to walk out of that — out of Madison Square Garden with those belts and hopefully without a broken nose (Chuckles.)
Former three-time, two-division world champion Randall “The Knock Out King” Bailey (46-8, 39 KOs) will look to collect another world title with the help of his new promoter, South Korean-based AK Promotions. Bailey’s climb to the top of the welterweight division continued in the right direction on Sunday at the Sunhak Gymnasium in Incheon, South Korea, as he scored a devastating seventh-round knockout victory over Shusaku Fujinaka from a powerful left hook. At the time of the stoppage, he was ahead on all three scorecards, 86-84.
Lou DiBella – I’m happy to be on this call for PBC on NBC as the heavyweight world champion, Deontay Wilder, returns to Birmingham, Alabama on September 26, Saturday night, live on NBC 8:30 p.m. ET/ 5:30 p.m. PT. As he takes on Frenchman Johann Duhaupas who has 32-2 with 20 KO’s and coming off a win against title challenger Manuel Charr. The significant thing about this card is that this is the first time in 30 years that a heavyweight championship belt will be contested on primetime, free television. The last time that happened was when Larry Holmes fought Carl Williams in 1985 so Deontay is making some history here. This is the third fight of the year for Deontay Wilder who won the title in January, defended it in June, defending it again in September, so it’s a great thing that this young heavyweight champion who is still a work in progress is fighting with this kind of frequency and attempting to build his reputation and his skill set and to continue to dominate the division.
Leonard Ellerbe
I’d like to thank everyone for calling in today to hear from Badou Jack and George Groves who will be fighting for the WBC Super Middleweight Title on the PPV televised undercard for Floyd Mayweather and Andre Berto which will take place on September the 12th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
The Badou Jack-George Groves fight is presented in association with Team Sauerland. This fight will follow a showdown between Jhonny Gonzalez and Jonathan Oquendo and will be immediately before our WBO Junior Lightweight Title fight between Roman “Rocky” Martinez and Orlando Salido.
Leonard Ellerbe
I’d like to thank everyone for calling in today to hear the one and only Floyd “Money” Mayweather. But before we get to Floyd, I’d like to introduce the Executive Vice President and General Manager of SHOWTIME, Stephen Espinoza, who’s going to make a few comments.
Stephen Espinoza
Thanks very much Leonard. As most of you know, Episode 1 of ALL ACCESS “Mayweather vs. Berto” premiered last Friday. We had tremendous viewership numbers on the network for the premiere night. In fact, premiere night viewing of that episode was on par with the viewership for the premiere of “Inside Mayweather vs Pacquiao.”
Leonard Ellerbe – I’d like to thank everyone for calling in today to hear from our main event fighter, Andre Berto who will be fighting Floyd “Money” Mayweather Saturday, September the 12th.
HIGH STAKES: Mayweather vs. Berto is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and it’ll be shown live on SHOWTIME PPV. Just a reminder, the PPV broadcast will begin at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT. Our event is sponsored by Tecate, we still have tickets on sale at the MGM now and tickets are priced at $150, $300, $500, $750, $1,000 and $1,500.
MICHAEL YORKMAN, President & Chief of Branding and Strategy Roc Nation:
Good afternoon. It is a great day in boxing. As the fight of the year, which every boxing fan throughout the world has wanted to hear about and see, has finally become a reality: Cotto versus Canelo Alvarez, a 12 round fight for the total WBC and Ring Magazine Middleweight World Championship will take place on Saturday, November 21 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.
The event will be produced and distributed live by our friends at HBO, Pay Per View, beginning at 9:00 PM Eastern, 6:00 PM Pacific time. The fight is presented by ROC Nation sports, Golden Boy Promotions, Miguel Cotto Promotions and Canelo Promotions. The event will be sponsored by Corona Extra, México, Live It to Believe It! and O’Reilly Auto Parts.