Boxing

Final Press Conference Quotes: Chris Byrd, Fres Oquendo, Garcia, Roshii Wells


Photo: Kieran Mulvaney

Fres Oquendo (left), promoter Don King and IBF heavyweight champion Chris Byrd pose after Thursday's press conference in Uncasville, Conn. Byrd defends against Oquendo in the main event of a nine-bout King-promoted fight card Saturday night at Mohegan Sun. HBO will televise the 12-round world title bout at 9:45 p.m. ET/6:45 p.m. PT.

19.09 - IBF heavyweight champion Chris Byrd (36-2, 20 KOs) will make his first title defense against No. 2-ranked Fres Oquendo (24-1, 15 KOs) in the main event Saturday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. In a second world title fight on the nine-bout Don King Productions-promoted fight card, undefeated Alex “Terra” Garcia (21-0, 20 KOs) will make the first defense of his WBA super welterweight crown against fellow unbeaten Rhoshii “The Mongoose” Wells (17-0-2, 10 KOs). The Byrd-Oquendo 12-rounder will be shown on HBO at 9:45 p.m. ET/6:45 p.m. PT. The live card starts at 5 o’clock.


CHRIS BYRD

“Fres Oquendo is a true fighter and I give him a lot of credit for stepping up to the plate. Since December, after my fight with (Evander) Holyfield, the question I have always been asked is ‘who’s next?’ Roy Jones? Lennox Lewis? They even asked me about George Foreman, who is 68 years old. It did not matter who I fought because I would fight anybody, but even journeyman boxers were making excuses not to fight me and for the title.

“Oquendo is not just an opponent, but a great challenger who was not afraid to step up. Saturday night, you are going to see two classy guys who can fight and are going to put on a heckuva show.’’

FRES OQUENDO

“Nobody wanted to fight Chris Byrd, but I welcome the opportunity. This is an opportunity of a lifetime, a dream come true.

“Where I come from, the hard streets of Chicago, kids like me used to train every day for something like this to happen. Fighting for the heavyweight championship of the world, the most prestigious title in sports, still has not hit me. I feel honored to be here.

“This is going to be a magnificent fight between two fighters from boxing’s new age. Byrd is a class act who has fought everybody. I regard him as the best heavyweight in the world. You are going to see things from me you have never seen before. I cannot wait for Saturday.’’

ALEX GARCIA

“I know Wells is fast and can move, but I have knocked out a lot of fast guys that could move. There is no pressure on me; I do not feel any different now than I did before I won the title. I am still very hungry. I do not talk much. But you will see what kind of fighter I am in the ring Saturday.

RHOSHII WELLS

“I have had a lot of trials and tribulations in my life, but I am finally at the point where I am one fight away from getting ahead. To be successful, you need to get the opportunity. I will be the new WBA super welterweight champion Saturday.’’

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