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 oclock.
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 whos
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 boxings 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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