09.12.04 – VITALI KLITSCHKO (34-2, 33 KOs): “I would like to thank everybody involved for making this fight happen. I am looking forward to my first fight ever in Las Vegas and at Mandalay Bay. It is difficult to win a world title and even more difficult to defend it. I am fighting the strongest (most qualified) challenger in the division, and there is no way I am going to underestimate him. I am ready to show a great performance. Danny Williams destroyed my dream of fighting Mike Tyson. Now, I am going to destroy his dream of becoming world heavyweight champion. This is going to be a very exciting fight. At the end, we will see who the true heavyweight champion of the world is.’’
DANNY WILLIAMS (32-3, 27 KOs)
“I am grateful for this opportunity. This is going to be the fight of the year. I am ready to war and ready to become the new heavyweight champion of the world. You better be ready, Vitali, because I am taking the WBC belt home with me. The dream my father has always had about me is going to come true on Saturday night. I am going to be world champion.’’
MIGUEL COTTO (21-0, 17 KOs)
“Like for all my fights, I am in excellent condition and ready to do my job. This is going to be a great fight. It is a new challenge for me. I know Bailey is tough and strong, but I worked very hard to win the title and it is not going to be easy for anybody to take it away. I am very honored to be part of this great show and look forward to putting on a great fight. You will enjoy this fight. The world title fight is going home with me to Puerto Rico.’’
RANDALL BAILEY (28-4, 27 KOs)
“I definitely think they made a big mistake by fighting me, but I guess his people wanted somebody who could test Cotto’s chin. Well, Mr. Chin Tester here will be more than happy to oblige. I am sure Cotto is going to get hit like he never has before. I really appreciate the opportunity I am getting. Cotto is a real man for giving me this shot, but he is the perfect opponent for me.”
CARLOS NAVARRO (23-3-1, 13 KOs)
“This is definitely a big step up for me, but it is the kind of fight I have wanted for a long time. My goal is to fight for a major title, but in order to I have to beat guys like this. I am well prepared. I know Agapito is known as a dirty fighter, but I will not fight him dirty back. That is not my style. I am a boxer, an artist and I plan to overwhelm him with my quickness and speed. I am ready for 12 tough, very hard rounds against a very durable boxer. I have trained so hard for this fight and am totally focused. I am ready for the fight of my life.’’
AGAPITO SANCHEZ (35-9-2, 18 KOs)
“Our fight will be the best of the night. Make sure you tune in early. I have fought the best in the world. I will give it everything I have. I want a rematch with Marco Antonio Barrera and Manny Pacquaio after I win this fight.”
CARLOS HERNANDEZ (40-4-1, 24 KOs)
“This guy is a tough brawler who comes to win and is going to try to spoil the night for me. I expect one of the toughest fights of my career. But I am on a quest and I have big goals for 2005. I want to win the world title again. So the first step is to beat Ramirez. A lot of guys on this show are fighting for their country, and so am I. I am fighting for the people of El Salvador.’’
JUAN CARLOS “RANCHERO” RAMIREZ (34-6, 14 KOs)
“I am ready for my best effort. I am confident of victory. I always give my best and will do so in this fight.’’
Vitali Klitschko will make the first defense of his WBC heavyweight title against Danny Williams in the main event on Saturday, Dec. 11, live on HBO Pay-Per-View at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT from the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Highlighting the pay-per-view undercard will be Miguel Cotto making the first defense of his WBO junior welterweight belt against former two-time world champion Randall Bailey, FECARBOX 130-Pound Champion Carlos Navarro taking on former WBO champion Agapito Sanchez for the WBC Continental Americas 130-pound crown and former IBF junior lightweight titleholder Carlos “Famous” Hernandez mixing it up with Juan Carlos “Ranchero” Ramirez in a 10-round battle.