LAS VEGAS , NV (July 17, 2007) . . .Bernard Hopkins and Winky Wright both arrived at the Mandalay Bay Resorts and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada today for their light heavyweight championship fight Saturday night. Welcomed by promoter Oscar de la Hoya, whose company—Golden Boy Promotions—is promoting the fight at the Mandalay Bay Events Center and live on HBO Pay-Per-View, both combatants looked in excellent physical condition and expressed their readiness to fight..
BERNARD HOPKINS
“In 1988 I fought my first fight as a light heavyweight so I will be better prepared at this weight than Winky, because I have been here longer, but I do not take it for granted that Winky walks around at 190.
“Am I an aging fighter? Well I do not know if that means me. An aging fighter is someone who shows his age especially if his age is old. Come Saturday you will be the judge. I guarantee you will see a younger more fit Bernard Hopkins.
“Better fighter, better plan will win this fight.
“I am a competitor, I am the Michael Jordan of boxing, and I always have something to prove to myself, this is not about money anymore. It is to know that at 42 years old in this world, I can easily rule.
“Unless you are a world class athlete, you will never understand our competitive nature. Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Venus Williams, and myself—we are world class athletes and competition is what drives us.
“Anyone will tell you that Bernard Hopkins is the most disciplined athlete out here, there is nothing that a trainer or coach can teach me. Freddie Roach brings wisdom. The best basketball team has the best coach, a young inexperienced trainer couldn’t do nothing with Bernard Hopkins, I would be teaching them…
“I am the underdog? The odds have always been against me so I think I am prepared for being the underdog.
“You want my strategy, what do you think I am an idiot?
On Tito picking Winky to win the fight—”I ruined Tito’s career on September 29 at Madison Square Garden. He took a terrible beating. I took his soul, taking someone’s soul is worse than taking their confidence. When he fought Winky, he had no business being in the ring. I will win and I will make it look easy.”
WINKY WRIGHT
“Camp was great. We were in Las Vegas training hard.
“This is going to be a great fight and definitely not boring. It will be a battle of wills but more importantly a bigger battle of wits.
“Bernard is more comfortable at this weight because he’s been here before.
“Fans can expect a great fight…Winky Wright to win, no doubt.
“I took this fight because it will be a challenge….I take any challenge that comes my way
“I am going to whoop him…
“This is going to be a smart fight, greatest match of the year….Winky Wright to win no doubt.”
Hopkins vs. Wright “Coming to Fight” is for Hopkins’ Ring Magazine Light Heavyweight belt and will take place Saturday, July 21 st at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nev. “Coming to Fight” is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Winky Promotions, and sponsored by Southwest Airlines, Tecate Beer and Rockstar Energy Drink.
The Hopkins vs. Wright pay-per-view telecast, beginning at 9 pm ET/6 pm PT, has a suggested retail price of $49.95, will be distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View and will be available to more than 61 million pay-per-view homes. The telecast will be available in HD-TV for those viewers who can receive HD. HBO Pay-Per-View is the leading supplier of event programming to the pay-per-view industry. For your Hopkins vs. Wright fight week updates, log on to www.hbo.com.