Opening comments from Arce’s promoter, Top Rank’s Bob Arum: “We are eagerly looking forward to when these two fighting tigers take center ring. Arce has been looking forward to facing Vic Darchinyan for a long time and he will get his opportunity on Feb. 7. Everybody who follows boxing, particularly those following the fighters in this weight category, has been talking about this fight for years and they are talking like this is a fight of the year. Finally, a week from Saturday, it will happen..
“It should be a terrific fight. Our camp is confident in victory for Jorge Arce. (And) There is a tremendous fight on the undercard between Antonio DeMarco against Kid Diamond. That is a bombs away fight. This is a great, great card.
“Tickets are going extremely well. We have priced them very reasonably. We expect a tremendous attendance for the fight. I think we’ll have at least 10,000 people which is a big crowd at the Honda Center.
“I think we’ve learned a lot that the economy is teaching us and that is that you need to keep your prices reasonable so that people can see world class boxing. They can be present, they can touch it, they can feel it. They can get excited like everyone did (last Saturday at STAPLES Center).
“Look at these prices — $250 is the top price and it goes down to $30. It is very affordable and now that the media have gotten behind boxing and writing about boxing there is a tremendous buzz in the Los Angeles for the sport, which is great.
“I want to commend SHOWTIME for giving people around the country the opportunity to see this match and the undercard match. I don’t have to sell this. You know you will see a great event at Honda Center a week from Saturday. ‘’
Opening comments from Arce (who is training in Temoaya, about 3,000 feet in the mountains of Mexico about an hour from Mexico City):
“I am very excited for this fight and thankful for the opportunity that Bob Arum has given me.. I know this is a fight that will bring back my credibility. I know a lot of people don’t think I’m at this level anymore, but this will give me the chance to prove that I am. I’m going to prove everyone wrong. I think I will knock him out.
“He thinks he is an intimidator. He always tells people what he will do and they get intimidated. But, I’m not that type of guy. His words won’t affect me. He can say and talk about what he is going to do to me in the ring, but I’m not going to fold. I’m a bigger guy than him. He won’t intimidate me.
“There is no extra show needed for this fight. The fight speaks for itself. He’s a great champion and I’m a great champion. I know he is strong enough that he can knock me out with one punch. I know I can knock him out in one punch. There’s nothing else to add to this fight. It’s going to be great.
“People want to see something good and anytime they see a fight I am in they always enjoy it. . That’s what I do, I fight and people love the way I fight. They want to see fighters fighting, not dancing. They want to see blood, I’ll give them blood. I love that. If it gets on me, I get more motivated and excited.
“I hope Darchinyan comes in the ring in shape so that we can have a good long fight and put on a good show. I want the fans to see a lot of blood and a lot of hitting. If I go down, I’m going to get up and I hope he does too.’’
Arce’s response when asked about boxers in the lighter-weight divisions:
“Little guys don’t get paid the money we deserve. We give exciting fights every time we go out there. I just go in there and do the best I can to give the fans a good fight. Once this fight is over I hope people will remember it for a long time.
”It doesn’t bother me (that I’m not in the pound-for-pound rankings). I try to do the best I can. If I win this fight I think that I have to be considered as one of the best fighters in the world.’’
Arce (on Darchinyan):
“I’ve been watching his videos. He’s just a one-handed fighter. All he has is the left hand. He’s fast and he’s strong, but once you take the left hand away he’s done. Nonito Donaire proved that. He can also be knocked out in one punch. But not me. I’m not moving up in weight. I’m moving down.
“He is a lefty, but he is not one of those cuties. He’s a real aggressive guy. I think that he will be fight in front of me and that will work perfect for me. I think my left hook is my best weapon. I think I will land my left before he does, and that will be the difference.
“I will knock him out. I don’t see this fight going 12 rounds. I see it as a knockout. If he knocks me down once I’m going to get back up. He’s going to have to throw a lot of punches to knock me out. He’s in for a long night.
“I’m looking forward to this fight. I know people in Mexico are sad that (Antonio) Margarito lost and I’m going to bring a big win for them.’’
Arce (on his training in the mountains and his overall preparation):
“The big difference is we’re just working on our strength. Vic’s been fighting people who have been smaller than him. I’m not moving up, I’m coming down to this weight. I’m a big guy, I work very hard and I think my strength will be the difference in this fight. I’m looking forward to knocking him out.’’
Arce (on Darchinyan’s power):
“I know that Darchinyan has a big punch, but he has to work to knock someone out. He is not a knockout punch artist. He can’t knock you out with one punch. It will take him a while. I don’t think he will knock me out especially since I’ll probably be 130 on the night of the fight.’’
Arce (speaks of his confidence):
“I’m always self assured who I am and what I am about. When I train for fights like this I feel invincible. If he hits me three times I hit him six. If he hits me five I hit him ten. I am really preparing myself for this fight because I know how big this is. I’m ready.
“I’m fighting for life or death. No one can stop me”
Arce (on his colorful ring entrances):
“I know when I can do my entrances and when I can plan things. Sometimes fights are not interesting so I have to do something to entertain them. But this fight speaks for itself and I don’t have to do anything. He is a great champion and this will be a great fight. I know he will do everything to knock me out in one punch and we’ll do everything to put on a show. The extra isn’t needed.’’
Arce (on the low point of his career):
“My career was taking off,(but) then when I lost to Mijares, people thought I wasn’t as good of a boxer as some people thought I was. They thought I was just a singer and a celebrity and an entertainer. But everyone has bad nights. I just had a bad night that day. The media and fans don’t understand that I can have a bad night.
“Now I face a guy that knocked out Mijares and I am going to knock him out. And then everyone will talk about me like they did before I lost to Mijares.
“I have never doubted myself. I knew I was good enough to get back in there and fight these guys but the opportunity never came. On Nov. 1, when we both fought on the same night, all I was hoping for what that I get the winner. I didn’t care who it was, I just wanted a chance to fight them. You don’t know how excited and hungry I am. I just can’t wait to fight this guy.’’
Arce (on whether this fight has become personal):
“All I can tell you is I have always respected my opponents. We have been saying things about each other for a long time, but I respect him and am grateful for the opportunity.
“He has said things I don’t appreciate and when I work hard it makes me work a little harder, but when we get in the ring I am going to hurt him. I hope he stands there and fights for a while so I can really hurt him. If we have an early night then we have an early night but I want to stand there all night and hurt him.
“I hope he doesn’t fall early because I want to give him a lot of punches. I know he can take a lot of punches, so I hope he is ready for them. You don’t know how excited I am about this fight.’’
Arce’s response to whether he feels he deserves to be in the top 10 (considering he’s lost just once in nine years):
“It doesn’t bother me. I try to do the best that I can. If I win this fight I know I will have to be considered. People will talk about me being the best fighter in the world. It will be something to be remembered by. ‘’
Arce (on whether he will win by knockout):
“I don’t see this fight going 12 rounds, but for him to knock me down he will have to work real hard. We’re in there to fight and one of us is going in there knocked out.’’