Articles

CHAVEZ JR: “Everyone Will See Me At My Best”

Published

9 years ago

July 17, 2015

The Sweet Science

PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS ON CBS & SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES & PHOTOS

Premier Boxing Champions on CBS: Saturday, July 18

at 4 p.m. ET/1p.m. PT

SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING^®: Saturday, July 18

at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT

EL PASO, Texas (July 16, 2015) – Fighters competing on the huge Premier Boxing Champions on CBS and SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING cards held an open to the public final press conference Thursday before they enter the ring this Saturday, July 18 at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas.

The evening event on SHOWTIME^® features Mexican superstar Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (48-2-1, 32 KOs) returning to the ring to face Marco Reyes (33-2, 24 KOs). In the co-main event, Puerto Rican Olympian McJoe Arroyo (16-0, 8 KOs) takes on Arthur Villanueva (27-0, 14 KOs) of the Philippines for the IBF Junior Bantamweight World Championship. Televised coverage begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT with undefeated 140-pound contender Amir “Young Master” Imam (17-0, 14 KOs) meeting former world title challenger Fernando “La Fiera” Angulo (29-9, 16 KOs) in a world title eliminator.

The afternoon's PBC on CBS event is headlined by undefeated Irish superstar Carl Frampton (20-0, 14 KOs) taking on Alejandro “Cobrita” Gonzalez Jr. (25-1-2, 15 KOs). Televised coverage begins at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT with a heavyweight showdown between Chris “The Nightmare” Arreola (36-4, 31 KOs) and “Big” Fred Kassi, (18-3-0, 10 KOs).

Tickets for the evening event, which is promoted by Chavez Promotions, in association with TGB Promotions and Warriors Boxing, are priced at $200, $100, $75, $50 and $25 are on sale now. Tickets for the afternoon event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions in association with Warriors Boxing and Cyclone Promotions, are priced at $50 or $25 for general admission and are on sale now. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000 or the University Ticket Center at (915) 747-5234. Tickets are also available at www.ticketmaster.com.

Fans purchasing tickets for the evening session will also be provided a ticket in the same section for the afternoon card.

Here is what the fighters had to say Thursday:

JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ JR.

“I know I have a tough opponent in front of me. I’m ready. I’ve prepared very well with Robert Garcia. He has a great trainer too in Nacho Beristain.

“I’ve recovered well from my last fight. I had too much time away from boxing before. On Saturday everyone will see me at my best.

“When two Mexican fighters take the ring, there’s going to be a lot of action. You don’t want to miss any of this one.”

MARCO REYES

“I have a great deal of admiration and respect for Julio Sr. and Julio Jr.

“There is something magical that happens when two Mexican fighters step in the ring. I am very determined and ready to put on amazing performance.

“I will leave my all in the ring against Chavez Jr.”

MCJOE ARROYO

“This is the biggest shot I’ve had and I’m going to give it my all. This fight is very important to me.

“This is going to be a great fight. I promise that I’m going to leave everything in the ring on Saturday night.”

ARTHUR VILLANUEVA

“This is my first time on this big stage. I’ve fought all over the world and I just want to thank everybody for this great opportunity.

“I promise that I will give the best I have and a great fight this Saturday night.”

AMIR IMAM

“When I get the belt, I will hold it with pride with the name of “Young Master.

“I’m coming to put on a show and do damage. This is my title shot right here. I am not thinking of anything past this fight.”

CARL FRAMPTON

“El Paso is a big boxing city and people here love their boxing.”I know that Gonzalez Jr. has a height and reach advantage on me. I think he's going to try to keep it long. He's young, hungry and from a good pedigree, I'm expecting a good fight.”If I can perform at my best I should be able to get rid of this guy. I want to be explosive and that's not disrespect to my opponent.”There really isn't anything different I did to prepare for this fight. We must get close to him. I brought in sparring partners similar to the stature of my opponent.”If you want to create a legacy in boxing you must come to the United States. It's important for me to come here, the time was right.”There's a few names I would like to fight next, possibly Scott Quigg, Abner Mares and Gary Russell.

“I’m can go forward, move back, stay in the pocket and most importantly I just do whatever it takes to win.

“I have an exciting style and the Mexican-American fans will appreciate it. They love an all-action style and I’m going to show them that I have a crowd-pleasing style.

“Everyone has been very friendly since I arrived in America. I’ve met many approachable and nice people. The weather is very different from back home so I’ve gotten to do some sunbathing in between training sessions, which is nice.”

ALEJANDRO GONZALEZ JR.

“I love being in the underdog role because every time I’ve been in the underdog role I’ve come out with the victory. I not only win, but I get the knockout. I love everything being against me.

“Having my dad as a former world champion can be hard. There can be a lot of pressure from my dad to be better than him. But he always has my back and is in my ear. I got a lot of experience from my dad.

“Frampton is a very intelligent fighter who hits hard. He’s too aggressive sometimes because in boxing you have to be more intelligent and try not to get hit. He’s a very good fighter; there’s a reason he is a champion though.

“In every fight you have to give it everything you have, no matter who you’re in there against. You have to leave it all in the ring and that’s what I do.

“I can box, but I’m Mexican so I like aggression too. It’s going to be a war. I want that title and I know he’s not just going to give it to me. I have to go get it.”

CHRIS ARREOLA

“I'm honored to be fighting for the first time in El Paso in front of these terrific boxing fans.

“I love fighting and I'm thrilled that fans all over the country can watch this fight on CBS Saturday afternoon.

“Fred Kassi is coming to win, this is a big opportunity for him, but I plan on putting on a show and being victorious on Saturday.

“Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. was a hero to me when I started fighting and it's a thrill to know that he will be watching my fight in person.

“I want the green belt, it's the one I've always wanted. After Kassi I want to fight Deontay Wilder and become a champion.”

FRED KASSI

“I thank Chris for this opportunity; it's great to be fighting on this big day of boxing in the presence of Julio Cesar Chavez Sr.

“Chris is a hard-hitting heavyweight and I have a lot of respect for him but come Saturday I will have my hand raised.”

ROBERT GARCIA, Chavez Jr. Trainer

“There’s not much left to say. We had a great training camp. Everyone on the team has done what they had to do.

“Julio followed the instructions all camp and we’re ready to give the fans a great fight.”

JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ SR., Chavez Jr.’s Father

“I was ready to talk trash, but after Nacho was so kind I will follow in his footsteps

“There is something special when two Mexicans step into the ring. I can promise my son is ready and I can promise a great fight.”

NACHO BERISTAIN, Reyes’ Trainer

“I have nothing but respect for Chavez and his team. I’ve known them for many years. I will not speak badly of them. I know on Saturday everyone is going to get a great fight on a massive platform on SHOWTIME with two Mexicans going toe-to-toe in the ring.”

BARRY MCGUIGAN, Frampton’s Manager

“I didn’t even know Frampton was from Belfast when I signed him. Once I learned more about him I thought that this was meant to be, his background is so similar to mine.

“The more I saw from Frampton the more I saw that he could really compete at the highest level of this sport.

“I’ve invested six years into Carl and it’s been the most enjoyable and gratifying experience of my life. Shane has developed into an incredible boxing coach and I’m hugely proud of him.’’

SHANE MCGUIGAN, Frampton’s Trainer

“I used to box with Carl as an amateur and when my dad (Barry) used to ask me who I thought would be the best pro on the Irish team I’d say, ‘it’s Carl Frampton, he’s got world class style.’

“Five years ago my dad asked me to hold the pads for Carl a couple of times and it just gelled. Here we are today. We work really well together and I feel I found my forte as a coach.

“Gonzalez is no pushover but I don’t think he’s on Carl’s level. I think Carl is going to knock him out in an exciting fight. This is about making a statement. Next thing you know we’ll have the massive super fights coming.”

ALEJANDRO GONZALEZ, Gonzalez’s Father & Former World Champion

“The words other people say about this fight, they are only words. The fight is going to be Saturday and everyone is going to see what happens.

“My son is very prepared and he’s going to win. We’ve done everything right in camp. It’s my son’s time and he’s coming to win.

“They got the wrong opponent for Frampton. My son is a very strong fighter and everyone will see on Saturday.

“I love Mexico and this fight is going to be for Mexico.”

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The Sweet Science

Articles

2015 Fight of the Year – Francisco Vargas vs Takashi Miura

Published

8 years ago

January 4, 2016

The Sweet Science

The WBC World Super Featherweight title bout between Francisco Vargas and Takashi Miura came on one of the biggest boxing stages of 2015, as the bout served as the HBO pay-per-view’s co-main event on November 21st, in support of Miguel Cotto vs Saul Alvarez.

Miura entered the fight with a (29-2-2) record and he was making the fifth defense of his world title, while Vargas entered the fight with an undefeated mark of (22-0-1) in what was his first world title fight. Both men had a reputation for all-out fighting, with Miura especially earning high praise for his title defense in Mexico where he defeated Sergio Thompson in a fiercely contested battle.

The fight started out hotly contested, and the intensity never let up. Vargas seemed to win the first two rounds, but by the fourth round, Miura seemed to pull ahead, scoring a knock-down and fighting with a lot of confidence. After brawling the first four rounds, Miura appeared to settle into a more technical approach. Rounds 5 and 6 saw the pendulum swing back towards Vargas, as he withstood Miura’s rush to open the fifth round and the sixth round saw both men exchanging hard punches.

The big swinging continued, and though Vargas likely edged Miura in rounds 5 and 6, Vargas’ face was cut in at least two spots and Miura started to assert himself again in rounds 7 and 8. Miura was beginning to grow in confidence while it appeared that Vargas was beginning to slow down, and Miura appeared to hurt Vargas at the end of the 8th round.

Vargas turned the tide again at the start of the ninth round, scoring a knock down with an uppercut and a straight right hand that took Miura’s legs and sent him to the canvas. Purely on instinct, Miura got back up and continued to fight, but Vargas was landing frequently and with force. Referee Tony Weeks stepped in to stop the fight at the halfway point of round 9 as Miura was sustaining a barrage of punches.

Miura still had a minute and a half to survive if he was going to get out of the round, and it was clear that he was not going to stop fighting.

A back and forth battle of wills between two world championship level fighters, Takashi Miura versus “El Bandido” Vargas wins the 2015 Fight of the Year.

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Articles

Jan 9 in Germany – Feigenbutz and De Carolis To Settle Score

Published

8 years ago

January 4, 2016

The Sweet Science

This coming Saturday, January 9th, the stage is set at the Baden Arena in Offenburg, Germany for a re-match between Vincent Feigenbutz and Giovanni De Carolis. The highly anticipated re-match is set to air on SAT.1 in Germany, and Feigenbutz will once again be defending his GBU and interim WBA World titles at Super Middleweight.

The first meeting between the two was less than three months ago, on October 17th and that meeting saw Feigenbutz controversially edge De Carolis on the judge’s cards by scores of (115-113, 114-113 and 115-113). De Carolis scored a flash knock down in the opening round, and he appeared to outbox Feigenbutz in the early going, but the 20 year old German champion came on in the later rounds.

The first bout is described as one of the most crowd-pleasing bouts of the year in Germany, and De Carolis and many observers felt that the Italian had done enough to win.

De Carolis told German language website RAN.DE that he was more prepared for the re-match, and that due to the arrogance Feigenbutz displayed in the aftermath of the first fight, he was confident that he had won over some of the audience. Though De Carolis fell short of predicting victory, he promised a re-vamped strategy tailored to what he has learned about Feigenbutz, whom he termed immature and inexperienced.

The stage is set for Feigenbutz vs De Carolis 2, this Saturday January 9th in Offenburg, Germany. If you can get to the live event do it, if not you have SAT.1 in Germany airing the fights, and The Boxing Channel right back here for full results.

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Articles

2015 Knock Out of the Year – Saul Alvarez KO’s James Kirkland

Published

8 years ago

December 29, 2015

The Sweet Science

On May 9th of 2015, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez delivered a resonant knock-out of James Kirkland on HBO that wins the 2015 KO of the Year.

The knock-out itself came in the third round, after slightly more than two minutes of action. The end came when Alvarez delivered a single, big right hand that caught Kirkland on the jaw and left him flat on his back after spinning to the canvas.Alvarez was clearly the big star heading into the fight. The fight was telecast by HBO for free just one week after the controversial and disappointing Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao fight, and Alvarez was under pressure to deliver the type of finish that people were going to talk about. Kirkland was happy to oblige Alvarez, taking it right to Alvarez from the start. Kirkland’s aggression saw him appear to land blows that troubled the young Mexican in the early going. Alvarez played good defense, and he floored Kirkland in the first round, displaying his power and his technique in knocking down an aggressive opponent.

However, Kirkland kept coming at Alvarez and the fight entered the third round with both men working hard and the feeling that the fight would not go the distance. Kirkland continued to move forward, keeping “Canelo” against the ropes and scoring points with a barrage of punches while looking for an opening.

At around the two minute mark, Alvarez landed an uppercut that sent Kirkland to the canvas again. Kirkland got up, but it was clear that he did not have his legs under him. Kirkland was going to try to survive the round, but Alvarez had an opportunity to close out the fight. The question was would he take it?

Alvarez closed in on Kirkland, putting his opponent’s back to the ropes. Kirkland was hurt, but he was still dangerous, pawing with punches and loading up for one big shot.

But it was the big shot “Canelo” threw that ended the night. Kirkland never saw it coming, as he was loading up with a huge right hand of his own. The right Alvarez threw cracked Kirkland in the jaw, and his eyes went blank. His big right hand whizzed harmlessly over the head of a ducking Alvarez, providing the momentum for the spin that left Kirkland prone on the canvas.

Saul “Canelo” Alvarez went on to defeat Miguel Cotto in his second fight of 2015 and he is clearly one of boxing’s biggest stars heading into 2016. On May 9th Alvarez added another reel to his highlight film when he knocked out James Kirkland with the 2015 “Knock Out of the Year”.

Photo by naoki fukuda

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