Boxing News: Garcia and Rivera Meet the Press

The 20th anniversary celebration of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING continues with a WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLEHEADER on Saturday, May 6, on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast). In one of the 12-round world title fights, Alejandro “Terra” Garcia (25-1, 23 KOs) defends his World Boxing Association super welterweight belt against local favorite and former world welterweight champion Jose Antonio Rivera (37-4-1, 24 KOs). In the first half of the twinbill promoted by Don King Productions at the DCU Center at Worcester, Mass., the top two cruiserweights in the International Boxing Federation, Steve “U.S.S.” Cunningham (19-0, 10 KOs) and Guillermo “El Felino” Jones (33-3-2, 26 KOs), collide for the vacant IBF cruiserweight crown.

ALEJANDRO “TERRA’’ GARCIA

“Thanks to SHOWTIME, Don King and everyone involved for making this fight happen. A special thanks to Rivera for having the guts to fight me.

“I know Rivera is going to give it his all, but I am ready. This is going to be a war. It will end in a knockout.

“I am not concerned about fighting in Rivera’s hometown. Once the bell rings, I only focus on the opponent, not the surroundings. It will be just me and Rivera in the ring.’’

JOSE ANTONIO RIVERA

“I feel really great at this new, added weight. I could fight tomorrow. This is going to be a great fight.’’

“This is a great opportunity for me. It gives me a chance to win the title in my hometown. Fighting at home makes victory so much sweeter.

“I know Rivera is coming here to win. I give him a lot of credit. There are not a lot of champions willing to go into the challenger’s backyard. But that just shows me he is a great fighter and a great champion.

“Come May 6, I will be giving 100 percent of everything. This is going to be a fight of the year contender. It will be an explosion.’’