With just two days to go until their Premier Boxing Champions on Spike showdowns, fighters participating on the Friday, August 14 card at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey held a press conference Wednesday at B.B. King’s Blues Club & Grill in Manhattan.
Televised coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET/PT and is headlined by a 12-round heavyweight showdown between Antonio “Magic Man” Tarver (31-6, 22 KOs) and Steve “U.S.S.” Cunningham (28-7, 13 KOs). Also featured on Spike is cruiserweight world champion Marco “Captain” Huck (38-2-1, 26 KOs) defending his title against Polish contender Krzyzstof Glowacki (24-0, 15 KOs) and Polish heavyweight Artur Szpilka (19-1, 14 KOs) taking on Cuba’s Yasmany Consuegra (17-1, 14 KOs).
Tickets for the event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment in association with Warriors Boxing and Huck Sports Promotion are priced at $150, $100, $70 and $45, not including applicable service charges and are on sale now via Ticketmaster.com, charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000 or any Ticketmaster outlet. Tickets may also be purchased at Prudential Center’s box office.
Here is what the participants had to say Wednesday:
ANTONIO TARVER
“This is a big fight for me. PBC was designed for the new, young stars but I’m thankful they’ll let an old guy like me steal the spotlight on Friday night.
“You have two guys who know their way around the ring. We’re in the hurt business and only one man can win. When the smoke clears on Friday we’ll see who’s left standing.
“Every fight is do or die for me. I’ve come too far to start over. I’m on a destiny trip right now. I’m racing towards that heavyweight world championship.
“I was a big light heavyweight but I feel perfect at heavyweight. When I look back at some of my old fights, I was really just a shell of myself. Now I’m healthy and strong and ready to get to the top.
“I wasn’t blessed with this unique talent for nothing. I have to put it on display. The game hasn’t retired me. When I went through all of my struggles, I became a champion right then. Now I just have to walk through my destiny.
“I’m fighting the very best and I’m beating the very best. I’m looking to knock everybody out.
“Training camp has been amazing. My team has gotten me beautifully prepared for this fight. We’re just feeling strong and can’t wait until Friday.
“When I look at the ‘Rocky Balboa’ film when I played the undisputed heavyweight champion, I feel like art is going to imitate life. I played the champ in a movie and I’m going to become the champ in reality.”
STEVE CUNNINGHAM
“It’s a pleasure and an honor to be working with PBC. It’s fight time. Training camp is over. Training camp was hell, and that’s a good training camp.
“I know I’m prepared to do what I need to do. I’m ready to get this win and I want to look spectacular.
“Tarver is a five-time champion, legend, Hall of Famer, but that’s all going out the window August 14. He’s just another guy I have to beat.
“My record doesn’t reflect what I’ve done in the ring, but I take it on the chin and keep going forward like I do in the ring.
“People have seen the work ethic from me. They’ve seen what I’ve gone through in the ring. They saw the close decision losses. I’ve always had faith in myself and I still do.
“Tarver has fought the best out there. He’s been there. He’s been through adversity. He’s had ups and downs. There’s nothing you can say about Tarver that makes you feel like you can go in there and make him look like a bum.
“I’m 39 and I feel awesome. This is a fight. The age means nothing to me. I’m fighting a five-time champion and that’s how we look at it.
“A guy like Tarver, sometimes you have to talk yourself up to get to where you want to go and that’s who he is. He’s a good talker. That will carry on into his next career. But he’s dealing with a guy who grew up dealing with trash talking. I dealt with trash talkers in every language. The talk is for him. He sold this fight, great. But now I’m getting in there to fight.
“I’m trained by brother Naazim Richardson, he’ll never let me take anyone lightly. If you do that, that’s how you go in there and get wiped out.”
MARCO HUCK
“I’m really happy to be here for my U.S. debut. This is the mecca of boxing. I’ve wanted to fight here for a very long time.
“I am looking forward to wiping the floor with some of these guys up here.
“It’s a very special occasion for me to be here and I’m going to show everybody what I’m all about.
“This is a similar feeling to the one when I fought for my first world title. I’m starting to heat up inside. I can’t wait to put my fists on somebody.
“I want to bring this sport to everybody. Not just the people who make money but the people who don’t have the money to spend on the sport. It’s great for the sport.
“People can talk a lot but you have to prove it inside of the ring. I always prove it inside the ring. On Friday they will be chanting “Huck! Huck! Huck!'”
KRZYSZTOF GLOWACKI
“I’m so happy to be here. This fight is my whole life. I always dreamed about this chance to be a world champion and it’s very close.
“There’s no doubt Huck is a great fighter, a warrior, but if he thinks for a second this is going to be easy he’s mistaken big time. This is going to be a war from the first round to the last.
“I already see me as world champion. Huck is a great fighter, great warrior, so what? I’m ready for a war, from first round to the last.”
ARTUR SZPILKA
“I’m so excited to be here. I’m boxing for Polish people including my friend Glowacki, who I know can beat Huck.
“I want to show everybody how good I am. Everyone who does not believe in me will know the truth.
“All four Polish guys, my friends, will win on Friday.
“I have an amazing team and I can’t wait. I am becoming a better and better fighter and I promise this will be an exciting fight.”
LOU DIBELLA, President of DiBella Entertainment
“Artur Szpilka is a very exciting heavyweight and if you haven’t had the opportunity to see him you should make sure you don’t miss Friday. He’s fighting Yasmany Consuegra who’s very powerful as well. It’s a battle of two punchers and someone is going to hit the canvas.
“Glowacki is a very talented fighter who believes he’s taking the title back to Poland. Marco Huck believes otherwise. People are going to get to know Marco Huck in America and they’re going to love his style.
“The American public wants to see wars in the ring and I think that Huck and Glowacki are going to put on a show.
“One of the great things about PBC is that not only are we getting to make attractive matchups, but we can bring over stars and people who have not been exposed to the American public. Marco is already a star in most of the world and he’s soon going to be a star in the United States.
“The main event has been anticipated by a lot of people for a while. Antonio is looking for a shot at the heavyweight world title and he’ll have to beat a real heavyweight to get there.
“Steve’s record is not revealing of the quality of fighter that he is. He’s a very good fighter and an individual with outstanding character.
“Antonio Tarver has had a tremendous career. He is a future Hall of Famer. The five-time world champion moniker is one that most people can’t say. But this man can.”
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Tarver vs. Cunningham, Huck vs. Glowacki quotes
Fighters participating on Friday’s Premier Boxing Champions on Spike event held a media workout Tuesday at Global Gym in North Bergen, N.J. before their August 14 fights at Prudential Center in Newark.
Friday’s main event pits Antonio “Magic Man” Tarver (31-6, 22 KOs) against Steve “U.S.S.” Cunningham (28-7, 13 KOs) in a 12-round heavyweight bout with televised coverage beginning at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Also featured on Spike is cruiserweight world champion Marco “Captain” Huck (38-2-1, 26 KOs) defending his title against Polish contender Krzyzstof Glowacki (24-0, 15 KOs) and Polish heavyweight Artur Szpilka (19-1, 14 KOs) taking on Cuba’s Yasmany Consuegra (17-1, 14 KOs).
Tickets for the event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment in association with Warriors Boxing and Huck Sports Promotion are priced at $150, $100, $70 and $45, not including applicable service charges and are on sale now via Ticketmaster.com, charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000 or any Ticketmaster outlet. Tickets may also be purchased at Prudential Center’s box office.
Here is what the participants had to say Tuesday, plus quotes from Tarver, who was unable to attend the workouts:
ANTONIO TARVER
“I’ve done enough talking. Now, we are only three days from the fight.
“We both signed a contract to inflict bodily harm on each other for 12 or less rounds. When the smoke clears, we’ll see who’s left standing.”
STEVE CUNNINGHAM
“I did the cruiserweight thing, I was the top of the food chain. I want to do it somewhere else. Heavyweight is the next challenge.
“This is a big challenge. Tarver has made history. That’s the kind of challenge I like. Heavyweight is a bigger challenge than cruiserweight. These guys are supposed to be bigger and stronger than me. I’m very competitive and that pushes me during training. The challenges keep me going.
“It’s great to be fighting again at Prudential Center. This is familiar territory for me. I’m trying to pick up another win. It’s right up the street from us and we’re looking to drive home happy Saturday.
“I fought in Europe so much, fighting this close to home is a little scary. There are a lot of eyes on you. But that’s what we do. We handle pressure and do what we do. If a fighter doesn’t have nerves they’re either lying or don’t have it in them.
“I just have to keep putting in work. I’ve had lot’s of close fights, everyone knows how it’s gone down and I’m good with it.
“I think I’m ready for a title right now, but it’s up to the media and fans. We’ll see how the performance goes. If you see a good performance and you demand it, I’m ready.”
MARCO HUCK
“I don’t really concern myself with my opponents. My only worry is if he is a southpaw or orthodox. A lot of people say they’re in they’re in the best shape of their lives, but they all come crashing down.
“The only thing I need to know is that I am going to beat him come Friday night. I want my opponents to adjust to me because I am the world champion.
“I take all of my opponents seriously. It is disrespectful not to and he’s very well-ranked.
“Training in Las Vegas was tough at first. Obviously coming over from Europe, we’re not used to the heat. I even doubted if this was the right decision but looking at it now it was the perfect decision. We’re in great shape and we adjusted well to the temperature.
“When I eventually go back up to heavyweight I want to fight the top guys right away. Maybe I’ll go fight Deontay Wilder, that is definitely an interesting option.
“All our focus is on Friday night and our victory.”
KRZYSZTOF GLOWACKI
“Huck is of course the favorite because he’s a world champion. After I beat him, I will be a favorite too.
“People are afraid of Huck’s power but I’m not. What I want is a hard fought battle and winning by knockout in final round. This is my dream and I will make it happen.”
ARTUR SZPILKA
“My trainer Ronnie Shields is exactly right saying that I’m here to knock Consuegra out. This is what I will do on Friday.
“I worked hard in Houston during training camp. I have the energy to fight 15 rounds if necessary. My speed and not wasting any of my punches will be the difference.”
KAMIL LASZCZYK
“It’s a big deal for me to fight in Prudential Center. I started my US career here in 2011 and now fighting in Newark means a lot to me.
“I would like to show everybody how good I am offensively. A little more time and I will be able to challenge for a world title.”
