Andrzej Fonfara 174.6 vs. Nathan Cleverly 174.4
Kohei Kono 114.8 vs. Koki Kameda 115
Two days before they enter the ring, Andrzej Fonfara, Nathan Cleverly, Kohei Kono and Koki Kameda hosted a final press conference at DoubleTree By Hilton Hotel Chicago as they near their Premier Boxing Champions on Spike showdowns from UIC Pavilion.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Warriors Boxing in association with Matchroom Boxing, are priced at $151, $101, $51, $41 and $31, not including applicable service charges, and are on sale now. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000 or UIC Pavilion Box Office at (312) 413-5740. Tickets are also available at www.ticketmaster.com or by visiting the UIC Pavilion Box Office (Thursday or Friday 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.).
Fonfara and Cleverly will battle in Fonfara’s adopted hometown for positioning amongst the best in the light heavyweight division while Kono and Kameda square-off in the first world title bout held on U.S. soil between two Japanese fighters.
Here is what the fighters had to say Wednesday:
ANDRZEJ FONFARA
“I’m happy to be fighting in Chicago again, it’s my hometown right now. I’m so thankful that this show was brought here to Chicago.
“I’m ready for this fight. We had a great training camp, a lot of sparring with great partners. My team has prepared me well.
“We are both tall guys, strong guys, good punchers and I’m happy Cleverly is ready for this fight too. I want him to be in top shape, because I want to fight the best Cleverly of his career. I’m ready for the best Cleverly.
“I did a lot of the same things we always do to prepare for this fight, just more of it. Of course we used different sparring partners and my strength and conditioning was longer. I definitely feel stronger and faster than ever before this fight.
“Everything is in the right spot. We have our game plan and I’m more than ready for this fight.
“I’m ready for a good fight and I want to win this fight. I want to be the next world champion, so I must win this fight to take the next step.”
NATHAN CLEVERLY
“I want to thank everyone for the great welcome to this wonderful city of Chicago. This is my first opportunity to fight on the PBC platform and I’m very grateful.
“This is my third time fighting in the U.S., I was victorious the previous two times and I’m looking to do it again.
“This is going to be a great fight. We’re right on the fringe behind Adonis Stevenson and Sergey Kovalev. We both come to fight, we let our punches go and fight on the front foot.
“It’s going to be difficult, he’s a good fighter and we’re in his hometown.
“The fight fans are in for a great show on Friday night and I cannot wait.”
KOHEI KONO
“I’m very grateful to everybody involved with this show. I really appreciate this opportunity and for making this match happen in Chicago.
“I am here to make a statement. I want to defend my world title and I want to do it by knockout.
“I’m in the best shape of my career and all I have to do now is wait for the fight.”
KOKI KAMEDA
“I am in the best condition for this fight. I’m really looking forward to this fight. I want to leave my mark on the U.S. and I’m looking forward to capturing a fourth world title.
“I promise a great show for boxing fans. I will be a four-time world champion.
“I was surprised how nervous Kono was. I don’t know what he’s afraid of, but maybe he’s just afraid of me.
“I’m always very confident. I’m 200 percent confident I’m going to win. I am imagining a knockout.
“I’m thankful to my whole team for helping build my career in the U.S. and I look forward to more big fights here in the U.S.”
Cleverly: My combination punching will be too much for Fonfara
“Chicago’s Polish Prince” and top light heavyweight contender Andrzej Fonfara (27-3, 16 KOs) and his opponent, former world champion Nathan Cleverly (29-2, 15 KOs); along with reigning super flyweight world champion Kohei Kono (30-8-1, 13 KOs) and former world champion Koki Kameda (33-1, 18 KOs), worked out for the media today in advance of their Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on Spike showdowns this Friday, October 16 from UIC Pavilion in Chicago.
Fonfara vs. Cleverly will serve as the 12-round main event, while Kono vs. Kameda will be the 12-round televised opener. The Spike broadcast begins at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Warriors Boxing in association with Matchroom Boxing, are priced at $151, $101, $51, $41 and $31, not including applicable service charges, and are on sale now. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000 or UIC Pavilion Box Office at (312) 413-5740. Tickets are also available at www.ticketmaster.com or by visiting the UIC Pavilion Box Office (Thursday or Friday 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.).
Below is what the fighters had to say Tuesday:
ANDRZEJ FONFARA
“I have won some big fights and I am proud of that, but I have to stay focused on the sport and continue to do my best. I’m just a normal guy. I’m a boxer and a warrior and I continue to improve with every fight. That’s more important to me than being called a rising star in boxing.
“Cleverly says he’s too slick for me, but we will see what happens in the ring on Friday. You never know what will happen in a fight. Maybe he is faster and slicker, but I’m stronger and I think I’m a better fighter right now.
“The plan is to beat him on Friday, but if I get the opportunity I will knock him out. This is the sport we are in: blood and sweat.
“Cleverly is a really big step for me. I know he’s an experienced guy. He’s a good technical guy. He’s fast and sneaky, but I want guys like him. I don’t want bums who show up to get paid and go down in the second or third round. I want a guy who tells me before a fight that he can beat me. That motivates me.”
NATHAN CLEVERLY
“It’s going to be an enjoyable experience fighting in his backyard of Chicago. It’s a bit of an adventure. The pressure is off in a way because he has the expectations of the home crowd. I’m just coming here to do my job and win the fight.
“I’m confident it’ll be a good fight and I’m ready.
“Fonfara is a good fighter. He’s tall and rangy. He’s a good puncher and strong. He’s fit. He throws correct, solid punches, but I believe I’ll win because I’ve simply got more tools and I’ve done more to my game. I’m sharper with more movement. My combination punching will be too much for him.”
KOEHEI KONO
“I have always had a dream to fight in the United States. I will do my best to perform up to the historic nature of this fight.
“Kameda says he is a ‘charismatic genius.’ I disagree and I’m here to prove him wrong. I will prove it Friday night that I am the true force.
“I am proud of my stamina and activity rate and my punching power. That is why I will win this fight.”
KOKI KAMEDA
“I am in the best shape of my entire boxing career right now. I spent five weeks in Las Vegas training with Ismael Salas and that was best thing I could have done. I didn’t do anything but prepare for this fight.
“Kono promised the Japanese press and his fans that he would knock me out… that’s about the last thing that is going to happen in this fight. I find that funny.
“This is the first time two Japanese have fought for a world title in the United States, but I don’t have any special feeling about the historic nature. This is just another fight for me because every single fight I’m in is equally important to me. Even a four-round fight is life or death for me.”
