Lou DiBella – I’m happy to be on this call for PBC on NBC as the heavyweight world champion, Deontay Wilder, returns to Birmingham, Alabama on September 26, Saturday night, live on NBC 8:30 p.m. ET/ 5:30 p.m. PT. As he takes on Frenchman Johann Duhaupas who has 32-2 with 20 KO’s and coming off a win against title challenger Manuel Charr. The significant thing about this card is that this is the first time in 30 years that a heavyweight championship belt will be contested on primetime, free television. The last time that happened was when Larry Holmes fought Carl Williams in 1985 so Deontay is making some history here. This is the third fight of the year for Deontay Wilder who won the title in January, defended it in June, defending it again in September, so it’s a great thing that this young heavyweight champion who is still a work in progress is fighting with this kind of frequency and attempting to build his reputation and his skill set and to continue to dominate the division.
Boxing Interviews
The latest boxing interviews from boxers all over the world
Badou Jack-George Groves Interview Transcript
Leonard Ellerbe
I’d like to thank everyone for calling in today to hear from Badou Jack and George Groves who will be fighting for the WBC Super Middleweight Title on the PPV televised undercard for Floyd Mayweather and Andre Berto which will take place on September the 12th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
The Badou Jack-George Groves fight is presented in association with Team Sauerland. This fight will follow a showdown between Jhonny Gonzalez and Jonathan Oquendo and will be immediately before our WBO Junior Lightweight Title fight between Roman “Rocky” Martinez and Orlando Salido.
Mayweather talks Berto fight
Leonard Ellerbe
I’d like to thank everyone for calling in today to hear the one and only Floyd “Money” Mayweather. But before we get to Floyd, I’d like to introduce the Executive Vice President and General Manager of SHOWTIME, Stephen Espinoza, who’s going to make a few comments.
Stephen Espinoza
Thanks very much Leonard. As most of you know, Episode 1 of ALL ACCESS “Mayweather vs. Berto” premiered last Friday. We had tremendous viewership numbers on the network for the premiere night. In fact, premiere night viewing of that episode was on par with the viewership for the premiere of “Inside Mayweather vs Pacquiao.”
Berto: I’m younger than Mayweather and hungry
Leonard Ellerbe – I’d like to thank everyone for calling in today to hear from our main event fighter, Andre Berto who will be fighting Floyd “Money” Mayweather Saturday, September the 12th.
HIGH STAKES: Mayweather vs. Berto is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and it’ll be shown live on SHOWTIME PPV. Just a reminder, the PPV broadcast will begin at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT. Our event is sponsored by Tecate, we still have tickets on sale at the MGM now and tickets are priced at $150, $300, $500, $750, $1,000 and $1,500.
Cotto-Canelo conference call transcript
MICHAEL YORKMAN, President & Chief of Branding and Strategy Roc Nation:
Good afternoon. It is a great day in boxing. As the fight of the year, which every boxing fan throughout the world has wanted to hear about and see, has finally become a reality: Cotto versus Canelo Alvarez, a 12 round fight for the total WBC and Ring Magazine Middleweight World Championship will take place on Saturday, November 21 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.
The event will be produced and distributed live by our friends at HBO, Pay Per View, beginning at 9:00 PM Eastern, 6:00 PM Pacific time. The fight is presented by ROC Nation sports, Golden Boy Promotions, Miguel Cotto Promotions and Canelo Promotions. The event will be sponsored by Corona Extra, México, Live It to Believe It! and O’Reilly Auto Parts.
Joseph Parker Interview: Winning fights and feeding his fans
Joseph Parker is back in town preparing to face hard hitting Tongan Bowie Tupou on August 1st at Stadium Southland, Invercargill. While comparisons are often odious it isn’t until our interview has concluded and we have reached the training gym that one begins to see the results of all the hard work Parker has been putting in with Kevin Barry over the past 24 months and the difference in how he now physically looks from the fleshy fresh faced rookie who began his tutelage with Barry back in 2013.
While always being a decent sized heavyweight, Parker’s physique now resembles that, to use the English vernacular, of a brick outhouse. The shoulders are noticeably broader, the chest and arms now filling out as Parker continues to grow into his frame. And just in case anyone is wondering, if watching him hit the mitts is any indication, he hasn’t lost any of his trademark speed.
Marco Huck Interview – Ready for Glowacki
Fight day is getting closer. In just over three weeks Marco Huck (38-2-1, 26 KOs) will step into the ring for the 42nd time during his professional career. August 14 will see the reigning WBOSuperChampion take on mandatory challenger Krzysztof Glowacki (24-0, 15 KOs). As the big day at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey is just around the corner the 30 year old German has been training intensely for the past 4 weeks. But Huck took some time out of his busy schedule to give his thoughts on his US debut, new coach Don House and a record breaking 14th defense of the Cruiserweight title.
Sergey Kovalev interview quotes – Kovalev vs Mohammedi
Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev, WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion
On coming off big fights against Pascal and Hopkins but now facing a lesser known fighter:
“For me, any fight means a lot because it is the next step. Who I am and how I do my job means a lot. He is the #1 IBF contender. He deserves this fight. I very excited that I have three titles and I have the opportunity to defend it against Mohammedi. He deserves this fight. He is #1. He is very motivated. When a boxer is motivated or any man is motivated it makes him very dangerous.”
Interview with Francesco Pianeta
MAGDEBURG – For the second time in his career, he’s on the brink of becoming the heavyweight champion of the world. The Italian-German fighter Francesco Pianeta (31-1-1, 17 KOs) may have wasted his first opportunity two years ago against the Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko, but now he has a whole different opponent to deal with – the Uzbek Ruslan Chagaev (33-1-2, 20 KOs), nicknamed “The White Tyson”. And he surely believes in his chances against the boxer who, among others, has managed to beat the Russian giant Nikolay Valuev…
“Ruslan can reflect on a stellar career. He’s made it very far in our sport, but his best days are well behind him. It’s highly doubtful he’ll ever reproduce these performances, so I’m giving myself a good chance to win this fight,” says the likeable 30-year old cancer conqueror in an exclusive interview to Profiboxing.cz.
Opportunity knocks for Ryan Farrag
“Boxing is like any industry, it can sometimes be who you know. And sometimes it’s just more of a game of chance. So when opportunities for big fights come along you’ve got to take them.”
These were the words of an elated Ryan Farrag, 13-1 (2KO’s), shortly after he learned he is set to face former world title challenger Stephane Jamoye, 28-6 (16KO’s), for the vacant European bantamweight belt, which the Belgian has held on two occasions.