“Those Pitty-Pat Punches won’t work against Roy Jones!”
Roy Jones Jr: (Losing those fights) makes me want to go out and perform more because of what happened. I am as fit as ever. He’s a fit as ever. We are both telling the truth when we say that. I know I’m going to almost have to kill him to take that undefeated record away. This will be one of the hardest fights of my career because of his style..
It is such a good feeling to be in a fight like this that I just want to go to the gym and train right now. How am I going to deal with the amount of punches he will throw? The only way to find out is to wait until Saturday night to see how I’ll deal with it. I know that the quality of my punches will overcome his quantity. A bunch of his punches will probably not add up to half of the power of my punches.
Continuing to fight is not by choice. It is in my blood.
This fight has nothing to do with my legacy. This fight is about his legacy. There is more pressure on him to win. I’ve already done everything. I don’t have to prove anything. I will just win. I would love to stop him and not leave it in the judges hands, but my job is to just win.
I was middleweight champion then won heavyweight world championship then went back down to light heavyweight and won again. Who else can say that?
If he loses this fight, it will tarnish his legacy. Then I would love to do a rematch at Millenium Stadium where he lives. I will return the favor. The pressure is on him because he is trying to cement his legacy. It is his second time fighting here.
When fighting in Madison Square Garden (where Jones is 5-0) there is a responsibility to be impressive. You take chances that you normally wouldn’t take.
Right now I think Joe is in the top 4 P-4-P. Hey, the guy is 45-0, he should be at the top.
The difference between now and the Johnson fight? Watch me work. Now I can throw 15 punches and it doesn’t bother me. Then I would throw 5 punches and I was dead tired. It was hard taking all of that weight off. You try losing 25-pounds of muscle and see if you can whip some top people.
Reverse the clock? The clock has already been in reverse. I have won my last three fights after losing those three. I am a little older and I can’t do some of the things that I could do before. I just have to adjust. He knows he has to change to fight me. He has to change his game plan some because those pity-pat punches won’t work against Roy Jones.
I don’t hate Joe Calzaghe. I just have to beat him, I don’t have to hate him. We’ve been training for the fight. I’m not going to bother him when he is training and he’s not going to bother me when I am training. We got to fight and we have to put on a show.
Why didn’t we fight before? Other than Frank Warren, I was the man then. Why would I go over there to fight? If he wanted to be the man he should have come over here then. Now, he is the man and I am doing what he wants to do. I am fighting at the weight he wants to fight at. Whatever he wants to do, I am doing.”
Joe Calzaghe
“I am a person who does actions more than words. I am not going to talk this up more than it has to be. To finish my career fighting at Madison Square Garden is all the motivation I need. I am happy to be here. On Saturday night, you aren’t going to see a good fight, you are going to see a great fight. Roy says he is in the best condition he has been in years and I believe that. I am also in the best shape I’ve been in years. Its going to be a great fight.
“I am one guy who wrote Roy off, but he came back and won three big fights. He is a legend bigger than Hopkins. He’s hungry and you can’t write him off. He is in great shape and I can’t come in as sloppy as I was with Hopkins.
“I was happy with Hopkins win (against Pavlik). I am not friends with him, but I was happy he beat Pavlik because it showed how big my win was over him. Either I am doing something right in the ring or they are all having off days.
“I wish I had never mentioned retirement. I am a fighter focusing on this fight and this fight only. Not what I am going to do once I retire. I am not planning any retirement parties I am going to come 100% I am hungry for this fight.”
Roy Jones Jr.:
“There are a lot of hungry fighters on the undercard. I want to say I am more proud to be an American now, more so than I have ever been in my life. With that can being said, we can all move on. It was a long drawn out campaign. Those guys fought their hearts out. It makes me feel so good to be an American.
“The 20 years I have been representing this country, I have poured my heart out and on Saturday, I am going to pour my heart out again.
“I know Joe is punching already. I’ve been ducking and dodging in my sleep.
“Joe is a man of his word. We made this fight together. I feel proud to face someone with dignity and pride in himself.
“I am still the man and I will bring it Saturday night.”
Enzo Calzaghe, Calzaghe’s dad and trainer:
“The road has been very long. Twenty-five years of being a pain in the ass to Joe. I remember the first fight and now we are going to Madison Square Garden.
“As many of you know I never boxed in my life. It has been exciting. One thing I would like to make clear is that Joe was the first to say to me, ‘Dad I want to box Roy Jones. Dad, I want to box in America. Dad I want to box at Madison Square Garden.’
“Of course I was thinking we could box in Wales. And he said no, dad I want to go to America and I want to fight at Madison Square Garden.
“Joe is going to kick Roy Jones’ ass. What do you think of that?
“We have just come across the shore to kick ass. We don’t need cheerleaders. On fight night, Joe possesses what no other fighter does; and its called a heart.
“When Joe’s been down in the fight, he always finds a way to win. The harder the fight, the harder he works to win.
(To Jones) “Roy you are a good friend, but make no mistake Joe Calzaghe is coming to kick ass. On Saturday night, he is going to become 46 and 0. You are going to see a fantastic display of Joe Calzaghe. Roy is going to fight his heart out, but it won’t be enough to beat Joe.
“Joe is my son first and a great fighter second. I am proud to be his trainer.
“I believe the fight will go 12 rounds. It will be a long road.
“People say that Roy needs to seal his legacy. They welcome that conversation in America. They put Joe on the back burner.
“This is not going to be a cat and mouse fight. This is a great fight. Joe has that extra special something.
“We didn’t come here to fight to lose. We are going to be at Madison Square Garden with all the Americans pulling for Jones. We picked this place. We picked this place to kick ass.”
Alton Merkerson, Jones’ trainer:
“I would especially like to thank these two young individuals that took it upon themselves to put this promotion together and a great undercard. This is going to be a great night of boxing with a lot of young energetic guys who want to fight.
“I would like to say that I think everyone is pleased that the campaign for the Commander in Chief is over. It was a long campaign. It is time to try to bring this nation back to where it is supposed to be.
“Just like the campaign, it is has been a very long training camp for these two fighters. This fight was supposed to be September 20th. It has been very long very hard and very strenuous on both athletes.
“Our camp has been a small productive camp. Roy is ready. He is more ready now than he has ever been for any fight that I have been with him for in the last 18 years.
The fight on November 8th is going to make history. Roy will make history.”
Gareth Williams, Calzaghe’s Attorney:
“This may very well be Joe’s last fight. Having said that, I know on Saturday night his intensity and passion will be 100% and he is going to have a great night and be victorious against Roy Saturday night at Madison Square Garden.”
McGee Wright, Jones’ Manager:
“In my eyes, Joe Calzaghe is the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world. Now, Roy knows what he has to do. To be the man you have to beat the man.
“On November 8th, you are going to see what you’ve been told and what you’ve been hearing.
“You guys are going to see a battle. It will go on for 12 rounds because there’s no stopping either one of them.
“Joe is going to be ready and prepared. If Joe beats Roy, make no mistake about it, Joe would have beat the best Roy Jones Jr he could have possibly beat.”
John Wirt, CEO Square Ring Inc:
“Roy and Joe really made this fight. After the Calzaghe vs. Hopkins fight, Roy was at the post-fight press conference, they exchanged numbers and the rest is history. This is really a mega fight.”
Mark Taffet, Senior Vice President of HBO Pay-Per-View & HBO Sports
“Calzaghe is the gold standard in boxing. He is an undefeated superstar at 45 and 0. He is supremely talented in the ring. He is a tremendous guy outside of it. Fighting in the other corner is Roy Jones, one of the greatest fighters of our era. At the age of 39, he is out to beat Joe Calzaghe Saturday night.”
Malvina Lathan, New York State Athletic Commissioner:
“On the tails of one of the most profound moments in our nation’s history comes Calzaghe vs. Jones on Saturday November 8th. I am proud of these fighters. They came together on their own and have put together one of the most respectful promotions in the history of boxing. Please come out on Saturday and be a part of Calzaghe vs. Jones.”
Joel Fisher, Executive Vice President, Madison Square Garden:
“Roy and Joe are two of the greatest boxing ambassadors that we have. Boxing fans all over the world will get to see this fight on HBO Pay-Per-View, and if you get to see this fight live there will be nothing like it.”
UNDERCARD FIGHTERS
Zab Judah:
“With the way the world is going today, it is time for a change. I am happy to be fighting on the same week that Obama won.
“I am just trying to figure out what side I am going to knock him out with the left or the right. It is going to be a knockout.
“My name is Zab “Super” Judah and its going to be a knockout. Don’t miss it. It is going to be a great event.”
Ernest Johnson:
“It is going to be an honor to fight at the Mecca of boxing and it is going to be an honor to fight under Joe Calzaghe and Roy Jones, two legends.
“I am fighting another superstar in Zab Judah. I am excited to be here. I am coming to fight and coming to win. It is a major opportunity. He is coming down in weight to be the bigger man, but I want him to know that I am the bigger man.”
Dmitriy Salita:
“I grew up in New York City watching big fights on HBO and at the Garden. It is pretty special to be a part of this.
“I am glad Derrick is ready to fight. I am going to take care of business. It is going to be a great night and I can’t wait.
“I look forward to putting on a great performance and show you that I am the future of boxing.”
Derrick Campos:
“I want to fight the best around. I am ready to get down and win. I normally fight at 130-pounds and when I got the call to fight at 140 from Salita, I jumped on it. I feel good and confident. I want to let Salita know that I am going to be in his face all night long.”
Francisco Figueroa:
“For the guys who do know me or who don’t, I come to fight. I’ve got good rhythm. I am a free style dancer. So I want to say if he wants to dance, I can dance.
“This fight is going to be well worth. Bring your friends bring your family, get them out of the house and get them to the fight because it is going to be worth it. Its going to be a great night.”
Emanuel Augustus Burton:
“It feels strange to be here. I’ve never been in this type of light before. I am nervous standing here in front of you, but one thing is for sure I won’t be nervous for the fight. This is a time for me to restart my career. Revitalize it.
“I really do not know much about my opponent. He is a boxer, therefore I know that he is coming to fight and coming to win. The fans that are watching the fight that don’t know me, I come to fight too. It’s going to be on. It’s going to be popping like popcorn.”
Calzaghe vs. Jones “Battle of the Superpowers” is a 12 round championship for Calzaghe’s Ring Magazine Light Heavyweight Championship belt. Promoted by Square Ring, Inc. and Calzaghe Promotions in association with Madison Square Garden, Calzaghe vs. Jones will take place November 8, and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View, beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.
Tickets priced at $1500, $1000, $750, $500, $250 and $150, are on sale now and can be purchased at the Garden Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets or online at ticketmaster.com.
The final episode of HBO’s all-access reality series Calzaghe/Jones 24/7 debuts Thursday, Nov. 6 at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT.
All three half-hour episodes of CALZAGHE/JONES 24/7 will be presented back-to-back-to-back Friday, Nov. 7 (8:30-10:00 p.m.), and Saturday, Nov. 8 (8:30-10:00 a.m.), on HBO. All times are ET/PT.