Jermain Taylor: “When we where roommates during the 2000 Olympics there where times when we talk about fighting each other one day. That day is now here and I know Jeff will be ready. We both want bragging rights over each other.” My team has put together a good game plan for Jeff and I’m very confident about the outcome of the fight. It will be all business come Saturday night, I’m going to dictate the pace of this fight and fight my fight..”
“I cannot lose, I feel it. I like fighting at 168lbs. This was my best training camp.”
“We are friends, but when the bell rings I’m going to try and hurt him, nothing but business.”
“I’m looking at this fight to jump start my career and get back on top. I’m focus, determine and motivated to come away the victory.”
“I’m bringing a lot explosives with me when I step in that ring.”
Jeff Lacy:
“I know Jermain as a jokester…I know all sides of him, but to see him standing in front of me [as an opponent] is a little different.”
“Jermain and I are friends, but when the bell rings, it’s a fight.”
“When you know everything about the guy you’re fighting and you’re friends, you want for him to cross the line and then it’s all Hail Mary. He hits me, I hit him and it’s on.
“Once one of your brothers hits you, everything goes out the window.”
“Knowing him so well is going to bring out the best in me.”
“This is going to be one of the best fights you’ve ever seen. I’m ready to go all twelve rounds.”
“The best comes out of you after you’ve suffered a loss, but neither one of us wants to lose again.”
“I’m going to establish my jab because I’m going to have to box a little bit. We’ll see what he brings. I’m capable of both [boxing or slugging].”
CELESTINO CABALLERO SAYS ‘THE BEST IS YET TO COME’
SAN DIEGO, Calif. (Nov. 13, 2008) – “The best is yet to come.” It’s an often-used proclamation that has been uttered for years in the sporting arena. Some competitors make good on the guarantee while others have failed to live up to the six-word promise.
When WBA super bantamweight champion Celestino Caballero uttered the popular phrase to ringside media after his 12-round victory by unanimous decision against Jorge Lacierva in Hidalgo, Texas, in August of 2007, one had to wonder if Caballero would get the chance to ever fulfill that pledge, which also happens to be the title of a song sung by Frank Sinatra in the 1960s.
Fast-forward to more than a year after beating Lacierva and Caballero finds himself in the biggest fight of his career. Caballero, co-promoted by Sycuan Ringside Promotions and Seminole Warriors Boxing, aims to unify titles against Canadian Steve Molitor, the IBF 122-pound champion, on Friday, Nov. 21, from Casino Rama, in Rama, Ontario, Canada, live on ShoBox: The New Generation (SHOWTIME 11 p.m. ET/PT).
The fight will be the first unification event in Canadian history
“I meant it when I said, ‘The best is yet to come,’ ” said Caballero, who finds himself in his first unification fight. “I have the chance to show the world how good I really am and the only way to do that is by fighting the best.
“This is an opportunity that doesn’t come along very often. Fighting for a world title is great, but it doesn’t compare to a unification fight. Two champions, two belts and only one will walk out as champion. It’s the best thing in boxing.”
Since winning his title against Somsak Sithchatchawal in 2006, Caballero has rallied off five successful defenses, three coming by way of knockout. With each win, the most recent a first-round destruction of Elvis Mejia in September, Caballero gets that’s much closer to his end-goal and coming through on his brash statement.
“The 122-pound division is loaded with great talent,” said Caballero, who has boxing in his veins as both his father and grandfather boxed as amateurs. “You need big wins to keep up and this is the biggest fight in the division since Vazquez-Marquez III.”
Caballero, who is married and has two girls and a boy, by far is the most feared boxer in one of the most competitive divisions in the sport. This makes it tough for the Panamanian-born Caballero to build his brand.
“Not a lot of boxers come out and say, ‘I want Celestino,’ ” said Caballero, who at nearly six-feet tall poses incredible match-up problems for opponents. “I’m a disciplined fighter that doesn’t make mistakes. There is a reason why I’ve won 11 straight fights.
“Molitor will have a lot of trouble with me. I have a difficult style to decipher. He’ll find out in the first round. While he is struggling to adjust, I’ll be figuring out what he wants to do.
“To me, it’s all about fighting the best. I’m not a young-up-and-comer anymore. I’ve been through the talented prospect route before. It’s all about winning titles now.”
With a win over Molitor in front of a SHOWTIME viewing audience on Nov. 21, Caballero will come one step closer to fulfilling his promise and realizing his dream: “The best is yet to come,” or in Caballero’s native Spanish: “El mejor no ha venido.”
SCOTT WOOLFORD showed he was for real against Matthew Hatton last time out.
Now the exciting Ramsgate boxer bids to show promoter Frank Maloney he doesn’t need to look any further for his next superstar.
Maloney stages his next non-televised ‘Search For A Star’ bill at York Hall, Bethnal Green on Saturday November 15.
Although former Maloney promoted fighter David Haye will be hogging the headlines at the O2 Arena on the same night, Maloney reckons fans will get proper value for money at his show.
Maloney, who guided Haye to the world cruiserweight title said: “People accuse promoters with TV contracts of not taking risks, but I’m going up against what is supposedly one of the biggest nights in London boxing this year.
“One thing for sure is that at York Hall you will be guaranteed non-stop excitement and 50-50 fights.”
Woolford, 25, who dropped a narrow points verdict to Ricky Hatton’s younger brother in September meets Colchester’s Tom Glover (5-5-3) for the vacant Southern Area welterweight title over ten rounds..
Ramsgate’s Woolford (8-2) hopes a win against 27-year-old Glover will book him a place in the next series of British welterweight title eliminators.
Maloney added: “Scott boxed magnificently against Matthew and I feel he deserved a draw for his performance.
“He surprised me and that is why I am really going to push him over the next 12 months.”
Also on the bill is leading British light-middleweight contender Gary Woolcombe. He boxes Matt Scriven, who makes a living as a private security guard in war torn Iraq.
And there is sure to be explosive action when Medway heavyweight Tom Dallas (2-0) and Larry ‘The War Machine’ Olubamiwo (1-0) box four rounders against selected opponents
Body Beautiful Olubamiwo who is 6ft 5in and almost 19 stone looked sensational on his debut last month stopping Vlado Szabo in the first round of a contest televised live on Sky Sports.
Maloney predicts: “Dallas v ‘The War Machine’ will be one the best heavyweight match-ups in Britain in about 18 months.”
‘Search For A Star 2’ tickets can be purchased by calling 0871 226 1508 or by logging on to www.frankmaloney.com