20.11.08 – Final Press Conference Quotes: PAULIE “MAGIC MAN” MALIGNAGGI: “I’m just glad to be here and I want to thank everybody. I’m not going to go through the names because there are a thousand of them but I want to thank everyone who’s involved in setting up this whole show.” “I feel very prepared and I’ve had a great camp. I’m more than ready for this fight Saturday night. Like Lou [Di Bella] said, I’ve been waiting a long time for a fight of this magnitude and it’s finally here and it’s a very exciting time for me..”
“Floyd [Mayweather Sr.] and I actually have a history although I don’t know if he remembers this. You [Floyd Mayweather Sr ] trained Francisco Bojado about four and a half or five years ago. After he beat Emanuel Clide there was a prospect with spiky hair that got in his face. When you got out of the ring that night, you had your dreadlocks, and we got face to face and you asked me who I was and I said I’m Malignaggi and I’m the best.”
Malignaggi to Floyd Mayweather Sr.: “I’m going to let you know when it’s over that I’m the best.”
“I hope that the Hatton team and Floyd and everybody are telling the truth that they did have a great camp and they’re not just hyping it up because I had a really good camp. I’m not saying it for the reporters to make quotes and I’m not saying it for you guys to put out a story. I really had a great camp.”
“Floyd’s [Mayweather Sr.] is saying combinations galore in his speech about Hatton’s training which is funny because usually I’m the one with combinations galore.”
“I’m ready for Saturday and like I said I am more than ready. I’m very prepared and once again I will say that I’m very prepared.”
“We both did have a great camp and so the fight should be exciting. It’s going to be like two trains colliding and I’m the big train.”
RICKY ‘THE HITMAN’ HATTON: “I think this fight doesn’t need belts. As you know unfortunately Paulie isn’t defending his IBF belt. I’ve been stripped of the majority of my belts unfortunately but I think it’s clear to say that the number one and number two in the division are fighting each other.”
“Paulie’s known as a talker and he’s very good at it but when the cameras go off and the press disappear Paulie’s a nice guy and I think he’s someone when after the fight we could be friends with. Surely not Saturday but I think after the fight we could be friends.”
“I’m not going to change my style. I’ve worked too long. I think that Floyd’s polished me up in certain areas though. Many fights I’ve shown my boxing ability and sometimes I’ve shown that I’ve got the boxing ability but don’t always let it out or don’t always show it. I’m working with a trainer now that’s slowing me down and letting me work on different things and this Saturday night I’m going to show it.”
“I’ve been working on new things and if you don’t do things in the gym you’re not going to do it in the ring and that’s what I’ve done in this camp that I’ve not done in a couple of years.”
“Saturday night, and as god as my judge, you’ll see the best Ricky Hatton and I’ll need to be because I’m fighting the nearest rival in the division and I need to be my best and I will be at my best.”
“I’m back at the MGM Grand, first time in a year, and I hope I have better luck than I did last time. I’m back down at my normal weight and I have never lost at junior welterweight.”
“If the fight’s going to happen as well as my training camp has gone I’m not going to lose this Saturday.”
“I think all the fans that have bought tickets that have come over from Britain and the fans from the United States have given us fantastic support. I always get treated well by the American people, the American fight fans, especially in Las Vegas and it’s a pleasure to come back and I think the winner again will be the fans.”
“I think I needed this type of camp to give me a confidence booster after the last [Floyd] Mayweather fight. I think my last performance was not to my standard and I needed a training camp like this.”
MATTHEW HATTON: “It’s just fantastic to be part of a massive card again. We’ve been very lucky to fight on a lot of undercards over in the States. To fight on another big fight is fantastic.”
“Training has gone superb for me and for this fight. I feel in the best shape of my life. Training has gone very well with my new trainer Lee Beard.”
“I feel as if I’m a far better fighter now and as if I’m improving all the time. I know of the problems I’ve had previously in my career but that those problems are gone now and I’m really looking forward to the future.”
“It’s a big step up in class for me to fight Ben Tackie but I’m going to relish it and I’m very confident of the win on Saturday.”
BRIAN VERA: “I know James [Kirkland] is going to be ready to go to war and so am I. I have nothing but respect so be ready to see a war on Saturday. That’s all I really got to say. I’ll let Saturday do the talking.”
JAMES KIRKLAND: “I’m just really looking forward to having a good time on this fight with [Brian] Vera. I trained really well and had good sparring, and I’m going to do my thing and show you what that is on the 22nd.”
About Hatton vs. Paulie Malignaggi
Ricky Hatton vs. Paulie Malignaggi, a scheduled 12-round battle for Hatton’s Ring Magazine and IBO Junior Welterweight titles, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Punch Promotions and DiBella Entertainment and sponsored by Affliction Clothing and Cerveza Tecate. James Kirkland vs. Brian Vera, a 10 round middleweight bout, is presented in association with Tournament of Contenders. Both bouts will air live on HBO’s World Championship Boxing broadcast beginning at 7:00pm PT / 10:00pm ET. Doors open at 3:00 PM PT with the first bell ringing at approximately 3:15 PM PT.
Tickets priced at $1,000, $750, $500, $300 and $150 are still available at any MGM Grand box office outlet and at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith’s Food and Drug Centers and Ritmo Latino). To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (702) 474-4000. Tickets also are available for purchase atwww.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.
JOEY GILBERT ARRIVES IN BALTIMORE FOR RETURN BOUT
BALTIMORE, MD (November 19, 2008) After jetting overnight from Ontario, California, super middleweight contender Joey Gilbert declared himself “more than ready” for tomorrow night’s bout against Mississippi’s William Johnson.
Gilbert returned to the ring after a thirteen month layoff with a crushing second round knockout of Dan Wallace at the Jonathan Ogden Foundation Charity Boxing Show in Cockeysville , MD , just outside of Baltimore on October 30th.
The Gilbert/Johnson bout is the feature attraction at the eight bout action packed BALLROOM BOXING/TKO BOXING PROMOTIONS event Thursday night at Michael’s Eighth Ave in Glen Burnie , MD.
“I’ve been in serious training since early September in both Reno and Big Bear, California . It felt great to get back in the ring and I’m ready to put on another terrific performance for the Baltimore area fight fans” said Gilbert, 16-1-0 (13KO’s)
Gilbert has a planned showdown with fellow Northern Nevada area resident Jessie Brinkley set for early 2009 in Reno . Both were participants in The Contender Season One boxing reality show.
“These fights are a perfect opportunity for me to prepare for the fight with Jessie. Training and sparring is great, but the actual fighting works even better” continued Gilbert.
Williams, who has faced a long list of notable names in his four year career including Andre Dirrell, Robert Allen, Andre Berto and John Duddy brings a record of 9-17-1 (3KO’s) into the six round battle with Gilbert.
Advance tickets for the eight bout BALLROOM BOXING, starting at $35, can be obtained by calling 410-766-7474. Michael’s Eighth Avenue is located at 7220 Grayburn in Glen Burnie , Maryland . Doors will open at 6:30pm with the first bell at 8pm. Further information can also be obtained at www.ballroomboxing.com
The full bout card is
Tyrell Samuel vs. Ron Boyd, ten rounds, lightweights
Maryland State Lightweight Title
Joey Gilbert vs. William Johnson, six rounds, super middleweights
Mike Paschall vs. James Johnson, six rounds, light heavyweights
Carlos Jones vs. Jarell Jackson, six rounds, light heavyweights
Terrance Crawford vs. Johnny Frazier, four rounds, junior welterweights
Stevie Weimer vs. Manny Cotrich, four rounds, junior welterweights
Bastie Samir vs. TBA, four rounds, junior middleweights
Dwayne McRae vs. Kareem Wilson, four rounds, heavyweights
For further information on TKO BOXING Promotions, please visit their website at www.tkoboxingpromotions.com
Danny Garcia vs Adan Hernandez
Danny “Swift” Garcia’s (8-0, 7 KO’s) opponent has been announced. Philadelphia’s undefeated rising star faces a stiff challenge in Adan Hernandez (15-5, 5 KO’s). Hernandez has gone twelve rounds with Anthony Peterson (28-0, 19 KO’s) and looks to be a good test for Golden Boy Promotions hot prospect. The two warriors square off on the undercard of Hatton vs Malignaggi set to take place November 22, 2008 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
“I’m happy to be stepping up in competition,” said Garcia, “I don’t know much about Hernandez expect that he’s got a good chin and has only been knocked out once in his career. I’m excited to test my skills against him. Fans can expect to see me with an aggressive style. My goal will be to knock him out.”
For more information on Danny “Swift” Garcia visit www.goldenboypromotions.com or www.shellyfinkel.com