HARTFORD, Conn., (Nov. 4, 2009) – Selected quotes from Wednesday’s media workout held at the Next Level Athletic Conditioning Center in nearby Bloomfield.
CHAD DAWSON – “I’m feeling some buzz around the city about the fight. I’ve really just been sitting in my hotel room and spending time with my kids. I’m sure come Saturday night there will be a lot of buzz.
“I can’t wait to get in the ring and shut him up. It’s been almost two years now. After I’m done with him he won’t be able to say nothing except I lost to Chad Dawson twice..
“I’m two years older and he’s two years older. That’s to my advantage because I’m two years more mature. So is he but at age 40 you start to slow down a little bit. I’m not saying he has slowed down. I won’t know till the fight.”
Former welterweight world champion Marlon Starling stopped by to say hello to Dawson and wish him luck on Saturday night. Said Dawson: “I remember sparring with him when I was like 12-0. We worked out in the same gym and we would put the gloves on and just move around the ring, just fooling around. I know him very well. Every time I run into him he always has advice for me. Like for this fight he said the only way I will lose is if I beat myself. I have all the advantages.”
GLEN JOHNSON
“Chad is going to have his fans there and he should. It’s his hometown. I feed off the crowd either way. If it’s for me I feed off of it. If it’s against me I feed off of it. So it really doesn’t matter where we fight.
“I have done all the work. Now, it’s just about talking to the press and watching some tape. I believe I have what it takes to win this fight. It’s just about maintaining and getting a lot of rest. At my age (40), I have to be careful and smart with what I do.
“It’s really a treat for me to be in the ring. I feel great. I feel sharp. I’m actually in better physical shape than I was in the first fight.
“I feel I represent the blue-collar, over-30 population.
“I’m hoping I’ll get the knockout. I respect Chad Dawson. I respect everyone at the end of the day.”
Remaining tickets, priced at $200, $100, $75, $50, and $35, (plus any applicable fees and surcharges), can be purchased at the XL Center box office, at all Ticketmaster outlets, through Ticketmaster Charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000 and online at www.xlcenter.com.
HBO SPORTS® PRESENTS A LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT REMATCH WHEN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING®: CHAD DAWSON VS. GLEN JOHNSON II AND ALFREDO ANGULO VS. HARRY JOE YORGEY IS SEEN LIVE SATURDAY, NOV. 7 ON HBO®
HBO Sports presents a highly anticipated rematch between two accomplished ring warriors when WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING: CHAD DAWSON VS. GLEN JOHNSON II AND ALFREDO ANGULO VS. HARRY JOE YORGEY is seen live SATURDAY, NOV. 7 (9:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. PT) from the XL Center in Hartford, Conn. Jim Lampley, Max Kellerman and Emanuel Steward will be ringside for the event, to be presented in HDTV and in Spanish on HBO Latino.
Hailing from New Haven, Conn., undefeated Chad Dawson (28-0, 17 KOs) first won a world title in 2007, dominating undefeated Tomasz Adamek and subsequently compiling an impressive list of victories that includes two unanimous decisions over former world champ Antonio Tarver and a controversial victory over Glen Johnson by unanimous decision in April 2008. Putting his perfect record on the line once again, the 27-year-old Dawson looks to silence any doubters and reaffirm his place at the top of the sport.
A former light heavyweight champion and Boxing Writers Association of America “Fighter of the Year” selection, 40-year-old Glen Johnson (49-12-2, 33 KOs) is one of the top competitors in this deep division. The Jamaican-born resident of Miami, Fla. captured a world light heavyweight title in 2004 and has lately experienced a career renaissance, winning seven of his last nine bouts, his only losses being close decisions to Clinton Woods and Dawson.
The opening bout is a potentially explosive battle, as rising star Alfredo Angulo (16-1, 13 KOs) of Coachella, Cal. meets Harry Joe Yorgey (22-0-1, 10 KOs) of Bridgeport, Pa. in a 12-round junior middleweight encounter. Angulo has been climbing the 154-pound ladder quickly; Yorgey is a crafty, all-action fighter seeking to slow down the power-hitting knockout artist.
The live doubleheader will be accompanied by the debut of the third episode of “24/7 Pacquiao/Cotto” at 9:00 p.m. (ET)/6:00 p.m. (PT). The new episode of “24/7” will also air immediately after the doubleheader on HBO.
All WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING events are broadcast in HDTV.
The executive producer of WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is Rick Bernstein; producer, Thomas Odelfelt; director, Marc Payton.
HBO and related channels and service marks are the property of Home Box Office, Inc.