Fighters entering into the ring this Saturday, February 22, on the Deontay Wilder vs. Tyson Fury II undercard previewed their respective showdowns on the remaining press convention Thursday earlier than they step into the ring on the MGM Grand Backyard Enviornment in Las Vegas.
The press convention featured fighters competing within the PPV undercard, together with former heavyweight champion Charles Martin and former title challenger Gerald Washington, whomeet within the co-main occasion, WBO Junior Featherweight World Champion Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete, a.ok.a. “The Mexican Iron Man”, and Filipino contender Jeo Santisima, who battle within the PPV featured bout, and unbeaten tremendous welterweights Sebastian Fundora and Daniel Lewis, who combat within the PPV opener at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
Additionally squaring off Thursday have been fighters who enter the ring for Wilder vs. Fury II Prelims starting at at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT, together with hard-hitting unbeaten contender Subriel Matias and Petros Ananyan, who meet in a brilliant light-weight showdown, plus contenders Amir Imam and Javier Molina, who will combat in a brilliant light-weight attraction.
Prelims will start at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT on FS1, ESPNEWS and in Spanish on FOX Deportes and ESPN3. ESPNEWS’ protection will swap to ESPN at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
Rounding out the lineup and showing at Thursday’s occasion have been unbeaten prospect Rolando Romero, who takes on Arturs Ahmetovs, rising prospect Gabriel Flores Jr., who faces Matt Conway, 17-year-old sensation Vito Mielnicki Jr., who battles Corey Champion, and unbeaten featherweight Isaac Lowe, who will combat Mexico’s Alberto Guevara. These fights will likely be obtainable on the FOX Sports activities App and ESPN App starting at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT.
Here’s what the fighters needed to say Thursday from the Media Heart at MGM Grand:
Charles Martin:
“I am unable to look forward to this. I am not letting something get to me, I am simply right here to work. I grew up and I’m extra mature. I’m able to tackle the heavyweight division. My prediction is that I will cease him in 4.”
“That is going to get me in one other great spot and it will put me on the way in which to get my heavyweight title again. This combat is coming at a good time in my profession and I really feel prepared for Saturday.”
“It is a blessing to be on this place. My complete household goes to point out up and we’re all excited. My cousin is even going to stroll me out to the ring. We’re excited to be part of this massive card.”
“Me and Washington sparred some time again, however it’s a must to keep in mind that some individuals are health club fighters and a few carry out when the lights are brilliant. Personally, my sparring has nothing to do with how I carry out when it is go time.”
“I am a heavyweight and we come to ship knockouts. That is all I understand how to do. Knockout in 4. That is what’s occurring Saturday night time.”
Gerald Washington:
“I am very excited. We put collectively a terrific coaching camp, I went all over the world. I went to London to work with Derek Chisora, and I went to Saudi Arabia and labored with Andy Ruiz. I introduced a terrific workforce collectively and we’re simply able to go to work.”
“I used to be in a position to flip myself into Gerald Washington 2.0. I’ve all the time had the bodily half down, I all the time work arduous and practice nicely, however it’s the psychological facet that you have to put collectively to be a whole fighter and that’s the place I’m at now. I’ve a terrific group of individuals round me.
“Those that know boxing, know that it is arduous, and everybody goes by way of their very own demons. I took a loss and it did not go my method, however to have the ability to decide your self up and maintain going, you construct that power. You grow to be a brand new particular person and I am carrying all that with me. I do know what that loss felt like and I am on a private mission for me to finish my targets.”
“We’re locked in mentally. I did all the pieces to organize myself for this combat, we’re in nice form bodily and mentally.”
I do know Martin nicely, and he is a hard-working fighter. We will likely be cool earlier than the combat and we will likely be cool after, however we’re preventing for a title eliminator and we each need the identical factor.”
“It’s going to be a superb, robust combat. He’s going to be robust and it’s going to be an thrilling combat.”
Emanuel Navarrete:
“I all the time say sure to a combat. Though I have been preventing rapidly combat after combat, I’ve all the time come out with good well being. That makes me prepared for the following combat that comes up.”
“I believe my subsequent combat will depend upon Saturday’s outcomes. I do assume it’s extra handy and reasonable to maneuver up in weight than to attend for a unification combat.”
“Preparation for this combat has been glorious. That is one other nice alternative that has been given to me and I’ll exhibit as soon as once more that I am one of the best at 122-pounds”
“I am going for one more knockout victory and after that I want to unify. If that does not occur, I will most likely transfer as much as problem the champions at featherweight. I wish to be a world famous person for the game of boxing and I am nicely on my method”
“i draw inspiration from the opposite iconic fights between Mexican and Filipino fighters which have taken place proper right here, particularly Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez. It is going to assist me placed on one other good efficiency on Saturday.”
Jeo Santisma:
“I am very excited and I had a very good camp. We’re able to put collectively a terrific efficiency and obtain my dream of successful a world title.”
“I will be like Manny Pacquiao and win a world title in my first combat within the U.S. Reaching that could be a enormous motivation for me. It is a possibility I will reap the benefits of.”
Sebastian Fundora:
“I stroll round at this weight. I got here to Las Vegas at 157 kilos. I do not know precisely the way it’s really easy, however I make the load simply and I will be on this division for some time.”
“We now have totally different methods for various fights. Regardless of the combat presents and no matter my opponent brings, we’ll be prepared.”
“I imagine this combat goes to be very entertaining. I am coming for the knockout. Anticipate a terrific combat with thrilling motion. We cannot disappoint.”
“I am excited to be on a card like this. It is one other nice step for me, with an actual problem towards a superb undefeated fighter. I will convey the combat to him.”
Daniel Lewis:
“We’re simply able to combat. We are going to combat all of them, and we’ll combat one of the best. We fought in Los Angeles in November, bought the win there, and now we’ve one other alternative to get a superb win. That is what we’re going to do.”
“Working with Terence Crawford was one other nice alternative that we took on. Moving into camp with him was wonderful. He has such excessive spirits and is so quick, he’s arduous to hit. It was a terrific expertise early in my profession.”
“I am very grateful for such an enormous alternative. We’re right here to make this a terrific combat and placed on a superb present for everybody watching.”
Subriel Matais:
“I am very grateful for this chance. My workforce has gotten me in nice situation and labored with me day by day in camp in order that I am prepared for Saturday night time.”
“I am very excited to be on this place. I promise you that you’ll not remorse watching this combat. We’ll convey motion.”
“To my opponent, thanks for taking this combat. I am right here to appreciate my dream with a win on Saturday and I am not letting anybody stand in my method.”
“I am not frightened about what’s in retailer after this combat. I am simply targeted on Saturday night time. I will go away the remainder to my workforce, however I am positively placing the entire 140-pound division on discover.”
Petros Ananyan:
“I do know my opponent has a robust punch, however I’ve labored very arduous to perform my dream. This is essential for me.
“I’ve had nice sparring and I am prepared for something that would occur within the ring. I assumed I ought to have gotten the choice in my final combat, however Saturday I will begin a brand new successful streak.”
Amir Imam:
“This may put me excessive up within the rankings, so I’m wanting ahead to placing on a terrific present and displaying my abilities”
“The chemistry with my workforce is nice. We now have enjoyable, however we work actually arduous. I wish to thank my supervisor for placing me in a terrific place, and I’m able to placed on a present.”
“Molina is simply as tall as me, he is simply as fast as me, however I believe I’ve extra expertise than him as a result of title combat. Talent-wise I imagine I’m simply higher than him as nicely.”
“I do know I’ve energy, however I am not relying on that. I’m going out to carry out my greatest and win any method I can, whether or not that be a call or a knockout.”
“It is a blessing to be on this place, and I plan to reap the benefits of each alternative that is put in entrance of me.”
Javier Molina:
“I really feel like I’ve to make a press release on this combat. Just a bit over a 12 months in the past I used to be struggling to even get a combat. I have been energetic since then, so I believe this combat is occurring on the good time for me.”
“Imam is a tricky fighter and a win will get me that a lot nearer to a title. We’re ready and prepared for something he brings to the ring.”
“I am glad to be on this place. I did not assume it might take this lengthy, however we’re right here now. I will take full benefit of this chance in entrance of loads of eyeballs.”
Rolando Romero:
“I will get one other first spherical knockout Saturday night time. If you recognize me, you recognize that once I say I will do one thing, it will occur.”
“One punch is all it takes for me. I imagine I am one of many hardest punchers in boxing and the toughest puncher below 147-pounds. There isn’t any doubt about it, I am getting a primary spherical knockout Saturday.”
Gabriel Flores Jr:
“I attempt to get higher and higher every efficiency. That is how I be taught from my errors. I wish to placed on a terrific efficiency Saturday night time.”
“Again in 2013 I misplaced my mother, and that was robust. It was somebody I used to be used to seeing day by day. As soon as I heard about Kobe Bryant, I might solely take into consideration the remainder of his household. I do know a part of that ache. For me, this combat is for everybody who’s ever felt that ache.”
Vito Mielnicki Jr:
“I am balancing coaching and faculty, however I wish to graduate to six-round fights and present I am greater than only a 17- 12 months previous prospect. I am right here to remain.”
“Being on this stage motivates me, as a result of at some point I would like my face to be on all of the posters and artwork throughout MGM Grand. I am actually motivated to maintain working arduous and get the job completed each day out.”
Isaac Lowe:
“I’ve a superb opponent who’s solely been overwhelmed by one of the best. He is fought world champions and high quality fighters, so it is a massive step up for me. If I win and placed on a superb show, it will put me proper within the combine with the highest fighters.
“You are going to see on Saturday night time that 2020 is my 12 months. I’ve bought a worthy opponent who’s going to come back to win. So I am prepared and I am unable to wait to point out the world that I am a world stage fighter.”
