Kelly Swanson
Thanks everyone for calling in. We have an exciting conference call today to talk about an unbelievable boxing weekend coming up in Las Vegas. We’re going to hear more about that from Leonard Ellerbe, CEO ntawm Mayweather Promotions, uas yuav khiav cov hu.
Thawj rau lub hu peb mus tham rau Errol Spence, Jr., thiab nws tus nrog sib ntaus, Roberto Garcia, twb tseem yuav tsum mus koom nrog lub hu tab sis, hmoov tsis, nws muaj ib tug xeem feeb kho mob lub sij hawm uas nws yuav tsum tau txais nyob rau hauv ua ntej nws ncaim mus rau Las Vegas, ces nws yuav tsis tau mus koom nrog rau peb.
Qhov no lwm cov tub ntxhais txiv neej yog ib tug zoo heev fighter, and I’m certainly looking forward to seeing him fight. I’m going to go ahead and turn it over to Leonard Ellerbe, uas yuav ua rau lub qhia thiab qhib nws.
Leonard Ellerbe
Ua tsaug rau koj, Kelly. I’d like to thank everyone for joining us on this afternoon’s call. PBC on NBC returns to primetime network television this Saturday, Lub rau hli ntuj 20th. Lub telecast pib thaum 8:30 p.m. THIAB / 5:30 p.m. PT. We’ll be coming to you live from MGM Grand in Las Vegas. This event will be sponsored by Corona, thiab kuv xav ua tsaug rau lawv rau lawv them.
Our main event will feature a 12-round showdown between former world champions Adrien Broner and Shawn Porter. The co-main event features hot prospect Errol Spence, Jr. and veteran Roberto Garcia in a 10-round welterweight fight. Following the fights on NBC, peb yuav hloov mus rau NBCSN rau ntau zoo txiav txim.
Lub daim pib rau lub nyob txheej xwm, uas yuav tau nce los ntawm Mayweather Promotions nyob rau hauv lub koom haum nrog TGB Promotions, yog on muag tam sim no. The tickets are available through Ticketmaster and mgmgrand.com. With the purchase of a ticket to the June 20th sib ntaus no hnub vas xaum, fans will also have access to the PBC on CBS card taking place on Sunday at the MGM Grand. That bout will feature, nyob rau hauv lub ntsiab kev tshwm sim, Rances Barthelemy tiv tiag Antontio DeMarco, thiab Sammy Vasquez yuav tua Wale Omotoso, uas pib thaum 4:00 p.m. THIAB / 1:00 p.m. PT rau CBS.
Kuv xav pib tawm qhia cov pa roj carbon monoxide-ntsiab kev tshwm sim, and I’d like to start out with Errol Spence. Errol Spence is coming to us from Desoto, Texas. He is a 2012 US Olympian. He most recently dominated Samuel Vargas on the April 11 on PBC on NBC card. I’m very familiar with this young, exciting prospect. He’s a very talented fighter and he will be a force to be reckoned with for quite some time. He’s a future world champion. He’s coming to us at 16-0 nrog 13 Kos. Errol?
Errol Spence Jr.
Hi, I’m glad to be here. It’s a big opportunity for me on a huge stage. I’m going to go in and do like I always do, put on a great show and a great performance and raise my stock. Hopefully, tom qab no sib ntaus, tom qab no kuj zoo kawg kev kawm, Kuv yuav ua tau lub ntsiab kev tshwm sim nyob rau hauv NBC.
Q
Koj puas xav tias zoo li koj nyob nraum tsiv txoj kev uas koj xav kom yuav tsum tsiv? Faster? Slower? Where you’re supposed to be? Ces, yuav ua li cas sai tsis koj xav hais tias, hais tias yog koj muaj peev xwm saib xyuas tau koj tus nrog sib ntaus, Roberto Garcia, no lis xaus, uas koj yuav tau txais mus rau hauv ib tug txawm ntau tseem ceeb kev sib ntaus, tej zaum ib tug title ntawm tej taw tes?
Thiab. Spence Jr.
I feel like I’m moving the way I want to move. I’m fighting when I want to and I’m fighting on the regular, so everything’s been consistent and how I want it to go. I’m stepping up the competition, and I’m fighting on the big stage that I wanted to fight on. After I get rid of Roberto Garcia, I think it will be another step up fight. Hopefully, Kuv yuav tau txais ib tug ntau lub npe-paub tus nrog sib ntaus, hopefully ib tug qub ntiaj teb no yeej nyob rau hauv muaj, thiab ces los ntawm tej tsam thaum ntxov xyoo tom ntej, Kuv yuav tua rau ib tug title.
Q
Raws li feem ntau cov neeg, koj yog cov feem ntau feemxyuam fighter rau hauv lub tebchaws United States Olympic Team nyob rau hauv 2012 thiab cov txiv leej tub nrog rau feem ntau tej zaum raws li ib tug kws. Yog hais tias ib tug cuam tshuam rau koj? Does it motivate you? Do you believe your clippings? How do you stay focused? Because it seems like you are a pretty focused guy, txoj kev uas koj twb tau mus txog koj tus lag luam.
Thiab. Spence Jr.
Rau ib tug tshaj plaws, nyob teem yog cia li ib yam dab tsi kuv lawm ua, but I also want to live up to the hype and to the high standards that a lot of boxing writers and a lot of people have of me. I’ve just got to go out there and perform and look great, thiab kuv xav kom zoo zoo, so I have to stay focused and work hard. That’s the only way that I’m going to get where I want to be and get to the top and get to fighting these name-known opponents. Kuv cia li muaj nyob focused thiab cia li nyob twj ywm mob siab, thiab kuv mam li yuav tau twv yuav raug hu sib ntaus sib tua ntau lub npe hu tw, zoo li Robert Guerrero los yog Keith Thurman los yog Amir Khan los yog lwm tug zoo li ntawd.
Q
Yuav ua li cas ces tsis yeej tiv thaiv Garcia ua nyob rau hauv cov nqe lus ntawm tau txais koj muaj?
Thiab. Spence Jr.
Roberto Garcia, nws tawv, nws ib tug qub tub rog, thiab kuv xav hais tias kuv yog ib tug prospect thiab nyob rau lub verge ntawm kev ua ib tug contender, Kuv tau mus fim ib tug txiv leej tub zoo li ntawd, ib tug txiv leej tub nrog ib tug ntau ntawm kev kawm txawj thiab ib tug tiag tiag zoo cov ntaub ntawv, so I can go into that contender level and contender status where I can start fighting more name-known guys. I think it’s just a process I have to go through so I can get to where I want to be. Roberto Garcia is a tough fighter. He’s not as known as the guys I would like to fight, tab sis kuv muaj sib ntaus nws tau rau cov neeg hais mav.
Q
Nrog rov tshwm sim ntawm tus ib tug ntau ntawm cov Eastern European neeg tua hluav taws, uas sib ntaus rau ib tug npe nyob rau hauv lawv cov thib ob los yog peb kev sib ntaus, ua koj xav tias siab rau tsi kauj ruam mus txog koj tus kheej thiab siv sij hawm tougher fights thiab tsim ib tug me ntsis sai dua peb twb ib txwm pom American neeg tua hluav taws nyob rau hauv lub dhau los?
Thiab. Spence Jr.
Ua Tsis. I don’t necessarily feel pressured. Everybody has their own path that they have to take. What those guys did was great, thiab hais tias yog extraordinary thiab yeej unheard ntawm, tab sis txhua leej txhua muaj lawv tus kheej txoj kev, thiab txhua leej txhua hlob txawv.
Q
Errol, txij li thaum PBC tau pib broadcasting fights, nyob rau hauv 2015, koj twb muaj, ib tug sib ntaus rau lub Garcia-Peterson undercard, tab sis koj fighter coj mus muag los yog koj bio, uas tau txais ib tug ntau ntawm cov raug. Koj yuav qhia kuv dab tsi uas tau zoo li pom koj tus kheej nyob rau hauv TV thiab dab tsi cov tshuaj tiv thaiv tau rau cov uas raug tus kab mob?
Thiab. Spence, Jr.
It’s been great. Kuv pog. It shows that my hard work’s been paying off, and it shows how my manager believes in me. I’ve only been a pro fighter for three years and some change and I’m already being broadcast in with guys that have been pro eight, kaum xyoo, kaum ib xyoos, and I’m head-to-head with these guys. It just shows a lot of people believe in me and I’ve got a lot of people behind me who support me.
Q
Koj hais Robert Guerrero, Keith Thurman, and Amir Khan as potential opponents that you’re looking at. Do you see them as stepping stones to something bigger, los yog cov neeg hauv lub sib ntaus rau koj xav? It sounded like you might have been alluding to a different fight. Yuav ua li cas kuv xav mas yog hais tias koj pom cov neeg hais mav raws li nyob rau hauv koj txoj kev sib ntaus sib tua Mayweather?
Thiab. Spence Jr.
Not necessarily. These are the guys that are in the top ten, that are in the top five. These are the guys that are supposed to be there after Floyd retires in September, cov no yog cov hais mav uas mus yuav supposedly khiav lub division, so these are the guys I’m looking at. I’m nowhere near close to fighting Mayweather, because I haven’t even gotten in the top ten yet. These are the guys thatI’m looking at that are in the top ten that are supposedly running the weight class after Floyd’s gone and retired.
Q
Kuv xav nug koj hais txog dab tsi koj paub ntawm koj tus nrog sib ntaus, Roberto Garcia? Koj puas xav, raws li ib tug pro, Garcia yuav tsum tau lub toughest fighter hais tias koj twb ntsib?
Thiab. Spence, Jr.
I see him as the most experienced fighter. It could be the toughest. It all depends. One of my tough fights was against Emmanuel Lartey. Nws yog 15-0, thiab kuv yog 8-0 thaum lub sij hawm. But I mean it could be. Nws yog tawv, nws yog tej, and he’s gritty. I know he’s going to come to fight, yog li no yuav tsum yog ib tug ntawm kuv toughest fights rau hnub tim.
Q
Tam sim no, you’ve gone back and forth in the last year or so between welterweight and super welterweight. Is there one of those weight classes you particularly want to focus upon?
Thiab. Spence Jr.
Kuv nyob rau ntawm 147, and welterweight is my weight class. A lot of times I might fight at 148 los yog ib yam dab tsi zoo li uas, tab sis 147 yog lub ceeb thawj hoob kawm uas kuv sib ntaus sib tua nyob rau tom.
K. Swanson
Cas, uas yog koj nqe lus nug kawg, Errol, but I have one for you that I’d like to add here. The weekend is Father’s Day weekend, thiab los ntawm dab tsi kuv twb nyeem txog koj, koj txiv yog zoo nkauj instrumental nyob rau hauv ua kom koj muaj ib tug boxing hauj lwm. Kuv xav hais tias koj yuav qhia nrog peb ib tug me ntsis txog koj kev sib raug zoo nrog koj dad, yuav ua li cas ib qho tseem ceeb nws yog los txoj kev loj hlob ntawm koj cov boxing muaj peev xwm, thiab yog hais tias nws mam li yuav nrog koj no lis xaus nyob rau hauv Las Vegas.
Thiab. Spence Jr.
Kuv txiv, he got me started in boxing. Nws yog ib tug tsav tsheb, yog li nws siv los tsav thaum hmo ntuj, thiab ces nws mam li tau txais lub tsev 12:00 p.m. los yog tom qab ntawd ces coj kuv mus rau lub gym. Then after that he’d come from the gym, nws yog zoo li 5:00 los yog 6:00 p.m., thiab nws yuav so rau ib los yog ob teev thiab mus ncaj nraim mus ua hauj lwm. Thaum lub sij hawm, Kuv tsis xav tias txog nws, tab sis raws li kuv tau txais xyoo rov saud thiab ib tug me ntsis ntse, paub hais tias tag nrho cov sacrifices uas nws tau txi rau kuv yuav tsum tau mus thawv thiab mus rau tag nrho cov teb chaws tournaments thiab tag nrho cov tournaments tawm ntawm lub xeev thiab cov khoom. He had to pay for the hotel, them rau cov zaub mov thiab khoom xws li tias tawm ntawm lub hnab tshos. We didn’t have any sponsors and stuff like that.
Nws ua ib tug loj ib feem ntawm kuv boxing hauj lwm. He’s my supporter. That’s my mentor. That’s like my best friend. For Father’s Day, Kuv yuav tau nws ib tug yeej, thiab nws mus yuav ib tug impressive yeej hais tias nws mam li yuav zoo siab rau thiab nws mam li hlub. He played a big part in my career. Without him, Kuv paub tias kuv yuav tsis tau boxing.
K. Swanson
Zoo. Thanks for sharing that. I know he was an important part of your story. Yog li ntawd, Leonard, that is it on the side for Errol. We appreciate you taking the time out of your training. Qhov zoo tshaj plaws ntawm koob hmoov rau koj, thiab peb tos ntsoov rau saib koj rau PBC rau NBC.
L. Ellerbe
The fans are going to be in for a great treat with this fight. Garcia comes with a lot of experience, and Errol is the new guy on the block. He’s making a name for himself. Big things are expected out of Errol, thiab nws yuav tsum tau nrhiav kom los ntawm nyob rau hnub Saturday tsaus ntuj nrog ib tug zoo kawg kev kawm.
Thiab. Spence Jr.
Ua tsaug rau koj. I’d like to thank everybody for their questions and stuff and everybody tuning in and listening. Just make sure you tune in Saturday. I’m going to put on a great performance and a great show.
L. Ellerbe
Nyob rau hauv lub ntsiab kev tshwm sim, peb muaj ib tug heev exciting sib ntaus. We have two gentlemen who are very familiar with each other. They both come out of the state of Ohio. They both have extensive amateur backgrounds. I think it’s going to be an excellent fight.
We have Shawn Porter. Zoo li kuv hais tias, nws tuaj rau peb los ntawm tawm ntawm Akron, Ohio. He’s now fighting out of Las Vegas. His most recent win was on Spike in March when he fought Eric Bone. He has fought a number of good fighters, including big wins over former world champions Devon Alexander and Paulie Malignaggi. He comes to us with a record of 25-1-1, nrog 16 Kos, tsis muaj lwm yam tshaj li qhov qub welterweight lub ntiaj teb champion, “Showtime” Shawn Porter.
Shawn Porter
Yuav ua li cas yog, txhua leej txhua tus? Thanks for having me on.
Ken Porter
Ua tsaug koj hais mav rau cov zoo cov kev taw qhia, Leonard. We really appreciate you guys having us on today. As far as our training camp, Shawn has been preparing for this fight and the previous fight and the previous fight before that ever since he turned professional. We never really go into a camp, per se. We just continue with what we were already doing. I have been blessed with an athlete who understands that this is his lifestyle, nws yog ib xyoo puag ncig, and he just works like that. So when it was time to turn up the heat a little bit, we were already ready to go. When it was time to bring down the weight a little bit, hais tias tsis yog ib qho teeb meem los sis.
He’s strong. He’s happy. He’s feeling really good. Today we did a little bit of track work. We headed to the gym, thiab ces peb tau nco qab hais tias peb muaj rooj sab laj no hu nrog koj hais mav, li ntawd nws yog kiag li tsis muaj teeb meem rau peb rov qab mus tsev thiab zaum rau ib tug me ntsis me ntsis thiab coj no hu vim hais tias tag nrho cov ntawm peb zog ua hauj lwm twb tau ua, tsis yog nyob rau hauv no sib ntaus los yog no camp, but in previous fights and previous camps that we’ve had before this. Everything is on point. Everything is exactly where we want it to be, thiab peb nyob nraum nrhiav rau pem hauv ntej mus rau ib tug zoo sib ntaus rau hnub Saturday tsaus ntuj tawm tsam ib tug zoo fighter.
Q
Yuav ua li cas koj ua li txawv nyob rau hauv qhov kev kawm no yeej rog los npaj koj tus kheej rau kev sib ntaus no thiab cov kev ceev ntawm Adrien Broner?
S. Hnav
Koj paub dab tsi, I’ll let you know. Yog, he is skillful and fast. We haven’t really done much different to try to offset that or anything. The reason being is because we know that I’m just as fast and just as quick as he is. There haven’t been any special workouts that we’ve incorporated this camp or anything like that to do anything differently to offset his speed. We’ve just really focused more so on my skills and also the different techniques that are required to cut off and slow down a fast fighter like him. Yog li ntawd, nws yog dab tsi peb twb tau ua, yog yuav hais rau ib tug ntau dua theem. We’re not overlooking his speed. We’ve just done more of what we need to do to prepare for it, uas yog dab tsi peb twb yeej ib txwm ua.
K. Hnav
Cia li mus muab koj hais mav ib tug me ntsis info, Kuv xav hais tias Devon Alexander yog ib tug ntawm cov ceev tshaj plaws nyob rau hauv boxers boxing, lub sij hawm. I know that Manny Pacquiao is one of the fastest boxers in boxing. I know that Andre Dirrell is one of the fastest boxers in this sport. Shawn has been able to compete against those type of guys in professional fights, nyob rau hauv zaug, in camps. We don’t have a problem with anyone’s speed. He’s just as fast as anybody that comes in the ring with him, li ntawd thaum koj tham txog ib tug txiv leej tub ceev, hais tias yog tsis ib yam dab tsi peb nyob nraum muaj kev txhawj xeeb nrog.
Qhov teeb meem uas hais tias txiv leej tub yuav muaj rau nrog yog peb ceev ceev, and we’ve got power to come along with that. Yog li ntawd, we’re prepared for that. Just like Shawn said, we just continue doing what we’ve already done. At this point in time, uas tsis yog ib tug txhawj xeeb rau tag nrho cov, yog li no peb npaj txhij rau cov uas.
Q
Koj puas tau nyob rau hauv txhua txoj kev npaj koj tus kheej rau tej zaum tus antics uas tuaj nyob rau hauv lub nplhaib nrog ib tug Adrien Broner?
S. Hnav
Koj paub dab tsi, I haven’t. I understand that could arise during the fight. My whole thing is this, thiab nws yog ib yam dab tsi uas kuv txiv yeej ib txwm nias raws li qhov kuv, is being professional at all times. Being professional means maintaining your composure and staying poised and sticking to the game plan no matter what. Yog li ntawd, tsis muaj teeb meem dab tsi nws yuav ua los yog hais thaum lub sij hawm sib ntaus, ntau tshaj tej zaum nws txhais tau tias kuv tabtom ua ib yam dab tsi muaj txoj cai, and I’ll just continue to do what I’m doing and what my corner’s asking me to do. I’m not worried about it at all. Kuv yog kuv yog leej twg, thiab kuv tau hauj lwm ua.
K. Hnav
Shawn’s coming to knock Adrien’s head off. He’s in a real fight, and this is a big fight. I think it’s going to be a very entertaining fight. They both have contrasting styles. Both have certain strengths that they do certain things very well. It’s going to be a very competitive and exciting fight.
Q
You’re an Akron guy. Broner’s a Cincinnati guy. They’re saying it’s the battle of Ohio, thiab peb yuav mus Las Vegas, ib qhov chaw zoo rau loj sib ntaus tag nrho cov sij hawm, ib tug zoo kawg li qhov chaw muaj fights, tab sis koj puas tau xav hais tias tej zaum koj hais mav yuav duking nws tawm nyob rau hauv Ohio daws bragging txoj cai rau lub xeev?
S. Hnav
Kuv yog ib tug northeast Ohio txiv leej tub, tsis yog Akron, not just Cleveland. It’s a blessing to be able to represent northeast Ohio, and I’ve done that for a very long time with pride. I’ve made everyone proud back home along the way. Dua, txhua yam kuv twb kawm, I learned from my dad. He told me a long time ago, nws hais tias yog tias koj xav txhim kho, Yog hais tias koj xav tau zoo dua thiab ua tej yam nyob rau theem siab tshaj plaws, koj twb tau txais rau koj tsiv nyob rau hauv thiab tej zaum tawm hauv tsev ib leeg thiab saib xyuas ntawm koj tus lag luam.
Nrog cov uas raug hais tias, Las Vegas is the Mecca of boxing. It’s where we all want to be. I’ve been blessed enough to move out here two years ago, and this is where I always wanted my career to go. A fight of this magnitude is happening where it’s supposed to happen at. The bragging rights will come after the fight.
Q
Yuav ua li cas nyuaj yog nws yuav mus yuav rau koj kom tau cia rau 144? What was the reason that you guys made the fight for significantly under the welterweight limit when both of you guys have been welterweight champions and not had any issues with 147?
S. Hnav
I’ll answer the first question first. Txoj cai tam sim no, peb nyob nraum Cadillacing, and what I mean by that is we’re taking it one day at a time. We’re moving slow so everybody can see us, and we’re feeling good doing it. It’s coming along exactly the way we wanted it to, and it’s been a blessing. We were called and told that we were asked to be 144 pounds by Adrien Broner. That was not our decision. As soon as it was announced to me from my dad, Kuv hais rau nws, txawm peb yuav tsum ua li cas thiaj ua kev sib ntaus.
Kuv twv tias yog ib tug me ntsis cov me nyuam los ntawm Cincinnati uas yog ntshai ntawm sib ntaus sib tua nyob rau tom 147, even though that’s a weight that he’s even fought for a championship at. That’s neither here nor there. The weigh-in is Friday. We’ll be there. We’ll be on weight, and we’ll be excited to get on that scale and look him in the eyes at that weight and let him know that we’re feeling good. Whatever advantage he thought could come from that, nws tsis tau txais tej.
Lub zoo tshaj plaws txog nws yog kuv foom koob hmoov rau hais tias kuv muaj ib tug zoo lub cev, and somehow we can get my body to do what it needs to do. Nyob rau ntawm lub kawg ntawm lub hnub, all I can do is give it up to God. It’s been great along the way and, zoo li koj hais tias, Kuv tiv thaiv raws li high school raws li 165 nyob rau hauv lub amateurs thiab txawm 154 thaum tig pro, thiab tam sim no 147 for the last about four or five years. It’s been great, thiab yuav cia ib tug ntau tshaj ob peb phaus yuav tsis tau ib qho teeb meem.
K. Hnav
I call it addition by subtraction. As he loses weight, he increases his opportunity for big fights. Yog li ntawd, peb tuaj ntawm 154 rau 147, thiab muaj loj sib ntaus muaj thiab loj sib ntaus npe muaj. Ntawm no yog peb twb tau hais los ntau tshaj ob peb phaus, and it just so happens he’s living this way year round so he didn’t have to go into some crazy I’ve got to get this weight off type thing. This morning, he was very light. He’s eaten twice this morning already. He’s feeling really good. We’re able to do this, and we’re confident that it’ll continue throughout the week to come off like it is. We’re looking forward to this big fight at a lighter weight. Yog li ntawd, that’s why I call it addition by subtraction. We get more out of coming down in a lower weight than we did being in the higher weight class.
Q
Shawn, neb ob leeg thiab Adrien tau nyob rau hauv ib co exciting fights, but you’re also both very good boxers also. What is your take on how this is going to play out?
S. Hnav
I think this fight’s going to go everywhere. You’ve seen me fight. You know that I want to dictate everything. I want to dictate the pace. I want to be the commander in the ring. Nrog cov uas raug hais tias, peb ntau yam, uas yog zoo, and we can box from the outside. There will also be points where we look to move in and get really physical. We’re just going to play it one round at a time and we’ll look to box and also look to punch and put it all together. That’s what you want in a big fight, when you can do so many things and this fight requires you doing so many things. We look to put it all together on Saturday night-the boxing, lub xuas nrig ntaus, lub siab, lub countering, tag nrho cov ntawm nws.
Q
Thaum koj saib Adrien Broner cov ntaub ntawv, koj saib nws muaj uas tsis mus Marcos Maidana. Is there anything you’ve learned from that fight with Maidana that you can apply for yourself in your fight with Adrien?
S. Hnav
Yog. We’ve taken a look at a number of his fights, tsis yog lub phem, but also the good. I’m steadily reminding myself not to underestimate him, tsis xav tias kuv yuav mus tuaj nyob rau hauv muaj thiab ua txhua yam uas Maidana tau ua rau nws, and that’s it and I’ll get the win. We look to do so much more than what Maidana did, tab sis lub siab uas Maidana thov uas tag nrho kev sib ntaus yog zoo thiab yog dab tsi nws yuav tsum tau.
We will look to do some of that. I’ve also taken a look at his earlier fights when he looked really sharp and superb, just to remind myself of what he can do. There were lot of things he didn’t do against Maidana, but there were a lot of things he did do well against some of his other competitors earlier in his career. We look to do a lot of different things this fight. It’s going to take a lot to win this one, thiab peb nyob nraum npaj rau nws.
Q
Tau muaj tau tej yam uas koj twb kawm los yog hloov nyob rau hauv koj mus kom ze txij li thaum koj sib ntaus xyoo tas los nrog Kell Brook?
S. Hnav
Yes and no. I think with that fight, tej yam uas peb twb tau hloov thiab ua hauj lwm nyob rau hauv ntau tau ua ntau, tus naj npawb ib, kev puas hlwb thiab ces ob, cov qauv rau kev. Kuv mam li hais tias, tus naj npawb ib, lub hlwb vim hais tias muaj ib tug ntau ntawm tej yam uas tau hais kom kuv nyob rau hauv lub ces kaum uas kuv tsis tau teeb thaum lub sij hawm lub match. Nyob rau ntawm lub kawg ntawm lub hnub, Kuv thiaj tsuas saib kuv tus kheej, and that’s the reason those things didn’t show up. We worked on a lot of mental preparation since that fight, ua tau tsis tsuas mloog mus rau lub ces kaum thiab siv cov lus qhia thaum lub sij hawm sib ntaus thiab ces tsim.
There were a lot of things I didn’t do in that fight. I got a little wild at points. Tom qab kev sib ntaus, ib zaug peb tau txais rov qab kev kawm, peb mus rov qab tag nrho kev mus rau lub qhia zoo li peb ib txwm ua, tab sis peb muab tso rau ib tug me ntsis ntau haum rau cov kev puas hlwb nam nrog rau cov kev qhia tswj.
Q
Qhov no sib ntaus yuav tsum hnub Saturday tsaus ntuj, ntsiab kev tshwm sim, prime lub sij hawm, rau NBC nyob rau hauv txhua txhua lub tsev zoo nyob rau hauv lub teb chaws, and it’s going to be televised internationally. Tell us about how that affects you, ua nyob rau hauv xws li ib tug marquis sib ntaus.
S. Hnav
Koj paub dab tsi, Kuv yuav cog lus rau koj no, this is something that I’ve always envisioned and I’ve always looked forward to. My fight with Julio Diaz, thaum kuv thawj pom tawm nws yog nyob rau MGM Grand, I was really excited. Then I was told it was going to be in one of the conference rooms. The whole entire bubble didn’t bust, but a little bit of the air came out. I’ve just always marveled at the crowd, yuav ua li cas nrov nrov nws tau txais, lub teeb, the whole nine. I love every part of the ambiance of a big MGM Grand fight. I’m taking it with a lot of excitement and obviously not over enthused, but I do understand the moment that I’m about to have. The great part about it is it’s a moment that I’ve always wanted, and I’m looking forward to it, ces kuv mam li coj nws nrog tsis muaj teeb meem rau tag nrho cov.
Q
Yog muaj tej yam kev legit kev npau ntawm koj thiab Adrien?
S. Hnav
Koj paub dab tsi, there was no animosity about the weight up until the press conference that we had last week. We had the press conference. We’ve known for weeks now that the contracted weight is supposed to be 144. Here we are doing everything that we need to do as professionals to be on weight, muaj nyob rau ntawm taw tes, yuav 100%, thiab tus me nyuam tshis uas tau xaiv los ua kom daim ntawv cog lus, qhov nyhav 144, xav tsis los tham txog qhov kev cog lus hnyav, xav tsis los tham txog tej dej qab clause, xav kom tsis txhob muaj kev sib tham uas muaj hnyav txwv los yog dab tsi zoo li uas.
Qhov ntau thiab ntau peb tham txog nws, the more and more the animosity starts to set in because I’m a professional doing what I do. I’ve done it at this high level for so long, thiab kuv ceeb thawj hoob kawm yog 147 for so long. You want to move up into my weight, then move up. Don’t be scared. Don’t be worried. Don’t be afraid. Put your skill on the line along with your record. Put everything on the line. Put it all on the line at 147. Don’t put it at 144 thiab ces tsis xav mus nrog lawv tham txog nws.
I’m not going to worry about it. We still maintain our professionalism and come into this fight and this weigh-in the way we’re supposed to. No personal animosity towards Adrien Broner. I know him, tab sis kuv paub nws los ntawm ib tug deb.
Nrog cov uas raug hais tias, nws yeej ib txwm tau ntau tshaj ntawm ib tug, “Hav, yuav ua li cas yog koj ua?” hom ntawm ib tug kev sib raug zoo, tsis yog ib tug “Wb mus rau cov sibntsib hmo no” hom ntawm kev sib raug zoo thiab kuj, tsis yog ib tug “Yog vim li cas koj hais lus rau kuv koj? Kuv yuav tsum sib ntaus sib tua koj tej tsam,” relationship. Yog li ntawd, we’re cool. The night of the fight, peb yuav tsum foes rau 12 rounds, or however many rounds it lasts. Tom qab ntawd, Kuv yuav kuv yog leej twg thiab yuav kev thiab cia lub boxing tu nws tus kheej.
Q
Puas no qhov ceeb thawj xav tias zoo, los yog koj pom koj tus kheej mus muaj cai rov qab mus txog welterweight tom qab no?
S. Hnav
Obviously peb ua no txav rau ib tug yog vim li cas, and that was to fight the kid. Tom qab ntawd, I don’t think there’ll be any other reason for me to move any lower than 147. It’s not going to be a problem this fight, but it’s not something that I want to entertain in the future. I’m a 147-pound fighter, simple as that. Anyone I fight will be a strong 147-pound fighter, not a blown-up 140-pound fighter and not a took-down 154-pounder. We look to fight everyone at their best, thiab kuv zoo tshaj plaws yog yuav mus yuav 144 nyob rau hnub Saturday.
K. Swanson
Cas. That actually was your last media question, tab sis kuv yuav nug koj ib lo lus nug rau kuv tus kheej, something that I actually shared with Errol Spence too. It’s Father’s Day weekend for the big boxing weekend in Las Vegas. Kuv xav tias txhua leej txhua nyob rau hauv boxing paub txog qhov ze, intimate relationship that the Porters have. I’d like, Shawn, rau koj mus koom nrog rau peb li cas koj dad txhais tau hais tias koj thiab li cas koj yuav npaj rau Leej Txiv hnub tom qab hnub Saturday tsaus ntuj.
S. Hnav
Ua siab ncaj, I’m happy that this fight has come at this time. My dad and I have worked extremely hard together for a very long time doing this sport. What better way to celebrate or wake up and just be proud of what we’ve done the night before, raws li ib tug neeg hauv tsev, raws li ib tug pab? Kuv pog txog muaj no sib ntaus yuav hmo ntuj ua ntej txiv hnub, thiab kuv tab tom nrhiav rau pem hauv ntej rau muaj peev xwm sawv thiab mus rau hauv lub chav tom ntej thiab sawv kuv txiv thiab cia li xav tsis thoob li cas peb twb ua, obviously, tsis yog xwb nyob rau hauv lub nplhaib tab sis li cas peb muaj tam sim no raws li ib tsev neeg thiab ua ib pab.
Nws txhais tau tias lub ntiaj teb no mus kuv, thiab nws yeej paub tias. I definitely know I mean the world to him. I’ve said this before, txoj kev hlub uas peb muaj, hais tias peb qhia, peb muaj uas rau lub nplhaib nrog txhua lwm yam, and it’s unparalleled. You can’t match it. Nws txhais tau tias ib tug ntau. That makes a difference during the fight.
K. Swanson
Leonard, Kuv xav tig nws mus rau koj rau lub comments.
L. Ellerbe
Cas. I just want to clear up this whole weight issue. It seems that there’s a lot of back and forth about the weight. Both fighters have agreed to fight this fight Saturday at 144 pounds max. I want to be clear with that, 144 pounds max. Both fighters agree upon that. The fans are expecting a great fight, and I think that both fighters will be at their best come Saturday night. Both fighters have had an excellent camp and have prepared to fight at the weight, and both fighters know what to expect from each other. They know each other very well. They both have great strengths, thiab kuv xav hais tias nws yuav mus yuav ib tug heev exciting sib ntaus tuaj hnub Saturday tsaus ntuj.
Kuv heev impressed nrog Shawn Porter, with what he’s been able to do as a professional. What I like the most about Shawn is his confidence. As a young veteran, he’s willing to get in there with anybody and those are the things that are a rare attribute when what you see with young fighters. A lot of fighters talk the talk, but they’re not willing to step up. Zoo li kuv hais tias, one of the most impressive things that I personally admire about Shawn is that he’s willing to get in there with anybody. He’s even called out Floyd Mayweather. He’s willing to get in there with Floyd, and that’s what I like. The guy’s willing to put it on the line, pw nws nyob rau hauv txoj kab, ua li cas nws yuav siv sij hawm mus rau pub lawv tsev neeg thiab muab lub kiv cua lawv xav li cas.
Peb saib rau pem hauv ntej rau hnub Saturday tsaus ntuj, ib tug zoo sib ntaus rau lub kiv cua. Ua tsaug rau koj tag nrho rau tuning nyob rau hauv.
K. Hnav
Koj txiv leej tub tus muaj ib tug yawm sib kho muaj, good questions. We’re feeling good, so we’re looking forward to seeing you guys on Saturday. Thanks for having us.
Yog xav paub ntxiv mus xyuas www.premierboxingchampions.com, www.nbcsports.com/boxing thiabwww.mayweatherpromotions.com, raws li nyob rau hauv TwitterPremierBoxing, AdrienBroner, ShowtimeShawnP, ErrolSpenceJr, AmenazaGarcia, MayweatherPromoNBCSports, thiabMGMGrand thiab ua ib cov kiv cua nyob rau hauv Facebook ntawm www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions,www.Facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions thiab www.facebook.com/NBCSports. |