| Kelly Swanson
Thanks, everybody, for joining us today for this great call to officially announce a very exciting match up. And without further ado, ukukhuluma kancane ngalokho up match, Ngizofika ukwethula Chris DeBlasio, Vice President of Sports Communications for Showtime.
Chris DeBlasio
Thanks, Kelly. I’m going to keep this brief. I know we want to talk to the fighters on this card. But I think I’d be remiss if I didn’t represent for Stephen Espinoza, who couldn’t be on the call today, indlela kakhulu ejabulile esiyikho ngenxa DEBUT of Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. kunethiwekhi yethu on Saturday, April 18, for Showtime Championship Boxing wethu doubleheader. It kuzoba ubusuku enkulu. On the call with us and in the ring across from Julio Chavez Jr. ngalobo busuku Andrzej Fonfara, a man that we know that really comes to fight. He brought it on his first fight on SHOWTIME last year when he fought Adonis Stevenson. And that was a thrilling affair. And we’re looking forward to a real test and a great challenge for Chavez Jr. And we’re excited to have him on behalf of all of us at SHOWTIME. We welcome both of you guys and, kunjalo, thanks to all the press for being on the call. Ngiyabonga, Kelly.
K. Swanson
Ngiyabonga, everybody. Okay. We’re going to go ahead and introduce the fighters and their trainers for you. First we have Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., yangaphambili middleweight world iqhawe, Andrzej Fonfara, yangaphambili isihloko emhlabeni inselele, Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. — sonke ukuthi ungubani, futhi ngokuqinisekile out of mayelana legend omkhulu nguye, Samukele naye ocingweni — Joe Goossen, ngubani trainer Julio sika, futhi Sam Colonna, ngubani trainer Fonfara sika.
Ngakho, ngalesi sikhathi, lokho Ngingathanda ukwenze nje ukucela Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. ukwenza okuvula ngalokhu impi futhi kancane kancane ngalokho akwenzayo manje ekamu ukuqeqeshwa kanye nendlela nje azizwa ngayo impi.
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
I’m training very well. I’m training (at a ephakeme) level than the best. I’m doing more physical training (futhi sengiba closer) isisindo 172 amakhilogremu. And I think I’m in great shape, uyazi? I have a lot of time and don’t stay in this kind of shape.
K. Swanson
Okay. Now let’s hear from Andrzej Fonfara. Andrzej, ongakhuluma kancane kancane futhi usitshele ukuthi uzizwa kanjani ekulweni Jr.?
Andrzej Fonfara
I’m feeling great. I think Chavez Jr. kuyinto fighter enkulu, iqhawe somhlaba. And you know, it’s good fight for me. I trained hard for the fight. We got very good camp. Manje, we start a sparring session. Uyazi, isisindo sami kuhle. My training’s–all trainings are good. I spent two weeks in Houston. I’m trained there, too. Then I’m back to Chicago. We finished camp here. And I’m–uyazi, Sengikulungele meet Chavez in the ring April 18futhi bambonise Ngingumfana boxer kangcono.
K. Swanson
Okay. Excellent. Ngibonga kakhulu. Next we’ll have the trainers say something very brief before we turn it over to the media for call. Ngakho, Joe Goossen, he is Julio Cesar Chavez’s trainer at this point. Joe, Ungathanda ukwenza umbhangqwana comments?
Joe Goossen
Ngiyabonga. Inombolo yokuqala, I want to thank SHOWTIME because we’re very excited about performing for SHOWTIME on Julio’s debut fight with SHOWTIME. And that being said, uyazi, Julio uwukwenziwa, very serious about this fight. Like Fonfara, he trained for a few weeks in Los Angeles. Futhi manje, thina uku up in Lake Tahoe, up in the high altitude in the mountains here. It’s very secluded. It’s very concentrated work. Julio is — Angikwazi nje wena ukutshela lokhu — kuba abazinikele kakhulu kulempi, ngokwengqondo, emzimbeni, and spiritually. He’s shown me that he’s willing to work very hard for this fight, which always works out well when a fighter cooperates in training. And he’s doing that 110 Amaphesenti angu. And I can’t tell you how happy I am, inombolo yokuqala, ngisebenza nge Julio Jr. It’s been something that I’ve always wanted to do. Futhi of course, I know his father very well. And I’m very honored to be a part of the team. And I can’t wait ’til April 18 to display all of Julio’s talents and to go there. And we’ve got one objective. And that’s to win the fight. With the way Julio’s training, I’m very confident in what we’re doing right now. Ngakho, I’m very happy with that. And I’m sure Andrzej’s doing the same thing, training very hard. With ukuthi kusho, ngiyabonga.
K. Swanson
Ngiyabonga. Manje, Sam Colonna, uma ongasibekela amazwana, bese sizobe ukuvula it up for imibuzo.
Sam Colonna
Well, kuqala, I’d like to thank everybody for getting this together. It’s an honor to be part of it. Kodwa, uyazi, ngaphambi bekhethe Julio Cesar Chavez to fight, they were throwing names at us. And I would say no. And another name came. I would say no. As soon as they said, 'Kuthiwani Julio Cesar Chavez,’ Ngithe, ‘That’s the fight we want.’ The style is perfect for us. He comes right at us. And it’s going to be a great fight for Andrzej to show what the power and the dedication he has towards it. He knows that this fight here is going to bring him to the top. And it’s an honor to fight Julio Cesar Chavez. It’s somebody I wanted him to fight for years. But the weight was never the same. Andrzej moved up. And then now, it’s perfect. Ngakho, ukuthi kuzoba empini enkulu. I think we’re going to bring a lot of action to this fight. And it’s going to be a jammed action fight. I’m glad that this fight happened. And I can’t wait for April 18.
K. Swanson
Okay. Ngiyabonga. Futhi manje, okokugcina, Ngingathanda ukuthola imibono umbhangqwana ovela Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. about his son fighting Fonfara and what he anticipates that will be like. July?
Julio Cesar Chavez Sr.
I didn’t want this fight. Ngiyakwazi lokho, indodana yami, I know it’s a hard fight. It’s a difficult fight. And I didn’t want it. Fonfara is very strong. But my son wanted this fight. He wanted fighters that have a high category. He wanted a hard fight. And he believed that winning this fight will give him more credibility. And that’s why he chose Fonfara.
Q
This is for Chavez Jr. July, uzizwa ozayo off a layoff ngonyaka?
J. Cesar Chavez Jr.
Ngizizwa kahle. Ngiyazi kunzima uma uku off. Kunzima ukuba aphinde uyasigcina isikhathi sakho. Kodwa Ingihlabe ukuqeqeshwa, working at my skills. And I think, uyazi, Ngiyaqiniseka kakhulu ngoba ngiye ngasebenzisa ukuphila kwami konke boxing. Ngingumfana-13 career yami professional. Ngakho angicabangi lokhu kuyinkinga ngoba le mpi isezingeni 172 amakhilogremu. I don’t need to have a problem with weight. And at 172, I feel good in sparring. I feel good in training. And I think I’m ready for this fight and ready to win another world title.
Q
Ekhuluma ngaleso isihloko emhlabeni, kanjani Uzizwa guys like Adonis Stevenson and Sergey kovalev?
J. Cesar Chavez Jr.
Oh, these guys very strong. But I think, emva le mpi, Ngizofika phansi 168 futhi uhlale kule class isisindo. Eminyakeni One noma emibili edlule ngathuthela 175 kodwa lokho kwaba kakhulu umzimba wami. Manje, Ngingumfana 168. Kodwa, onyakeni owodwa off, lokhu impi at 172.
Q
Andrzej, Uzizwa kanjani ngokomzimba ozayo off the battle Adonis Stevenson?
A. Fonfara
Ngicabanga wabonisa againstStevenson ukuthi mina walilwela. Emzimbeni, Ngizizwa okuhle manje. Kusukela ngaleso fight, I’ve been training much harder. Ngiyacabanga, ngenxa kutsi lokulwa, Ngingumfana boxer kangcono ngoba, uyazi, I learn a lot in fights. I’m ready for Chavez, Ngiye abaqeqeshiwe kanzima kule mpi, like, uyazi, Chavez says. He’s trained hard for this fight. But I always train hard. It doesn’t matter if it’s Chavez or whoever else, Ngithathe ukuqeqesha kanzima njalo.
Q
Lokhu kokubili Julio Jr. and Sr. For Jr., kusobala, kukhona inzuzo futhi mhlawumbe ethile, too, to having such a famous name. Benefit is that everybody knows your father and what he accomplished. And that brings you attention early in your career as it has. The possible drawback is that you’re always going to be compared to him, abanye bangathi kwaba cishe an engenakwenzeka, impossibly high standard to try to live up to. From your perspective and also from your father’s, Kuthiwani, umthwalo kuzuze kokuba igama odume kangaka?
J. Cesar Chavez Jr.
I think I’m well respected because I’m world champion. Kodwa, uyazi, Ngicabanga lokhu kuwusizo. Kodwa lokhu akusho ukungisiza in the ring. Ngithathe kungase kutholakale in the ring. I beat the champions. I beat the number one, Inombolo ezimbili, Inombolo ezintathu futhi nenombolo amane 168 amakhilogremu. Futhi ngiye wabonisa everybody, abantu, ukuthi ngikwazi ukulwa, too. I am a fighter omuhle futhi (I wagqoka ukulwa okuhle). Futhi abantu like bheka ukulwa zami. My style is a good style for the people. And I think this fight, too, isitayela Fonfara iwukuba azolwa, he’s a fighter with a great heart and great chin. And both of us will make a great fight.
J. Cesar Chavez Sr..
The name has helped. Ngokusobala, ukuthi wasiza bawanake, but we are very different. Yena — my son fights at a higher weight than I fought. And so, there’s a lot of difference. Emzimbeni, he’s a lot bigger than I was. Ngakho, kukhona okuhle nokubi, and we understand that. Kodwa, yena fighter yakhe siqu nje uthanda Ngangineminyaka.
Q
Am, you mentioned earlier that you had a lot of names mentioned for Andrzej before you finally settled on Chavez. Are you willing to reveal some of those names?
S. Ikholomu
Uyazi yini? I really don’t have them right in front of me. Kodwa, kwakukhona okungenani ezintathu, four different guys they were throwing at us. And as soon as they said Chavez, I go, 'Leso guy sifuna,’ ngoba, like ngasho phambilini, the style is perfect for us. And we don’t have to look for him too much, uyazi? He’s going to be right there for us. Ngakho, isitayela ngempela, okuhle exubile ngempela.
Q
Andrzej, uke walwa at middleweight, super middleweight, wesibhakela ukukhanya. How does it feel fighting at 172? And do you see yourself moving possibly down in weight in the near future, noma ingabe uzizwa ungumuntu ukukhanya sosondonzima weqiniso?
A. Fonfara
Ngingumfana fighter ukukhanya sosondonzima. That’s because I’m fighting with Chavez. That’s why we have a catch-weight. And that’s why I go down. I ngokuvamile ukulwa 175, at least for maybe two years. And this my weight. It’s not impossible for me to go, like, ezimbili, amakhilogremu amathathu phansi ngoba, uyazi, lapho Ngalwa Stevenson ngonyaka odlule in May, Bekade ngi 173 ke. And I felt good then. Two pounds down is not problem for me. Should be good, uyazi? Just more diet, more work in the last week. And I should be good.
Q
July Jr., ingakanani impumuzo ingabe wena ukuba ekugcineni ukulwa emva konyaka? I know it’s been trying for you with the whole lawsuit and everything. Ngakho, ingabe uzizwa kanjani ngawe ukwazi ekugcineni unayo fight up ngaphambi?
J. Cesar Chavez Jr.
Ngizizwa kahle. Ngizizwa enkulu, uyazi, because this problem offended me a lot mentally more than physically. But I’m really happy that this problem is better now. I have a fight in front of me. And you know, I’m not remembering anything about that. I’m just focusing on the fight April 18 for Fonfara. Ngizizwa kahle, Ngizizwa enkulu. You know I can’t tell you with words how I feel because I’m better to the ring. (Kodwa Ngijabulile kakhulu ukuba kubuyela) to the ring.
Q
Joe Goossen, yikuphi amakhono Julio Cesar bahumusha the best for the light division sosondonzima?
J. Goossen
Well, kuqala off, Julio is a well-rounded fighter. Ngisho, we’ve seen him box before. And we’ve seen him pressure before. I don’t want to tip my hand on what we’re going to do but we have studied the films. We’ve talked about the films of Andrzej. Futhi of course, we’re developing a game plan. I think the weight — ngokuyisisekelo, 172 is very close to 68. It’s a weight he’s fought at before. So I don’t think the weight is going to be a problem at all. The way he’s working right now and the weight he’s at right now, Ngicabanga ukuthi sesikude ukuba bakwazi hit the 172 mark quite easily. Kodwa, aphinde, as far as what skills he has that we’re going to bring to the table is something that I think is private to us. But Julio Jr. is a multi-talented fighter. Just watching him spar yesterday, lapho sidinga a ibhokisi, he did it beautifully. And when we needed pressure in a few rounds, he pulled it off exactly how I like it. So I’m very confident that whatever style we bring and game plan we bring, sesikude ukuba siphumelele nalo.
Q
Ungakwazi yini ukwenza isisindo?
J. Cesar Chavez Jr.
Yebo. Sure. I’ll make 172 ngoba ngikhokhele $100,000 per a iphawundi (uma Angithembi). Angikwazi akhokhe lolo hlobo of imali. Angikaze nesisindo kuka 172 in a fight. Le mpi kuphela ngenza 172 unawe Brian Vera, the first fight. But in all the rest of my career of boxing, zonke ubuqhawe bami iziqubu (Angikaze akazange enze isisindo). Angazi ukuthi kungani ubuza kimi ukuthi. Okay. Maybe, Ngingumfana fighter ekudlwana, uyazi? I know I am a bigger fighter. Kodwa, Anginayo izinkinga. Futhi (uma enza) ukwenza isisindo, mhlawumbe mina ngizobe ukunqoba $100,000 okuningi.
Q
Ngakho, July, ubhekene bemlindele $100,000 kusukela Andrzej Fonfara, kodwa oyishoyo ukuthi akufanele athembe for $100,000 kusuka kuwe?
J. Cesar Chavez Jr.
Ungenzi, no. I think that the fight’s in the right way. And he’s not going to take advantage of anybody, uyazi, ngoba (Ngiza lighter). Uyazi, isisindo is kuhle Ngicabanga kokubili fighters.
Q
Ungakhuluma kanjani ngesinqumo sakho sokuba ube Joe Goossen in ekhoneni lakho, uzizwe, ngenxa ukulwa Vera, osikweleta abalandeli a ukusebenza?
J. Cesar Chavez Jr.
Well, I’ve known Joe Goossen for a long time. He’s a great trainer. He’s a great person. He’s somebody that motivates fighters. And we have a true connection. We’ve connected again. And I like him a lot. I like that he’s a hard worker, just like me. And I think, ndawonye, we’re going to do really well. With regards to the performance, I angakutshela ukuthi, this show is for the people. It kuzoba empini enkulu. It’s going to be a better fight. Futhi manje, nge inkampani yami nokugqugquzela entsha futhi ukwazi ngubani isitha sami abazobe kusengaphambili, Ngicabanga ukuthi kuzoba ubusuku enkulu.
K. Swanson
That was our last question. Ngakho, aphinde, we really appreciate the fighters taking time to join us. We look forward to this fantastic matchup between Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. futhi Andrzej Fonfara on Saturday, April 18, kusukela StubHub Center e Carson, Calif., bephila Showtime at 10:00 p.m. KANYE, 7:00 p.m. PT. Thank you so much for joining us.
* * *
Amathikithi for the event, okuyinto co-kugqugquzelwa Goossen Promotions and Chavez Promotions, kuthiwa ontengo yakhe yayinqunyiwe at $200, $150, $100, $50 futhi $25, plus izintela esebenzayo, Izimali kanye ngamasevisi, ezisendalini manje futhi iyatholakala ukuthi ithengwe online at AXS.com.
Chavez Jr. vs. Fonfara, kuyinto iziqubu 12-round ukuthi senzeka StubHub Center e Carson, Calif. futhi ngeke baveze on Showtime (10 p.m. KANYE/7 p.m. PT). The Showtime Championship Boxing telecast izoba khona ngeSpanishi via izinhlelo secondary audio (SAP).
Ukuze ulwazi olunabile, vakashela www.sports.sho.com, ukulandela on Twitter atSHOSports, @ Jcchavezjr1, andrzej_fonfara, StubHubCenter AndSwanson_Comm, ukulandela ingxoxo usebenzisa #ChavezFonfara, abe fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SHOBoxing noma uvakashele Blog Showtime Boxing athttp://theboxingblog.sho.com. |
