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ANTHONY JOSHUA & ERIC MOLINA MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES & PHOTOS FOR IBF HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP THIS SATURDAY LIVE ON SHOWTIME®

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“I want to shatter his dreams and keep that title.” – Anthony Joshua

 

“I’m not here to take it on points, I am here to put him on the floor and take his belt.” – Eric Molina

 

SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL® Airs at 5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT
Live On SHOWTIME; Encore Presentation During Saturday’s SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® Telecast

 

Click HERE To Download Workout Photos (Credit Matchroom Boxing)

 

IBF Heavyweight World Champion Anthony Joshua and American challenger Eric Molina worked out for the British press on Tuesday in Manchester, England, as they prepare to square off this Saturday at Manchester Arena live on SHOWTIME® (5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT).

 

The SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL® presentation originates from Galen Center at USC in Los Angeles, site of that evening’s SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast.  WBC Heavyweight World Champion Deontay Wilder will join host Brian Custer and analysts Al Bernstein and Paulie Malignaggi as part of the SHOWTIME announce team for Joshua vs. Molina.

 

Undefeated sensation and 2012 Olympic Gold Medalist Joshua (17-0, 17 KOs) will make the second defense of his title against Molina (25-3 19 KOs), a Texas native getting his second shot at a belt in his quest to become the first Mexican-American heavyweight world champion.

 

An encore presentation of Joshua vs. Molina will air as part of the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast later that evening, following the main event showdown between WBA Featherweight World Champion Jesus Cuellar and three-division former champ Abner Mares.  In the co-feature, Jermall Charlo will defend his IBF Junior Middleweight World Championship against fellow-undefeated challenger Julian Williams.

 

Here is what Joshua and Molina had to say during fight week:

 

ANTHONY JOSHUA

 

“Eric is coming here to win and he’s got a goal in his sights and dreams to fulfill.  I want to shatter his dreams and keep that title.  He gave Wilder a real test, rocked him, and boxed through the fight with an injury. So he’s got ability, power and heart.

“Eric has only lost to the best.  He’s looked at as an underdog because a lot of it is about hype.  This is his chance to announce himself.   He might say he can beat me, but we won’t know until the night if he can pull it off.

 

“This fight isn’t about Deontay Wilder.  Deontay is supposed to be this KO artist with one-punch power and he’s been a pro for eight years now so he’s got vast experience in the game.  Eric put up a great fight against him and watching it I thought ‘that’s the type of guy that I want to be in.’ Someone that fights with their heart on their sleeve, that’s why we’re here now.  It’ll be a comparison in the back of my mind but that doesn’t make me a better fighter than him or vice versa if I do better or worse than Deontay.

 

“A man that gets up after being knocked down has my full respect and he has shown he has massive heart. His mentality is that he’s got nothing to lose, and that makes him dangerous. There’s been upsets in the past but that’s not happening at this stage of my career.

 

“Molina is Wladimir Klitschko, he is David Haye, he is Wilder.  He is a hurdle I have to overcome. It’s not about them, it’s about me.  I won’t disrespect Eric, but I don’t play games, I come to dominate.   I don’t care how long the fight with Molina goes; one or 12 rounds, I just need to dismantle my opponent.

 

“I’m not fighting Klitschko.  He’s going to be there on Saturday, as is Haye, but they’re not in front of me.  My career, my discipline and my consistency, that’s the package that we’ve been sending out to the rivals and that speaks louder than any performance on Saturday.  I want to win, I want to look good and I want to entertain — but the most important thing for me is going in there and doing the job.

 

“I’m not learning in the shadows, I’m under the bright lights on Box Office in the UK and on SHOWTIME in the U.S. I have to perform every time that I box. There’s so many wolves in the pack that want to come and destroy what I’ve built.

 

“We’re close to getting some huge fights. If I get through Saturday then I fight Klitschko; it doesn’t get much bigger, so the division is moving forward.  People have just got to be patient and enjoy the ride.

 

“The U.S. is a big market for me and I am sure it won’t be long until I make my U.S. debut.  Whether that’s against Wilder, we’ll see.  He’s got the injury to recover from.  I have a lot of people asking me when we’re taking the show to the States, but I don’t think they mean Alabama!  They are hoping for Las Vegas, I think — that’s a trip we’d all love to make.”

 

ERIC MOLINA

 

“Knockout is the only way I am going to win.  I’m not here to take it on points, I am here to put him on the floor and take his belt.  Any heavyweight can KO any other heavyweight, and I can KO Joshua.  I’m a hard-punching heavyweight so I am extremely confident.

 

“I’m unpredictable – and any man in this division can be KO’d on any night.  To become champion, that’s the ultimate goal, and I think I have what it takes to knock him out.

 

“Joshua has great balance, he’s athletic, tall, uses his reach – but there are things about him we don’t know yet and he knows it, too.  We know he can punch and has the attributes to become a legend, but that missing piece of the puzzle is the chin.  Can he take a punch?  He hasn’t taken anything up to this date.  A good boxing puncher can KO you with a shot at any given moment.

 

“I don’t question his stamina, but I do want to see him take a good shot.  It’s the big question – and I’ve hurt everybody that I’ve been in the ring with.  Does he have grit and determination? We’ll find out.

 

“I’ve been an underdog all my life so it doesn’t faze me. Joshua is young, he’s strong, he’s got all the attributes of a great champion.  But there are a lot of things that he’s yet to experience in the ring, and that’s what I have to capitalize on.  Eventually he has to go through those things and get taken to those places that he hasn’t been yet.  I have to take him there to win.

 

“Who else in the last 18 months is going to fight Joshua and Wilder?  Who is willing to do that to win? No one wants to get in with this guy.  This is my route to get the world title. It’s not about Klitschko, it’s about me.  Any man can be destroyed on any given night.  Joshua knows that’s true.  He’s got to beat me to get the fight, but I have a great chance to KO this guy.

 

“I don’t pay too much notice to what people think. When I fought Wilder the whole world gave me one round — that’s it.  He’s going down in one round, he’s going to get blasted away.  I’ve heard it all before, all the negative feedback.  Let people think what they want, I feed off it. I have nothing to lose in a fight like this and everything to gain.  It’s a very dangerous fight and the type of fight that I really perform in.

 

“Dillian Whyte has given Joshua his toughest test so far, then probably (Dominic) Breazeale.  He hasn’t been pushed.  He hasn’t been taken to a place where he’s had to dig deep.  There are some holes in his game that we feel we can execute and hurt him.

 

“Lots of people didn’t want the fight; it’s a business and I wanted it. I’ve shared the ring with Wilder and now I’m going in with Joshua.  These aren’t just words; I’m putting it into action, there’s a difference.

 

“Wilder is the most dangerous heavyweight in the world, Tyson Fury is the most skilled, the combination of both would beat Johsua.  The most feared is Luis Ortiz.  You have the heavyweights that no one wants to get in with.  Everyone is calling everyone out, but when it comes down to it, it means nothing if you don’t get in there.  You just have a certain bunch of guys that don’t want to fight another bunch of guys.

 

“Against Wilder I learned that I can get up.  I can fight back and still win rounds. I learned I can fight through an injury; that I can bite down on the gumshield and give more than I ever thought I could give.  It was a big stage against Wilder in his backyard so I’ve been on the big stage before. It doesn’t concern me at all – been there, done that.  I’ve lost on the big stage but I’ve also won on the big stage.”

 

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HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION DEONTAY WILDER TO BE GUEST ANALYST FOR ANTHONY JOSHUA vs. ERIC MOLINA HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE FIGHT ON SATURDAY, DEC. 10 LIVE ON SHOWTIME®

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SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL® Airs at 5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT Live On SHOWTIME; Encore Presentation During Saturday’s SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING®Telecast

 

Watch, Share & Embed “Wilder Road To Recovery” Video: http://s.sho.com/2gcc2TI

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Photo Credit: Stephanie Trapp/SHOWTIME

 

NEW YORK (Dec. 2, 2016) – WBC Heavyweight World Champion Deontay Wilder will join the SHOWTIME announce team as a guest analyst for the IBF Heavyweight World Championship fight between undefeated champion Anthony Joshua and American challenger Eric Molina on Saturday, Dec. 10, live on SHOWTIME (5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT).

 

Wilder (37-0, 36 KOs) will join host Brian Custer and analysts Al Bernstein and Paulie Malignaggi for the SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL® presentation from Galen Center at USC in Los Angeles, site of that evening’s SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast.

 

The “Bronze Bomber” just completed rehab for a fractured right hand and torn right bicep (see video above) as he (Wilder) sets his sights to unify the division in 2017.  Wilder is acutely familiar with Molina, having defeated the fellow-American in the first defense of his title in June, 2015 on SHOWTIME.

 

“I know firsthand just how tough Eric Molina is,” Wilder said.  “He’s coming to win because it’s a chance for him to win a world title, and he’ll definitely push Joshua.  Whoever wins will have to see me eventually because it’s my goal to collect all the belts and become the undisputed heavyweight champion.”

 

Joshua is making the second defense of his title against Molina, who is getting his second shot at a belt in his quest to become the first Mexican-American heavyweight world champion.

 

An encore presentation of Joshua vs. Molina will air as part of the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast later that evening, following the main event showdown between WBA Featherweight World Champion Jesus Cuellar and three-division former champ Abner Mares.  In the opening bout, Jermall Carlo will defend his IBF Junior Middleweight World Championship against fellow-undefeated challenger Julian Williams.

 

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Q&A WITH AMERICAN HEAVYWEIGHT ERIC MOLINA AS HE PREPARES TO CHALLENGE UNDEFEATED IBF CHAMPION ANTHONY JOSHUA, SATURDAY, DEC. 10 ON SHOWTIME®

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Molina Aims To Become First Mexican-American Heavyweight Champion

 

SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL Live on SHOWTIME

At 5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT From Manchester England

 

NEW YORK (Dec. 1, 2016) – If strength of schedule had anything to do with a boxer’s ranking, Eric Molina (25-3, 19 KOs), of Weslaco, Texas, might be rated amongst the top boxers in his division.

 

Consider: In June of last year, Molina went to Birmingham, Ala., to challenge undefeated WBC Heavyweight World Champion Deontay Wilder (37-0, 36 KOs).  Molina, a prohibitive underdog,   lost but had his moments, including staggering Wilder with a wicked shot in the third round.

 

This past April, Molina traveled to Poland and knocked out one of that country’s all-time great champions, Tomasz Adamek, in the 10th round.

 

And now, on Saturday, Dec. 10, live on SHOWTIME, Molina will travel to Manchester, England, to challenge unbeaten IBF Heavyweight World Champion and hugely popular local favorite Anthony Joshua (17-0, 17 KOs).  Once again, he will enter the ring as a significant underdog.

 

“A lot of heavyweights haven’t walked the streets that I’ve walked through,’’ Molina said. “This is an evil sport.  You lose, they write you off.  It’s hard to bounce back like I have.  Nothing has been given to me.  I’ve earned it.  I’ve done it the hard way.  I enjoy the world underestimating me, but they don’t understand the struggles I’ve been through.  

 

“This is my second world title shot, my third major fight in 18 months, and I’ll be the first Mexican-American heavyweight champ in history if I win.  I’m coming into this fight like this is it for me.  This is my last shot.  I’m ready to fight with everything I have.

 

“I love these big, big fights. They don’t scare me. There is no fear in me.”

 

Here are Molina’s responses to a recent Q&A:

 

On his upcoming assignment against Joshua

 

“I feel great about this fight.  These are the kinds of fights I want and want to be in. Before I fought Wilder I had 35 days to train; for this I’ve had about five weeks. We feel this gives us plenty of time to fix what we have to fix in training.

 

“This is a mission I set out for – to become the first Mexican-American heavyweight champion of the world. This is my mission.  I’m looking forward to fighting Joshua and embracing the opportunity.  I work very hard and put everything into it every day.  I want to be the first Mexican-American heavyweight champion.

 

“The magnitude of this fight is everything.  I put everything in. But I know I have to stay focused and relaxed.”

 

What do you think of Joshua?

 

”Obviously, he does a lot things well, but there are a lot of areas to his game we haven’t seen yet, and I’m going to test him in those areas.  He really hasn’t had to take too many punches in his fights.  I’m going to have to put him in spots where he’s uncomfortable.  There has to be a game plan and there will be for Joshua.”

 

Who are the top heavyweights in the world?

 

“Joshua has got a great attitude. I’d say he’s the No. 1 heavyweight, ahead of Wilder and Tyson Fury.”

 

On how this fight came about

 

“Once I got wind that the Klitschko fight might not be happening, I started thinking, ‘well, if not Wlad, then who?’  I looked at the rankings and didn’t see a lot of possibilities so I knew I had a chance.  Then, I got a call from Eddie Hearn with an offer and I signed a few days later. I feel truly blessed.  I feel like this is my time.”

 

How would you describe how your career is going?

 

“I no longer second guess what I can do.  Fighting on the road so much; fighters need that kind of experience to compete against a fighter like Joshua.  You have to stay in the moment and keep focused at what you are there to do and not allow the atmosphere in the arena get to you.

 

“I’ve fought some of the biggest fights on the road, so I’m accustomed to it and definitely think that is my edge over (Dominic Breazeale and Charles Martin). 

 

“Some fighters have to go down to become champion.  It’s not that easy to become champion.  My road sure hasn’t been that easy.  I got beat by Wilder, but then I knocked out Adamek and now I’m fighting Joshua.

 

“I’ve been in the underdog situation.  I’ve been in these fights, and that doesn’t affect me.  I’m ready for it.’’ 

 

Where are you training?

 

“I’m training in Weslaco with my team at my own private gym.  We’ve brought in some sparring partners.  I took a year off from teaching so I was in the gym anyway, but now I’m training for a world title again.  We’ve been working hard, putting in extra time on strength and conditioning. The plan is to take our time, try to put everything together and not rush anything.  So far we’re right on the mark.’’

 

When do you depart for England?

 

“We are leaving on Dec. 2 or Dec. 3.  Before that, I just need to concentrate on staying in the moment, which is to continue focusing on training and letting the future take care of itself.’’

 

What were your takeaways from the Wilder fight?

 

“In the Wilder fight, look at the first knockdown.  You see how I landed on my left ankle.  I rolled it over and it hurt – and got worse — but I kept fighting.  The ankle was in a cast for six-seven weeks afterward. 

 

“Take out the Wilder fight and it puts me in right in the mix with any heavyweights in the world. For me, that fight was confirmation that no heavyweight can just run through me.  That is one of the differences between my attitude now and before. 

 

“At one point I didn’t have the experience –I had no amateur fights – or the confidence I have now.  I now know what I can do and can’t do, I know my strengths and weaknesses more and just feel that I’ve matured into a top contender.  I’m now confident in my power and the things that I can do.’’

 

How do you rate the victory over Adamek in your last fight?

 

“It was pinnacle of my career.  To knock him out there, it was the biggest win of my career and set me up now for the biggest fight of my career against Joshua.  I have such nice memories of that fight. I t took a full team effort to beat Adamek and it will take another full team effort to beat Joshua.  Our backs are against the wall but we’ll be ready.’’

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ANTHONY JOSHUA vs. ERIC MOLINA PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES & PHOTOS FOR HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP DEC. 10 ON SHOWTIME®

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Click HERE For Photos; Credit Lawrence Lustig/Matchroom Boxing

 

LONDON (Nov. 4, 2016) – Undefeated IBF Heavyweight World Champion Anthony Joshua (17-0, 17 KOs) and challenger Eric Molina (25-3, 19 KOs) went face-to-face Friday at the kickoff press conference at Dorchester Hotel in London to formally announce their heavyweight world title fight on Saturday, Dec. 10, live on SHOWTIME from Manchester Arena in Manchester.  There were 17,000 tickets sold on the first day to purchase tickets.

 

Joshua, a British sensation and the 2012 Olympic Games heavyweight gold medalist, will be making the second defense of the title he won over Charles Martin last April 4.  Joshua knocked out previously unbeaten Dominic Breazeale in the seventh round last June 25 in his initial defense.

 

Molina will be getting his second opportunity at a world title. Molina has won two straight since challenging WBC title holder Deontay Wilder in 2015, including a 10th-round TKO over former world champion Tomasz Adamek last April 4 in Poland.

 

Here’s what the heavyweights said:

 

ANTHONY JOSHUA:

“I don’t think that I’ll be rusty. I’m not going to say camp is smooth or great because it’s always tough and exhausting for the body.  I needed a break because I live in the gym, it’s what I’ve been doing since I was 18 and I haven’t taken my foot off the gas since.  The task is to express myself under the bright lights in the arena and show what we’ve worked on in the dark corners of the gym.

 

“I started preparing my body for camp and then training for this date. I don’t want to mention Wladimir Klitschko too much because that’s not the relevant opponent – Eric Molina is the man that will stand across the ring from me on December 10. He’s a tough competitor and represents a strong challenge to me. We are competing for my belt and the guys that want to become world champion raise their levels by 50-60 percent.

 

“There’s nowhere to hide on fight night. There’s no change in my focus for Eric. Wladimir doesn’t enter the equation for me. People will talk about him and I’ll answer the questions, but that’s as far as it goes. He’s not in my mind, Eric is.

 

“It takes courage to step into the ring.  Deontay Wilder is known as a one-punch KO artist and Eric stood up to his power, so it shows that he’s here to push the champion and take my title.

 

“I don’t get involved in other people’s issues or stories, it’s nothing to do with me.  It wasn’t that long ago that no one cared what I was doing, so I don’t really have to prove myself to anyone aside from myself.

 

“The division has been blown wide open but they’ve been saying that for a while and they will keep saying it until someone dominates the division again.  It’s not so much about brand and hype, it’s about guys like Eric that come with true heart and are gladiators and fight for the love of the sport, and leave everything in the ring on fight night.

 

“There’s a lot at stake and with Sky Sports and SHOWTIME behind us, this is a big stage to show what you have got. I’m serious about what I do and about moving forward.  I don’t have a script, I can only speak from the heart; whatever Eric’s destiny is, that’s what will happen on the night.  If his destiny is to become heavyweight champion, so be it.  But my destiny is to carry on the path I am on and put in a dominant performance on an explosive night of boxing in Manchester.”

 

ERIC MOLINA:

“I’ve been in these fights before.  I have no amateur experience so I’m learning no the job — and I’m getting better every fight.  I fought five rounds against Wilder with a busted ankle, so everything you saw from me was done on one ankle.  That’s the kind of guy this young man is facing.  I fight with everything I’ve got.  Even if I’m hurt, I still fight, because I know that one punch at any given moment can win me the fight.  Anything can happen in the heavyweight division.

 

“I knew this fight was coming my way because nobody wants to fight him.  Let’s be real.  All the other fighters want to go and fight other guys and for the other belts and not face Anthony Joshua.  I’m a guy that’s been in with Wilder – no one wants to fight Wilder, but I did, and that’s why I’m in London today and will be in Manchester on Dec. 10 putting it all on the line, body and soul.  I want that IBF belt, I don’t have the option to go for another belt or down another route.  This is it for me, and that means he’s going to have the toughest fight of his career, I can guarantee that.

 

“Tomasz Adamek had never been KO’d, so the momentum from that win in Poland was big.  I felt it was time to take time off from work and put 100 percent into this. 

 

“Back home, people know me as a certain type of fighter.  On day one of my career I lost in the first round and that’s why on the back of my shirt it says ‘The Art Of Bouncing Back.’  Those aren’t just words.  Boxing is the most brutal sport when it comes to trying to bounce back.  Once you lose, everybody is gone from your side.  There are fighters out there that say they want to bounce back but they don’t have the guts to put themselves in a position to do it.  I put myself in the fight with Wilder and I went to Poland and beat Adamek to bounce back and show people who I am.

 

“You have to prove yourself in this sport and then you can claim the rewards.  I didn’t have an easy road to get here, I’ve had to do it the hard way and I’ve earned my way here.’’

 

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Joshua vs. Molina and Whyte vs. Chisora land on huge December 10 show

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AJ welcomes American to Manchester – Whyte and Chisora meet for Brit belt – Yafai in World title action – Quigg returns

 

Anthony Joshua MBE is set to defend his IBF World Heavyweight title against Eric Molina at the Manchester Arena on December 10, live on Sky Sports Box Office in the UK and on Showtime in the U.S.

 

Joshua puts his crown on the line for the second time and fights his third American in a row having destroyed Charles Martin inside two rounds to rip the title from the St. Louis man in April at The O2 in London and then stopping Dominic Breazeale in the seventh round at the same venue in June, extending his unbeaten run in the paid ranks to 17 wins, all inside the distance.

 

Molina becomes the latest man to attempt to derail the Olympic Gold medal hero, the Texan is looking to get his hands on the top prize in his second World title tilt after challenging Deontay Wilder for the WBC crown in June 2015. The 34-year-old enters the bout full of confidence after travelling to Poland and knocking out Tomasz Adamek in the tenth round of their clash for the IBF Inter-Continental strap in April.

 

“I am pleased that everything is now set for December 10 and I can concentrate on getting the business done in the ring,” said Joshua. “There has been plenty of talk about who I may face but all I’m doing is concentrating on finishing Molina in style and putting on a great show.

 

“Every fight is dangerous in this division and this is no exception. I saw Molina have a great fight with Wilder and he is now coming off a strong KO win against Adamek in Poland.

 

“I’m expecting this to be the toughest fight of my career so far and I will be ready for an all-out war.”

 

“There is no Heavyweight in the world that has bounced back like I have,” said Molina. “That’s the man that Joshua faces on December 10, and that man is a very dangerous one.

 

“He’ll fight the toughest Molina that anybody has ever seen, just like Adamek fought the toughest Molina.

 

“I’m confident. These type of fights don’t shake me up, I’m a very strong mental fighter. I know exactly what I’ve got to do to prepare myself in the amount of time. I know exactly what I’ve got to do, mentally, physically, to go there and perform.

 

“When you walk out into the atmosphere, half the battle is the mental battle, and if you can stay in the moment mentally you have a shot in any fight.”

 

There’s a huge card in support of the main event as Dillian Whyte defends his British Heavyweight title against bitter London rival Dereck Chisora in an official eliminator for the WBC title. Whyte makes the second defence of his strap after seeing off fellow Brixton man Ian Lewison in Glasgow last month, while former World title challenger Chisora can get his hands on the Lord Lonsdale belt for the second time.

 

Scott Quigg returns to action after treatment on his broken jaw following his unification blockbuster with Carl Frampton, and the Bury star moves up to Featherweight as he looks to regain his status as a World champion.

 

Kal Yafai can become Birmingham’s first World champion but the unbeaten 27 year old faces a tough task to rip the WBA Super-Flyweight title against Luis Concepcion, the two-weight World champion that will enter the ring in his 11th World title outing.

 

Irish amateur sensation Katie Taylor boxes for the second time in the paid ranks after making her pro debut at The SSE Arena, Wembley on November 26, Heavyweight wrecking ball ‘King Kong’ Luis Ortiz fights in Europe for the second time after clashing with Malik Scott in Monte-Carlo on November 12 and Hosea Burton will defend his British Light-Heavyweight title against Frank Buglioni.

 

“The Heavyweight division has been turned on its head in the last few months and while many are standing still waiting, I’m delighted to get this huge card up and running in Manchester,” said promoter Eddie Hearn.

 

“I have spoken to Eric Molina at length and I know this is going to be a big test for Anthony. We saw in the Wilder fight that he can punch and doesn’t give in and is coming off a strong knockout win against Adamek in his back yard in Poland. We have requested an exception from the IBF for this fight and although the plans are for a major unification in the spring this fight requires Anthony’s full focus.

 

“The card is one of the strongest we have produced, supported by a huge all-British Heavyweight grudge match between Dillian Whyte and Dereck Chisora which will be an official eliminator for the WBC World title.

 

“We are delighted to see the return of Scott Quigg who will now campaign at Featherweight and Birmingham’s Kal Yafai has a chance to make history in a brutal fight against World champion Luis Concepcion.

 

“One of the most exciting Heavyweights in world boxing Luis Ortiz will feature and Ireland’s Katie Taylor will continue to break the mould in front of a sold out 21,000 crowd. The re-scheduled Britsih Light-Heavyweight clash between Hosea Burton and Frank Buglioni is sure to produce fireworks and there will also be further names added in the following weeks.”

 

Tickets go on sale to Matchroom Boxing Fight Pass members at midday on Thursday November 3 from the Fight Pass members via this link: bit.ly/JoshuaMolina. Tickets are priced at £40, £60, £80, £100, £150, £200, £300 and £500, with Inner Ringside VIP tickets priced at £800 – due to the high demand for the event, tickets are capped at FOUR per Fight Pass member.

 

Tickets go on general sale at midday on Friday November 4. Tickets priced £40 to £500 will be available from http://www.manchester-arena.com/ and on 0844 847 8000 VIP tickets are £800 and available exclusively from Matchroom Boxing www.matchroomboxing.com.

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KEITH THURMAN OUTPOINTS SHAWN PORTER IN FIGHT OF THE YEAR CANDIDATE SATURDAY IN PRIMETIME ON CBS

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Jarrett Hurd Knocks Out Oscar Molina In Opening Bout Of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® on CBS, Presented by Premier Boxing Champions, From Barclays Center In Brooklyn

 

Click HERE for Photos From Esther Lin/Tom Casino/SHOWTIME

 

Click HERE for Photos From Ryan Greene/Premier Boxing Champions

 

Click HERE For Photos From Ed Diller/DiBella Entertainment

 

BROOKLYN (June 26, 2016) – Prizefighting returned to CBS on Saturday with a Fight of the Year candidate as undefeated welterweight world champion Keith Thurman edged former world champion Shawn Porter in a close but unanimous decision scored 115-113 by all three ringside judges.

 

The 12,718 fans in attendance at Barclays Center in Brooklyn and the viewers across the U.S. watching the first primetime boxing event on CBS since Muhammed Ali-Leon Spinks in 1978 were treated to a slugfest between two of the brightest stars in boxing’s glamour division.

 

Thurman (27-0, 22 KOs) and Porter (26-2-1, 16 KOs) combined to throw over 1200 punches in the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on CBS event, presented by Premier Boxing Champions.  The marquee showdown was a story of accuracy vs. activity, as Thurman landed 50 percent of his power shots, compared to 38 percent for Porter, and 44 percent of his total punches compared to just 36 percent for the challenger.  While Thurman landed at a higher percentage, Porter was the busier fighter, throwing over 100 more punches across 12 rounds.

 

“One Time” and “Showtime” delivered as advertised, with the powerful sharpshooter buckling Porter multiple times, while the swarming and smothering Porter barreled forward to bully Thurman into the ropes.  And while there were no knockdowns, the back-and-forth blockbuster never lacked action and culminated in a standing ovation in the second-highest attended boxing event in Barclays Center history.

 

“I want to thank Shawn Porter for a tremendous fight.  He’s a great warrior,” said Thurman.  “Defense is the key to victory.  He smothers his punches a lot and makes it difficult for the judges to score.  I was able to rock him with clear, effective blows and I believe that was the difference today.

 

“I would give him a rematch. It was great fight.  He was a great opponent.  Everyone was saying would he be my toughest opponent to date.  I wasn’t able to drop him but I did buckle him a few times.”

The former world champion Porter, a perennial underdog but consummate gentleman, didn’t complain about being on the losing end of his second close decision in a title bout.

 

“We worked hard, Keith is a great champion,” Porter said. “My dad says to keep your head up.  I think I won the fight, but I’m satisfied because the competitor came out tonight.

 

“We need that rematch.  I know the fans want that rematch.  If he gives me another chance, I’m going to work hard in the ring and leave with his title.”

 

The opening bout of the CBS telecast featured a matchup of undefeated super welterweights as Jarrett Hurd graduated from prospect to legitimate contender in the stacked 154-pound class with a dominating 10th round TKO over Oscar Molina.

 

Hurd (18-0, 12 KOs) got to work early, flooring Molina for the first time in his career in the opening round with a powerful counter right uppercut.  The bigger and taller Hurd was the more active fighter from the outset, dismantling the previously unbeaten Mexican Olympian with a supremely effective inside game.  Hurd threw nearly 750 punches over 10 rounds, compared to just 376 for Molina, connecting on 220 power shots at a nearly 40 percent clip.

 

Hurd put a stamp on his performance in the final round, closing the show by out landing Molina 33-7 in the final round.  With Molina taking a brutal beating and seemingly defenseless in the final minute of the final round, Ricky Gonzalez stepped in to halt the contest at 2:02.

 

“This is definitely a big win for my career,” Hurd said.  “He was taking a lot of shots, but he knew how to survive.  It was a big uppercut that knocked him down in round one. People know from my last fight that I have a great right uppercut.  He was hurt a couple of times. I don’t think it was a bad stoppage. Molina is a very tough guy who just kept coming through.

 

“This fight here puts me up with the top contenders in the division. I felt like I could have gone three or four more rounds. I was getting stronger as the fight went on.  We’re going right back to the gym so we can get in there again.”

 

Molina (13-1-1, 10 KOs) protested, but barring a stunning knockout he was just seconds away from suffering the first loss of his career via a unanimous decision.

 

“I felt like Hurd was throwing a lot of punches in the tenth round but they weren’t really hurting me,” Molina said. “He was staying busy but he was never really hurting me.

 

“I went low and I had my head down and he caught me with that uppercut in the first round. He got me with a shot I wasn’t expecting but it was definitely a flash knockdown. I wasn’t hurt.

 

“I was supposed to use my footwork a lot more but I ended up smothering my shots. He had an awkward defense with a lot of bending down and I couldn’t get into a rhythm.

 

“This was a big opportunity for me and I felt like I fought a good fight. I’m going to come back stronger. We’re going to work on a lot of things and get back in there.”

 

SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on CBS, presented by Premier Boxing Champions, was promoted by DiBella Entertainment.

 

Earlier in the evening on SHOWTIME, undefeated heavyweight sensation Anthony Joshua successfully defended his IBF Heavyweight World Championship for the first time with a seventh round knockout of previously unbeaten American Dominic Breazeale at The O2 in London.  VIDEO: http://s.sho.com/28VGgsa

 

Below are quotes from Joshua after Saturday’s win on SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL:

 

Many thought that Dominic Breazeale wouldn’t be able to stand up to your power and speed, but were you grateful for the opportunity to work a little bit more of your boxing skills?

“Well, it’s hard because you can see they’re hurt with every shot – well not every shot – but when you start catching them flush, they can feel the shots with these ten ounce gloves on. So, it’s just a matter of time, but in the process I didn’t want to be receiving any haymakers on the way back.

 

“It’s been tough I had two weeks off after my last fight, and got straight back in the gym so it was tough. I get a nice little break for once and then I can come back with recharged batteries.”

 

We know Deontay Wilder was watching the fight. Have you got a message for him, the WBC Champion? 

“Unbelievable inspirational person. He was patient, 30-odd fights [and] got his hands on the WBC [belt]. I’m following suit. I’m making my way into the U.S. with SHOWTIME backing me as well. So, he watched that.

 

“He can pick up whatever he wants to pick up from that, but it’s so different when you’re in the ring with each other. So one day we’ll get to experience what each other’s about.”

 

Who do you want to fight next? 

“Well I think it’s gonna have to be the likes of [Joseph] Parker. I was really looking at Fury… I hope he gets better soon. He hurt his ankle unfortunately, which has postponed it because  I was hoping to get that some time in the winter if everything went well July 9th like it didtonight, but we’re gonna have to reschedule that and in the meantime, we can look at other opponents like Parker, if he’s vacant, or anyone else that the people want.”

 

What do you think that you still need to work on?

“Rest. I need to rest. I’m tired, I’m working hard and as I said, now i can get

 

For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports and www.premierboxingchampions.com, follow on Twitter @SHOSports, @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing @KeithFThurmanJr, @ShowtimeShawnP, @LouDiBella, @BarclaysCenter and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebookat www.Facebook.com/SHOSports,www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment and www.facebook.com/BarclaysCenter.

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ANTHONY JOSHUA vs. DOMINIC BREAZEALE FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES & PHOTOS FOR HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPTHIS SATURDAY LIVE ON SHOWTIME®

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“You’re in my jungle now” – Anthony Joshua

 

“I came across the pond to get my belt and take it back home with me” – Dominic Breazeale

 

Click HERE For Photos; Credit Lawrence Lustig/Matchroom Sport

 

LONDON (June 23, 2016) – Undefeated IBF Heavyweight World Champion Anthony Joshua (16-0, 16 KOs) and fellow unbeaten American challenger Dominic Breazeale (17-0, 15 KOs), participated in the final press conference on Thursday at Sky Sports Studios in London, just two days before their showdown this Saturday.

 

The British sensation and 2012 Olympic Games Gold Medalist, Joshua will make the first defense of his title against Breazeale, a 2012 U.S. Olympian from Upland, Calif., this Saturday, June 25 on SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL® from a sold-out The O2 in London, live onSHOWTIME® on at 5:15 p.m. ET/2:15 p.m. PT.

 

Fellow heavyweight world champion Deontay Wilder, the undefeated WBC titleholder, will join the SHOWTIME announce team as an in-studio guest analyst for coverage of Joshua-Breazeale from New York.

 

A few hours later Saturday, in primetime on CBS (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT), Keith “One Time” Thurman will defend his WBA Welterweight World Title against former champ Shawn “Showtime” Porter in a welterweight blockbuster that headlines SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on CBS, presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

 

Below is what the fighters had to say at the final press conference, followed by some recent fight week quotes.  (Courtesy Sky Sports and Matchroom Sport)

 

ANTHONYJOSHUA:

 

“You’re in my jungle now.  There’s no pressure on me.

 

“Once that bell goes, you can’t hide the instinct, the instinct that you want to get someone out of there.  I hope I can go in there, stay relaxed and do what I planned to do.  But once that bell rings something just comes over you and you want to get him out of there ASAP.

 

“There will always be pressure. But look, it’s always been the same concept: Train hard – it’s the same ring. It hasn’t changed.

 

“I’ve got nothing to lose. I’ve always explained let’s get rid of the belts, the atmosphere, because when the bell goes it’s just me and him in the ring.  Two gladiators, two respectful warriors coming together. We’re going to slug it out and put our 0s on the line.”

 

“I’m prepared, Dominic is prepared well, and one of us has to take a loss.

 

“Each fight is a stepping stone to the big tests. I want to look like the real deal.”

 

“I think we’re in the golden era of boxing again.”

 

DOMINIC BREAZEALE:

“I respect you as a fighter, but I’m going to beat you. I’ve got to beat the best of the best.”

 

“I can’t wait, it’s been an opportunity I’ve been waiting eight years for this. It’s an opportunity of a lifetime and I’m ready for this.

 

“Expect fireworks. We’ll be going round for round, punch for punch and I expect to knock out Joshua.”

 

“I got a big right hand, I have a big left hook.  I stand 6-foot-7, 255 pounds.  I’m unorthodox – I’m a guy that can fight on the inside, I’m a guy that can take a punch, I’m a guy that can give a punch.  So if any one of those given things show up on Saturday night I’m getting a knockout, for sure.

 

“It’s a major advantage just for me to have Anthony Joshua the whole time.  I don’t want him at any given point for him to feel like he’s in his comfort zone, his own backyard or his own little lion’s den.

 

“That’s what I came across the pond to do. I came across the pond to get my belt and take it back home with me.

 

“It’s my Super Bowl.  Being a former football player, this is my Super Bowl.”

 

“Everybody keeps comparing me to Charles Martin, the only thing that we have in common is that we’re both American. We have a completely different fight style, different goals in life.

 

“I’m a big puncher, so is Anthony Joshua. He has the belt and I intend to have it on Saturday night.

 

ADDITIONAL FIGHT WEEK QUOTES:

 

ANTHONY JOSHUA

 

“I’m 16 fights, 16 wins, Dominic is 17 fights, 17 wins.  We’ve been pro for the same amount of time, amateurs for the same time so we’re at a similar level on paper.

 

“People think this will end in two rounds?  Brilliant. I am winning fights early because of my talent and hard work.  Where I am in my career, it’s a perfect fight.

 

“I don’t overlook anyone. People talk and talk, that’s irrelevant.  It’s all about whether he can fight. I think he believes in himself, but he knows what’s in store here, he needs to know I’m serious about this boxing.  He thinks he’s going to KO me, he’s dismissed Charles Martin — sometimes you just have to humble somebody and show levels, let them know it’s not that easy.

 

“The second I stepped in to the pros it was ‘Boom!’ — Anthony Joshua – headlining.  That’s not down to me, its media channels and people wanting to get to know the guy behind the gloves. So it’s been hard to build a career at the right pace without criticism because people want to see me in massive fights right now.

 

“You can’t jump from hero to zero, there are people guiding us over a long and a dangerous career.  People have to understand that it’s a development of a career, and if I ever train a fighter, I’ll tell them the same thing.”

 

On fellow heavyweight world champions Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury:

“This won’t be my only defense, I want there to be lots and lots, and at the right time I will fight David Haye, Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder and the rest. We’re in an era now where we have to fight each other. There’s never been an era when the best don’t fight the best at heavyweight — but they have to happen at the right time, and they will.

 

“We are all world champions as we hold all the belts that are available. We’re all talented. Deontay has defended his title multiple times so you have to give him credit for that. Tyson and I haven’t defended yet, so I put Deontay at the top.  But Tyson beat Wladimir Klitschko who reigned for such a long time.

 

“I am happy because I became a world champion in my 16th fight and they won theirs later in their careers.  But Tyson beat the main man in the division, and Deontay has defended his belt lots of times, so I am in third right now, but I am building my way up.

 

“Put the belts to one side, they don’t give you magical powers.  A lot of fighters lose their belt in their first defense.  It’s about developing your raw talent and making sure you keep on an upward curve because there’s hungry young challengers snapping at your heels all the time, ready to expose you – and I refuse that to happen to me.”

 

On Charles Martin:

“Before the fight, no one criticized (Charles) Martin.  He was undefeated, knocking guys out, tall southpaw, dangerous. Bookies were taking a lot of bets on him knocking me out.  Tyson Fury backed him to do just that and a lot of people thought it would be tricky.  Up until I beat him, he was seen as a worthy fighter.  I figured him out quickly and I made him look bad.  He didn’t look like the champion people thought he was, but you have to respect him.”

 

On thinking about losing:

“I think about losing all the time, I’m scared of it.  That keeps me humble and working hard.  I don’t think people are going to beat me or anything, but I don’t want to lose, and I know that if I work hard and keep improving, I won’t lose.

 

“I get enough attention from this job.  There are 20,000 fans at the fights, millions watching on TV around the world.  I don’t need to seek attention.  I’m not a trash talker because the fists do the talking.’’

 

On being a role model:

“I know that there are a lot of kids watching me now and their parents say ‘my son loves you’ and that’s in my mind.

 

“I’ll be myself all the time, but that sense of being a role model and having kid’s look up to you, that checks the emotions that could come out if you get wound up. You have to conduct yourself.’’

 

On Tyson Fury:

“Tyson talks a lot.  I hear so many different things, if he was consistent with what he says then maybe I’d think he was digging a bit, but it’s just water off a duck’s back.  I don’t know him, but as long as people are saying ‘when are you going to fight him?’ then I like him because he is relevant.

 

“It would be such a huge fight and one that would be part of my legacy.  I think because he’s beaten Wladimir once he can do it again.  I didn’t think he’d win the first fight, but he pulled it off.

 

“I’d love to fight Tyson – it’s a match-up that needs to happen. There have been talks, whether they are a quick chat or serious negotiations, but you can’t click your fingers and come up with a mega fight.  It takes time, but they are in the pipeline and we’re building towards them, and in the meantime I want to test myself and learn my craft.  I need to perform well to prove that I can handle the massive fights.’’

 

On fellow British heavyweight David Haye:

“David is running the show and people know it, so when he goes in against soft opponents, he’s putting his neck on the line to get the stick.  Fans expect more from him and he’s not meeting those levels, and that’s where the backlash comes from.  The people he’s calling out versus the two guys he has fought, they just don’t add up, and that’s what people are frustrated about.

 

“I don’t think you can knock the Shannon Briggs fight.  He’s made a lot of noise, he’s old school and it’s a good fight for David to take, win and move upwards.  Shannon had made noise and he’s got his moment and who knows? Maybe he can shock the world.  He’s old, but he trains hard and he’s in great condition, and that’s why people love the heavyweights because it’s that one shot.

 

“A fight with Fury and I is the biggest fight in British boxing in my opinion. The Haye fight is big too; there’s enough media interest for it to be big.  It’s already big and we’re not even fighting yet, so imagine how big it would be once we get in there.  It’d be unbelievable and that’s why I am so interested in the fights.”

 

DOMINIC BREAZEALE:

“I plan on putting on some extreme pressure and taking Joshua to places he’s never been.  We’ll find out if he can handle it.

 

“Do I want to see him go into uncharted territory?  Of course, without a doubt.

 

“I’ve been there, I know what it feels like and I’ve done it several times now.  At the same time, I’m not going to let an opportunity pass me.  If I see something I can take in the first or second round, I’m definitely going to get him out of there.

 

“I’ve sparred guys that are bigger than me, I’ve sparred some guys smaller than me. I’ve been the tallest thus far (of his professional opponents), but I don’t think the difference in a matter of inches is going to make that big of a difference. The guys I’ve sparred with are 10 times better than Anthony Joshua.

 

“I think that it’s going to be one of those situations that it is not going to be a difference of size or weight.  It’s going to be the difference of skill and experience.

 

“When you think of a heavyweight champion you want to make sure he’s fought the best, and I think that’s why Joshua has chosen me as his opponent to defend against. That’s what he plans on getting out of the situation if he can make it through the 12 rounds.

 

“I think Joshua’s thinking of me as a stepping stone and he’s going to be sorry about that.  He’s just wrong.  He’s fighting a guy at 6-foot-7, 255 pounds that brings the pressure and a great pace from round-to-round.

 

“I’m one of those guys that I might take a shot, I might work some defense or I might work a strong jab.  Either way, I’m going to make it a fight.  All of my opponents have been down on the canvas and I don’t think Joshua is going to come shy of that as well.

 

“I’ve been picked as the smaller guy in the ring, by the IBF as a stepping stone and I feel like my back is against the wall.  I’m going to come out fighting.

 

“To come here and win the IBF title in London is a major thing for me that I plan to achieve.  Then I want to continuing to go after all the titles.

 

“My mind set has definitely changed.  The situation that I’m in mentally is just different compared to some of my fights in the past.  My confidence level is through the roof and physically I feel great.

 

“I think the heavyweight division is getting ready to change. With individuals like myself, Deontay and Tyson, we have guys who are characters who bring a lot of charisma to the division.  That’s something that we need.  Yes, we are athletes but in the end we are entertainers and we want to see a show.  I’m the type of guy that brings a show every single time I fight.  It’s action-packed from the opening bell to the end, and fight fans are looking for that.  That’s what is going to resurrect the heavyweight division.’’

 

On his win over Amir Mansour:

“That was another confidence booster for me.  It’s one thing to finish a guy in the first round with three punches or something like that.  It’s another thing to finish a guy in the sixth, seventh round with a combination of shots.

 

“Amir put me down on the canvas in the second, I battled back and ended up breaking the man’s jaw.

 

“It gives me something to work on.  I know I was able to come back and be very successful from it.  Anytime you get a win of that matter where you get a guy, break him down, break him down where he quits on the stool, it’s a huge confidence booster.  It makes you understand as an athlete or as a professional boxer that you’ve got punching power, you just broke another man’s jaw.’’

 

On returning to London after the 2012 Olympics:

“I think it’s going to beautiful.  It’s going to be great to go back to where my amateur career ended and beat the guy who won the gold medal.  That’s going to be great.  And then, on top of that, take away more hardware with the IBF Heavyweight title. You couldn’t ask for anything better.

 

“Then again I do understand and believe I’m a completely different fighter — not only am I a professional but I no longer fight an amateur style. I would consider myself a knockout artist with some pretty good punching power and that’s what I plan on showing the UK fans and my U.S. following.  It’s a chapter that needs to be closed and I plan on doing that.’’

 

On the state of the heavyweight division:

“I believe that we’ve got a lot of heavyweights who are doing real well and are real successful in their situations, some being titleholders, some not.  But I think it’s going to be a revolving circle. Me fighting Anthony Joshua, then going on to Deontay and Fury, Wladimir Klitschko might even hang around for a while.  Will it ever be compared to the Ali days or Riddick Bowe and the Evander Holyfield days?  I don’t know.  Bowe and Holyfield had one great trilogy and I study it all the time. So it all depends on how much each fighter has left in him.’’

 

For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports, follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing and @SHOSports, or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing and https://www.facebook.com/ShoSports

 

Also follow Dominic Breazeale on Twitter @TroubleBoxing, Anthony Joshua @AnthonyJoshua and use hashtag #JoshuaBreazeale to join the conversation.

 

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Unbeaten IBF World Heavyweight Champion Anthony Joshua, Undefeated, World-Ranked Challenger Dominic Breazeale International Media Conference Call Highlights

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 “That’s what the Americans love. They like knockouts and I won’t let them down” – Anthony Joshua

 

“I can’t wait to get in the ring and shock the world” – Dominic Breazeale

 

Breazeale Challenges Joshua This Saturday, June 25,
On SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL Live on SHOWTIME®
From The O2 in London

                                                                                                                   

NEW YORK (June 20, 2016) – Undefeated IBF Heavyweight World Champion Anthony Joshua (16-0, 16 KOs) will make the first defense of his title against fellow unbeaten Dominic Breazeale (17-0, 15 KOs) of Upland, Calif., thisSaturday, June 25 on SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL® from The O2in London, live on SHOWTIME® on at 5:15 p.m. ET/2:15 p.m. PT.

 

Just a few hours later in Primetime on CBS (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT), Keith “One Time” Thurman will defend his WBA Welterweight World Title against former champ Shawn “Showtime” Porter in a welterweight blockbuster that headlines SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on CBS, presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

 

Both Joshua and Breazeale participated in an international media conference call on Monday. Also taking part were Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager of SHOWTIME Sports; Eddie Hearn, Managing Director of Matchroom Sport and Brittany Goossen of TGB Promotions introducing Breazeale.

 

Below are highlights of what the principals had to say on the conference call. A full transcript will be available in the coming days.

 

ANTHONY JOSHUA

Thoughts on his preparation for the fight:

“I feel great condition wise, and mentally I’m in a good place.  I’ve never felt so relaxed because I just know I’m capable of doing it.  I’ve trained weeks and years and it’s just about getting it right on the night of the fight.  My tactics and my mind have not let me down so far, so that’s why I don’t want to change anything.

 

“I’m not putting too much pressure on myself.  I’m going to attack the fight the same way I have my last 16 and put on an explosive show. That’s what the Americans love. They like knockouts and I won’t let them down. 

 

“Every fight can be my last fight. As much as I would like to tell you I’m confident and ‘I’m going to do this, I’m going to do that’ I do understand I have to approach this as if it could be my last fight.

 

“I know he can hang around, he doesn’t go down easy.  He’s a big guy, he can eat shots.  The Dominic Breazeale I’m used to watching on YouTube and I’m reading about is the enhanced Dominic Breazeale – the Dominic Breazeale that is 50 percent better because I think he knows he wants to come prove himself on a global stage.  And this is his chance come Saturday, so I need to prepare for the best of Breazeale.”

 

On going from being the hunter as a challenger to being the hunted as a champion:

“I’m not the cream of the crop in the gym.  I’m around guys that are achieving things on the same level so I’m still hunting. I still have that mentality as if I’m a main killer in the jungle.  I haven’t lost that hunger.

 

On potential to fight in the US in the future:

“I just keep on hearing the United States is where it’s happening. And if I come to the U.S., I’m going to shut it down.”

 

Thoughts on Breazeale’s performance against Amir Mansour:

“He’s a tough guy.  He managed to go out there and break Mansour’s jaw and capture a win, which has led him into where he is now. Whichever angels were floating in the ring with him that day have led him to this point, so I’ve got to put an end to his dream.”

 

On winning a piece of the heavyweight championship in just his 16th pro fight:

“It didn’t mean much.  I still have another couple titles I need to get my hands on.  I’m still hunting. There’s still work to be done. So it only ticked one of the boxes on my to-do list.”

 

DOMINIC BREAZEALE

“I’m out here very excited.  I can’t wait to get in the ring June 25 and shock the world, that’s for sure. I’ve been lucky enough to prepare for the biggest fight of my life and I’m really super excited about it.”

 

On why he thinks he was selected for this matchup:

“Honestly, the way I see it is that someone didn’t do their research.  They didn’t look deep enough.  They didn’t find out enough about me and maybe they’re looking at me as just another football player that transitioned into boxing.  And I’m hoping they’re overlooking me. It definitely can be a situation where they’re just watching one fight, especially my last fight. But there’s been a lot of tough ones. If they’re looking at that one situation, I’m glad because that’s to my liking.”

 

On his feelings about fighting overseas:

“The way I’m thinking about it is, June 25, I gain 20,000 fans. I’m in a situation where I’m very confident going into this fight and I know for sure I’m going to put on a great show, come out victorious and go back to the U.S. with 20,000 UK fans.

 

“I definitely believe [Joshua] realizes; he understands that he’s got a big test in front of him.  He’s got a big fighter in front of him.  He’s got a guy that’s going to break him down, test his will and see if he is a true champion. 

 

“I am coming into this fight very confident and I’ve got some things that I know are going to work for me, as well as some things that I plan on exploiting out of Joshua.

 

“I’m blessed to have been picked for this fight and am thankful for this opportunity. The way I look at it, and the way I look at every fight that I go into, is that as long as I do everything that I need to do in the gym as far as sparring, preparation and training, running my miles, sleeping right and eating right – I’ve crossed all of my T’s and dotted all of my I’s.  I’ve got nothing to worry about.  I’ve got nothing to second-guess.  I’ve done everything I’m supposed to and I just can’t wait to shine.”

 

STEPHEN ESPINOZA, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports

 

“Anthony quickly went from a diamond in the rough to really one of the foremost stars in the UK and Europe, and we are happy to be his partner as he establishes his presence in North America.

 

“We are particularly excited about this bout because we have, pardon the phraseology, two behemoths. There are two skilled boxers, really the epitome of what heavyweight boxing should be – big, strong athletes skilled in their sport, with amateur pedigree, meeting on the afternoon here in the US, evening in the UK to determine who is the best fighter.”

 

EDDIE HEARN, President, Matchroom Sport

 

“Over here, the feeling is that it’s going to be quite a routine defense, but Anthony hasn’t trained like that.  He is not expecting that.  He knows the background and roots of Dominic Breazeale. He knows his skill, and he knows how dangerous he can be and he knows how hungry he is as well.  I think you’re going to get a different kind of fight than the Charles Martin fight.  I think you’re going to get a guy that’s not afraid to let his hands go.  He’s not going to wait and the sold out O2 Arena is going to be an electric place to be.”

“SHOWTIME is a deal we are very excited about. To link up with an American broadcaster for us was an obvious move, but it was a move we had to choose carefully. And I think we chose very, very well in SHOWTIME.”

 

BRITTANY GOOSSEN, TGB Promotions

 

“Over here in the U.S. we have gotten to see Dominic grow before our eyes. We know he is definitely capable of challenging for the world title. On Saturdaywe expect him to be victorious and bring that back to America.”

 

For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports, follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing and @SHOSports, or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing and https://www.facebook.com/ShoSports 

 

Also follow Dominic Breazeale on Twitter @TroubleBoxing, Anthony Joshua@AnthonyJoshua and use hashtag #JoshuaBreazeale to join the conversation.

boxing, Showtime, Showtime Boxing

WBC World Heavyweight Champion Deontay Wilder Sees Anthony Joshua-Dominic Breazeale Fight as 50-50

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Breazeale Challenges Joshua This Saturday, June 25,
On SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL Live on SHOWTIME®
From The O2 in London

                                                                                                                   

NEW YORK (June 22, 2016) – Unbeaten WBC World Heavyweight Champion Deontay Wilder can’t pick a clear winner for this Saturday night’s Anthony Joshua-Dominic Breazeale world title clash.

 

The undefeated IBF Heavyweight World Champion Joshua (16-0, 16 KOs) will make the first defense of his title against fellow unbeaten Dominic Breazeale(17-0, 15 KOs) of Upland, Calif., on SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL®from The O2 in London, live on SHOWTIME® at 5:15 p.m. ET/2:15 p.m. PT.

 

Just a few hours later in Primetime on CBS (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT), Keith “One Time” Thurman will defend his WBA Welterweight World Title against former champ Shawn “Showtime” Porter in a welterweight blockbuster that headlines SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on CBS, presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

     

Wilder, who will be part of the in-studio SHOWTIME announce team covering the fight from New York City, is torn on who will triumph when Joshua makes the first defense of the world title he landed in April with a devastating second-round KO win over Charles Martin.

 

“I definitely see the fight as a 50-50,” said Wilder. “You’ve got two big heavyweights, and the challenger wants what the champion has, and the champion wants to keep what he has.

“It’s going to be interesting because we’ve seen Breazeale in a lot of wars. He’s almost been taken out by some of the smaller heavyweights. He’s been punched around, but he has always survived.

“We’ve seen Joshua (get) busted up as well, but he has kept his composure, and this fight is in his backyard amongst his people. 

“I don’t put anything past Breazeale because he’s coming in hustlers’ territory. I think that it’ll be a good fight because of Breazeale – I think he really wants it.”

 

Wilder makes the fourth defense of his WBC strap on July 16 against Chris Arreola in his hometown of Alabama. The 30-year-old says that Joshua will feel like a different fighter as he goes into his first fight as world champion – but that there’s now an even bigger target on his back.

 

“Once you’ve got that belt, you feel like ‘I’m the man,’ ” said Wilder. “After the first fight, that’s when you really feel confident. You really feel you’re the man, you’re the champ. You’re the ruler once you’ve had your first defense. 

“For Joshua, this is his first title defense, so he should feel some kind of security about himself and confidence about himself. But he’s going to find out that to continue his career and defend that title, these guys aren’t going to lay down after one punch or after two punches. 

“They’re going to keep taking punches, they’re going to keep getting knocked down and they’re going to keep getting up. This is for a world title. This can bring you out of poverty, you know what I mean? For that reason, these challengers are hungry. That’s one of the things that I had to realize.

“I put myself in their position. When I was a challenger, I was hungry and I already had the mentality that ‘you’re going to really have to kill me or hurt me bad to get me out of this ring.’ So that’s the mentality that these challengers have. 

“It’s going to be interesting when you have a guy with a big heart that really, really wants it  and I think Breazeale really wants it. We’re going to see where his heart is. I can’t say what kind of heart he has, but we’re going to see.”

 

Breazeale is following compatriot Charles Martin into Joshua’s Greenwich home area. “It takes a lot of courage, will and heart to fight in someone’s backyard,” said Wilder. “It takes someone that has confidence in themselves. And not to mention going to someone else’s country, because then the environment has completely changed. It’s a big difference and not a lot of guys are willing to travel outside of their country where they would be uncomfortable. 

“Only a very few that really want to build their legacy, such as myself, will travel and have no problem. I don’t like to worry about judges or nothing. You go do what you have to do. That’s just my philosophy and mentality as a champion now. When you say the Heavyweight Champion of the World, that’s why this is tough, we travel all over the world.”

 

For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports, follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing and @SHOSports, or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing and https://www.facebook.com/ShoSports 

 

Also follow Dominic Breazeale on Twitter @TroubleBoxing, Anthony Joshua@AnthonyJoshua and use hashtag #JoshuaBreazeale to join the conversation.

boxing, Showtime, Showtime Boxing

Unbeaten IBF World Heavyweight Champion Anthony Joshua, Undefeated, World-Ranked Challenger Dominic Breazeale International Media Conference Call Highlights

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 “That’s what the Americans love. They like knockouts and I won’t let them down” – Anthony Joshua

 

“I can’t wait to get in the ring and shock the world” – Dominic Breazeale

 

Breazeale Challenges Joshua This Saturday, June 25,
On SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL Live on SHOWTIME®
From The O2 in London

                                                                                                                   

NEW YORK (June 20, 2016) – Undefeated IBF Heavyweight World Champion Anthony Joshua (16-0, 16 KOs) will make the first defense of his title against fellow unbeaten Dominic Breazeale (17-0, 15 KOs) of Upland, Calif., this Saturday, June 25 on SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL® from The O2in London, live on SHOWTIME® on at 5:15 p.m. ET/2:15 p.m. PT.

 

Just a few hours later in Primetime on CBS (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT), Keith “One Time” Thurman will defend his WBA Welterweight World Title against former champ Shawn “Showtime” Porter in a welterweight blockbuster that headlines SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on CBS, presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

 

Both Joshua and Breazeale participated in an international media conference callon Monday. Also taking part were Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager of SHOWTIME Sports; Eddie Hearn, Managing Director of Matchroom Sport and Brittany Goossen-Brown of TGB Promotions introducing Breazeale.

 

Below are highlights of what the principals had to say on the conference call. A full transcript will be available in the coming days.

 

ANTHONY JOSHUA

Thoughts on his preparation for the fight:

“I feel great condition wise, and mentally I’m in a good place.  I’ve never felt so relaxed because I just know I’m capable of doing it.  I’ve trained weeks and years and it’s just about getting it right on the night of the fight.  My tactics and my mind have not let me down so far, so that’s why I don’t want to change anything.

 

“I’m not putting too much pressure on myself.  I’m going to attack the fight the same way I have my last 16 and put on an explosive show. That’s what the Americans love. They like knockouts and I won’t let them down. 

 

“Every fight can be my last fight. As much as I would like to tell you I’m confident and ‘I’m going to do this, I’m going to do that’ I do understand I have to approach this as if it could be my last fight.

 

“I know he can hang around, he doesn’t go down easy.  He’s a big guy, he can eat shots.  The Dominic Breazeale I’m used to watching on YouTube and I’m reading about is the enhanced Dominic Breazeale – the Dominic Breazeale that is 50 percent better because I think he knows he wants to come prove himself on a global stage.  And this is his chance come Saturday, so I need to prepare for the best of Breazeale.”

 

On going from being the hunter as a challenger to being the hunted as a champion:

“I’m not the cream of the crop in the gym.  I’m around guys that are achieving things on the same level so I’m still hunting. I still have that mentality as if I’m a main killer in the jungle.  I haven’t lost that hunger.

 

On potential to fight in the US in the future:

“I just keep on hearing the United States is where it’s happening. And if I come to the U.S., I’m going to shut it down.”

 

Thoughts on Breazeale’s performance against Amir Mansour:

“He’s a tough guy.  He managed to go out there and break Mansour’s jaw and capture a win, which has led him into where he is now. Whichever angels were floating in the ring with him that day have led him to this point, so I’ve got to put an end to his dream.”

 

On winning a piece of the heavyweight championship in just his 16th pro fight:

“It didn’t mean much.  I still have another couple titles I need to get my hands on.  I’m still hunting. There’s still work to be done. So it only ticked one of the boxes on my to-do list.”

 

DOMINIC BREAZEALE

“I’m out here very excited.  I can’t wait to get in the ring June 25 and shock the world, that’s for sure. I’ve been lucky enough to prepare for the biggest fight of my life and I’m really super excited about it.”

 

On why he thinks he was selected for this matchup:

“Honestly, the way I see it is that someone didn’t do their research.  They didn’t look deep enough.  They didn’t find out enough about me and maybe they’re looking at me as just another football player that transitioned into boxing.  And I’m hoping they’re overlooking me. It definitely can be a situation where they’re just watching one fight, especially my last fight. But there’s been a lot of tough ones. If they’re looking at that one situation, I’m glad because that’s to my liking.”

 

On his feelings about fighting overseas:

“The way I’m thinking about it is, June 25, I gain 20,000 fans. I’m in a situation where I’m very confident going into this fight and I know for sure I’m going to put on a great show, come out victorious and go back to the U.S. with 20,000 UK fans.

 

“I definitely believe [Joshua] realizes; he understands that he’s got a big test in front of him.  He’s got a big fighter in front of him.  He’s got a guy that’s going to break him down, test his will and see if he is a true champion. 

 

“I am coming into this fight very confident and I’ve got some things that I know are going to work for me, as well as some things that I plan on exploiting out of Joshua.

 

“I’m blessed to have been picked for this fight and am thankful for this opportunity. The way I look at it, and the way I look at every fight that I go into, is that as long as I do everything that I need to do in the gym as far as sparring, preparation and training, running my miles, sleeping right and eating right – I’ve crossed all of my T’s and dotted all of my I’s.  I’ve got nothing to worry about.  I’ve got nothing to second-guess.  I’ve done everything I’m supposed to and I just can’t wait to shine.”

 

STEPHEN ESPINOZA, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports

 

“Anthony quickly went from a diamond in the rough to really one of the foremost stars in the UK and Europe, and we are happy to be his partner as he establishes his presence in North America.

 

“We are particularly excited about this bout because we have, pardon the phraseology, two behemoths. There are two skilled boxers, really the epitome of what heavyweight boxing should be – big, strong athletes skilled in their sport, with amateur pedigree, meeting on the afternoon here in the US, evening in the UK to determine who is the best fighter.”

 

EDDIE HEARN, President, Matchroom Sport

 

“Over here, the feeling is that it’s going to be quite a routine defense, but Anthony hasn’t trained like that.  He is not expecting that.  He knows the background and roots of Dominic Breazeale. He knows his skill, and he knows how dangerous he can be and he knows how hungry he is as well.  I think you’re going to get a different kind of fight than the Charles Martin fight.  I think you’re going to get a guy that’s not afraid to let his hands go.  He’s not going to wait and the sold out O2 Arena is going to be an electric place to be.”

“SHOWTIME is a deal we are very excited about. To link up with an American broadcaster for us was an obvious move, but it was a move we had to choose carefully. And I think we chose very, very well in SHOWTIME.”

 

BRITTANY GOOSSEN-BROWN, TGB Promotions

 

“Over here in the U.S. we have gotten to see Dominic grow before our eyes. We know he is definitely capable of challenging for the world title. On Saturday we expect him to be victorious and bring that back to America.”

 

For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports, follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing and @SHOSports, or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing and https://www.facebook.com/ShoSports 

 

Also follow Dominic Breazeale on Twitter @TroubleBoxing, Anthony Joshua@AnthonyJoshua and use hashtag #JoshuaBreazeale to join the conversation.