DEONTAY WILDER
“The reason I wanted this fight is not only do I think Ortiz is one of the best technical fighters in the division, ach sé an boogeyman a bhfuil gach duine ag rith uaidh. Sheachain na Seaimpíní é agus dúirt mé i gcónaí gurbh mise an ceann is fearr agus seo mo sheans é a chruthú.
“Níl an toradh seo suas ag aon duine ach mé féin. Gach uair a théim faoi na soilse geala, Tugaim don lucht leanúna cad ba mhaith leo a fheiceáil. Seo an ceann is fearr i gcomparáid leis an gceann is fearr agus sin an rud atá tuillte ag dornálaíocht.
“Bhí gach leithscéal agam ar domhan chun éalú ón troid seo tar éis dó an tástáil a theip. Tá go leor maith, meáchain throma atá ag teacht aníos amuigh ansin, ach ní raibh suim agam iontu. Is é an troid seo mar a chruthaím gurb mise an fear is measa ar domhan.
“Ar Márta 3, leis na rudaí pearsanta ar fad curtha ar leataobh, beidh sé ina onóir troid i gcoinne Luis Ortiz, fear go fear agus athair go hathair. I know that family is his motivation, just like it is for me, and that’s why I blessed him with this opportunity.
“The exciting thing about Saturday night is for everyone to see what I’m capable of doing. Luis Ortiz is determined to get my WBC belt. This is my seventh defense of my title and I’ve enjoyed every one. It’s a lot of responsibility and I take it seriously. You’ll all see ar an Satharn night why I’ve said the things I’ve said.
“Everyone knows what I’m expecting Dé Sathairn oíche. I can’t say it enough. I have knocked every opponent out for a reason. I plan on continuing my knockout streak. That’s what I do and that’s what I’m best at.
“This is the best fight right here in boxing that can be made. Ní chuireann sé a fháil ar bith níos fearr ná sin ar an Satharn oíche. You have to be here in person, because you won’t want to miss anything. You never know what you’ll see, ach Dé Sathairn night will be bombs away.”
LUIS ORTIZ
“I never say anything bad about fighters because inside the ring, Is féidir le rud ar bith a tharlóidh. I respect everyone who steps into the ring. This is my opportunity. Is é seo mo am. Deontay is a great champion but this is my chance.
“Like I always say, this is my time and it’s going to be a great triumph. This is big for all of Cuban boxing and I will make my country proud.
“This is going to be like two trains on the same track about to collide. I’m going to win and I’m going to take his belt.
“This is not a video game. This is not using controllers. You have to actually step into the ring with me ar an Satharn oíche.
“Deontay is scared. He’s talking a lot of nonsense. He’s worried about what I’m going to do. Is é seo mo am. I’m going to show everyone.
“Tá mé 100 percent ready to go. Sparring has been amazing and I’m totally prepared for Deontay Wilder. Deontay’s biggest mistake is that he talks too much.
“I looked into his eyes and I knew that I’m not going to lose this opportunity. I’m going to be the first Cuban and the first Latino born outside the country to win a title. Dé Sathairn night will be historic.
“The public gave me this opportunity to fight for the title and beat you for your belt. I’m going to make the most of my chance and knock Deontay Wilder out.”
DIRRELL EILE
“It was a rocky start for me in our first fight. He caught me with a good shot in the early rounds, but I was able to fight through it. I started to dominate the second half of the fight but he had definitely thrown my game off. I still weathered the storm and made good things happen. This fight is very deserving of a rematch and I’m looking forward to it.
“This fight right here is one of the beautiful moments we have in boxing. There were two wrongs that night in the last fight. I’m really happy with everyone who has made this rematch and gave the sport what it deserves.
“Now Jose Uzcategui and myself both have chances to prove ourselves again. This is going to be the worst opportunity of Uzcategui’s life. But it will be the best opportunity for me.
“This is my opportunity to prove all of the critics wrong this time. I’m not the favorite, and it’s a beautiful thing. I’m going to change every single mind ar an Satharn oíche. I’m stepping up to the plate, and I’m preparing to hit a home run.
“Virgil Hunter has definitely helped me with my mental game. We’ve worked on a masterful game plan. Virgil is tough to work with but we did all of the necessary things we had to in order to accomplish what we have to ar an Satharn.
“The next two years or more will be the best years of my career. I’ve been blessed with an illustrious career. This is a new look for me and I feel good. I have a very tough, hungry fighter in front of me and I can’t wait to prove myself.”
JOSE UZCATEGUI
“We’re not doing anything differently heading into this fight. I’ve put the time in at the gym every day to make sure that the fight ends conclusively this time.
“Before I even got to the ring in the first fight I felt some animosity from the referee towards me and it kind of led to what happened in the fight.
“Saturday night you’re not just going to see that I’m a boxer-puncher, but you’ll see my full power on display.
“I’m happy to be in this rematch. I hope that Dirrell brings action like he’s talking about ar an Satharn. I don’t want to chase him around the ring all night.
“I’m ready to accomplish my dreams, and that involves beating Andre Dirrell more decisively than last night and leaving no doubt at all who the better fighter is.”
LOU DIBELLA, Uachtarán na DiBella Siamsaíocht
“Deontay Wilder put everything aside to face one of the greatest amateur heavyweights in the history of boxing. This fight is happening because Deontay is that good and he’s that proud. Deontay is ready to prove that he’s the baddest man on the planet.
“There is a sensational off-television undercard beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Barclays Center that includes a group of top contenders and prospects. It’s really a loaded undercard from top to bottom.
“That great undercard includes a woman’s title fight involving Alicia Napoleon. Everyone involved in this fight has made an effort to have women’s boxing represented on our cards and I’m proud to be able to deliver that for fans.
“This will be Deontay’s third defense of his title in Brooklyn at Barclays Center. He successfully defended against Artur Szpilka and Bermane Stiverne, with two frightening knockouts. I’m proud to work with Barclays Center and promote boxing in Brooklyn. This is certainly one of the best venues for boxing in the world and certainly a venue that is dedicated to bringing the fans consistently excellent programming inside the arena.
“This fight is getting the kind of reception that it deserves. If you want to get tickets for Dé Sathairnoíche, I would call now because they’re moving fast.”
STEPHEN Espinoza, President Sports & Events Programming, Showtime Sports Inc.
“When we have a fight card like this, the network gets a lot of credit but these fights truly don’t happen unless fighters like Wilder and Ortiz are ready to take the fights.
“When we announced our schedule back in January, there was one fight that jumped out to everyone, and it was Wilder vs. Ortiz. They have 67 fights between them, 67 Bhuaigh, 0 losses and 62 knockouts. This is part of what we’re calling ‘March Madness’ ar Showtime. All four heavyweight titles, the top four heavyweights in the world, including Anthony Joshua vs. Joseph Parker on Márta 31, facing each other this month on SHOWTIME. There hasn’t been a lineup like that put together by any network in the history of the sport.
“The titles are great but these fights are about something else. They’re about legacy. When people look back and ask, ‘what kind of fighter was Deontay Wilder?’ This is the fight that they will talk about. More important than knockouts and unbeaten records, this is why fighters are remembered.
“Dirrell vs. Uzcategui 2 is good enough to be a main event and they deserve to have a great stage for this rematch. These are the kind of cards that people look back and say, were you there that night? If you’re not watching this card, you’re not a boxing fan. Because this is the best that the sport has to offer.”
BRETT YORMARK, CEO of Brooklyn Sports & Siamsaíocht
“I can’t tell you how excited I am for Saturday night. People are starting to realize how viable this sport is and that boxing is a sport on the rise. We’re thrilled to be a part of it
“Events like Dé Sathairn in Brooklyn are why this sport is thriving. It features a deep card from top to bottom, 50-50 fights and great fighters with magnetic personalities
“Deontay, even though you weren’t born in Brooklyn, we do consider you our own. We’re excited to have Luis Ortiz as well, don chéad uair, ar an Satharn oíche. This is a card from top to bottom that’s incredible and I’m thrilled to welcome Andre and Jose to Brooklyn.
“Tá na suíocháin ag gluaiseacht i ndáiríre go tapa agus ba cheart go mbeadh sé seo ar cheann de na troideanna is mó a bhí againn in Ionad Barclays. Tá muid ar bís don seó seo agus táimid ag tnúth le gach duine a fheiceáil ann.”
