Heavyweight World Championship Saterdag, Junie 13,
Woon op Showtime^® Van Bartow Arena in Birmingham, Ala.;

All Access: Deontay Wilder Premières Junie 3 On SHOWTIME

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Foto Credit: Bill Hoffman

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Foto Credit: Joel Martinez/SHOWTIME

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Foto Credit: Victor Planas/Universal Promotions

NEW YORK (Junie 1, 2015) – Onoorwonne Swaargewig wêreldkampioen Deontay “Die Brons Bomber” Wilder, confident heavyweight contender Eric “Drummer Boy” Molina and unbeaten junior lightweight Jose “Die Sniper” Pedraza participated in Media Day Workouts last Thursday for their fights Saterdag, Junie 13, op Showtime KAMPIOENSKAP boks^® woon op Showtime^® (9 namiddag. EN/6 namiddag. PT) by Bartow Arena in Birmingham, Ala.

The power-punching, popular hometown favorite Wilder (33-0, 32 Uitklophoue), van Tuscaloosa, Ala., will make the first defense of his title when he meets Molina (23-2, 17 Uitklophoue), van Raymond Ville, Texas, in die belangrikste gebeurtenis op Junie 13. Pedraza (19-0, 12 Uitklophoue), van Caguas, Puerto Rico, sal voldoen Andrey Klimov (19-1, 9 Uitklophoue), van Klimovski, Rusland, in a 12-rounder for the vacant IBF Junior Lightweight World Championship in the co-feature.

Below is what Wilder, Molina and Pedraza said during their separate Media Days in Northport, Ala., Weslaco, Texas and Cidra, Puerto Rico, onderskeidelik:

DEONTAY WILDER, Swaargewig-wêreldkampioen

“It’s definitely a blessing to be able to fight in my state. When we set the goal to be heavyweight champion of the world that was one of the goals we set, to bring it to Alabama. Just to change it up and give Alabama some spice besides football, and to finally get the opportunity to have a major fight in the state of Alabama. This is what we were looking for when we worked to bring the commission here, and we were successful and got it done. This is what we were looking for.

“I want Alabama to be my home territory. It’s why I stay here. Some people still try to throw me out but my heart is here and I’ve got bigger and better plans. This is just the beginning.

“My team handles all the distractions (from fighting at home). I’ve got a wonderful team. Ek is net gereed om te gaan. I’m ready to get this party started and welcome Molina to Alabama.

“My hand is fine. We tested it yesterday for 10-ounce gloves because that’s the competition weight. We put it on and I felt great. It gave me even more confidence. I’m ready to get in the ring and do what I have to do and perform for my people.”

(on being world champion)

“We knew we would be doing a lot of traveling after getting the belt but we didn’t know the capacity of how much. It’s been a journey for me.

“I think I bring a different flavor to the sport of boxing, and I want to bring even more to the world.”

(on Molina)

“I haven’t heard from Molina but that’s good, that means he’s focused. I want him to come very focused. I know he’s going to be nervous and scared, but they say if you back a rabbit in a corner, they fight back.

“I’m most dangerous when I’m at home. I’m not going to let down my home crowd and let someone take what I’ve worked so hard for. He’s not going to come behind enemy lines and take anything from me.

“I want a great performance from him. I want a great performance for the crowd and people to say, "Haai, I want to come back for the next one!’ and to be hungry for the next one. We got a lot of fights we want to do in Alabama, and this is just the start. I want to move on from Bartow to the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex (BJCC), which is bigger than the MGM Grand.

“Every title defense is proving something. I’m the world’s most wanted, and everyone wants it. I’ve got the WBC crown. It’s the most well-known, famous belt in boxing. Everyone wants their name on this belt, and I have it. Every fight is a dangerous fight when I’m putting the belt on the line, and I train as if everyone is a world champion.”

(on why he’s defending against Molina)

“We have a lot of other opponents, but Molina was the one to understand the opportunity that lies at hand. Some people can price themselves out and some teams make it so difficult that the fight won’t happen. They can really block themselves out from getting the fight. You can have the money or the opportunity. Molina understands what the situation is, and he stepped up to the plate and understands the opportunity at hand to be the World Heavyweight Champion.

“My last fight I proved to everyone what I was capable of. I can go 12 rounds and take a punch. I can be just as fresh in the 12th round as the 1st.

“The sky’s the limit in what we’re trying to do. I represent the state. Even though I’m from Tuscaloosa, it’s not just where my gym is in Northport or Coffeeville. I represent the state of Alabama. I need a home territory and a home state not only where we can bring in local people, bring in the nation, but also bring in the whole world.”

ERIC MOLINA, Swaargewig Contender

“This is the fight that we dream about when we first lace on the gloves and I am extremely excited about the opportunity to fight for the biggest prize in sports, the WBC heavyweight title. I’ve been preparing and training very hard, and I’m almost at the point where we’re ready to go.

“We’ve studied a lot of Wilder, and expect a very physical fight. I think a lot of people are underestimating my strength and power. They know Wilder can punch but they are underestimating the power that I possess.

“We know it’s going be a hostile environment, fighting in basically his backyard, but he’s now the champion and with that he gets an opportunity in his optional title defense (to fight who he wants, where he wants). He gets to enjoy those opportunities, but that’s where I come in.

“Natuurlik, I’m confident I can win the title. I think people look at my record and think this or that, but I don’t feel they understand my entire career, the things I have gone through and overcome, the different angles of boxing that more than meets the eye.

“Nothing against Deontay, who has worked hard to get to where he is, but he doesn’t represent the kind of fighter, oor die algemeen, that I am. I’ve always had to fight and struggle from fight to fight. I never had a true training camp situation. I’m not saying he had things easy, but I had to work and juggle things to keep going. Only the fighters in my situation can understand it.

“I’ve been boxing for nine years. I have a BS and Master’s Degree and I’m in my fourth year teaching kids with disabilities. Along with boxing, this is what I do. This is who I am, and I am not ashamed of who I am either. I’m proud. If they want to consider me an underdog, fyn. But I’m also the guy who got knocked out in his first pro fight and battled back to where I am now and I’m fighting for the championship.

“What people don’t know about me is that my career has been all about determination, strength and struggles. Other boxers, including Bernard Hopkins, lost their first fights and went on to win a world title. I’ve learned a lot from my two losses and now I have the confidence to accomplish anything.

“Bottom line is I am not trying to convince anybody who I am, I just want people to see who the real Eric Molina is — that I am more than what my record on paper indicates. I was NABF champion for a while but could never get a fight so I was dropped from the rankings. It was like I had to start over again. But I stuck to it, and with everything else I had going on outside the ring, things I had to put aside for this fight, still managed to get into the position I’m in now.

“I don’t think there’s ever been a heavyweight contender like me. Where I train, there are no other real heavyweights except for one or two. I have to fly guys in to help me work with the guys already here. I’ve been in camps with Bermane Stiverne; I often had to go to where the sparring was just to get the work.

“I’ve never been in a spot where things have been easy for me in boxing. I never had the odds on my side, the tools, the resources. But I still made it this far and want to go farther.

“I think the first round is very important. I expect that from the get-go that he will feel like he could hurt me, but I also feel very strongly that I could hurt him. So it is very important to be ready for that first bell.

“Dit gaan 'n groot stryd wees, much, much better than many may be expecting, and I am ready.”

Jose Pedraza, Unbeaten Junior Lightweight Contender

“As a Puerto Rican, every time I fight, I fight for the honor of my people. So, op Junie 13, I won’t only be fighting to win a world title, I’ll be fighting for Cidra, Puerto Rico and for all the Puerto Ricans out there watching me. Puerto Rico needs another champion and I’m here to deliver and make my people proud. I cannot afford to let them down. I won’t let Puerto Rico down. I’ll come back a champion.

“This is a great opportunity fighting on a big show on SHOWTIME. It has taken hard work, dedication and long gym work to obtain this big exposure on SHOWTIME.

“My last fight against Michael Farenas was very important to me because that fight was a title eliminator and, by winning, it opened the door to this fight and finally my dream of becoming world champion is close to arriving.

“It has been a long and hard training camp — intensive. We opened camp in Las Vegas in December. This camp has been special because it is for the world championship.

“Andrey Klimov is a strong boxer, always going forward, the jab and straight right are his best shots. The only thing I see is he is strong and has good fitness. From his last fight against Terrence Crawford I could see that he has problems when he fights a left-handed boxer with good movement. I will be working in side steps and with speed.

“I hope that he comes well prepared for me. We must do our best to give the fans a good show. OpJunie 13, I will be a new champ and after that I want to make two defenses and move to 135.”

# # #

All Access: Deontay Wilder, which chronicle’s the champion’s January fight against Bermane Stiverne and sets the stage as he prepares for his upcoming title defense, premières op Woensdag, Junie 3 by 10 namiddag. EN/PT.
“WILDER vs. MOLINA,” 'n 12-Round stryd vir WBC Swaargewig Championship Wilder se, plaasvindSaterdag, Junie 13, by Die Bartow Arena in Birmingham, Ala. DiBella Vermaak en Bruno Event Team het kragte saamgesnoer om hierdie gebeurtenis te bring Alabama. In die mede-hoofren mede-romoted deur DiBella in samewerking met Universal Promotions, Jose Pedraza gesig Andrey Klimov in 'n 12-Round bout vir die IBF Jr. Liggewig Wêreld Titel. Dit sal regstreeks uitsaai op Showtime^® (9 namiddag. EN/ 6 namiddag. PT). Die uitsending sal ook beskikbaar wees in Spaans via sekondêre klank programmering (SAP). Voorlopige aanvalle word regstreeks op Showtime EXTREME (7 namiddag. EN/PT, vertraag op die Weskus).

Vir meer inligting besoek www.sports.sho.com en www.dbe1.com volg op Twitter bySHOSports, WilderVSMolina, BronzeBomber, LouDiBella EnSwanson_Comm, volg die gesprek met behulp #WilderMolina, 'n bewonderaar op Facebook by www.facebook.com/SHOBoxing of besoek die Showtime Boxing Blog by http://theboxingblog.sho.com.

UIT BARTOW arena in BIRMINGHAM, ALA.

Kaartjies is nou te koop!

All Access: Deontay Wilder Premieres Junie 3 On SHOWTIME

In die mede-funksie, onoorwonne Jose “Die Sniper” Pedraza (19-0, 12 Uitklophoue), van Caguas, Puerto Rico, sal teengestaan ​​deur Andrey Klimov (19-1, 9 Uitklophoue), van Klimovski, Rusland, in 'n 12-rounder vir die vakante IBF junior liggewig-World Championship.

The 6-foot-7 Wilder captured the heavyweight world championship with an impressive 12-round unanimous decision over defending titleholder Gold Cup op Jan. 17 op Showtime. It was the first time the hard-hitting Wilder, 29, had fought more than four full rounds and the only time in his seven-year career that one of his fights went to the judges. By winning, he became the first undefeated American to win a heavyweight title since Michael Moorer in 1994.

Molina, a 6-foot-5 southpaw, possesses punching power that commands respect and makes him a dangerous proposition for any opponent. He has won five in a row, three straight by knockout, including an eighth-round TKO over Raphael Zumbano Love on the Wilder-Stiverne undercard. As triomfantelike, the aggressive-minded 32-year-old would become the first Mexican-American heavyweight world champion.

Kaartjies vir die geleentheid, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment in association with Bruno Events Team are on sale now. Tickets start at only $25 with the best seats in the house going for $200. VIP packages are also available. To purchase tickets fans should visit alabamatitlefight.com. Tickets are selling fast and a sellout is anticipated.

“It’s a wonderful feeling to be able to defend my heavyweight championship in my home state,” Wilder gesê. “I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time.

“It was one of my dreams to win a world title. This was my other dream to be able to defend it before all my fans in Alabama. I can’t wait until fight night to step into the ring and see the whole state coming out to support me.”

“I remember just a few months ago watching Deontay get ready for the biggest fight of his life,” Molina said. “I thought to myself, ‘someday, that’ll be me.’ I stared with envy not knowing that a few months later I’d get my turn.

“Winning the heavyweight world championship is my dream. Just as it was Deontay’s dream, it’s mine now. He had his turn, though it will be short-lived. I will become the first Mexican-American heavyweight champion. Guaranteed. So, champ, come prepared for war. I’m coming to kick some ass.”

“Deontay Wilder is the first American to hold a heavyweight championship in years and one of the most exciting fighters in the division. His homecoming in Birmingham will be electric,” promoter Lou DiBella said. “The opening bout will be Jose Pedraza’s opportunity to establish himself as Puerto Rico’s next champion and a rising star. It will be a great night of boxing on SHOWTIME.”

“We are excited to work with DiBella Entertainment to bring the first ever heavyweight boxing championship to the State of Alabama,” sê Gene Hallman, president en uitvoerende hoof van Bruno Event Team, a nationwide leader in sports event management. “Alabama’s Deontay Wilder always puts on a show, so we expect the arena to sell out for this world heavyweight championship.”

“Deontay made an emphatic statement with his performance in January that he is one of the current and future stars of this sport, and we’re thrilled to welcome him back to SHOWTIME for his first title defense, ” sê Stephen Espinoza, Uitvoerende vise-president & Algemene Bestuurder Showtime Sport. “But we all know that one punch can change everything in the heavyweight division and Eric Molina will be coming to Alabama to prove just that.”

All Access: Deontay Wilder, which chronicles the champion’s Jan. 24 homecoming parade in Tuscaloosa and his preparation for the upcoming title defense, premières op Woensdag, Junie 3 by 10 namiddag. EN/PT.

Wilder, the first United States-born heavyweight champion since Shannon Briggs won the WBO belt in November 2006, was born and raised in Tuscaloosa. He’s fought in Alabama five times, although the bout on the campus of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) will mark the first occasion he’s fought outside of Tuscaloosa (four times) or Mobile (once). This will be the first fight in his home state since August 2012.

Wilder started boxing at the age of 21 after his daughter Naieya (pronounced nie-EE-ya) was born with spina bifida. Despite his late start in boxing, Wilder would go on to represent the United States in the 2008 Olimpiese Spele, waar hy het 'n brons medalje. Hy is die laaste Amerikaanse manlike bokser te medalje in die Olimpiese Spele.

Until going the distance against Stiverne, Wilder hadn’t come close to putting in a full night’s work since turning pro in November 2008. The then-virtually untested slugger had fought a total of 58 rondes, an average of 1.8 rounds per outing. He’s registered 18 uitklophoue in die eerste ronde, eight in the second.

Molina, who resides in Weslaco, Texas, is a big slugger, rugged and strong. He has good skills and movement and, like Wilder, got a belated start in boxing but has had only two defeats as a professional.

“The Drummer Boy” is on a roll, coming off five consecutive victories. Molina’s matchup with Wilder will be his first shot at a world title.

# # #

“WILDER VS. MOLINA, 'n 12-ronde stryd vir WBC Swaargewig Championship Wilder se, plaasvindSaterdag, Junie 13, by Die Bartow Arena in Birmingham, Ala. DiBella Vermaak en Bruno Event Team het kragte saamgesnoer om hierdie gebeurtenis te bring Alabama. Dit sal regstreeks uitsaai op Showtime^® (9 namiddag. EN/ 6 namiddag. PT). Die uitsending sal ook beskikbaar wees in Spaans via sekondêre klank programmering (SAP). Voorlopige aanvalle word regstreeks op Showtime EXTREME (7 namiddag. EN/PT, vertraag op die Weskus).

Vir meer inligting besoek www.sports.sho.com en www.dbe1.com volg op Twitter bySHOSports, BronzeBomber, LouDiBella EnSwanson_Comm, volg die gesprek met behulp #WilderMolina, 'n bewonderaar op Facebook by www.facebook.com/SHOBoxing of besoek die Showtime Boxing Blog byhttp://theboxingblog.sho.com.