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boxa, Temps De La Funció, Showtime Boxing

GARY RUSSELL JR. KNOCKS OUT PATRICK HYLAND TO RETAIN WBC FEATHERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SATURDAY NIGHT ON SHOWTIME®

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Jose Pedraza Remains Unbeaten With Unanimous Decision Over Stephen Smith In IBF Junior Lightweight Championship

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Aquest dilluns a 10 p.m. I/PT El SHO EXTREME®

Feu clic a AQUÍ Per a les fotos From Stephanie Trapp/SHOWTIME

 

Mashantucket, Conn. (Abril. 17, 2016) – WBC Featherweight World Champion Gary Russell Jr.. retained his title with a remarkable TKO of Irishman Patrick Hyland Dissabteon SHOWTIME from Fox Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Conn. En la baralla co-estel·lar, Jose Pedraza defended his IBF Junior Lightweight title with a unanimous decision over Stephen Smith.

 

Aquesta nit de event was a family affair with Russell Jr. working his brother Antonio’s corner during aquesta nit undercard and boxing’s Smith brothers, including current WBO Super Welterweight World Champion Liam Smith, cheering from the crowd.

 

A relentless Russell brought the main event to a quick halt by registering three knockdowns in the second round, the last of which forced referee Danny Schiavone to end the contest at 1:33. Des de la primera campana, el Washington, D.C. native came out swinging with his trademark hand speed and dangerous power. Russell, un zurdo, successfully broke down—and knocked out—Hyland with multiple vicious right hooks.

 

“We stuck to the game plan. We stayed sharp,” said Russell Jr., que millora el seu rècord a 27 victòries, one loss, 15 nocauts.

 

“I’m ready to fight anyone in the division – Santa Cruz, Llegeix Selby. Estem a punt. But what I really want is [Vasyl] Lomachenko. I don’t care if he moves up to 147 lliura. I will go anywhere to get that fight,” Russell said.

 

“There aren’t many fighters who you instantly know are special,” said SHOWTIME Sports expert analyst Steve Farhood. “The combination of Gary Russell’s hand speed and accuracy instantly shows us that he’s special. That was plainly evident aquesta nit and at times his hand speed was frightening.”

 

Pedraza (22-0, 12 KOs) remained disciplined and came out victorious during his second IBF 130-pound world title defense. A combination of timing, hand speed and good defense allowed the Puerto Rican native to dominate the 12-round championship fight.

 

“This definitely was a tough fight but the training really came to advantage in this fight,” Pedraza told SHOWTIME Sports reporter Jim Gray. “I knew he was a tough fighter so I was always aware.”

 

“I had better focus aquesta nit. I had a better training camp,” said Pedraza, referring to his controversial split decision win over Edner Cherry two fights ago. “I knew that Stephen Smith was a great fighter and even after the knockdown, we were very cautious not to rush in.”

 

“Pedraza won aquesta nit with different weapons. Mostly right hands to the head,"Va dir Farhood. “I had the fight even after eight rounds and once Pedraza dropped Smith in the ninth, he gained momentum that he never lost and he pulled away. It was an impressive performance but also an important one because it erased a lot of the negative criticism Pedraza received in his controversial win over Edner Cherry.”

 

Pedraza was the more accurate fighter, aterratge 50 percent of his power punches over the 12-round bout. The Sniper was able to pick his spots and pocket rounds once he figured out the distance. Smith had his moments, but wasn’t active enough.

 

Brian Custer va acollir l'emissió de SHOWTIME, amb Mauro Ranallo convocant l'acció, Analista del Saló de la Fama En Bernstein i excampió del món dues vegades Paulie Malignaggi comentari i Jim Gray la presentació d'informes. En la transmissió simultània espanyol, Alejandro Lluna anomenat cop a cop i excampió del món Raúl Márquez va servir de comentarista de color. El productor executiu de SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING va ser David Dinkins Jr.. amb Bob Dunphy dirigent.

boxa, Temps De La Funció, Showtime Boxing

GARY RUSSELL JR. vs. PATRICK HYLAND, JOSE PEDRAZA vs. STEPHEN SMITH CITACIONS DE LA CONFERÈNCIA DE PREMSA FINAL & FOTOS DOBLE CAMPIONAT MUNDIAL AQUEST DISSABTE, Abril 16, VIURE A SHOWTIME

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“Jo necessitat de mantenir el control de la lluita, tancar la distància, i mantenir el jab. Domini total.” –
Gary Russell Jr..
“Lluitar pel títol del CMB és tot el que he somiat des que era petit.”
– Patrick Hyland
“He estat esperant molt de temps que arribi aquest dia i li demostrarem a Smith que sóc una arma.” – Jose Pedraza
“Crec que tinc el que cal per lluitar contra ningú i res m'impedirà convertir-me en campió del món.” –
Stephen Smith

Feu clic a AQUÍ Per descarregar fotos; Crèdit: Stephanie Trapp / SHOWTIME
NOVA YORK (Abril 13, 2016) – Campió de pes ploma del CMB Gary Russell Jr.. (26-1, 15 KOs), de Capitol Heights, Md., i el candidat irlandès Patrick Hyland (31-1, 15 KOs), de Dublín, es van enfrontar a la roda de premsa final Dimecres al Highline Ballroom de Nova York, a mesura que s'acosten d'aquest dissabte La lluita pel títol mundial de pes ploma en directe TEMPS DE LA FUNCIÓ® del Fox Theatre de Foxwoods Resort Casino a Mashantucket, Connecticut.
La SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® La retransmissió en directe comença a les 11 p.m. I/8 p.m. PT a SHOWTIME amb enfrontament al Campionat del Món de pes lleuger júnior de la FIB entre un porto-riqueny invicte Jose Pedraza (21-0, 12 KOs) i desafiador obligatori Stephen Smith (23-1, 13 KOs), de Liverpool, Anglaterra.
Aquí teniu el que van dir els lluitadors Dimecres de roda de premsa final.
GARY RUSSELL JR.
(A Patrick Hyland…)
“Primer i abans que res, Li he de treure el barret. Li vaig sentir dir que estava sent entrenat pel seu pare. Jo i els meus germans petits també som entrenats pel meu pare. El meu pare és el meu superheroi preferit, així que és molt difícil fer front a una situació com aquesta i recuperar-se, molar i dedicar-hi tot el treball i l'esforç després de tot el dolor i la pèrdua., He de treure-li el barret per això.
Sé que sempre tens un lluitador que s'entrena de sis a vuit setmanes i no es prepara per a ningú més que tu., és una lluita perillosa. És alt, ell és llarg, però el podem agafar. Nosaltres ho gestionarem.”
(En tornar de la lesió…)
“Em sento bé. Estic a punt; Vaig posar la feina al gimnàs. Com he dit abans, Em van insultar diverses vegades i de vegades vaig sortir del gimnàs sentint-me com el pitjor lluitador de la història. Però, ara mateix, estem preparats i estem preparats per invertir en la meva capacitat.”
(Sobre el que significa tenir el seu germà Antonio a la carta que encapçala…)
“Significa molt. Estic desitjant. De fet, tinc més ganes de veure com el meu germà competir que la meva pròpia lluita. Definitivament treballaré al seu racó en aquesta lluita. Significa molt per a nosaltres poder transmetre aquesta informació de generació en generació i veure-la créixer i veure'ns construir com a família i com a unitat.. És increïble.’
“Definitivament té el potencial de ser el millor. Ell i Antuanne, qui està ara al 2016 equip olímpic. És tota la informació que es transmet de generació en generació. Sento que definitivament tenen la capacitat de ser millors que jo. M'agradaria que ho fossin de totes maneres.”
(Sobre el que necessita per guanyar la lluita…)
“Necessito mantenir el control de la lluita, tanca la distància i mantén el jab. Domini total; Vull tocar el cos aviat. Li agrada molt moure's, així que reduirem tot això.”
(Sobre futurs oponents potencials…)
“Si Déu vol, tot va bé vinga Abril 16, ens encantaria unir-nos amb Lee Selby. Si tingués la meva opció, Primer aniria amb Lee Selby per unificar-se. Immediatament després d'això, Vull Leo Santa Cruz i després necessito Lomachenko.
“No m'importa on [Lomachenko] es mou. Pot perdre el seu següent 10 baralles, però abans d'acabar la meva carrera m'ha de veure.”
PATRICK HYLAND
(Sobre el que li dóna la sensació de satisfacció en la boxa…)
“Lluitar pel títol del CMB és tot el que he somiat des que era petit i tot el treball dur que he fet per arribar a aquesta posició per lluitar per això.. Estic feliç i només estic vivint per això ara Dissabte nit.”
(En ser el primer boxejador irlandès des de Barry McGuigan que ostenta un títol mundial de pes ploma…)
“És un remolí i és genial. Només sóc un noi local de Johnstown a Dublín i per estar lluitant al gran escenari i lluitant per un títol mundial important, i tornar a ser nomenat el segon pes ploma a guanyar un títol mundial seria increïble; un autèntic somni fet realitat per a mi mateix.”
(Sobre Gary Russell…)
“Sé que té mans ràpides. És un gran zurd i un gran boxejador, així que he d'estar al màxim de les meves capacitats en dissabte nit per això. Vaig treballar en un pla de joc al gimnàs per contrarestar la velocitat de la seva mà i tot s'ha d'ajuntar la nit de lluita. Puc fer tot això i dir-ho tot, però només tinc que actuar en dissabte nit i posar-ho fent tot el que he treballat per convertir-me en campió.”
JOSE PEDRAZA
(Al camp d'entrenament…)
“Em sento molt bé, estem a l'últim tram de condicionament. Va ser un entrenament molt llarg i intens, però vam veure millores en les meves capacitats. He estat esperant molt de temps que arribi aquest dia i li demostrarem a Smith que sóc una arma.
(Sobre Stephen Smith…)
“Smith és un molt bon boxejador, té moltes habilitats i intel·ligència. És un boxejador amb molt bona defensa, però ja utilitzem una varietat d'estratègies per poder neutralitzar totes les seves habilitats.”
(Sobre el que té previst demostrar en dissabte…)
“Amb les meves capacitats, tal com Dissabte, Demostraré que estic per sobre de Smith i que estic al nivell del que sóc, un campió. Total, Només vull fer un espectacle i espero que la base de fans gaudeixi d'aquesta gran carta.”
(Sobre el que va aprendre lluitant contra Edner Cherry…)
“He après el que sempre he dit i el que sempre he fet fins avui, que mai està mirant. Mai veig massa vídeos del meu oponent perquè el dia de la lluita podria ser un lluitador completament diferent i crec que això va passar llavors.. A part d'això, va utilitzar una gran estratègia.”
(Sobre els seus pensaments sobre altres boxejadors porto-riquenys…)
“De fet, sóc campió del món igual que Rocky Martínez; hi ha moltes perspectives porto-riquenyes. Igual que [Felix] Verdejo però encara no el considero un aspirant al títol mundial. No ha lluitat amb un boxejador de calibre de campionat, però actualment es troba entre els millors lluitadors de Puerto Rico.”
(En altres baralles que li poden interessar 130 lliura…)
“Sempre he dit que com menys porto-riquenys lluito, la millor. Si és l'última opció, També lluitaré amb els porto-riquenys, però a part d'això Rocky [Martínez] el campió del món, hi ha Francisco Vargas, [Javier] Sort, per citar-ne alguns que estan al capdamunt de la meva llista.”
STEPHEN SMITH
(En la seva primera lluita als Estats Units….)
“Estic emocionat. Si vols fer-te un nom a la boxa, després ho faràs als Estats Units i això és el que tinc previst fer-me el dissabte convertint-me en campió del món.”
(Sobre el que sap de Pedraza…)
“Bé, no gaire. Conec el seu nom de l'època d'aficionats. Està ben establert, és un olímpic i un home amb talent. Lluitar contra algú consisteix a guanyar o no, va més enllà de les tàctiques, més enllà de l'estil i més enllà de les habilitats realment. Crec que tinc el que cal per lluitar contra ningú i res m'impedirà convertir-me en campió del món.”
(Sobre el que ha de fer per aconseguir la victòria…)
“Pot ser un tipus de lluita diferent; sabem que li agrada canviar-lo i boxar des de diferents postures. Òbviament té talent, així que necessitarà un conjunt diferent de cada sentit, però sabem què esperar. Ho he revisat tot amb el meu entrenador Joe Gallagher i estem preparats per marxar.”
(Sobre els seus germans Liam i Callum ser campions i el que podria significar unir-se a ells…)
“És especial. Fa dues setmanes Liam i Callum van guanyar un títol europeu i només em dona confiança, l'esperit per caminar. Estic en un molt bon lloc mentalment i no em podria sentir millor entrant-hi. Després del meu camp d'entrenament va bé, només et fa sentir millor avançar per convertir-te en campió del món.”
(Els campions del Regne Unit van augmentar l'any passat…)
“Hi ha molta història allà i per a mi i la meva família, així que fem el que sempre hem volgut fer i busquem seguir avançant.”
ENTRENADOR JOE GALLAGHER
(Al camp d'entrenament…)
“Va ser bo. Òbviament, va arribar a la victòria de Callum. Hi ha un bon impuls. Callum i després Stephen tenen la seva oportunitat de títol mundial. Ha estat un ascens lent amb Stephen, però ho té, com jo l'anomeno "la seva final de la Copa del Món".’ — una cosa que necessitarà cor i força. La seva força li va molt bé. Pedraza és un molt bon lluitador, bona ortodoxa, bon zurdo, el pot barrejar i estem preparats per a qualsevol estil que vulgui aportar en dissabte.”
(Sobre el procés de preparació per a un lluitador com Pedraza…)
“És un malson. És prou difícil quan estàs lluitant contra un ortodox de qualitat o un zurt de qualitat, del qual és, però no només això. També pot boxejar al peu del darrere i al peu davanter, de manera que estem diferents companys d'entrenador, estem barrejant el sparring entre les rondes, canvi de postures, i com vulgui lluitar Pedraza al final de la nit, Estic segur que tindrem una resposta.”
(Sobre com sent que es jugarà la lluita…)
“Crec que tot això depèn de Pedraza, mirant enrere algunes de les seves baralles, boxa lentament i comença bé, però després sembla que es perd una mica en rondes. Quan el mires en contra [Andrey] Klimov, va començar molt bé, el va posar sota les maneres molt ràpidament i gairebé el va guanyar a la quarta ronda, però [Andrey] va aconseguir mantenir-se molt bé i va encaixar molt bé. Va arribar a les rondes mitjanes, es va perdre una mica, canviat de zurdo, així que de qualsevol manera serà fascinant. Només hem d'assegurar-nos que no ens agafen ben aviat quan és ràpid i esmolat i intenta posar maneres en Stephen Smith i després portar-lo a les aigües profundes com Edner Cherry.”
(La seva predicció…)
“Stephen Smith. Possiblement per nocaut. No, definitivament per nocaut.”
# # #
Per obtenir més informació, visita www.SHO.com/Sports, seguir-nos a TwitterSHOSports, MrGaryRussellJr, @PajPunisher, @Sniper_Pedraza, @SwiftySmith, LouDiBella, @FoxwoodsCT i @Swanson_Comm o fes-te fan a Facebook a www.Facebook.com/SHOSports, i www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment.
boxa, Temps De La Funció, Showtime Boxing

Former World Champion Chad Dawson, Featherweight Contender Ryan Kielczweski & Undefeated Prospects Antonio Russell & Carlos Gongora Highlight Undercard Action on Saturday, Abril 16 From Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut.

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Doubleheader of World Title Fights Featured on
SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING
(11 p.m. I/8 p.m. PT)
Mashantucket, Connecticut (Abril 11, 2016) – A stacked undercard of action featuring former world champion “Dolent” Txad Dawson (33-4, 18 KOs), contendent de pes ploma Ryan Kielczweski (24-1, 7 KOs) and undefeated prospects Antonio Russell (5-0, 4 KOs) i Carlos Góngora (4-0, 3 KOs) ve a Foxwoods Resort Casino a Mashantucket, Connecticut., a Dissabte, Abril 16.
The event is headlined by a SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING doubleheader of world title fights: WBC campió mundial de pes ploma Gary Russell Jr.. battles Ireland’s Patricio “El castigador” Hyland and IBF Junior Lightweight World Champion Jose “Sniper” Pedraza takes on top contender Stephen “Swifty” Herrero from the UK, amb una cobertura televisiva en viu començant per SHOWTIME a les 11 p.m. I/8 p.m. PT.
Dawson will face the veteran Cornelius White (23-4, 17 KOs) en una baralla de pes lleuger de 10 assalts, Kielczweski enters the ring for eight rounds of featherweight action, Gongora competes in a super middleweight attraction while Russell takes on Leonardo Reyes (3-9, 1 KO) in a bantamweight fight.
Also entering the ring is popular super bantamweight contender Shelley Vincent (16-0, 1 KO) out of Providence, RI., who will have plenty of support behind her when she takes on New Mexico’s Elizabeth Anderson (4-7, 1 KO) en un combat a sis assalts.
Rounding out the action are a pair of prospects making their pro debuts as Providence’s Anthony Marsella Jr. fights in a four-round junior welterweight match and Connecticut’s Mykquan Williams in a four-round welterweight contest. Williams is a highly touted local prospect who fought to a 45-13 amateur record including three gold medal performances at the Ringside World Tournament.
Un excampió del món en el pes semipesado, Dawson returns to the ring looking for the 34º victòria de la seva reeixida carrera. El 33-anys d'edat, és amo de victòries sobre l'ex campió mundial Bernard Hopkins, Antonio Tarver and Tomasz Ademek and most recently defeated Shujaa El Amin in December 2015. The veteran owns a 17-1 record in fights in his home state of Connecticut. He takes on the veteran White out of Houston who picked up victories in his last two starts over Marcus Oliveira and William Johnson.
Un segon lloc en el 2008 Torneig nacional Golden Glove, el jugador de 25 anys d'edat, Kielczweski has become a staple fighting in his native New England. Nascut i criat a Quincy, Missa., he bounced back from his first defeat to deliver a first-round knockout over Anthony Napunyi in May 2015 and followed that up with a victory over veteran contender Rafael Vazquez in October of last year. During this camp, Kielczweski served as a chief sparring partner of the 126-pound champion Russell Jr.
Twice a National Golden Gloves runner up, Russell won the national championship in 2013 and he now looks to follow in the footsteps of his older brother and current 126-pound world champion Gary. A 23-year-old fighting out of Washington, D.C., Antonio has won four of his five fights inside of the distance. He faces the 22-year-old Mexican Reis.
Fighting out of Brooklyn but originally from Esmereldas, Equador, Gongora was an Olympian in 2008 i 2012. Des que es va convertir en professional en 2015, the 26-year-old has picked up four victories, including a fourth-round stoppage of Derrick Adkins in his most recent triumph in January.
Per obtenir més informació, visita www.SHO.com/Sports, seguir-nos a TwitterSHOSports, MrGaryRussellJr, @PajPunisher, @Sniper_Pedraza, @SwiftySmith, LouDiBella, @FoxwoodsCT i @Swanson_Comm o fes-te fan a Facebook a www.Facebook.com/SHOSports, i www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment.
boxa, Temps De La Funció, Showtime Boxing

Abril 16 TRAINING CAMP NOTES: GARY RUSSELL, PATRICK HYLAND, JOSE PEDRAZA, STEPHEN SMITH

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SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® World Title Doubleheader

En viu per SHOWTIME® (11 p.m. I/8 p.m. PT) des
Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut

NOVA YORK (Abril 7, 2016) – The boxers who will be fighting Dissabte, Abril 16 on aTEMPS DE LA FUNCIÓ CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® world title doubleheader are deep into their respective training camps as they continue preparation for their bouts at Foxwoods Resort Casino a Mashantucket, Connecticut.

 

En l'esdeveniment principal, viure TEMPS DE LA FUNCIÓ® (11 p.m. I/8 p.m. PT), the talented and speedy southpaw Gary Russell Jr.. (26-1, 15 KOs) makes the first defense of his WBC Featherweight World Title against Irish contender Patrick Hyland (31-1, 15 KOs). In the SHOWTIME co-feature, unbeaten sniper Jose Pedraza (21-0, 12 KOs) risks his IBF 130-pound world title as he defends his title for the second time against a mandatory challenger, Stephen Smith (23-1, 13 KOs).

 

Russell, who won the 126-pound title with a fourth-round knockout over defending champion Jhonny González al març 28, 2015, trains in Washington, D.C.

 

Hyland, whose only loss suffered was to WBA Super Featherweight World Champion Javier Fortuna, has been training at a gym in Dublin, Irlanda, owned and operated by his trainer, Pasqual Collins, whose older brother Steve was a former two-time WBO world champion. Paschal Collins also boxed as a pro but is best known for being Irish heavyweight Kevin McBride’s head trainer during his shocking knockout of Mike Tyson.

 

The switch-hitting Pedraza, 1 2012 Porto-riqueny olímpic, has been working out in his native Puerto Rico. Herrero, de Liverpool, Anglaterra, has been training in the UK.

 

Below is what the confident boxers had to say with less than two weeks to go before their major fights:

 

GARY RUSSELL JR., WBC campió mundial de pes ploma

(On Training Camp)

“I’ve been in camp in Washington, D.C. for about eight weeks. I suffered the head butt before my November fight but I have been able to train this whole time and returned to sparring eight weeks ago. It’s been a really long training camp but I’m ready to go. This is the hardest part. Fighting is easy, but the preparation before the fight is where the hard work comes in. Being out of the ring so long is difficult, but it’s part of the business. Everything happens for a reason and I’m just really keyed in mentally.”

 

(On fighting Patrick Hyland)

“Hyland is going to come in there to win. You have to have that confidence to get in the ring. He’s preparing himself, but the question is, will it be good enough? I highly doubt it. We don’t take anyone lightly and we prepare to the best of our abilities. Everyone in the ring can pull off the upset. That’s why I have to be prepared to the fullest.”

 

“He’s not really a pressure fighter so I might have to take the fight to him. He’s long and rangy and he tries to keep his distance. He’s not a big puncher but he definitely has the ability to steal a fight.”

 

(On the fighting Russell family)

“My brother Antuanne made the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team in the 141-pound division and he has a chance soon to qualify for the games with a tournament in Azerbaijan. My other brother Antonio is going to be on my undercard as well. Within my family we’re actually the first set of four brothers to all win the National Golden Gloves. That just goes to show the level of coaching we get from our dad, to have a world champion, two Olympians and four National Golden Gloves winners. We’re trying to leave a legacy in this sport. We’re all very similar in temperament and attitude. We all want to be world champions.”

 

(On dealing with injuries)

“I’ve never had a fight where I was 100 per cent. There’s always been something going on. I have had hand injuries since the beginning of my career but we have creative ways to handle that and preserve my hands. Ara, Em sento molt bé. I just have to pick my shots more, but that’s where the speed becomes a factor.”

 

(On possible future opponents)

“If I can get by Hyland, I want to fight the winner of the Lee Selby vs. Eric Hunter fight and unify titles. After that I’d like to see Leo Santa Cruz and take care of that. Then I want another crack at Vasyl Lomachenko. I don’t care what weight Lomachenko is at, I’ll follow him. He has to see me.”
PATRICK HYLAND, Pes ploma Contender

 

(On Training Camp)

“I’ve been training at Celtic Warriors Gym in Dublin since before Christmas because I had a fight here (Irlanda) a Febrer. 6 but pulled out when I got word that I was fighting on March 12 (en el Mohegan Sun). When that fight was postponed, I took it easy for two weeks until the Abril 16show was announced. That’s when I started picking up training again. I’ve been training really hard and putting everything on the line to become WBC champ. We plan to arrive in the U.S. a week prior to the fight.”

(On fighting Gary Russell Jr.)
“To challenge a great champion, Gary Russell, Jr., is an honor for me. I think Gary is an awesome fighter with great hand speed and boxing ability. I’ve been working with Jono Carroll, an unbeaten Irish southpaw with good hand speed and good movement, who is ideal for what I have to work on to beat Russell.”

(On fighting again in the U.S.)
“I love fighting in the U.S. because there’s always a great atmosphere at the fights and it’s the real home of boxing. I’ve met friends for life who I consider family from the Marlboro area (Hyland lived in Marlboro, N.Y., for a couple of years). They’ll be at this fight, as always.”

(On the fighting Hyland brothers)
"My brothers are no longer fighting. Their last fights were on the same show, Jan. 28, 2012 a Atlantic City, which I headlined in (against Emmanuel Lucero). My older brother, Edward (“Pride of Tallaght”) fought at super featherweight. He runs his own Boxing Club in Dublin. My other brother, Paulie, was a former European and Irish super bantamweight champion. He is back doing a bit of training. No other members of our Hyland family were in professional boxing. I’m hoping we’re not the last, encara que, as I’ve got a few nephews and my own son now. One day they might lace up the gloves.”

JOSE PEDRAZA, IBF Super Featherweight World Champion

 

(On Training Camp)

“I am currently training in the Municipal gym in Cidra, P.R., where I took my first steps in boxing. I decided to train here because it feels like home and I can feel the warmth of my people and I am able to set an example for those who are starting out in boxing as well.”


“My training started in December and it is divided into two sections (morning and evening). During the morning portion we work on all of the specifics of boxing, including gloving up in addition to physical training lasting about three and a half hours. For the evening portion of the training I run. Two days a week it is track training and four days of the week it is distance running for about two hours in the evening, making it a total of about five and a half to six hours of work daily.’’

(On his diet)

“Actually, gràcies a Déu, I do not have a strict diet and can eat all varieties of foods. I am doing really well with weight and I just reduce portions in the evenings during the final stages of the camp to meet the required 130 lliura. That’s why I do not miss any foods. My favorite foods are steak and other grilled foods. After the weigh-in I prefer the pastas my mom makes. She always prepares three different kinds for me.’’

 

(On his team)

“My team is composed of Mr. Luis Espada (trainer-manager), Francisco Flores (conditioning and track trainer), Andres Melendez (força i condicionament) i el Dr.. Hector Santos (cutman and spiritual director). I’ve been with my trainer, who is my father, per 14 years ever since I threw my first punch. I haven’t made any major changes since I became champion. I’ve remained the same humble young man from a small town. I just push myself more to reach the bigger fights in the five categories from 130 to 154.”

 

(On his challenger Stephen Smith)

“I have seen some videos with my team of his fights and I can see that he is a boxer with a lot of resources who utilizes hooks to the body just as much as to the head. He is strong but something that works in my favor is that he is a come-forward fighter. He can handle 12 rounds comfortably. I hope on fight night I can neutralize all of his abilities and get the victory. I wouldn’t doubt if the win came by a KO anywhere from the sixth through the eighth round.’’

(Plans for his future in boxing)

“There are conversations about going up to 135. I’ve been at this weight since 2007; my body is demanding for me to go up to 135. Eventually my aspirations as a boxer are to be able to make boxing history not just in Puerto Rico but in the world. I want to go up and be the champion in five categories.”

“First and foremost I would like to face Francisco Vargas; he’s a seasoned boxer and is strong with a lot of rage. He went to the Olympics like I did in 2008 and he became a champion in what could be considered the fight of the year for 2015, very dramatic. It would be the Mexico vs. Puerto Rico rivalry. Another fighter who I would like to face is the champion Javier Fortuna. He is simply just a loud mouth with a poor memory (or selective memory) but I’ll send him a note to look up what happened in boxing history during the Roman Cup 2006 a la República Dominicana. I’ll leave it to him as an assignment.’’

 

(On his inspiration and role models)

“My biggest inspiration is my family. It is they who always, dia rere dia, are there supporting me as my No. 1 fan. I am a pro-family man and my family is my engine with God as my strength. Together they inspire me to carry the responsibility on my shoulders of doing my best in and out of the ring.’’

 

“Floyd Mayweather. He is an intelligent boxer and his abilities distinguish himself. He also works and trains very hard and puts in the gym time. He’s a man of his word and he invests 100 percent to each in his training camps and knows how to manage his fans as well. So many fans would like to see him win and just as many like to see him lose, but people just want to see him.’’

 

STEPHEN SMITH, FIB No. 1 Super Featherweight Contender

 

(On the significance of this matchup)

“All fights are important but this one is especially very important for me to win so that I can get back to where I was in the division.’’

 

(On finally getting a crack at the world title)

“I’ve waited a long time for this opportunity, but the timing couldn’t be better. I’m excited to get the opportunity to win the world title live on Sky Sports in the UK and on SHOWTIME in America.’’

 

(His views of the defending champion)

“Pedraza is a good fighter with a good amateur background and he’s not a world champion for nothing. He can box from either stance but I am confident of winning. I wouldn’t expect it to be an easy fight. It’s a world title fight, it’s meant to be tough. I’m preparing for the best of him; I don’t think he was at his best last time out against (Edner) Cirera.

 

“He could have lost that fight, but he got the win and he’s going to look to show he’s better than that. We’ve covered all bases as far as sparring for whatever way he comes out, and I think I have the game plan to beat him.

 

“It’s not like he’s looked at me and thought ‘he’s an easy fight’ – he has no choice if he wants to keep his title. I think this fight has happened at the right time for me. It’s dragged out a bit but I’ve got a good head on my shoulders and I think that everything happens for a reason. My last outing was a career-best performance and I think that this has come at the right time.’’

 

(On his strategy)

"(Entrenador) Joe Gallagher is as meticulous as anyone when it comes to preparing to face someone. Pedraza’s a lot more aggressive from the orthodox stance, but we’ve studied everything and we’re really confident. The gym is still going strong; we were gutted for Scott Quigg as we know how much he gives in the gym for each fight. Spirits were down for a bit but big fights keep coming round, and now I have my fight.”

 

(On answering the critics who said he’d never fight for a title after his 2011 defeat to Selby)

“Because I had such a successful amateur career, I think that big things were expected of me. I had a bit of bad luck with injury, the loss to Selby set me back, but that was more from people writing me off. Lee is world champion now so there’s no disgrace in that, but people were saying after that fight that I wouldn’t fight for a world title. It can be a fickle sport at times but I’ve come back stronger and I think I will prove a lot of people wrong in America.’’

 

(En his fighting brothers, Paul, Liam and Callum)

“The family is doing great things, but it’s just something that we all set out to do when we started boxing so it’s not really come as a surprise to us. We work hard every day and we’ve hit the goals we’ve set ourselves; Liam is world champion, Paul has boxed for the world title twice, Callum is on the verge and I box for a world title soon. Four brothers fighting for world titles is a massive achievement but for us, it’s not enough — we want to win them. I think it’s very achievable for us, Paul is back tonight and he’s looking for another shot, so it’s realistic to say that three of us will box for world titles this year.’’

 

(En fer els seus EUA. debut)

“The training is the same but there’s more pressure and more media attention on this one as it’s the big one. I’ve never boxed in the states myself but I’ve been over there with Paul and Callum, and anyone who has brothers that box will tell you it is worse when they are fighting than when it’s your own fight. I know what to expect over there and I’m going to embrace it and soak it all up.”

 

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The event is promoted by DiBella Entertainment. The bout featuring Pedraza and Smith is promoted in association with Gary Shaw Productions, Universal Promotions and Matchroom Boxing.