Nyem NTAWM NO For Photos From Esther Lin/PBC on CBS

Live On CBS Sports Starting at 4 P.M. THIAB/1 P.M. PT

HIDALGO, Texas (Tej zaum 7, 2015) – Fight week for Premier Boxing Champions rau CBS continued Thursday as televised fighters Omar “Panterita” Figueroa, Ricky Burns, Tomoki “Lub Mexicanito” Kameda, Jamie McDonnellthiab Austin “Tsis muaj ntseeg” Trout spoke to the media at the final press conference before their respective bouts taking placeSaturday, Tej zaum 9 ntawm lub xeev ua liaj ua teb Arena.

Here are what the participants had to say Thursday:

Omar FIGUEROA

“This is the biggest fight of my career thus far. I have my brother on the undercard and it’s here at home. Qhov no yog nws. I think it’s great for people from the Valley to get a huge card like this here. They haven’t seen this since Vasquez vs. Marquez, so I hope to bring that level of boxing back to the Valley.

“I definitely feel more pressure but the good kind of pressure. I’ve thrived on pressure my whole life. I was a pitcher for a long time. I was a closer. So I’ve been in situations where it’s bases loaded and we’re down so many runs and I’ve got to keep the game close. Qhov no yog li cas kuv ua neej nyob rau.

“I haven’t seen any film of Ricky Burns. Haven’t watched him at all. But from what I’ve heard he’s a tough fighter in great shape, so if we go 12 rounds it’ll be a good 12 rounds. I’m going to go out there and give it my all and win in the most impressive way possible.

“It wasn’t difficult to give up my title. I don’t fight for titles. I don’t care for titles. I think they’re just aesthetic things. I’d rather please the fans with a good fight. I don’t care if I win a title at the end of the day, but if the fans are happy, I am happy.

“I’m going to be a lot stronger at this new weight. I don’t know what to expect. I’m excited to get in the ring and find out.”

RICKY BURNS

“When you’re in hard fights, that’s what brings out the best of you. I’m looking forward to getting in the ring and putting on a good performance and win some fans over here.

“It’s a very tough fight and we knew that before we took it. Figueroa likes to come forward and be aggressive, but that can be his downside because he takes a lot of shots. We’re prepared for whatever happens on fight night and the best man will win.

“Some people think I’ve come over here just to be an opponent but that’s not the case. I had a bad year but it’s all behind me. I’m going to get back to my winning ways.

“This is everything I’ve ever wanted to accomplish in boxing. It’s going to be a hard fight but by the time the fight comes it will be just about four weeks that I’ve been in Texas.

“I treat boxing as my job, when it comes to training and fighting I always give it 100 percent and leave it all in the ring and hopefully the fans will see that. Omar is never in a dull fight and I’m not one to back out.

“We’ve treated this fight exactly the same as any other. Even though we’re in his hometown, as soon as that first bell goes that’s when it’s going to count. It’s just me and him in that ring.”

TOMOKI KAMEDA

“It is a dream come true to fight on a network like CBS. Millions are now going to get to know me, get to know my style. Boxing is changing and to be part of that is a great honor to me.

“It was not easy to relinquish my world title — I was the first Japanese to hold that title. It’s never easy to give up something that you’ve worked so hard for. But I respect the sanctioning body’s decision, they said I had to relinquish it and so I did. Tam sim no, I’m going for another title, and after that maybe unification.

“McDonnell is a good boxer. He knows how to box and knows his way inside the ring. Most British fighters do that, move around a lot. Its not an easy style to face, but my team and I have a great strategy and we are going to win, we are going to win by knockout.

“I love Mexico. I moved there when I was 15 with my family. I did all of my amateur and all my professional career there. I’m grateful to Mexico and all Mexicans for giving me so much.

“My team and the guys at the gym started calling me ‘El Mexicanito’ because I embrace Mexican culture as my own. I love the food, the people and of course the Spanish language. I struggle with it at first, but now I think I got it mastered.”

Jamie McDonnell

“I think Kameda is a bit scared and a bit intimidated by my size. I genuinely believe I am going to knock him out. I’m too big and too strong.

“I’ve been a world champion for a couple of years now. I’m ultra-confident for this fight. It’s the best I’ve ever felt. Kuv yeej nrhiav rau pem hauv ntej mus rau nws.

“Kameda is a good fighter and I expect the very best from him. He better expect the very best from me. This is life changing, whoever wins this fight gets propelled up a few levels.

“I want the best life possible for my wife and baby daughter. To do that I have to beat him.

“My losses were six years ago and I didn’t even really believe in myself at that time. I’ve gone through every experience that you can in that time and I bring everything to the table.

“Fans can expect to see a lot of heart. Kuv tuaj yeem nqa punch, I can give a punch. It’s an interesting fight and it’s a chance for me to showcase what I’m all about on this great stage here in America.”

AUSTIN TROUT

“As far as my opponent dropping out at the last minute, disappointment is kind of an understatement. But I’m trying to keep it classy, so I’ll stick with disappointed. I’m not surprised though.

“The day I heard that he pulled out it definitely changed my mindset, but I had to find that focus and realize that we still have work to do.

“It’s an honor to be part of this whole PBC on CBS card. I feel like this is the resurgence of boxing – brining it back to the golden days. For me to be a part of that was one of my goals when I turned pro. I wanted to be a part of the comeback of boxing.

“I’m trying to get a belt. I want my world title back. After I get a world title I’m going to try and avenge those losses. After I avenge those losses I want another title so I can become an undisputed champion. Once that’s done we can consider moving up to another weight class maybe.”

Yog xav paub ntxiv mus xyuas www.premierboxingchampions.com, raws li nyob rau hauv TwitterPremierBoxing, SHOSports, OmarFigueroaJr, @RicICSterko, TomokiKameda, @ JamieMcDonnell1, @Warrriorsboxpromo thiab dhau los ua tus kiv cua hauv Facebook ntawm www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxing, www.Facebook.com/WarriorsBoxingPromo thiabwww.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing los yog mus saib lub SHOWTIME Boxing Blog ntawm http://theboxingblog.sho.com.

Plus Top Local Talent & Highly-Touted Prospects Complete Card

Coverage of Premier Boxing Champions on CBS Starts

ntawm 4 P.M. THIAB/1 P.M. PT

HIDALGO, Texas (Tej zaum 7, 2015) – A full day of exciting undercard fights come to State Farm Arena in Hidalgo, Texasnyob rau hnub Saturday yav tav su, Tej zaum 9 as local fan favorites and top prospects will look to make their marks on the boxing world. This includes former world champion Austin “Tsis muaj ntseeg” Trout (28-2, 15 Kos), uas battles Luis Galarza (21-3, 15 Kos) in super welterweight action .

A former world champion who defeated Miguel Cotto in 2012, lub 29-xyoo-laus Trout looks to make it three victories in a row on Tej zaum 9. He also owns victories over Delvin Rodriguez, Daniel Dawson and Rigoberto Alvarez, nyob rau hauv tas li ntawd mus rau nws 2004 U.S. Championships gold medal. Fighting out of Las Cruces, New Mexico, he takes on the 33-year-old Galarza out of El Taino, Puerto Rico.

These fights will support the Premier Boxing Champions rau CBS show featuring undefeated star Omar “Panterita” Figueroa battling qub ntiaj teb no yeej Ricky Burns and the bantamweight showdown between Tomoki Kameda (31-0, 19 Kos) thiab Jamie McDonnell (25-2-1, 12 Kos).

Daim pib rau lub nyob tshwm sim nyob rau ntawm kev muag khoom tam sim no thiab yog luv nqi tom $150, $100, $75, $50, thiab $25, tsis xws li siv cov kev pab cuam nqi thiab se. Daim pib muaj nyob rau ntawm www.ticketmaster.com lossis hauv xeev lub xeev Farrena Box Office. Mus rau nqi los ntawm lub xov tooj, hu Ticketmaster ntawm (800) 745-3000.

Undercard action will also feature a pair of knockout artists as Rogelio “Lub ncuav” Nruab nrab (35-6, 29 Kos) yuav siv sij hawm nyob rau hauv Samuel Miller (28-10, 25 Kos) nyob rau hauv ib tug 10-round super middleweight bout. Undefeated prospect Miguel Flores (14-0, 7 Kos) battles German Meraz (43-34-1, 24 Kos) in an eight round featherweight attraction and Darwin Price (6-0, 3 Kos) ntsej muag Juan Ovalle (4-6-2, 3 Kos) in six rounds of super lightweight action.

Action continues with Steve Lovett (11-0, 9 Kos) battling Eric Watkins (12-8-2, 5 Kos) in an eight round light heavyweight showdown. Ntau, Jose Prado (4-1, 2 Kos) yuav siv sij hawm nyob rau hauv Victor Rosas (6-1, 2 Kos) in a four round welterweight tussle while Carlos Velasquez (18-1, 12 Kos) ntsej muag Juan Ruiz (24-16, 7 Kos) in an eight round featherweight bout.

Some of Texas’ hottest prospects round out the card as Omar’s brother, Brandon Figueroa (rau debut) yuav siv sij hawm nyob rau hauv Hector Gutierrez (2-7) in a four round featherweight bout while Mario Barrios (8-0, 5 Kos) looks to remain undefeated against Jose Del Valle (4-10-1, 3 Kos) in six rounds of action in the super featherweight division.

More Texas flavor comes in the form of a pair of undefeated prospects as Ryan Karl (6-0, 5 Kos) ntsej muag Alfred Hall (4-8-2, 2 Kos) in four rounds of welterweight action and Enrique Alvarez (5-0, 3 Kos) battles Alberto Espinoza (3-6) in a four round super welterweight swing bout.

After a long career having fought mostly in Mexico, lub 26-xyoo-laus Nruab nrab burst onto the scene with a thrilling knockout over previously unbeaten J’Leon Love in Aug. 2014. The fighter out of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico added two more victories since then and looks for a third when he takes on the 35-year-old Miller out of Arboletes, Colombia.

An undefeated fighter making his 2015 debut, 22-xyoo-laus Paj out of Morella, Mexico will take on an experienced fighter in the 28-year-old Meraz out of Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico. Another fighter looking to keep his perfect record intact, lub 25-xyoo-laus Price tawm ntawm St. Louis takes on the 27-year-old Ovalle from Mercedes, Texas.

Sawv cev Tshiab South Wales, Austraila, Lovett muab pro nyob rau hauv 2010 thiab muaj tsis tau poob ib tug sib ntaus nyob rau hauv nws thawj thawj 11 xaus. The 30-year-old takes on the 28-year-old Watkins out of Morgantown, West Virginia.

After picking up his third straight victory in March, lub 26-xyoo-laus Prado returns to the ring looking for a fourth win in a row. Fighting out of Reynoso, Mexico, he faces the 27-year-old Roses out of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico.

A 2004 Puerto Rico Olympian, 30-xyoo-laus Velasquez has been perfect since his lone loss to Rico Ramos in 2013. The fighter out of Catano, Puerto Rico hopes for his fourth straight victory when he battles the 36-year-old Ruiz out of Santa Clarita, California.

Sib ntaus sib tua nyob rau hauv nws lub tsev lub xeev thiab cov sawv cev San Antonio, Neighborhoods looks for his second victory of 2015 rau Tej zaum 9. The 19-year-old hopes to build on his momentum when he squares off against the 25-year-old Valley out of Bayamon, Puerto Rico.

The brother of headliner Omar, Brandon Figueroa will make his pro debut at 18-years-old just miles away from his hometown of Weslaco, Texas. His opponent is the 27-year-old Gutierrez out of Mission, Texas.

A pair of swing bouts feature 23-year-old Houston native Karl battling the 32-year-old Hall out of Jackson, Michigan and the 20-year-old Alvarez from McAllen, Texas who faces 29-year-old Espinoza los ntawm San Antonio.

Yog xav paub ntxiv mus xyuas www.premierboxingchampions.com, raws li nyob rau hauv TwitterPremierBoxing, SHOSports, OmarFigueroaJr, @RicICSterko, TomokiKameda, @ JamieMcDonnell1, @Warrriorsboxpromo thiab dhau los ua tus kiv cua hauv Facebook ntawm www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxing, www.Facebook.com/WarriorsBoxingPromo thiab www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing los yog mus saib lub SHOWTIME Boxing Blog ntawm http://theboxingblog.sho.com.