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Kelly Swanson

Thanks everyone for joining us today.  I’m excited about this call and this fight. Today we’re going to hear from both the fighters, Deontay Wilder and Eric Molina.  Joining us as well is Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment, and also Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager of SHOWTIME Sports.

So, to make the formal introductions, I’m going to turn it over to Lou.

Lou DiBella

Thank you, Kelly.  It’s always a real pleasure and honor whenever you get to promote a heavyweight championship fight, and Deontay Wilder is the first American heavyweight champion in quite a while.  He’s getting the opportunity to defend his title, his first defense in his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama, on the campus of UAB from the Bartow Arena.

This will be televised as a main event on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on Saturday night, June 13.   This is an interesting time to be at the UAB campus because UAB just reversed a very controversial decision to disband its football program, so college football’s coming back to Birmingham and the campus of UAB and so is heavyweight championship boxing with Deontay Wilder.

Tickets are priced at $25, $50, $75, $100, $150, and $200, but there are less than 1,000 tickets left, and we expect a sold-out house of about 8,500 people and that tickets are going to sell out way before fight night.  So, if anyone wants tickets, get them as soon as you can at UABSports.com and AlabamaFightNight.com.  The doors will open at 3 o’clock.  The first bout will be at 3:30 p.m., and then SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHP BOXING on the air at 9 p.m. ET, 8 p.m. CT, and 6 p.m. PT.

The opening bout on SHOWTIME is a terrific world championship fight itself between 130-pound title contenders, Jose Pedraza and Andrey Klimov.  I’d like to invite Executive Vice President and General Manager of SHOWTIME Sports, Stephen Espinoza.

Stephen Espinoza

Thanks very much, Lou.  It’s an exciting day for all of us here at SHOWTIME.  Earlier today, we announced the imminent launch of a new online streaming service, SHOWTIME Direct to Consumers, which means all our award-winning programming, including all of our live boxing telecasts, will be available on the live East and West Coast feeds for SHOWTIME as well as all of our on demand content.  That service will launch in mid-July.

Later tonight, we have a great episode of 60 Minutes Sports, which includes a very revealing interview with some of the latest developments in the Pippa scandal.  That’s followed by the premier of ALL ACCESS: Deontay Wilder.  That’s at 10 p.m. ET/PT.  We’ll take a look back at Deontay’s signature win, that which earned him the heavyweight title through the award-winning lens of the series, and we’ll also, as usual, be taking a closer look at the personal side and showing you some of the depth of Deontay’s character that fans might not be familiar with this fall.

As for Saturday the  13, we have a big night of fights, perhaps one of our strongest nights of the SHOWTIME Extremecards to date.  That kicks off at 7 p.m. ET/PT.  That will kick off with two undefeated fighters in a WBC 135-pound elimination bout, Ivan Redkach, who many of you have seen several times on ShoBox against Dejan Zlaticanin, who is a very tough challenger.  Also, one of the staples of Extreme and a very highly regarded prospect, Julian Williams of Philadelphia, will be in tough against a Russian welterweight prospect, Arman Ovsepyan.

Then it’s SHOWTIME, a championship double header, as Lou indicated.  In the opening bout, we have undefeated amateur standout, Jose Pedraza of Puerto Rico facing heavy hitter Andrey Klimov.  Pedraza, of course, has represented Puerto Rico in the 2008 Olympics, was a gold medalist at the 2010 Central American and Caribbean games.  You’ve seen him featured on ShoBox.  He’s a very skilled fighter.

Andrey Klimov, also a top amateur, former Russian lightweight belt holder.  His only loss, of course, is to the current WBO 140-pound champion, Terence Crawford.  Lou will give  a little bit more into detail on main event and introduce the fighters, but allow me to say that we do expect a tremendous turnout for our first world champion boxing event and for our SHOWTIME Boxing telecast in the state of Alabama.

As we know, a packed arena adds a tremendous element of excitement to live television.  We’re proud to present this compelling and refreshing world heavyweight title fight live on SHOWTIME.

Back over to you, Lou.

L. DiBella

Thank you very much, Stephen.  The heavyweight championship bout features Deontay Wilder being challenged by Eric Molina.  Molina is 23-2 with 17 KOs.  He’s on a five-fight  winning streak and a three-fight  knockout streak, including a career best win over Davarryl Williamson.  His only loss since his pro debut came against Chris Arreola.  He’s ranked number 9 by the WBC.

He’s also a really interesting guy as I’ve gotten to hear him a few times over the course of this promotion, who does a lot to give back to his community, who has a great sense of charity and community, and he’s made it very clear that he’s got nothing to lose here.  He’s viewing this as an opportunity of a lifetime, and that he’s going to do anything and everything to shock the world and take that world championship away from Deontay Wilder.

So, it’s my pleasure to introduce world title challenger, Eric Molina.

Eric Molina

Hello, guys.  Just like Lou just said, that was a good introduction of who I am and what I’m coming in to do.  We’re very excited about the fight, the opportunity to go down to Alabama.  We know it’s going to be a very hectic environment down there, very uncomfortable environment, but Wilder is the champion, and he gets to enjoy all these privileges of all the guidelines of where we fight and all the logistics of it, so we’re excited for the opportunity to fight for the heavyweight world title and we are very prepared.

Training camp is going extremely well.  We’re closing up our training camp on Saturday, and we should be ready to go down to Alabama on Monday.  Everything’s looking very good, and we’re ready to go.

L. DiBella

Thank you, Eric.  Fight week, next week, there’ll be a slew of events leading up to the fight, including a workout on Wednesday and a public weigh-in on Friday.  I’d like people to follow AlabamaTitleFight.com for all details as they’re updated, including a lot of details about stuff that’s open to the public and that the people of Birmingham can enjoy during fight week, so that’s www.AlabamaTitleFight.com.

One of the proudest sons and the greatest sons of Birmingham, Alabama, is a young man who’s a physical specimen.  He’s 33-0, with an incredible knockout rate of 32 KOs in 33 fights.  Deontay Wilder had a brief but decorated amateur career that concluded with a trip to the Olympics where he won a bronze medal for the United States.  He won a 12-round decision over Bermane Stiverne in January to become the WBC heavyweight champion.

In his professional career he’s knocked out former Olympic gold medalist, Audley Harrison in one round, former heavyweight title holder, Sergei Liakhovich in one round.  He only began boxing in 2005, and his quick ascent in the sport was pretty amazing and actually the inspiration for a children’s book called Deontay the Future World Champ, and I guess that children’s book was prophetic because it’s now Deontay, the World Champ.

He was born in Tuscaloosa, grew up a diehard Crimson Tide fan, and he’s returning home to fight in Alabama for the first time in three years to defend his WBC heavyweight title for the first time.

So, it’s my honor and pleasure to introduce WBC heavyweight champion of the world, Deontay Wilder.

Deontay Wilder

Hello, guys.  I’m excited to have this opportunity to get back in the ring and display my talent more.  All the people that are going to be watching and the people that are going to be in attendance, it’s a pleasure and an honor to be able to get in the ring to do something that I love to do and I have a very strong passion about, so I’m excited about June 13.  I’m excited about coming to my home state of Alabama.

When I set forth becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, I got one part of it becoming the heavyweight champion, the WBC heavyweight champion of the world.  I’ve still got a long way to go, but I’m honored and pleased to have my very first title defense in Alabama.  We’re going to make history come June 13 by having the first title fight of any division in the state of Alabama, and that’s a pleasure and definitely an honor to me.  So, me and Eric will definitely be witnessing and making history come June 13.

I appreciate him for signing the contract and accepting this opportunity.  A lot of guys don’t get an opportunity to be able to fight for a world title, and I congratulate him on the opportunity.  I know it’s going to be a great fight.  He’s going to come to fight, and that’s what I expect.  I expect a great fight. He’s someone that got a big bark but want a big bite in the ring as well too, so that’s what I expect.  To all my fans, he’s coming to enemy territory.  He’s coming to an arena filled with nothing but majority of hometown people in the state of Alabama, so that’s a tough environment to come into and then facing one of the most dangerous guys in the division to date.

So, I applaud him for that.  I’m just ready. I’ve been waiting for a long time to get back in the ring.  After my last fight, I want to stay consistent.  I want to stay busy in fights.  I love to do this. God gave me the opportunity to do this.  I’m going to keep doing it, keep giving the fans what they want to see, and that’s great fights and defending my title as much as possible.  You can tell by my voice that I’m super excited.  I can’t wait.  There’s nothing like what I do, my job, and that’s to whoop a**, and I can’t wait to get up in there come June 13.

L. DiBella

Thank you, Deontay.  Well, now we’ll open it up for questions.

Q

As my understanding is, Deontay, a couple years ago, or three years ago, whenever it was, not that long after you turned pro, that the people in Alabama really created the boxing commission that is there to regulate the sport basically because they wanted their favorite son, Deontay Wilder, to be able to fight in the home state and to put on these kind of big shows.

When that happened, was the ultimate goal for you to put on a big event in your home state?

D. Wilder

This definitely was the ultimate goal.  My trainer and co-manager, Jay Deas, we set forth a goal to getting a commission here.  We had a lot of great champions that’s from here but couldn’t get fight due to the fact that there was no commission here.  I already had plans of after the Olympics turning pro and staying and residing here in my home state. I had a vision for this state.  I wanted to make it bigger than just college football.  I gave them opportunities to have a professional sport here, and that’s boxing, so once we got our commission, it was uphill from there.  A lot of people have gotten on board.  A lot of people have never troubled with boxing, period, in their life, until they read about the story of my movement, what’s going on, and a lot of people had lost interest in boxing until they read about my story, my movement.  Now, they’re on board.

So, it became a bit of a thing for the state of Alabama now, so they put me on top as far as the sport is concerned here in the state of Alabama because there’s nothing like a world sport, nothing.  Nothing national can compete with a world-level sport.

Q

I was wondering if you could mention who are some of those other top contenders that you guys looked to fight before you decided to make an agreement with Eric?

D. Wilder

Well, at this moment, I feel like stating names is irrelevant right now.  Next week will be fight week, and everything is focused on Eric Molina.  That’s the main focus, and I love the guys.  It wouldn’t do any good stating names.  They had the opportunity.  Eric stepped up to the plate, and we’ll congratulate him.  We’re going to put on a great performance June 13.

Q

How do you respond to the people who say,  ‘Eric Molina, who’s that?  And why should he be in a heavyweight championship fight?’

E. Molina

Well there are a lot of casual boxing fans out there that really don’t know too much about Eric Molina.  I have been in pretty big fights.  I fought Tony Grano, the NABF champion, ranked in the top 10  in the world for over a year.  If you look at my record, you see two losses.  In the casual boxing sense, you see those two losses.  Only a fighter knows how hard it is to bounce back from losses like those.

So, the casual fan doesn’t say ah, well, they say he’s got these two losses, but I know what I’ve been through to come back from my losses, things that I’ve learned from my losses, and I positioned myself back into being a top contender in the world.

A lot of these fights on my resume, you see fights, but you don’t see the other angles of what’s on the table, how long I had to prepare, the things I had to go through outside of the ring, so I’m glad that June 13^th is coming up.  We’ve had a very smooth training camp, and I’m coming in with everything.  I’ve never been this prepared for a fight before.  I’ve never had the privilege to come in this prepared for a fight, so we’re excited about it.

Q

Eric, because your two defeats were in the first round, and because Deontay has so many first-round knockouts, he’s a fast starter, how pivotal is getting through the first round in this fight?

E. Molina

Well, it’s definitely important.  I think that this is definitely a fight that from the first bell, I think it’s going to be a fast-paced fight.  Deontay Wilder’s a big puncher, but I feel that I’m a big puncher also, so I think that it’s very important to be ready from the first bell.  Anything could happen at any given second.  It’s a heavyweight world title fight.

Q

Do you kind of feel that some pressure’s off of you to try to knock out everybody, or have to knock out everybody?

D. Wilder

I mean, you can say so, but I don’t live my life with pressure.  I’m an easy-going person.  I’m the type of person, people’s opinions about me doesn’t matter, especially when I’m in the ring because I know that everything I do, I prepare for, I train hard for each and every time, in camp, in training.

I’m always training, I never stop.  I don’t take any days off.  I’m always training because I love to do this.  I love to box.  I love to be able to get in there and perform for the fans, so I don’t have any days off.  But you can’t please everybody.  There are too many billions of people in the world to try to please every opinion, to try to please everybody. Even when people said things about me, what I couldn’t do, my last fight I proved everything to them.  That made me an even more dangerous fighter because now people know what I’m capable of doing.  Not only that I’m a puncher, but I can box.  I can have fun.  I can go 12 rounds and make it seem like it is nothing.  I can take a punch.  That’s nothing, but we’ve been telling people for years what I could do, just needed the right person in there for me to display my talents.  There’s no pressure on me at all.

I don’t go in there and try to look for the knockout, anyway.  I go in there and let my hands go, and if I get the knockout, I get it.  I would prefer the knockout, of course.  This is a heavyweight division.  It’s all based about power.  When people get dressed up and come out to that fight, they come to see a knockout.  They want to see a couple of rounds or whatever, to see what kind of skill and will that person has, maybe a little heart, and then they want to see the knockout because they’ve got other things planned for that night.

And when they come to see a Deontay Wilder fight, that’s what I want to bring them.  I want to bring them knockouts, but that last fight, it meant so much more than just a knockout because I did, I wanted to prove to people what I was capable of doing.  I think that particular night, winning a title, that was the perfect moment to prove what I’m capable of doing and what I’m all about.

So, now it’s time to get back on to my knockout streak like people expect from me, and that’s what I want to do, so here we go, baby.

Q

Lou, how were the ticket sales for the fight coming up?

L. DiBella

The ticket sales have been fairly remarkable, actually, 7,500 tickets already sold.  The capacity’s 8,500, so we’re not even in fight week and we’re looking at a sellout.  We’re not in the last few days, and we’re looking at a sellout.  I think we’re going to sell out before there’s a walk-up.

Q

Deontay, how does it feel just to go 12 rounds?  It’s something you hadn’t done yet in your professional career, and how did it feel just to not to say get the rounds, just to quiet a lot of the critics.  That was the one knock against you, how would you do in a 12-round fight?

D. Wilder

To go 12 rounds is, it’s something I do in training, I do in camp.  The hardest part in boxing is not the part where you go out there and compete and fight your opponent.  It’s the training part.  That’s the hard part, the training, what people don’t really see.

They think fighters just go out there one night, they fight 12 rounds or less, and then that’s it, they get paid, oh, that’s it.  But the hard part is in camp, what you do in training, what you do in camp.  That’s the ultimate hard part of it and we-12 rounds is nothing.  I’ve been telling 12 rounds is nothing to me.  It’s an appetizer.

Most of the time, we go 15.  After getting my belt, I was traveling for three months.  I got right back in the gym and did 20 rounds, easy, because I’m never out of shape.  I’m always full of energy.  I love to do this, so to go to 12 rounds, that wasn’t anything.  As you can see, I still had energy to go even six more, seven more rounds in that fight.  But to silence the critics, now, we’re talking about something.

To silence the critics, that was such a joyful feeling for me.  That right there meant a lot to me because like I said, we live in a world that’s based on opinions of many people.  Some people know what they’re talking about.  The majority of them and most don’t know what they’re talking about, and it was a remarkable feeling to be able to silence the critics.  It was even enjoyable to see their faces, to see their voice, to have to eat their words.  That was enjoyable right there.

Q

Did you ever think that in your wildest dreams this fight next Saturday would be taking place?

D. Wilder

I did dream it.  Sometimes things start with a dream, and they say dreams do come true, but dreams only come true if you allow them to.  It is not just going to come true just because you had dreamt it.  You’ve got to dream it, and then you’ve got to apply some kind of ultimate goal to it.  Then when you set a goal, you’ve still got to apply self-preservation, as far as gaining that goal and making that dream come true.

I dreamt it.  I spoke it into existence.  I believe in the power of the tongue, and I made my dream come true, and now we about to have it, about to make it the biggest thing in the state of Alabama.  It’s just a blessing.  I told people before, I’m a blessing to the state of Alabama, and a lot of people have agreed with me, that’s for sure.

So, I am very honored to be able to fight in my state because a lot of fighters can’t fight in their state.  A lot of fighters don’t have a home to come to, they have to fight elsewhere, but I have the honor and the privilege to have a state that’s behind me and has loved me, and I’m looking forward to it.  And like I said, me and Molina are going to make history that night.  Win, lose, or draw, we’re going to make history that night in the state of Alabama.

Q

How do you try to eliminate the distraction of fighting at home, people talking about bigger fights for you in the future?   How do you focus on this particular fight and not look forward or not get kind of caught up in the hoopla now of being the heavyweight champion?

D. Wilder

Well, for me it’s just when I look at an opponent, the task that lies at hand, I automatically focus on that.  I can’t look past nobody.  I can’t put nobody aside.  I treat every opponent that I get in the ring, no matter what their record is or what their resume may read, I look at this opponent as if he’s the most dangerous person in the world.

I look at an opponent as if I’m still a contender trying to gain me a world title, and that’s how I do all my opponents.  And by doing that, it keeps me focused.  It keeps me humbled as well too to do what I’ve got to do because this is boxing, and this is the heavyweight division.  Anything can happen in boxing.

No man can ever feel like he’s bigger than the next person because once you start doing that, you start loosening up, your training starts to get a little lighter because you’re not training, you don’t have that hunger any  more, and a lot of things will start to get exposed.  People take advantage of that and feel confidence in themselves.

So, I don’t want to be that type of fighter that I feel like oh, I’m at the top now, I don’t have to train as hard as I was when I was a hungry fighter, because I’m still hungry.  I’ve still got goals, I’m still looking to do things in this sport to make it bigger and better.   I tell people all the time that even though I’m the WBC heavyweight champion of the world, my heart still feels like a contender, and by my heart still feeling like a contender, it keeps me humble.  It keeps me grounded.  It keeps me very, I mean, very, very hungry.

Q

To quote Ric Flair, ‘To be the man, you’ve got to beat the man.’ And you know, the man in the heavyweight division for the last decade or so has been Wladimir Klitschko.  A lot of people are discussing you as the heir apparent to that, so while you’re staying hungry and moving up the chain and continuing to fight, is that something that’s in the back of your mind, and do you think that’s something that you’re going to have to conquer to truly be the full heavyweight champion of the world?

D. Wilder

Well, I’m going to put it like this, that fight is titled not if it’s going to happen, but when it’s going to happen.  Of course, that’s something I think about, but at this moment in time, I’m not focused on him.  He will get his turn as well too, and last time I checked, I have the most prestigious, most well-known, most precious, beautiful belt in all of boxing, something that’s been around for a very long time, and that’s the WBC crown, it’s something that everybody wants.

So, I have that.  I’m the owner of that, so I’m not worried about anything else.  Right now, it’s all about Deontay Wilder and Eric Molina, and that’s what I’m looking forward to, Deontay Wilder versus Eric Molina.

Q

Eric, is it motivating to you to — when you hear people say that you’re just someone to help Deontay — a spotlight matchup, a homecoming match, someone that he can look good against?  Does that give you even more motivation than just the fact that you’re fighting for the heavyweight championship of the world?

E. Molina

It definitely motivates me more because people have their opinions, and like Wilder said, a lot of people don’t know too much about different angles of boxing, so people don’t want to give me a shot, people don’t think I have a shot, and that’s fine.  I’ve used it as motivation.  I’ve definitely trained hard.  I’m stronger than I’ve ever been, and I’m not here to convince people to give me a shot or not.  I know what I bring to the table.  I know the size and strength that I bring to the table, and I don’t have to convince nobody to root for me or to give me a shot or to believe in me.

The people that love me, the people, my family and my fans, they believe in me, and I believe in myself, more importantly.  So, we’re coming in, I’m coming in June 13^th, and I’m blessed to, well, God  has given me more strength than I’ve ever had, and I’m excited, and we’re good to go.

Q

Deontay, you had spoken about obviously being Alabama’s fighter, Alabama’s hero.  There’s some deep divisions in the state there.  You’re from Tuscaloosa.  You’re an avowed Alabama fan.  Have you united even the Auburn people behind you?

D. Wilder

I’m representing — Alabama football has its own rival and different things like that, but this is not Alabama football, this is a heavyweight championship world title fight, and I’m representing not only just Tuscaloosa, I’m representing the whole state.  I’ve got the whole state behind me.  This is a worldwide event, so I just can’t say I just got Tuscaloosa or have a rival with Auburn.  No, I’m representing the whole state of Alabama, and the whole state of Alabama is behind me.  That’s the unique and the special thing about it, that I’m representing the whole state, and people love that.  I’m looking forward to – definitely it’s going to be a packed venue, that’s for sure.  I’m looking forward to that and moving on to an even bigger venue than the state of Alabama.

We’ve got even bigger venues, and I’m looking forward to packing everything out, but right now it starts with the Bartow Arena.  I’m looking forward to displaying my talent there and making history right there, the first title fight in Alabama in any division right there at Bartow Arena.

Q

Klitschko was extended a little bit in his last time out with Bryant Jennings.  Did you see anything there that led you to believe that this guy’s not Superman?

D. Wilder

I mean, we all did.  We all seen loose holes.  We all see something that was there.  If anybody says they didn’t, then they’re a liar.  We all seen that, but when that time comes, I’m going to execute those things that I saw.  But right now, it’s hard to talk about another fighter when you’ve got one fighter that you’re getting ready to face and is on the phone now.

My focus is not on another fighter because if I don’t get past him, we can forget talking about anybody else.  It’s irrelevant to talk about anybody else if this fight isn’t done.  It’s not over yet, so it’s hard for me to state or talk about another fighter when I’ve got a task that lies at hand.

Once I get finished with Molina, then we can come back and talk about Klitschko.

Q

Do you give Tyson Fury much of a chance against Wladimir, and  whether or not he gets wiped out against Wladimir, is that still something you’d like to do, come to England and take Furyon, shut his mouth up?

D. Wilder

I give Tyson a great percent of the chance of coming in and being a new world champion.  It’s  all going to depend on him, how serious he takes this business, this game, how serious he takes training and the preparation for that.  I wish him luck on everything he does and on becoming the world champion.

There’s nothing like setting a goal to become a world champion and being that, seeing your hand raised high with that belt saying you are the world champion.  It’s a great feeling to be a world champion, so it’s going to be up to him.  Like I said before, we’ve seen what Klitschko did in his last fight, and we’ll see how he can adjust to a bigger fighter.  These are bigger guys now, and that’s what’s running division, the bigger guys.  That’s fine.  All the taller fighters in the heavyweight divisions are taking over, so we’ll see what Tyson has lies ahead, so we can only wait.

Q

Deontay, do you think you could be bigger for boxing than Floyd Mayweather?

D. Wilder

Oh, definitely.  Most definitely, and I say that with high confidence because the heavyweight division is the cream of the crop in the first place, and the things that I bring, the excitement, the personality that I have,  everything about me is all me, is totally me.  Some people, some guys when they have cameras in their face, they pursue to be a certain type of person.  Their persona about them changes or whatever, and then when the camera is off, they’re a whole totally different person.  I don’t have flip personalities.  I’m not a fake person.

Everything about me is real, everything you see, even the ALL ACCESS (on SHOWTIME).  You know, you all watch the ALL ACCESS, everything is me.  Nothing is scripted.  Nothing is planned out, nothing.  I can’t sit back and let somebody script something out about my life and what it is because it’ll be fake, and I won’t be able to go through with it because it wouldn’t be me.

So, I think I bring a lot of excitement to this division.  I have woken up a lot of people as far as friends to come back to the division and stuff like that, and I know I’m doing the right things.  People love me.  That’s what it’s all about, but I’m just glad to be a part of the movement because we’ve got a lot of other exciting heavyweights that have made it – come back alive again as well too, whether it’s bashing up the talking or whether it’s the excitement of the performance of their fights.  So, the division is definitely on the rise, and I’m looking to be the biggest thing in boxing, period.

Q

Deontay, you’ve said several times that your focus is just on this fight and Eric Molina and not anybody else in the heavyweight division.  Could you talk a little bit about what you know about Eric Molina and why you think you’re going to be victorious in this fight?

D. Wilder

Well, the only thing I know about Eric, he’s got a nice size as far as height-wise.  His weight, I know the record about the guy, and he looks pretty exciting.   He’s not the biggest, or tallest, but when people see two tall guys, I think he’s 6’5″ and I’m 6’7″, so when people see two big guys get in there, they automatically see the excitement and thrill, what they can bring.  I’m not the type of guy that looks at any kind of films or nothing like that.  I don’t believe in it.  I’ve never done it in all of my career, and I’m not going to start now.

I like to have a challenge.  I like to be surprised in the ring to see what they have so I can adjust to that fighter when I get them in the ring.

Q

Why do you think you’re going to be able to win in this fight?  What are your advantages?  You’re the favorite, obviously, but why do you think that’s going to play out?

D. Wilder

Well, my confidence is at an all-time high.  I’m always confident in any opponent that I get in the ring with.  That’s just my mentality.  I feel like if you don’t believe in yourself, then it’s hard to convince or motivate somebody else to believe in you.  You can have all the greatest trainers and all the strength trainers, the top of the line strength trainers in the world, but if they don’t really believe in what you’re doing, you don’t really believe in yourself first, then you can’t get those guys to be motivated to believe in yourself.

So, first and foremost, I believe in myself.  My confidence has always been over the top, no matter what opponent I get in the ring with. A definite advantage I have is my speed, my footwork and the power that I bring.  My defense is remarkable with my footwork.  My athleticism kills a lot of the fighters, and that’s what I’m going to bring to the ring.  So, I’ll come through anybody.  They’re all going to try and come, and that’s what they’re supposed to do.  I just hope they come in the hopes of really trying to take it.  That’s what I’m looking for.  I’m looking for a guy that’s very hungry, that’s really trying to take this belt, to make this exciting.  I want the most challenging opponent that I can get.

Q

Eric, obviouslywe know that Deontay’s the favorite.  He’s going to have the crowd behind him.  Why do you think you can win this fight being the underdog?

E. Molina

I’ve realized one thing, that people keep saying Alabama this and Alabama that.  We know how hectic it’s going to be going down there.  That’s what the heavyweight world championship belt’s all about.  You can’t expect to go in and fight no easy fights.  I mean, you want to become champion, you’ve got to go through hell to get it.  I’m expecting to go down to Alabama.  It’s going to be a hard situation, a very uncomfortable situation, his backyard, his people, his commission, his everything.

But to be heavyweight world champion, this isn’t easy, so I’m excited.  I’m mentally focused to go down there and face all these things.  Number one, I want to bring that title back.  I want to bring it back home.  And like I said, if people don’t give me a shot, I don’t got to convince them to give me a shot or not to give me a shot.  I know what I’m bringing to the table.  I know what I’m coming to do, and that’s all that counts.

Q

Eric, howmuch do you think you’ve improved as a fighter in the last few years?  Because you know everyone’s going to look at your record, they’re going to look at the loss to Arreola three years ago.  How much do you think you’ve improved since then?

E. Molina

Well, I’ve always believed that special fighters are able to learn from their losses, but not all fighters can learn from their losses.  I believe I’m a special fighter because I’ve learned from my losses, and I know I’ve learned from my losses.  I’ve been able to bounce back.  I’ve been able to be a better fighter.  I’ve been able to put things together better, and I mean, a lot of things about my record that people don’t really understand is how hard it is for somebody to bounce back from some of the losses that I’ve been through, how hard it really is.

So, I’ve definitely handled those things that were very challenging, and I’ve regrouped.  I’ve put myself back together.  I’ve become a contender again, and I’m definitely a stronger, more experienced, more confident fighter.  And I’m ready.

Lou DiBella

That’ll be it, guys. Thank you, Deontay.  Thank you, Eric.  Thank you, everybody, for joining us.  Just one more time, the event will be at the Bartow Arena on the campus of UAB in Birmingham, Alabama.  Tickets are $25, $50, $75, $100, $150, and $200, but there are less than 1,000 tickets left.  We expect a sold-out house of about 8,500 shortly, so get your tickets quickly at UABSports.com and AlabamaTitleFight.com.  Showtime Championship Boxing will be on the air at 9 p.m. Eastern Time, 8 p.m. Central Time, 6 p.m. Pacific Time.  The doors open to the arena at 3 p.m., first fight at 3:30 p.m., and thank you all for joining us.

# # #

“WILDER vs. MOLINA,” a 12-Round fight for Wilder’s WBC Heavyweight Championship, takes place Saturday, June 13, at The Bartow Arena in Birmingham, Ala. DiBella Entertainment and Bruno Event Team have joined forces to bring this event to Alabama. In the co-main event co-romoted by DiBella in association with Universal Promotions, Jose Pedraza will face Andrey Klimov in a 12-Round bout for the IBF Jr. Lightweight World Title. It will air live on SHOWTIME® (9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PT). The telecast will also be available in Spanish via secondary audio programming (SAP).  Preliminary bouts will be televised live on SHOWTIME EXTREME (7 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).

For more information visit www.sports.sho.com and www.dbe1.com follow on Twitter at @SHOSports, @BronzeBomber, @LouDiBella and @Swanson_Comm, follow the conversation using #WilderMolina, become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SHOBoxing or visit http://shosportspoundforpound.

Heavyweight World Championship Saturday, June 13,
Live On SHOWTIME^® From Bartow Arena in Birmingham, Ala.;

ALL ACCESS: Deontay Wilder Premieres June 3 On SHOWTIME

Click HERE To Download Photos Of Deontay Wilder

Photo Credit: Bill Hoffman

Click HERE To Download Photos Of Eric Molina

Photo Credit: Joel Martinez/SHOWTIME

Click HERE To Download Photos Of Jose Pedraza

Photo Credit: Victor Planas/Universal Promotions

NEW YORK (June 1, 2015) – Unbeaten Heavyweight World Champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder, confident heavyweight contender Eric “Drummer Boy” Molina and unbeaten junior lightweight Jose “The Sniper” Pedraza participated in Media Day Workouts last Thursday for their fights Saturday, June 13, on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING^® live on SHOWTIME^® (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) at Bartow Arena in Birmingham, Ala.

The power-punching, popular hometown favorite Wilder (33-0, 32 KOs), of Tuscaloosa, Ala., will make the first defense of his title when he meets Molina (23-2, 17 KOs), of Raymondville, Texas, in the main event on June 13. Pedraza (19-0, 12 KOs), of Caguas, Puerto Rico, will meet Andrey Klimov (19-1, 9 KOs), of Klimovski, Russia, 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, respectively:

DEONTAY WILDER, Heavyweight World Champion

“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. I’m just ready to go. 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, ‘Hey, 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, Heavyweight 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.

“Of course, 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, in general, 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, fine. 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.

“This is going to be a great fight, 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, on June 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. OnJune 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, premieres on Wednesday, June 3 at 10 p.m. ET/PT.
“WILDER vs. MOLINA,” a 12-Round fight for Wilder’s WBC Heavyweight Championship, takes placeSaturday, June 13, at The Bartow Arena in Birmingham, Ala. DiBella Entertainment and Bruno Event Team have joined forces to bring this event to Alabama. In the co-main event co-romoted by DiBella in association with Universal Promotions, Jose Pedraza will face Andrey Klimov in a 12-Round bout for the IBF Jr. Lightweight World Title. It will air live on SHOWTIME^® (9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PT). The telecast will also be available in Spanish via secondary audio programming (SAP).  Preliminary bouts will be televised live on SHOWTIME EXTREME (7 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).

For more information visit www.sports.sho.com and www.dbe1.com follow on Twitter at @SHOSports, @WilderVSMolina, @BronzeBomber, @LouDiBella and @Swanson_Comm, follow the conversation using #WilderMolina, become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SHOBoxing or visit the SHOWTIME Boxing Blog at http://theboxingblog.sho.com.

FROM BARTOW ARENA IN BIRMINGHAM, ALA.

Tickets Are On Sale Now!

ALL ACCESS: Deontay Wilder Premieres June 3 On SHOWTIME

In the co-feature, undefeated Jose “The Sniper” Pedraza (19-0, 12 KOs), of Caguas, Puerto Rico, will be opposed by Andrey Klimov (19-1, 9 KOs), of Klimovski, Russia, in a 12-rounder for the vacant IBF Junior Lightweight World Championship.

The 6-foot-7 Wilder captured the heavyweight world championship with an impressive 12-round unanimous decision over defending titleholder Bermane Stiverne on Jan. 17 on 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.  If triumphant, the aggressive-minded 32-year-old would become the first Mexican-American heavyweight world champion.

Tickets for the event, 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 said. “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,” said Gene Hallman, president and CEO of 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, ” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President & General Manager SHOWTIME Sports.  “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, premieres on Wednesday, June 3 at 10 p.m. ET/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 Olympic Games, where he won a bronze medal.  He is the last American male boxer to medal in the Olympics.

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 rounds, an average of 1.8 rounds per outing.  He’s registered 18 knockouts in the first round, 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, a 12-round fight for Wilder’s WBC Heavyweight Championship, takes placeSaturday, June 13, at The Bartow Arena in Birmingham, Ala. DiBella Entertainment and Bruno Event Team have joined forces to bring this event to Alabama. It will air live on SHOWTIME^® (9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PT). The telecast will also be available in Spanish via secondary audio programming (SAP).  Preliminary bouts will be televised live on SHOWTIME EXTREME (7 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).

For more information visit www.sports.sho.com and www.dbe1.com follow on Twitter at @SHOSports, @BronzeBomber, @LouDiBella and @Swanson_Comm, follow the conversation using #WilderMolina, become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SHOBoxing or visit the SHOWTIME Boxing Blog athttp://theboxingblog.sho.com.