Jose Valenzuela vs Gary Antuanne Russell undercard press convention quotes
Fighters competing on the pay-per-view undercard for the Gervonta Davis vs. Lamont Roach PBC Pay-Per-View occasion on Prime Video previewed their respective matchups throughout a digital press convention on Thursday earlier than they step into the ring on Saturday, March 1 from Barclays Middle in Brooklyn.
Featured through the digital presser had been WBA Tremendous Light-weight World Champion José “Rayo” Valenzuela and high contender Gary Antuanne Russell, who meet within the co-main occasion, WBC Tremendous Light-weight World Champion Alberto Puello and necessary challenger Sandor Martín, who compete in a pay-per-view showdown, and rising contender Yoenis Téllez and former unified champion Julian “J-Rock” Williams, who meet for the Interim WBA Tremendous Welterweight Title within the pay-per-view opener at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
That includes 4 title fights and a bevy of the highest expertise within the sport, the pay-per-view card is topped by the five-time, three-division world champion Davis returning to Barclays Middle the place he set the constructing’s report for the highest-grossing and most-attended boxing occasion when he scored a highlight-reel KO of Rolando Romero in Could 2022. He’ll now step in to defend his WBA Light-weight World Championship towards the fast-rising WBA Tremendous Featherweight World Champion Roach, who enters this struggle on a six-bout successful streak.
Along with the PPV being out there for buy on Prime Video within the US, UK, and now Canada — no matter Prime membership — followers may also be capable of proceed to entry the telecast by way of conventional cable and satellite tv for pc shops in addition to PPV.com.
Here’s what the fighters needed to say Thursday:
JOSE VALENZUELA: “I’m excited to be again and maintain my momentum going. I’m going to present the followers at Barclays Middle a fantastic present. That is gonna be a conflict. We’re each coming to struggle, so be sure to tune-in.
“It was a dream come true to change into world champion. Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz is a superb competitor. I simply caught to the sport plan and stayed targeted. I’m going to do the identical factor March 1.
“I like this struggle higher stylistically. Towards a brief fighter like ‘Pitbull’ I needed to struggle on my toes, however towards Gary I undoubtedly assume there’s going to be numerous motion.
“Stylistically, I’m robust for anyone. A number of the huge names are gonna attempt to keep away from me. However I’m not apprehensive about that, as a result of I’ve a tricky competitor in entrance of me and I’ve to concentrate on getting this job carried out.
“Gary is an effective fighter, however he’s nothing I haven’t seen earlier than. He comes ahead, double jab, excessive guard. I believe I carry far more to the ring and I’m extra artful.
“I went proper again to the gymnasium after my final struggle. Profitable the title simply added extra gas to me. When you get a style of it, you simply wish to maintain going.
“I like every thing about this struggle. I believe getting a win over Russell will open it up for me to get even greater fights going ahead.”
GARY ANTUANNE RUSSELL: “I’ve a chip on my shoulder and I’m undoubtedly coming to steal the present on March 1 in Brooklyn.
“I’m grateful to be again. Listening to Alberto Puello actually makes me need one other shot at him, however first I do know I can’t overlook ‘Rayo’. He’s a fantastic fighter and I do know he’ll are available in with a robust sport plan. It’ll come right down to who is ready to overcome adversity.
“The best way I see it, I’ve a shot at one thing that may catapult me to a fantastic place. I already see myself as an elite fighter. I took my loss on the chin. It’s all about the way you bounce again. That’s what defines a real champion.
“Final struggle I type of deviated from a number of the stuff I had been doing up to now. I’ve moved onto this struggle and I’m able to get again to what received me right here. I wish to clear out the division and I’ve to win on March 1 so as to do this.
“Valenzuela will drive me to make use of some completely different motion than what I had to make use of towards Puello. I don’t know if Valenzuela has a extra appropriate fashion, however he has a method that may make the struggle extra entertaining than towards Puello.
“I’m coming in there with a chip on my shoulder due to the loss. I wish to show one thing in each struggle, however this struggle I’ve to do much more. I don’t wish to simply be mediocre. I’ve to make an announcement.”
ALBERTO PUELLO: “It is a nice alternative for me to defend the world title that I labored so laborious to win. Profitable that title meant a lot to me as a result of it proved to everybody that I’m an actual champion at 140 kilos.
“I’m not apprehensive about something aside from getting ready properly for this struggle. I’ve confronted numerous completely different opponents, and I do know what I’ve in my arsenal. What Sandor does or doesn’t do doesn’t concern me one bit.
“I’ve to win this struggle and I’ve to win it with an enormous assertion. I don’t assume that I’ve the respect that I deserve but. This assertion will put the entire boxing world on discover.
“I’m targeted on getting my basis proper within the gymnasium. Typically I’ll must be aggressive, typically I’ll be extra tactical. In the long run, that basis within the gymnasium is what’s going to make me able to defend the title.
“I’d like to struggle the winner of Valenzuela vs. Russell. I wish to unify the division after which clear out the division.”
SANDOR MARTIN: “I’m higher than Puello and his staff assume I’m and I’m going to indicate it on March 1.
“It’s a pleasure to have this nice alternative to struggle in Brooklyn. I’m right here to indicate my abilities and present that I’m top notch.
“My greatest abilities are in my thoughts. I can struggle any fashion. Puello is a superb fighter who needs to remain undefeated, and that makes me extra motivated. I’m going to be at my absolute best on March 1.
“I’ve to get the victory and return dwelling as a champion. I’ve the abilities to win this struggle and defeat Alberto Puello. If I have to struggle like a Mexican warrior, I’ll go away my coronary heart within the ring. I’m able to do no matter it takes to change into world champion and provides the followers a fantastic present.
“This isn’t only a regular struggle. That is the chance I’ve waited for since I used to be a child. I’ve earned it. The one factor on my thoughts is returning dwelling as a world champion.
“I don’t like to speak an excessive amount of earlier than the struggle, as a result of we’ll settle it within the ring. I’ve no alternative however to return out on high. I’m not apprehensive about the rest.”
YOENIS TELLEZ: “I’ve had an impressive coaching camp as a result of I do know what this chance means to me. That is the chance of a lifetime and I wish to take full benefit on March 1.
“I needed a problem and when Julian’s identify got here up, I used to be able to go. He’s an thrilling problem for me to work and determine the way to overcome.
“This struggle goes to ascertain me on this division and present what I can do. Everybody will see after March 1.
“Julian has every thing to achieve and every thing to lose similar to I do. However my motivation is to get the place he’s already been. I’ve to beat him so as to take action.”
JULIAN WILLIAMS: “I’m not depending on expertise. I’m depending on skillset and being the perfect Julian Williams that I might be. Expertise can truly be overrated. I’m targeted on being ready and being me.
“I wish to be nice. When there’s a gun, you don’t run away. You run towards the gun. That’s my mentality. I wish to be nice.
“We’re gonna see on March 1. He’s a great younger fighter, however we don’t know an excessive amount of about him. I let my staff examine his tape, and we simply go within the gymnasium and work on the plan. We’re fine-tuning some issues and we’re going to indicate up March 1 able to win.
“I’m taking it one step at a time. I’m able to keep it up. No matter my coaches put into the sport plan, I’ll be able to implement it.”
