Israil Madrimov vs Terence Crawford final press conference quotes
Below are a selection of quotes from today’s final Terence Crawford vs Israil Madrimov + undercard press conference ahead of this Saturday’s blockbuster card at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, shown live worldwide on DAZN PPV.
Terence Crawford vs Israil Madrimov
TERENCE CRAWFORD: “I would like to thank God for blessing me to be here today. I would like to thank Team Madrimov for accepting the challenge and thank you to Turki Alalshikh for putting an excellence card together and thank everybody for supporting all the fighters on the card.
“I’m expecting Israil to come out and do what he’s been doing as he’s been phenomenal in the fights that he’s had. People are forgetting I’m strong and punch hard too. People keep thinking this whole fight he’s the bigger guy and stronger guy since I’m moving up in weight. We always have these same questions in other fights against bigger guys, but when they get in the ring with me I’m stronger than they thought.
“I’m going to be stronger at 154 pounds and be more energised. It’s going to be less stress on my body with the weight and I’m going to be ready. I’m good right now and I expect to win however it comes if it’s a knockout, a decision I expect to win.”
BRIAN ‘BOMAC’ MCINTYRE: “The journey has been a struggle at times, but it’s been fun most of the time. I’m sure me and any of the team members wouldn’t want to change it. We build character inside the team and we are happy and excited to be here, but we came here to do a job.
“The challenge of moving to 154 and fighting Madrimov is a hill that you have to climb. I know that the team and everybody around the team want challenges like that so you can say we are the best out there. We have solidified that over the years.”
ISRAIL MADRIMOV: “This fight is a big chance for me. I am fighting the best boxer in the world. This is a dream come true. I feel great and want to be a part of history.
“All the respect to team Crawford. As I said before he’s my favourite fighter, but at the same time I believe that I can prove that I’m the best in the world as well. I believe that anything is possible. My dream is to create something that nobody expects and do something and win the fight that nobody expects me to win and I believe I can do that Saturday.”
JOEL DIAZ: “We have a lot of respect for Team Crawford. We’re grateful for the opportunity, but everybody that knows us and my team knows that we train to win. We have been on the B side many times and we get the victory. I think Saturday night is going to be one of those nights. A lot of people don’t know Israil Madrimov, but he needed this fight. He needed this opportunity so that the world could know him. You guys are going to see what a great fighter, what a great athlete, and a person Israil Madrimov is.”
Things you didn’t know about Israil Madrimov
Jared Anderson vs Martin Bakole
JARED ANDERSON: “I’m extremely honoured and blessed to be here. I’m basking in the moment. This is an amazing card, an amazing place to be… LA is an amazing place to be. I just know that I’m gonna show why I’m here and why they say that I’m the future.”
MARTIN BAKOLE: “I’ve always wanted a big fight and Saturday night I’m going to face the best heavyweight in America for my first debut in America. I’m so excited!”
Andy Ruiz Jr. vs Jarrell Miller
ANDY RUIZ: “I know that he’s coming hungry, I know he wants to win, but so do I. I want to win, I’m hungry and I’m motivated. I’m physically ready and prepared.. Let’s do this!”
JARRELL MILLER: “One thing about me, I’ve never run from a fight. I never have and never will.
“I work hard, don’t get it twisted. When I’m in that gym I’m busting my ass.The Dubois fight woke up a demon in me man, it woke up a demon in me that I haven’t seen in awhile and come August third I’m beating Andy Ruiz up.”
Isaac Cruz vs Jose Valenzuela
ISAAC CRUZ: “We’re very very happy, we’re very determined, and we have a goal in mind which is to defend this newly won world title.
“We’re expecting the very best from [Valenzuela], but the main thing is that I’m coming into this really well prepared, and I’m intending to come away with the victory.
“We can’t wait to get started, we can’t wait to climb into that ring. I know that there will be a massive Mexican presence there, it’s going to be fantastic to hear so many Mexican fans there. We’re going to put on a great show, I know it’s going to be a challenge, but we’re going to put on a show, it’s going to be great.”
“This is what I’ve been training for my whole life, we had a great training camp and I’m ready to make the most of it.
“I have the height, I have the length, I have the skills, and I’ve sharpened up everything to come prepared.”
Andy Cruz vs Antonio Moran
ANDY CRUZ: “A big thanks to Eddie and everyone else putting this on and a big thank you to my team as well. We prepared really well and I’m honoured and pleased to be a part of the biggest bill in boxing this year possibly. I’m not one for talking too much. I think I’m ready and I think it’s better to leave any predictions and talk in the ring.”
ANTONIO MORAN: “Thank you to everyone and I am grateful to take part in such a massive event. I think in the game of boxing it’s more important to do your talking in the ring than out of the ring. I’ve gone through a lot and progressed a lot since my fight with Devin Haney and I’m ready to go on Saturday night.”
David Morrell vs Radivoje Kalajdzic
DAVID MORRELL: “Thank you everybody for coming. At 168, nobody wants to fight me so I’m going to 175, so I can fight the big name. That’s why I came out at 175 for this.”
RADIVOJE KALAJDZIC: “I believe I am the underdog and I will leave it at that, but we will see on Saturday night. Regardless of size, David (Morrell) is good. He’s got skill, power and everything. It’s going to be a tough match and I believe he’s the best at 168 and now in this weight class we will see Saturday night.”
Steve Nelson vs Marcos Ramon Vazquez
MARCOS VASQUEZ: “First of all thanks to everyone who put this show on. I’m a guy from Tijuana just down the road and people from Tijuana don’t come into fights like this to lose. I’ve come here with full support from my coaches and we’ve put in a tremendous amount of work to build up to this. I know it’s a pleasure and an honour to be part of such a fantastic and momentous occasion. I’ve come here to do the business and to take the title back to Tijuana and my family.”
STEVE NELSON: “Being on this card and I think everyone that put this card together, so to be on this card is a blessing. We train everyday and I train next to ‘Bud’ (Crawford) since I started boxing at the age of 21. To be here and to be in front of everybody to explain my talent is amazing.
“This year it’s not even halfway through and it’s been a tough year for me. I’m usually the guy that is joking and playful, but right now I have a lot of tension that I have to let out. I’m sorry to my opponent and it’s nothing personal to him, but it’s personal to me.”
Ziyad Almaayouf vs Michal Bulik
ZIYAD ALMAAYOUF: “I want to thank the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the King, His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince for the faith in me to be a flag bearer in such a revolutionary time for the Kingdom. I want to thank His Excellency Turki Alalshikh for believing in me and his unprecedented support.
“I just love the story that I am in because it’s a multigenerational story that I’m in. Every generation you get the power puncher, every generation you get the fast one, the slick one, but it’s only multi-generation you get the history maker, the superhero not just representing a state or city, but a country and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the whole Arab part of the world. I love to make history and I just want to make history on Saturday night. I want to become the first of many Saudi fighters who come after me so I can become the first champion from Saudi Arabia.”
MICHAEL BULIK: “I’m very excited to be here and get the opportunity to show my skills on the big stage, so I can show you how I dance in the ring between the ropes so thank you for everything.
“It’s boxing so we are going to see what happens. I am going to show my best skills and see what happens in the ring. I want to finish the fight in the third round, but we will see what happens.”