By: William Holmes
The following is the Boxing Insider notebook for the week of January 5th to January 12th, covering the comings and goings in the sport of boxing that you might have missed.
Crawford vs. Lundy and Verdejo vs. Silva Announced
Undefeated superstars Terence “Bud” Crawford (27-0) and Felix “El Diamante” Verdejo (19-0) will be participating in separate bouts on Saturday, February 27th at the Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York.
Crawford is set to face Philadelphia native “Hammerin” Hank Lundy (26-5-1) while Verdejo is set to face William Silva (23-0).
These bouts will be televised live on HBO.
Erickson “The Hammer” Lubin (13-0) will return to the ring on January 31st at the Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee in Immokalee, Floriday to face Jose De Jesus Macias (18-4-2) in a ten round super welterweight bout.
Puerto Rican Olympian Alex “El Pollo” De Jesus (21-1) will take on Joseph Elegele (14-2) in an eight round bout as the co-feature.
“I’m very happy to be part of this show and to be featured in the main event,” said De Jesus Macias. “Training camp has been excellent and I will have to give 100 percent in the ring against Erickson Lubin. I will have to move a lot and get inside and have a tight defense so I don’t get hit by one of Lubin’s bombs.”
“Erickson Lubin has deservedly so been touted as one of the best prospects in the sport and I look forward to seeing him in action on January 31,” said Marshall Kauffman of King’s Promotions. “He has built up a great base in Florida and we look forward to seeing all of his fans at this great card on January 31.”
Media Quotes: Jean Pascal
On working with Freddie Roach
“I like Freddie. Freddie is a good man. He is a great boxing coach. One thing that I like about Freddie is he is a coach who like to listen. He is gonna ask me question. He is going to try to see my point of view. He gonna explain to me his point of view. He has a good ear. He has great experience and that is the quality of a good coach. I am my own boss. I need a partner. Freddie is the right partner right now. I am a veteran. I went to the Olympics. I became world champion. I am about to become two-time world champion in a few weeks. I need more like a partner to evolve than a boss.”
On Kovalev-Pascal I
“A few things went wrong but they were very like minor details. Right now we have corrected those mistakes so I can be victorious on Jan. 30. My mental [attitude] is very strong. I am physically strong. I am very confident. I am well-prepared physically and mentally. Freddie has the eye of the tiger. He see things. That is the goal right now to correct my small mistakes that I did on the first fight. That is why I think this time around I am going to be victorious.”
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NEW YORK (January 12, 2016) — No one needed to ask, “Where’s the beef?” at today’s press conference at Madison Square Garden, where undefeated World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior welterweight world champion and 2014 Fighter of the Year TERENCE “Bud” CRAWFORD and his opponent, Top-10 contender “Hammerin'” HANK LUNDY, announced their world title rumble. Each fighter had his own beef and they weren’t afraid to serve it up. Here are their quotes.
TERENCE CRAWFORD (27-0, 19 KOs), of Omaha, Neb.
“I’ve always wanted to fight in New York — at The Garden — even as a small boy. Fighting in New York tells me where my career is really at and where we are going. I can get a big fan base here. It’s very exciting
“Lundy runs his mouth too much. He’s about to get hurt real bad. But Lundy can fight. He will battle.
“I don’t know what’s wrong with this dude. He better be for real about it. [Mauricio] Herrera? Lundy lost. Doesn’t matter what people think. He lost.
“I used to watch a lot of old fights Uuntil I got older then I wanted to develop my own style, like, Sugar Ray Leonard, Roy Jones, Marco Antonio Barrera.
“I wouldn’t be in this sport if I didn’t think I was the best. If you don’t think lthat you are the best then you are in the wrong sport. I feel like I am one of the guys that will put boxing on my back and carry the sport. I want to do that.
“Best thing about boxing? I get to hit people in the mouth. And I get paid to do it. Ever since I was a little kid I wanted to fight — so why not get paid for it?
“All my kids watch me fight. They see me on HBO and say, “Dad, that’s you – you won that round.
“If I won Powerball would I would still fight? Boxing is my life. You bet I would.”
HANK LUNDY (26-5-1, 13 KOs), of Philadelphia, PA.,
“I am going to break you down, Crawford. This is East Coast fighting, you homie. I’ve been a better, tougher fighter since I reunited with my first trainer, the great Charles Ramey.
“I will be the big ticket seller in this fight not Crawford. We will have fans coming to see me, not Crawford — from Philadelphia, Boston and Providence. I ‘ve always fought on the road. I have fans everywhere.
This is Madison Square Garden. They want to fill the place they know who to get — Hank Lundy. I’m not the ‘B’ side I’m the ‘A’ side
Herrera? I was getting ready to knock him out and Golden Boy knew it. I told them I would fight him again, no purse bid. Nothing.
“I’m Hank Lundy. At the end of the day. I’m one of these fighters that can fight anyone. I fought a whole fight with a damn broken jaw. I put the guy down and he kept coming. But I had a broken jaw. The next day I woke up and it looked like I had grapefruit on the side of my face.
“I’ve got five kids. When I was 18 I was taking them to the gym with me, one on my arm and one in the stroller. Nothing stopped me. They’ve been with me my whole career. They know what it takes to work hard.
“You already know what’s going down. It’s my time. Crawford’s going to be going down early and often. I’ve been in there with the best. Nobody flat out beat my ass and nobody will. That’s why I keep getting these fights. That’s Philly fighting –.Broad Street Bullies.
“I’ve known Crawford since the amateurs. He’s a tough guy. If he’s the best I’m about to show you something. It’s about to be Hank Lundy night at Madison Square Garden.
“This guy is scared to fight me. I’ve been moving all over to try to get him.
I’ve got him now. If I’m under his skin now wait till fight time. One thing about it, I back it up. If you want to talk stuff you’ve got to back it up. You’ve got to have tough skin in this game.
“My kids said, “Dad you’re going to fight Crawford. You’ve been waiting for that.”
Media Day Quotes:
DEONTAY WILDER
“I’m just happy to be here in New York. There’s so much great history, especially in the heavyweight division, in this city so I’m really happy about the opportunity. It’s the media capital of the word and I get to fight at Barclays Center. It’s an exciting time.
“2016 is going to be a huge year for Deontay Wilder. The fans are going to be very excited and impressed with what I do this year. I’m not playing around. My goal is to be the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and whoever has those belts is going to have to deal with me.
“We’re on a mission. Everything that has happened has been planned. Everything seems to happen at the right time in my career and my life. I was meant to do this. Boxing was my calling in life.
“I consider myself the most athletic heavyweight in the division today. I’ve surrounded myself with good people and they’ve helped me get to this place where I am now. I’m happy for it.
“I’m from Tuscaloosa just like the Alabama Crimson Tide and they call Tuscaloosa ‘Home of the Champions.’ There’s no better place to be a champion and I’m very proud of the National Champs.
“I’m happy that Szpilka got this opportunity. I’m sure he’s excited and overwhelmed. Most fighters don’t get this kind of chance. At the end of the day though, he’s never faced a fighter like me.
“I’m mobile and agile. My accuracy and my power is the best out there. Artur Szpilka is in for a world of pain.
“2016 is my year. I mean what I say. I feel it inside of me. Szpilka says he’s ready but he’s just trying to promote himself. I really mean what I say.
“This is big for me. Being in New York and making history, that’s a dream come true. I’ve been looking to come to Brooklyn for a long time to display my talent. Barclays Center needs a face and I’m looking to make it a home away from home.”
ARTUR SZPILKA
“I want to be the first Polish heavyweight champion of the world. I’m ready. This is important for Poland and my Polish fans.
“Wilder is very tough. He’s tall and strong. This is boxing. He’s human. I know I can beat him. He makes mistakes and I know what I have to do. I know him. I’ve studied him and I see what he does badly.
“I can’t wait. This is so important because the Polish people have supported me so well. I know I will be a hero after the fight. I know it and I believe it. Only four days.
“This opportunity to fight for a title and on SHOWTIME is something great. I’m here to make history.”
Media Day Quotes
The media day took place at the Hollister Boxing Gym and featured Guerrero’s father and trainer Ruben Guerrero. Here is what the participants had to say Wednesday:
ROBERT GUERRERO
“All the hard work is done. We got one more day of sparring before we head out to Los Angeles next week. My dad and I are putting the final touches of our game plan together. We had great sparring and everyone is going to see a great fight on FOX January 23.
“Danny Garcia is very confident coming into this fight. He said he’s going to knock me out in five rounds. His dad said they’re bringing the storm to California. They both said it’s going to be the Danny Garcia show, so we’ll see. All I know is I’m coming to fight. I’m going to do all my talking in the ring with my fists.
“The Garcia’s can try to downplay the Mexican vs. Puerto Rican rivalry all they want, but the fact is, this rivalry has been the cornerstone of great boxing matches since before I was born. We are both born in America, but our roots go back to Mexico and Puerto Rico, so expect the rivalry to continue. I can’t wait to silence all the critics who are writing me off.”
RUBEN GUERRERO
“I respect Danny Garcia and his father Angel. Together they are undefeated. They feel invincible. Our motivation going into this fight is to give them their first loss. Everyone thinks my son is washed up, but they will see that he still has a lot left in the tank. Training camp is almost done and Robert knows what he has to do. It’s time to send a message to the welterweight division.
“I come from a big family and we all had it rough growing up working in the fields. We Mexicans have never had anything given to us. We had to work hard to get what we want. It’s time to represent all the hard working Mexicans going through the struggle. Robert is ready to represent La Raza. You better believe the Chicanos are going to be deep at STAPLES Center. My son is coming to throw down!”
