DON KING
NATE CAMPBELL-JOAN GUZMAN
TIMOTHY BRADLEY-EDNER CHERRY
FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
From Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008
At Beau Rivage Resort & Casino
BETTING ODDS
Danny Sheridan of USA Today has Joan Guzman as a 2 to 1 favorite over Nate Campbell.
The MGM/Mirage Sports Book has Guzman as the favorite at -220 with Campbell the underdog at +180.
Two world championships will be featured including International Boxing Federation, World Boxing Association and World Boxing Organization lightweight champion Nate “Galaxxy Warrior” Campbell (39-5-1, 25 KOs) defending his crowns against undefeated former two-time WBO champion Joan “Sycuan Warrior” Guzman (28-0, 17 KOs) and World Boxing Council super lightweight champion Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley (22-0, 11 KOs) will make his first title defense against WBC No. 6-ranked Edner “Cherry Bomb” Cherry (24-5-2, 12 Kos).
Both of the world championships will be televised on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT/9 p.m. PT (delayed on the West Coast) on SHOWTIME.
The event will be promoted by Don King Productions in association with Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi, Miss. The Campbell-Guzman main event will be presented in association with One Punch Productions and Sycuan Ringside Promotions. The Bradley-Cherry fight is promoted by Gary Shaw Productions and Thompson Boxing Promotions.
PHOTO CREDIT: TOM CASINO/SHOWTIME
The war of words ends on Saturday night when Nate Campbell (left) and Joan Guzman (right) square off on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING at 9 p.m. ET (delayed on West Coast). Don King, middle, is the lead promoter of the world championship fight where Campbell’s three lightweight titles are on the line: WBO, WBA and IBF.
Campbell (left) and Guzman stare each other in the eye at the final press conference on Thursday. Campbell is making the first defense of his WBO, WBA and IBF titles on Saturday from the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi, Miss.
Timothy Bradley, a ShoBox alum, flashes his WBC 140-pound belt as he poses with the challenger, the durable and battle tested Edner Cherry.
Bradley and Cherry face off during Thursday’s press conference at the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino.
DON KING
“It’s going to be a glorious night of boxing. We’re happy to be at the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi, Miss. SHOWTIME is televising what will be the best lightweight fight of the year.
“Fight fans are getting a special treat with this championship double header. The main event between Campbell-Guzman is going to produce fireworks and the co-feature of Bradley-Cherry will produce excitement as well.”
NATE CAMPBELL
“Guzman [Joan] and I did a little trash-talking before this fight was official. Words never hurt me. I enjoy the talk. I’m a competitor.
“What’s strange about this fight is that I have three belts and I still don’t get any respect. All the other guys get the praises and respect, but I’m always the underdog. I’ve come to relish that role because I know what I’m capable of.
“If you think I’m going to give up my belts to Joan Guzman, you’re crazy. I have nothing against Joan Guzman, but he isn’t getting my belts. If he wants them, he better bring it on Saturday night.
“I grew up dirt poor. I had to fight for everything that I have in my life. No one ever gave me anything. I live to fight and believe me when I say this, no one is taking my belts. Not Joan Guzman, not anyone.”
JOAN GUZMAN
“I’d like to thank everyone who made this fight happen. My promoter, Sycuan Ringside Promotions, SHOWTIME and Don King Productions. It’s been almost a year since my last fight so I’m getting anxious to get in the ring.
“Nate [Campbell] and I exchanged a few insults on the way to making this fight happen. Words are just words, they don’t hurt. They real talking is done inside the ring. We’re ready for whatever Nate is going to bring. We’ve prepared well, we’ve prepared hard and we came here for the victory.
“Nate and I are similar in that no one ever wants to fight us. He’s been avoided throughout his career and the same is true for me. I’m always surprised when a boxer agrees to fight me because there are only a few out there. Nate is one of them.
“Fight fans know that this lightweight fight is the fight to watch on Saturday. History will be made. You’ll see Joan Guzman become the first Dominican-born boxer to win titles in three weight classes.”
JOHN DAVID JACKSON (Campbell Trainer)
“Campbell and Guzman have been avoided throughout their careers so it’s good to see them fighting each other.
“We respect Guzman’s talent, but on Saturday he’s going to find out what it means to be a real fighter. He’s going to get a beating and a lesson in what it takes to be a real fighter. He’s not going to know what happened until he looks at the tape.”
FLOYD MAYWEATHER, SR. (Guzman Trainer)
“If Guzman fights the way he’s suppose to fight, he’s going to put a whopping on Campbell. It’s as simple as that.
“There’s nothing left to say. Guzman will become a three-division champion on Saturday.”
TIMOTHY BRADLEY
“I’m ready for this fight. I trained as if it’s my last fight. I’m just thinking about defending my belt. I have one [WBC super lightweight], but I want the others. Once you get one, you feel the need to get more.
“I spared over 100 rounds to get ready for this fight. I’m tired of wearing protective head gear and holding back during sparing. I want to get in the ring and deliver a beating. That’s all I’m thinking about.
“Edner Cherry can do or say anything he wants outside of the ring, but he’s not taking my belt away. I have fought too long and hard to give it up easily.”
EDNER CHERRY
“Bradley is a tough opponent, but we’ve got a great game plan in place for him. I respect Bradley and what he has done, but his time at the top will be short-lived.
“I came here to Biloxi to become a world champion and Bradley isn’t going to stop that from happening. I respect him, but I know there will be a new champion in that ring on Saturday. It’s going to be me.”
