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Alberto Machado & Angel Fierro Have Sights Set On
Knockout Victory In Thursday's Main Event
Ring City USA continues its three-event residency in Puerto
Rico this week as it heads to Albergue Olimpico (Olympic
Center) in Salinas this Thursday to present a stacked
evening of boxing action headlined by the next chapter in
the iconic Puerto Rico vs. Mexico ring rivalry as Alberto
Machado (22-2, 18 KOs) of Rio Piedras, P.R., battles Angel
‘Tashiro’ Fierro (17-1-1, 13 KOs) of Tijuana.
The full card, which features six matchups and fighters at
different levels in their professional careers, will stream
live around the world on Twitch at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m.
PT. The three-fight main card will begin at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m.
PT on NBC Sports Network in the United States and Puerto
Rico, and on Twitch for fans outside of the U.S.
In the evening’s co-main event from Puerto Rico, Jose
‘Chiquro’ Martinez, (21-1-2, 14 KOs), of Las Marias, Puerto
Rico, clashes with three-time world title challenger Israel
‘Jiga’ Gonzalez (26-4, 11 KOs) of Los Cabos, Mexico, in a
ten-round bantamweight bout. A six-round light heavyweight
fight will round out the main card on NBC Sports Network
featuring Irish’ Joe Ward, (2-1, 2 KOs), of Moate, Ireland,
who will look to avenge his pro debut setback against Marco
‘El Muneco’ Delgado, (7-1, 5 KOs), of Turlock, Calif.
Headlining the Twitch undercard broadcast, which begins at
6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT, three-time world title challenger
Maricela ‘La Diva’ Cornejo, (13-4, 5 KOs), of Los Angeles,
Calif. faces off against Alma Ibarra (7-1, 4 KOs) of
Monterrey, Mexico. In an eight-round flyweight battle,
former world champion and knockout artist Angel ‘Tito’
Acosta, (21-2, 21 KOs), of San Juan, Puerto Rico, battles
Gilberto Mendoza (17-9-3, 8 KOs) of Modesto, Calif. Also on
the Twitch undercard is a six-round junior lightweight
battle featuring top undefeated prospect Edwin ‘The Chin’
Valentin (9-0, 8 KOs) fighting in his hometown of Salinas
when he faces veteran Hector Marengo (7-14-4, 4 KOs) of
Arecibo, Puerto Rico.
All fighters have arrived in Puerto Rico ahead of Thursday’s
event and below are quotes from the Monday’s media
availability:
ALBERTO MACHADO
On the opponent change: “We had a plan for Hector Tanajara.
Fierro is a good fighter, he is young. He has a style a
little similar to Tanajara but more aggressive. I've only
watched one of Angel Fierro’s fights and don't know much
about him other than he is a tough Mexican fighter. The
truth is that the last-minute change does affect me a
little, but this happens in boxing. I am the main event of
this big card and I have to do whatever it is for the show
to continue even though Tanajara is sick. I have made the
commitment to NBC Sports Network, my family, my promoter,
and all boxing fans. I have a great team and I am a
professional; I have to make adjustments and move on."
On fighting in Puerto Rico: “It is very special to fight
here and to fight at home in Puerto Rico. I am grateful for
this opportunity to fight on NBC Sports Network. I want to
demonstrate that I can be a world champion again.”
On the pandemic: “I have been boxing since I was 11 years
old so it was good to get time off to rest my body and spend
time with my kids.”
On his goal: “Many boxing fans know who I am, now I want to
remind them why I was world champion. Those who do not know
me will now through NBC Sports and the Twitch app. I also
hope to win some new fans. Every boxer wants to be a world
champion and then we want to defend the title. Some things
are also important – entertain, make weight, be healthy.”
On fighting at 135 vs. 130 pounds: “I think I had great
performances at 130 pounds but right now at the lightweight
division my weight is good, and my body feels more
comfortable. I was Alberto ‘Explosivo’ Machado in the past
and I feel that back now at 135. I feel great right now.”
His prediction for Thursday night: "I predict victory,
hopefully by knockout."
On what’s next: “I have an excellent team around me, and
they will dictate the next step. I always want to fight the
best and hopefully I will have the opportunity to fight for
a world title in the near future."
ANGEL FIERRO
On training camp: “I was preparing for a fight on March 12
and this fight came so I said, ‘let’s go!’”
On taking the fight on short notice: “I had no reservations
whatsoever, I am always dieting and watching my weight. I am
always training so I jumped at the opportunity to take this
fight.”
On fighting in Puerto Rico: “We know we are in enemy
territory being in his hometown. But I have no worries, it’s
going to be a war. This fight is going to be a war.”
On facing Machado: “Alberto Machado is an elite fighter. But
I have stayed prepared for this opportunity. I am ready to
fight. I have seen him fight before. He has been on my radar
because I knew that there was a possibility I would fight
him. We studied the (Andrew) Cancio fights. We have been
analyzing his strengths and weaknesses, his chin,
everything. We are well prepared for whatever he can do.”
On facing southpaws: “I fought six southpaws in the past.
They have all been different styles though. I know how to
control southpaws. I know how to fight them. My original
opponent for my next fight was a southpaw.”
On how a win would change his life: “I can’t think about how
my life is going to change beforehand. I am 100% focused and
I am sure 100% that I am going to win. Then we can talk
about how my life is going to change with my team.”
On whether he’s looking for a knockout: “100%. I can’t
promise the knockout, but I can assure you that it’s going
to be a war. I am going to look for the knockout like all
Mexicans do.”
MARICELA CORNEJO
On training with Buddy McGirt: “It’s been great. I have
learned so much from working with him since May. It’s simple
and basic things but they are so effective. He has truly
brought the best out of me. I understand the game so much
more now. I am in there extremely confident with my boxing
IQ now and what each punch and movement is really there
for.”
On what she learned from fighting Franchon Crews Dezurn:
“During the (first) fight, her weight was on me and I could
hear my back get injured. I felt paralyzed. I could only
jab. I was very green when it came to rules and whatnot. It
could’ve been a no-contest because I couldn’t continue but I
didn’t know that. The second fight, I was on vacation three
days before and I got the call for the fight. I took that
fight because I wanted to show everybody and show myself
that, ‘dude, I can fight.’ I have heart. I only have four
amateur fights, but I can stand toe-to-toe and show them
hell, too. Learning the game though, that’s where Buddy
McGirt has helped me so much. That last fight showed me that
I do belong here. I know what I have, and I know I am worthy
to be here.”
On her strategy: “Fighting smart. If she wants to bring it,
my right hand will be there to welcome it.”
On fighting in Puerto Rico: “They will see two women put on
a good show. I am super excited to be here in Puerto Rico to
win some fans and then eat some mofongo after the fight!”
On women’s boxing: “I am excited to be a part of this
movement and what’s to come for these little girls out
there. I want to see what impact this has for them – the
youth – and then to see what they can do with it.”
On what’s next: “To get this win on Thursday night. This
fight is my main focus right now. I think this will be the
bloodiest and toughest war of my career. I am getting myself
ready for that. Every time I step in the ring, it’s to be a
better me. I am not focused on anyone else. I just want to
step in there better than the last time.”
JOE WARD
On coming back from his knee injury: “It was tough not
knowing where I’d be when I got back on my feet and how long
it would take me to get back in the ring, in addition to
what long term damage it was going to cause. I was lucky
enough that everything went well, and I got back on my feet.
I had a good strong mindset that if I put the work in, I
would be back fighting soon. It’s been a long, difficult
time but I am looking forward to getting back in the ring to
showcase my skills.”
On the time away from the ring: “I feel that I am probably a
better fighter now. I got to work on things that were my
weaknesses over that period of time. I feel more determined
and focused to put a show on and be ruthless.”
On a rematch with Delgado: “This was the opponent I wanted
from day one. I wanted to put it right. I am 100% focused
like I would be for any opponent. He has a number of wins
and a bit of confidence. I know my level of fighting is
higher than his and that will show on Thursday night. It’s
just about me turning up. I told my team I wanted this
rematch because I wanted to put this right. I want to go on
to bigger and better things in the near future. I take one
fight at a time, but I hope it’s a busy year. I’ll keep
stepping up.”
On his two fights in Mexico: “It was great to get back in
the ring after the injury. The two guys I fought weren’t up
to the standard of where I am at, but I went in there
ruthless and got them out of there as quickly as possible.”
On what he has to prove: “It’s not so much about what I have
to prove but it’s getting opportunities to fight in these
big events that are very special to me. I just want to show
the people why I was such a good amateur and how it
transfers to a professional.”
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