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Robson Conceição & Xavier Martinez
Final Press Conference
The 130-pound title picture will crystallize Saturday
evening at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa, as the unbeaten
Xavier Martinez (17-0, 11 KOs) battles recent world title
challenger Robson Conceição (16-1, 8 KOs) in a 10-round WBC
title eliminator.
Conceição is coming off last September's valiant challenge
of WBC world champion Oscar Valdez in Tucson, Arizona.
Valdez rallied late to edge the unanimous decision. Martinez
grinded out decisions over veterans Claudio Marrero and Juan
Carlos Burgos in his last two outings, ample preparation for
his Top Rank debut.
In the 10-round junior lightweight co-feature, Mexican
knockout artist Rene Tellez Giron will battle rising Puerto
Rican star Luis Melendez. Conceição-Martinez and Melendez-Giron
will be televised live on ESPN & ESPN Deportes (simulcast on
ESPN+) at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
The undercard — streaming live on ESPN+ starting at 6 p.m.
ET/3 p.m. PT — includes Tulsa-born heavyweight Jeremiah
Milton (3-0, 3 KOs) and middleweight Nico Ali Walsh (3-0, 2
KOs) in four-rounders.
At Thursday's press conference, this is what the main event
fighters had to say.
Robson Conceição
“What happened against Valdez was just a small setback. What
I learned from that fight is that it was a great fight, but
the fans know I won the fight. They know I’m the man."
“I’m very motivated. After the fight with Valdez, I walked
out of the ring very happy with my performance. I went
straight to the gym. I had a very good training camp, and
now I’m facing a very tough opponent. That makes me even
happier. I hope he is ready for a great fight. I’m ready! I
always overcome all obstacles. Martinez is a very tough
fighter. We will be battling for our lives inside the ring.
I trained very hard to come out with a big victory."
“For me, every fight is a world title fight. I’ve been away
from my family and sacrificing for over a year. I’m very
close to my goal, and I will not rest until I accomplish my
goal.”
Xavier Martinez
“Now I’m really motivated. I just had my little girl. I have
to fight for my little girl. She is my motivation. Makes me
even hungrier, and that makes me train even harder."
“Those last two fights were very tough and got me ready for
this moment right here. I’ve been putting the work in, and I
can’t let this opportunity slip by me."
“I’m not overlooking Conceição. He is a great opponent. He
is the main objective right now, but after this, I want a
title shot. If it's not right after, I want to keep active
and maybe fight for a title next year."
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