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Wood vs. Conlan Nottingham
Press Conference Quotes
Eddie Hearn, Matchroom Sport Chairman:
“Thank you, Nottingham, for turning out today, it was
actually ten years this May coming that we were sat here for
Carl Froch vs. Lucian Bute. Ten years since we were last in
the Nottingham Arena for a major fight night, a world
championship fight night.
“That night still reminds me of how great boxing is, one of
the greatest nights in British boxing history and of course
coming up on March 12, we have another tremendous night.
We’ve been wanting to come back to this city for a long time
and now we’ve got the excuse to do it with a brilliant fight
– the World Featherweight title between Nottingham’s own
Leigh Wood against Belfast’s Michael Conlan.
“It’s just a brilliant fight for both guys, for Michael
Conlan he’s got the profile, the amateur pedigree, for a
long time he’s been widely regarded as a World Champion in
waiting. This young man to my right, Leigh Wood, people
should be proud of, he’s really done it the hard way in the
pro ranks.
“Wood boxed on small halls shows, fighting as the away
fighter, suffered defeats when he probably shouldn’t have,
took last minute fights. In our back garden in the summer,
produced one of the best performances from a British fighter
for a long time, dethroning Can Xu to become the World
Champion.
“On March 12, Nottingham gets the chance to celebrate one of
their own as a World Champion. It’s always great to have a
kid from the city, a Nottingham boy, that gets a chance to
defend his world title in front of his people live on DAZN.”
Leigh Wood – Nottingham, England – 25-2, 15 KOs – making the
first defence of his WBA Featherweight World Title against
Michael Conlan:
“I’m extremely focused, I was here as a young boy watching
Froch do it, I was supposed to fight on that bill. To come
here and watch Froch do it gave me that experience, how we
handled the pressure throughout the week, I was taking it
all in because I knew my time would come.
“Ten years old I wanted to do this, I wanted to be here in
this seat right now and I’m not going to let it slip. I’m
one fight away from a City Ground fight which is my dream
and I’m not letting it slip.
“I’m not looking at that fight [Warrington], I’m not
bothered about the belt, or the money. I’m here to do a job,
I’m focused on Conlan and I know what I need to do to win.
I’m working on the next seven weeks, practicing exactly what
I need to do to come out and get the win. After the fight,
we’ll look at what’s next and the belt situation.
“I respect him [Conlan] as a fighter, he’s not a fighter
I’ve watched and thought he does anything unexpected or
special. I do rate and respect him as a fighter, making sure
I’m doing everything I need to do to win. He is quite
tricky; we’ve looked at him in great detail.
“Social media wise, it seems like he’s got all of Team
Conlan trying to rattle me, but it is what it is, I give
what I get. He can do what he wants to try and throw me off,
but I just see it as a weakness, trying to get any advantage
he can – it’s not going to work one bit but do that
opposite.
“This fight is everything to me. I don’t need to discredit
him, tell him what he wasn’t done or performances, I know
what I’m capable of and I know what I can do, I’m going to
go out and do it – set up a massive fight, my dream fight at
the City Ground."
Ben Davison, trainer of Leigh Wood:
“It’s a tremendous fight and as Jamie and Michael said, the
travelling Irish fans will cause a great atmosphere, the
Nottingham fans have just shown they’ll bring a great
atmosphere
“Every blood, sweat and tear that both these lads have put
in over the years from when they both started boxing, it all
boils down to this fight and this moment. There’s pressure,
a hell of a lot of pressure, whoever can handle, accept, and
learn how to use that pressure can create a diamond on the
night. It’s a fantastic fight and it will be a fantastic
turnout on the night.
“This is Michael’s first World Title shot and Can Xu was
Leigh’s first World Title shot, obviously it’s a dream to
fight for a World Title but for Leigh Wood it’s always been
his dream to box for a World title in Nottingham. He’s got
that now and that’s what brings the pressure for Leigh, he’s
dealt with pressure before and he’s very good with dealing
with it, I believe that will show on the night.
“It’s hard to explain but it still shocks me how hard Leigh
hits, it’s freakish. I’ve trained him for over a year now
and when I put the pads on it still shocks me. That isn’t
going to win this fight, Michael’s a very versatile fighter
who can adjust throughout the fight, through the rounds as
well. Preparation, tactics, Leigh understanding what he
needs to do and when he needs to do it, that’s going to be
vitally important.”
Michael Conlan – Belfast, Northern Ireland – 16-0, 8 KOs –
challenging Leigh Wood for the WBA Featherweight World
Title:
“I was elated for him, I wished Leigh good luck on the week
of the fight and really wanted him to win. I’ve got a lot of
respect for him, he seems like a really good guy and I've
heard loads of good things about him. I have the utmost
respect for him as a person and fighter but fuck all that
until after the fight. Let’s get the fight done.
“I’ve been in with big punchers my whole life, I’ve had over
250 fights in the amateurs and sparred numerous rounds with
big punchers – Oscar Valdez.
“I have answer for anything Leigh does, I know what type of
fighter he is, he punches hard yes but slow feet and curly
head. I’ll punch ahead of him.”
Jamie Conlan, Conlan Boxing:
“I believe it’s destiny, Michael has always been tipped in
Ireland to be one of the best boxers ever to come out of the
country. He’s proved that as an amateur, he become the only
male World Champion from Ireland as an amateur.
“He’s progressed nicely as a pro and when the opportunity to
come to Nottingham come up, and there was some bitching and
moaning, we were very happy because we sat down and said
that’s what it’s meant to be. To become World Champion, you
must go to the opponents back yard and beat him in front of
his own family, friends, that’s how to state a legacy.
“The energy that’s coming across from Ireland, the ferocity
and hostility that’s going to be in that arena. We’re very
excited and I’m very proud as a brother, very proud to be
part of his crew and see him progress to get to this moment.
This is the one, this is destiny.
“No doubts at all, on March 12 he’ll be champion. We came
just the two of us, that’s how confident we are, we don’t
need to bring everyone in our gym and watch him to a press
conference. We’ve come here, it’s business, very excited.
“Belfast, when they get behind their own, it’s hard to beat.
As a city we don’t have much, boxing is our sport and
passion, our boxers in Ireland and Belfast especially as
back page news. In England footballers take priority, in
West Belfast where we’re from boxers are lauded over any
other sportsman because they understand that Belfast is a
boxing city.”
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