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Masoud vs. Sanmartin &
Undercard Press Conference
Frank Smith, Matchroom Boxing CEO:
"Shabaz Masoud has obviously had a lot of time out of the
ring but he's coming back into a proper fight. It's what we
need. We want you to come back into a proper fight,
especially in the position he's in. He's highly ranked with
the WBA not far off challenging for a World Title. As a team
everyone believes that's where he deserves to be and where
he should be. I don't think he's far off that. He's got to
come through Saturday night. This is the kind of fight he
needs after the period of time he's had out. It would be
worthless going back into an eight-round warm up fight. He
needs this kind of fight. He's been in the gym as he said
throughout. Obviously the delay was unfortunate but it's
good to get it back on so quickly."
Shabaz Masoud:
"I believe everything happens for a reason. When God takes
one thing he always gives something better. Now I'm topping
the bill in Newcastle. I love fighting in Newcastle, I've
fought here before so it's time to go. I've got itchy
knuckles but I've been in the gym for a year since my last
fight. Anyone who knows me knows that I'm a true
professional. I'm in the gym all the time. I feel like I've
made a lot of improvements in the year since my last fight.
It's time to show them. I'm my own worst critic. I could
have a top performance and still find something wrong with
it. My team is like that as well. I'm just looking for
perfection all of the time. I'm my own worst critic.
Honestly I think he's a good fighter, I feel like he's a
level above the fighters I've fought before but I think i
can do a job on him. It's time to go. I'm not Gary Cully.
He's a good fighter and I like him, but I'm Maverick Masoud.
I just feel like I'm levels above. I'm just going to show
everyone - especially Sanmartin. I feel like I'm better than
him in every aspect."
Jose Sanmartin:
"First and foremost I want to thank you once again for this
opportunity. My plan is that I'm completely ready and I hope
that Masoud is completely ready and recovered from his
illness. We have a plan for this fight and I am completely
ready to go.
"That won't affect me in the slightest. I'm a very
experienced guy and a very experienced fighter. All of the
pressure will be on him on Saturday. I'm completely ready to
take this victory and take this belt back to Colombia.
"We'll wait and see what happens and how the fight develops,
if the win can be via knockout then even better. We're ready
to give everything, we're ready to get the decision if needs
be and we're going to win on Saturday, that's the plan and
I'm taking that title home. I'm sorry Masoud, you're going
to be losing on Saturday."
Cameron Vuong:
"I really enjoyed my professional debut on the Wood vs.
Warrington undercard. It was a great experience. It went
exactly how I expected it to go. I put on a punch-perfect
performance and I'm looking to do the same thing on Saturday
night. I'm not sure my little press conference is going to
live up to Mark Dickinson's - that was very exciting. I've
worked hard my whole life to get to this point so now that I
am here I'm going to enjoy it - being under the lights, I
love it. Put pressure on me because I feel like I perform
under pressure. Having Nigel and Jamie behind me is the main
thing, they keep us grounded and get us the right fights at
the right time. I'm boxing a tough Colombian on Saturday -
he's got a winning record and he's never been stopped so I'm
looking to put on a big performance and get him out of
there. Activity is key. I want to stay active. I feel like
the more active I am and the bette the opponents get, the
better Cameron Vuong you'll see. I'm looking forward to
getting out on Saturday and then fitting one more in before
the end of the year in December."
Calum French:
"You're going to see a rejuvenated, refreshed and recharged
Calum French. I want to start by thanking Eddie and Frank
for keeping the show alive because a few years ago when
Lewis Ritson was topping the bill, if he hadn't of boxed the
show would have been finished. Thanks for keeping the show
on and giving us the opportunity to box. Massive respect for
that. I had a bit of time out with an injury. I've done
everything right during the rehab. I've given myself the
best chance of jumping straight back in when the opportunity
came and that's exactly what I've done.
"I'd give myself a six out of ten so far in my professional
career. I haven't boxed as well as I can do. Obviously going
from boxing at world level as an amateur when people are
looking to take your head off, to dropping slightly down the
levels to start your pro career just to learn the trade a
little bit. I dropped to that level a bit in my first few
fights but I've got a good game strong opponent on Saturday
night. He comes to win and he's got ambition. I believe
you'll see the best Calum French."
Mark Dickinson:
"I'll look him straight in the eyes and tell him, 'you're
not on my level'. This is a young mans sport. You're an old
man. My dad is down there and he's about the same age as
you. When you're five or six rounds deep and I'm walking you
down and I'm giving you a beating you'll feel like an old
man. You will feel like an old man. Look at you, who are you
trying to be? You look like Chris Eubank Jr off of Wish you
stupid c***. Your best achievement is going to points and
losing on points. The only person I've got to impress is me
- and you're getting done. This isn't football, this is a
f***ing fight. To be honest I think it's a about levels
rather than experience. I believe I'm levels above him. He's
going to say different. I'm glad he thinks different and I'm
glad we've got a good fight. Saturday night we'll find out.
Get the win and I'll have earned my shot at the English
Title. That's what it is all about. Once I have a belt i'll
get more opportunities to keep the ball rolling."
Grant Dennis:
"You're a young man and you don't look as good as this old
man, so it's crazy isn't it? Physically you're not as good
and mentally you're not as good. The only person I know how
to be like is me and I'm good at being that person. That is
it. You can come with all of this young boy stuff, I know
you want to impress all of these people, but you'll get in
there on Saturday night and you'll see what professional
boxing is about. Your little achievements in the amateurs
and all things like that won't mean anything. I used to
score 50 odd goals a season when I was 18 too. I didn't do
it in the Premier League though. This is professional
boxing. Age ain't nothing! At the end of the day I put
myself through the grind and that's why I look like this
bro. I don't get the opportunities that these young boys
have. You think that I came up getting fed opponents like
these dudes do? Nah I've had to fight. I've had to fight for
Southern Area Titles just on my seventh fight. Each fight as
they come and that's how I roll with it. I've still got a
lot of hunger in me."
Ewan Mackenzie:
"I'm looking forward to it mate, like you say it's my first
ten rounder. I've been doing it in the gym multiple times, I
know it's different under the lights but I'm fully confident
I can keep the pace and it's going to be an exciting fight.
"It's a good job Sunny Edwards isn't going to fight for you
on Saturday I tell you that mate. I've got a good support
coming up, plenty of the lads and lasses - so I'll make sure
I don't let them down on Saturday night. It gives me that
bit extra motivation in the ring. I know I'll be able to dig
deep in front of them.
"I think he's going to slow down drastically, I'll just put
a pace on him from the start and we'll see if he's still
talking that smack after round six. We'll see."
Ishmael Davies:
"Sunny Edwards has helped me massively outside of the ring.
I learn a lot from Sunny Edwards. Everyone knows he's like
God on the mic. He knows how to talk. I've learnt a lot from
him. He's a World Champion and he's one of my closest mates.
He's helped get me here, so yeah man I'm thankful for him.
This has come at the right time. I'm confident. I heard Ewan
Mackenzie is telling his people to put on a bet for a
knockout and he wants 10%. You'll be making them lose money.
If you want to have a proper bet put your money where your
mouth is and we'll put our purses on it, me against you
let's do it! Do you want a deal? Let's shake on it then! I
bet you don't reach the tenth round. Let's do this. Less
chat let's do this. He's going to sleep."
Ben Rees:
"I won five National Titles, a GB Title, European Bronze
Medal and a couple of tournament wins for England - gold
medals. When Owen normally boxes I get way more nervous than
when I box myself. I hate it, but I think when I'm in the
changing room I won't be able to see him fight so the nerves
shouldn't be so bad, but I'll be thinking about him. I've
been dying to get back in the ring - I've been training the
full time so I'm more than ready. The last performance was a
good performance, I stopped him in the first round but the
opponent wasn't up to much. This opponent for my next fight
is a live opponent so I feel like I'm going to be able to
showcase my skills more."
Jimmy Sains:
"It was a great debut, everything that I could have asked
for, like you said. A great turnout as well, everyone from
Essex. To be honest I watched it back a few times, I didn't
think I actually boxed too great. I think Darren and Sunny
were giving me a little bit of criticism on the comms,
especially Sunny to be honest, but when I was looking at it
he was definitely right 100%. I was trying to force the
stoppage a little bit too much, loading up a little too
much. But listen, that was my debut. I've got that out of
the way and now all I want to do is focus on my performance
and boxing. I'm glad I'm up here as well, out of the way a
little bit - it'll build my profile in Newcastle a little
bit as well. I'm looking forward to Saturday night. Boxing
comes first, but if the knockout is there I'm going to go
for it."
Owen Rees:
"I won a National Title and I got on the Great Britain
squad. The 67kg weight class got taken out so obviously I
thought there's no better time to turn pro now. I would say
I had a very good amateur career. I'm happy to be starting
the action on Saturday night because I'll be looking to put
on a big performance and getting another big knockout just
like my first fight. I'll definitely be looking for the
knockout. Anyone who watches the amateurs will know that
I've got a very exciting style and I'll definitely be
showing that on Saturday night."
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