| |
|
|
Mikey Garcia vs. Sergey Lipinets
Los Angeles Press
Conference
Photos: Photos from Esther Lin - SHOWTIME
Undefeated three-division world champion Mikey Garcia and
unbeaten IBF Junior Welterweight World Champion Sergey
Lipinets went face-to-face for the first time Monday at a
press conference in Los Angeles to discuss their main event
showdown on Saturday, Feb. 10 live on SHOWTIME (10:15 p.m.
ET/PT). The matchup of top-5 ranked junior welterweights
will take place at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas and
is presented by Premier Boxing Champions.
SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING coverage will also feature
two-division world champion Rances Barthelemy in a rematch
against Kiryl Relikh for the vacant WBA 140-pound world
title.
Tickets for the event, which is promoted by Ringstar Sports
and TGB Promotions, are priced at $250, $150, $75, $50 and
$20. Tickets will go on sale tomorrow at 12 p.m. CT and will
be available at Ticketmaster.com.
Lipinets will be making the first defense of his world title
while Garcia looks to become only the third fighter in
modern history to become a champion at 126, 130, 135 and
140-pounds, joining future Hall of Famers Juan Manuel
Marquez and Manny Pacquiao*.
Here is what the press conference participants had to say
Monday from the Conga Room at L.A. Live:
MIKEY GARCIA
“A world champion like Sergey Lipinets is more exciting an
opponent for me than an easy title defense. I wanted a
challenge and this man presents that. He’s a bigger man
naturally. He’s going to be very hungry and motivated. He
knows a victory over me launches his career to the top.
That’s going to make this an interesting fight.
“To win a world title in a fourth division is a big deal to
me. My dad always wanted a three-division world champion,
and now I have a chance to give him a fourth title. That’s
something that really excites me.
“It’s been a great return to boxing since my layoff. When I
came back, I wanted to move fast and take on big challenges.
That’s what we’ve been doing so far. I want to take on any
challenges that people think I can’t achieve. I think slowly
we’re proving to everyone that I’m better than ever and I’m
going to keep taking on the kinds of fights that will cement
my legacy.
“It would be a great accomplishment to be in the discussion
with guys like Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez, that
would be a win in itself. But it wasn’t on my mind when
taking this fight. I just want to keep fighting the best out
there. There’s still more for me to accomplish until I’m on
the same level as Pacquiao and Marquez.
“It’s going to be a great fight. Like I’ve said, the
challenge for me is that I’ll be fighting the bigger man. On
fight night, that advantage he has on me might be enough to
make it that much more exciting. It will be interesting to
see how well I adapt to the size. I have to make adjustments
to overcome those challenges. This should give the fans the
excitement that we want to give them.
“My only focus is on February 10 against Sergey Lipinets.
That’s my target throughout the entire camp. There may be
more opportunities for me on the horizon, but you’ll see on
fight night that I’m one hundred percent focused.
“I know that I have the possibility to be the biggest star
in boxing like a Floyd Mayweather, and I think I’m on track
to accomplish that. I don’t see a lot of guys in the sport
with the resume of accomplishments that I have. I’m going to
continue take on the best and beat my opponents
convincingly.”
SERGEY LIPINETS
“Mikey Garcia is a great champion and I want to be in the
position that he’s reached in this sport. The only way there
is to go through him.
“I’m taking on a great challenge against Mikey Garcia, and
many people think I’m not ready. This is the fight that I
wanted. I’ve had many obstacles in my way throughout my
career and I’ve overcome them all. I’m going to overcome
Mikey Garcia just like that.
“Every time I have sparred with top fighters, like Terrence
Crawford, I have learned more about what I need to improve
to get to the next level in this sport. That kind of
experience has helped my confidence increase and will help
me when I face Mikey Garcia.
“A lot of things can happen when you move up in weight.
Usually people use some pop. Whatever version of Mikey
Garcia shows up; I’ll be ready for him.
“I believe I’m going to win, Mikey believes he’s going to
win, and it will all unveil in the ring. One thing I can
guarantee; it’s going to be a great fight.
“Every fight I’ve had has been against a tough opponent who
has helped get me to this point. Now, I’m ready to fight the
best, and Mikey Garcia is truly that.
“I had to work very hard to make the transition from
champion kickboxer to a champion boxer. I did everything I
had to do, moving from gym to gym and sparring everyone. I
always aimed for the best and wanted to be the best at what
I do.”
ROBERT GARCIA, Mikey’s Brother & Trainer
“We know that Sergey Lipinets is a very dangerous fighter.
He’s a really strong champion. I know he’s going to be
hungry because he wants to become a big name by beating
Mikey.
“Mikey is very smart in the ring. We’re going to come in
there with a good game plan. We’ll have some big sparring
partners. Strong, heavy guys who will give Mikey a big
challenge in sparring.
“Mikey has to be in great shape for this fight. You can
easily win the first eight rounds, but there are still four
left. You have to be able to finish the fight. A great power
puncher like Lipinets can finish you in one round.”
BUDDY MCGIRT, Lipinets’ Trainer
“We will be prepared for any and every thing. This way, when
fight night comes, we’ll have an answer for everything. The
key is that we just have to be on point from the opening
bell to the end. There’s no way around it.
“We’re going to cover everything in training camp. You have
to have every option available to you on fight night. This
way, you’re never surprised in the ring. Sergey won’t go in
there swinging to get a knockout, he’s going to be
disciplined and focus on getting the victory.
“I believe that Sergey is on a mission. I know Mikey Garcia
is on a mission too, and I respect that. I respect that
these two men are fighting each other. Champions do what
Sergey is doing, and that’s fighting the best.”
RICHARD SCHAEFER, Chairman & CEO of Ringstar Sports
“This is going to be a huge night for the 140-pound
division. It will be another toe-to-toe showdown at the
Alamodome in San Antonio, where so many great matchups have
taken place before. Tickets start at just $20 so we expect
another great crowd of fight fans down in Texas.
“This matchup features two undefeated fighters, two big
punchers and 50 wins, 40 by knockout, between the two of
them. These guys are both champions who are daring to be
great. These are exactly the kind of fighters that the
public likes. These fighters will push themselves to be
great.
“These guys only know one thing, and that is winning. Sergey
Lipinets is the biggest puncher at 140-pounds and it seems
like Mikey Garcia always seeks out these big punchers.
“Mikey is looking to do something that only Manny Paccquiao
and Juan Manuel Marquez have done, in moving up from 126
pounds through 140 pounds winning titles at each division.
It is very difficult to carry that power up from
featherweight. You have to tune-in to see an exciting
fighter like that trying to make history.”
STEPHEN ESPINOZA, Executive Vice President & General
Manager, SHOWTIME Sports
“What boxing needs are great fights. Good, high quality
matchups like Leo Santa Cruz vs. Carl Frampton, Keith
Thurman vs. Danny Garcia and Errol Spence vs. Kell Brook.
There needs consistently be good fights, and that’s what we
have been doing at SHOWTIME for the last couple of years. No
other network has done the quality of fights that SHOWTIME
is doing. No other network is as committed to the sport as
SHOWTIME has been.
“The best need to fight the best, and that is what Mikey
Garcia has done. He came off of a two-and-a-half-year layoff
and in 18 months he’s had four fights, two title fights and
will be going for a title in a fourth weight class,
something only Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez have
done before. That’s what great fighters do.
“Historically the fighters who separate themselves as
legendary, are the ones who challenge themselves and travel
across weight classes to seek these challenges. But there
are two sides to this story. Those who have been paying
attention have seen Sergey Lipinets make a lot of noise on
SHOWTIME cards lately. He has risen very quickly.
“If you just look at Lipinets’ record, 13-0, and think about
him fighting Mikey Garcia it would sound crazy. But if you
look at the kind of competition he’s faced, his last seven
opponents have a combined record of 163-15. That’s not
something you usually see 13 fights into a career. Lipinets
is a combat veteran, and whatever happens in the ring, he
will be ready for it. It’s going to make for an exciting
night.”
|
|
|
