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Gervonta Davis vs. Isaac Cruz Final Press Conference
Five-time world champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis and
hard-hitting contender Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz went
face-to-face at the final press conference Thursday before
they battle for Davis’ WBA Lightweight Title in the SHOWTIME
PPV main event this Sunday, December 5 from STAPLES Center
in Los Angeles.
The pay-per-view telecast will begin at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT
and see Davis’ third-straight pay-per-view headlining
attraction, as the three-division champion duels the
IBF-ranked No. 2 lightweight in Cruz, a Mexico City-native
who has earned his “Pitbull” moniker through his hardnosed
style.
Here is what the press conference participants, including
Mayweather Promotions President Floyd Mayweather, had to say
Thursday from downtown Los Angeles:
GERVONTA DAVIS
“I’m thankful to everyone here today and everyone who’s made
this fight possible. This is going to be another big night.
It’s my first time fighting on Sunday and I’m looking
forward to it. I’m ready to put on another great
performance.
“I think fighting shorter guys is harder than fighting guys
taller than me. You have to punch down and find him. But I’m
coming with my top game, so we’ll see how it plays out
Sunday.
“I can’t say too much about my strategy, you’re just going
to have to wait and see Sunday. He can say whatever he wants
right now, but it’s different when you get hit in the face.
“This is going to be a big event and an exciting fight.
We’re fighters who like to come forward, and when you get
these types of styles, we’re going to crash into each other.
“The opponent change is just a part of boxing. I had to
adapt to it just like I’ll adapt to what Cruz brings on
fight night. We changed some small things in camp, but we
know our mission is to get the job done no matter who it is.
“When you’re in the ring, if you have good coaches, they can
tell you when a guy is hurt and when it’s time to pick it
up. I believe in my team to the fullest. With all of us
putting our mind together, we’ll come out on top.
“Even us facing off today, I’m looking to see his height and
reach and things like that. I pay attention to everything so
that on fight night I’m fully prepared.
“I can’t say exactly what’s going to happen in the fight
because that would be overlooking him. I’m not going to make
the mistake other fighters have made. I’m ready to go 12
rounds and I’m looking forward to Sunday.
“He’s saying I haven’t faced someone like him, but he’s
never faced anyone like me either. He can say what he wants
to build up the fight.
“I’ve been the underdog like Cruz before. I know that he’s
coming fully prepared and coming strong. I remember when my
back was against the wall. It’s do-or-die right now and he’s
coming with it, not only for himself, but for his family.”
ISAAC CRUZ
“I’m hungrier and I’m more motivated than ever to give a
great future to my wife and my son. This is my dream since I
was a little kid and I am here to make that dream come true.
I am going to give my all to make it happen.
“My training camp has been all about endurance and I’m fully
prepared to give a great show for the fans and everybody
tuning in on Sunday night.
“It’s simple. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. He
has never faced anybody that fights like me before. My
hunger and my will to win is unparalleled. He’s going to
feel it on Sunday night.
“I guarantee a great fight. I guarantee excitement. I want
the fans to be excited whether they tune in on SHOWTIME PPV
or are at STAPLES Center. I want them to go home happy.
“I’m very confident in any punch that I throw. Like the
Mexican saying goes, ‘whichever way it goes, it goes.’ But
I’m very comfortable in my own skin and in my own style. I
believe in what I can do on Sunday night.
“Gervonta is a very strong fighter. I consider him the best
in the division, but he’s human and he’s not impossible to
beat. My goal will be to bring him down a notch and show who
I am as well.
“I know that Manny Pacquiao is well aware of this fight
happening and we hope to make him proud as a part of Manny
Pacquiao Promotions. He said that he believes in me and that
we have to train hard and give it our all out in the ring.
Regardless of what happens, he is going to be proud of us
and he believes we can come out on top.
“It was mixed feelings when I learned that I would be
stepping in to take this fight. There were a lot of emotions
coming in all at once. But once we realized that this was
the opportunity of a lifetime, we had to take advantage and
get ready for it. Now we are here ready to take it head on.
“We have seen a lot of Gervonta’s fights. We have drawn
conclusions both good and bad. We have studied Gervonta to
the fullest. Our hunger for glory is so far ahead of
anything you can think of. We are going to give it our all
in the ring.
“Gervonta is a strong fighter. He’s a tough fighter. But
he’s not impossible to beat. We are not scared of his speed.
We have been training hard to be able to counter his speed.
He has a strong uppercut. He throws a variety of punches.
But we are prepared. Regardless of what previous fighters
have done against him, we have prepared to counter anything
he can throw our way.”
FLOYD MAYWEATHER, President of Mayweather Promotions
“This is another big fight between two great competitors who
are going out there to show the world what they’ve got.
‘Tank’ has been on the big stage for a while now, but he’s
giving another fighter the opportunity to be great. Before I
was ‘T.B.E’, someone had to give me the opportunity, just
like Cruz is getting.
“Cruz is a tough fighter. When this fight was first made, I
didn’t know much about Cruz. But when I did my homework, I
saw that I’ve faced guys like him before. You can’t overlook
any opponent, but especially one like Cruz.
“’Tank’ has unbelievable boxing skills and the will to win.
I see very similar qualities in Isaac Cruz. On Sunday, it’s
going to be an explosive night.
“‘Tank’s’ trainers have got him covered all across the
board. They went out there and did what they had to do
throughout training camp and ‘Tank’ is going to be ready
come Sunday.
“These weights between 130 and 140-pounds are the strongest
in boxing right now. That’s just my opinion. In this fight,
we have two of the best fighters at lightweight squaring
off.
“This is going to be a very entertaining fight and I can’t
wait. We have a great undercard, but I really can’t wait for
the main event. Sunday is going to be our day, make sure you
don’t miss it.
“It was a team effort deciding to put the fight on Sunday.
The Super Bowl is on a Sunday, a lot of award shows and the
NBA All-Star Game are all on Sundays. A lot of times on
Saturdays, people go out to the nightclubs because they work
a 9-5 and want to enjoy their Friday and Saturday. But
Sunday, everyone is at home, they can sit down, enjoy the
festivities and take in this great card.”
CALVIN FORD, Davis’ Trainer
“Cruz is a very aggressive fighter. This will be a fight you
don’t want to miss. This is the fight where I’m looking for
that fighter to bring the best out of Gervonta Davis.
“Is Cruz the one to push ‘Tank’ further than he’s been
pushed? From what I’ve seen from Cruz on ALL ACCESS, I can
see that he’s on a mission. He’s definitely on a mission and
we ain’t sleeping on him. You’ll want to tune-in to this
fight. This is the one.”
BARRY HUNTER, Davis’ Co-Trainer
“‘Tank’ is an amazing fighter. He’s very explosive and very
skilled. He brings a lot to the table as it pertains to the
sport. I’m just looking for a great, fan-friendly fight. We
have got all the confidence in the world in him, his
abilities, and what we’ve done to prepare.
“I want to thank Cruz, his dad and his team for even
accepting the challenge and stepping up to the plate. I know
he’s hungry, I know he’s prepared, and I know he has what it
takes to win that world title, it’s just not happening now.”
ISAAC CRUZ SR., Cruz’s Father and Trainer
“It has been a long training camp, but we have been up to
the challenge. Hopefully, Isaac will be the one ending up on
top with the championship belt after Sunday night.
“We’ve prepared for everything possible heading into this
fight. We wouldn’t have taken the fight if we didn’t know
that Isaac could win. We’re going to be ready when that bell
rings on Sunday.”
LEONARD ELLERBE, CEO of Mayweather Promotions
“Sunday night is going to be nothing but fireworks. I can’t
give anything but credit to Isaac Cruz coming into this
fight. I know he’s mentally prepared. We’ve had our eye on
Cruz since his explosive performance in San Antonio on
Gervonta’s undercard last year. I knew then that he was
going to be a guy that ‘Tank’ was going to have to face.
“We all witnessed just last week what happens when you’re a
top fighter and you don’t prepare the right way and you take
your opponent lightly. But ‘Tank’ doesn’t do that. He takes
everyone seriously and he knows that Isaac is prepared and
coming to knock him off his throne.
“’Tank’ has had an excellent camp and has done everything
his coaches have asked of him. I’m impressed with his
maturation and how he’s come into his own both inside and
outside of the ring. With all of that combined, I believe
that we’re going to see the best of Gervonta Davis this
Sunday night.”
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