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Chris Colbert vs. Hector Garcia
Final Press Conference
Unbeaten rising star Chris “Primetime” Colbert and
undefeated Dominican Olympian Hector García went face to
face and tit for tat in a clash of styles and words Thursday
at the final press conference before they meet in the ring
this Saturday, February 26 live on SHOWTIME headlining a
Premier Boxing Champions event from The Chelsea inside The
Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.
During the event, Colbert briefly and humorously temporarily
took control of the hosting duties and began peppering
Garcia with questions about his chances on Saturday. Later,
Garcia questioned Colbert’s commitment to boxing, likening
his career to a “circus.”
The press conference also featured unbeaten 2016 U.S.
Olympian Gary Antuanne Russell and former world champion
Viktor Postol, who meet in the co-main event, plus IBF
Junior Bantamweight World Champion Jerwin Ancajas and
undefeated Argentina Fernando Martinez, who meet to kick off
the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast at 10 p.m. ET/7
p.m. PT.
Here is what the fighters had to say Thursday from The
Barbershop Cuts & Cocktails inside The Cosmopolitan of Las
Vegas:
CHRIS COLBERT
“I was a little disappointed when Roger Gutierrez dropped
out of the fight. I had to put that disappointment aside and
just hope that him and his team recover fast. Once I beat
this guy right here, I want Gutierrez next.
“I want to thank Garcia for even taking this fight. Without
that, I wouldn’t even be fighting on Saturday. Garcia is
just a step in my way. We all have obstacles that we have to
overcome, and this is another. I’m ready to test myself
against the best.
“He has 10 knockouts but that doesn’t scare me. Everyone
knows what I do. Every time someone has power against me,
they get beat bad. I don’t know what I’m going to beat him
with, but I’m going to beat him down.
“I’m not cocky, it’s just confidence in my skills. We’ve put
in the work. I’m in Superman shape. I was ready to take that
title.
“I want to fight the biggest fighters in the game. That’s
going to be my legacy. Gary Russell Jr. is a tremendous
fighter and I’m willing to give him an opportunity to fight
for the title at 130-pounds. We’re both dogs and I don’t
want any easy fights.
“I can do it all in the ring. How are you going to beat me
if I can do it all? I’m a real fighter and I want to give
the fans tremendous action.
“If he thinks I’m a clown, I’m going to juggle with him on
Saturday and give everyone a show.”
HECTOR GARCIA
“My team has worked tirelessly to have me ready for this
great fight. I don’t consider this a dangerous fight,
because I feel ready. Thanks to my team, I have the
foundation to become victorious. I’m going to show the fans
what I’m capable of Saturday night.
“I’ve seen Chris fight and what I really want to see, is if
he’s all about boxing, or if he’s about the circus. I’m
going to make him work for this.
“I’ve had tremendous training for this fight with Ismael
Salas. I knew from the start that Salas would not be able to
be at this fight because of a fight in the U.K., but I’m
confident in the work we’ve put in. I have a whole team that
is more than capable.
“This is the moment I’ve always waited for. This is the
chance to announce myself on a big stage. I know that I just
have to leave it all in the ring.
“I jumped on the opportunity to take this fight against a
great opponent like Chris Colbert. Boxing is what I am
about. This is how I prove what I’m worth. There’s no
greater motivation needed than that.
“Bottom line, I believe in my fists and my power. My boxing
prowess as a whole and my ability to be versatile is going
to help me win this fight.
GARY ANTUANNE RUSSELL
“A fighter of his caliber, beating him in any form is a
statement. You can’t take anything away from what he’s done
in this sport. He says he’s driven, well I’m driven too.
“A person who is determined can become dangerous. And I’m
one of those determined people. We’re both going to bring
our best. I’m coming to give a great performance.
“They’re going to say that I’m truly a superstar after this
fight. That’s what I’ve been saying for a long time. I’m
stamping it on Saturday night.
“I’m going to give a show like I’ve always done. It’s like
the sun shining. This is what I do. I’m going to get in
there and shine.
“This is the vision that me and my family have always had.
We strive to have our own level of preparedness. We’re not
just participants in this sport, we want to set our mark in
this sport.
“To be the next rising superstar, that’s part of our plan.
I’ve believed it all along, and now that other people are
starting to see it, we’re getting that much closer to our
goal. The plan is to keep the knockout streak going.
Execution is always our goal. That’s the family credo.
“I hope that with everything going on back home for Postol
in Ukraine that it motivates him and makes him hungry to
give the world a great fight on Saturday.”
VIKTOR POSTOL
“I’m so glad to be back fighting here in the U.S. again. I
was waiting for this fight and I’m very hungry and excited
to get into the ring again.
“I feel young and strong. I believe in myself. I’m very
confident that I will become world champion again. This
fight is a step toward achieving that feat again.
“Having Freddie Roach as a trainer is a huge boost for me.
He’s always able to give me the right adjustments in
training and during the fight. It just helps my confidence
even more.
“The situation in Ukraine has escalated a lot and it’s hard
not to think about it. I’m working on focusing on the fight.
My family is in the middle of everything, but they are safe
and that’s what is most important.”
JERWIN ANCAJAS
“I’m very thankful for this opportunity to realize my dream
and fight here in Las Vegas. I’m very happy that Martinez
has trained so hard for this fight. Being a champion, I
always want to bring a good fight.
“It gives me motivation that he’s an Olympian and that he
has lots of experience in the amateurs. I’m excited for this
fight. I’m feeling very energetic and I can’t wait to get
into the ring.
“If I have the opportunity to get the knockout, I’m going to
go for it. If I see an opening or a weakness, I’m ready to
take advantage of it.
“When I defend this title, then I want the unification fight
next. I’m ready to go wherever I have to in order to get
that fight. But I’m definitely not overlooking Martinez. I
know that he’s going to do his best and that excites me.”
FERNANDO MARTINEZ
“I have plenty of experience of my own. I’ve fought
everywhere at every level. This isn’t my first rodeo. I’m
going to take everything I’ve learned to try to become the
new champion. That’s what I plan to do.
“My experience is going to show. This is my first fight in
Las Vegas, but you will all be witnesses of how my
experience in this sport will help me win this title.
“Ancajas and I have similar styles. We’re going to see who’s
the best once the bell rings. I want to give the fans a
great show and leave it all in the ring for Argentina.”
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