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Sebastian Fundora vs. Ermal Hadribeaj
Final Press Conference Quotes
WBC Super Welterweight World Champion Sebastian “The
Towering Inferno” Fundora and unbeaten mandatory challenger
Ermal Hadribeaj went face to face at the final press
conference on Thursday before they headline “The Fight” live
on TNT and DAZN this Saturday, October 17 from The Chelsea
at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas and presented by Premier
Boxing Champions.
The press conference also featured WBA Featherweight World
Champion Brandon “The Heartbreaker” Figueroa and former
world champion Tomoki Kameda, who duel in the co-main event,
all-action former world champion Armando “Toro” Reséndiz,
who battles Australia’s Koen Mazoudier in a 10-round super
middleweight showdown, plus rising star Marco Romero and
Uruguay’s Matias Ferreira, who meet in the eight-round super
middleweight opening attraction at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT
The fourth installment of the acclaimed live monthly boxing
series “The Fight”, this event will be broadcast
co-exclusively in the U.S. on TNT, truTV and DAZN.
TNT Sports and DAZN today announced an all-star announce
team for Saturday’s event with Todd Grisham hosting studio
coverage alongside undefeated five-division world champion
Terence Crawford, International Boxing Hall of Famer Tim
Bradley Jr. and former two-time welterweight world champion
Shawn Porter. Corey Erdman will handle play-by-play duties
alongside analysts Sergio Mora, a former world champion, and
veteran boxing journalist Chris Mannix.
The event is promoted by TGB Promotions and Sampson Boxing.
Here is what the press conference participants had to say
Thursday from The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas:
SEBASTIAN FUNDORA
“This Saturday we have everything on this card. Make sure to
tune in, because we’re gonna make it a knockout of a
weekend.
“He’s an undefeated fighter. He’s hungry, but we’ve seen
that before. We’ve fought champions. This is the major
leagues of boxing and we’re here to prove again why we’ll
remain the champion.
“I’ve been in this sport for a while. I’ve been fighting for
22 years. It’s been a lot of learning and now we’re showing
you guys.
“This is gonna be a great fight. He’s undefeated and he only
knows how to win. But we’re here to break him.
“Losing to Brian Mendoza made me realize some things.
Obviously if you make mistakes, you’re gonna get hurt. It’s
not just about realizing the mistake, but learning from it.
“Future fights only get in my mind because of everyone
asking us about them. We have Ermal in front of us and we’re
not overlooking him at all. You can’t overlook anyone. After
Saturday, you can ask me all the questions.
“I’m very comfortable making weight. I ate breakfast today.
This is Fundora fight week and we’re ready to go.”
ERMAL HADRIBEAJ
“I want to show that I’m an exciting fighter that people are
going to want to watch Tell the fans around the world that
‘The Albanian Sniper’ is coming for Sebastian Fundora.
“I met Fundora three years ago and I want to shake his hand
and let him know that the respect is there. We knew that
we’d want to fight him, but I wasn’t ready at that moment.
Now I’ve proven that I belong here.
“We worked a lot in training camp and I think we have the
key. If that key doesn’t work, I have another key in my
pocket. I have everything I need. I’m fast, I’m strong, I
work hard and I have punch resistance. Everyone thinks he
has the advantage, but his only advantage is that he’s tall.
“I’m able to out box him and I have the power to hurt him as
well. I’m very unpredictable so I can’t say now how it will
happen.”
BRANDON FIGUEROA
“I’m just ready. We prepared 110%. Just like what I did in
the UK, going out there against all odds, nothing is gonna
come between me and keeping this belt. I’ve lost it before
and gained it back, now I don’t plan on losing it again.
“I will give the best of me in every fight. I can’t wait to
let my hands fly and do what I was born to do.
“I wanted to get to the top level and fight the best of the
best, that’s why I teamed up with Manny Robles. We went over
there with all of the odds against me. But as a champion,
you take it on the chin and figure it out. You have to
overcome obstacles.
“I’m just getting better every fight. Everyone is going to
see on Saturday everything that I’ve worked for. This belt
isn’t going anywhere. I promise you that.
“He’s got a lot of experience and he’s been in there with a
lot of champions. But I’m a hungry, young fighter and I’m
strong. I’m going in there with everything and ready to
showcase what I have in the tank.
“Everyone is on my hit list. Line them up. I want all of
them. That’s what I’m here for. The belts are nice, but I
want the names. I want people to say I fought the champions
and beat them all.”
TOMOKI KAMEDA
“’El Mexicanito’ is back once again. I’m very thankful for
this great opportunity. I’m so happy to be back here in Las
Vegas once again. I’ve had a great training camp and I’m
ready to be world champion once again.
“I’ve been training for nine months now. Now I’m here and
more ready than ever. I can guarantee you that.
“I learned a lot from the loss to Angelo Leo. I was able to
use those lessons in my preparation for this fight. On
Saturday I’m going to show that I’m the superior fighter and
come out on top.
“On Saturday night I’m going to prove that in boxing,
anything is possible and that I’m willing and able to come
out on top.
“I have to take advantage of this great opportunity. Chances
like this don’t come around too often so I have to be 100%
focused.”
ARMANDO RESENDIZ
“I’m always ready for a challenge. I just want to seek out
the best. It makes me really proud to be on a prestigious
card like this. I’m always in the gym so this was an
opportunity I’m 100% ready for.
“There is a lot that I want to accomplish. I want to keep
getting into the ring and being the best version of myself
that I can be.
“It’s been a roller coaster for me, but I’ve proven that I
will always get back up. There’s always a next chapter.
“I have full confidence in myself and my team. After
Saturday night we’re going to look to move closer to
becoming a world champion again.
“He’s a strong fighter who has a lot of heart. He’s very
tough. The fans are going to end up being the true winners
of the night.”
MARCO ROMERO
“I’m excited to be fighting alongside these champions and
put on a great performance. He better live up to his words,
because if he doesn’t it’s gonna be a long night for him.
“He thinks he has more experience than me, but with my
amateur experience, that’s more than he’s had. He says he’s
gonna come in and play my game, but I don’t think that’s a
good game plan. You’re gonna get bit by the shark.
“He can believe whatever he wants. I’m going to go in there
and do my job. I’m gonna let the shark go on the hunt. When
I get the opportunity for the kill shot, don’t blink.
“I’m progressing and heading towards the top 10 and get to
the world title level. A lot of guys I fight tend to move
more, but if he comes in and brawl, that’s perfect for me.
I’ll be ready for sure.”
MATIAS FERREIRA
“I’m going to be out there showing my speed from the first
minute of the fight. I’ve been training hard for months now
and I’m coming to knock him out before the fourth round. The
fans are going to be in for a show.
“He’s a really good fighter, but he’s not going to be able
to keep up with my speed. He doesn’t have the experience
yet. I’m gonna come out and smother him from round one. I’ve
trained hard and I know what I’m capable of.
“He struggles with the distance. I’ve seen how he likes to
engage from short distance, but I’m going to play his game
and make my speed count more.”
TOM BROWN, President of TGB Promotions
“We’re all very excited to be here promoting ‘The Fight’ on
TNT. This card has a little bit of everything on it.
“With our main event, you have Sebastian ‘The Towering
Inferno’ Fundora taking on his mandatory challenger Ermal
Hadribeaj. He can’t look past his opponent who’s young and
undefeated. The scary thing about Fundora is that he’s just
getting better and better. His fights are always exciting
and he’ll give fight fans everything they want in a fight
night.”
“In the co-main event we have Brandon Figueroa, who went
over the UK to win his WBA Featherweight World Title and
upset Nick Ball. Now he’s back with a strong veteran fighter
and former world champion in Tomoki Kameda.
“Plus we have a former world champion in Armando Resendiz
returning for the first time since losing his title and he’s
got a tough Australian in Koen Mazoudier to deal with. And
we open the night with one of the top prospects in boxing
today in Marco Romero. He’s definitely someone to keep your
eye on.”
BRITTON HARDIN, Head of Boxing, North America, DAZN
“This is the perfect time for us to be bringing in new
boxing fans with the partnership with TNT and this is an
exciting card to do that with. You get the full gamut of
what boxing has with these matchups that we’re able to put
together.
“I’m really excited for Saturday night. Everyone up here
knows the level of competition and I can’t wait to see what
we have.”
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