| |
|
|
Liddard vs. Denny Final Press Conference Quotes
The talking is over for George Liddard and Tyler Denny as
they went head-to-head at the final Press Conference ahead
of their showdown this Saturday.
Liddard, 23, defends his British & Commonwealth Middleweight
Titles for the first time as part of a huge Matchroom Boxing
double header live on the Global Home of Boxing, DAZN.
Across the pond, in the USA, at the Caribe Royale resort in
Orlando, Florida, Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams challenges Carlos
Adames for the WBC World Middleweight Championship.
Attention focuses on East London first, however, as Liddard
and Denny headline a stacked card at the Copper Box Arena.
Giorgio Visioli defends his English Lightweight Title
against Levi Giles as Liddard’s stablemate Jimmy Sains puts
his English Middleweight belt on the line against Derrick
Osaze. Leli Buttigieg will have his eye on facing the winner
of that fight, should he overcome Jake Goodwin in an
eliminator for that strap earlier in the evening.
Connor Mitchell – son of British boxing cult hero Kevin
Mitchell, steps into the ring for his second pro fight when
he faces Italy’s Yuri Zanoli. Rising Super Middleweight
sensation Taylor Bevan goes toe-to-toe with Martin Ezequiel
Bulacio, as undefeated Featherweight prospect Adam Maca
meets Malta’s Lydon Chircop. And impressive, amateur Super
Featherweight standout Louie Ward – trained by John Ryder –
makes his professional debut against Jahfieus Faure.
Here are some selected quotes from Thursday’s Press
Conference – which you can watch back in full in the video
player below.
For all the latest updates, follow @matchroomboxing on
social media.
MATCHROOM BOXING CEO, FRANK SMITH
I have to say George Liddard looks like he could be the next
James Bond! Perhaps, once it’s all finished for him in
boxing later down the years, he can pursue that. For
Saturday, it’s another step up for him. A lot of people
thought Kieron Conway was a step too soon for George Liddard
last October. We’ve all seen that Kieron Conway has been in
the ring over the years with a lot of great fighters and
Tyler Denny has done the same as well. He’s got to keep
progressing and being in those type of fights. George is in
a position now where he wants to really push on in the world
rankings. The Middleweight division is really open. There’s
not a huge number of stars out there. We’ve obviously got
Ammo Williams fighting for the WBC World Title on Saturday
night as well over in Orlando against Carlos Adames. George
wants to put himself in the position to go for those World
Title shots in the next 12-18 months, I would say. He’s not
far off that and Tyler Denny is the perfect opponent for
George to try and step through those levels, because Tyler’s
been up there and he’s been through those fights. It’s going
to be by no means an easy night. George has sold over 800
tickets on Saturday night at the Copper Box. It’s going to
be banging in there and a load of the undercard fighters
have sold well too, like Jimmy Sains, who has done over 700.
So George is doing everything right and he’s delivering in
his performances – and looks like that. I want to look like
that! The sunglasses, the suit… I wish I had my hairline
like his too. He’s out-dressing everyone these days.
Everything is perfect. But he has got to keep on delivering
in the ring. He gets the game, he gets what he needs to do
and every time he keeps on testing himself, stepping through
the levels at the right time. A lot of young fighters aren’t
always prepared to do that. George believes in himself, as
do we in him, along with Tony Sims and Charlie Sims, to
where he can get to in the sport.
GEORGE LIDDARD
I’m very excited for Saturday night. I cannot wait. All the
hard work is done now. This is the fun part for me now. It’s
an ocassion for me where I can turn up and enjoy all of
this. The real business is Saturday night and that’s what
I’m looking forward to. Tyler is a good fighter – he;s been
in with some good fighters and has plenty of experience. I
just believe that I am the better man. I believe I am the
better fighter and you’ll see that on Saturday night. He’s
saying I’m a nice kid but I’ve got a very dark side to me,
which comes out when I fight. The last person who told me I
was acting, look what happened. That’s all I’ve got to say.
There isn't an act to this. I love what I do. I live for
this and I love the whole art of this fighting game. I think
in the last two years I have really grown from a boy to a
man. I just believe that I am bigger, stronger, faster and
better in every aspect. I will get the job done by any
means. If it has to be a 12-round war, then I’m ready for
that. If it got changed to a 15-rounder, I’d be ready for
it. I train for 15 and 18-rounds. We can go into deep
waters, if he wants to go into deep waters. But when I’m on
my game, there aren’t too many people who would be able to
survive with me for long. I do believe that I will get the
job done in style.
TYLER DENNY
It’s just business as usual for me. For most of my career,
in all the big fights, I have always been the underdog. So
it means nothing to me. I’m glad there’s going to be loads
of people there watching because it works in the favour of
when they’re cheering him, and I’m punching his head in, it
will be nice and I’m going to thrive of that. They obviously
believe in him and have made him a headliner at the Copper
Box. Even the West Ham stuff yesterday, they clearly believe
in him. Fair play. But I’m on my own path and I’ve still got
a lot left and I feel like I’m even better than ever. He’s a
good fighter and he’s someone who i have a lot of respect
for. You don’t have his amateur accolades or become a
British & Commonwealth Champion if you’re not a good
fighter. I never understand when people are fighting someone
and they say they are no good. If you beat them, then you’ve
not beaten anyone who is good. I think he is a top fighter
and he’ll have a good future. But Saturday is not going to
be his night. My confidence is at an all time high. I’m
going to take those belts. I feel unbelievable at the minute
and I can’t wait for Saturday.
JIMMY SAINS
These are the sort of fights that I want and the sort of
fights that make me want to train harder in the gym. When I
train hard, it ensures that I am ready for this level of
fight, so it’s great motivation. On paper, this is
definitely the hardest fight I’ve had so far. Obviously,
he’s game and he’s ready because he wants to win. He wants
to keep pushing up the ranks, but so do I. That is going to
bring out a better Jimmy Sains on the night and I’m going to
have to make sure that I am on my game. George [Liddard] has
given me a few tips but that was a different fight. Derrick
could have gone back and completely changed what he wants to
do and what he has worked since because that was a long time
ago now. He may be a different fighter. I know I’m a
different fighter to George, so I can’t look too much into
what he did – I’ve just got to get in there and quickly work
it out myself. Obviously I want knockouts because everybody
wants to see knockouts. But as long as I come away with the
win and bring that English title back to Brentwood, then
I’ll be very happy.
DERRICK OSAZE
Firstly, thank you to Matchroom and to Ftank Smith and Eddie
[Hearn] for the opportunity. They did say they’d get me on
again, and they have. They are men of their words. In terms
of this fight, I hear the terminology and words such as
’stepping stone’ and ’test’. But I’ll say what I said in my
last Press Conference with [George] Liddard: I’m not trying
to be a test or a stepping stone. All respect to Jimmy [Sains].
He’s genuinely a great guy. But I refuse to be the name in
the gym that both he and Liddard boxed. In comparison to
that fight, I’m feeling a bit darker if I’m being honest.
I’ve got some serious, dark intent and you can see in the
way I’ve dressed here today, that I’m not here to play any
games. I’m going to do what I need to do when I get in that
ring and let my hands go. I’m grateful to God that I’m still
here in this sport and still physically capable. I’ve been
around for a long time and haven’t had the activity I would
have perhaps wanted – but I’m low mileage. For me, the goal
remains to go as far as I can and keep doing what I do.
Whenever that time comes, I want to look back and say I had
no regrets and did everything I could do. For me, I need to
win by all means necessary. Jimmy’s a good fighter and it
will be a good fight.
GIORGIO VISIOLI
I’ve gained a massive experience from training in America. I
went last March as well and sparred many great fighters out
there. I came back then, sharp as anything against Kane
Baker, and you saw that I stopped him in four rounds. So I
thought for this camp, let’s go to Vegas again. I needed to
invest in myself, which not many people are always willing
to do. It came out of my own pocket but that’s the sort of
sacrifice you need. I got some great training over there. I
sparred Regis Prograis and just gained some great
experience. Coming back, I think it is going to stand me in
good stead for Saturday. Of course, I’d welcome a stoppage.
But, for me, I always just go into the ring and do my thing,
then let the stoppages come. Yes, Levi has never been
stopped before. But he’s never faced someone like me before.
Big respect to him for taking the fight, but there will be
levels shown on Saturday. I know how good I am and I know
what I’ve done in this camp to show what I can do. By any
means, I want to win.
LEVI GILES
I’ve had a fantastic camp and I’m going to give him [Giorgio
Visioli] a tough night on Saturday night. Everything has
gone really well. Giorgio is a good kid and he's done
everything that has been asked of him, making a noise in
gyms and that – it’s funny, it’s good. He’s obviously got a
massive following, so it is a massive opportunity for me and
one I am going to grasp with both hands. It’s going to be a
hard fight but every fight at this level is hard. I’ve been
in with the Reece Bellotti’s of this world. And stepping up
to Lightweight is going to be a big move for us, because
there isn’t as much struggle in making the weight. Of
course, it is a struggle but nothing like what Super
Featherweight was for me. I feel good at the weight, I feel
big, and I’ve always sparred heavier lads anyway. So, yes,
it’s another tough night but one that me and my team are
fully confident going into that I can overcome.
LELI BUTTIGIEG
I think Jake Goodwin is very tough and strong. He’s going to
come to fight – which is what I want. The last couple of
opponents I’ve had haven’t tried to do that at all. They
went on the back foot and went running for eight rounds.
He’s going to come forward and that is going to bring out
the best in me. I’m stepping up every time and Jake Goodwin
coming to fight just adds more fuel to the fire for me. I’ve
got a lot of respect for Jimmy [Sains – the current English
Middleweight Champion, which this fight is a final
eliminator for]. I’ve known him for a long time. I’ve got
one mission for now and that is to win on Saturday night.
After that, we will sit and talk about what is next.
TAYLOR BEVAN
I’ve only been a pro for 16 months, so I’m massively
thankful to Matchroom, and to Eddie [Hearn] and Frank
[Smith] for keeping me so active. I’ve got a tough, durable
opponent on Saturday night who will hopefully take me
through some more rounds, which will give me the opportunity
to show a bit more of my boxing skills and boxing IQ.
Previously, I’ve gone in there and blasted people out of
there. It looks good for the cameras and the showreel but I
want to show that I can box as well, and I want to show that
on Saturday night. I’ve really enjoyed my journey so far –
I’ve been super busy. I haven’t really had too much time to
sit and reflect on it so far. But I feel like I’m only just
starting to settle into it, with the stage I’m at right now.
I know for my last fight, I certainly settled into it a lot
more and showed that I can box, as well as knock people out.
I’d love to one day headline a show down in Southampton.
I’ve had great support coming to cheer me on all around the
country since I turned over, so it would be amazing to have
a show down there. Boxing on the South Coast is growing all
the time, so it is definitely something I am interested in.
LOUIE WARD
It all feels a bit surreal. It’s a big moment for me and I
can’t wait to get in the ring on Saturday night and shine.
I’m getting used to things but it’s obviously very different
to being in the amateurs. I’m sitting down on my punches
more and slowing things down. I’m taking in all the lights
and the cameras – it’s different. I’m just going to soak it
all in and enjoy every moment. You only get one debut. The
dream is for a stoppage win.
ADAM MACA
i’ve got that extra bit of confidence in myself now. I know
now that I don’t have to go out and rush anything. I can
take my time and show off my boxing ability, that perhaps I
haven’t shown too much yet in my first four fights. I’ll
definitely feel more comfortable getting behind my jab for
the first few rounds then probably taking them out quicker.
I think my opponent has only lost to the likes of Josh
Padley, Aqib Fiaz and one other – so they are top fighters.
For me to go in there on Saturday and put on a great
performance, then take him out, would be a bit of a
statement win.
CONNOR MITCHELL
I wasn’t nervous at all for my debut [last December]. I
remember my dad [Kevin Mitchell] saying to me, ‘Don’t be
nervous, son’. I was fine. It was quite weird in that snese
but it was a good stoppage victory and I showed my power. As
an amateur, I never stopped anyone so it was a good thing to
do [on my debut]. It’s important for me now to keep stepping
up and keep stepping up with the quality of opponents
because once I get to the level I want to be at, there’s no
going back. So, I am keen to keep on learning, keep on
having these step-ups and show just how good I am.
|
|
|
