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Roach Jr. vs. Zepeda Final Press Conference
Golden Boy Promotions hosted a press conference today in Las
Vegas ahead of the highly anticipated fight for the WBC
Lightweight World Championship between Lamont "The Reaper"
Roach Jr. (25-1-3, 10 KOs) of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, and
Mexican sensation William "El Camarón" Zepeda (33-1, 27 KOs)
of San Mateo, Mexico, in a 12-round main event on Saturday,
Aug. 1, at The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.
Headlining TNT Sports and DAZN's "The Fight," a new monthly
live boxing series, the championship showdown will be
broadcast co-exclusively in the United States on TNT and
truTV and worldwide on DAZN. The event is presented by
Golden Boy Promotions in association with TGB Promotions and
ProBox Promotions.
Raymond "Danger" Muratalla (24-0, 17 KOs) will make the
second defense of his IBF Lightweight World Championship
against Brazilian former world champion Robson "O Brabo"
Conceição (21-3-1, 10 KOs) of Salvador, Brazil. Muratalla
vs. Conceição will serve as the co-feature and is presented
by Top Rank.
Also featured on the broadcast, Mexican Olympian and
undefeated contender Raul "El Cugar" Curiel (17-0-1, 14 KOs)
of Guadalajara, Mexico, will return in a 10-round NABF
welterweight bout against Houston's Quintin "QuickDraw"
Randall (17-3-1, 4 KOs). Opening the broadcast card, Charles
"Bad News" Conwell (21-1, 16 KOs) of Cleveland, Ohio, will
make his highly anticipated return against Philadelphia's
Paul Kroll (12-0-2, 8 KOs) in a 10-round super welterweight
fight.
Headlining the preliminary card, Las Vegas prospect Dylan
"La Amenaza" Capetillo (2-0, 1 KO) returns in a four-round
super lightweight contest against Juan Becerril (2-0, 1 KO)
of Tijuana, Mexico. Bakersfield, California's Joel Iriarte
(10-0, 9 KOs) will defend his WBA Continental Gold
Welterweight Title in an eight-round bout against Jorge
Lagunas (19-9, 16 KOs) of Tijuana.
Golden Boy's rising stars and top prospects will also be
featured throughout the night. Undefeated Orange,
California, native Fabian Guzman (10-0, 8 KOs) will take on
Oakland's Aaron Coley (17-5-2, 7 KOs) in an eight-round
middleweight bout. Mexican Olympian Gael "El Terror" Cabrera
(11-0, 7 KOs) of Sonora, Mexico, is scheduled for an
eight-round super bantamweight bout against Tijuana's
Francisco Portillo (20-14-2, 11 KOs). Kicking off the
evening, undefeated Waianae, Hawaii, native Dalis Kaleiopu
(8-0, 6 KOs) faces Philadelphia's Yeyery Castillo (14-2, 11
KOs) in a six-round lightweight clash.
Here is what today’s participants had to say:
LAMONT ROACH JR:
“For so long, Zepeda’s been the no.1 contender in a few
sanctioning bodies. That’s something that we paid attention
to. Once the opportunity came to fight for the WBC
lightweight world championship, of course I said yes.”
WILLIAM ZEPEDA:
“The moment I saw this belt, I got goosebumps. I’m excited
for Saturday night.”
“I know a lot of you guys want trash talk, you want action.
We know Lamont, he’s respectful outside the ring. But when
he’s inside that ring, he’s a monster. He’s a beast. And I’m
the same way. It’s going to be a war on Saturday."
RAYMOND MURATALLA:
“I think the growth mindset, just learning and growing every
day. The experience with each fight and learning is what got
me here. I’m dangerous in that ring. I can hurt you. However
the fight plays out, I’m going to adapt and I’m going to
hurt you.”
ROBSON CONCEIÇÃO:
“He’s a good fighter. He’s the champ, but I’m not here to
talk. I’m here to fight. I’ve been in the ring with the
best. Raymond Muratalla, he’s a champ, I got a lot of
respect for him and I’m ready for Saturday.”
RAUL CURIEL:
“It’s not an easy fight. I never have easy fights, that’s
why I know I belong with the top names in the welterweight
division. I know Quinton Randall from the Olympics, and I
know we can put on a show for the fans Saturday night.”
CHARLES CONWELL:
“With my last fight, I kind of looked past him. I kind of
got distracted, but this time I doubled-down and pushed
myself to the limits. Now I’m just on a whole different
mindset. I can't look past anybody, no matter how their
records look. I’m back and locked in.”
DYLAN CAPETILLO:
“I enjoy these moments because all the work we do in the
gym, it’s under the lights. Here is where we get to shine
and get that respect for the performances we do in the ring,
and all the hard work we do in the gym.”
JOEL IRIARTE:
“I’m Mexican. I like to come forward. I like to look for the
fight, but a lot of people don't know that I had an
extensive amateur background, 17 national titles with Team
USA. I’m just finding my groove in the professional ranks,
and I still have a lot to show and I’m going to continue to
do that throughout my career.”
“I really don't look for the knockout, you know? I’m just
heavy-handed and the knockout comes. Saturday night I’m
going to collect a couple more rounds and finish him off.”
FABIAN GUZMAN:
“I got called to spar with Canelo and Munguia. I got some
good experience up there. During camp I sparred with
Pacheco. I worked a lot on technique this time with Coach
Hector.
GAEL CABRERA:
“My style is whatever is needed. I can exchange, I can box.
Whatever is needed, I can go in and get the fight going."
DALIS KALEIOPU:
“I’m a knockout artist. I’m just here to represent where I’m
from. Simple as that.”
OSCAR DE LA HOYA, CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS:
"Excitement is an understatement as we count down the days
until Golden Boy's world championship debut on TNT, truTV
and our longtime partner DAZN, where fans around the world
will experience the caliber of fights we consistently
deliver while showcasing the next generation of stars. From
rising prospects on the preliminary card to an action-packed
main card, this event represents everything Golden Boy
stands for. We're proud to work alongside partners like Top
Rank and PBC to make the biggest and best fights possible,
and we can't wait to share this historic night with boxing
fans everywhere."
TOM BROWN, PRESIDENT OF TGB PROMOTIONS:
“I heard Oscar say this is going to be fight of the year and
I totally agree. I think this is gonna become an instant
classic. Lamont is battle tested coming off his last two
fights with Pitbull Cruz and Tank Davis. This kid is just a
special talent, and I believe he’s gonna have a breakout
performance.”
BRAD GOODMAN, TOP RANK MATCHMAKER:
“We were always impressed with Raymond right from the
get-go. We knew once he was able to step up and try to make
a statement he was going to prevail. That’s exactly what he
did against Andy Cruz. I think people get this impression
that it’s a walkover, or it’s not an important fight because
none of these guys really talk a lot. They do their talking
in the ring.”
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