Below you will find quotes from the main event and undercard fighters from today’s final press conference leading for Calzaghe vs. Jones “Battle of the Superpowers” this Saturday November 8th at Madison Square Garden and live on HBO Pay-Per-View.
Joe Calzaghe:
“I am a person who does actions more than words. I am not going to talk this up more than it has to be. To finish my career fighting at Madison Square Garden is all the motivation I need.
“I am happy to be here. On Saturday night, you aren’t going to see a good fight, you are going to see a great fight. Roy says he is in the best condition he has been in years and I believe that. I am also in the best shape I’ve been in years. Its going to be a great fight.
“I am one guy who wrote Roy off, but he came back and won three big fights. He is a legend bigger than Hopkins. He’s hungry and you can’t write him off. He is in great shape and I can’t come in as sloppy as I was with Hopkins.
“I was happy with Hopkins win (against Pavlik). I am not friends with him, but I was happy he beat Pavlik because it showed how big my win was over him. Either I am doing something right in the ring or they are all having off days.
“I wish I had never mentioned retirement. I am a fighter focusing on this fight and this fight only. Not what I am going to do once I retire. I am not planning any retirement parties I am going to come 100% I am hungry for this fight.”
Roy Jones Jr.:
“There are a lot of hungry fighters on the undercard. I want to say I am more proud to be an American now, more so than I have ever been in my life. With that can being said, we can all move on. It was a long drawn out campaign. Those guys fought their hearts out. It makes me feel so good to be an American.
“The 20 years I have been representing this country, I have poured my heart out and on Saturday, I am going to pour my heart out again.
“I know Joe is punching already. I’ve been ducking and dodging in my sleep.
“Joe is a man of his word. We made this fight together. I feel proud to face someone with dignity and pride in himself.
“I am still the man and I will bring it Saturday night.”
Enzo Calzaghe, Calzaghe’s dad and trainer:
“The road has been very long. Twenty-five years of being a pain in the ass to Joe. I remember the first fight and now we are going to Madison Square Garden.
“As many of you know I never boxed in my life. It has been exciting. One thing I would like to make clear is that Joe was the first to say to me, ‘Dad I want to box Roy Jones. Dad, I want to box in America. Dad I want to box at Madison Square Garden.’
“Of course I was thinking we could box in Wales. And he said no, dad I want to go to America and I want to fight at Madison Square Garden.
“Joe is going to kick Roy Jones’ ass. What do you think of that?
“We have just come across the shore to kick ass. We don’t need cheerleaders. On fight night, Joe possesses what no other fighter does; and its called a heart.
“When Joe’s been down in the fight, he always finds a way to win. The harder the fight, the harder he works to win.
(To Jones) “Roy you are a good friend, but make no mistake Joe Calzaghe is coming to kick ass. On Saturday night, he is going to become 46 and 0. You are going to see a fantastic display of Joe Calzaghe. Roy is going to fight his heart out, but it won’t be enough to beat Joe.
“Joe is my son first and a great fighter second. I am proud to be his trainer.
“I believe the fight will go 12 rounds. It will be a long road.
“People say that Roy needs to seal his legacy. They welcome that conversation in America. They put Joe on the back burner.
“This is not going to be a cat and mouse fight. This is a great fight. Joe has that extra special something.
“We didn’t come here to fight to lose. We are going to be at Madison Square Garden with all the Americans pulling for Jones. We picked this place. We picked this place to kick ass.”
Alton Merkerson, Jones’ trainer:
“I would especially like to thank these two young individuals that took it upon themselves to put this promotion together and a great undercard. This is going to be a great night of boxing with a lot of young energetic guys who want to fight.
“I would like to say that I think everyone is pleased that the campaign for the Commander in Chief is over. It was a long campaign. It is time to try to bring this nation back to where it is supposed to be.
“Just like the campaign, it is has been a very long training camp for these two fighters. This fight was supposed to be September 20th. It has been very long very hard and very strenuous on both athletes.
“Our camp has been a small productive camp. Roy is ready. He is more ready now than he has ever been for any fight that I have been with him for in the last 18 years.
The fight on November 8th is going to make history. Roy will make history.”
Gareth Williams, Calzaghe’s Attorney:
“This may very well be Joe’s last fight. Having said that, I know on Saturday night his intensity and passion will be 100% and he is going to have a great night and be victorious against Roy Saturday night at Madison Square Garden.”
McGee Wright, Jones’ Manager:
“In my eyes, Joe Calzaghe is the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world. Now, Roy knows what he has to do. To be the man you have to beat the man.
“On November 8th, you are going to see what you’ve been told and what you’ve been hearing.
“You guys are going to see a battle. It will go on for 12 rounds because there’s no stopping either one of them.
“Joe is going to be ready and prepared. If Joe beats Roy, make no mistake about it, Joe would have beat the best Roy Jones Jr he could have possibly beat.”
John Wirt, CEO Square Ring Inc:
“Roy and Joe really made this fight. After the Calzaghe vs. Hopkins fight, Roy was at the post-fight press conference, they exchanged numbers and the rest is history. This is really a mega fight.”
Mark Taffet, Senior Vice President of HBO Pay-Per-View & HBO Sports
“Calzaghe is the gold standard in boxing. He is an undefeated superstar at 45 and 0. He is supremely talented in the ring. He is a tremendous guy outside of it. Fighting in the other corner is Roy Jones, one of the greatest fighters of our era. At the age of 39, he is out to beat Joe Calzaghe Saturday night.”
Malvina Lathan, New York State Athletic Commissioner:
“On the tails of one of the most profound moments in our nation’s history comes Calzaghe vs. Jones on Saturday November 8th. I am proud of these fighters. They came together on their own and have put together one of the most respectful promotions in the history of boxing. Please come out on Saturday and be a part of Calzaghe vs. Jones.”
Joel Fisher, Executive Vice President, Madison Square Garden:
“Roy and Joe are two of the greatest boxing ambassadors that we have. Boxing fans all over the world will get to see this fight on HBO Pay-Per-View, and if you get to see this fight live there will be nothing like it.”
UNDERCARD FIGHTERS
Zab Judah:
“With the way the world is going today, it is time for a change. I am happy to be fighting on the same week that Obama won.
“I am just trying to figure out what side I am going to knock him out with the left or the right. It is going to be a knockout.
“My name is Zab “Super” Judah and its going to be a knockout. Don’t miss it. It is going to be a great event.”
Ernest Johnson:
“It is going to be an honor to fight at the Mecca of boxing and it is going to be an honor to fight under Joe Calzaghe and Roy Jones, two legends.
“I am fighting another superstar in Zab Judah. I am excited to be here. I am coming to fight and coming to win. It is a major opportunity. He is coming down in weight to be the bigger man, but I want him to know that I am the bigger man.”
Dmitriy Salita:
“I grew up in New York City watching big fights on HBO and at the Garden. It is pretty special to be a part of this.
“I am glad Derrick is ready to fight. I am going to take care of business. It is going to be a great night and I can’t wait.
“I look forward to putting on a great performance and show you that I am the future of boxing.”
Derrick Campos:
“I want to fight the best around. I am ready to get down and win. I normally fight at 130-pounds and when I got the call to fight at 140 from Salita, I jumped on it. I feel good and confident. I want to let Salita know that I am going to be in his face all night long.”