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| Credit: Amanda Westcott/ DAZN USA |
Press
Release: By DAZN – LAS VEGAS (May 1, 2019): WBC, WBA, Lineal
and Ring Magazine Middleweight World Champion Canelo Alvarez (50-1-2, 34 KOs) and IBF
Middleweight World Champion Daniel "Miracle Man" Jacobs (35-2, 29 KOs) hosted
their final press conference today ahead of their 12-round unification
fight. The event will take place on Saturday, May 4, 2019 at T-Mobile Arena in
Las Vegas and will be streamed live exclusively on DAZN.
Below is what the fighters and their teams had to say at today's
final press conference:
Canelo Alvarez, WBC, WBA, Lineal
and Ring Magazine Middleweight World Champion
“Look,
we’re just ready for Saturday. I’ll repeat to you – I’m ready, I’m ready to
continue writing history like I always have.”
“I’m
a fighter that’s fought all the styles. What he brings on Saturday night is
going to bring the reaction out of me to counter whatever he brings.”
“In
boxing, anything can happen. That’s including the knockout. If it’s there,
trust me, I’m going to go for the knockout. I don’t care if he’s bigger,
stronger, it’s never bothered me. I have the capability. I have the experience
to overcome that and more.”
Daniel Jacobs, IBF Middleweight World Champion
“I
just feel as if the thirst for this fight is at an all-time high. We are only
three days away from a mega fight and it’s such a privilege to be here right
before this mega showdown. This is the opportunity of a lifetime for me and I’m
mostly excited to get in there to show the world that I am the best
middleweight of my generation. I finally have an opportunity to prove it, to go
against Canelo Alvarez. You guys are going to see fireworks, masterful boxing,
skills, dedication, persistence, and grit, most importantly.”
“I’m
gonna talk inside the ring and let my fighting speak for itself. To Canelo –
let’s put on a good show my brother.”
What
has been tougher – preparing for this fight against Canelo or his fight against
GGG?
“I think mentally, Golovkin started out as the most devastating power puncher
and boogeyman of the division. So mentally, he was tougher. Physically, this is
much harder preparation because Canelo is very agile, he’s very fast, his
offensive onslaught is at an all-time high. It’s a drastic difference. I
thought I won the GGG fight and I assure you I will win this fight without
controversy.”
“What
will take the win will simply be me being the best version of myself. My
physical advantages in itself can win me the fight, but I also have the mental
capacity. I’m in my prime. I’m the only fighter Canelo has faced since Floyd
Mayweather to be in his prime. I’m super confident and I’m going in there with
the ability as well.”
Eddy Reynoso, Co-Trainer and Manager to Canelo Alvarez
“Saturday
night we have a great fight in a division that’s given boxing historically
great fights, and without a doubt Saturday night you’re going to have one of
the greatest fights between two of the best fighters, two great champions. Ever
since we began our career in boxing with Canelo, we always knew we’d have to
take these types of risks in fights. These are the types of fights that
catapult you to the top, to the elite level.”
“We have a tremendous challenge in front of us, a tremendous champion in Daniel
Jacobs. But this year, our goal is to sweep the middleweight division and win
all four belts, and Daniel Jacobs will not obtain that goal.”
Jose “Chepo” Reynoso, Co-Trainer and Manager to Canelo
Alvarez
“I
would like to give you a little bit of what happened in camp, all the hard
work, all the intense work, the long hours of training. Because intensity is
what we expect in the fight. And all this hard work is just what gives us the
tranquility and the peace of mind that come Saturday night, when his hand is
raised, it will reconfirm to everyone that he is the best middleweight on the
planet.”
Andre Rozier, Trainer to Daniel Jacobs
“We
had a fantastic camp. I’m just happy that Danny has finally reached his
pinnacle. This is the point that he has strived to get to since he first began
boxing. And, he is ready. I thank Canelo for accepting the challenge. I expect
a fantastic battle but as it was just told – it is my birthday, and my son is
going to present me with the best birthday present I could ever get by having
his hands raised in victory.”
Keith Connolly, Manager to Daniel Jacobs
“A
bunch of people have asked me if I’m excited for the fight. I’m most excited to
see how this all turns out - the Daniel Jacobs story. I’ve known him for about 15
years since he was a teenager and it’s been an honor to see him grow from the
boy that I first met to the man that he is now. This fight is happening at
exactly at the right time. He’s physically mature but more importantly, he’s
mentally mature. I expect him to embrace everything Saturday night and come out
victorious.”
Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy
“This
Saturday the #1 and #2 best middleweights on the planet will put everything on
the line for one simple reason – to see who is the best. That is boxing at its
finest. Indeed, this is the biggest fight in boxing featuring the biggest star
in boxing in the biggest place for boxing on the biggest platform for boxing.”
“In
life there are challenges that strengthen a person’s character and determine
how this person will be remembered. Boxing is no different. The men we have
before us today have faced tough challenges that few on the earth can relate
too. Outside of the ring these men have already proven what they are made of,
but this Saturday, these men will also determine who will be remembered as the
best middleweight of their time the only way they know how – with their fists.”
“We
are excited to be at the forefront of this new era of boxing with DAZN and look
forward to continuing to make boxing more accessible and affordable for fans.”
“Saturday
night we expect fireworks, we expect a war, we expect an amazing fight, with
two gentlemen who have done an amazing job getting to this point.”
Bernard Hopkins, Golden Boy Partner and Future Hall of Famer
“To
Danny Jacobs, I’d like to say this is a historical moment for your team. This
is real special. It doesn’t happen in any division but I’m glad it’s happening
now. To Canelo, Jacobs, well done. Now let’s take care of business.”
Eddie Hearn, Managing Director of Matchroom Boxing
“We
just want three simple things. We want to make sure Daniel Jacobs is victorious
on Saturday night and we truly believe from the bottom of our hearts that he
will be. We want to make sure we spread the gospel that great fights can be
made. You can take risks. It’s fun. It’s called sport. That’s what we have to
remember. Why these young men started was about greatness. It was how many
belts they could gather. Could they reach the Hall of Fame? Could they create a
legacy? And, I want the message of Daniel Jacobs to be spread worldwide. The
illness and disease of cancer touches all of us. With Daniel Jacobs, you have a
message of complete hope to anybody in suffering. Danie Jacobs was paralyzed.
He was told he may never walk again, and certainly never fight again. Right
now, I want this story to be spread worldwide to look at this fine young man
and realize there is hope. If he can do it, you can do it. And on Saturday, I
believe he’ll become victorious and become the unified champion of the world.”
“I
know right now that this side has a feeling of excitement and nerves going into
this weekend because this is a wonderful fight between two great champions and
this is what the sport of boxing is all about.”
On
the judges for Saturday:
“I believe we have four outstanding officials across this fight who are going
to give Daniel Jacobs and Canelo Alvarez a complete blank canvas and mutual
respect.”
Joseph Markowski, Executive Vice President of DAZN North
America
“To be clear, this fight would be on pay-per-view on any other
platform – 80, 90, maybe even 100 bucks. But instead of offering this fight for
$100, we’ll offer you an entire year of fights for $100 with our annual pass –
incredible value in the next couple of months: Canelo vs. Jacobs on May 4, the
World Boxing Super Series on May 18, Oleksandr Usyk’s heavyweight debut on May
25, Anthony Joshua’s U.S. debut on June 1, Gennady Golovkin’s return on June 8,
and premium Bellator MMA. And that’s on top of the rest of our 100+ fight
nights a year, including the fact that both Canelo and GGG will be back
fighting on DAZN in the fall.”
“This weekend is massive for the middleweight division, a truly
electrifying fight. It’s also massive for the DAZN business but most
importantly for fight fans. On Sunday morning, instead of fans waking up to a
$100 bill, those fight fans will have an entire year of content to look forward
to. It’s a transformational moment.”
Canelo vs. Jacobs is
a 12-round fight for the WBC, WBA, Lineal, Ring Magazine and
IBF Middleweight World Titles presented by Golden Boy in association with
Matchroom Boxing. Ortiz vs. Herrera is
a 10-round welterweight fight presented by Golden Boy. The event is sponsored
by Tecate, "THE OFFICIAL BEER OF
BOXING" and Hennessy "Never
Stop. Never Settle." The event will take place Saturday, May 4, 2019 at
T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and will be streamed live exclusively on DAZN.
Tickets for Canelo vs. Jacobs are on
sale now and are priced at $2,505, $1,505, $1,205, $805, $605, $405, $305 and
$200, not including applicable service charges and taxes. There will be a limit
of 10 per person at the $2,505, $1,505, $1,205, $805, $605, $405, $305 and $200
price levels. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call 888-9-AXS-TIX
(888-929-7849). Tickets also will be available for purchase
at www.t-mobilearena.com or www.axs.com.
and https://www.facebook.com/DAZNUSA/.
Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy, @Canelo, @DanielJacobsTKO,
@MatchroomBoxing and @DAZN_USA. Follow the conversation using #CaneloJacobs.
Material Courtesy of: DAZN/Photo Courtesy of: Amanda Westcott/ DAZN USA Used
with permission.
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