Quillin vs. Zerafa & Bundrage vs. Charlo
PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS ON NBC
MEDIA CONFERENCE CALL TRANSCRIPT
Lou
DiBella
Thanks for
joining us everybody for this press call for the PBC on NBC show, September 12, Saturday afternoon at Foxwoods Resorts Casino
in Mashantucket , Connecticut 4:00 pm ET /1:00 pm PT.
The doors will open at the casino at1:00 pm and the first bout at 1:05 p.m.
We have a
sensational off TV undercard that you'll be learning more about in the next few
days, and I look forward to everybody being in the arena, but if you're not, we
look forward to people turning in to PBC on NBC, 4:00 pm ET /1:00 pm PT ,
for a tremendous doubleheader.
The main
event of the evening is a fight between Peter Quillin, "Kid
Chocolate" undefeated middleweight 31-0-1 with 22 KOs against
Michael Zerafa, 17-1 with 9 KOs from Melbourne , Australia
Peter is a
former world champion himself. He did not lose the title in the ring. He's
undefeated and that matchup between Jacobs and Quillin figures to be one of the
biggest fights you can make in New York , one of the biggest fights in the middleweight division.
It's for the pride of New
York . It's for who
has supremacy in the middleweight division, and who's one of the top
middleweights in the world. But first, Peter's got to get by Michael Zerafa who
is looking to upset the apple cart.
The opening
fight of the night is a tremendous matchup, a true crossroads fight featuring
Cornelius "K9" Bundrage, the oldest world champion actively fighting
today. That's a badge of honor. He's in his 40s and proud of it. This is a guy
that has always defied the odds, a two-time world champion defending his title
against the young guy.
He takes on
a young guy on the rise, Jermall Charlo, 21-0 with 16 KOs out of Houston , Texas
Both guys
have everything at stake. And the question in hand here is going to be can
"K9," the old dog retain his title and put on a great performance one
more time with the young lion coming for his belt. So first I like to do to
introduce that young lion to say a couple of words out of Houston , Texas
J.
Charlo
I'm just
prepared for this fight. I know this is my second time really at this level,
but the first time it didn't go through. So I can't look at that. I'm only
looking forward and K-9 is in my way right now. I'm just prepared to fight and
put on a good show and give it all I got.
L.
DiBella
Thank you,
Jermall. Tickets for the live event by the way are priced at $150, $85 and $45.
They're available at Ticketmaster.com, Foxwoods.com, by visiting the Foxwoods
box office or charging by phone by calling Ticketmaster.
Cornelius
"K-9" Bundrage came to the people's attention in a big way with the
TV series "The Contender." His career had skyrocketed in recent
years. Frankly, his greatest years had been his older years, reminiscent of a
guy named George Foreman.
He won a
world title with a great performance in 2010 over Cory Spinks. The Detroit native went on to defend that title against Sechew Powell
and Spinks. Lost the title in 2013, but earned another shot against Carlos
Molina, beat him and became a two-time world champ and he's about to defend September 12th at Foxwoods PBC on NBC against the
very hungry Jermall Charlo. So K-9 Bundrage, say a few words please.
Cornelius
Bundrage
Ruff, ruff,
ruff, ruff. What's happening, Lou, man? God bless you man. Yeah, I'm excited
man. I finally get a chance to fight on one of your cards on NBC live same day
Mayweather fight. It's going to be big, it's going to be nice and I'm just
looking forward to the challenge.
L.
DiBella
Thanks and
I'm going to take notes. No further time. Let's open it up for questions from
the press.
Q
K9, with you
being the oldest active world champion in the sport and these younger fighters
that are coming up today, what is it that you see in these younger fighters
that allows you to continuously stay on top of your game that they seem to be
lacking?
C.
Bundrage
I grew up
in,Detroit at the Kronk Gym. I've been around Emanuel Steward, Tommy
Hearns, and just saw the wars and been in some of them and always getting good
sparing. I started boxing late in my career. My longevity is serious. A lot of
young fighters they look at my age and they say, well, he's 42 years old, but
not in boxing years.
In boxing I
might be in my late 20s, because I started late and I only had 10 amateur
fights. They're on the outside looking in, not knowing what's really going on.
Time will tell and that's why I continue to prove that with God all things are
possible and I keep winning and I'm currently the oldest world champion right
now, but I am the oldest junior middleweight world champion of all times. Just
in case you didn't know. I'm very proud of that.
Q
Okay. How
you doing today? Jermall, this is going to be the most experienced opponent
that you fought so far as a professional. What is it that you think that you
need to do to negotiate K-9's experience?
J.
Charlo
I can't take
years from him or anything like that, but all I have to do is just stay young
and do me and continue to be me and enforce the power that I have.
I believe in
my skills and my training. I have a great game plan and all of my skills will
be on display September
12.
L.
DiBella
This main
event fight is a fight in the middleweight division and Michael is not a
household name or well known guy in the United States , but he was a terrific amateur with great credentials in Australia and that Pan-Asia area.
He turned
pro at 18 years old, won the first 15 starts of his career. At 23 years old
he's making his US debut on September 12th when he comes to Connecticut to take on Peter. He has wins over previously unbeaten
boxers, Bruno Carvalho and Luke Sharp and a fourth round TKO over Yodmongkol
Singmanasak in March.
But frankly
the most intriguing thing about Michael and the most interesting thing about
this fight is how little he has to lose and how much he can access with a great
performance and a surprising upset. Obviously there are very few fights in the
middleweight division any bigger then Peter Quillin.
Daniel
Jacobs, that's a fight that's being planned for December. Michael has no
intention of letting it get to that point and really has very little to lose,
coming to the stage with not much expected of him. But not much is known about
him, but he comes to the states to win and I think we were happy to give a
young fighter -- a young fresh athletic fighter -- an opportunity in this type
of a fight as opposed to finding somebody who's a retreader or on the wrong
side of their career. So Mike, do you want say a few words.
Michael
Zerafa
I've done
what I had to do in Australia and I've got nothing to lose so I'm coming down
and I'm going to upset the world. I've trained hard for it. For the last few
fights I've been putting my body on the line. I'm going to go out there and
shock the world. I've got nothing to lose in this game. So I can't wait until September 12 to get out there and put on a good
show.
L.
DiBella
Obviously
this is a big show for you Michael. Your opponent here is a guy that's been
against the top competition in all of boxing, been a world champion coming off
of a great fight, a draw with Andy Lee. How do you approach a fight against an
opponent with far more experience and a guy this well-known and how do you
figure you're going to handle the spotlight of being on a nationally televised
show in the United
States ?
M.
Zerafa
I don't know
if it's the show that pumps me up too much, but I know I'm fighting the best in
the world. We have a game plan. We've been training super hard for this fight
and I can't wait to get out there and put it all together. We've got nothing to
lose, everything to gain.
I give much
respect to Quillin and I appreciate him stepping in the ring with me and it's
an absolute honor being up with there with the best.
L
.DiBella
All right.
Thank you, Peter. Peter Quillin, 31-0-1, 22 KOs . Peter is
coming off a great fight with Andy Lee. Still looking to keep his undefeated
record intact. Looking to get to that title showdown with Danny Jacobs.
He won a
middleweight belt in 2012 with a star making six knockdown performance against
Hassan N'Dam. David Lemieux is about to fight against Triple G and Peter
Quillin knocked Mr. N'Dam down down six times and N'Dam is the best win on
Lemiuex's record. So you see that at the top of the division there are a lot of
talented fighters and Peter is looking to get to a huge fight, but he needs to
get past the very hungry young kid with nothing to lose.
Peter can
you say a few words to everybody.
Peter
Quillin
I want to
first thank everybody who was involved in making this fight happen and I want
to say thank you Lou for promoting this great card. I want to thank all the other
fighters that are on this card as well. I want to thank my opponent Michael,
for stepping up to the challenge to take a fight with me. I want to thank God.
I just want
to thank anybody that's going to be watching this fight and interested in
seeing me make a comeback and make a climb towards where I want to be at in
boxing.
Q
Michael, Do
you think that Quillin is underestimating you?
M.
Zerafa
I've got a
lot of respect for Peter and what he thinks doesn't really bother me. I have a
job to do. Whatever is in front of me I've got a job to do. So I'll still go
out there and put on a show and stick to our game plan and go the distance. I'm
just giving it 110%, that's what I'm going to do.
Q
Michael,
there's obviously had been a lot of talk about Peter fighting Danny Jacobs.
It's a big fight in New
York that people
would be anticipating. What are your thoughts on that and does that motivate
you that people are talking about that fight before you and Peter fight?
M.
Zerafa
It doesn't
upset me or anything. It just puts more fuel on the fire. It just gives me more
spark to get out there and put on a big show. Quillin is one of the best
fighters in the world and a huge respect to him and I do appreciate him letting
me even step in the ring with him.
I am
underestimated. I've beaten the best in Australia . I just haven't had a shot at the big stage yet. Now I
finally got my chance. So I better go out there and do my thing and show him.
So come September
12, I'm leaving no stone unturned.
Q
Peter,
obviously this big fight is ahead if you're able to win this fight. How are you
able to block that out and just concentrate on this fight?
P.
Quillin
I feel like
in my mind you always got to give a person a shot. I'm trying to keep my mind
focused just on Michael because I know everybody's looking to make a name for
themselves, including him.
If he comes
in there and beats me then he would probably be pulling off one of the biggest
upsets in boxing recently. But my job is to take everybody seriously. whether
it's Michael, whether Danny Jacobs, whether it's Gennady Golovkin or whether
it's any other name out there.
It's just
staying focused on my guy that's in front of me and Michael is that guy in
front of me and my job is to try to win one round at a time.
Q
Michael, do
you feel that the fact that you're not well known, whether it be by the fans
here or by Peter Quillin is an advantage for you?
M.
Zerafa
Definitely.
It's not a surprise. I am the underdog but, we've got a strong game plan and
we've been trying super hard in the gym. We've been working three or four times
a day super hard, doing the right stuff that we need.
Quillin, we
have the utmost respect for. He fought the best and beaten the best and it's
going to be a hard fight. I've got nothing to lose and everything to gain.
So come
fight night I can only do what God tells me to do. I'll just go out there and
do my thing.
Q
Do you think
in the long run it could be an advantage as you guys kind of sit back and you
watch what happens between Golovkin and Lemieux and Cotto and Canelo and in the
end after they sort everything out that will eventually put you in a position
to be in one of the bigger fights and that would make that fight a higher
profile once everybody else kind of sorts themselves for you?
P.
Quillin
I think so.
With Pacquiao and Mayweather we've been waiting on that fight for such a long
time and when the money got as much as it got, the fight of course happened. I
am a participant in boxing. I'd never say I don't want to fight someone.
I work with some
of the best people in the sport of boxing. I just want to make sure my legacy,
my money and everything that I'm doing this for is filled. So for me I don't
worry about the politics of boxing. There are a lot of things behind the closed
doors when the boxing matches are being made that I don't have anything to do
with it. The only thing that I have control over is me going to the gym,
staying ready and staying in shape and taking whatever fights are available for
me.
Q
Peter, are
you considering a move up to the super middleweight division at 168 in the near
future?
P.
Quillin
Yes, I'm
getting to that point where I feel like that's going to be on my horizon and
I'm getting older. I've been the same weight since I was 18 years old and now
I'm 32. I won't be to the point where I'm just trying to hang on to the weigh.
I don' think it will be happening. I think in my near future I will be up to
168 pounds.
Q
Michael,
have you been watching tape and do you see anything that you could capitalize
on Peter come September
12?
M.
Zerafa
Yes we've
studied and we've got a strong game plan. We just want to go out there and
stick to that game plan. I've been underestimated before. A lot of criticism
and politics have slowed me down
I'm very
confident with this card. I'm the underdog. I've got nothing to lose,
everything to gain. Down in Australia I've also been the underdog and had huge upsets. It's
going to be a hard fought match. To be the best you got to beat the best.
That's what we're aiming to do, aiming high.
In boxing
you can't aim just to beat guys here and there. You got to fight the best and
that's what you want to do.
Q
What is the
weight limit for this fight?
P.
Quillin
It's 163
pounds.
Q
Peter what
happened with making weight in the Lee fight and do you think you'll be able to
make it down to 160 should you go on to face Danny Jacobs next?
P.
Quillin
Well it is
about eating the right kind of food. I don't eat unhealthy. But this is the
first time in my career where I had to go through this type of stuff. As far as
me working in the gym, I'm in the gym and for the Danny Jacobs fight, whatever
the case may be, you know, I'm going to try my hardest and try to make that
weight but I won't kill myself.
I've been
the same weight since I was 18 years old. I'm 32 now and I'm getting older so
the weight is not coming off the same like it did as a young man that I was
once before. We still got a lot of time because the fight that I'm really
worried about right now is Michael.
Michael is
the guy right now because without getting past him, nothing is going to be
possible. I have to at least show the guy some respect that's coming all the
way from Australia . I want to give him an actual shot and see if he's able to
do what he can do.
Q
What was
that process like for you trying to make weight for the Andy Lee fight?
P.
Quillin
It's very
emotional. Let me just invite you into the world of being on my level. You have
so many people that can make promises to you, but don't deliver. It's that as
far as everybody just wants to be in your pocket man and latch on to you some
way, somehow. So I get a lot of that all the time and I have to just figure out
who works for me and who doesn't. So it's always like a process of elimination
kind of thing that I'm going through in my life.
Q
What was it
like for you physically trying to make weight?
P.
Quillin
Physically,
I came close to making the weight. It was just the extra couple of little
pounds I had to take off. It didn't come off like it has done in my past. So it
was like more of an emotional kind of thing that I was going through trying to
take off the weight. I never got into a sauna before, so I had to get in the
sauna. I did whatever I could and if that's not good enough then people have to
accept it. So it is what it was.
Q
How do you
feel that that affected your performance -- if at all -- against Andy Lee and
with that in mind with this fight against Zerafa being at 163, how much do you
feel your performance could potentially be better?
P.
Quillin
Well, I
don't have that emotional kind of thing that I had because for this I am not fighting
for a big old belt and the pressure let off and now I have more time and so I
give myself a little bit more time. I've been in the gym since after my fight,
so it's like I haven't really came out the gym, so I've been working, working,
working in the gym.
For me I
think all around I just got to find the right fit more like a conditioning
training or a proper dietitian where I can see what I've been doing wrong. I
think I more got a clear mind to go in this fight and put on a good
performance.
Q
Michael, do
you feel you're going in against a bigger man in this fight?
M.
Zerafa
Look, I am a
big boy and I'm a pretty big middle weight myself, I'm standing at 6-1 nearly
6-2. I'm very solid and strong, so as a junior middleweight I was very big, so
I feel like his weight doesn't really bother me. At the end of the day we both
have to weigh at the same weight, so it's not going to be an advantage to him
or myself.
I've got the
reach and heart on him and win, lose or draw we give our absolute all. I'm very
confident with this one.
Q
Do you feel
a physical difference in yourself between when you were fighting at junior
middleweight and the weight that you're finding at now?
M.
Zerafa
Yeah, I find
myself a lot quicker, a lot stronger and a lot smarter. I was trying to get
down to 169 kilos when I started. It was mentally frustrating. Now I can get
down weight easy. I'm strong and I'm fit, so I've got no excuses coming into
this fight.
Q
Michael,
what do you take away from Peter Quillin's past performances, both his good
ones and maybe be the one where he struggled a bit more?
M.
Zerafa
We've
studied Quillin and you can't take anything away from him. People on the
outside, it's easy to criticize, but in the ring it's completely different.
He's fought the best and beaten the best.
The sport of
boxing is a sport where you can't criticize or put down your opponent. Now it's
all business. I'm coming out here to work and to get that win.
Q
Peter,
you're going to be going into this fight as a big favorite. Most of the fans
are going to be rooting for you. It's going to be live on NBC. It's on a very
busy day for boxing. Does all this mean that you really want to make a
statement that stand out because there's going to be a lot happening September 12.
P.
Quillin
Well, let's
say first and foremost, I'm originally from Grand Rapids . Michigan . The same place where Floyd Mayweather's from, so it's on
the same day as one of the best fighters in the world fights and also for my
same city of Grand Rapids .
It's a big
thing for me, but my job is not to worry about putting pressure on myself to
perform in a way where I have to make a statement. What I'm going to do is do
my best to put on a good performance against a guy we shouldn't take lightly.
I'm taking his word into consideration and know that I've to come out there
with my best foot forward and ready to do what I have to do and that's the job
of boxing.
One punch
can change a fight and I'm giving him the respect. I'm giving him respect now,
but after that bell rings, there's no more respect. I just hope he doesn't
dance in that ring.
Q
Have you
watched tape of Zerafa's fights? How familiar are you with his style?
P.
Quillin
I never in
my career watched tapes of guys. That's what my trainers do and they get paid
to do. I watch a couple of rounds and I was like okay, then they watch and
formulate a game plan. They go in and come out with the game plan because I
feel like when you get in there a guy that you see and you think you see, he
fights every guy different or it might be some certain things over and over
again, but my job is be ready.
I put myself
through treacherous workouts when I'm in that gym. I train to see it all and
when we come September
12 you're
just going to be trained to see whatever he's going to throw at me and we're
going to know what to do when he throws it and make him pay every mistake that
he makes.
Q
Michael,
tell us what you expect to happen in this fight on September 12?
M.
Zerafa
We expect
nothing but a war and you know that's what we want. We want a hard fight. We
want to fight the best and Quillin is the best and you know we're looking to go
straight past Quillin. The reason why I haven't been fighting in the U.S>
yet is because I haven't had the opportunity.
We had
problems in Russia . Environmentally, physically, mentally, we're strong right
now and we're ready to get out there and make noise and that's what we want to
do. My team and I sat down, we worked extremely hard and actually we've got a
very good game plan. We're going to work and I'm looking for September 12,
just be ready.
Q
After that
fight you had in Russia was there anything you changed and do you expect to show a
different look in this fight?
M.
Zerafa
Since my
fights I've stepped up 20 times more. I've gone to a different level. I've
gotten stronger training camps, stronger sparring partners. I've been moving
around with the best in the world and the best trainers in the world. I believe
I've gone 10 levels above how I was then. I'm very confident. Take nothing away
from Quillin, he is the best and that's what we want. We want to beat the best.
So I'm just going to go out there and do my thing and leave the rest in God's
hands.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella
Entertainment, are priced at $150, $85 and $45, not including applicable
service charges and taxes, and are on sale now. Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com andwww.foxwoods.com or by visiting the Foxwoods' Box
Office. To charge by phone, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000.
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