Fighters competing on the stacked inaugural four-fight PBC Pay-Per-View obtainable on Prime Video went nose to nose Wednesday in Los Angeles at a press convention to preview their respective matchups earlier than they step into the ring on Saturday, March 30 from T-Cellular Enviornment in Las Vegas.
The press convention featured two-time world champion Keith “One Time” Thurman and rising star and reigning world champion Tim Tszyu, who meet in the principle occasion, plus 140-pound world champion Rolando “Rolly” Romero and Mexican star Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz, who battle within the co-main occasion.
Additionally showing at Wednesday’s occasion was Cuban star and WBA Middleweight World Champion Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara, who defends his title in opposition to No. 1 rated obligatory challenger Michael Zerafa in a 12-round combat, and all-action tremendous welterweight sensation Sebastian “The Towering Inferno” Fundora and high contender Serhii Bohachuk, who sq. off for the vacant WBC Tremendous Welterweight World Championship within the pay-per-view opener at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
Pre-sale tickets can be found TODAY, Wednesday, January 31 till 10 p.m. PT via AXS.com through the use of the code: PBC
Public on-sale begins TOMORROW, Thursday, February 1 at 10 a.m. PT with tickets obtainable via AXS.com.
The occasion is promoted by TGB Promotions. The primary occasion is promoted in affiliation with No Restrict Boxing.
Here’s what the press convention individuals needed to say Wednesday from The Conga Room at L.A. Stay:
KEITH THURMAN
“It’s been a very long time coming. I’m wanting ahead to persevering with my legacy with this combat March 30. As soon as once more I get to kick off a significant occasion. That is what boxing is all about. Motion. World Class.
“He’s a slow-footed fighter with a Mexican model. I’ll meet him in the midst of the ring. He’s gonna go residence crying.
“They are saying Tszyu comes from ‘down beneath’, properly I’m making an attempt to place you beneath, mate. He might need watched the video on me, however he doesn’t know. He might need signed the contract, however he doesn’t know what he simply did. Bitter for you, however candy for me!
“Transferring up in weight is simply one thing that occurs in boxing. I really like the legacy at 147 kilos and I obtained what I may get out of that division.
“Each time I step into the ring, I’m residing out my American dream. Everyone knows the sacrifices we make, and people sacrifices make us who we’re. They’re actually value it. I’ve finished rather a lot at 147 and I need to do nice issues at 154 kilos. You set me within the ring, and I’m gonna rise to the highest.
“I’m simply on the lookout for nice fights and nice motion. Tim Tszyu is filling that void proper now and offering me with the combat I would like. He’s making an attempt to open up the gates to his new period, nevertheless it’s my job to shut the door shut, proper in his face.
“No person desires to close the haters up like Keith Thurman. Get your tickets at this time and be within the constructing. It’s quite simple, you’re gonna hear one sound solely, and that’s increase, increase, increase.”
TIM TSZYU
“It’s an honor to be on this place. You solely launch one thing like this as soon as, and I need to launch it in spectacular vogue.
“I would like him to convey this similar vitality to the combat, and never run round like a gazelle. As a result of I’m undoubtedly knocking him out in beneath 12 rounds.
“I don’t care concerning the critics. I’m going to combat whoever I can. I’m John Wick and there’s a listing of names that I’m making an attempt to tick off. That is the takeover for me.
“My purpose is for the Tszyu title to be the best boxing household that ever lived. We’ve made it this far and we’ll see how far we are able to go.
“I do know what Keith is and I do know what he’s finished, however I feel the time is completed for him. Now it’s a distinct period and it’s the ‘Tim Tszyu Period’. I’m not simply planning to beat Keith Thurman, I’m planning to make this a spectacle.
“It’s a blessing to be right here. It’s been a very long time within the course of for me. As quickly as my combat completed in opposition to Brian Mendoza, I wanted the subsequent one. It was months within the making and now we’ve obtained an important opponent in Keith Thurman. I used to be like a child getting a gift from Santa Claus once they advised me this combat was made.
“I do know what I possess and what I’m gonna convey. There aren’t any old-school fighters like me anymore. I’m prepared to combat anybody and I do injury once I’m within the ring.”
ROLANDO ROMERO
“To be the primary famous person on Prime Video, I’ve to knock Cruz out. That’s it. Must be a knockout.
“Odds are simply statistics they usually’re making him the favourite as a result of he’s had extra wins since preventing Gervonta Davis than I’ve. I’ve been an underdog earlier than and I’m gonna maintain betting on ‘Rolly’.
“The opposite fighters at 140 kilos are irrelevant. I’m solely centered on being part of this large present with an enormous platform.
“I’m used to being on this place. I carried the promotion for my combat in opposition to Gervonta Davis. So that is nothing new to me.
“Chihuahua, poodle, I don’t know he kinda appears to be like like a bit of fats pug proper now. That’s self-explanatory. Tune into the combat March 30.”
ISAAC CRUZ
“I’ll let him discuss proper now, as a result of he’s gonna be the one crying like a chihuahua when the combat is over.
“My purpose is to close ‘Rolly’ up and present the world that I’m a real Mexican world champion. I’m bringing that belt again residence.
“I’m grateful to everybody for making this combat potential. I can’t wait to placed on a present within the ring on March 30.
“We’ve saved working time after time and combat after combat. That’s how we earned one other world title alternative.
“I really feel like I’m prepared for this problem. I’m a proud Mexican fighter and I’m going to indicate what I can do on March 30.
“I’m dedicating this combat to my children. This combat is all about my household. I’ve solely gotten to the place I’m because of them and their help.
“I would like the followers to be the true winners on this evening. That’s why I need to go take the belt from ‘Rolly’ and provides the followers what they need.”
ERISLANDY LARA
“I promise that I’m going to be prepared for Zerafa and that everybody tuning in goes to see an important combat.
“I’m going to place strain on my opponent. I’m coming full-throttle. The followers can anticipate me to make this a really tough evening for Zerafa. I’m making an attempt to knock him out.
“I really feel good and I really feel sturdy. I don’t suppose I must show something. I simply must showcase who I’m. I don’t suppose I’m going to have a lot hassle displaying that.
“I’ve gained a lot expertise on this sport and that’s allowed me to choose the best occasions to go for knockouts. Recently that’s what I’ve been capable of get finished.
“I do know that I’ve obtained a younger opponent in entrance of me who’s going to offer it every little thing he has to win the world title. However I’ve obtained rather a lot to supply to cease him and also you’re going to see it on March 30.
“I’m very snug coaching and residing in Las Vegas and I do know that’s going to assist me be at my finest when the bell rings.”
SEBASTIAN FUNDORA
“Final time I got here out I took my first loss, however we’ve been coaching laborious ready for this second. I’m able to do no matter I’ve to do to win this world title. Serhii and I do know one another and I do know we’re each right here to offer the followers an important combat.
“I don’t suppose I essentially realized something from the loss, nevertheless it was a reminder which you could’t fiddle. I fell asleep for a second and I paid for it. I’ve had a yr to regroup and now I’ve this chance to combat for this title. We’re gonna present up.
“Everybody that I combat is an enormous hitter. I solely combat the very best of the division. I’ll combat Tim Tszyu subsequent. I need to be the very best 154 on the earth.
“All people retains telling me there’s by no means been a brother and sister duo to be world champion on the similar time. So if my and [IBF Flyweight World Champion] Gabriela can do it, it’d actually be historic.”
SERHII BOHACHUK
“I’ve expertise sparring Fundora and I do know that this can be a critical combat. That is the most important combat of my profession.
“That is my first title combat and it’s the combat of my life. I’m giving one hundred pc. I do know that I’ve to be my finest. I’m going to be prepared.
“I’ve realized rather a lot from errors that I might need made in previous fights. All of it makes me a greater fighter at this time. That’s what I’ll convey into this combat.
“I’m going to indicate my followers and the entire boxing world a really sturdy efficiency once we get into the ring on March 30.”
TOM BROWN, President of TGB Promotions
“We’ll be detailing the 2024 schedule within the coming weeks and we stay up for bringing the most important and finest fights to an prolonged viewers with Prime Video.
“Keith is the previous unified welterweight world champion and his solely loss was a cut up determination to the legendary Manny Pacquiao. Though Keith is shifting up in weight, Keith’s an enormous man and his entire beginner profession was at 152 kilos.
“Tim Tszyu is a reigning, undefeated champion whose dream is about to come back true when he headlines this large pay-per-view occasion. I used to be there in 1995 when his father made his Las Vegas debut and received his first world title, and now Tim is a rising star who’s getting higher and higher with every combat. The winner of this major occasion can be thought-about the very best 154 pounder on the earth.
“They name this a co-main occasion, however you’ll be able to take the phrase ‘co’ out of this combat. This can be a major occasion in its personal proper with ‘Rolly’ defending his world title in opposition to the all-action Isaac Cruz.”
“We even have Erislandy Lara, the oldest reigning world champion, defending his title in opposition to his obligatory challenger Michael Zerafa, after which within the opening combat Sebastian Fundora in opposition to Serhii Bohachuk has ‘Struggle Of The 12 months’ written throughout it. You received’t need to miss any of this card and I stay up for seeing everybody right here.”
[ Follow Sean Zittel on Twitter @Sean_Zittel ]