Top heavyweight Luis “King Kong” Ortiz and former world champion Charles Martin faced off at their final press conference on Thursday before they met in an IBF welterweight bout titled FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View this Saturday, January 1, from Hard Rock Live at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
(Image source: Ryan Hafey / Premier Boxing Champions)
The press conference also featured rising heavyweights Frank “The Cuban Flash” Sanchez and Christian Hammer, who dueled in the 10-round co-main event.
Overcoming the heavyweight ring and going head-to-head at Thursday’s event were heavyweights Jonnie Rice and Michael Coffie, who meet in a 10-round rematch who challenges former title Gerald “El Gallo Negro” Washington, and Turkish athlete Ali Eren Demirezen, who fought in the 10-round match and undefeated Viktor Faust and Iago Kiladze, who won the opening 10-round pay-per-view at 8pm ET / 5pm Pacific Time.
Ticket for the live event, which TGB Promotions promote, is currently on sale and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com.
Here’s what the boxers had to say on Thursday from Hard Rock Live:
LUIS ORTIZ
“I am so grateful for this wonderful opportunity my team gave me on Saturday night. It’s exciting to be able to give fans a great show.
“When someone says they’re going to knock me down, it just makes me laugh and smile. Everyone said that. But you’re up against a boxer who’s been through it so you can give your best.
“I was happy when he said he was going to take me down. He came with malicious intent, and so did I.
“I am very proud to have made my professional debut at Hard Rock and have done it in style. I’m glad he trained well for this fight because he’s going to be facing a tough fighter who knows how to adapt.
“First of all, my mind is 100%, and that is the most important thing. On Saturday night, people will see it physically; I am also fully ready to be a world champion.”
CHARLES MARTIN
“I am very excited for this fight. This is a great opportunity, and I am very grateful for the opportunity that I have. It’s great to be shown as the title person. PBC has faith in me, and I will go out and tell why.
“What you see is what you get. I’ve been working hard in the gym day in and day out. It’s like second nature to me. I’m ready to let my hands go. I will be very skillful in that.
“This is going to be a great fight. You don’t really see two Southpaws too often in the heavyweight division. You will see some excellent boxing in this fight.
“You will get a knockout in this fight. We’re not going to go all 12 laps. I know I will take him down.
“I didn’t get a swing the first time I was champion. This is revenge trip right now. Luis Ortiz was first on my list of the last four fights I wanted before retiring, including two against Anthony Joshua. I want to knock him down twice.
“My trainer Manny Robles and I work out a lot in the gym. People only see what happens in the ring; they don’t see what happens behind closed doors. I have a job to do on Saturday, and we’re ready.
“I still have hope about winning another world title. However, I never ignored my opponent or looked ahead for another fight. Ortiz is the only opposition I see at the moment.”
FRANK SANCHEZ
“After joining the team of coach Eddy Reynoso, I have learned a lot under his guidance. It put me in a position to have a stellar performance on Saturday in terms of pay-per-view.
“We’ve been training hard, and we’re prepared to go up against whoever will go against me. I’m ready for Negron, but I’ll be prepared for whoever stands in front of me.
“Christian Hammer is a good fighter, and I would be ready for him. That’s what we train. The opponent does not matter if you are prepared to 100% of your ability.
“If I win on Saturday, I feel like I will keep going and face tougher competition. I believe I will be ready for the fight for the world title next year. ”
CHRISTMAS HAMMER
“I was with my team in the US, supporting teammates Viktor and Ali when I got the call about this fight. I had a great training camp with them, so I’m ready to join this fight.
“My duty is to take these battles. I’ll do my job and give everyone a fun battle on Saturday. I know Sanchez is a good fighter, but I’ve faced a lot of good fighters. We’ll see what he’s made of. ”
JONNIE RICE
“Of course, I felt pressured to repeat my performance from our first game. Many people thought it was a flu, so now I have to do the same thing twice. This time I get paid more to do it even faster in this fight.
“Everybody knows how these things work. In the first game, I was a big underdog, so everyone thought something was wrong. Something out of the ordinary. Let’s understand something, though; it will drop the same way on Saturday night.
“I don’t feel like he underestimated me in the first game. I know his attention has been focused on Gerald Washington. These things happen.
“I am more confident now than ever. If he didn’t lower me, my head would get bigger and bigger. He might have to help me out because right now I feel like I’m going to take over the world.”
MICHAEL COFFIE
“I didn’t touch Rice in the first game, but I will feel him for sure on Saturday night. I have a chip on my shoulder now.
“And I have to prove myself. I didn’t get a chance to show what I could do in the first game. I don’t care about my achievements, and I just want to show off my skills. Everyone will watch it on Saturday.
“This time, Rice was my main rival from the start. We were clearly prepared for him this time. I am also a lot healthier for this camp. I’m 100%, and I’m ready.
“It wasn’t a real beef fight between us, but it was intense, and that’s part of the game. We’ll be playing that game on Saturday, and the best fit could win. I knew it would be me. ”
GERALD WASHINGTON
“I feel great. It’s good to be back. I worked out hard with my team. I learned a lot of great things and I made the most of the time I had.
“I look forward to showing my hard work and getting back to the top in this tournament. My opponent is hungry to prove himself, and that will make this a great fight for the fans. ”
ALI EREN DEMIREZEN
“I’ve had three fights since the Efe Ajagba one, and I’ve gotten much better since then. My skills have improved and I can’t wait to get into the ring and show them off.
“This is my second chance to fight in America, and I want to show that I belong here. I have to pass this test before Gerald Washington. That’s the only thing on my mind. ”
VIKTOR FAUST
“I’m an excellent fighter, and I’ll show everyone on Saturday. I intend to show my technique, skill, and strength in this fight against Kiladze.
“It is exciting to be in this position. I love to play, and Saturday is a big opportunity for me. I knew I had to give a great performance.”
IAGO KILADZE
“I work hard and train a lot. I had a very long training camp. I’m in great shape right now and I’ll give everyone another great fight on Saturday night. I promise that.
“There are many great warriors in this card, and I am happy to be here with them. I’ll prove by the way I fight on Saturday that this is exactly where I belong. “
