28 November 2024
Picture By Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
The fighters face off.
| Eddie Hearn, Matchroom Sport Chairman: “We appreciate everyone joining us tonight and as you can see from the turn out, ahead of a massive show this Saturday in Birmingham, live and exclusive on DAZN around the world. “We’ve been working on Birmingham for a long time, I think this is our third or fourth show in the last 16 months and progressively the crowds get bigger and bigger, and this one is by far the biggest show Birmingham has had, probably since we had Amir Khan here. “We’re expecting a huge crowd and rightfully so. The crowd is huge for a couple of reasons, everybody on this card has sold a huge amount of tickets as they have their own individual followings. Now, as boxing starts to thrive even more in the Midlands, we’re seeing the box office sales move, particularly because of the two guys in the main event. “This is one of the top fights in British boxing, Sunny Edwards against Galal Yafai, and these two need a huge amount of respect. Sunny’s mantra is ‘real fights only’, we saw him capture the IBF World title, he flew over to Phoenix to try to unify against the pound for pound great Jesse Rodriguez. He came back and went straight back into another thought fight in Phoenix against Andria Curiel and beat him, and now takes on the Olympic champion Galal Yafai, who really is seen as one of the top prospects in the world. “Sunny doesn’t care, he wants to be in great fights, he believes in himself and he is rolling the dice again on Saturday night, as is Galal. An Olympic gold medalist from Birmingham with just a handful of fights really, and already stepping up to take on one of the top, top Flyweights in the world for the WBC Interim World title and the winner will go on and fight for the World title.” Sunny Edwards: “I’m just really, really nervous Eddie to be honest. I’m glad I’ve got my big brother here to steal the show and take the attention away. “It’s a good fight and I know Galal is a good fighter. I’ve had a lot going on that everyone wants to speak about and the questions about where I was training and who I was training with. I took the fight without an agreement with a trainer, I was a free agent in trainer terms, but I’ve knuckled down and done everything asked of me with my new trainer Chris, I’ve got some familiar faces around me, and more will be joining on fight night. “I’m excited about it. The problem with the fight from the whole showbiz and entertainment side is that I actually really like Galal. I think he’s a great fighter, someone that we’ve dealt with away from the cameras for hundreds of hours with sparring and being on Team GB at the same time. I think I am better, but he thinks he’s better than me, and that’s why we’re here, to find out. That’s what makes it so exciting. You can see the respect between us in the build-up, we both speak confidently but say how good the other guy is as we’ve spent so many rounds with each other and we both know that when we get in there, anything can happen, we’re both that good. It’s about who makes the right moves, the right steps, who doesn’t fall into traps, walk onto the wrong shots, it’s elite boxing. “I was happy and proud of Galal when he won the Olympic gold medal, and even more that it was at my weight and bringing it today. For every part that my brother played and his brothers’ have played as well, has just brought us to this moment and this anticipation being so much bigger. We’ve seen Edwards-Yafai when it was Yafai-Edwards, it’s been on and off the table, you had years trying to make the fight but Yafai and Edwards have never stepped in the ring but now, Saturday night, the baby brothers – and sorry Charlie, Kal and Gamal, I think the two best brothers – are going to decide it for the families. “Yes, I can hurt him, but you have to land the shot and I know that Galal is very tough, he’s got a lot of heart and ambition, and like he said, this fight is bigger and means more for him than winning the gold medal. I take a lot of pride in that respect and appreciation towards Galal because this fight is all the way up there for me too. It’s great to be back fighting in the UK as well, a lot of my big fights have been away from here so it’s been amazing, I think it’s the best fight week I’ve been involved in, the public workout in the Bullring was fantastic, it’s a good turnout again today. Birmingham is a proper boxing city and I’m glad to be a part of it even though I’m not from here I’ve got a lot of friends from here and I’ve spent a lot of time in the city. “I’m confident always. Do I win? Yes, of course. I don’t envision anything different, I don’t accept the idea of losing. Even in the eighth round against Bam, I was still not accepting losing until I listened to my corner at the time who tried to pull me out the round before. I love fighting, this fight excites me the most. Forget all of the ‘what level this could be at’ or the bloodline, I know, and I think this is the biggest selling point, that when me and Galal get in a small space, it’s fireworks. We’ve both said it, we both know it, everyone that was at GB at the same time as us, they know it, it’s always been good work and it always will be, and we’ll probably be here again, regardless of who wins. “If you take a look at any of the wins on my record, it’s always the same way, so probably that way. But at the same time, I am in a stage where I do opt and prefer to stand and trade a little bit more and let my hands go. When I just go on the back foot for 12 rounds, I cant watch the fight back, even I get bored watching it. My favourite fight of my career is the fight I lost because it had the most action in it, so I am looking forward to an action-packed fight against a great competitor, in a great city.” Galal Yafai: “It’s a massive fight, it speaks for itself. Sunny is a great fighter, a former World champion, a good name and we’ve got history as well which gives a bit more needle in it. It’s great that it’s in Birmingham as well, and I’m looking to put a good performance in on Saturday. It’s a big challenge, and all the shit outside it with the brothers having their back and forths, not too much but a little, it’s good for the people watching, the British fans. It’s got people interested and it’s not what I am used to, I’ve been going to America and fighting unknown Mexicans, so fighting someone that everyone rates, everyone knows, and we’ll see who the better man is on Saturday. “I wish I knew how it was going to play out, I’ve been asked that so many times. If I knew what was going to happen, I probably wouldn’t have trained so hard. You’ll have to tune in and watch.”I just do what I normally do. I’ve got to be a bit smarter, but I know Sunny inside-out, I know what he does and like he said, you just need to tune in.” Conah Walker: “It’s been another great camp and you’ve given me a fighter that is going to stand there and have it off with me, which plays in my favour. I’m in impeccable shape and I’m ready to go and we’ll steal the show. “Headlining in Birmingham would be amazing, that’s music to my ears. You can never look past anyone, especially someone like Lewis Ritson because of what he’s done in the sport, he’s been at the top level and I’ve got a lot of respect for him. I just believe that boxing is about your time, and I think that his time is done and my time is here and now. He’s not going to take away what you have said, I want those big nights and I want to bring them to the Midlands, and I want to be travelling and taking the best fights and the titles, but first we’ve got to get through Saturday. “ Lewis Ritson: “We’re ready, fit as anything, and I’m sure Conah is as well. We’ve got that similar style in that we love to fight each other, so on Saturday night I’m expecting fireworks really and a very tough night for both of us. “I’ve had some really good nights in Newcastle and hopefully we can get through Saturday and we can have a few more. I’m only 31, it feels like I’ve been going for more, so roll back the years on Saturday and get the career back going.” Cameron Vuong: “I think I am going to have to show a little bit of everything, things I haven’t had to show before. I’ve got a lot of respect for Gavin, he’s a tough, tough man and he’s done great things in the sport, Commonwealth, British, European champion, you don’t get that for no reason. I’m looking forward to it, it’s my toughest test to date but I’m looking to put on a masterclass and a big performance. “I want to make that top level one day so these are the fights I want to take. I believe in my ability, my team believes in my ability, so it’s about taking the right fights at the right time, and I believe Gavin has had his day and it’s my time now.” Gavin Gwynne: “I want to thank you firstly for having me back, coming off a loss I never thought I’d get the call again, so I am grateful to be here. “He’s a good prospect but I have the experience behind me. He’s probably thinking that my best days are behind me, i know a lot of people are, but come Saturday night I am going to throw it back and put on a big performance, a statement one that will chuck me right back into the mix. “I can always remember my first title fight and I went to places I thought I would never go, and it shows how much you’ve got inside you, and I’ve just got to see of he’s got that.” Kieron Conway: “This is a big fight and it leads to big things. I’m looking forward to it. I’ve been all around the world on great cards, but this is just as big for me as any of the other fights you have given to me. Yesterday at the workout I looked into his eyes and saw a man with nothing to lose, which is dangerous, so I am aware of that, but equally as dangerous is a man with everything to lose, and that’s me. I’m going to be switched on and looking to put on the performance of a lifetime. “My experience is massive and I think that pays dividends going forwards in all of my fights. Each one is just another piece of the puzzle.” Ryan Kelly: “To be involved in this show in Birmingham makes sense, and to be fighting Kieron for a big title makes it that bit more exciting. I think the fight is going to have a bit of everything in it, and I’ll do my bit to make sure it’s exciting. “It’s a must-win to move on and have a great 2025. I need to go out there and perform, and I’m under no illusion that I’m fighting a good kid in Kieron but on Saturday the respect goes out of the window and it’s game on.” Callum Smith: “It’s good to be back. Activity is key and it’s something I haven’t had over the past five years or so and that’s killed my momentum. I’ve decided that I want to give it another proper go and I want to get active, get the ball rolling this weekend and then it puts me in a good position going into the new year and into any fight that is offered. I believe I’m good enough to be a two-weight World champion, I wouldn’t be sitting here if I didn’t believe that and the journey starts again on Saturday. “I’ve always set the bar high and I’ve never been motivated by money, it’s always been about being the best and being a World champion. I knew that the belts were going to be tied up for the foreseeable future, opportunities didn’t look like they were going to be there to get one again, so I thought if I can’t be the best I don’t want to do it anymore. I took time away to reflect and it looks like the belts might be spreading out in the near future, so there’s still fights out there for me and I do believe I am good enough to be a two-weight World champion, and I would have kicked myself if I didn’t give it another good go to try to achieve it. So we get the ball rolling and I definitely believe I will be a World champion again next year.” Troy Jones: “I’ve got great support as you can hear, they came out yesterday, they have come out today, they do it all the time. Michael better get his CV back ready as it’s going to be a long night for him on Saturday. “He can’t talk as he’s got nothing to talk about, he’s beaten no-one, fought no-one. I’m going to hurt him in that ring, trust me. “I’m going to teach him a boxing lesson and a fighting lesson as well. I’m putting on a calculated performance and show him what I am about in there.”You are going to get a big performance, and I think he knows it.” Michael Stephenson: “I’m ready. I left my full-time job to train for this fight, the sacrifices I’ve made in the last eight years comes down to Saturday and I’m ready to take this English title home. “You know what I’m about, I’m there for war and that’s what I’m ready for, to take that title back to Northampton.” Hamza Uddin: “Always big performances pending, I’ve got a main card slot as it should be. Benn is a good fighter and as he said about me, I’ve got nothing bad to say about him, if I did I definitely would have said it. He’s a good lad and from a good fighting family, it’s nothing personal, it’s just business when I step inside the ring and I’m looking to get a big knockout win. “With the style that I bring, I think that even my average performances are special. We’re not looking for average this Saturday, we’re going for a big performance. Shout out to everyone that’s coming and who has been at the events this week, we go again on Saturday and there’s going to be fireworks.” Benn Norman: “Thank you for opportunity Eddie, Saturday night is going to be no different, I’m just an idiot that fights anyone in the country or around the world. I’ve got a lot of respect for Hamza, he’s a really good lad and he comes from a great boxing family, so I am looking forward to having a good Midlands dust-up. “I’m 28 now so I’m still young, but you might as well take the opportunities while they are coming because before you know it, your career is over. It’s going to be a privilege to be in the ring on Saturday night with another great fighter.” Ibraheem Sulaimaan: “Thank you to the Matchroom team, I’m back out again this year and I’m going to end it with a bang. We’re going to take it one step at a time, now that I’ve got a contract we’re climbing the ladder in the correct manner and we’re going to reach where I want to reach which is the top of the world.” Aaron Bowen: “I’ve had 15 months out but sold 500 tickets, so it shows that people are really getting behind me and they’ll make a lot of noise, you’ll see on Saturday night that there’s a big crowd, big noise and a big performance. “It’s one step at a time but I’m putting the work in at the gym so it’s all looking up and get this one out of the way and we push on for a massive 2025.” Taylor Bevan: “Thank you Eddie for having me on such a brilliant show for my debut. I’m really enjoying fight week so far, taking it all in and just looking forward to putting in a great performance on Saturday and hopefully it’s the start of a very successful career. “I’m looking to bring some of that amateur pedigree into the pros, I’ve boxed some of the best in the world in the amateurs and I’ve been in some exciting fights, two of them with Aaron to my right and maybe that’s one in the future that we can get arranged.” |
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