A heated rivalry involves a head in New York Metropolis this Saturday evening.
Undefeated junior welterweight king Josh Taylor (19-0, 13 KOs) will defend his WBO and Ring Journal titles towards former light-weight kingpin Teofimo Lopez (18-1, 13 KOs) at The Theater at Madison Sq. Backyard.
Within the eight-round co-feature, Puerto Rican junior middleweight phenom Xander Zayas (15-0, 10 KOs) will tackle Ronald “Diablo” Cruz (18-2-1, 12 KOs).
Taylor-Lopez and Zayas-Cruz will likely be broadcast reside on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
The ESPN+-streamed undercard (5:15 p.m ET/2:15 p.m. PT) contains light-weight contender Jamaine Ortiz (16-1-1, 8 KOs) and rising junior light-weight Henry Lebron (17-0, 10 KOs) in 10-rounders, together with the returns of Polish heavyweight Damian Knyba (11-0, 7 KOs) and featherweight prospect Bruce Carrington (7-0, 4 KOs) in separate eight-round fights.
Unbeaten junior welterweight prospect Omar Rosario (10-0, 3 KOs) steps up towards Jan Carlos Rivera (8-1, 6 KOs) in an eight-round Puerto Rico vs. Puerto Rico showdown.
Promoted by High Rank, tickets are on sale now and may be bought at Ticketmaster.com.
At Thursday’s press convention, that is what the fighters needed to say.
Josh Taylor
“He means what he says, and I imply what I say. There may be real dislike right here. He’s been disrespectful. I’m going to make him pay for his phrases on Saturday. I can’t wait to get in there. You will note a Josh Taylor win, probably by KO, and good and early as effectively.”
“I do know he’s a great fighter. The model that beat Lomachenko is an excellent fighter. That’s the model I’m making ready for. It’s all about your preparation. I’ve ready diligently and to the perfect of my skill. You’ll see the perfect of me on Saturday evening.”
“That is dream come true. You at all times dream of coming stateside and preventing in venues like this. That is the ‘Mecca of Boxing’, Madison Sq. Backyard. I can’t wait to get in there to make this dream turn into a actuality, and this clown right here is in my method.”
Teofimo Lopez
“What’s ‘The Takeover’ if he doesn’t take over the fellows which can be the kingpins of the division? So, in the case of Josh Taylor and the junior welterweights, he’s the man. That’s the man that it’s important to beat to be the best. That’s what we intention for on a regular basis.”
“I labored my a** off. Eleven weeks of camp. That is going to be the perfect model of me. Follow makes enchancment. We’ve improved since my final struggle. We’re able to placed on a present. I’m going to be a two-time lineal world champion.”
“I’m enthusiastic about this. This is sort of a dream come true. What extra can you actually shoot for? No one has actually referred to as out Josh Taylor. Who is aware of why? Possibly as a result of he beat everybody already. However I’m right here. I’m right here to come back in there and take every thing that you simply’ve acquired.”
Xander Zayas
“That is the primary time that I’ll struggle throughout Puerto Rican Day Parade weekend. I’m excited for this one. It’s superior to see all these completely different cultures come collectively and convey a superb present to MSG and to New York. I’m able to placed on a present for all of my Puerto Rican followers Saturday evening.”
“He’s motivated. He’s been ready for this chance his entire life. So, I anticipate him to come back out and attempt to placed on a present. When the struggle acquired postponed, we contacted High Rank and stated that that is the opponent we wished to struggle. They allowed me to try this, and now right here we’re. I’m excited to showcase what we have now been engaged on.”
Ronald Cruz
“I’m past excited. This is a chance I’ve been ready for my entire life. I’ve been making ready actually arduous. I can’t wait. I’m excited to go on the market and have enjoyable. I’ve spent plenty of years getting so far. I’ve been within the ring with nice world champions like Mike Tyson, Sergey Lipinets and Janibek Alimkhanuly. It’s my time. I can’t wait to get in there.”
Jamaine Ortiz
“I’m very excited to make a press release right here at High Rank and be one of many high rivals right here and chase a world title. I don’t actually hearken to media throughout struggle week. I’m simply centered on my opponent, my coaching and what I’ve to do on Saturday to come back out victorious. After that, we will discuss my plans. Each opponent has his set of challenges. Humberto Galindo is an influence hitter, so I’ve to remain sharp and centered.”
Robson Conçeicão
“I prefer to take issues one step at a time in my profession. I’m simply going to concentrate on this struggle. Nicolas Polanco is a superb fighter. I’m tremendous assured that I’m going to placed on an excellent present this Saturday. After that, I need to struggle Oscar Valdez once more as a result of I nonetheless to at the present time don’t perceive how I misplaced that struggle.”
Bruce Carrington
“It’s at all times particular to be right here as a result of I get to carry out in entrance of my household, my mates and my followers. That is dwelling. It’s additionally the ‘Mecca of Boxing.’ It’s at all times an excellent alternative to get to struggle right here.”
Henry Lebron
“That is the second time that I’m on a card like this at a spot the place many nice fighters have carried out. I’ll give 100% on Saturday. We moved to Florida to coach for this struggle. It has been an excellent good coaching camp. We labored with Javiel Centeno. We labored arduous, and you’re going to see the end result.”
Damian Knyba
“I’m extraordinarily happy with my heritage and the place I come from. The Polish persons are ready for the following Andrew Golota, and I hope that’s going to be me. Attending to a world title is a course of for me. I didn’t have a protracted novice profession. We’ve an excellent plan. I feel in about three or 4 years I’ll be reaching my prime, and I’ll be able to assault.”
Omar Rosario
“That is my second time preventing right here at MSG throughout Puerto Rican Day Parade weekend. I’m able to make a press release and show that I’m the way forward for the 140-pound division. Combating in New York is like preventing in Puerto Rico as a result of plenty of Puerto Ricans are coming to MSG. Final yr, I felt the power, and I prefer it. I do know that Saturday evening would be the similar.”
