On Friday afternoon, the kickoff press conference was held for the HBO doubleheader coming up on February 25th, headlined by the Devon Alexander vs. Marcos Maidana battle, held at the welterweight limit of 147 lbs. The co-featured bout is an intriguing clash between young, undefeated super featherweights with Adrien Broner taking on Eloy Perez. Right here, you can take a look at what everyone had to say as they begin preparing for their respective fights.
DEVON ALEXANDER “THE GREAT”, Former Two-Time World Champion
“These last few fights at 140 pounds were hard for me to make weight. I’m going to be stronger and faster at 147.
“Maidana is coming to tear my head off, but I’m going to be ready, 110%.”
MARCOS “EL CHINO” MAIDANA, WBA Super Lightweight World Champion
“I’m excited to fight in the United States again. This is the Mecca of boxing.
“I dedicate my life to boxing and I’m taking this fight very seriously.”
ADRIEN “THE PROBLEM” BRONER, WBO Junior Lightweight World Champion
“I’ve been coming to St. Louis since I was 8 and Devon is like a big brother to me. Fighting here is going to feel like I’m at home.
“He’s a feather-fisted puncher in the featherweight division…not a good combination against me who punches like a middleweight.
“I don’t play with my career, I take this seriously. You can play other sports, but not boxing and he’s playing boxing. I box for real.
“February 25 there’s going to be a ‘Problem’ and I will be victorious.”
ELOY “PRINCE” PEREZ, Undefeated #1 Rated WBO Junior Lightweight Contender
“I want to thank Adrien for giving me a shot at ‘The Problem.’ I’m excited to fight for the world title.
“I have one message for Adrien, I’m not a bean burrito kind of guy, I’m a lasagna kind of guy.”
DAVID ITSKOWITCH, COO of Golden Boy Promotions
“We have all the makings of a great fight in this main event. You have to have great fighters to make a great fight and we have two of the best in the game today.
“When fighters move up in weight class, most of them dip their feet in the pool, but these guys are diving right in by facing each other.
“The co-featured fight could possible steal the whole show on February 25. You don’t see a lot of young, hungry fighters that are both undefeated fighting each other these days.”
KEVIN CUNNINGHAM, Alexander’s Trainer
“We’re bringing a killer into Devon’s hometown who is going to try and take him out, but that’s the business of boxing. Devon is going to slay the killer on February 25.”
SEBASTIAN CONTURSI, Maidana’s Advisor
“We are happy to be here. It’s been a long road with the cancelation of the Guerrero fight, so Marcos is very anxious to back in the ring. As usual, we will bring a war to St. Louis and, as everyone knows, Marcos always delivers!”
LEVI SMITH, Broner’s Co-Trainer
“We came here to defend the title. We’re going to show you fireworks and give Eloy a boxing lesson on February 25.”
SAM GARCIA, Perez’s Co-Trainer
“This is what we have worked towards for many years. This is a great sports city known for its world champions, so what better place to win our first world title than in St. Louis?”
“Alexander vs. Maidana,” a 10 round welterweight fight taking place on Saturday, February 25 at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with The Great Promotions and Universum Box Promotions and sponsored by AT&T and DeWalt Tools.
Also featured will be Adrien Broner vs. Eloy Perez in a 12 round fight for Broner’s WBO Junior Lightweight World Title which is presented in association with R&R Promotions. The fights will be broadcast live on HBO’s Boxing After Dark at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.
Tickets, priced at $250, $125, $75, $50 and $25, go on sale on Saturday, January 14 at 10:00 a.m.
