The final press conference for the Knockout Kings II card held in San Antonio and televised live on Showtime was held on Thursday afternoon. Right here, you can see a collection of photos and quotes from the event, headlined by Andre Berto vs. Jesus Soto-Karass and also featuring Keith Thurman vs. Diego Chaves, Omar Figueroa in action and Anthony Dirrell vs. Anthony Hanshaw.
OSCAR DE LA HOYA, President of Golden Boy Promotions
“I want to acknowledge a person that is doing a tremendous job in bringing boxing back to the masses, that is Stephen Espinoza, SHOWTIME is bringing you the best fights and the best fighters.
“San Antonio really knows how to stand behind the sport of boxing and support boxing and Saturday’s event is going to be no exception. This is going to be a tremendous lineup.
“These are the KNOCKOUT KINGS for a reason, you have explosive fighters from top to bottom, fighters who understand what hard work is all about, fighters who go out there and fight for the fans, for the public and for the recognition of being called a “KNOCKOUT KING”.
“We are looking forward to bring the big names in the sport of boxing. Why? “Because San Antonio knows these big names.
“These Argentinian fighters like Lucas Matthysse, Sergio Martinez and Marcos Maidana are the kind of fighters that can pack a punch, they throw punches with tremendous power.
“Diego Chaves is a champion for a reason and he’s fighting, in my eyes, one of the best top three in the welterweight division, Keith “One Time” Thurman. It’s going to be an amazing fight.
“Don’t let these two fighters fool you [Figueroa and Arakawa]. You know young look.
“Figueroa has been blowing everybody out of the water with his work ethic, with relentlessness up and down the ring. He’s the kind of fighter that knows what he wants and knows what to do to get it.
“In this main event you have two warriors, two fighters that put everything on the line, their heart on the line.
ANDRE BERTO, Former Two-Time Welterweight World Champion
“There’s really not much to say, these guys had said it all.
“I’m in tremendous shape, I’m focused. I’m going to put on a hell of a performance.
“I’m just going to go in there and be me. I’m not worried about the title of the show, I’m not worried about his record. I’m just going to go in there and get the win.
“I am in great shape and I have everything to bring to the table. I have the speed, I have the power. I have the explosiveness and I’m going out there and do what I know how to do.
“I’ve known Virgil (Hunter) since I was 13 so it’s not like he’s a stranger to me. Everything’s been flowing pretty well and it’s been a great situation for me.
“The show is called Knockout Kings but no matter how it goes, I know it’s going to be exciting. You’re definitely going to see a lot of speed, a lot of power and a lot of explosiveness, it’s going to be an exciting show.
“It’s going to be a hell of a fight; I’m in shape. I’m in good spirits. I’m focused and I know Soto Karass is ready too.”
JESUS SOTO KARASS, Veteran Welterweight Contender
“My preparation has been great. My team knows what Berto brings. He’s an ex-champion. We know that he’s a quality fighter and he’s tough. But that’s why we train for this.
“The losses you see on my record, I wasn’t taking it serious. But, believe me, we’re taking Andre Berto very serious. Not only have I matured personally but I’ve matured in the ring. The preparation has been very good. We know we have a tough opponent, but we’re here and we’re prepared to win.
“Every fight I come with a different plan. We have a plan for Andre Berto. We have a Plan A, a Plan B, it doesn’t matter; we’ll be ready for him.
“My only prediction is it’s going to be a war. I’m going to leave my heart in there. If I have to die in the ring I will.
“Out of the ring we’re friends, but inside the ring it’s another thing. I don’t have anything against Andre Berto but once we get in the ring I’m looking to knock him out.
“I want everyone to help, help me with breast cancer awareness. We have a raffle going on – it’s $10 to buy a ticket and you can win the gloves and the trunks that I wear in the ring. Let’s go knockout cancer as well.
“The reason I support Susan G. Komen is because of Oscar De La Hoya. It really touched my heart that Oscar lost his mother, Cecilia, to cancer. So being a boxer I felt like I would join that fight to knock out breast cancer.
“I’m ready; I’m only a pound-and-a-half away. I can’t wait until tomorrow so I can get on the scale and go eat.”
OMAR FIGUEROA, Undefeated Rising Star & WBC Lightweight Contender
“This is it, this is seventeen years of work. This is why every boxers starts, what every boxer dreams of. This is it. The goal is the green belt, that’s the one, that’s the best one. That’s the one we all want.
“This is a great opportunity, this is what we have been working so hard for.
“I want to thank my opponent’s team for having agreed to this fight, he’s ranked number one and that’s what we wanted.
“We don’t take anybody lightly. We are ready, we know that a fight can take many directions with every step you take in the ring, so we are ready.
“I’m excited to be on this card. It’s really an honor to fight in the KNOCKOUT KINGS because is one thing to be considered a fighter and another one to be considered a knockout artist.
“I’m fighting with great knockout artist such as Keith Thurman, Berto, Chaves and Arakawa, and all these are great fighters
“We are the backbone [of boxing] because we fight to knock someone out, we try to provide the fans with the most excitement we can, and we go in there ready for war.”
NIHITO ARAKAWA, WBC Interim Lightweight World Championship Contender
“I’m happy to have this chance at my first world title. That gives me extra motivation to win this fight.
“I don’t think I can win by points. I have to knock him out – I think that’s my only chance to walk out of here with a world title
“My nickname is “Baby Faced Sniper,” but when I saw Omar Figueroa it looks like he’s a little bit more baby faced than I am. So I want to give him my nickname “Baby Faced Sniper.”
“I’ve prepared for this world title chance for my entire life and I know Omar has prepared for this as well. We’re both going to fight as hard as we can to get that first world title. I know I want it and I know he wants it, so it’s going to be an exciting fight.”
DIEGO CHAVES, WBA Interim Welterweight World Champion
“We know we have a tough opponent, we have very similar records, neither of us can lose concentration during the fight because it can end with only one punch that’s why we are very well prepared and we know we can take the win.
“I know Keith is a good fighter, but I hope he’s ready because I’m going to show him and the world why I’m a world champion and why this belt is coming back with me to Argentina.
“He may be undefeated, but he’s never faced anyone like me.
“I’ve been training hard, very hard. We are looking forward to a great fight, and we are confident the we’ll come out victorious.
“It’s going to be a war. I’m not going to leave my belt in the judges’ hands- I plan on taking care of Thurman on my own.”
KEITH THURMAN, WBA World Championship Welterweight Contender
“It’s a tremendous fight. I’m 20-0 with 18 knockouts; Chaves is 22-0 with 18 knockouts. You don’t see this very often with young fighters.
“But I’m the kind of fighter that’s knocking on everybody’s door. Everybody in the welterweight division will soon know about Keith “One Time” Thurman. We’re moving up one step at a time and we’re going to step over Diego on Saturday night, guaranteed.
“The KO bonus has nothing to do with the way I fight. My motto is already KOs for life and the nickname “One Time.” I do my best to get the fighter out of there because if we don’t have to do the distance then that, to me, is a job well done.
“We’re always looking for that knockout; we’re always looking for that one punch that can change the fight around. That’s just me, that’s just “One Time.” That knockout bonus is just another check waiting.
“I definitely don’t think he’s faced anyone like me. That’s why I’m confident. I believe he’s been spoon-fed his entire career. A lot of people say the fighters I’ve fought knew I was favored, but they were still world-class fighters and I dominated them each and every round. And I plan on dominating Diego Chaves every round Saturday night.
“Knockout Kings II – this event has that title for a reason. I guarantee you’ll get your moneys’ worth.”
ANTHONY DIRRELL, Light Heavyweight Contender
“I battled cancer and it didn’t hold me down. I’m still here and I’m ready.
“Coming up this Saturday, I’ll win with by knockout. “
ANTHONY HANSHAW, Light Heavyweight Contender
“It doesn’t matter what happened when I fought his brother. The fact that I lost to Andre just gives me extra motivation. When I fought Andre, I wasn’t in shape at all. But I’m in some of the best shape of my career to fight Anthony. I had a great camp and I’m ready to give him the first loss of his career.”
JESSE JAMES LEIJA, Former World Champion & Boxing Legend
“I want to thank the Susan G. Komen Beast Cancer Foundation – you are important in every one of our lives because we all have moms. But that’s not to say that men can’t get breast cancer as well.
“I want to thank Golden Boy Promotions for giving us the opportunity to put on the type of fights that we’ve been bringing to San Antonio.
“I also want to thank SHOWTIME. I won my first world title on SHOWTIME and fought several times on the network, so it’s not just a thing for me to say that I’m proud to be them. It means a lot more than just face value; it’s what in my heart because they’ve been with me for several years.
“We’re still recovering from the Canelo-Trout fight and now we’re bringing Knockout Kings II where we have three world title fights and I don’t know who is going to win. Will the fights go the distance? Probably not when you have these types of punchers. Who’s going to win the fights? I have no idea. Am I going to be in the front row? You bet.
“I’ve watched these guys on TV and I’m awed by the type of power that they have. Omar – I call him ‘Mini Mike Tyson’ – I hope he gives us two rounds so we can really appreciate the power that he has.”
