With fight week just days away, Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero and Danny Garcia each hosted a media workout, ahead of their clash on Saturday, January 23 that headlines Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on FOX from STAPLES Center in Los Angeles.
The stacked card features a welterweight battle between undefeated Sammy “The Sergeant” Vasquez and Los Angeles’ Aron Martinez plus a heavyweight attraction pits 2012 U.S. Olympian Dominic Breazeale and rugged contender Amir “Hardcore” Mansour. Televised bouts begin at 4 p.m. PT inside of the arena.
ROBERT GUERRERO
“All the hard work is done. We got one more day of sparring before we head out to Los Angeles next week. My dad and I are putting the final touches of our game plan together. We had great sparring and everyone is going to see a great fight on FOX January 23.
“Danny Garcia is very confident coming into this fight. He said he’s going to knock me out in five rounds. His dad said they’re bringing the storm to California. They both said it’s going to be the Danny Garcia show, so we’ll see. All I know is I’m coming to fight. I’m going to do all my talking in the ring with my fists.
“The Garcia’s can try to downplay the Mexican vs. Puerto Rican rivalry all they want, but the fact is, this rivalry has been the cornerstone of great boxing matches since before I was born. We are both born in America, but our roots go back to Mexico and Puerto Rico, so expect the rivalry to continue. I can’t wait to silence all the critics who are writing me off.”
RUBEN GUERRERO
“I respect Danny Garcia and his father Angel. Together they are undefeated. They feel invincible. Our motivation going into this fight is to give them their first loss. Everyone thinks my son is washed up, but they will see that he still has a lot left in the tank. Training camp is almost done and Robert knows what he has to do. It’s time to send a message to the welterweight division.
“I come from a big family and we all had it rough growing up working in the fields. We Mexicans have never had anything given to us. We had to work hard to get what we want. It’s time to represent all the hard working Mexicans going through the struggle. Robert is ready to represent La Raza. You better believe the Chicanos are going to be deep at STAPLES Center. My son is coming to throw down!”
DANNY GARCIA
“I’m just focused on Robert Guerrero because at the end of the day, that’s the task in front of me. None of the stuff in the future can happen if don’t get the job done.
“I feel like I’ve faced some real good fighters. We just want to keep winning fights and getting bigger fights.
“It’s almost impossible to predict the future in boxing. That’s why I don’t get ahead of myself. If the opportunity is in front of me, I’m going to take advantage of it.
“I’ve worked hard to get to where I am today. It’s just about taking it one fight at a time to get to where we want to be.
“This is my first fight being a father and I’m dedicating it to my daughter. I’m wearing pink and black for her. I named her Philly because of how important the city is to me. I’m the first Latino boxing champion from Philly and I wanted to name her something that was important to me.
“I represent everybody. I’m from Philadelphia, we’re all the same here. There’s not just one ethnicity. Where I’m from, we’re all cool.
“I knew the opportunities would come and that I’d be fighting for a title eventually. There’s nothing like a championship fight, it’s just a different atmosphere.
“We’re eating right, dieting right. We were already training like this was a title fight and now it’s come to fruition. I fought Morales for a belt and now I’m fighting another Mexican warrior in Guerrero.”
DOMINIC BREAZEALE
“It wasn’t hard to refocus after the Charles Martin fight fell out. I took a couple of days off and then I was right back in the gym on Monday.
“I have no worries about fighting a southpaw. I’ve had plenty of time to get comfortable with the game plan against a southpaw.
“I just did a week of sparring in San Francisco with LeRon Mitchell. It was well worth it. He’s a southpaw, same build as Mansour. It was ideal.
“I’ve seen a couple of Mansour’s fights, especially the Gerald Washington fight, and I know he wants to get inside. I need him to respect my distance and range. Washington was tall like me so it’s a good fight to study.
“My time playing quarterback in college has helped me out a great deal. The footwork is very similar. Throwing footballs and throwing punches isn’t so different.
“I’d like Charles Martin to defeat Vyacheslav Glazkov and then hopefully I can fight him. Glazkov was an Olympian and has a great deal of experience. I believe if Glazkov wins it will be in impressive fashion. I’m not sure Martin has enough talent to be in the ring with Glazkov.
“Deontay Wilder is very good with his range. I’m a believer in him and I don’t think Artur Szpilka will be able to get inside. I’m picking Deontay.
“My fight will be action packed for sure. I’ve got the ability to knockout Mansour and I’m looking for a knockout in the middle rounds. It will definitely be very action packed.”
AMIR MANSOUR
“I expect Breazeale to come to fight. Looking at his prior fights, he doesn’t back down. That’s what I like. I don’t think that he’s going to run. He’ll engage and it’ll be an interesting fight.
“Breazeale is a tall guy but he’s nothing different. You just have to train hard and focus on the task at hand.
“I prepare to fight. I don’t prepare to run from a guy. I’m preparing to strategically target my opponent’s weakness. I don’t think he’s faster than me, I don’t think he’s stronger than me, he’s just taller than me.
“I don’t think this fight is going the distance. I’m always going to predict that I’m going to be the winner. I really want to get this guy out of there and not leave it in the judges hands.
“This isn’t my first time on the big stage. A win is a win. We’re all one punch away from success and one punch from failure. Any win is a blessing.
ANGEL GARCIA
“We’re going up there the same way whether it was for a belt or not. Hungry and we’re coming back with that treasure.
“After he wins that belt, I’m going to call my son the undefeated champion of the world yet again.
“My son now knows that feeling of being a family and you never really know that until you’re a father. He’s always been humble but now he’s really doing it for his daughter. Now he can live the rest of his life to make sure her and her kids and grandkids will be okay.
“Danny still trains the same. When we’re in camp, it’s camp. It’s all about Danny Garcia. Him and me do it like we’ve always done.
“Danny had his mind on 147 for a while. We should have gone right to 147 after Matthysse but I wanted him to take his time. We’re where we want to be now.”
SAMMY VASQUEZ
“I like training out in Colorado. It’s where I live now and the altitude makes my training even better. The longer I stay out here, the more advantages I get.
“I’m excited to be fighting on the west coast. I love fighting out here. I’m an exciting fighter and I’m fighting a local guy. Hopefully I can win and start building my own fans in L.A.
“Aron Martinez is going to come forward. He puts his head in your chest and tries to wear you out. It’s all about attacking the body. If he wants to be the bull, I’ll be the matador.
“We know his game plan so we’re preparing very well. If he tries to box me, I’ll outbox him all day.
“We’re going to take it one fight at a time. Being in competition for a world title is what we want. All the best guys are in the welterweight division.
“Where I am right now, I’m on the cusp of moving in on the big dogs in the division. I want to fight those guys. I feel like I’m ready to go. You have to take it one fight at a time in this division. It’s all about knocking out a name to get a name.
“I try to use boxing to get anything out there about the military that I can. I’ve been deployed twice and diagnosed with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). PTSD and TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) are very serious things. I’m lucky to be where I’m at right now. I want to push the word out there more. It’s very serious but I’m fortunate enough to be in a position to spread the word.
“I think I’m going to stop him. Between the sixth and the eighth round. We’re going to meet in the middle of the ring. I’ve got more power than he’s used to. Everyone comes forward until they get punched in the face.”
