All six fighters involved in the 154-lb tripleheader on Showtime held a pre-fight conference call to discuss their upcoming clashes.
John Jackson
Yes, hey, man, I just want to say thanks for having me. It’s a privilege and an honor, and I’m ready for Showtime.
L. Ellerbe
All right. Okay. Next up, the Charlo twin brother. We have Jermell Charlo. He comes to us with a 27 and 0 record with 12 KOs. Fighting out of Houston, Texas, and training in Dallas with Derrick James, who’s also the current trainer of Errol Spence. Him and his brother Jermall are intending to become the first twin brothers to hold world titles in the same Division.
He’s 25 years old and he owns victories over Vanes Martirosyan and Gabriel Rosado, and he will look to leave the ring as the World Champion on Saturday, May 21st. Jermell, would you like to say a few words?
Jermell Charlo
Thank you guys for having me on this call right now. I got to get back into training, obviously. All we do is work. So you know, I come just as prepared as I’m supposed to be.
This is my opportunity, this is my chance, this is my moment. My brother’s had his before. He’s going to defend his title, and I’m excited to be in the same venue fighting on the same card with my twin brother and a stable mate, Erislandy Lara, which is another true blessing to my career.
John Jackson is a hell of a fighter. He comes to fight. He going to come bringing the punching power and all the extra things that he’s prepared himself for. And I’m going to step up to the plate and do what I’m supposed to do. I get one opportunity. I get one boxing career, and this is my moment, and this is the chance that I’ve taken. I have to go get it.
So all due respect to John Jackson and his team, but I’m not laying down for nothing. I’m going to get what I deserve and what’s mine. And I will be bringing a WBC back to Houston, Texas, and representing like I’m supposed to.
Q
Jermell, I know you’ve had title fights fall through before, and I know that you have more fights than your brother. How psyched are you that this title fight has eventually come to fruition?
Jermell Charlo
I’m excited. God has timing on everything, and I know for a fact that this is that time and this fight is going to be for it to be reckoned, it’s going to be a fight that’s like steals the show. Three great fights on the card, so regardless of what happened in the past, I don’t look at it that way. I look at it as this fight is the fight, and this is the one that I need to conquer and take care of.
Q
Do you expect to stop John Jackson in this fight, or go the distance?
Jermell Charlo
I prepare myself for 12 rounds. I prepare myself for more than 12 rounds. I prepare myself to go 12 rounds. Whatever happens in this fight happens, and I’m prepared for it.
Q
Both you and your brother are fighting on this card. Is that twice the pressure?
Jermell Charlo
No, we did it before. We’ve done this before. We fought on the same cards in amateurs. We fought on the same cards on the pros. Even we fought on the same cards on Showtime. We’re going to do it again.
Q
How much sibling rivalry is there with you and your brother?
Jermell Charlo
It’s pretty intense. You know, we compete with each other about who’s in the best shape; and it’s sibling rivals but never actual rivals. So, my competition is greater than just beating John Jackson. It’s just performing well in front of my twin brother, who will be in the back locker room cheering me on.
Q
Being world champions at the same time, is it something that you and your brother contemplated for a long time? And what would it mean to you to actually accomplish that?
Jermell Charlo
We never actually thought about it as it is now. We knew we always wanted to be world champions like John Jackson and his brother thought.. You know, him and his brother would like to be World Champions, but we never thought about it being on the same card, the same night, making history.
So it makes it even more intense. It makes it much bigger stakes for me. John Jackson is going to come, he’s going to do what he has to do, but my job is to make history, so with that being said, I’m going in the ring with the mindset of winning, making history. Winning the WBC, and taking home a nice purse.
Q
Have you thought about that it can’t possibly happen if you don’t take care of your business, because he’s going after you?
Jermell Charlo
Yes. So I mean, knowing that I got to go first has never been a problem. I was the one that, when we were younger, I would pop off first. If somebody got into it with me and my brother, I’m jumping off first. I don’t want nobody getting on my brother. So that’s how I take it. I look like, I’m going to be the one to go crazy. I’ll be the one that takes the chances in the family. So if I got to be the one that go first, oh well, let it be.
Q
Have you given thought to what happened to John Jackson against Andy Lee?
Jermell Charlo
Well, you know, I prepare for everything, and I’m preparing to show you guys a lot more power that I am underrated, and I have probably, just as well enough power as much than – my twin brother is extremely strong.
I’ve been doing some great things throughout this camp and developing even before I knew I was taking this fight, I already knew who was Number 1 and who was Number 2 and what fight had to be in place.
I was already in camp, before camp, in pre-camp, you dig? So I know for a fact that Andy Lee did what he had to do, but the style that he fight – and John Jackson brings a different style, and it’s not necessarily a style that I’ve never seen before, but it would be a great fight. So I can’t predict what’s coming up, but I am going to play to my strengths as much as possible.
Q
Can you talk about the fact that you’ve had to sit by and watch your World Title fights in the past go by the wayside for different reasons that were out of your control and watch your brother win the title as you waited your time.
But also, what does it mean to the rest of your family to have this as a possibility? Not just you and your brother; your parents and grandparents and uncles and stuff.
Jermell Charlo
My whole family – yes, everyone is excited. Everyone will be in Vegas. It’s something that we’ve all seen, the reason why we box for, so I can’t really, you know, explain how excited they are, but I know how I felt that I – I’ve seen World Titles slip by the wayside, but that’s not, that’s nothing I can control.
That’s something that I had no control over even (they ranked) Number 2 on the IBF. My brother grabbed that title, and I was extremely happy for him to have that title. More happy for him, just as well as happy for myself.
So when we do, when he do as he do, it’s as if I’m doing it myself, and nothing, there’s nothing more than I can actually explain when it comes down to I’m excited. I’m excited to be in this fight right now.
Q
What is it like to have the chin of your entire family questioned? And how did that make you feel going in to this fight?
J. Jackson
It doesn’t make me feel any way, you know? That’s the job, that’s you guys’ job to come up with stories and question everything. So you know, I just go in there and do my job, and that’s to fight and box, you know.
So I know Jermell is going to come in there ready, and I’m going to be ready, so I’m expecting a great fight, man. And I expect to put on a good show, you know, for all the fans.
Q
And what is it like to hear him say, you know, Jermell say, you know, he has as much power as his brother. And obviously, you know, he intends to show that against you.
J. Jackson
Yes. I don’t feel that he is – everyone just thinks he has speed, alone, but I know he has a little pop, too, as well. You know, we been just studying and watching tapes. So we know he has a little pop as well. I don’t know why reporters, you know, don’t give him no credit for what he has, but he has a little pop as well, but we’ll be ready for everything, so.
Q
Jermell, you threw out the first pitch at an Astros game. What game was that? What was it like to be embraced by the crowd, and did you get, you know, some juice from your fans going into this?
Jermell Charlo
Marketing is everything, and we do what we have to do. I don’t remember; I don’t even remember who they was playing against. I’m really not much of a baseball fan. I did watch the game; it was exciting.
I’m sponsored by the Astros of Houston, which is a great (team), and it was fun. It was exciting to sit and, you know, throw a pitch and make sure I threw a strike. That was one I did not practice. That was something. So you know, it was a game that the Astros actually won after losing so many games, so I was excited to be there and to be a part of that.
Q
Being that that was your first time on the mound, were you nervous? Did you look at – how did ball leave your hand? Did it go right over the plate? You sure it was a strike?
Jermell Charlo
It was a strike. Posted it on social media, and I was nervous; not necessarily nervous because of the, you know, the atmosphere or the people. I was nervous because I wanted to make sure that I didn’t throw it like, if you think that, and I didn’t – it was more the excitement.
Q
If you can be that accurate and throw a – maybe come up with a home run against Jackson?
Jermell Charlo
Like I stated before, I’m going to do what I have to do. I can’t predict what’s going to happen, but I’m very extra-excited and that’s going to be bizarre.
Q
Jermell, your comment on your brother’s improvement over the years and as a fighter and, you know, how much has he improved, you know, maybe in the last year or 18 months?
Jermell Charlo
My brother has improved, I mean, from 18 months, man, I would say he’s almost made like a completely 360 spin on how much he’s improved. And he’s spiraling up.
I know for a fact that there’s some stuff, like, for my brother’s in trouble, but once you get to the top, like he knows you’re going to have to fight some of the best, and so that is just elevating his game.
My brother changed a lot of things and kept – I don’t want to speak for him, because I know he’ll be speaking real soon. So, and I’m very, I’m very impressed at how he’s – a lot of people talk about his guy moving up in weight.
Even this and that, I can’t believe how he’s changed, and how much nutrition has changed, and how much everything has made a big amount of, you know. I’m just grateful to see how great my brother has played a part in his improvement and training.
L. Ellerbe
Now shifting over to the co-main event, which is going to be a very exciting matchup IBF World Champion Jermall Charlo and former World Champion, Austin Trout.
The next fighter I’m about to introduce- very, very tough guy. He has a wealth of experience. He’s been in with Lara, Canelo, Cotto, Delvin Rodriguez, Joey Hernandez – just to name a few. He comes to us from Las Cruces, New Mexico. He now trains in DC with a very good friend of mine and the outstanding underrated trainer named Barry Hunter.
A former World Champion at 154 pounds, he defeated Miguel Cotto in New York in December, 2012. And he’s won four fights in a row heading into this World Title fight.. He comes to us with a 30 and 2 record with 17 KOs. Former World Champion, Austin Trout. Austin?
Austin Trout
Okay. Thanks for having me. Happy to be here. The introduction was great. I’m ready to be asked questions. Unless you want me to just talk about myself. I could do that all day.
Q
Just your thoughts on facing Charlo on May 21st. You know, what kind of a fighter is he, and what do you kind of been preparing for?
A. Trout
Well, first, it’s, he’s a good fighter. You know, possibly a great fighter. I’m very excited about this opportunity to fight and win the title.
Very few people get a once in a lifetime chance you can’t be – I’ve had the pleasure of having two chances. I’m definitely not going to let this pass me by. I’m very excited to pull this fight. It’s a good fight for everybody. A good fight for me, a good fight for Jermall and a good fight for the fans. You know, everybody is going to win at the end of the day, but I have to have my hand raised when the night’s over.
L. Ellerbe
Okay, we have Jermall Charlo comes forward with a 23 and 0 record of 18 KOs. He’s from Houston, Texas. He trains with Ronnie Shields, who’s also another outstanding trainer and very underrated.
He won his World Title with a dominant turnaround stopping Cornelius Bundrage, known as K-9. And he defended with another stoppage this time over Wilky Campfort. Jermall, would you like to say a few words? Jermall? Sorry – Jermall, start again, please.
Jermall Charlo
Thanks everybody, I’m happy to be here.
Q
Were you surprised that after the loss you took against Lara that it took 2-1/2 years to get back in a position to fight for another World Title?
Austin Trout
To be honest, man, I wasn’t surprised that it’s taken this long because really I thought I’d have to start from the bottom going back. Other people’s going back to the lower fights.
So I was blessed to be able to have my fights televised. Not necessarily the stomping grounds hero, but you were probably going to ask what I was prepared for. It’s surprising that it took 2-1/2 years. I guess I’m surprised that it didn’t take longer.
In boxing I feel like they’re quick to throw you away. I felt like they didn’t want me when I was in first place. You know all the fights that I got into, I wasn’t necessarily supposed to win. I wasn’t supposed to win the Cotto fight.
You know, everything was stacked against me so I could never fight, and when Lara beat me how he did, I was like, that’s it. They’re really going to push me to the bottom; I have to start from zero to climb my way back to where I got to.
Q
Jermall, this is the first title fight you’re having against a really highly-regarded opponent, compared to those other two guys. Your thoughts on that opinion?
Jermall Charlo
Yes. I’m going into the fight as if I don’t have the title, you know? I’m trained, and I’m prepared for the worst and the best of Austin Trout. And you know, as you can see I fought back to back, and I’ll continue to step up the competition. And that’s just due to my management and everyone that’s behind me. They seem to be making the right moves.
Q
Is it your opinion that, at least on paper, that Austin Trout is your most significant, most difficult, most established opponent?
Jermall Charlo
No. Austin Trout is a familiar name, familiar face around me and around the boxing world. I’m just as prepared as I was for Campfort as I was K-9 and the fights before. We trained very hard. He knows that we are going in to the fight expecting to get ready for a battle.
Q
Can you just give me your thoughts about being in a position where if your brother wins the opening fight that takes place before yours, and you win, that you will, in fact, , create an interesting kind of history in boxing that’s never happened before. What do you think about that?
Jermall Charlo
I mean, really, to me personally, honestly, we’re not with all of the pressure and all of the, you know, the words that come with just being great and doing everything we have to do, we plan on making history regardless.
And this just happened to be the time where we both hold the World Championships in the division. And I’m not trying to put pressure on my brother, I just know, I need him to go, do his job in that we both come out victorious and make history.
Q
How will you celebrate it if you both accomplish this?
Jermall Charlo
Like we always celebrate the majority of our fights. You know, have fun with each other, take a little vacation, and just talk about in that our (minds set). And then, you know, celebrate our birthdays. It’s going to be, you know, two days or four or five, which we sacrifice, and then and there’s just a lot of things we’re going to celebrate with.
Q
How will you handle it mentally if your brother gets beat that night and then you can’t make the history, but then you still have to go and do your job and, you know, do what you have to do to retain your title? How will that impact you? Have you given any thought to how you’ll deal with that on a mental basis, an emotional basis?
Jermall Charlo
Well, like I say, you know, we really not so big on putting the pressure on each other, and the work of the fight is going to be, you know, both of us getting our hand raised.
You know, knock on wood, and you know, worst case come, you know, we’re both prepared for the worst. But you know, I’m not necessarily worried about making history. I’m just worried about taking care of my fast end against Austin Trout.
Q
Would you and your brother ever entertain that idea if you could unify titles?
Jermall Charlo
I mean no. We would it have anything to prove fighting each other. And I’m pretty sure the fans and the people around the world wouldn’t want to see twin brothers that train with each other and have the same tactics fight each other. So I’m not really entertaining the fact that a lot of people have been asking will meet in my twin brother fight each other? No.
Q
Jermall, when was the last time you for a southpaw?
Jermall Charlo
The last time I fought a southpaw was – I had a few fighters fight southpaw that I didn’t fight. I actually trained with a few southpaws. But I think I actually had fought a natural lefty so this would be the first experience that I’ll be able to fight a lefty.
Q
Speaking of lefties how much did Erislandy Lara advise you or help you with this fight since he’s beaten Austin Trout before?
Jermall Charlo
He’s been a big help. You know, fighting alongside him. Also, he’s fought Trout. So he’s been in there. He probably felt a few of the aspect of fighting a left-handed fighter. It’s just a different dynamic. You know, we prepare for everything. Like a champion has to be the tape what someone has and you make the most out of it and that’s what I plan on doing.
Q
I asked her brother this before and I’m asking you as well. How much of a sibling rivalry is that between you and your brother?
Jermall Charlo
I’m inspired by my twin brother but we compete. I guess that’s what keeps pushing us above and beyond. I can’t wait for him to fight and for him to do what he has to do so I could just say that was a lucky punch or that was a win. And not give him all the credit that he deserves and just keep pushing him. Because it’s all a brothers love and I love what my brother does and I’m pretty sure he loves what I do.
Q
From a marketing standpoint how much better is it to be twin champions as opposed to be like individual champions?
Jermall Charlo
I mean it’s great for marketing. Of course I’m a hero for a lot of fans that support boxing and of course they want to see them the level change and it’s only one way up. And for us to both become world champions I guess we’ll get a lot more attention as far as being great.
Q
What do you feel though has been the biggest change or improvement to your game since the Lara fight or the Dawson fight?
A. Trout
I’m just trying to become a complete fighter, and all-around fighter. That means being comfortable, going forward, backwards, to the side, attention to the head and to the body. And that’s been my goal from John is to be comfortable doing anything. That’s really what you believe is the work I put in. Look at our weaknesses which were defined by Lara and then just worked on it. So of course we want to be able to do the deed this year but if it needs be we can just push it up and go somewhere else and go in another direction.
Q
Everybody refers to Barry Hunter as your trainer these days. But how would you define Louie Burke in your career and the new training at this point?
A. Trout
He still here. He’s taken the title of head coach is really just a title cause really they are co-coaches. Louis been here with me. When I’m home, when we start Louie is the one who’s really starting that up for me. We cannot to DC to get to work and get another perspective. Louis is still a major, major factor in my corner and in my camp.
Q
In regard to Vegas, the boxing capital of the world in the country if not the world. Is it important at all to you to finally get there?
A. Trout
You know, I’ve been able to fight around the world and I’ve gotten to be able to travel and go in just see things. Being able to fight in Vegas is definitely important but I don’t put too much on it. It’s just another city. It’s just another venue. The fight itself is what matters.
Q
Austin, could you kind of discuss your evolution as a fighter I guess and kind of where you are today when you are ready for this second title shot.
A. Trout
I feel like – this is a great time for me because right now I am running on all cylinders. You know, I mentally, physically, and spiritually at peace and prepared. Nothing like all three of those points are very important to be a complete fighter in the ring because you have your spirit. And right now I’m very spiritual. God is going to be there to bless me. And if your mind ain’t right you already know that you can’t fight with your mind off base. And the physical part that speaks for itself. So honestly I have to be on top of my game to be a fighter like 929. And if those three things weren’t on point it’s going to be a rough night. But since they are I feel like I’m very unbeatable at this time right now.
Q
Do you feel like you’re at your best right now?
A. Trout
Close to it. I still feel like the best is yet to come but I feel like I’m getting there.
Q
And what you feel like you need to do to get your belt back?
A. Trout
Everything. You know we’re going to have to fight. I really want to — we’re going to have to box right, we’re going to have to fight hard, and were going to have to dig down and dig deep. But at the end of the day it will be all worth it. We’re going to have to take into the trenches and five as if our life depends on it which I feel like it is.
Q
And lastly the feel like the Lara fight was a big disappointment. Do you feel like you learned a few things that put you on different path?
A. Trout
I did. And again, after winning the total fight in having a close – and see the fight against Canelo I was a necessary living the way I feel like God wanted me to be. And I’m not here to preach. It’s nothing like that. But at the same time I feel like I’m held at a higher standard than others where I can’t get away with nothing. Now I got my manager in order. My family is right. My mind’s right. You know not to mention Lara has exposed things that I needed to work on that I’ve been working on. And we know that Carlos sparred with Lara who I feel is one of the best undisputed talent in the game other than myself.
We know he’s going to bring some things to the table that’s going to try to attack you. We’re going to try to take advantage of those mistake that Lara has exposed. So we have to definitely tighten up. We have to tighten up.
L. Ellerbe
Thank you. Now we’ll bring the main event. It’s a rematch of the 2012 technical draw and you know both men are going to want to settle the score. So first up I’d like to introduce, he comes to us with 36 and 2 record with 21 KO’s. He’s fighting out of Glendale, California. He represented the United States in the 2004 Olympics. He’s a very very tough fighter. He’s been in with just about everybody. He fought the likes of Ishe Smith,who’s part of the Mayweather promotions stabl, Willie Nelson and Demetrius Andrade. He fought Lara. He’s been a pro for 11 years. He turned pro in April, 2005 and he’s a very very good fighter. And we also look forward to a very exciting fight. Vanes Martirosyan, would you like to say a few words.
Vanes Martirosyan
Thank you Leonard. You getting better with my last name every time. It’s an honor to be on the Mayweather Promotions card once again and I can’t wait for the fight. I’m really excited as I have had the best training camp that I’ve ever had. I’ve been away from my family for a month and a half now. I just can’t wait for the fight to come.
L. Ellerbe
Vanes is fighting Erislandy Lara. Lara comes to us with a 22 and three record with 13 KO’s representing Cuba but training with Ronnie Shield in Houston. He’s one of the, in my opinion, one of the slickest boxers Very very slick, talented fighter. If you look forward this is going to be an excellent match up. Lara, would you like to say a few words.
Erislandy Lara
I want to thank everybody for putting this together in Mayweather Promotions and Showtime. I’m just ready for the fight. The fight is a week away and we’re ready to go.
Q
Vanes, in the first fight it seems that later on in the fight you were getting some success by putting on more pressure question mark are you going to fight the second fight like it’s the 10th round of the first fight?
V. Martirosyan
We know, we watched the first fight. That was four years ago. He’s got a lot better. I changed a lot also. We have noticed the fight there to be that we would do from the first fight. But there’s a lot of new things that we need to do. My main concern about this fight is that I just hope it’s a clean fight cause the first fight was really a dirty fight. There was a lot of low blows, a lot of head-butts and things like that. Let’s just hope the referee does his job better but we’re ready for anything and the first fight was a learning lesson. And it’s going to be the best fight on this night.
Q
My question is for Erislandy. With the improving relations between the United States and Cuba recently. How important is it for your career to headline a professional fight in your home country? And is that something you and your team have talked about doing?
E. Lara
Absolutely. This is something I want to do. I’m fully aware of everything going on in the United States and Cuba and if it’s possible I would love to headline a fight in Cuba one day.
Q
You also had mentioned recently that you would even like to fight to unify 154 titles. Would you also be willing to do that if a stablemate Jermall Charlo?
E. Lara
I don’t choose my opponents. They tell me who I’m fighting and I prepare and I fight to the best of my abilities and that’s what I have done in every fight. This is the fact and we both trained so this is not realistic at this point. But would I fight him? Yeah. I’ll fight him and win.
Q
You’ve been on the short end of some decisions, questionable decisions such as your fight with Andrade. Has that affected your game plan heading into this rematch and how aggressive you may need to be to pull out a decision?
V. Martirosyan
I have to be ten times more aggressive. And I guess I need to win the fight. You know, way better, trying to be more aggressive to show the judges we’ve moved on than the judges have.
Q
Did you start to feel as though it wasn’t going to happen? And how incomplete do you feel your career would have been if you didn’t get the chance to fight him again?
V. Martirosyan
I know I’ve been with Al Haymon and he’s with Al Haymon. You know every time I fought when I was with Al Haymon they asked me if I wanted to fight. One of the guy’s name on the list was Lara. So it was just a matter of time. At the time we fall we were both with different promoters. And right now we’re with the same management. So to be with the same management I knew that it was going to happen sooner or later. So I’m just happy that it finally happened.
Q
Vanes also if you could, what did you think of the scoring and the way the fight was scored in the first fight you know when it was fought.
V. Martirosyan
We watch the fight a few times. I think that he knows I was coming on strong. The round that they quoted as a draw I don’t know why they scored that fight on that round because it was only 20 seconds into the round and that’s what made it a draw. I just feel like I was winning on points in that fight. And the cut was bad and when they asked the judges to score the round they scored in his favor and they called it a draw. I just feel like I was up in that fight.
Q
If you could ask Erislandy the same question about what he thought about the scoring and also what his thoughts are in the fight finally coming together? And whether he thought it would ever happen?
E. Lara
To me I was winning the fight easily. I was out boxing him. If you go look at CompuBox I out landed him in every single round of the fight. I was doing my job. Obviously we fought on his turf like I always do. I fight fighters on their turf like I do. Now it’s on my turf and actually I felt like I was winning the fight 100% and I was coming on strong. I was winning the last few rounds before the cut and I was on my way to stop it and then before, you know, he decided not to fight. So I’m looking forward to this fight. I’m very excited to fight and it’s time to put a period on the fight and end it. And show everybody why I’m the best 154 pound in the world.
Q
Vanes, he just said he felt he was on his way to stopping you in that fight. What are your thoughts on that?
V. Martirosyan
He was running the whole fight. I stopped them but he was running, man. He was running the first few rounds and then he started running the whole fight. I don’t know what he’s talking about. He was stopping me. You know what I mean. I know he felt me in the first fight he’s going to feel me ten times more in this fight. He wasn’t stopping shit. If he was stopping I feel like the head butt was on purpose. The low blows were on purpose. Fight a clean fight and don’t play with my balls the whole fight and we’ll see who’s going to stop who in this one.
