Friday Night Fights this week is at the Turning Stone in Verona, New York, for the International Boxing Hall of Fame weekend. The card, presented by Iron Mike Productions, features Yudel Jhonson, as well as unbeatens such as Sammy Vasquez, Isiah Thomas and Ievgen Khytrov. Check out the weights here.OFFICIAL WEIGHTS
Main Event – WBC FECARBOX & NABA Junior Middleweight Championships (10) – ESPN
YUDEL JHONSON (15-1, 9 KOs), Miami, FL by way of Cuba 154 LBS.
NORBERTO GONZALEZ (20-3, 13 KOs), Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico 154 LBS.
Co-Feature – Welterweights (8) – ESPN
SAMMY VASQUEZ, JR. (14-0, 10 KOs), Monessen, Pennsylvania 147 LBS.
JAY KRUPP (17-6, 8 KOs), Catskill, New York 150 LBS.
Special Middleweight Attraction (6)
IEVGIN KHYTROV (4-0, 4 KOs), Brooklyn, New York by way of Ukraine 160 LBS.
CHRIS CHATMAN (12-3-1, 5 KOs), San Diego, California 160 LBS.
Light Heavyweights (8)
ISIAH THOMAS (12-0, 6 KOs) Detroit, Michigan 181 LBS.
RAYCO SAUNDERS (23-23-2, 10 KOs), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 179 ½ LBS.
WBC Latino Junior Welterweights Championship (8)
JOHNNY GARCIA (19-1, 11 KOs), Holland, Michigan 139 ½ LBS.
JOHN WILLIAMS (11-3-1, 5 KOs), Charlotte, North Carolina 139 ½ LBS.
Junior Lightweights (6)
DENNIS GALARZA (3-0, 2 KOs), Miami, FL 128 ½ LBS.
GADIEL ANDALUZ (4-6, 2 KOs), Chicago, Illinois by way of Puerto Rico 129 LBS.
Lightweights (4)
RYAN MARTIN (5-0, 3 KOs), Cleveland, Ohio 137 ½ LBS.
IAN JAMES (2-7-1, 1 KO), Brooklyn, New York 138 ½ LBS.
Junior Welterweights (6)
SAM QUINONES, JR. (6-2, 2 KOs), York, Pennsylvania 139 LBS.
GREG COVERSON, JR. (3-8-3, 2 KOs), Detroit, Michigan 136 LBS.
Light Heavyweights (4)
LEO HALL (1-0, 1 KO), Detroit, Michigan 175 LBS.
BOB WILDER (2-3, 1 KO), Akron, Ohio 174 ½ LBS.
Press Conference Quotes
Mike Tyson: “I’m looking forward to setting (viewing) records again tomorrow night. We have exciting fights, better than the first time we were here (last August on ESPN in first IMP promoted show) with Yudel Jhonson fighting Norberto Gonzalez in the main event, war veteran Sammy Vasquez coming off his sensational first round knockout, and 4-0 Ukrainian Ievgin Khytrov fighting for us for the first time.”
“Sammy comes to kick ass.”
“This place (Turning Stone) wasn’t here when I fought. I love coming here. Some of my high school and junior high fans – I haven’ seen some of them in 30 years – are coming here tomorrow night to watch the fights with me. I really looking forward to these fights.”
Yudel Jhonson: “I want to thank everybody and for Iron Mike Productions for putting me on in the main event on ESPN. I know what style fans like to see and I’m going to give my most to please them.”
“There’s no pressure. I had more 400 plus amateur fights and that prepared me for this kind of fight. No nerves, just another day at the office.”
Norberto Gonzalez: “I want to thank the great Mike Tyson for the opportunity to be on his card. I’m going to give 100-percent to make the main event very exciting.”
“I feel no presser coming in as an underdog. I come from the country where boxing started, Mexico. Yudel Jhonson is going to fight one of the toughest 154-pounders and that makes for a great fight.
Sammy Vasquez: “I want to thank IMP for the opportunity to fight on this card. I have a lot of will; hard work and determination. I’m fighting to showcase my skills. You’ll see what I bring to the table on the way to me being world champion.”
“Fighting and war are two different type of things. In boxing, you’re going to walk away; in war, you don’t know if you’re coming back. They’re similar but different. You need to be mentally prepared for both. Boxing-wise, I’m mentally prepared to beat anybody. No nerves, I’m going to have fun and put on a good show for fans.
“In my last fight (April 18 in Monroeville, PA) there was a little trash talking. He (Juan Rodriquez, Jr.) kept talking about me, bashing me. I had to put him down. I talk with my hands and showed him in the first 30 seconds (first of three knockdowns en route to WTKO 1 at 2:49 for Vasquez). I know what I do and that’s look for a knockout.”
Ievgin Khytrov: “I’m very happy to have signed a co-promotional deal with Iron Mike Productions. I just want to fight. I’m looking forward to putting on good show.”
“I had over 500 amateur fights so I’ve been in this pressure situation before. It’s just another day in the office for me.”
Chris Chatman: “I want to thank Mr. Tyson and Iron Mike Productions for having me fight on this great show. Once again Chris Chatman is against the odds fighting and undefeated prospect. I’ve been here before. He’s one-dimensional. He’s going to put me on the ropes and knock me out. That’s not oing to happen. You’re going to see one helluva show.”
“I went to college and was in the Navy.”
