In a few weeks, fight fans will finally get to see the Barclay’s Center card in Brooklyn, headlined by Danny Garcia vs. Zab Judah, and also featuring Peter Quillin vs. Fernando Guerrero. All of the fighters recently held a pre-fight conference call, and right here, you can find the call and everything they had to say in its entirety — if you’re ready to strap in for a long one. Take a look below.
Garcia vs. Judah is a 12-round bout for Garcia’s Unified Super Lightweight World Championship. In the co-featured attraction, WBO Middleweight World Champion Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin puts his title on the line against hard-hitting Fernando Guerrero in a 12-round fight.
Peter Quillin
How’s everybody is doing? Thank you for allowing me to grace the phone with you guys. I just want to thank everybody that’s made this fight possible: Barclays Center; my promotion team; Golden Boy; my advisor, Al Haymon; my management, John C., Jimmy McDevin; my trainers Eric Brown, Robert Garcia and Brad Bowes; manager, Johnny Berez; my two assistants, Tiffany Carter and Lisa Mahoy. I’m just very blessed and make sure that y’all stay tuned to be able to watch Never Guerrero, because he’s never going to be the champ like me.
Q
Peter, you fought a steadily improved caliber of opponents; Jesse Brinkley, Craig McEwan, Ronald White and of course Hassan in your last fight. Can you talk about how that progression has kind of improved you and improved you experience-wise as a fighter?
Quillin
Yes, you know just the thrill of victory, the thrill of me having the will to want to be able to be better. Roberto Duran said it best, “Once you stop trying to learn and be better, then you’re no longer good enough anymore,” so I just think I take every task I do in boxing to try to make myself a better fighter. And not only that; outside of the ring, I’m trying to work on myself to be a better person; spiritually, physically, and mentally.
Q
You talk about how the Winky Wright fight, would you consider that kind of a transition that really helped you to prepare for the atmosphere that you faced against Hassan N’Dam when you’re fighting in your hometown?
Quillin
Well, we can all look at it like that, but I look at everything as a challenge in my life. Winky Wright was just only a starter where I was going to go in. I’m not up the ladder yet where I want to be. I want to be a unified champion. I want to be all these other things and whatever comes my way I just make sure that I bust the challenges down to become just a better fighter, a better champion. The Winky fight was only a practice towards where I wanted to be. I know before the fight a lot of the hear sayers would say that I wasn’t, you know, will make it look like an ugly fight; that Winky Wright will outclass me, and all these things were said about me. To put on the performance that I did against Winky I couldn’t do it without him at the same time; but most importantly, I just take everything for the experience to be where I’m at right now.
With this fight, fighting Guerrero, he’s a southpaw and I got super lots of experience with a lot of camps fighting southpaws. I just feel comfortable in the ring and like I said, everything you got to use to be a practice to wherever you want to be.
Q
Compared to you-and this is my last question for you, has he, you feel that Fernando has faced the kind of competition or the atmosphere that you’ve faced and had to be tested against? You think that’ll be an advantage for you, your experience in those types of situations?
Quillin
Well, all I can say Fernando having a large sense of amateur background and I can probably just imagine that everybody in his corner will always tell him he was going to be a champion all his life, so being able to go out there and have the amateur record that he had and be able to go out there and perform as a professional the way he did, fighting at home, main event in his home town of Salisbury and just having just the crowd behind him in the push, only can make a person better, if not, make him weaker.
As far as me, I was never told I was going to be anything like them. So every time I step out there, I just had to prove to myself-not to the people that told me I couldn’t do it, but to myself that I was able to do these great things that I’m doing in boxing right now. So with that being said, you know what I’m saying, like I don’t have any pressure, as far as knowing that I’m able to go out there and perform. Geez, I just fought Hassan, who some would consider the fighter of the year, whereas he was dropped six times. He got back up and he fought his heart out and then now I know with the experience that I’ve got 12 rounds of hard fighting underneath my belt, so I’m only as good as my last fight. I’m looking here to capture new moments. And I’m very happy to be able to do that on Showtime and do it at the Barclays and just have all the people that’s been supporting me support me for all the right reasons. Like I said, come April 27th, I’m only looking to create more great moments in boxing.
Q
Thank you very much, Peter. Now, for Fernando, like Peter said, he had to really step up in his last fight and like I was saying, he’s faced a lot of experienced guys in his career just recently. Do you feel like you are making a huge step up? Would it be accurate for me to tell you that going into the Barclays Center in such a big atmosphere? And what kind of a challenge is that for you, personally?
Guerrero
Well, basically every fight that I step in is a big step up and now this is gonna be my first fight of the year, and it’s gonna be the biggest step up for this year. Fighting in a large crowd doesn’t faze me because I’ve been doing it for the longest. Just like he said, I was always told that I was going to be a champion. I never expected anything less. People never expected anything less, but once when you get out in the real world, it’s not that easy. You’re not going to be a champion just because people tell you that you’re going to be a champion.
So now I’m here to prove it to the world and especially to myself. I heard it before. I want to make it true, and do it for everybody that believed in me and then just keep it going.
Q
How far are you away mentally from the loss to Grady Brewer? What did it take to come back from that and how well do you think you’ve done winning four straight fights like you have?
Guerrero
Well, the thing is it was one the hardest things in my life. When I was a kid I never even thought about death or anything like that, because you know how kids, they never think they can die, because they don’t understand where do you go and everything like that. So when you lose a fight like that, when you’re undefeated and everything like that, it’s hard, you know; and you go through those breakdowns. But the thing is it’s like that’s when they show your real colors, it’s easy. I was knocking everybody out, I’m the strongest.
Even in the amateurs, I always felt like I was the strongest. I never fought anybody that was stronger than me, but God always tested me. I think it’s because He wants to make sure that everything that He’s going to give me I really want it.
So how far am I from all that? I’m not far at all. I don’t want to be far from. Every fight, every position, every place that I’ve been it made me where I am now and who I am now. So the thing is, it’s just basically is written. I don’t really care about what’s going to happen or anything. It’s already written and if I’m meant to be a champion, I’m meant to be a champion.
All I’m doing is just I’m going with the flow. I’m going to go in there and just broadcast my talent and broadcast my speed. If he hits me hard, I’m going to hit him harder. If he’s fast, I’m going to be way faster. If he’s better, I’m going to be way better than that, so it’s just going with the flow. And if that wasn’t good enough, at least it will be good enough for me, because I know that I’m doing everything by the book and everything that I’m supposed to do; and all I’m supposed to do is just try my best. And with all of that, I will be the champ.
Q
I don’t know anybody who-very few people who didn’t see Peter’s last fight, so I imagine you saw that. You just said that if he hits you hard, you’re going to hit him harder; you’re going to be faster. I would wager if you asked him it took everything he had to win his last fight. If you find yourself in a fight like that with Peter, do you think you can wage that kind of a war where you have to get up and really answer blow for blow, second for second the whole fight through?
Guerrero
Well, a lot of times a lot of boxers don’t like-it’s funny that you ask that question. It would be an honor to fight that way. I would love to fight just like that because as a fighter, I mean I’ve been seeing it for so long, we want those historical moments. We want to make those historical moments. I’m a fighter. I’m Guerrero.
So the thing is is like I’ve never been bullied and I’ve never been in that aspect. A lot of times things happen and you just got to overcome them and I’m still here. I still know that I’m the best and I still feel like I’m the best and I feel like I’m a champion. So it’s not like I just woke up yesterday and that’s my job and said, hey, I’m going to start boxing. No, I’ve lost before in the amateurs and once when I lose, I just get way better and I beat the guy up the next time, so I’ve been through it all. And like I said, it’s already written. If it’s not for me, it’s not for me, but I’m here and I’m just going to take it and I’m going to go as far as I can with it.
Q
Okay, and my last question, you had mentioned that how low you were after the Grady Brewer fight. When you said you thought about-were you saying you actually thought about death, or were you just saying that you were low? I didn’t understand that reference.
Guerrero
No, no, no, no, low as in like of course you’re going to be low, especially with the type of-it’s like I’m the type of person that it’s all about the craft, because that’s all I had. I mean as an amateur I had 9,000, 10,000 people surrounding me all the time in Salisbury; and being a Dominican and being in Salisbury and being the type of person that I was, I was always named like I was the only one. From my home town, there’s only one person that came out of and did something; that was the girl from Terminator. So other than that, I was it, so it’s just when I meant that I was low, it just crushed me that I let a lot of people down. But then once when you grow up, you got to understand, too, that it’s my life in the ring, and they really didn’t care about that and they showed me that. A lot of people showed me that they don’t even care if I box or not. They only want me to just keep pushing and keep being that person that I am.
I’m never-a lot of people don’t understand I’ve never been in the streets. I’ve never been the type of person that had a bad life or anything. Yes, my life was difficult, but it doesn’t matter. I had a good household. I stayed in school, straight A’s and all that stuff, so for me it’s like boxing was just something that I was just good at; and then I emerged, but other than that, man, it’s not everything. It’s not everything.
My everything is the people. My everything is the youth. Every time when I go to the schools, when I went to the clinic, when I did my races for cancer and everything like that, that’s my everything; providing for them, providing for my people, providing for the people that provided for me when I came to America and made me feel good and made me feel like I’m at home.
Q
Peter, are you anxious to get back in the ring because of the delay of the original date back in February?
Quillin
Well, let’s just say this, this is my whole life. The only way I feel like I’m getting my therapy is being in that ring. So with that being said, I learned a lot of things about myself within the last camp in; it being cancelled the week before I was well prepared for and it tells a lot about me when I had to step out and learn how to deal with that situation, which long agonizing days and nights training hard. But most importantly, you got to think positive and I’m going to be even more super more prepared to be able to take this fight April 27th.
Q
And Fernando, as you all know, you are Dominican. The Dominican team won the World Baseball Classics. Congratulations. How much do you want this fight to add another championship for the Dominican Republic?
Guerrero
Hey, look, man. It brought a smile to my face that you even recognize that. I don’t really wear a steady hat, so whatever anything like that, because I don’t really get into all that, but I had to buy my hat, man. I’m like oh man, like I had to get it. Everybody has their day. Every country has been having their day. You see once with Pacquiao and then the Filipinos and then Mexico and then Puerto Rico. Then a lot of people in the back burner, they’re always laughing at us a little bit, like how many Dominicans have you ever seen with a Tito Trinidad title and all that other stuff, all the Cubans and everything like that?
But the thing is it’s like, I mean we’re small and we’re coming up. And little things like that even back in the day people didn’t understand when I tried to tell them the only person that I had to look up was Sammy Sosa. But they’re like, oh, he’s not from boxing. I was like, yeah, but that’s my idol. I want to be the Sammy Sosa of boxing.
But now we have a few other Dominicans that are winning their championships, it makes me feel good. It makes me feel proud of my country and I just want to be an addition to that and I want all those other people just to know that yes, we’re doing some things and we’re going to keep it going.
Q
Do you feel there is pressure to become a champion as a Dominican?
Guerrero
It’s no pressure at all. It just makes me feel good and all I want to do is just add to what we need too to our country. Boxing is pressure; so anything else is no pressure at all.
Q
Peter, how do you feel physically and what do you want the fans to know for April 27th?
Quillin
Well, let’s just say I feel very, very good. I just found myself in a place where in my life where it’s just like I’m just feeling physically, mentally strong. I just I’m very happy to be where I’m at right now. I don’t take anything for granted. I don’t take what Fernando was trying to do for his country away, because within ourselves, that’s very powerful. But at the same time, I have my own reasons why I should be doing what I’m doing. I’m doing this for just not being a Cuban-American, I’m a … I’m saying like a lot of Cubans that’s back in Cuba, they sit on the beach and it’s like a sad thing to watch. People just want to get out of that country and fight for opportunity.
So now that I’m here and I know that it’s very important to be able to say yo man, it ain’t about the sand. It ain’t about nothing else besides myself. Like I hear Fernando talking about he’s doing it for the fans and he’s doing it for everybody. But to be able to do it for somebody else, you have to be able to do it for yourself first to be able to prove to other people that, you know what I’m saying, you’re doing it for yourself; and that’s what the fans are going to support, you doing it for yourself.
So, me doing this, it’s more than just like for Cuba and my father, who came over here with just a pair of pants and a shirt with no shoes on and come over here to make a-
Guerrero
I’m sorry to cut you off, Peter.
Quillin
I didn’t cut you off.
(Overlapping voices)
Guerrero
I could never do it for somebody else.
Quillin
I respect what you’re doing. I respect what you’re doing, but when I gave the opportunity to talk and you gave your long answers, I respect that, but now it’s my turn to talk. I’m the champion; respect the champ.
Right now I’m telling you that whatever you’re doing and for whatever reasons you’re doing it, you’re finding the wrong reasons and I’m going to exploit those reasons why you’re doing this for the wrong people. The only thing amounts to when he’s talking running from a cat is when you run into this whole thing and he’s mad that he ran from the cat. All right, when he comes out of the hole and he decides that he’s going to fight the cat and be able to put up a fight and he decided it’s a fight that he can’t win, he runs back to the hole.
Listen man, we both fought older guys. We both had those kind of things in our life to say what we at, why we are at now in life, and right now I’m trying to prove to myself that I’m the strongest champion out there. You will not beat me April 27th. The only thing you’re going to know how to do is run back in that hole like you did with Grady Brewer. You know how to lose. Me and you fighting from two different points of views; you fighting not to want to lose again. I’m fighting to keep my undefeated record and be the powerful champion that God sent me here to be.
Guerrero
Are you done?
Quillin
Yes, let’s keep it short and straight to the point because that’s what I’m going to do when I fight you. We’re going to keep it straight, straight to the point.
Guerrero
The only way we can keep it straight and short to the point is in the ring, my man, you know.
(Overlapping voices)
Quillin
I’m going to prove that April 27th. It is already said and done man.
Guerrero
You just started yesterday and God has blessed you and there’s no doubt, but I don’t respect nobody because I’m the champ. When you get into the ring, you’re not going to fight ….
Quillin
No, you’re fighting an animal, a hungry little animal, that’s what you’re fighting. The only thing you’re going to be in this fight is …
Guerrero
Every animal has his day and you’re not an animal until you face me.
Quillin
I’m the champ. I’m the champ. I’m the champ.
Q
Fernando, I know you have a huge following in Salisbury, Maryland. I was just wondering what type of a response you’re expecting when you step into Barclays, you know, tapped into the Dominican community from New York City.
Guerrero
Well like I said, the following has always been great, but all I need is one or two people. Like I said, all I need is one or two people, and they always come through for me not just because I’m doing it for myself or anything. I fight for different reasons. Boxing, it’s not just about boxing. It’s about what boxing means to those people, what I have achieved, and that’s what I do. I just get in there for those people because those are the ones that made me and I’m going to put my life on the line.
I don’t care about the fight with this dude. I’ve lost … amateur. That’s nothing new to me. Life is not, it’s like a lot of people try to make it seem like because I was in the Dominican Republic and I had no shoes and I had-Peter, you don’t know anything about having no shoes or nothing. You probably never even been to Cuba. Your dad told you.
Quillin
I said boxing is fighting through the struggles. It’s not fighting for two or three people. Boxing is fighting through the struggles. I have been to Cuba. I witnessed my family living in the same house that my father lived in over 32 years ago. I’ve been to the Dominican Republic. I’ve seen how people live in DR. I’ve been to China; I’ve been everywhere.
The thing that’s important to me is that I’m doing this for myself and nobody else, so once I step in there on April 27th the only thing Fernando Guerrero is going to be able to do is run back in that hole because I’m going to be a cat on his ass.
Guerrero
Yes, okay. Well, he already said what I was going to do, so I can’t say anything about that, but we’ll see it in the fight. I’ve never been the type of person that I don’t even know what he’s talking about rat and mouse or whatever and all that stuff and the cat. I just know that I know what made me. I know what I fight for and my purpose, my purpose and that’s what I’m going to go with, my purpose, my heart.
I don’t see this just myself. I see it from everybody. I see from all that energy everything, that’s what keeps me alive and that’s where I’m going to put and that’s what I’m going to show the whole world over there. If you fight for yourself, if you do it for yourself, y’all gonna be … yourself, by yourself.
Swanson
That was the last question for Peter and Fernando, thank you so much for joining us today. That was very exciting. I can’t wait to see the fight, so we are now going to say good-bye to you. Thank you for taking your time to join us and we will see you fight week here in Brooklyn, New York.
Quillin
I’m looking forward to that. I’m looking forward to that. I want to make a closing comment. I want to say make sure that y’all go tune in to this fight April 27th. I going to be only on animal status and I hope and I just pray that he’s ready when he comes, they should allow him every last allow him to wear headgear because I’m coming straight for you, homie. I’m done with this call. Have and nice and blessed day. Hit up www.kidchocolate.com.
Swanson
Thank you. Now we have our main event fighters on the line, so I am going to one note of homework, Danny Garcia will be having his media day in Philadelphia this Thursday. The alert will go out after the call. Now I’m going to turn it back over Dave Itskowitch to make the opening introductions, and here we go. Dave.
Itskowitch
Thank you, Kelly. Introducing now, I want to say a few words; this young man is one of New York’s most accomplished fighters of all time. He’s a former five-time world champion, that’s super lightweight and welterweight, former undisputed welterweight world champion on swings over Cory Spinks, Lucas Matthysse, Micky Ward, Junior Witter and DeMarcus Corley, has also shared the ring with Floyd Mayweather, Miguel Cotto and Kostya Tszyu. He’s won six of his last seven bouts, most recently in ninth round technical knockout win over then unbeaten Vernon Paris last March.
On April 27th he’s going to look to use his speed, wring savvy and vast experience to capture the unified title from the younger Garcia. He’s got a record of 42-7 with 29 KOs from Brooklyn, New York, Zab “Super” Judah. Zab.
Zab Judah
What’s up, y’all? Five time champion of the world, the last undisputed welterweight champion in the world.
Itskowitch
Now I would like to introduce the unified super lightweight world champion. He was boxing’s breakout star of 2012 and was a top candidate for 2012 Fighter of the Year honors as a result of his spectacular performances. He won his first world title in March of 2012 by dropping and then decisioning the legendary Eric Morales for the WBC 140 pound title. Garcia had unified the titles in July for the stunning fourth round knockout of the Amir Khan netting him the WBA Super and Ring Magazine world championships. He helped to open Barclays Center for boxing business last October with a one punch knock-out of Morales in their rematch, which was really spectacular, and a candidate for 2012 knock-out of the year.
He has a record of 25-0 with 16 KOs from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Danny Swift Garcia. Danny?
Danny Garcia
What’s up, guys? Thanks for having me on. I just want to let everybody know I’m having a great camp, really motivated. I’m 110% ready and I can’t wait to show people my skills April 27th on Showtime.
Q
I want to start with Danny. Can you talk, Danny, just a little bit about what exactly happened to you with the injury and then your thoughts when it came to the point where you actually had to postpone the fight and move it from February to April?
Garcia
Yes, it was three weeks out to the fight. It was Saturday and I was fine. I sparred three different guys. I did 12 rounds. After I got done sparring, I had a sharp pain on my side. I thought maybe it was a cramp or something, but when I cooled down, I couldn’t I put my hands past my head, because I couldn’t stretch because the pain was so severe, so I went to the ER. I got my ribs checked and they said I had a bruised rib. They said that it would take four to six weeks to heal, so I tried to train with it another week, but I couldn’t run or anything because it was taking my breath away. So we had to make the decision I was supposed to spar that Saturday. I couldn’t spar, so I couldn’t go through a championship fight not sparring for three weeks, because timing is everything.
So we had to make the smart decision and we had to postpone the date, but now I’m 110% ready and we’re about four weeks out and it’s coming up faster than you know it.
Q
So Danny, it hasn’t given you any problems since you were able to go back and spar.
Garcia
No, I’m 110 percent ready. We healed it right. We started sparring at the right time. We did a couple treatments. We’ve done our physical training and I’m just strong and I’m ready to go.
Q
Okay, Zab, I wanted to ask you about that. Can you talk just a little about the mental aspect of being very close to a very important fight and having it get postponed because you’ve already been probably at that point through, probably well over a month of training camp and it comes sudden where you didn’t do anything wrong. You’re still in good shape. You’re getting ready and your opponent gets injured and has to postpone the fight. What’s that like to deal with the disappointment and have to recharge and get back in there?
Judah
Oh, nothing. I’ve been in the game. I understand in this boxing sport that we’re in, things happen. I mean Danny got hurt, Danny got hurt. I mean it’s nothing to that. I just got to, you know what I’m saying, put our cards right and keep on timing about the things that we’re doing and keep a watch on our preparation and our preparation is great; and we just took a little bit of time off and came back at the right time, just stay sharp in gym. And April 27th it’s going to be an explosive night.
Q
How is that, how long did you actually take off, like while he was recovering from the injury, because the fight was postponed for a month and a half? Did you take off a couple days, a month, a week, whatever?
Judah
I’m in that work zone again, you know what I mean, so I would take off days here and there, you know what I mean, so I don’t know exactly. I know I didn’t take off no straight day, you know what I’m saying? I kept it moving and kept-even if I was just doing conditioning, playing basketball or whatever it was, I was doing something.
Q
When Danny first got hurt and the fight was announced that it was postponed, you had made some comments, I think it was you made some comments that that you didn’t believe that he was injured and that maybe he wasn’t in shape and there was some talk that maybe he’d been seen out partying in Philadelphia leading up to the fight, celebrating the last victory against Morales and maybe not taking you that seriously; and that was the reason why the fight got postponed. Is that still your opinion or do you believe that Danny got injured and, like you said, stuff happens in boxing?
Judah
I mean my opinion is my opinion; you know what I’m saying? I mean what has to happen, you know what I mean? I don’t really know, but Danny has got one story. We got another story, but Danny is a fighter, so Danny-who am I to say what really happened to him? I can’t judge that, man. I mean April 27th we’re going to find out everything.
Q
Zab, you know you’ve been around. That’s an understatement. This is actually his I guess fourth or fifth champion that he’s fighting in a row and each time the guys he’s fought has pointed to his inexperience as something they would exploit. Out of all those guys, you are the most experienced and most accomplished that he will have fought. What will you bring to the ring that he hasn’t seen before?
Judah
I mean, everything, just me coming to the ring, period, you know what I’m saying, Lem? Just from him being in Brooklyn and … is something that he’s never seen before, you know what I mean? He’s going to experience things that he’s never seen. Like I said, he did open up the Barclays Center. He opened it up with me, you know what I’m saying, Lem? That’s my city. You know what I’m saying? I’m the king of that city and come April 27th we’re going to show it.
Q
When you fought Vernon Paris you seemed as though you were-I mean it was like ten years previous. I mean you really brought it and can you say what the difference between you that night and, say, you against Khan and you against maybe the latter half of the Matthysse fight, why were you so much on in that fight and can you be the same in this fight?
Judah
Yes, just that my whole focus is different, you know what I mean? When they told me I was going to Brooklyn against the undefeated fighter, like Vernon Paris, I was excited. See, people don’t understand. Fights and people don’t give me, it’s opportunity of things that gets me, you know what I’m saying? I’m saying with me having the opportunity of being the only and last man to unify a weight division, a junior welterweight, because of what the WBC rules are now, so to my understanding there will be no more undisputed champion of the world after this fight is done. So for me being that I did it at welterweight and I’ll come back and do it at 140 again, that’s going to be beautiful to me. So it’s the opportunity that excites me, not the people or the situation.
Q
Okay, Zab, thank you very much and good luck in the fight.
Danny, you already talked about your injury, and like I said before, each of the guys you fought, Campbell, Holt, Morales, …, Khan, they all pointed to your inexperience and your father countered that saying that they weren’t as good as they thought they were. What did you learn and how does it kind of, I guess does it motivate you when you hear that kind of talk? Does that bring out the best in you in those fights?
Garcia
I feel like the last fight … they say they had more experience than me; but I feel like none of that matters when I step into the ring, because that don’t matter when you’re getting hit. When you’re getting hit, it don’t matter how much experience you’ve got. Can you take the punch? That’s the only thing that matters. I’m in great shape. I feel like I’m in great shape, I’m focused and I’m doing the right thing. Nobody can beat me. The only person that can beat me is me and that’s like if I go in the ring not at 110% of shape and I’m focused, I’m ready to go; I feel strong and it’s going to be an epic night April 27th.
Q
Your last two knock-out victories over Khan and over Morales, was that a product of your improvement, or was that a focus? What do you attribute those to, because you’d fought Morales, gone the distance with him before, and then Khan was knocked out by you after having you lost to Peterson?
Garcia
I guess I would just say growing as a fighter and getting more confident, believing in yourself and that’s what I do. Every time I step into that ring, I don’t care who it is. I always know that I’m going to win the fight no matter if I’m the underdog or if I’m picked to win. I go in the ring with always knowing I’m a winner and that’s what I bring into the ring every time.
Q
My last question for you is, you know Zab is a great fighter. He’s been a champion five times and he’s fought great fighters. Do you respect his skills and also what does he bring to the ring that does in fact pose a challenge?
Garcia
No doubt you’ve got to respect anybody who puts on gloves. He’s the world champion. It’s not easy to become a world champion in this game, especially with the politics, so anybody who is a world champion you got to give him respect and you got to respect him as a man. I’m never going into the ring not respecting another fighter, because they got two hands just like you got two hands. So any fighter that tells you they don’t respect nobody going into the ring, that’s a lie, because if you don’t respect nobody you’re going to get knocked out underestimating them, so I respect every fighter. I don’t underestimate no fighter. I go into the fight 110% focused and ready and that’s what I’m gonna bring April 27th.
Q
But with Zab specifically, is he any different? He’s a southpaw, he’s also very skilled. Is he any different than the last four or five guys you fought?
Garcia
We’ll just have to see. We’ll have to see. Anything is easier said outside the ring than in the ring, everything that the story will be told April 27th. You can say you’re going to do this, you could say you’re going to do that. I can say he’s different, I can stay he’s faster. I can say he’s more experienced, but we won’t know till we step in the ring.
Q
Danny, what did you see in Zab’s fight with Amir Khan that he could bring up to this fight against you? When you fought Amir, you know how he’s a strong fighter, a quick fighter. What do you see in that fight?
Garcia
It was a good fight. I think speed was a problem for him and he couldn’t keep up with him, but this is a different style fighting. It’s a different style for this fight and it’s going to be an explosive fight.
Q
Zab, how about yourself? You fought Amir … before Danny. Do you use that as a benchmark to see what you can do or what should you do to defeat Danny when the fight comes?
Judah
No, no, I’m a whole different style, a different fighter than Amir Khan is, you know what I mean, so Amir Khan and Danny Garcia, they fight, you know what I mean? I think that means Danny is going to be a whole different type of fight than Amir Kahn and Danny Garcia.
Q
Danny, Zab spoke about the importance for him fighting in Brooklyn in his hometown. There’s a big Hispanic community in New York also. You’re from next door, from Philly. How important is it to you to fight in a big venue like that where you fought Eric Morales in the rematch?
Garcia
I’m happy. I’m very excited because I’m happy that I’m bringing a big fight back to the east coast and a lot of people on the east coast they’re missing out on boxing, because there hasn’t been a lot of big championship fights. So just bringing a big fight back to the east coast for the Puerto Rican fans, the Philadelphia fans, the Brooklyn fans, all the fans in the east coast, that means the world to me, because we’re bringing boxing back in the east today.
Q
Finally, Zab, you’re a multi-new world champion. You’ve been on the top. You know how difficult it can be. You know the pressure that comes from … champion. How do you see that as an advantage for you against a young fighter who’s facing for the first time the superstardom where you’ve been before? Could that be a detriment for him and affect his focus?
Judah
No. I’m preparing for the best of Danny Garcia that can ever be. You know what I’m saying? When I train, you got to understand, I don’t train for a regular Danny Garcia. I train for like my own fight with oh Mike Tyson or somebody … Mohammed Ali. This is who I’m preparing for, you know what I’m saying; so when you prepare and get your mindset at a thing like this, you run into nothing but flying colors. You know what I mean? I mean I’m pretty sure Danny is going to come in there; he’ll come in there swinging his hooks. He’ll start with his right hand and he’s going to come in there doing what he’s got to do. You know what I’m saying? And just super going to be ready. But like I said, this is why the fans, to come on out, get your tickets or tune in live at the TV, get your popcorn and sit down and let’s watch this process.
Q
Hello, Danny. How does it feel for people to question the legitimacy of the injury after it happened?
Garcia
Any time something happens, there’s always going to be a controversy, but I can’t do nothing else to prove it but get ready for April 27th and fight. That’s behind me. I’m looking at the future and now that’s the past and the future is April 27th. I know … everything is going great, no injuries, no nothing and it’s going to be a great night.
Q
Zab, my first question is to you. Pretty much I mean you’re known worldwide. You fought many fighters. Looking at Danny, do you see anything any different in him, or is it just like another boxer?
Judah
No, I mean Danny really you respect him as a champion. You respect the skills that he’s bringing to the table. He has youth on his side. He’s a young fighter, he’s coming in. He’s very excited to be in this position and you know what I’m saying? We know Danny Garcia is going to come in and fight hard, you know what I mean; so you got to take that and just prepare for it. The old man showed you what to do, and that’s …. He showed you what … how to go in there and annihilate these young boys, you know what I mean, and you just got to follow the game plan and follow through. That’s it.
Q
Can you talk to me a little bit about your training process, how have you prepared for this fight?
Judah
The training has been phenomenal, you know what I’m saying? It’s kind of funny; I went to three different training camps. I was supposed to fight Lamar Peterson first, then the first Garcia fight and then now the second training camp, so it allowed me to get a lot in, you know what I’m saying, a lot of good sparring and a lot of good training, and sharpening up my skills. I think as I sit here today I’m really sharp right now and I’m 100% ready and focused and I’m ready to go 12 rounds. Let’s get it on. I just can’t wait now.
Q
You also have elaborated how Brooklyn is your hometown and it’s home field advantage, I guess, something very important for you. Can you elaborate on how important it is fighting in Brooklyn for you?
Judah
It’s somewhat like a basketball game or a sport games or a football game. When you’re home you got the fans behind you, cheering. You got the momentum, you’ve got the energy. You know what I mean? It’s going to be a lot of energy in that building that night and you know what I’m saying. I think most of it is, I think most of it and all of it is going to be on my side, you know what I’m saying, but that’s why I want to fight, you know what I’m saying? … is going there, and showing your skills.
One thing overall, when people say you’re Zab, …, people say Zab wasn’t in condition. Nobody has ever questioned my skill level as a fighter; you know what I’m saying? Everybody said if that Zab Judah we know get in shape and come in there fully prepared and focused 100% like he should, there’s nobody on this planet that can beat him. And I think April is going to show, you know what I’m saying? Like I said, it’s nothing personal against Danny Garcia. It could have been any other fighter in this position. Danny is the champion, and boxing you go for the championship, you know what I’m saying? He got the championship and we’re going to take it. That’s it, you know what I mean? There’s no hard feelings. You know what I’m saying?
Q
And Danny, first of all, I know you don’t speak Spanish. I know every time I’ve interviewed you, it’s always been through your dad, but if you could just tell me first of all, how are you doing after your injury? How are you feeling right now?
Garcia
I’m doing great. I’m 110 percent ready and I’m training hard and we’re four weeks out to the fight. I feel good and I’m ready to go.
Q
What do you want the fans to know from Philadelphia, what do you want everyone, the Latinos, the community here in the southeastern Pennsylvania and around the world pretty much, what do you want everyone to know about your fight coming up?
Garcia
I want them to know, first of all, I want everybody to come out and … Philadelphia … there’s already a whole bunch of people I know that’s going out. I bump into people in traffic when I’m going to the store, anywhere I go, people tell me, hey, I’m going to the fight. I’m going to the fight; I already got my ticket, so already I know I got a lot of support coming from Philadelphia. I’m pretty sure I got fans in New York, the Spanish fans, the hip hop fans, whatever. I know they’re going to come out and they just want to win. It’s a great night and I know I’m going to have the support. I know I’m going to be ready and I know it’s going to be a good night.
Q
Danny. How is your training camp going and who are you sparring with?
Garcia
Training camp is going well. I’ve been sparring with a couple local guys, a couple local guys. I’ve got some new guys coming in today, so we’re doing good. You really don’t have to go that far for work and we live in Philadelphia, especially the everybody brings their best in the gym and everybody is tough in Philadelphia. Some of the best work is in Philadelphia and … We get new guys in today and we’re going to finish our camp with them and be ready for the fight.
Q
Zab, Danny, who are you sparring with to get ready for this fight?
Judah
I have a couple … same way, we got a couple of guys that we flew in and a couple guys from … California. We got a couple local Vegas guys here and you know.
Garcia
And training camp has been phenomenal. You know what I’m saying? As far as sparring, I mean I don’t have-I probably went through multiple trainings, I probably went through a total of ten guys already, you know what I’m saying? So a lot of guys don’t stay in camp long with me so they’re in and out, you know what I mean? Hey, we’re prepared and ready to go for April 27th.
Q
Hey, my first question is for Danny. Danny, Jose Soman made a statement about a month ago, and in the statement he said that you must either choose this organization’s belt, which is WBC, or relinquish your title. Have you made a decision on which belt you’re going to keep?
Garcia
To be honest with you, I don’t know nothing about that. I don’t worry about the policy side. My job is to train for the fight. I’m not worrying about what belt I got to keep going into the ring or the organization is going to restrict me or nothing like that. I’m pretty sure I got this far for this long. He knows how hard I work. He knows the dedication and the fact that … belt, so I’m just go into the ring and defend whatever title that I defend. I don’t really worry about the policy side of the thing and I just train.
Q
And your first training camp for the … fight, you had …, sorry, and he mentioned also in the media that your injury was actually a thumb injury and somehow the rib injury came out later. Can you explain that situation?
Garcia
Well, I guess when I was hurt he didn’t want to tell nobody it was a rib injury. I’m just thinking how he would think just in case I did keep-just in case I did go into the fight, he didn’t want nobody to know that I was probably injured on my rib. But other than that, I want to know why he would lie, but I don’t know.
Q
Okay. And Zab, the last time that you fought in Europe for 140 pound title against a Puerto Rican fighter, the outcome wasn’t so positive. What have you done now to change the outcome for this fight?
Judah
I prepared myself different for these fights. Back then, I was never-I mean I … train … for all those fights, you know I’m saying? But now my focus … is totally different.
Q
And you’re going to be in your hometown Brooklyn for this fight. For everyone in Brooklyn and for everybody in the world-
Judah
And for the record, I only lost to one Latino fighter, that was Cotto. The other ones that I fought I knocked out. Check the record.
Q
No, no, I know. I just said that the last time you fought a 140 pound fighter in New York, that’s what I said. My last question to you is what does it mean for you, what does it mean to Brooklyn for you to come out the victor in this fight?
Judah
It would mean a lot. We’re in Brooklyn; the city needs a great champion. It need somebody to stand up for the city, you know what I’m saying? That’s for my American fans and Latino fans. New York City is New York City is my city, you know what I’m saying, so I have a lot of Latino friends. I have a lot of African-American friends. I have a lot of friends, period. I have a lot of all kind of friends, races, it’s a lot of-I got everybody in my circle. I just think that it’s our problem again; you know what I’m saying? Brooklyn once reined in the early ’80s and the early ’90s with Mike Tyson and now Zab Judah is gonna come back in and take over again. This time we got an arena to represent it.
Q
Danny, you opened up the Barclays Center for boxing this past fall, and there’ll be a lot of fans from Philly making the trip to see you fight. Do you feel like you’ll be fighting at home come April 27th?
Garcia
Yes, definitely. It’s an east coast fight in the east. Philadelphia is right next to New York. There’s a great atmosphere. I think when I fought at the Barclays Center that was one of the best atmospheres I ever fought in. It’s a brand new arena. Everything was nice. The atmosphere was nice. The people are nice out there. I got a lot of love out there and they made me feel like I was at home and I’m looking forward to doing the same thing April 27th.
Q
Okay. Absolutely, it was historical. Okay, there have been some criticism over your last win over an aged Erik Morales, but Zab Judah is a resurrected fighter. Is there anything you feel you need to prove against a seasoned veteran like Zab?
Garcia
I feel like I have nothin’ to prove, I have to just go in the ring and I don’t worry about what nobody say about me; how I fight, the way I fight, fighting older guys and none of that. That’s not my job. My job is not to match make. My job is not to worry about what people think. My job is to train and get ready for a fight and give the fans of boxing a great performance no matter who is it against. That’s my job. And that’s what I’m going to bring into the ring April 27th, a great conditioned Garcia and he’s gonna go in there and do what he does best.
Q
That’s old school right there; I like that. Okay, not to look past Zab, but I know you saw the Rios/Alvarado fight this last weekend. You like to collect title belts these days. What are your thoughts on possibly facing either Rios or Alvarado in the future?
Garcia
As far … I know it was a good fight. It was a good fight for boxing. You don’t stop many fights, I mean they both like to fight and my focus is Zab Judah. Other than that, I really can’t talk about any other fighters. Congratulations to Mike Alvarado. He did his thing and now it’s time for me to do my thing.
Q
All right. Well, we look forward to seeing you do your thing on April 27th. Okay, next questions are for Zab. Zab, you fought in New York on a number of occasions. However, this is the first time you’ll be fighting in your home town, Brooklyn. Do you feel any additional pressure fighting at home for the first time?
Judah
It’s my second fight …
Q
Oh sorry, okay, I’m sorry about that. I didn’t know that was actually in Brooklyn. Okay, well, being that you’re going to be fighting in the Barclays Center for the first time, is there any additional pressure fighting there for the first time?
Judah
No, I think it’s going to be great because you get to have your peers finally get to come out and see me fight. A lot of people always was kind of upset because they could never ever get to come to my fight, because it was always in Vegas. All the big ones is in Vegas or other places. I’m saying now they get to take a train or a bus or drive right there and walk and come check out Super Judah, so I think it’s going to be a phenomenal atmosphere and it’s going to be great.
Q
You’ve been around for a long time despite being 35 years old. Do you feel your experience is going to be the key factor in this fight?
Judah
I just think that my mindset is different right now and I know it and I know certain things that I do and choose to do, you know what I’m saying? That my mindset is different. And people always say, the fans have said it for years, is that focus, nobody that can beat him. I think that finally I made it to that peak in life right now.
Q
And one last question, you resurrected your career many times over the years. You’ve stayed in top shape all these years and you still look like you’re in your mid 20s. What are some of the things you have done to help continue your legacy over these years?
Judah
Just hard work, you know what I’m saying? I’ve always been an athlete. Throughout the years, I’ve never been the type of fighter where I’ve never done nothing, I’ve just stopped doing other things, you know what I mean, so I’m always in good shape. I don’t know. Just stay focused. Understand since I was six years old, this is all that I’ve ever done in life; you know what I’m saying? Boxing has only been my only job ever and it’s a job that I love and I take pride in to it. It’s almost a gift and a curse. Sometimes we’re having talents and skills and that allowed me not to train as hard as I should have trained for certain fights, you know what I mean? And I paid the consequences on that. But at times when I did stepped in there and I did put 100% work in, it always came out with flying colors.
Q
Things got a little heated between you guys at your last press conference. How’s the postponement ease the temperaments of the any personal animosity that you guys had?
Judah
Oh no, never, this is all business; you know what I’m saying? Things like that happen. I think what … did was beautiful because it allowed the fans and everybody to take place and to bring the light to the situation; you know what I’m saying? It’s probably something that I needed just to light the candle and the fuse under myself and it was great for boxing. It was great for the sport. As far as animosity or somebody like having like somebody really want to be sad, I mean I’m saying my mother sleeps good at night. I’m pretty sure Danny’s mother does, too, so it’s not. There’s no beef.
Q
Danny, any hard feelings on your camp?
Garcia
I got feelings about this that … no. It was only for everybody to watch me and … fighting it … from the press conference to a great night in boxing and that’s entertainment …. Nobody wants to watch a boring press conference or a boring fight or nobody will watch it. Like I said, they didn’t know, now they know now.
Garcia
I want everybody to come out April 27th. It’s going to be a great night for the Philadelphia fans, the Brooklyn fans, the Puerto Rican fans. I’ll be on my A game and at the end of the fight and still champion of the world, Danny Garcia.
Judah
Yes, it’s going to be a great night of boxing. I just hope all the fans come out or be locked in by the TV if you’re not coming out. Brooklyn is back, keep God first. Anything is possible and … that’s it.
