For the championship triple-header airing live tonight on Showtime:
Paulie Malignaggi
“It’s gotten a little bit crazy, we’ll admit that. I can take some of the blame, but I can’t take all of it. I can only apologize for my end, but at the end of the day, this is how the creation of Adrien Broner happened, in my opinion. They put everything that’s wrong with boxing in one room, did everything that’s wrong with boxing in that room and gave birth to Adrien Broner and you people are eating it up.
“I don’t have to admit anything on Saturday night. I’ll admit he’s a talented fighter now, but there’s a lot more than talent that it takes to get to the top. I’ve been in gyms across the country, across the world and you see talented fighters all the time that don’t make it, just hanging out in the gym, working out. They just don’t get those breaks, so it isn’t about talent. A little bit of the package is talent and he’s got that part of the package; I’m not going to lie to you.
“Did anybody notice he was here a half hour before the press conference and then pretended he was late? Then he shows up an hour into the press conference trying to show up fashionably late. Stop trying so hard, bro. Just do what you have to do. You’re being a clown.
“Mr. Schaefer talked about detours and how some fighters have to take detours and others don’t. It all depends on the matchmaking. It all depends on who’s got your back. Mr. Al Haymon has taken good care of Adrien Broner and that’s why he is where he is now. There are a lot more talented fighters than Adrien Broner that don’t get the credit they deserve. I’m not saying he’s not talented, I’m just saying Al Haymon is responsible for this creation right here.
“There are detours that he hasn’t had to take. I was a talented prospect at one time too. You know what I was rewarded with my first title fight? Miguel Cotto. You know what his reward was for his first world title fight? Some guy Rodriguez, who I can’t even remember his name. OK? There’s a difference. We end up on detours because of the people that have our backs. Instead of praying to God every night he should pray to Al Haymon for making him the creation that he is.
“This guy is nothing and on Saturday night I’m going to prove how nothing he is.
[To Broner] “You remember in that locker room at Wild Card Gym a couple of years ago when you were getting ready to fight (Daniel) Ponce (de Leon) and we were in the locker room and your were all nervous about going the distance? You think I forgot that conversation you had with me? I had to explain to him how to go 10 rounds without mentally killing yourself. He gets to the fight and throws about 16 punches for 10 rounds and gets the decision. My man, you’re going 12 Saturday. I’m going to beat your ass.”
Adrien Broner
“I really didn’t come here to talk trash, we did enough of that. We’re two days out. It’s really fight time for me. It’s about business. I really wasn’t going to come up here, honestly. I really wasn’t going to come up here and talk, but that would have been disrespectful to my fans, even the ones who hate me. They’re still my fans because they want to see me lose, so I came up anyway.
“All I want to say is, I HAVE to put on a hell of a show on Saturday night. Like I said before, I’m not here to bad (mouth) Paulie. You’re a great champion, you’re a great Italian, I’m dead serious.
“I’ll be a three-time world champion on Saturday at the age of 23. With that being said, let Paulie talk his little BS. At the end of day, I’m knocking him the (expletive) out. He’s never been knocked out.
“I just say to you Paulie, who I know is a very good commentator, you asked a lot of questions about Adrien Broner. You said, ‘how is he in big fights? Can he punch? What’s going to happen when someone punches him back?’ I’m just asking you man to man if he comes in and proves this to you, as a great commentator make sure you tell the world how good this kid is. He’s not getting his accolades.
“I went from 120 to 135 pounds. I’m moving up to 147, two weight divisions, and that has not been done. I’m looking to make history and be the first current American three-time champion, so make sure you [Malignaggi] tell the public he is truly a good fighter.
“I’ll see you all on Saturday night. It’s going to be a hell of a fight…a hell of a fight.”
Johnathon Banks
“I want to thank K2 Promotions, SHOWTIME, Golden Boy Promotions and, once again, the respect, honor and the hard work of Team Mitchell. I definitely respect him as a fighter and his whole team.
“Saturday night is going to be a good night. It’s going to be a night of fireworks from the main event and I think the whole card. With all the talking that’s been done at the press conference, the telephone calls, the media workouts and all that stuff, I look forward to Saturday.
“This is what I do. This is my life. This is what I always have done and this is what I’m going to be doing.
“I want to thank my team, my coach, my cut man. I want to thank everybody for helping me prepare for the fight. We’ve had a good camp and we’re just looking forward to Saturday night.”
Seth Mitchell
“First and foremost, as always, I’d like to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for giving me strength to endure some trying times in my life. I want to thank SHOWTIME for giving me this opportunity. I’m very fortunate and very blessed considering what happened in the last fight to have this opportunity to redeem myself on this level.
“This sport is very unforgiving and I understand that. I want to thank my team, Andre Hunter, my trainer, Al Haymon, who’s my advisor and I want to thank Golden Boy Promotions for sticking behind me and giving me this opportunity.
“The first fight was a tough loss for me and it took me a little while to get over it, but I truly believe everything happens for a reason. We went back to the drawing board, we did a couple of things and I’m very excited about this rematch.
“I’m thankful that Johnathon Banks gave me this rematch. He’s a class act, but this Saturday we’re not going to be nice to each other in the ring. He’s well-prepared. I’m prepared. I’m just excited. I want to thank all my fans for continuing to stick behind me. Just know that I have truly learned from this loss. I don’t talk about it much because no matter what I say I have to go out and show it on Saturday.”
Sakio Bika
“Thank you to everyone at Barclays Center. I want to say thank you to God and thank you to my trainer, Kevin Cunningham, for putting me in this position. I’m very happy to be here.
“It’s going to be a very good fight on Saturday. If you don’t have your tickets, you need to go get some tickets. This fight with Marco is going to be very entertaining. I know he’s coming to fight and I’m coming to fight too. I’m very confident that I can win this belt.
“I want to thank you to my family back in Australia and my new baby girl. She’s going to be very happy to see me come home with the belt. I’m really sure I’m going to be a world champion on Saturday.
Marco Antonio Periban
“It’s a pleasure to be here. I want to thank all the people from Brooklyn for giving me the opportunity to come over here and fight. I’m here to put on a great fight, enjoy myself and win the world title.
“I want to dedicate this fight to a trainer of mine who passed away recently, Rudy Perez. Most of you in the boxing business know him as the great trainer of Marco Antonio Barrera.
“I look forward to seeing you all at this great event. It’s going to be a hell of a fight.”
