Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and Golden Boy Promotions Chairman and CEO Oscar De La Hoya were joined by Joseph “Jojo” Diaz, Jr. (21-0, 12 KOs) and Jason “El Animal” Quigley (13-0, 10 KOs) yesterday at the Dallas Cowboys pre-season training camp to announce Diaz, Jr. and Quigley’s bouts for the undercard of Canelo Alvarez vs. Liam Smith.
On Sept. 17 for Mexican Independence Day weekend, former two-division world champion Canelo will face WBO Junior Middleweight World Champion Liam Smith at the Dallas Cowboy’s home AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas to be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m.
Below is what Jerry Jones, Oscar De La Hoya and the fighters had to say at the Dallas Cowboys pre-season training camp on Aug. 9:
OSCAR DE LA HOYA, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions:
“Canelo has opened up his training camp in San Diego. Now he begins to sharpen his tools, get his timing where he likes it to be, the sparring intensifies, he tightens up his footwork, defense and offense. Canelo is never, ever in a boring fight. He is one to take you apart and knock you and that is what he plans to do with Liam Smith. Liam Smith is going to come to the US wanting to take the title back with him to the UK. It’s going to be a battle one not to miss.
“I think this will be a fight fought in the center of the ring.”
JERRY JONES, Dallas Cowboys Owner, President and General Manager:
“When you have charisma and the ability to fight, that is rare and to me that is what is special. That is what will cause you to be a fan. That’s what it takes. I’m standing next to a guy who is probably represents the greatest combination of those two things [Oscar De La Hoya]. I like that about boxing, when it is the right combination.”
JOSEPH “JOJO” DIAZ, JR., NABF Featherweight Champion:
“This is a big step up and great opportunity for me to showcase my skills and what I’m truly about. I know that 126 lbs. is a stacked division but I want to showcase to everyone September 17 with all the 100,000 people that are going to be at the AT&T Stadium that I can be the next world champion at 126 lbs.
“I would like to fight any champion at my weight class. Hopefully I’ll become mandatory for the WBC so I can fight Gary Russell Jr. because I know he is the champion at WBC. But if not, if I become mandatory for any other world titles, I’m willing to fight anybody: Vasyl Lomachenko, Leo Santa Cruz, Carl Frampton, and Abner Mares. I’m willing to showcase that I can get in the ring with the best and beat the best.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity and will go out there to do what I do best.”
JASON “EL ANIMAL” QUIGLEY, Undefeated Middleweight Contender:
“I’m absolutely delighted to be on such an amazing card. To be fighting under Canelo again is going to be amazing also. To be fighting in Texas and at AT&T Stadium is a massive platform to show what I’ve got. I’m going to take full advantage of it and will be ready to shine on Sept. 17.”
