This afternoon five fighters joined Main Events CEO Kathy Duva center stage to discuss Friday night’s fight on NBCSN Fight Night live from Resorts Casino and Hotel. Main event fighters Curtis “Showtime” Stevens and Patrick “The Machine” Majewski were joined by co-feature combatant Thabiso “The Rock” Mchunu.
Mchunu’s opponent Olanrewaju “God’s Power” Durodola was not present because weather complications delayed his flight. Undercard fighters Ilshat “The Sheriff” Khusnulgatin and Robert Acevedo also participated live via Ustream to discuss Friday night’s big event.
Patrick Majewski: “This is my shot in the middleweight division, to start existing in the middleweight division. Curtis Stevens is a known fighter. I’m not yet. To be known I have to pass through him. I am ready to get it on.”
Kathy Duva, Main Events CEO: “Curtis . . . proved in (the Gennady Golovkin) fight that he belongs in . . .the elite of the middleweight division. And he made it clear to us that he wanted to get back in the middleweight title picture as soon as possible. This one really should be a brawl.”
Curtis Stevens: “Come Friday it is my road to redemption. I just have to go in there and not think so much and let my hands go. Friday starts my way back to the top of the elite in the middleweight division.”
Kathy Duva, Main Events CEO, speaking of Mchunu – Durodola fight:
“This is the kind of fight that I am really proud of. We are going to be able to introduce this division to the boxing world and to the casual fans. I think everyone is going to be richer for it.”
“I think that the winner of this fight in particular, and maybe even the loser, are going to be factors in the cruiserweight division for a long time.”
Thabiso Mchunu: “I am ready to go. . .My opponent has quite a good record and I hope he is ready for what I am going to bring for him. I hope to put on a good show . . . on Friday night.”
PRESS CONFERENCE Q&A
Question for Patrick Majewski: Do you think that you are prepared for Curtis Stevens’ power?
Patrick: “I don’t think, I know! When I agreed to this fight I knew what he is capable of. I better be ready and I am feeling ready.”
Question for Curtis Stevens: Sometimes people historically have letdowns in a comeback fight. You just lost a big fight to Gennady Golovkin do you feel prepared to win this fight?
Curtis: “Well if I wasn’t prepared I wouldn’t have taken the fight. I just came off a loss so why would I want to lose again? I trained very hard. Like I said before I thought a little too much in my first title match. I overthought and not reacted so my job is no thinking just reacting.”
Question for Curtis Stevens: Do you think you should have picked an easier fight for your comeback fight?
Curtis: “Nothing is easy. Waking up in the morning isn’t easy. Walking out of my building isn’t easy. I didn’t sign up for nothing easy. I am a top elite middleweight and once again if I am going to be middleweight champion of the world so why not take an elite fighter on like Majewski. I am sure ready to be back where I am supposed to be.”
Question for Thabiso Mchunu: They say Durodola’s name is “God’s Power” how will you combat this power?
Thabiso: “Well I can also punch myself. Believe me I can punch harder than he can. I am a smart boxer and I believe in my boxing ability more than my power but I can also punch.”
