Ahead of boxing’s return to Riyadh this weekend for the star-studded four 12-round fight card, “The Ring IV: Night of the Champions”, David Benavidez and challenger, Anthony Yarde, along with Devin Haney and Brian Norman Jr., and other fighters on the card, made their grand arrivals today at Boulevard City in Saudi Arabia’s capital ahead of fight night at ANB Arena as part of Riyadh Season. The main event takes place on Saturday, November 22, live worldwide exclusively on DAZN PPV with main event ringwalks taking place at 9 p.m. ET.
Tuesday’s grand arrivals was headlined by the four fighters from the double-main event: Ring Magazine’s no. 2-ranked David Benavidez (30-0, 24 KOs) and Ring Magazine’s no. 4-ranked Anthony Yarde (27-3, 24 KOs) as the former looks to defend his WBC Light Heavyweight Title. In the second half of the co-main event, Brian Norman Jr. (28-0, 22 KOs) will put his WBO Welterweight Title on the line against former Undisputed Lightweight Champion and Former WBC Super Lightweight World Champion Devin Haney (32-0, 15 KOs).
Additionally, no. 9-ranked fighter Abdullah Mason (19-0, 17 KOs) and Sam Noakes (17-0, 15 KOs) made their grand arrivals before their lightweight clash for the vacant WBO Lightweight Title, while reigning and defending Ring Magazine champion and Unified WBC and WBO Super Flyweight Champion Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez (22-0, 15 KOs) and Ring Magazine’s no. 1-ranked Fernando Martinez (18-0, 9 KOs) also arrived ahead of their Super Flyweight contest for the WBA, WBC, WBO, & Ring Magazine Titles.
Encompassing Saturday night’s undercard, Vito Mielnicki Jr. (21-1, 12 KOs) and Samuel Nmomah (21-0, 5 KOs) made their entrances before a 10-round bout for the WBO Global and Vacant WBC Continental Americas Middleweight Championships. Additional undercard fights include: a 4-round Bantamweight contest between Barker Ssewanyana (1-1) and Juan Pérez Guerito who is making his professional debut; a 4-round Super Featherweight contest between Umesh Chavan (3-1) and Sultan Almohammed (1-0); a 6-round Super Featherweight featuring Jiaming Li (7-5, 4 KOs) and Mohammed Alakel (6-0, 1 KO), and a 6-round Super Middleweight fight pitting Pius Mpenda (11-4, 5 KOs) against Julio Porras Ruiz (13-0, 9 KOs).
Here is what the fighters had to say during their grand arrivals:
David Benavidez
On his impression being the defending champ and ready to fight in Riyadh
“I feel really good…really blessed. I’m really happy to be here in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. I’m happy to be able to perform in front of the beautiful people of Riyadh this Saturday. I have trained extremely hard for this fight. I’m very motivated, very excited, and I’m going to give everyone a great fight this Saturday night.”
On the type of explosiveness we can expect on Saturday night
“I have a lot to prove not only in this fight on Saturday night, but going forward for the rest of my career, too. I want to make a statement that I’m the best in the world and I want to be the greatest of my generation by the time I’m done. It starts with Anthony Yarde. I know he’s [Yarde] come in focused and prepared, but I’m ready to make it a war and I’m not leaving without a victory.”
On the long road that has led him here
“It’s been a long, long time. I’m coming up on 13 years pro, I’ve been boxing 25 years and I started when I was three years old. We knew eventually we’d be here at this moment, kept working extremely hard every year, and now we’re here.”
On how he feels and acclimatizing
“I feel good. I changed my sleeping schedule. I’m going to sleep at 7 or 8 a.m., so I feel like I should be good. This is why we’re World Champions, we have to adapt to anything that comes our way.”
On how his weight cut has been going
“This is probably the easiest weight cut I’ve had. I have three pounds left to lose. Right now I’m at 178 lbs, but it’s been the easiest weight cut of my career. It’s been one of the best camps of my career. I know Anthony Yarde is coming in really prepared, so I’m prepared as well.”
On the critics saying how power hasn’t carried over to the light heavyweight
“I know that’s not true. What I’ve done in this camp is gone back to the basics using footwork, using distance, using head movement. We’re not going to set up traps. These are bigger guys. So, me walking them down is not going to work like I did at 168 lbs. But for me, I know for a fact I can hurt these guys. Now I need to follow the game plan and work behind the jab, but I see opportunities of me hurting Anthony Yarde and I just have to follow the game plan.”
On if he think’s he going to get the knockout
“I’m not really too worried about the knockout, but what I will say is that I will dominate like I do in every fight. Like I said, I’m going to follow my game plan but I see a lot of opportunities hurting Anthony Yarde so I just have to follow that and when I see the opportunities, go for it.”
On if his goal is to bully his way into becoming the face of Mexican boxing and boxing as a whole
“That’s exactly the plan. I know the only way of doing that is getting the hard fights and I’m not shying away from them. I want [Artur] Beterbiev, I want [Dmitry] Bivol, I want [Gilberto] Ramirez, and maybe Jai Opetaia in the future. This is the only way to make a name for myself and that’s the only way to take those dates. I want to be the person that takes all the fights that the fans want to see. And this is exactly what we’re going to do.”
On if he is content staying at light heavyweight
“My main thing that I want to do is make the biggest fights happen so if there’s an opportunity that presents itself in the next fight, I’m going to take it.”
Anthony Yarde
On how he feels on this opportunity fighting for a title
“I feel fantastic. Glad to be here in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. I’m very happy.”
On what he goes through mentally taking on David Benavidez
“Mentally, I’ve already won. Coming from where I was and getting to this stage for the third time and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, I feel like I’ve already won. There’s no pressure on me. I’m an excellent fighter and with a bit more experience I can be the best in the division. I’m excited.”
Devin Haney
On why he took the challenge in Riyadh
“For this opportunity, for me to be champion again. For me to be here in Riyadh…this is a dream come true. I want to fight the best fighters in the world, and Brian Norman Jr. is the champion and I’m the challenger. This is not the first time for me, and this is not the second time for me. This will be my third time fighting a champion and I look forward to it.”
On his current weight (147 lbs) and if there will be a difference in his performance
“I look how I feel. Nice and healthy. I think the world will see much more of my natural and best self – what I am when I’m sparring. I feel as though I’ve been depleting myself most of my fights and hurting myself, making weight and leaving it all in the gym. It will show on November 22.”
On Brian Norman Jr.’s experience at 147 lbs and how he’ll deal with it
“He’s a hard puncher and a good fighter. I have nothing but respect for him and his team and I thank them for the opportunity. I look to go in the ring and be victorious. The world will see how I do it but you have to tune in on November 22.”
Brian Norman Jr.
On the words he had for Devin Haney
“We’re about that action boss. Come Saturday, we’re on that.”
On how this experience in Riyadh has been for him
“This is what I’m accustomed to and this is who I am. I’m the real definition of a World Champion. I’ll go anywhere and everywhere and I will stamp my flag. My name is ‘the assassin’ for a reason. Once I sign the contract it’s like that.”
On the video he made Saturday and the promise he made to Devin Haney
“Knock him out. Most definitely, I’m not trying to go 12 rounds. I don’t trust no judges at all. God gave me the power to judge myself so I’m going to go out there and use it.”
Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez
On his “Texas Massacre” shirt and if that’s a precursor for what will happen on Saturday night
“Tune in on DAZN Saturday night and you’ll see.”
On Fernando Martinez talking about his legacy and what it means to him
“It is what it is. He [Martinez] can feel however he wants to feel, but I’m here to handle business myself and go home and enjoy my win.”
On how this experience is different fighting in Riyadh compared to San Antonio
“It’s been a little bit different just because of the time and schedule change, but I’m a fighter so I adjust to anything, that’s just the person I am. So, on November 22nd I’ll be ready for whatever they bring to the table.”
On if he’s getting tacos after the weigh in
“Maybe not tacos, but when I get back home to San Antonio I’ll have all the tacos I want.”
Fernando Martinez
On what was going through his head during his arrival
“I always do that pose because I have two tattoos on my arms: one represents my mother and the other my father who is no longer with us…he hasn’t been with us for ten years. I always do that pose to pay respect to them.”
On what it means coming from a long line of Argentinian fighters
“[Pointing to his shirt] You can see the names of the fighters on my shirt – these are Argentina’s favorite champions. I want to be one of them and be able to write my name in golden letters, be well-respected and make history in Argentina.”
Sam Noakes
On how it feels fighting for a vacant title
“It’s good. I’m happy to be out here fighting for a world title and what a place to be doing it.”
On how it feels to be part of Saturday night’s card
“I’m absolutely buzzing for it [his fight]. I can’t wait to get in there on Saturday.”
On what we can expect from him on Saturday night
“Fireworks. You’ll have to tune in and watch.”
Abdullah Mason
On how this experience in Riyadh has been for him
“It’s been amazing, it feels similar to my professional debut. It’s a little different for me to be out here, but we are locked in and we’ve been locked in since we got here. We have business ahead of us and we are going to handle business.”
How do you think these factors are going to be working in your favor on Saturday night
“It comes down to the preparation and I feel like I prepared really well. Saturday night we’re going to have a lot of fun and I appreciate everyone that has come out to watch me and everyone that’s tuning in. It’s an amazing card and I can’t wait.”
Mohammed Alakel
On how it feels to be back in Riyadh after his last fight in the US
“It’s good to be back fighting in Saudi Arabia…it’s one of my favorite places. I hope I can put on a good performance.”
On how it was working with trainer Abel Sanchez
“It’s been hard work, but hopefully I can show that it’s paid off come Saturday night.”
On what we can expect between now and Saturday night
“I’ve learned a lot. 10-rounds in my last fight, so I’ll show him what I’ve learned.”
