Premier Boxing Champions
Mexican star and former world champion Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz and reigning WBA Super Featherweight World Champion Lamont Roach went face-to-face Thursday at the final press conference before they meet for Cruz’s Interim WBC Super Lightweight Title this Saturday, December 6 headlining a PBC Pay-Per-View event available on Prime Video from Frost Bank Center in San Antonio.
The press conference also featured two-division world champion Stephen Fulton Jr., and WBC Super Featherweight World Champion O’Shaquie Foster, who meet for Foster’s title in the co-main event.
Also at Thursday’s event were WBA Middleweight World Champion Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara and hard-hitting challenger Johan Gonzalez, who meet in a 160-pound world title fight, plus rising Mexican star Jesus “Mono” Ramos Jr. and top contender Shane Mosley Jr., who kick off the pay-per-view at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT for the Interim WBC Middleweight Title.
Prior to the press conference for the pay-per-view, fighters competing in PBC on Prime Video action that precedes the pay-per-view faced off and previewed their respective matchups on a streaming presentation beginning at 5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT.
That action will feature Frank “The Ghost” Martin making his return to the ring against former two-division champion Rances Barthelemy in a 10-round super lightweight showdown, plus undefeated young Mexican star Isaac “La Bestia” Lucero duels hard-hitting Roberto Valenzuela Jr. in a 10-round all-Mexican 154-pound showdown and rising unbeaten super featherweight Luis “The Twist” Nunez faces Argentinian contender Hector Sosa in the 10-round opening bout.
In addition to the PPV being available for purchase on Prime Video, regardless of Prime membership, fans will also be able to continue to access the telecast through traditional cable and satellite outlets as well as PPV.com.
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The event is promoted by TGB Promotions, in association with MP Promotions, ProBox Promotions and BXSTRS.
Here is what the fighters had to say Thursday:
ISAAC “PITBULL” CRUZ
“I’m here in San Antonio ready to go. I can’t wait for the first bell to ring Saturday night.
“He’s in trouble too. He might have his hands tied. It’s gonna be a great night, we’re gonna make sure of it.
“I could have never imagined five years ago when I was fighting in San Antonio that I’d be here now, but this is the fruits of my hard work. I want to keep progressing and evolving and doing big things.
“I know what my fans expect of me, and I’ve done everything I could in training camp to deliver on Saturday night.
“I hope he doesn’t run. It’s all about the fans and they want to see us go toe-to-toe. I’ll be ready to go for as long as he’s able to withstand the pressure.
“It’s all about being focused, smart and winning round after round.”
LAMONT ROACH
“I’m just excited to show off my skills. Nothing’s changed. We’re here to boogie. Let’s go Saturday night.
“I pride myself on how I came along in this professional journey. We all worked hard and we all got up to this stage.
“Everybody knows I like to throw. There’s gonna be some moments where the cameras better be ready. He’s throwing missiles in there and I’m gonna throw them back.
“We know what kind of fight Pitbull will bring, but we’ll be ready for everything. Anyone who’s watched me knows that I can adapt to anything.
“When I took that bump in the road, I looked at myself outside of my body and asked if this is where I wanted to be. I counted my chickens before they hatched. I definitely thought I had it in the bag in that first world title fight. That’s something that I never wanted to feel ever again in my life.”
STEPHEN FULTON JR.
“I’m just ready at this point to become a three-division world champion. I’m gonna get it done.
“I go after champions, no matter who. It coulda been somebody else. I go after champions. That’s what I do.
“I carry the banner for Philly my whole career. Look where we’re at going for my third division title. I’m gonna carry that banner the whole way.
“This is just another day, another dollar, another fight. Everybody up here took a hard road. We’re all just trying to be world champions.
“My road has prepared me well. We all go through things that push us to the next level. That’s led me to where I am now. It’s made me a better person, a better man and a better fighter.”
O’SHAQUIE FOSTER
“The time is here now. All the talking is done. I’m ready. Saturday night, there’s gonna be a man down.
“I’m ready all the way around. I feel good. This is the best mood I’ve been in on fight week in a long time. I’ve been ready.
“I’m here for a reason. I feel like I came out of the woodwork a little different. I’m gonna keep showing it.
“Last time we were here we put on a great performance and I plan on repeating it. I feel like his journey was sweet compared to mine. I came from the bottom and I’ve been grinding ever since.
“I feel like they think that they see something, like I’m a weak link for something. I’m gonna go out there and show them that they made the wrong choice.”
ERISLANDY LARA
“All I have to say is that I’m ready for December 6. I can’t wait.
“It’s all about working hard in the gym, both mentally and physically. Those hard days in the gym are the secret to being where I am right now.
“I’m gonna do what I always do, show up and show out. The message to the rest of the division is that the champion is still here.”
JOHAN GONZALEZ
“I came here to win. This is absolutely the biggest fight of my career and I’m ready to take the world title. That’s my mission on Saturday night.
“Just like against Jarrett Hurd, I’m gonna go out there and show everyone what I’m made of. No matter what adversity I face.”
JESUS RAMOS JR.
“This is my first time in San Antonio and I can’t wait to put on a show for them on Saturday night. We’re ready to show our best.
“We used to watch his father all the time, so to be able to fight his son and win my first world title in front of a legend will mean a lot.
“It means a lot for my father and I to be here. We started out in the garage and now we’re here. We can make our dreams a reality. We’ve been enjoying it this whole camp and this whole fight week. It’s a big moment for me and my family.
“I’m going into this fight with the mindset of learning. Shane has a lot of experience that I can soak up and take with me to the next level, and it’ll elevate my game a whole lot.”
SHANE MOSLEY JR.
“This is the biggest fight of my career and the biggest fight of my life. I’m ready to show up and show out.
“I’m gonna be that guy. I have everything it takes to be the first guy to decisively beat Jesus Ramos Jr.
“My father has always influenced me and now I feel like it’s my moment to make him proud and prove him right.
“My dad won his first title with his dad in his corner and now I’m gonna win my first title with my dad in my corner.”
FRANK MARTIN
“I’m glad to be back. It’s been a minute, so I’m just excited. I’ve been working non-stop since my last fight. I’ve stayed active in the gym.
“I’ve got some new tricks in my bag that I’m ready to showcase and show everyone who I am as a fighter.
“I missed this a lot. I missed fighting. I want to fight for the fans and show them what I’ve been working on. I’m excited to be back against a game opponent. We know he’s got power and an awkward style, but we have answers.”
RANCES BARTHELEMY
“I’m super motivated because this is an opportunity to show off my skills against a top notch opponent. Frank is very talented, so I have to be at my best. But I’m more than ready to meet the challenge.
“You’re gonna see a hungry fighter that’s ready to come forward and step up to the challenge. You’re gonna see my power.”
ISAAC LUCERO
“I agree that this is gonna be a war. The best kind of war, a Mexican war. We’re gonna leave it all in the ring and I’m ready for any challenge that comes my way.
“I’m ready for what he’s bringing. When it’s time to figure out how to win the war, I’ll be more than prime to do so.
“I’m very proud to be seen as an up and coming star in Mexico. It makes me work even harder to show everyone what I’m capable of.”
ROBERTO VALENZUELA JR.
“I want to let the fans know that they can expect a great fight. It’s gonna be a war. It’s a can’t miss fight. I know that I’m gonna pull off the upset and give it my all.
“This is gonna be a war and I know I can win. This is gonna be two runaway trains going at each other. I’ve prepared to make sure I come out on top.
“I’m ready to shock the world and seize this opportunity that I’ve waited for my whole life. Winning this fight brings me one step closer to that goal.”
LUIS NUNEZ
“I’m really excited about this opportunity. I can assure you that I’m gonna be 100% ready when the bell rings.
“Bob Santos is an amazing trainer who has allowed me to grow my career in amazing ways.
“I’m not focused on my undefeated record at all, this is just another moment in my career that I’m ready to take advantage of.
HECTOR SOSA
“I’m very thankful to be on this stage. It’s a true dream come true. I’m gonna show my preparation and be ready to perform on Saturday.
“Argentina has a very rich history of fighters and I am a warm blooded fighter like them. I’ll be ready to seize it when the moment comes.”
