LOS ANGELES (July 9) - Former WBA Interim Super Lightweight Champion Mauricio "El Maestro" Herrera (21-5, 7 KOs) and top title contender "Hammerin'" Hank Lundy(25-4-1, 12 KOs) of Philadelphia hosted their final press conference in Los Angeles on Thursday, July 9 at the City Althetix Gym in The Golden Boy Building to discuss their upcoming 10-round showdown on Saturday, July 11 for the vacant NABF Super Lightweight Championship. Presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association withCES Boxing, Herrera vs. Lundy will possibly be the last boxing match held at the historicLos Angeles Memorial Sports Arena before it is demolished early 2016.
Also in attendance were the co-main event fighters Michael "The Artist" Perez and Luis Sanchez who will face off in 10-round lightweight battle for the vacant NABO title. Joseph "Jo Jo" Diaz, Jr. (16-0, 10 KOs) and Rene "Gemelo" Alvarado (22-4, 15 KOs) were also present to discuss their televised 10-round featherweight weight bout on HBO Latino ® Boxing.
Los Angeles based fan-favorite fighters, featured on the non- televised undercard, Nick Arce (3-0, 3 KOs), Jesus Ivan Delgado (5-0-1, 2 KOs) and Jason Quigley (6-0, 6 KOs) were also onsite joined by fellow Golden Boy Promotions fighter from Brooklyn, New York, Zachary "Zungry" Ochoa (11-0-, 5 KOs).
Christian "Chimpa" Gonzalez (10-0, 9 KOs), who attended the press conference and was set to face Jose Esquivel in a six-round super featherweight fight, had to cancel today due to illness, "due to unforeseen circumstances on my behalf I will not be fighting on Saturday. Unfortunately, I've had a fever for 3 days now. I tried very hard to save the fight, but I'm not at 100%. I'm bummed out, but my health comes first," said Christian Gonzalez.
Here is what the fighters, their promoters, and others had to say at the press conference in Los Angeles on July 9:
MAURICIO "EL MAESTRO" HERRERA, Former Interim WBA Super Lightweight World Champion:
"I want to thank Oscar and Golden Boy Promotions for the opportunity on July 11.
"I have been training very hard for this camp. We have been running hills, running in the sand, we did it all.
"Lundy is a tough fighter, we have both had tough careers. We have had it rough and this is the perfect fight for us. This fight will show who is hungrier, who has more heart.
"In Philly they know who I am, they know I beat the champion and they will know that I beat Hank Lundy.
"On July 11, Lundy will know who is the real monster is. Provodnikov couldn't drop me, Garcia couldn't drop me, Benavides couldn't drop me and Lundy will not take me down.
"I am going to come out as a champion on July 11."
"HAMMERING'" HANK LUNDY, Top Super Lightweight Title Contender:
"Thanks Golden Boy Promotions, CES and my manager for making this fight happen. This is going to be a good fight. This is what boxing needs, two hungry warriors ready to get in there to put on a show.
"This is the fight that everyone will want to tune into and watch the fourth of the July all over again. There will be fireworks on July 11.
"I live the life of a fighter: sacrifice, determination, it's all fair in the game of boxing.
"There is going to be hell to pay for, I'm coming for you [Herrera].
"Everywhere I go is my hometown, I always steal the show. Hammerin' Hank coming to a city or town near you. It's hammer time baby!"
OSCAR DE LA HOYA, Chairman & CEO of Golden Boy Promotions:
"Thanks for all the support, we have a special card for all the Angelenos. The fighters featured on this card are all talented, explosive fighters. This is a can't-miss event.
"We will kick off the celebration with a great Fan Fiesta for all the local fans. We will have autographs signings, a special Corona Sponsored beer garden, food trucks and much more.
"This event might be the last event at the arena, if you haven't witnessed a boxing event at the Los Angeles Sports Arena you should get your tickets now. The sports arena's first event was a boxing event and on July 11, we are paying homage to that great event.
"That is why they call him [Herrera] the People's Champion, the uncrowned champion, but that doesn't stop him from working hard. He is a professional and is prepared for war, to give fight fans a show on Saturday night.
"This card features some of the brightest stars in the sport, Joseph Diaz, Jr., Nick Arce, Christian Gonzalez. All of these fighters are Los Angeles based fighters with a lot of pride for their hometown."
JIMMY BURCHFIELD SR., President of CES Boxing:
"I wanted to thank everyone for giving us a big welcome; we have had a beautiful welcome. We work with a lot of promoters but no one is better than Golden Boy, the whole team is so great to work with and we want to continue to work together.
"HBO is a great network, thank you for the opportunity and thank you for the continual support to the sport.
"This is one of the best fight cards that I have seen, from top to bottom.
"Hank has fought everywhere, but the one thing about LA is that Hank had enough time to get ready for this fight. He is coming with two hammers, he is in the best shape ever andtomorrow he will get on that scale and be ready.
"Hank has been ready for this fight since June, Hank Lundy is a Philadelphia fighter, everyone knows what a Philadelphia fighter is.
"The Hammer Man is coming with two hammers to take the title home to Philadelphia."
MICHAEL "THE ARTIST" PEREZ, Lightweight Contender:
"I want to thank everyone for coming out and supporting this card. There is a lot of prospects, a lot of talent in this card.
"This card is going to bring fireworks to the Sports Arena on July 11, this will be our Fourth of July.
"Training camp has been going well, preparing myself mentally and physically for this fight. I promise to make a statement."
JOSEPH "JO JO" DIAZ JR., Featherweight Contender:
"I have had a great training camp and I am ready to fight Rene Alvarado, I know he is a very skilled fighter and he will bring out the best in me.
"I want to thank Golden Boy Promotions, and Oscar De La Hoya for giving me this opportunity. I am excited to be fighting in Los Angeles, in front of my friends and family."
RENE "GEMELO" ALVARADO, Former WBC Silver Featherweight Champion:
"I want to thank everyone for being here and showing their support, would like to thank God for the opportunity, Golden Boy Promotions who is my promoter for this fight. This victory is for Managua, Nicaragua."
TONY WALKER, Director, HBO Sports:
"Thank you for coming out. This is an exciting match up that will be well received by our subscribers.
"We're happy to work with GBP (Golden Boy Promotions) to bring this show to HBO Latino. It is going to be an exciting night of boxing and the fighters deserve attention."
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