WBC FEATHERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Gary Russell Jr. – 126 Pounds
Patrick Hyland – 126 Pounds
IBF JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Jose Pedraza – 129 Pounds
Stephen Smith – 129 Pounds
Here is what the fighters had to say Friday:
GARY RUSSELL JR.
(On how he feels)
“I feel good. I can eat, I can drink, I feel a lot better.”
(On what fans should expect tomorrow)
“The same as always. I’m just going to go in like a genuine gentleman, pushing with everything I have to the line.”
(On his prediction)
“Hopefully we can get this guy up out of here early with no ill intent, no injuries or anything like that. We’re not going in there looking for the knockout. If it happens, it happens.”
PATRICK HYLAND
(On how he’s feeling before the fight)
“I feel great. Nice and strong and I’m ready for tomorrow night.”
(On what his fans should expect tomorrow)
“Hey, I just want everyone to come follow me, have fun and be a part of me bringing the belt back to Ireland.”
JOSE PEDRAZA
(On how he feels after making weight)
“I feel good, really good, we made weight which was the most important thing for today. We’re happy and ready fight.”
(On what fans should expect)
“A grand fight. One more challenge that we will overcome. It will be a big challenge but we’ve done great work and I know we will come out on top.”
STEPHEN SMITH
(On how he felt after the weigh-in)
“You know, it’s always nice to get the weigh-in out of the way and now be fully focused on the fight. I’m feeling good.”
(On what fans should expect)
“A good fight. We’re two very competitive fighters. Two fighters who believe that the training has gone as well as possible. We will put everything on the line tomorrow night and we are very confident that I’ve got what it takes. I will do anything that it takes to win this fight and bring the world title back to the UK.”
# # #
Russell Jr. vs. Hyland, a 12-round bout for Russell’s Jr.’s WBC Featherweight Title taking place on Saturday, April 16 at the Fox Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Conn., is promoted by DiBella Entertainment. In the co-feature, Jose Pedraza and Stephen Smith will meet in a junior lightweight world title bout for the IBF belt. The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING doubleheader will air live on SHOWTIME (11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT) and will be available in Spanish via Secondary Audio Programming (SAP).
For more information, visit www.SHO.com/Sports, follow on Twitter @SHOSports, @MrGaryRussellJr, @PajPunisher, @Sniper_Pedraza, @SwiftySmith, @LouDiBella, @FoxwoodsCT and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports, and www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment.