KEITH THURMAN VS. TIM TSZYU & ROLANDO ROMERO VS. ISAAC CRUZ LOS ANGELES PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
LOS ANGELES – January 31, 2024 – Fighters competing on the stacked inaugural four-fight PBC Pay-Per-View available on Prime Video went face to face Wednesday in Los Angeles at a press conference to preview their respective matchups before they step into the ring on Saturday, March 30 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The press conference featured two-time world champion Keith “One Time” Thurman and rising star and reigning world champion Tim Tszyu, who meet in the main event, plus 140-pound world champion Rolando “Rolly” Romero and Mexican star Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz, who battle in the co-main event.
Also appearing at Wednesday’s event was Cuban star and WBA Middleweight World Champion Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara, who defends his title against No. 1 rated mandatory challenger Michael Zerafa in a 12-round fight, and all-action super welterweight sensation Sebastian “The Towering Inferno” Fundora and top contender Serhii Bohachuk, who square off for the vacant WBC Super Welterweight World Championship in the pay-per-view opener at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
Pre-sale tickets are available TODAY, Wednesday, January 31 until 10 p.m. PT through AXS.com by using the code: PBC
Public on-sale begins TOMORROW, Thursday, February 1 at 10 a.m. PT with tickets available through AXS.com.
The event is promoted by TGB Promotions. The main event is promoted in association with No Limit Boxing.
Here is what the press conference participants had to say Wednesday from The Conga Room at L.A. Live:
KEITH THURMAN
“It’s been a long time coming. I’m looking forward to continuing my legacy with this fight March 30. Once again I get to kick off a major event. This is what boxing is all about. Action. World Class.
“He’s a slow-footed fighter with a Mexican style. I’ll meet him in the middle of the ring. He’s gonna go home crying.
“They say Tszyu comes from ‘down under’, well I am trying to put you under, mate. He might have watched the video on me, but he doesn’t know. He might have signed the contract, but he doesn’t know what he just did. Bitter for you, but sweet for me!
“Moving up in weight is just something that happens in boxing. I love the legacy at 147 pounds and I got what I could get out of that division.
“Every time I step into the ring, I’m living out my American dream. We all know the sacrifices we make, and those sacrifices make us who we are. They’re truly worth it. I’ve done a lot at 147 and I want to do great things at 154 pounds. You put me in the ring, and I’m gonna rise to the top.
“I’m just looking for great fights and great action. Tim Tszyu is filling that void right now and providing me with the fight I want. He’s trying to open up the gates to his new era, but it’s my job to close the door shut, right in his face.
“Nobody wants to shut the haters up like Keith Thurman. Get your tickets today and be in the building. It’s very simple, you’re gonna hear one sound only, and that’s boom, boom, boom.”
TIM TSZYU
“It’s an honor to be in this position. You only launch something like this once, and I want to launch it in spectacular fashion.
“I want him to bring this same energy to the fight, and not run around like a gazelle. Because I’m definitely knocking him out in under 12 rounds.
“I don’t care about the critics. I’m going to fight whoever I can. I’m John Wick and there’s a list of names that I’m trying to tick off. This is the takeover for me.
“My goal is for the Tszyu name to be the greatest boxing family that ever lived. We’ve made it this far and we’ll see how far we can go.
“I know what Keith is and I know what he’s done, but I think the time is done for him. Now it’s a different era and it’s the ‘Tim Tszyu Era’. I’m not just planning to beat Keith Thurman, I’m planning to make this a spectacle.
“It’s a blessing to be here. It’s been a long time in the process for me. As soon as my fight finished against Brian Mendoza, I needed the next one. It was months in the making and now we’ve got a great opponent in Keith Thurman. I was like a kid getting a present from Santa Claus when they told me this fight was made.
“I know what I possess and what I’m gonna bring. There aren’t any old-school fighters like me anymore. I’m willing to fight anyone and I do damage when I’m in the ring.”
ROLANDO ROMERO
“To be the first superstar on Prime Video, I have to knock Cruz out. That’s it. Has to be a knockout.
“Odds are just statistics and they’re making him the favorite because he’s had more wins since fighting Gervonta Davis than I have. I’ve been an underdog before and I’m gonna keep betting on ‘Rolly’.
“The other fighters at 140 pounds are irrelevant. I’m only focused on being a part of this huge show with a huge platform.
“I’m used to being in this position. I carried the promotion for my fight against Gervonta Davis. So this is nothing new to me.
“Chihuahua, poodle, I don’t know he kinda looks like a little fat pug right now. That’s self-explanatory. Tune into the fight March 30.”
ISAAC CRUZ
“I’ll let him talk right now, because he’s gonna be the one crying like a chihuahua when the fight is over.
“My goal is to shut ‘Rolly’ up and show the world that I am a true Mexican world champion. I’m bringing that belt back home.
“I’m thankful to everyone for making this fight possible. I can’t wait to put on a show in the ring on March 30.
“We’ve kept working time after time and fight after fight. That’s how we earned another world title opportunity.
“I feel like I’m ready for this challenge. I’m a proud Mexican fighter and I’m going to show what I can do on March 30.
“I’m dedicating this fight to my kids. This fight is all about my family. I’ve only gotten to where I am thanks to them and their support.
“I want the fans to be the true winners on this night. That’s why I want to go take the belt from ‘Rolly’ and give the fans what they want.”
ERISLANDY LARA
“I promise that I’m going to be ready for Zerafa and that everyone tuning in is going to see a great fight.
“I’m going to put pressure on my opponent. I’m coming full-throttle. The fans can expect me to make this a very difficult night for Zerafa. I’m trying to knock him out.
“I feel good and I feel strong. I don’t think I need to prove anything. I just have to showcase who I am. I don’t think I’m going to have much trouble showing that.
“I’ve gained so much experience in this sport and that’s allowed me to pick the right times to go for knockouts. Lately that’s what I’ve been able to get done.
“I know that I’ve got a young opponent in front of me who’s going to give it everything he has to win the world title. But I’ve got a lot to offer to stop him and you’re going to see it on March 30.
“I’m very comfortable training and living in Las Vegas and I know that’s going to help me be at my best when the bell rings.”
SEBASTIAN FUNDORA
“Last time I came out I took my first loss, but we’ve been training hard waiting for this moment. I’m ready to do whatever I have to do to win this world title. Serhii and I know each other and I know we’re both here to give the fans a great fight.
“I don’t think I necessarily learned anything from the loss, but it was a reminder that you can’t mess around. I fell asleep for a second and I paid for it. I’ve had a year to regroup and now I have this opportunity to fight for this title. We’re gonna show up.
“Everyone that I fight is a big hitter. I only fight the best of the division. I’ll fight Tim Tszyu next. I want to be the best 154 in the world.
“Everybody keeps telling me there’s never been a brother and sister duo to be world champion at the same time. So if my and [IBF Flyweight World Champion] Gabriela can do it, it’d really be historic.”
SERHII BOHACHUK
“I have experience sparring Fundora and I know that this is a serious fight. This is the biggest fight of my career.
“This is my first title fight and it’s the fight of my life. I’m giving 100 percent. I know that I have to be my best. I’m going to be ready.
“I’ve learned a lot from mistakes that I might have made in past fights. It all makes me a better fighter today. That’s what I’ll bring into this fight.
“I’m going to show my fans and the whole boxing world a very strong performance when we get into the ring on March 30.”
TOM BROWN, President of TGB Promotions
“We’ll be detailing the 2024 schedule in the coming weeks and we look forward to bringing the biggest and best fights to an extended audience with Prime Video.
“Keith is the former unified welterweight world champion and his only loss was a split decision to the legendary Manny Pacquiao. Although Keith is moving up in weight, Keith’s a big man and his whole amateur career was at 152 pounds.
“Tim Tszyu is a reigning, undefeated champion whose dream is about to come true when he headlines this massive pay-per-view event. I was there in 1995 when his father made his Las Vegas debut and won his first world title, and now Tim is a rising star who’s getting better and better with each fight. The winner of this main event will be considered the best 154 pounder in the world.
“They call this a co-main event, but you can take the word ‘co’ out of this fight. This is a main event in its own right with ‘Rolly’ defending his world title against the all-action Isaac Cruz.”
“We also have Erislandy Lara, the oldest reigning world champion, defending his title against his mandatory challenger Michael Zerafa, and then in the opening fight Sebastian Fundora against Serhii Bohachuk has ‘Fight Of The Year’ written all over it. You won’t want to miss any of this card and I look forward to seeing everyone here.”
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