NEW YORK – July 10, 2025 – The heat of Ring Magazine III fight week rose on Thursday as former unified super middleweight title challenger Edgar “The Chosen One” Berlanga andformer WBC middleweight title challenger Hamzah Sheeraz as well asWBC Lightweight Champion Shakur Stevenson andWBC Interim lightweight titleholder William “El Camarón” Zepeda along with other fighters on the card took to the stage for the final press conference at the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square before fight night at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens, New York. The event will take place on Saturday, July 12, live worldwide exclusively on DAZN PPV (5 p.m. ET) and is brought to you in association with Oscar De La Hoya for Golden Boy Promotions. Tickets are still available for purchase by visiting ticketmaster.com.
In the double-main event, Berlanga (23-1, 18 KOs) and Sheeraz (21-0-1, 17 KOs) will meet in a 12-round WBC super middleweight final title eliminatorwhile Stevenson (23-0, 11 KOs) defends his WBC title against Zepeda (33-0, 27 KOs) over 12 rounds.
Hosted by Wade Plemons, Thursday’s press conference also saw the remaining fighters on Saturday’s card take to the microphone, including WBC Junior Welterweight Champion Alberto Puello (24-0 10 KOs), former IBF 140 lb beltholder Subriel Matias (22-2, 22 KOs), former WBA (Regular) Light Heavyweight Champion David Morrell (11-1, 9 KOs) and undefeated 2020 Olympian Iman Khataev (10-0, 9 KOs) before their bouts on Saturday. Japanese boxing prodigy and Ring Ambassador Reito Tsutsumi (1-0, 0 KOs), addressed the fans and media in attendance as well before he steps back into the ring.
Below is what the fighters and their teams had to say:
Edgar Berlanga
What are your thoughts on Saturday’s card?
“For Oscar to say we shouldn’t be the main event, New York City is my city. I was born and raised here and I’m a star here. It’s only right.”
What’s your reaction to your manager saying you’ll knock Hamzah out?
“You know I’m a king in the first round. I’m going to touch his jaw. He’s a giraffe”
What are your final thoughts heading into Saturday?
“I’m knocking him the f*** out. I’m locked in.”
Hamzah Sheeraz
What’s your reaction to Berlanga’s first round knockout prediction?
“In response to that clown [Berlanga] over there, he knows what’s coming.”
How do you keep your cool amid all the chaos?
“At the end of the day, I’m here to do a job. I’ve put in my work and I’m going to knock this sausage out.”
Do you see any fear or insecurity in Berlanga?
“Not really. This is me doing me. I’m just doing me.”
How does this new weight class fit you?
“It feels great. Saturday night I’ll show you what I’m about.”
What are your final thoughts and anticipation ahead of Saturday?
“I feel great. Myself and Andy (Lee) know what we’re going to do and we’ll do exactly that.”
Shakur Stevenson
Why is this your moment to shine and how will you remind people you’re one of the best boxers in the world?
“I’m here. I’ve been calling this dude out for three years. I heard Oscar ( De La Hoya) say they’ve been trying to get this fight for three years but they’re lying. They had an opportunity to fight me before, but they turned it down. Come Saturday night I’m coming to beat his a**. I’m coming to whoop his a** and I stand by that.”
What’s bringing your energy out for Saturday?
“Everyone’s acting like this guy’s a threat. That he’s a big monster, number one in everything…I want to see him on Saturday, that’s what I want to see.”
What are your final thoughts and prediction for Saturday?
“I’m locked in. I put in the work and Saturday night it’ll all take care of itself. Zepeda can bring whatever he wants, do whatever he has to do, but he’s going to bring out the best in me.”
William Zepeda
What’s your message to the fans ahead of Saturday?
“On Saturday, Mexico is going to celebrate a new champion.”
How do you think Shakur will fight you on Saturday?
“Shakur is going to bring his elusive style, but we have a fight plan in place to neutralize that. I think we’ve done a great job and it’ll be a good fight.”
Alberto Puello
What does a victory mean for you on Saturday?
“I’m in the best condition that I’ve ever been in in my career. It’s great to have another opponent with the caliber of Matias as a stepping stone in my career. I look forward to Saturday.”
What do you think Matias brings to the table on Saturday?
“I think the Boogeyman in this division is me because I have the title.”
On being able to take Matias’ power on the chin
“It’s just another one. I’ve faced opponents like him before.”
Subriel Matias
On Puello’s claim that he’s the Boogeyman
“I’m very grateful for this opportunity and I understand that I’m the challenger, but we’ll see what happens on saturday.”
What makes you different come Saturday?
“Everything is different. Everything will be determined on Saturday, but once he [Puello] feels the pressure on Saturday, we’ll see how he takes that power on his chin.”
David Morrell
What’s your mentality and thoughts ahead of Saturday?
“I think he’s a good fighter. I’m 100% for this fight and Saturday night is going to be my night.”
What’s it going to take to get the victory on Saturday?
“You’re going to get a chance to see the best version of me. Unfortunately I didn’t take the win in my last fight, but you’re going to see the best version of me on Saturday.”
Imam Khataev
What does Saturday mean to you?
“I’m ready. I had a good training camp in Canada, but I’m here now and I’m ready.”
What do you see in Morrell and how do you envision the fight playing out?
“I respect him. I look at him as any other opponent I’ve had. I’ve had big fights before and I’ve had a good camp. I’m ready.”
Reito Tsutsumi
How do you feel fighting in New York again?
“For the first fight I wasn’t able to give 100%. Now, I’m used to the New York crowd and scene, so this fight will definitely be better than the previous one.
How will this fight be different from your first?
“This will be my second fight and I’m still trying to figure out my style, but this time I’m definitely going to show the world and my fans what I can do.”
Rick Reeno, COO, Ring Magazine
“This is an unbelievable card…I have goosebumps just thinking about it. This card is unbelievable from top to bottom. You never see a bad [Subriel] Matias fight, he’s a can’t miss fighter and the same for David Morrell. [Imam] Khataev wants to make a statement and the winner will go onto much better things.”
“Shakur Stevenson – you can’t say enough about him. He’s right at the door and he’s either going to knock on it or break it down Saturday night. The one thing I’ve learned in this sport is you can’t overlook a Mexican fighter [Zepeda]. He knows the situation he’s in, being a big underdog. He wants to make a big statement this Saturday.”
“Sheeraz, it’s his first fight at 168, first one in the United States and he’s going up against the king of NY. Bombs away. Edgar [Berlanga] has told me he’s going for the kill from the first round and Hamzah feels confident he can take Edgar out. It’s one of those fights that the winner will go on to much greater things…maybe Canelo. We’ll have to wait and see.”
Oscar De La Hoya, Golden Boy Promotions
“We’re very excited for , and no disrespect to Sheeraz, what should be the main event. I think Shakur Stevenson is a great fighter, hands down. I have a lot of respect for him. I think, by far, Shakur is one of the greatest fighters today. But he’s facing William Zepeda, who is a machine. He’s wanted this fight for quite a while now, I think both fighters have wanted this fight for quite a while. I really feel that everything happens for a reason. This fight was supposed to happen several years or months ago, but the fact that William Zepeda is active, he keeps fighting, he keeps winning, he’s probably one of the most active fighters in the ring today, throwing over 1,000 punches over 12 rounds. It’s not going to be an easy fight. And I think that’s why this fight here, with William Zepeda and Shakur Stevenson, is a candidate for fight of the year already. That’s how good its going to be.”
Eddie Hearn, Matchroom Boxing
“This is a fantastic fight card. Boxing is in a great place and thank you to Turki Alalshikh for his investment and thank you to DAZN, the global home of boxing. His Excellency has done it again in Flushing Meadows. It’s refreshing to see a new venue.”
“Four standout fights. I think [David] Morrell against [Imam] Kataev is going to be one of the great 175lb matchups of recent years. [Alberto] Puello against [Subriel] Matias, a great world championship matchup. Then the two co-main events. I think this guy [Shakur] Stevenson should be an American superstar, but to show greatness you need the right dance partner in [William] Zepeda. You will see true greatness from Shakur Stevenson on Saturday night.”
“Hamzah [Sheeraz] against Edgar [Berlanga]. What a brilliant fight — two great fighters. Well done to His Excellency and DAZN as well. They’re putting on a schedule that’s unrivaled in boxing. It’s an honor to be involved in an incredible night.“
Frank Warren, Queensberry Promotions
“What a fabulous card at Louis Armstrong Stadium on Saturday. Fabulous fights all the way through. It’s a real tough fight [Berlanga vs. Sheeraz] for both of them, but I promise you’re going to see something special.”
“The undercard is just amazing. His Excellency has put together something phenomenal and if you’re a fight fan, you’re in fight heaven. It’s on DAZN – the capital of boxing around the world and you’re going to see something special on Saturday. We’re going to take this win back to the UK with us.”
Spencer Brown, Goldstar Promotions
“Wouldn’t it be funny if the king of Essex (Hamzah Sheeraz) became the king of NY? We’re very confident in this fight.”
Keith Connolly, Edgar Berlanga’s manager
“It’s a huge platform for Edgar. It’s a great fight as well. Four fights on this card with every one being a main event, but this is the type of platform and opponent that will turn Edgar into a superstar. If Edgar gets through this, there’s huge plans going forward. I’m guaranteeing a knock out Saturday.”
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