FIGHTERS ON THE “DANNY GARCIA VS. ROD SALKA” FIGHT CARD MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES AND PHOTOS
Photos Courtesy of Showtime/Amanda Kwok
BROOKLYN (Aug. 6, 2014) – Fight week is heating up as Danny “Swift” Garcia, “Lightning” Rod Salka, Lamont Peterson, Edgar “El Camacho” Santana, Daniel “Miracle Man” Jacobs, Jarrod “Left Jab” Fletcher and undercard fighters hosted a media workout at Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn, N.Y., today as they prepare for their bouts this Saturday, Aug. 9 at Barclays Center live on SHOWTIME®.
The fighters put on their gear and showed off their skills in the ring after speaking to the assembled media members at Gleason’s Gym. Here is what the participants had to say:
DANNY GARCIA, Unified Super Lightweight World Champion
“It feels great to be here. I love the atmosphere in Brooklyn and I can’t wait for Saturday night. I’m calling it the ‘Danny Garcia Show.’ Team Garcia is going to ‘purge’ Barclays Center.
“I’m 100 percent focused this time. My weight is good and I’m going to do what I’m supposed to do.
“I don’t know why Salka is being underestimated by fans. At the end of the day the fans can think what they want to think, but I know what I bring to the table. I bring excitement. I bring fun and I’m going to get the job done.
“Salka is going to give it his all, it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity for him to fight one of the young stars in boxing. He has nothing to lose. I’m going to have to hunt him down and rip the body, but I’m prepared for anything.
“I’ve been facing top competitors for a long time, but sometimes you get a little over your head. I didn’t prepare myself as well as I should have mentally in Puerto Rico. All the people in Puerto Rico were great, but it was a little hard to stay focused. Every fight can’t be easy.
“Puerto Rico was a great experience, but I’m happy to be fighting near my home. I love fighting here. There’s something about this atmosphere here that motivates me. They support not only the Puerto Ricans but I have all kinds of crowds behind me at Barclays Center.”
ROD SALKA, Super Lightweight Contender
“I’d have laughed with you if you told me six months ago I’d have this fight. But a lot of things happen over time in boxing and that’s one of the beautiful things about it. You win some fights and catch a couple breaks and the opportunities open up.
“My style is going to be the same against Danny as it always is. I am what I am. He’s going to be the bigger guy but that doesn’t make any difference to me. I’m going to do what I do and he’s going to have to adjust to that.
“I never listen to the outside noise. If confidence is a problem for you at this level, you’re not going to make it very far. I block all of that out and live in the moment and further my career.
“I’m going to beat the best 140-pounder in the world Saturday night, no doubt about it.
“You can’t be any more motivated than I am for this fight. I know I’m deserving of this shot and we’ll see what happens when we’re in the ring.
“I don’t think Garcia is underestimating me. I don’t think he would anyway, but especially after the (Mauricio) Herrera fight he even more feels like he has something to prove. I think I’m going to get the best Danny Garcia we’ve seen in a long time.
“I’ll watch all of my fights one hundred times because I can control what I’m doing right all the time, but he can change it up from last time. So I can’t put too much stock into his last fight.
“I’m going to shock the world by winning, winning decisively and proving that I belong. Not just for one night but that I belong for a very long time.”
LAMONT PETERSON, IBF Junior Welterweight World Champion
“I feel good right now, I just want to build on my last victory and keep going forward trying to improve every time out.
“I’m really excited to be fighting in New York and Barclays Center is a beautiful venue. Hopefully I’ll get a chance to make my mark there.
“Santana is an experienced fighter, he’s been doing it even longer than me and if he’s still in the game it means he’s doing something right. He’s a typical fighter and he can bang. I expect a good fight.
“There are ups and downs in the sport. The last loss was tough but I don’t get too down. Everything changed the last fight and hopefully we can build on that. I want to give the fans the fight they want to see.
“I just like doing things the right way. I’m an all-in type of person. If I do something I want to do it the right way all the way through.
“I treat every opponent the same way because I don’t listen to the media. Whether they say I’m going to win or going to lose, either way I have to go out there and prove what I can do. I listen to the coach and stick to the game plan and go from there.”
EDGAR SANTANA, Junior Welterweight Contender
“Right now I’m feeling great. All of the hard work is done. Right now it’s time to let the body recover and wait until it pays off on Saturday night.
“I know Peterson is good. He’s a champion. He likes to fight and he lets his pride take over.
“All I have to do is let my hands go. I’m in shape and I just have to make it a fight.”
DANIEL JACOBS, Middleweight Contender
“Being at home doesn’t give me motivation to go for a knockout, just to get the victory. We’ve had a long hard training camp (in the Poconos) and I’m just looking forward to displaying my skills. If I do get him hurt. I will get him out of there.
“Given that his name is ‘Left Jab’ Fletcher that’s probably his marquee attribute. I’m going to try to stabilize that as best I can to get the victory.
“Young fighters should have the opportunity like I have doing commentary for SHOWTIME, so that they could do something like this in the future. They’ve had me on several times and I look forward to doing it in the near future.
“You can expect bigger and better things after this fight. God-willing I’ll be the first cancer survivor to be a world champion and I’m looking forward to being the best that I can be.”
JARROD FLETCHER, Middleweight Contender
“It’s going to be a tough fight, he’s heavily favored so I know I have to win the fight clearly. Danny is a good boxer and he has the full package. We’ve prepared well and we think we’re ready for him.
“Every boxer has weaknesses. I’ve done everything in my preparation to work on those things. I expect him to come out hard, but who knows? No one knows what is going to happen but I know I’m ready.
“I’m hoping this will be the start of big things. This has been a dream of mine since I started fighting at the age of 10. This is what it all comes down to.”
SADAM ALI, Undefeated Welterweight & 2008 U.S. Olympian
“I’m ready to perform at Barclays Center. I’m not overlooking anybody and I’m prepared for the challenge. I do feel safe at Barclays Center. It’s my home, I get a lot of support there and it’s very important to me.
“I’m going to make the statement that I’m ready for the next level. I want to take that next step, I’m excited for it.
“There are a few things that (Jeremy) Bryan does that I’m working on. I’m working on adding more speed and power plus using my body a little more. It’s a big fight and I’m here to win.”
ANTHONY PETERSON, Lightweight Contender
“As a fighter, I’ve gotten more patient and I have a better grip of my emotions now. You can have all of the tools but if you don’t have the emotions to hold everything together, what good are you?
“Being around boxing for 20 years, there’s a comfort level you reach. There’s nothing the boxing ring can show me.
“It doesn’t matter that I don’t know much about my opponent, it just matters that I know the game. He’s not going to be 10 feet tall and 1,300 pounds. He’s going to be my size, he’s got a heartbeat so we got a fight.
“It’s easy to make adjustments because I have better speed and I’m younger and fresher. I’ve got a great coach, so if I’m falling off I know he’s going to be there to tell me what I’m missing. Now it’s just getting ready for Saturday night.”
ZACHARY OCHOA, Undefeated Super Lightweight Prospect
“You can expect to see me doing what I have to do to get the win and putting on a show for everyone who comes out to support me at Barclays Center. It’s going to be a beautiful evening.
“I know (Luis) Cervantes has 17 fights, he’s a tough guy with more fights than me. I’m going to take my time and do my thing.
“If I see the opportunity to take him out with a knockout I will, but if it doesn’t come I’ll box and get the win.”
MARCUS BROWNE, Undefeated Light Heavyweight & 2012 U.S. Olympian
“I’m sharp as a razor blade, it’s been a great camp and we’ve gotten lots of great rounds in with Edwin Rodriguez.
“All I know about (Paul) Vazquez is he’s a man, he’s a righty and he’s coming to take my ‘O’.
“I’m going to go in there to have some fun. If the knockout comes, it comes.”
