DANNY GARCIA, ROD SALKA, LAMONT PETERSON, EDGAR SANTANA AND DANIEL JACOBS MEDIA CONFERENCE CALL TRANSCRIPT
Photo by Hogan Photos
Kelly Swanson
Thanks, everybody for joining us. We have five of the fighters participating on the Saturday, August 9 event at Barclays Center and SHOWTIME on the call with us today. That includes Danny Garcia, Rod Salka, Lamont Peterson, Edgar Santana and Daniel Jacobs.
We’re going to start the call with Daniel Jacobs and then move into Edgar Santana and Lamont Peterson and then wrap it up with Danny Garcia and Rod Salka. So, I’m going to turn it over now to Oscar De La Hoya, president and founder of Golden Boy Promotions to make the introductions.
Oscar De La Hoya
Thank you very much, Kelly. Yes, we are very excited. We are getting closer to the great night of fights that we will be having at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. As you know the main event is Danny Garcia vs. Rod Salka, which will be a 10-round welterweight fight. The co-main event, Lamont Peterson vs. Edgar Santana will be a 12-round bout for Peterson’s IBF Junior Welterweight World Championship.
The fight we’ll be talking about now is Daniel Jacobs vs. Jarrod Fletcher. That will be a 12-rounder for the WBA Middleweight World Title. We are happy to be in association with DiBella Entertainment. We are also happy to announce that Daniel Jacobs vs. Jarrod Fletcher is being promoted in association with Greg Cohen Promotions.
Thank you very much to our sponsors Corona and AT&T. There are tickets still available. We priced them very reasonably because we know that having a packed house at the Barclays Center, there’s no experience like it when you hear the thunderous crowd going wild watching the great fights that we’ve had in the past and is no exception.
Prices start at $25 and we work our way up for ringside seats at $250. I would like to thank everyone for making this possible, Showtime, to all the sponsors and all the participants. The first gentleman that I will be introducing to you, to the media, they call him the “Miracle Man” and the “Miracle Man” for a reason.
He is from Brooklyn, New York. We all know him for his dazzling footwork plus his speed and combinations. He has a tremendous record of 27-1 and 24 KOs. He is, perhaps, one of the most inspirational figures, not only in boxing, but in any sport today. He’s really excited to be fighting for a world title in Brooklyn, his hometown. We feel excited about showcasing once again.
Daniel Jacobs
Hey, guys, how are you? All is well. I’m very excited. This is an opportunity of a lifetime for me, being back at after another tremendous knockout and I plan to continue that streak. Although I’m not predicting a knockout I do believe I’ll be able to get the victory on fight night and it’s going to exciting. I’m very excited.
O. De La Hoya
Thank you very much, Daniel. And we can now open it up for questions from the media, thank you.
Q
Could you ever have imagined that you’d be in a position like you’ll be next Saturday to not only fight in your hometown arena, but also to get in the ring and challenge for a belt?
D. Jacobs
Absolutely not. That was the furthest thing in my mind. I had hopes and aspirations of one day again being able to get back to the ring at the Barclays Center. Once I found out that the Barclays Center would have a fight, that was my biggest drive and my biggest motivation was to just participate there in that first event, that inaugural event.
But to have this opportunity to have a world championship a year and a half, two years later I never would have thought this would be possible, let alone to happen in my backyard. To be able to perform in front of my fans and my family who have been there during my struggles, this is an opportunity of a lifetime. Seriously, I really can’t wait for fight night. It’s going to be like a dream come true for me.
Q
Do you think that you and members of your family are going to be able to contain the emotion after everything that you have been through in the last couple of years?
D. Jacobs
Absolutely not. I think about it all the time. I envision melf with my hand being raised and, of course, your vision is the announcer saying, “And the new…” I get emotional just thinking about it. So, for me that night and for my family, that will be a night to remember if we have our hand raised in victory. And it will be historical. I never would have dreamed of this opportunity to have in the fight for the WBA Championship in my backyard. This is truly an honor.
Q
What’s the difference between the Daniel Jacobs that perhaps was a little green to be fighting in your previous championship opportunity compared to the Daniel Jacobs of today who, even though you were ill and gone through a lot physically, to be on track to get in the fight next Saturday?
D. Jacobs
Well, I think I’m a lot wiser in how I train and how I conduct my training camp and the fact that I had to alter my diet for the cancer allowed me to have a healthier body and healthier lifestyle to be able to maintain a good training camp and maintain a good body to be able to perform at an elite level.
At that time I wouldn’t say I took it for granted, but I don’t think I had the best training for that particular fight. I’m a lot wiser, I’m a lot stronger and my mental state is at an all-time high, especially going through what I’ve gone through I feel like I’m not invincible, but I also feel like the only person that could stop me inside that ring is myself.
Q
Do you have any thoughts or opinions about the fact that whoever wins the fight next Saturday is going to get handed a belt that another guy really has a claim to and that basically you’re the secondary champion of that particular organization or does that not make a difference because they’re giving you a title?
D. Jacobs
It doesn’t matter to me. I mean, a champion is a champion. A secondary champion or the first champion it doesn’t matter to me. I have an opportunity to fight for a world championship. It’s not my job to make the belt. It’s not my job to put myself in a position to fight for the belt. It’s just my job to really go in there and just be ready to fight whoever they put in front of me and whatever title we get, I’m very grateful for it.
Whether they call me a paper champion or a real champion, I am the champion because each and every time I go inside that ring I give it my all and that’s pretty much all I have to say about that.
Q
What do you know about Jarrod Fletcher and how do you deal with his style if you know anything about it?
D. Jacobs
Initially I really didn’t know too much about his style so I had to YouTube some of his fights to get a gist of how he fights and his movements and things of that nature. To me it seems as if he’s an in-and-out type of guy, his nickname is “Left Jab” and I can tell that he uses that a lot from looking at his fights.
I know he plans on boxing and moving and using the combinations and going the full 12 rounds come August 9. But for the most part, myself as a champion I feel like what a champion does is adjust to any style. I’ve had over 150 amateur fights and I fought all different types of styles from the national to international level, so I don’t think that there’s going to be anything in there that he could project that I haven’t seen thus far and if there is, it’s just my job and my duty to go ahead and adjust and do my best to get the victory.
Q
How much pressure is there for you from a personal standpoint to continue performing at Barclays Center and to look good given that you could be fighting a guy who could make the fight look ugly?
D. Jacobs
Well, I just have to be a superhero that night. I’ve trained and through my training we gave it our all and we always put it in the back of my mind that I have to be a superhero and that I have to perform at an elite level. So, that’s already instilled in my mind.
There’s no pressure, there’s not a lot of pressure for me to go out there and try to knock the guy out. I have the ability to box, I have the ability to move and I do have the ability also that if I hurt someone I can get the job done and get them out of there. So, I’m just looking forward to putting on a show, whether it’s a full 12 rounds of just hands flying, combinations, putting punches together or if it’s a devastating knockout, but I look forward to going in there and giving it my best and I believe my best will give me the victory.
Q
Are you a believer in destiny, that all things happen for a reason and that this is the real story that needs to be told in your career?
D. Jacobs
Absolutely. I’m a believer of that 100 percent. We have our own plans and we have our own goals set up for us, but it don’t roll out the way we see, but we just have to stick through it. And I do feel like everything that I’ve been through God is molding me to be all that I could be, possibly August 9, and that’s a world champion.
I do feel like that loss wasn’t in vain and I do feel like this is all molding me and setting me up to be a superhero come August 9 and further from there. So, it’s an opportunity of a lifetime and I look forward to taking full advantage of it.
Q
What are your thoughts on the possibility of fighting Golovkin in the immediate future?
D. Jacobs
I think it will be huge. But for me, how I look at it is I’ll just be the champ, I’ll just be being crowned champ, it’s an opportunity that I would love to have to fight him. I also think that he’s already a superstar and I think I want to have the opportunity to be a superstar myself. So, I think that if I can maybe get a couple of fights, maybe Peter Quillin or someone like that and then go up to Golovkin, that’s something that I would look forward to doing.
But initially right after the win, I mean, I’m not really in control of who I fight. But if I had it my way I would probably get me a couple of fights just to solidify that spot and to secure my name and be considered a superstar in the division and a big play in the division as well so we can go ahead and make the fight the way we both can get what we deserve for that particular fight.
Q
What did you think of Golovkin’s performance Saturday night?
D. Jacobs
I think his performance was great. I think what everyone else thinks. I think that the hype is real only in the sense that he’s doing what he’s supposed to do. Whether or not I believe in the hype, that’s a different story. I see flaws in his game, but his power is tremendous and Mike Tyson used to say you can have all the game plan in the world until you get hit and that changes your whole perspective.
You definitely have to be aware of his power, but I do see a whole lot of flaws in his game as far as his defense and his ability just to deflect and his ability to move his feet and being flat-footed. So, if there is a possibility that we can fight I’ll look forward to it.
Q
What do you know about Fletcher? What does he do well, especially for people who haven’t really seen much of him and what do you think of his ability?
D. Jacobs
I think the key thing that he does well is use his jab and he moves pretty good with his combinations. But he’s definitely something that I haven’t seen before and he’s going to try to box and use his movement.
O. De La Hoya
Once again, the co-main event, which we’re really excited about as we are with all the fights, Lamont Peterson vs. Edgar Santana, which will be 12 rounds for the IBF Junior Welterweight Championship. On the phone now he is from New York City, New York. He is unbeaten in eight of his last nine bouts and he is the current NABF Champion. Obviously, he’ll be getting his long awaited shot at a world title.
He does hold wins over Josesito Lopez, who is a very tough champion contender. He also holds wins over Grover Wiley and Luis Hernandez. So, let me introduce to you now, who will be fighting for a world title against Lamont Peterson on August 9, a gentleman they call “El Chamaco” from New York City, New York with a record of 29-4 and 20 KOs, Edgar “El Chamaco” Santana.
Edgar Santana
I’m feeling great. I’m feeling hyped. You know what, I’ve been training hard and even before I got the call I’ve been in the gym so I’m going to be more than ready come August 9. I’m going to give the fans a fight they’re looking for, which is an exciting fight and two fighters giving it their all that night.
O. De La Hoya
Okay, perfect. Thank you. Also now let me introduce to you the Champion. He is the IBF Junior Welterweight World Champion. He hails out of Washington, D.C. As we all know, he has also a very inspirational and difficult upbringing. Inspirational because of where he comes from and how he got to the top, through hard work and perseverance.
He has tremendous wins against great fighters like Amir Khan and Kendall Holt. He’s coming off some great wins and on August 9 he knows he has a very tough fight in front of him, but he is more than ready and willing to shine in front of all the fans at the Barclays Center.
So, let me introduce to you the Champion with a record of 32-2 with 16 KOs out of Washington, D.C., Lamont Peterson.
Lamont Peterson
Hello, everybody. How are you doing? I’m feeling great, trying to keep working hard and just ready to fight August 9.
Q
I think a lot of people thought that you might be fighting Danny Garcia, who is in the main event on next Saturday. What were your thoughts about that, that that’s not the fight, that you’re fighting Santana instead?
L. Peterson
Well, I fought that night, everyone that’s interviewing me; I let them know I wanted to fight Danny Garcia next because that’s what the fans wanted to see. For me, if the fans want to see me fight someone, I’m going to push for that fight, so that’s what I did. But it just didn’t happen. At the end of the day I’m going to end up fighting a good fighter, Edgar Santana, and hopefully it can happen next time.
Q
Did you push hard for the Garcia fight and were you surprised that you couldn’t have your side get that fight done?
L. Peterson
It’s boxing. Everything has to make sense from that end. But, if I can win this fight, win or lose, that’s the fight that I want to happen. Of course, me winning the fight will make it more pleasing because I leave with my title and hopefully he leaves with his and maybe it can happen because it’s really the biggest fight you can make at the weight class, it’s the fight that the fans want to see at the weight class and I’m willing to do it.
Q
So, are you in a situation where if things go your way August 9 that you’ll finish up your fight with Edgar and come out to the ring and pay close attention to what Danny’s doing in his fight?
L. Peterson
Well, I’m not going to really pay close attention to it. I pretty much know Danny is a top fighter. He can handle himself at that level and I can handle myself at that level. So, I won’t be really focused on him or anything like that. The first thing I have to do is take care of my business and if I do that, then I’ll just be ready to celebrate and relax and get ready for the next one.
Q
What are your thoughts about getting the opportunity not only to win a world title, which most people would consider a big upset, but to also kind of wreck those plans?
E. Santana
Edgar, well, I’m happy to be the one. I guess they’ve picked me out of the bunch. I feel they committed a big mistake and I’m going to be ready to lay it all on the line that day. I’m going to be there to fight, no doubt about that.
Q
What do you say to all the critics who are not giving you a chance in this fight?
E. Santana
I’m going to prove everybody wrong. They made a big mistake in choosing me and I’m going to prove everybody wrong and this is for my family and this is for all Puerto Rico and all the Puerto Ricans. They made a big mistake.
Q
How does it feel fighting in New York for the first time in more than two years?
E. Santana
It’s a dream of mine. I want to thank SHOWTIME. I want to thank Oscar, yours truly. I’m ready to go and it’s a dream come true. So, I’m going to give it my all and I’m here to win.
Q
Is there anything that you personally want to demonstrate or feel that you need to demonstrate further to distance yourself from the loss to Lucas Matthysse?
L. Peterson
No, not really. It was just one of the nights in boxing. I’ve been told that from day one. So, I didn’t have anything to prove in that fight. Have nothing to prove now. At the end of the day, we’re all fighters. We go out there, we train hard, we give it our best and we go out there to win. That’s what I do all the time.
Q
How rejuvenating was it to go back home after that loss and to put on that kind of performance and to bring that momentum into this fight?
L. Peterson
I look at myself as one of the best in the weight class, so when I’ve taken in the victory, it was a good thing and I’m looking forward to another victory. I know Edgar is looking at himself as the underdog. I know a lot of you are putting him as the underdog.
But for me, I’m just going in there and look at it as another fight that I have to win. I know he’ll give it his all. This is his first title fight. I know how it is to finally get your shot and I know that he’s well prepared and be at your best. So, I’m looking for a great fight and may the best man win.
K. Swanson
We are now going to move to the final fight and the main event on the August 9show, Danny Garcia and Rod Salka. So, I’m going to turn it back over to Oscar to make the introductions.
O. De La Hoya
Thank you very much, Kelly. This fight, the main event, which all have been waiting for, Danny Garcia vs Rod Salka, which will be a 10-rounder in the Welterweight Division. At this time I would like to introduce to you, he hails from Bunola, Pennsylvania. He has a record of 19-3 with 3 KOs. They call him “Lightning” for a reason.
It’s great to introduce someone who is a proud United States Air Force veteran. He is here to win against Danny Garcia. He’s coming off a huge upset against highly touted Alexei Collado, which he handed Collado his very first professional loss April 18th and he expects to shock the world. He’s coming prepared. He’s ready.
Let me introduce to you from Bunola, Pennsylvania, Rod Salka.
Rod Salka
Thanks, Oscar. Training camp is going great. We’re up in the mountains in California, PA. Been up here for about seven weeks, it’ll be eight weeks by the time of the fight and we’re ready to rumble.
O. De La Hoya
Thank you very much. And now, let me introduce to you the champion. He has a record of 20-0 with 16 KOs and now in his third year as a world champion, Danny has made five successful title defenses. He won his first world title in March of 2012 by dropping and decisioning legendary Erik Morales for the WBC 140-pound title. He helped open Barclays Center for business with a one-punch knockout of Morales in the arena, which was a 2012 knockout of the year candidate.
He holds tremendous win over champions of very high caliber like Mauricio Herrera, the amazing Lucas Matthysse, which he put on a tremendous performance. Here you have a fighter who has been on the big stage, who is ready to perform, who is ready to go out there and once again put on a tremendous show for his fan base that keeps growing every single day. Let me introduce the Champion, Danny “Swift” Garcia.
Danny Garcia
I want to thank everybody on this conference call. Camp is going tremendous. I’ve been sparring hundreds of rounds. I’m running my miles every day. I’m very excited for this fight. I can’t wait to be back in the Barclays Center to give the fans my third performance at Barclays Center.
I had two great performances there already, with Morales and Zab Judah. I’m really motivated and, like I say, August 9 at the Barclays Center it’s the “Danny Garcia purge.”
Q
Why is the best fighter in the 140-lb division fighting a fighter with Salka’s type of resume?
D. Garcia
You know, I don’t pick my opponents. My manager Al Haymon does. And I never go against him. He picked the Khan fight, he picked the Matthysse fight, he picked the Zab Judah fight, he picked the Herrera fight, he picked all my fights. I never question him about his decisions. I just accept the fight and my job is to train hard and go in there August 9 and give the people at the Barclays Center a great performance and a good fight.
At the end of the day, my style brings out the best in my opponent, so I’m looking forward to an action-packed fight August 9 and I can’t wait.
Q
Was that Peterson fight one that you would prefer to have?
D. Garcia
At the end of the day, it’s what I want because I can say what I want, but you know, right now, I’ve got August 9, so I can’t look past anybody. The same with Lamont Peterson. He can’t look past Edgar Santana. At the end of the day, we’ve both got to get these victories and at the end of the year or the beginning of next year that we could do a unification bout.
Q
What’s your plan of attack against Salka, who does not have a lot of experience against the top level fighters?
D. Garcia
I’ve got to go in there and be smart. I can’t make mistakes. I’ve got to stay sharp. I’ve got to stay composed. I’ve got to work on my jab, I’ve got to move my head and I’ve got to go in there and seek and destroy and look like a champion.
Q
Is there a need or desire to win by knockout, to win spectacularly, perhaps similarly to the way you beat Morales in the rematch?
D. Garcia
I think it’s very important for me to go out there and look good August 9. I’ve got to go in there and look like a champion. I’ll fight at the Barclays Center. I love the atmosphere there. It’s a beautiful arena. I’m very motivated. I did everything right this camp. I haven’t made a lot of mistakes sparring, so I’m looking good. I’m looking sharp and come August 9 there’s going to be another excellent performance and I’m going to go in there and try to give my fans a knockout.
Q
How do you feel about the kind of the criticism that has been leveled against his fight?
D. Garcia
That’s the media’s problem. At the end of the day, he’s got two hands, I’ve got two hands and we’re going to fight. It’s a fight. It doesn’t matter who he is. He’s got two hands, I’ve got two hands and it’s going to be a fight. It doesn’t matter who they put in there. It’s going to be an excellent performance August 9, two guys going in there and giving their all and it’s going to be a great fight.
Q
Will you feel victorious if you go the distance and you give a good fight what does that do for your career, let alone winning?
R. Salka
I don’t care what that would do. I don’t have any other expectations other than coming in there and winning the fight. Having any other thoughts about that only distracts from the goal and the goal is to ignore that and win the fight. So, come August 9 I’m coming to win.
Q
Do you feel that there’s any extra pressure on Danny and, if so, is that something that you can take advantage of?
R. Salka
Honestly, at this level I don’t really feel like anybody listens. None of the fighters are really taking any kind of praise and any of that stuff. Like he says, at the end of the day, we’re two guys with two hands and we’re going to go in there and we’re going to fight. It really doesn’t matter what anybody is saying because that’s the facts. So, absolutely not, I don’t think there’s any more pressure.
We feel pressure going in there to fight regardless. It’s what we do, it’s what we do every day, it’s what we train to do, it’s what we’ve trained to do for years. And at the end of the day we’re going in there and we’re doing our job. So, there really is not pressure there, just a great atmosphere. It’s going to be an awesome night and we’re going to go in there and handle our business and we’re going to get it on August 9.
Q
In the event that both Danny Garcia and Lamont are victorious, is that a fight, as Danny referenced that you would push for for the end of the year?
O. De La Hoya
Well, I mean, it’s a fight that has been talked about, but there’s nothing that we can push for now because Danny Garcia and Salka, as much as this fight has been written about and talked about, these are two live, willing, hard-working and dedicated fighters that are going to give it their all August 9.
So, there’s really nothing to talk about looking ahead. We feel that making this card, putting it together we’re going to have a lot of shockers, a lot of surprises, a lot of great performances. We’re going to get it all August 9. We have fighters that have inspirational stories, fighters that have worked from the bottom all the way up, like Danny Garcia, Salka, who served our country. We have everything on this card and so there’s nothing that we can really talk about concerning the main event. All we can talk about is we’ll have to wait and see what happens August 9 because we don’t know what’s going to happen.
Q
Danny, you’ve lost a lot of pound-for-pound momentum since the disputed decision win against Herrera in Puerto Rico and now this non-title debacle with Salka. How do you get that momentum back?
D. Garcia
I already got momentum. I’ve been training hard. I’m 28 now. I have no losses and I’m always motivated. I feel like I’ve got great momentum now. I’ve just got to go in there August 9 and perform and get the W. That’s all that matters, other than ratings and rankings and what the people think, it doesn’t matter because good media is good media and bad media is still good media, as long as people are paying attention it makes me relevant and I’m going to go in there August 9 and give the fans a great fight.
Q
You referred to the controversy as the media’s problem. Is that really the paying fan’s problem? What did you mean by that?
D. Garcia
My fans, they’re always going to be my fans regardless. Danny Garcia’s fans support what he does regardless. For other people, I can’t tell for other people. My fans back me up and they love me no matter what.
Q
What is your gripe with the media’s assessment of this fight?
D. Garcia
I don’t read articles and stuff like that. But people will say what they want to say, but it takes a lot of hard work and a lot of dedication to be a world champion and to face pound-for-pound and tough fighters and beat them. So, if you don’t like it, you’ve still got to respect it because at the end of the day it takes a lot of hard work to be an athlete and it takes an extra amount of work to be a world champion.
Q
Rod, what do you think about the fact that this fight was downgraded to non-title status?
R. Salka
It is what it is. There’s nothing I can do about that. I’d of rathered it been for the titles, but what am I going to do?
Q
Is beating Garcia non-title at welterweight just as good for you as beating him for the title at 40 at one point? I guess what I’m asking you is what do you have to gain aside from your purse?
R. Salka
I’m fighter the best fighter at 140 pounds in the world. Titles are what they are, but would I rather fight some guy nobody ever heard of for a title or would I rather fight some guy everybody knows who he is for no title? You know what I mean? Why wouldn’t I want to fight Danny Garcia? He’s the best we’ve got out there. It’s the biggest fight you could possibly get at 140 pounds. I really don’t care if I can put a belt on at the end of it. I can take my purse and go out and have a thousand of those made if I wanted to, what is that?
Q
Though you’re not the underdog here is that criticism motivate you into that underdog mindset that’s served you so well in the past?
D. Garcia
My mindset is to go in there and win and that’s how I approach every one of my fights. Even when I was the underdog against Khan and I was the underdog against Matthysse. I couldn’t understand how I was the underdog, but the media and the people always want to choose the fighter with more fame and more publicity. That’s what makes the underdog when you’re fighting somebody who had probably a bigger name than you in the sport.
But I never had in my mind that I was the underdog, so I just train hard for the occasion and win in spectacular form.
Q
Now, a week or so before the fight, how are those two extra pounds you have in this fight benefitting you? Do you feel the defense between 140 and the weight you are for this fight?
D. Garcia
I feel really energized usually at this time. When I’ve got to be 140 I feel a little bit weak from losing the weight and maintaining, skipping meals and stuff like that. But I’m able to walk around a little bit more comfortable. I’ve still got to work hard to make the weight, I’ve still got to sacrifice, but those two pounds, as anybody knows in boxing if you’re a fighter, two pounds makes a big difference.
It’s helping me, I’m still strong sparring and I still feel strong working out, so it’s going to be a big difference.
Q
Rod, when you were fighting Alexei Collado, was it in your mind at the time that you would be going out to fight the very best fighter in the world at 140 pounds?
R. Salka
No, I wouldn’t have thought that I’d be fighting Danny Garcia in my next fight. Heck, when I was promoting my own shows I didn’t know who I was going to fight in my next fight. It’s just the nature of the beast. You never know. It might be a big fight or I might have been fighting off TV or on another TV network somewhere else. You can’t predict these things in boxing.
I’m happy I did get it, I’m happy that fight went well. I did well and I’m happy to get the opportunity.
Q
What is your preferred weight and how is it for you for 142 pound fight?
R. Salka
Like he was saying, I can make 35, I can make it. I can get down, heck, I can get down to whatever I need to get down to. That’s my job. But that’s really a lot more comfortable for me. A hundred and forty pounds, I don’t want to say easy because you’re killing yourself in the gym every day to get ready for the fight and ready for war. But to get down the weight and make sure your body is as fine-tuned as it can be and you’re sacrificing as little as possible to get down and lose weight. I’ve still got to do that to get to 40.
Q
Oscar, how did this card come about as opposed to the desired match-up between Garcia and Peterson?
O. De La Hoya
We, obviously, did want to stage a fight that all the media was suggesting. Peterson vs Garcia, but it wasn’t a fight that was available. It just wasn’t available. It couldn’t be made and so Salka, obviously, he’s well deserving. He has a Rocky-like story and so we put on a tremendous card from top to bottom, with Daniel Jacobs and with Peterson and with all these big name fighters.
This is a perfect fit for the Barclays Center and it’s like Danny Garcia said, you have two fighters that are going to be ready to come August 9 and the leather will be flying and it’s going to be a tremendous show.
Q
Danny, is there any chance of you bringing the title home to Philadelphia one day?
D. Garcia
Actually that was a dream of mine to fight in Philadelphia on a world title. I don’t think there’s been a world title fight here in quite an amount of years. But it wasn’t available at this time. We tried, it wasn’t available. A lot of the venues were booked for the time, the fight that they were trying to schedule in that time period, so we went with Barclays Center.
Barclays Center is a great place. I love it. It feels down home to me. It’s a good place for the people in Philadelphia, if they want to go out, they feel like they want to get out of the city, they just take a two-hour drive to New York, watch boxing and go out in New York after the fight.
So, it’s a good getaway for the people in Philadelphia and a lot of people from Philly are going to be there and it’s going to be like I’m fighting in Philly anyway.
Q
Oscar, without looking past August 9 because Danny Garcia could be included in this question, but since Floyd has a couple of fights left under his belt to become that, he’s that pay-per-view guy right now, are they looking for that next pay-per-view fighter?
O. De La Hoya
Look, we’re focusing on the job at hand. Floyd Mayweather has Maidana in front of him in September. Danny Garcia has Salka in front of him August 9. So, it’s really difficult now in these days to look ahead and plan for the future on all these fights, these mythical fights that everybody wants to watch, because we’re experiencing something that hasn’t been experienced in a long time in boxing.
There’s a lot of upset in boxing today. There are a lot of these fights where people don’t expect an opponent to win because of the champion and because of the stature of the champion. We must pay attention to the fights at hand because you never know what’s going to happen in boxing. And this is a perfect invitation that we must pay attention to the job at hand August 9 because fighters, they don’t know what’s going to happen.
They train hard and they take care of business and they work hard because you never know what’s going to happen. One punch can turn everything around and so it’s hard to look ahead and make plans. Let’s pay attention to August 9 and then, obviously, we’ll move forward from there.
K. Swanson
Thank you. That’s our last question, everybody. We will be sending out the fight week schedule for next week. We have a lot of great opportunities, including workouts with the fighters, press conference and weigh-ins. So, please look in your in boxes for that schedule. We look forward to receiving more and more of your coverage.
O. De La Hoya
Thank you very much to all the press. We’re looking forward to a tremendous fight. Like I said, we are expecting a lot of upsets, a lot of great performances, so you don’t want to miss it. Thank you Showtime and we will see you at the Barclays Center August 9. Thank you.
