PBC returns to NBC on Saturday, April 11, 2015 with an attractive double-header featuring, “Irish” Andy Lee who will be putting up his WBO Middleweight title against the undefeated Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin.
Danny “Swift” Garcia will close the evening of boxing as he takes on Lamont Peterson in what should be a very competitive matchup. The fighters hosted an international media call to discuss the bouts along with promoter Lou Dibella. We began the call with Kid Chocolate and Andy Lee.
Both fighters shared great respect for one another from the start of the call. Lee was asked his thoughts of his opponent. “I think he’s a very good boxer. He’s undefeated. He’s a good fighter, strong puncher and we have always had much respect for each other. I think it’s going to come down to who’s the better man that night,” stated the Irishman.
Lee was then asked a follow up question regarding if he decided to take a break from training camp to join the St. Paddy’s day festivities. Lee chuckled and replied that he was much too focused to take a break now, but that there will be plenty of time for that when he retires.
Quillin was also asked about his opponent and what he believed to be his strengths and weaknesses. “I’ve always had plenty of respect for Lee and I think his only weaknesses are those two losses that he had, but those can be taken as a good thing. He is a guy that is very determined to retain his title and you have me who is looking to become a champion again. The best man will get his hand raised that night and that might be him or me.”
Lee was also asked about how he felt to be fighting in New York at the Barclays Center instead of in Ireland. “Obviously fighting in Ireland would be great and maybe my next fight will be there, but as of now I look forward to going back to Brooklyn and defending my title and beating Quillin.”
The Irishman has been known to throw some lethal right hooks that have completely changed fights for him in the past. Lee spoke on this during the call.
“I don’t want to brag and yes my right hand has saved me a few times, but at the same time I never go into a fight thinking I’m going to lose. I’ve always thought of myself as a technical boxer and I will use more than just my right hook that night,” stated the confident Lee.
Quillin was asked the next set of questions beginning with how he has dealt with the long lay off from the sport and how he plans to transition into the ring again. “It comes with the territory. Sometimes you have a plan set out in your head of how you want things to go but it’s not always like that. No matter how long I have stayed away I know that most of the battle is in my head,” stated Quillin.
Recently Quillin suffered a loss outside of the ring after his uncle and long time father figure passed away after a battle with cancer. Quillin would go on to express how he would be dedicating this fight to both his uncle and son both of which have been a huge motivation going into this bout.
Kid Chocolate will be coming into this fight as the challenger with plans to regain the title for the second time. Lee on the other hand looks to make a statement by beating the odds and defeating the undefeated former champ and continue his reign as a Middleweight champion.
Next up on the call were the Light Welterweight champions, Danny Garcia and Lamont Peterson. As of late both fighters have received their share of criticism for the opposition they’ve gone up against, so when this bout was announced most people showed plenty of excitement.
Although the fight is not for Garcia or Peterson’s belts or even at 140 pounds for that matter, the matchup will still prove to be competitive. Both fighters were asked if they see this as a redemption bout, if not personally, but from the fans perspective. Both Garcia and Peterson blew off the idea of this being a redemption fight and expressed their excitement on the bout despite would some critics may say about it.
Garcia was then asked what sort of game plan he would bring coming into fight night. “Every fight is a different fight. Sometimes I come in and chase my opponent sometime I box like I did [Lucas] Matthysse. I’ve been in training camp preparing for the works. If I have to bang it out for 12 rounds then I will,” stated Garcia.
Danny was then questioned about why the fight was made at a catch weight as opposed to fighting at 140. “In order for the fight to be done in the this time period, this is the weight we had to fight at. This is still a big fight no matter with the belt or without and if the media would just let it go already they’ll see this is still a great fight. I’ve been fighting at 140 since I was an amateur and it’s been tough on my body and it was best for me to fight at this weight.”
Lamont was then asked if he feels there’s any correlation between him and Danny based on the Matthysse fight they both share. “It makes no difference. Everyone matches up different against one another. This is boxing and if you get hit with a good shot you get knocked out and that’s it.”
Lamont was also asked about the weight for the fight. “I’m cool with it. At the end of the day its still two young, tough fighters fighting each other and it’s a great matchup. I could’ve fought at 145, 147 and I could have fought at 138 if I had to. I look forward to moving to 147 in the future but for now I am happy at 140,” stated Peterson.
Of course with both fighters being so close to the weight class of Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, both men were asked about a potential fight with either or in the future. “I’m not even thinking about fighting Floyd. I wont hold my breath on it. My main focus is April 11,” said the determined Peterson.
“Yeah I’m not worried about it either to be honest. Maybe in the future sure its every boxers dream to fight either guy, but for now I’m focused on Peterson,” said Garcia.
As the conference continued Garcia would go one to say how he has never turned down a fight no matter who was put in front of him. “If you backtrack my career I never turn anyone down. Once someone says Danny you want to fight this guy, Danny says yes. I never turn down anyone.” Similarly Peterson spoke about fighting for the fans at all times. “I never call out any opponent. I fight who the fans want to see me fight and my job is to always try and please the fans regardless if I am fighting for a belt or not.”
While this fight may be considered somewhat of an exhibition, it is clear both men are prepared to put on a show for their fans in New York as well as the fans watching at home. Danny Garcia in all likeliness will look to make a final statement before moving up to Welterweight and testing his skills in the loaded division. Peterson on the other hand will look to stop the champ in his tracks and prove he may be the top fighter at Light Welterweight.
Tune into NBC on April 11 to see these two warriors as well as Andy Lee taking on Peter Quillin on Premier Boxing Champions.
Header photo edit by Lorin Elise/Keystone Boxing
