Fighters featured on the December 19 HBO Boxing After Dark and HBO Latino shows shared their final thoughts ahead of Saturdays fights at the final press conference today at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York. Former heavyweight world title contender Bryant "By - By" Jennings (19-1, 10 KOs) of Philadelphia was joined at the final press conference by his opponent Cuban heavyweight Luis "The Real King Kong" Ortiz (23-0, 20 KOs), who will clash in the main event on the HBO Boxing After Dark telecast on Saturday for the WBA Interim Heavyweight World Title.
Jennings and Ortiz were joined by co-main event fighters former WBA Featherweight and Super Featherweight World Champion Nicholas "Axe Man" Walters (26-0, 21 KOs and Jason Sosa (18-1-3, 14 KOs) who will battle Saturday in a 10-round super featherweight fight.
Also at Thursday’s press conference were HBO Latino Boxing main event fightersYuneski Gonzalez (16-1, 12 KOs) and Vyacheslav "Lion Heart - Chigonsky" Shabranskyy (14-0, 12 KOs) who will fight a 10-round light heavyweight bout; HBO Latino Boxing co-main event fighters "King" Gabriel Rosado (21-9, 13 KOs) and former IBF Welterweight World ChampionJoshua "Grand Master" Clottey (39-5, 22 KOs) who will battle in a 10-round middleweight bout; and former WBA and IBF Featherweight World ChampionYuriorkis Gamboa (24-1, 17 KOs) and opponent Hylon Williams Jr. (16-1-1, 3 KOs) who will open up the HBO Latino Boxing broadcast in a 10-round lightweight bout.
Below is what the fighters and their teams had to say at today’s final press conference at Turning Stone Resort Casino:
BRYANT "BY-BY" JENNINGS, Former Heavyweight World Title Contender:
"Thank everyone for this fight and making this event happen. Preparation went as planned. I moved to Florida and had a great camp; it was a great environment. There will be no surprises on Saturday."
LUIS "THE REAL KING KONG" Ortiz, WBA Interim Heavyweight World Champion:
"I have worked very hard to be here, and I will not waste this opportunity. We will see on Saturday who is the best.
"I am a man of few words and will let my hands to the talking."
ERIC GOMEZ, Senior Vice President at Golden Boy Promotions:
"To make the best fights you need to have great partners getting together that will make fair deals.
"These fighters are hungry and ready to brawl on Saturday. Bryant Jennings had a great performance at Madison Square Garden recently. Luis Ortiz is just as hungry. I want to thank Gary Shaw, HBO, Mario Serrano and everyone that has been part of this promotion. It has truly been a pleasure."
BERNARD HOPKINS, Business Partner at Golden Boy Promotions and Future Hall of Famer:
"2015 is the best year I will remember as a promoter. We’ve had excellent fights, competitive match ups this year. This is what boxing needs at this moment, and Golden Boy Promotions has been instrumental in helping deliver these entertaining fights to the fans. Jennings vs. Ortiz will be yet another one of those entertaining, high-action fights the fans want to see."
MARIO SERRANO, Public Relations Director for Gary Shaw Productions:
"I want to thank HBO, Gary Shaw Productions, Golden Boy Promotions and the WBA. With the WBA Interim title on the line, we at GSP believe Bryant Jennings will be victorious. He has a new coach in John David Jackson and they are working harmoniously together."
JOHN DAVID JACKSON, Trainer for Bryant Jennings:
"Thank you to Turning Stone Resort casino for hosting this event and to Gary Shaw Productions for making this event happen.
"Thank you to team Jennings, and to Bryant for being part of this team. Saturday, you’ll see. We will prove that we are the best.
"Bryant has worked hard this is what he wants and what he desires. He will be the heavyweight world champion of the world.