Boxing Quotes: Arthur Abraham vs. Jermain Taylor

Abraham (30-0, 24 KOs), of Germany, and Taylor (28-3-1, 17 KOs), of Little Rock, Ark., and their promoters participated in an international media conference call to discuss the first fight in a Super Six World Boxing Classic doubleheader Saturday, Oct. 17, live on Showtime at 8 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast.

The Abraham-Taylor 12-rounder will take place at 02 World Arena in Berlin, Germany, and be shown on same day delay.

In a battle of unbeatens in the second Super Six Group Stage 1 match on Oct. 17, WBC super middleweight champion Carl “The Cobra” Froch (25-0, 20 KOs), of Nottingham, England, will defend against 2004 Olympic Games U.S. Medalist Andre “The Matrix’’ Dirrell (18-0, 13 KOs), of Flint , Mich. The 12-rounder will emanate from Trent FM Arena in Nottingham, England.

Arthur Abraham: “I’m very excited to be in this monumental event. I’ve never been in the ring with someone like Taylor . He’s a good boxer and a very strong boxer. I don’t know what else to say about it. Everything else we will see in the ring on Oct. 17.

“I want to make the really big fight in America . I want to win the title and have a big fight like Sugar Ray Leonard, Mayweather and Oscar De La Hoya in the States because I love America and it’s my goal to make a big fight like in Las Vegas or Madison Square Garden in New York . This Super Six Tournament will only help me get that big fight in America .

“The thing I know about Taylor is that he’s beaten Hopkins . I know he’s a good boxer. There’s nothing really else I can say about him. I don’t really think I should praise him anymore here. So we’ll just see what happens on Oct. 17.

“In the past my biggest fight was to make weight but not anymore. I’m just so happy when I go work out that I don’t have worry about that. I’m a happy man being a super middleweight.

“I always think the fight will go the distance. I’m never thinking the knock out. I’m just thinking about going the distance. I take every fight seriously. This is no different than any other fight. Losing is not an option for me.”

Jermain Taylor: “I feel like I’m going to win the fight. I’ve done everything there is to do in boxing. I’m not ready to go yet. I feel like there is more to accomplish.

“I feel like I’m the bigger fighter. I’m a lot stronger. As long as I don’t get tired I’m going to win the fight. I don’t have a prediction on how long the fight will go. I don’t care how I do it. I just want to win.

“I know Arthur is a big hitter. I know what I’m going to do and I know what needs to be done on Oct. 17. I don’t worry about the crowd. The crowd doesn’t get in the ring. It’s just me and the other guy. If you hit the guy the crowd goes, ‘Ooh and ahh’ but it never gets to the point where it matters in the fight.

“I’ve fought the best of the best in boxing. I’ve won some and lost some. I just want to win this tournament. There ain’t nothing else to it. It’s not about the money or anything but that I want to win. I plan to just leave it all in there. That’s all I got. That’s my state of mind right now. No excuses. Just go in there and fight.

“The only reason I lost to Carl Froch was because I got tired. I wasn’t prepared. The best fighter lost because he didn’t train right.”