Boxing News Boxing News
© Tom Casino / Showtime Boxing
The promoters and fighters involved with The Bantamweight Tournament: Winner Takes All – a two-stage, single-elimination tournament of 118-pounders – took center stage on Thursday in the final press conference to discuss the two Semifinal bouts set to take place on Saturday, Dec. 11, live on Showtime at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) from Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Wash.
In the opening bout, undefeated, world-ranked rising star Abner Mares (20-0-1, 13 KOs), of Guadalajara Jalisco, Mexico, will face two-division world champion Vic “Raging Bull” Darchinyan (35-2-1, 27 KOs), of Sydney, Australia, by way of Armenia.
Then, former IBF 118-pound champ Joseph King Kong Agbeko (27-2, 22 KOs), of Bronx, N.Y., by way of Ghana, Africa, will try to earn back the title from the man that won it from him, current IBF champ Yonnhy “El Colombiano” Perez (20-0-1, 14 KOs), of Santa Fe Springs, Calif., by way of Colombia.
With a win over Darchinyan, Mares could earn a rematch against Perez, who he fought to a disputed majority draw last May 22, or face the hard-hitting Agbeko. If Darchinyan wins his semifinal bout, he could face the last man to beat him, Agbeko, who won a close, unanimous decision in July 2009.
Highlights of what the fighters had to say on Thursday at the final press conference:
Joseph Agbeko: “This tournament is going to be the best because the bantamweight division is the most exciting. I expect a war against Perez. With bantamweights, there are always lots of explosions.
“About head butts, styles make head butts. I guess they get cut and not me because I have the harder head. Saturday night, I’ll put an end to any excuses. After Saturday, I think everyone will see who is the favorite of this tournament.”
Abner Mares: “I know every boxer says that they just had the best camp of their life but this really has been a tremendous camp for me. I’m ready. I know I’m ready. As bantamweights, we are fighters known to throw a lot of punches. We’re known for making fights exciting.”
Vic Darchinyan: “Mares is good. I’ve seen his fights. He’s strong. He’s fast. But on the night of the fight, I’ll slow him. I’ll take away his strengths. You will see a new Vic Darchinyan, hungry and motivated like a young fighter. I go for the knockout. It’s exciting. It’s what people want to see. It’s simple.”
Yonnhy Perez: “I have to thank Showtime for making this tournament a reality. This is very important because we know that the winner of this tournament will be a very significant fighter. There’s only one thing I’m waiting for: the bell on Saturday night.”
