Boxing Weigh-in:Thompson – Boone – Ortiz – Barrera

ByBoxing Press

In a fabulous doubleheader on “ShoBox: The New Generation” Friday on SHOWTIME (11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast), physically-gifted Anthony “The Messenger” Thompson takes on battle-tested contender Darnell Boone in a 10-round super welterweight bout, and “Vicious” Victor Ortiz meets fellow Southern Californian “Feisty” Freddie Barrera in an 8-round lightweight duel.

ANTHONY “THE MESSENGER” THOMPSON (20-1, 15 KOs). WEIGHT: 157 pounds

“I’m a Hebrew Israelite. I’m a very spiritual person. I’m God-centered. This is my job. God has set me up for this. I came to the realization that this is a blessing. I have a chance for greatness. Now, I’m fighting a main event on SHOWTIME. I’m getting more patient and I’m developing to be a boxer. I’m learning the discipline. (Boone) is new in the ring. I know he’s going to be well-conditioned, real busy. I know he’s going to come to fight; he’s fighting Anthony Thompson. Either I’m going out on my back or you’re going out on your back. I’m kind of greedy – you give me a jab, and I want a jab, a left hook and an uppercut.”

DARNELL BOONE (10-4-1, 4 KOs). WEIGHT: 157 pounds

“(Thompson) is an all-right fighter. He’s going to have to fight. You got to fight. You can’t move. I’m not going to pitter-patter. I’m not going to make it easy for him. I already knew how to fight, but I’m learning on the job, what to do, little tricks. It’s been a fun road.”

“VICIOUS” VICTOR ORTIZ (12-1, 8 KOs). WEIGHT: 137.5 pounds

“I have the confidence because I have the corner behind me. It’ll happen tomorrow. We’ll all see. I want to be champion of the world. My friends would say, “C’mon Victor, let’s go party,’ and I’d say, “No, that’s alright. You guys go. Don’t wait up for me.’ It’s a very big opportunity. It opens a lot of doors for me. That’s why I got to go home tonight and rest up. More people will be able to see how I box. I’m going to make (Barrera) fight my fight.”

“FEISTY” FREDDIE BARRERA (10-0, 1 KO). WEIGHT: 138.5 pounds

“(Ortiz) is a very tough, very well-schooled boxer. The No. 1 thing I have is my defense and I’m finally going to get to use it. He’s going to be the stronger guy. I’ve only fought one person smaller than me my whole career so I’m used to it. I’ve fought against people, when I was 15 years old, that were over 6-feet tall. I honestly hit harder than people think. I’m not a one-punch knockout artist but I’ll wear you down. I’m very excited and I’m very glad that it’s on SHOWTIME and it’s worldwide, but I’m not nervous.’’