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Four excellent fighters with a combined record of 98-1 with 69 knockouts will be featured in a sensational world championship doubleheader on Saturday, July 7, on Showtime, 9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast.
In a battle of unbeatens in the Showtime Championship Boxing main event, local favorite “Tremendous” Travis Simms (25-0, 19 KOs) defends his WBA super welterweight title against unbeaten No. 1 contender Joachim “Ti-Joa” Alcine (28-0, 18 KOs ).
“The Lord of the Flys,” undefeated, hard-hitting Vic Darchinyan (28-0, 22 KOs) risks his IBF and IBO flyweight belts against once-beaten, world-ranked Nonito “Flash” Donaire (17-1, 10 KOs ) in the co-main event.
A terrific twinbill, is promoted by Don King Productions with Darchinyan-Donaire being promoted in association with Gary Shaw Promotions, LLC.
Tickets, priced from $35-$350, are on sale at the venue (203-345-2400), Ticketmaster, online at ticketmaster.com or by charging by phone at (203) 368-1000, (203) 624-0033, (860) 525-4500 or (203) 744-8100.
Question: Travis, how are you doing and how is training camp going?
Simms: I am feeling wonderful. Training camp is going great. We have been getting some of the greatest sparring. We have been putting in hours and hours a day of great training and I am just ecstatic and I cannot wait until July 7.
Question: Joachim, what are your thoughts fighting a great champion like Travis Simms?
Alcine: For me, he is not a great champion. For me, he is just an opponent and that is it. I think this event in July will be my day. Travis can think whatever he wants, but I am the next world champion and I will prove it. My coach can tell you what is going to happen that night.
Simms: You will not be champion this time.
Question: Travis, we know you envision tossing your hat into the political ring at some point. What are your goals as a fighter?
Simms: My goal is unifying this division, showing them that there should be only one champion. Travis Simms is that champion. I am willing to step up to the plate and prove it against all the other great champions. But first, I have to take care of business by knocking Alcine out.
Question: What are your comments on Alcine saying that you are just an “opponent?’
Simms: Well, he will see. He (has) never (fought) a guy like me. Most of the guys he takes were opponents to begin with and when you come to my house, you are going to see what it is like. This is his first time being in there with a real world champion and what I bring to the table you cannot match. So watch for July 7. I guarantee you I will be victorious whether it is by decision or by knockout.
Question: Joachim, why do you regard Simms as just an opponent and not a champion? Where do you get all your confidence from?
Alcine: I get my confidence from my mom, two kids, the people who are going to watch me, and certainly my coach. That is where I get my confidence. There is no way that Travis Simms is going to unify this title. This title is going to belong to me. He is going to go home with nothing and he knows it. I will prove it. You will see.
Simms: You are going to have to prove it because you are not coming here (to do anything to me).
Alcine: I am ready. I do not know if you are ready, but I am ready.
Simms: You are going to be just like the other trainer, Otis Grant. He is going to come over here and get his butt whopped, and that is what (is going to happen to you).
Alcine: You will see how it is going to be!
Simms: No, you will see!
Alcine: Otis is now training me and you will see how it is going to be in the ring. Otis was a world champion.
Simms: On July 7, you will see!
Alcine: His defense is better than yours. I do not know what you are going to do that night!
Simms: Speak some English first.
Alcine: You better start running, my friend, in the ring.
Simms: You do not have to worry about that, friend. I am in great shape. I do not have to run. I am stronger than you. I am faster than you. I am much more powerful than you. You will see!
Alcine: I will see nothing! You do not know what strong is. A strong man is me and you will see it that night!
Simms: No, you are not strong! You look strong, but you have never fought an undefeated guy in your life. You do not know what it is like being in there with a real world champion!
Alcine: You do not know what a champion means!
Simms: All you are is a big amateur! You are going to get your butt kicked July 7!
Alcine: (Hey), strong man, you know I am the next world champion and I will prove it, my friend.
Simms: You have never been a world champion and that is for a reason.
Alcine: I am going to be in the book, man. You do not belong to be there!
Simms: I am a two-time, undefeated world champion. I fought some of the best in the business. You fought nobody! Nobody!
Alcine: I fought nobody?
Alcine: I do not know what to say. You do not know about sparring partners.
Simms: I am going to take your heart! That is what I am going to do.
Alcine: The way I am now, strong the way I am, my friend, you are out!
Question: Travis, you are fighting in Bridgeport and it is right down the road from your hometown. What will it be like to be fighting in Bridgeport in front of a home crowd?
Simms: Oh man, it means everything. This is my first time fighting in my home state as a world champion. I am ecstatic about it. I have a lot of great support there and the same thing with Alcine when he fought over in Montreal . Now, he has to come into my house and dance to a different tune. It is easy to go and fight in front of your home crowd on a consistent basis and know that you are going to have the win either way. But this time around, he is the challenger and I am the champion and he has to come into my house and dance to my beat and to my tune. When July 7 comes, I am going to show him what it is like to be in there with a real world champion. This dude has been in there, and he is a fraud! His trainer, his promoter. They got this guy figuring that he deserves to be in this ring among the best fighters in the world, but this dude is nothing more than just a great – no, I would not even say great – he is just a decent amateur. He thinks he is going to come over in here and win my title? (He is) sick! (He) must be out of (his) mind!
Alcine: You are a funnyman.
Question: Travis, how do you deal with the possible distractions of fighting in your backyard?
Simms: There is no distraction whatsoever. My training is going great. I feel very, very good. I feel very strong. Like I said, come July 7, you will see. Jose Rivera – he said the same thing and what happened? I kicked his butt and I am going to do the same to Alcine.
Question: Travis, does some of your motivation stem from facts you got a relatively late start as a pro and had a couple of layoffs?
Simms: Absolutely. Like I said, I have a lot to prove. I have a lot of things that I want personally as a world champion. I want to solidify my legacy of being one of the best pound for pound, all time fighters in the world and this is what all great fighters have to do. We have to go through this. You look at guys like Bernard Hopkins. He had 20 title defenses. I am sure every guy that he fought said the same thing. “Oh, I am going to beat him, I am going to beat him.’ They will see. I am by far one of the best fighters, not only in my division, but I think pound for pound in the world. On July 7, I am going to kick off my other campaign with Alcine.
Question: Joachim, you have fought a number of former top level fighters, but (none in Simms’ class), so why are you so confident you are going to win.
Alcine: The thing is, he is calling himself the best pound for pound. Do not forget that night when I am going to finish with him, what will that make me? Will I become a pound for pound or will I just become Alcine? I do not know. I do not think about it because I am so confident because I have been waiting for that belt for so long. I passed over a lot of obstacles in my life and I passed through it. Travis Simms is not an obstacle for me! He is just out there for me to shine. That is all! I am going to shine and the people in his hometown are going to love me because I am going to show them that they are supposed to love me.
Simms: You are going to be Canadian bacon when I am done with you!
Alcine: And the same way if you come and fight (in Canada ); the people will love me still. But the people are going to love me in his hometown. I am going to show him.
Question: Joachim, talk about some of the obstacles you have had to overcome.
Alcine: Those things are very personal. I wish I could tell you, but I will keep it (between) me and my family. That night is going to be just the night for me to shine. It will not be an obstacle night because Travis Simms is not an obstacle for me.
Simms: Well, you will see. I am a world champion for a reason, buddy!
Alcine: You will not be it anymore! Enjoy it now because there will not be any more belt for you because it is going to be mine!
Simms: You will never be a world champion, trust me.
Alcine: There is a beginning for everything. You never been a world champion, but you can become a world champion. So there is a beginning for me too!
Simms: I will give you a job to work for me after I knock you out!
Alcine: You cannot knock me out, man! Stop dreaming! You better dream because that is it!
Simms: I will give you a job; just remember that! I will give you a job!
Question: Joachim, what have you seen in Travis’ style, in his record, specifically, that has given you this confidence that you are so sure you are going to beat him?
Alcine: I have seen Travis fight and he is not a pompous boxer. He has good skills, a good left hand. But that is all he has. For me, I have everything. I can fight forward. I can fight backwards against champions anytime. I am not worried about being in the ring with him. He can do nothing with me! The only way he can fight is be patient and throw his left. It does not work like that.
Simms: For a real fight, coming off a two and a half-year layoff and all I needed was a second to knock him out. You are going to see!
Alcine: I told you already! There will be no knockout for you. I am the one who is going to take you out of the ring!
Simms: Listen. I have an amateur record. I have fought the best in the division as a world champion. You fought nobody and you think you can do something with me? You are going to see!
Alcine: It does not matter who you fight.
Simms: You are going to get your butt kicked! That is all that matters. You can throw all the kicks you want but come July 7, you will have to deal with me. You are going to get your butt kicked, trust me.
Question: Travis, what does this fight mean to you as far as appeal and marketability? Would you say it is the most important fight of your career at this point?
Simms: I would say every fight is important to me, not just this fight here. This is just my next fight. I approach this fight like I approach any fight – in great shape, very confident, and (ready to take) care of business. I am not overlooking Alcine, but I will be victorious. I do not know where he gets this BS from about he thinks that he is going to come in there and he is going to beat me, he thinks he can do this and he can do that, all I got is a straight left hand. Buddy, you have got me all wrong! Whoever is sitting down and talking to you, that is all lies and you know it! So July 7, you will see what it is all about. Do not think I have just got a left hand.
Alcine: Listen. I (will) show you what strong is!
Simms: When I knock you out, it is going to be with the right hand!
Alcine: I am stronger than you!
Simms: You must be out of your mind!
Alcine: Are we talking about skills? I have more skills than you have.
Simms: You must be out of your mind! You are nothing I have never seen before. But I am everything that you have never seen before and everything that you have never even been in there with. So come that night, I am going to be your biggest nightmare.
Alcine: I see why you go away with nightmares. You cannot turn against you, my friend.
Simms: By the way, I am not your friend!
Alcine: I am hoping that after I kick your butt, you will come and shake my hand after the fight!
Simms: Yeah, you are not going to worry about that. You are only going to be leaving with Canadian bacon!
Question: Travis, have you ever seen Alcine fight, and, if you have, what are some of the weaknesses that you plan to exploit on July 7?
Simms: I am not going to tell you that. We have a lot of things we have been working on. Like I said, Alcine is a decent amateur at best. I have seen guys like him my whole lifetime and been victorious over these guys in my lifetime. This guy has never faced a guy like me and he is going to be in for a state of shock. I do not know where the heck he is getting this mentality thinking he can deal with me or fight with me. When I kick his butt, and he is looking up at the lights, he is going to understand what it is like being in there with a world champion!
Alcine: Do not forget one thing. What you see on tape and not what you are going to get. You are going to get something different especially for you — especially for you.
Simms: You are the same old, same old. You do not change.
Alcine: You will see. I have different styles of boxing. I am a boxer with a lot of skill. You know what skill is? I will show you!
Simms: I want to see it. You have to show me!
Alcine: When I am finished with you, you will know.
Question: Travis, you came back after a long layoff and fairly demolished the defending champ, Jose Antonio Rivera, on SHOWTIME. What did that performance and what did that win mean to you coming back after the lengthy layoff and regaining your title?
Simms: Like I said, Jose is someone actually I even like. So a fight coming back against him was great. I looked forward to that fight. I knew what I had to do to beat him, the same way I know what I have to do to take care of Alcine. (Against) Jose, (I) fought the perfect fight against him. We strategically planned to fight that way and that was our goal. With Alcine, we have a different approach, a different style, and this guy is not going to last. He thinks he can stay in there with me? He is out of his mind. I do not give him eight rounds.
Question: Travis, can you compare Alcine’s style to Rivera’s or are they totally different?
Simms: It is totally opposite, but I will handle him in the same way.
Alcine: I have sparred with guys bigger, stronger, hit men – all kinds. And you?
Simms: We have got the best ones right here in New York City .
Alcine: You are going to fight with a heavyweight that night.
Simms: We have got the best fighters in New York . You will see what happens.
Alcine: You are not the best fighter yet! You are nuts! When the time comes, I will let you know.
Question: Travis, are you back to where you were before the layoff, before you won the title the first time? Not that you are getting old, but you are a little bit older. Is it tougher to get in shape nowadays or are you back to the same way?
Simms: I am back all the way and I am ready to go. I do not know who the heck is telling Alcine all that information, but all they are doing is making it worse for the kid. I was trying to let the kid leave with some dignity, but I am going to do him worse than I did Jose.
Question: Travis, how long have you been seriously training for this fight?
Simms: Right after my last fight, we were back in the gym. We were having Luis Collazo out, Randy Griffin — we are getting ready for his middleweight world title fight coming soon. This is who these guys have to deal with. They are thinking that this is a game? I am going to show them that it is not a game!
Question: Travis, do you want to fight on a more consistent basis?
Simms: I do not like layoffs. In the average week, we fight every night. So fighting every three or four or six months, I do not like it. But it will still be my second fight in ’07 and I look for many more. I look to come back and unify the division.
Alcine: I do not know if you are in good shape.
Simms: You do not have to worry about that, baby! I am a world champion for a reason! You have to make sure you are in good shape!
Alcine: It might be a little bit longer, maybe one round more because you say you are in shape. I say one more round, not more than that. So that means if I have to take you out in the fourth round, I will take you out in the fifth!
Simms: I see how Grant is trying to motivate you a lot, but make sure you do not overtrain. I see how Grant is trying to motivate you a lot, but make sure you do not overtrain.
Alcine: I cannot overtrain. I am the best puncher in the world, man!
Simms: I like my meat just right!
Question: Travis, you have been compared to a young Roy Jones with the power and speed that you have. Would you say experience is the best teacher in regards to this fight?
Simms: Absolutely. Experience is the best teacher, and Travis Simms has a lot of experience. Like I said, it is an honor to be mentioned among guys like Roy Jones because he was pound for pound, one of the best in boxing to date. I liken myself after guys like Roy, Sugar Ray Leonard, Sugar Ray Robinson, and then I look to take that next step and be the next great world champion.
Alcine: While you talk about world champions and great champions, Sugar Ray is a great champion, Roy Jones was a great champion. But you do not compare to those guys. I am the one they are going to compare to those guys. I am the one that is going to be on the map, not you!
Simms: What have you accomplished? Nothing, nothing at all! You should not even be fighting for a world title at this point. You have not done anything and you have not fought anybody.
Alcine: You think I did not fight anybody?
Simms: You fought nobody! You fought nothing but a phony! You got a padded record!
Alcine: When you call me nothing, it is in the ring, man! It is in the ring! I will show you what a record is.
Simms: Yeah, okay.
Question: Joachim, you won the right to challenge for this title over a year ago. Does that extended waiting time add to your determination to win this fight?
Alcine: Yeah, I think so because things I have to learn in the gym to win the title fight. Things that will make the fight easier for me, I learn it. So that was for me to be patient and waiting for the fight. That was a good thing for me because on the 7th of July, the fight will be easier because if you are talking about the last few months, the fight will be literally more difficult. But what I learned in the last few months, I am telling you, the fight will not be difficult because I am going to be the next world champion.
Simms: Is that guy speaking English?
Begin Closing Comments.
Simms: July 7 is going to be a spectacular event. I am looking forward to it. Don King named it the “Fistic” Fireworks and that is exactly what it is going to be. This is a great, great time and celebration for America , for our independence, and it is the weekend of the Fourth of July and I am excited. I am ready to go and ready to have the fireworks pop off and then to get Alcine out of here, defend my title. It is going to be an easy defense. Then we are looking on to fighting the bigger and better names in boxing.
Question: If triumphant, can you name a couple of the guys you are looking at in your division.
Simms: Right now, I am going after this pound for pound king and maybe Mayweather, Jr. He is the WBC champion and is considered the No. 1 fighter in the world, and I am ready to dethrone him and ready to take over that position.
Question: Joachim, can we get some closing comments from you?
Alcine: The only thing I can say is Travis Simms is a dreamer and that is all. But the thing is, I love him now, but after the fight I am going to knock him out and I am still going to love him. I want him to know that. I love you.
Begin Interview with Vic Darchinyan and Nonito Donaire
Question: Vic, do you have any opening comments?
Darchinyan: It is nice to be here in America training. My training session is very good. I am looking forward to this fight and I am going to show a good fight.
Question: Nonito, can we have some opening comments from you?
Donaire: It is a pleasure to be here. Like he said, it is something I am looking forward to as well.
Question: Nonito, this is a big fight for not only you, but for the family. Since Vic already owns a victory over your brother, do you get any added incentive from that? Any revenge on your mind?
Donaire: Well, it is not so much for revenge. Like I have been telling everybody, it is more of living the dream to be a world champion. It is that hunger. It is just a pleasure; it is the dream of fighting to be at this level. It is a great feeling.
Question: Vic, in your last fight, your opponent ended up in the hospital and for a while it was touch and go. Can you tell us what was going through your mind right after that fight and in the days immediately following?
Darchinyan: After my last fight, it was very hard (on me) because my opponent was very bad. He was in a coma in the hospital. Thank God, everything passed and now I am concentrating on my training and concentrating on my fight. I am confident in my training and ready for this fight.
Question: Vic, it is important for you to win all your fights by knockout because you say the best way to draw attention to the lighter weight classes and guys like you is to win by knockout. The one title defense you did not get a KO came against Glenn Donaire, Nonito’s brother. You wanted to try to get that decision reversed. How does that play into your upcoming fight against Nonito?
Darchinyan: I think everyone will agree with me, it was a knockout. It was not a head butt. It was not the elbow. It was a knockout. I broke his jaw; he broke the corner and he screeched and put his hands up. I am very upset. It is still in my mind; is my title fight going to be settled by knockout? It is not revenge against his brother. It is revenge for me because I knocked out his brother. Now, I am going to knock him out twice because it still is in my mind. I did have a knockout. He put his hands up and puked in a corner. I am going to show how ready I am for this fight and how is will be a very good drama if he can stand up 10 rounds.
Question: Vic, you are known as a very energetic and aggressive fighter. Are you going to change at all and how (has his last fight against Victor Burgos) mentally affected you? Obviously, seeing what happened, you seemed kind of upset after the fight
Darchinyan: I was very upset. But no, I thank God he is OK. No, I am not going to change my style. I am not going to change anything. I am going to go again for a knockout, and I am going to knock out Nonito that night. I feel my power is better now. I can feel it in every training, every sparring. I can punch.
Question: Do you think Nonito is better than his brother?
Darchinyan: I think he is better than his brother, and I think he has learned some lessons, maybe running lessons. He is going to start running in the ring.
Question: Nonito, why do you think you will be able to defeat Darchinyan and what did you learn from his fight with Glenn.
Donaire: All I have to say, first of all, is I am really hungry and I am going to work hard for this fight and I will give it all I have got. So do not underestimate the hunger of a person like myself who lived for this dream ever since I was a little boy. So that is one thing. But for all these fights, it is all the same thing. He fought the same way. He did not change. He is vulnerable and that is one thing that I need. It does not matter what style he fights. It does not matter how he is going to come at me. But his vulnerability is the key to beating him and I know I can beat him.
Question: Where do you see him vulnerable? Is it in defense? Any comparison to other fighters who have been undefeated with roughly similar styles as punchers?
Donaire: Well, everything that he does is vulnerable. I mean, everything that he does, that is just his way or thing. He tries to take you out. But the guys that he fought, they were very small and those guys – they are going down the hills and they are small. And that is why he can bully them. But that is just the way he is and he is vulnerable.
Question: Nonito, you have been fighting recently at 115. So you could be naturally bigger than Vic. But the question is, will making 112 pounds be easy for you?
Donaire: It is always easy when you are determined, when you know that you are on to something. You know, your mind, your body – you work hard for it. There should not be any doubt of me making that weight because I work my butt off to get to here. This is the dream right here. I am going to make it happen.
Question: Vic, the fact that you are fighting a guy that has been fighting at 115 play into the thinking and into making this fight for you because you have been saying you want to move up to 115 or 118 or 122?
Darchinyan: In my career, I have fought guys at 120-125. But I have fought guys who are 120-125 and I beat them by knockout. I have fought guys bigger than Nonito and all of my opponents are bigger than me. I like bigger guys. I like it because I keep getting more powerful. Make sure you do not do like your brother. Be like a man, no hands up and go to corner.
Question: Vic, what is the difference between fighting in the United States in an event like this compared to fighting in another country?
Darchinyan: I have fought most of my professional fights in Australia . But before that, I was an amateur. I did more than 300 amateur fights and 170 were international fights. I have been all over the world. I have fought everywhere and in every city, every country in Europe and in America .
Question: What is it like fighting in America at an event like this?
Darchinyan: I fought in America in the amateurs too. I fought in the Olympic Games, I fought for a world title. I love this crowd. I like people – they like power here in America . They do not like people who run. They like people who come and destroy. America is my style. I love it and I love fighting in America .
Question: Vic, you had a great amateur career, but it seems like in recent fights, you have been so determined to win by knockout, you do not always utilize all the boxing ability that people know you have. Is that because you are looking for a knockout, or is it because you do not have to utilize boxing? What is your mindset there?
Darchinyan: My mindset is all about a knockout. When I am punching a person, I can feel it. If I am punching a human, I can knock him out. Also, where it is coming from? My power, I know it is not enough. I know when I am punching, I become much stronger and stronger. When I knock out someone, I know it is not the end and that I can punch harder. It is all part of my mentality. I am ready for it. Of course, I would love to be a heavyweight. I know I am going to destroy everyone. All my power, everything, all my knockouts are because I believe it. I believe I can punch harder and I can knock out everyone.
Question: Nonito, I have seen you and your brother fight. How would you describe the difference between you and your brother’s style?
Donaire: My brother is a lot smaller than I am and he is a brawler. For me, I am a smart fighter and that is the difference between us. We are completely opposite in fighting styles.
Question: How do you think that plays into a fight with Darchinyan? What do you feel is going to be effective for you?
Donaire: It is a classic brawlers-boxer style for this fight, I think. The best fighter wins. I think I have the speed and power to do it, and he believes he has the power to do it. But I have the speed advantage.
Question: Where are you sparring right now or where are you training?
Donaire: I am training at Wild Card ( North Hollywood , Calif. ) right now. I have been sparring with a lot of left-handed fighters, so I am well prepared for this fight.
Question: Vic, you have been fighting at the flyweight level. Does that weight hurt you? Is it time to move up now? Is that why you are fighting Nonito?
Darchinyan: My point is not to stay in one weight division and defend and defend. I would like to do something in boxing. I want to make my name bigger. Everyone is going to remember me. First of all, I have stayed as a flyweight because I wanted to unify. I waited a long time. We tried to unify it and have talked to WBC, any champion for unification. Now I believe it is not going to happen. So I want to move up to super flyweight and maybe see if I can unify at super flyweight. I have two belts and everyone who thinks they are stronger than me or can beat me, come on. I have a belt for you. Come and pick it up. I do not want to keep my belt if someone is stronger than me. I do not want to just hide and just defend (against) small opponents (who are ranked) No. 15, No. 20, – like the WBC champion, who has 18-20 defenses. Anyone who thinks he is better than I am, well, I am ready for him. So that’s why I want to move up now to super flyweight.
Question: Nonito, is your plan to utilize your boxing ability and speed and be more of a boxer/puncher in this fight?
Donaire: Whatever comes my way, whatever style he makes, I always have something to counter whatever it is that he is trying to come up with. If he uses his strength, I have strength in myself. I have more first round knockouts than he does. He has more knockouts than me, but consider who he fought. Yeah, he fought and knocked the guys out, but I myself have a lot of strength. I have been fighting at 118 and all those guys up there and I’ve knocked them out. I’ve dropped each and every one of them. It is just unfortunate that I was the short notice kind of fighter except recently. I am confident with my strength. So whatever he brings, I am going to try to come up with something better.
Question: Nonito, it is every boxer’s dream to get a shot at a world title. What does it mean to you, and what was your first reaction when you heard that you were going to get a chance to fight Vic Darchinyan for the IBF/IBO flyweight titles on SHOWTIME?
Donaire: Well, the moment they even said I had a chance for a world championship, I did not care who it was. Just to be fighting for a world title, I mean, as a fighter, I do not think you should be saying no to anything. You are a fighter, you are here, you are ready to fight and give your life because you are a fighter. That is what I am going to come into the ring with that mentality to go all out.
Question: Vic, how did you receive the name “Raging Bull”?
Darchinyan: “Raging Bull” came out from my first fight in professional boxing. At that time, I did not know any English. The first time I came to Australia , I had my first pro fight. And they told me you look like a raging bull, we are going to give you a new name, “Raging Bull,” and Armenians explained to me what Raging Bull means because you are so like a bull coming and you want to destroy your opponent. I loved it because I feel like it is like me. When I am going in the ring, opponents come around from you, you are going to find him and catch him and destroy him. It has been like my style.
Question: The IBF named you recently IBF Champion of the Year in 2006?
Darchinyan: Yes.
Question: Can you comment on being the IBF Champion of 2006 and being Ring Magazine Fighter of the Month.
Darchinyan: I am very happy to be Fighter of the Month. I would be happier to be Fighter of the Year in Ring Magazine. At the moment, I would like to be in the top ten for pound for pound, and in the future when I do more fights, when I prove I am a good fighter and everyone believes me, I would like to be No. 1 pound for pound. It is my dream. When I was a kid, I wanted to be world champion. I have a dream and now I realize that more big things can happen with me. I will become No. 1 pound for pound.
Begin Closing Comments.
Donaire: Like I said, I am looking forward to this fight. It is not that I talk crap or anything. I never do. I am just going to bring what I can out there and I am going to do my best and I am hoping to come out on July 7 as a champion.
Question: (But) If you are able to dethrone Darchinyan, this would be a very, very big and monumental deal in your career?
Donaire: Definitely. Like I said, you have to respect that he is a world champion. He has beaten a lot of fighters and that is why I am hyped for this fight because I know I am fighting the best at 112 and I want to be the best after this.
Question: Vic, can we get some closing comments from you?
Darchinyan: Nonito, what did you think when I fought your brother, was he knocked out or was it a point decision? You are a boxer and you watched the fight and you saw what happened. What did you think?
Donaire: Well, I saw the fight. It was the elbow. He could see it, yeah. (Manager) Cameron (Dunkin) saw it all and it was the elbow.
Darchinyan: You upset me more now!
Donaire: It does not matter if you are upset! But one thing I have got to say, Julie (last name unknown) said hi and she said she was waiting for you yesterday and everything like that. But you can be upset as you want, it does not matter.
Darchinyan: I am telling you, I am promising you!
Donaire: What is that?
Darchinyan: There is going to be fireworks in your head on fight night!
Donaire: You can do whatever you want, we will see what happens. Like I said, I respect you are the champion or whatever.
Darchinyan: You know, every time I go out. I prove what I say. Thank you very much to SHOWTIME and thank you to Americans for watching and supporting me. I am going to show a great fight and you are going to see. What I am saying, is what I promise and what you will see.
Donaire: And I am looking forward to that. Like I said, you can say all you want. That is your belief. I have my own belief in myself.
Darchinyan: You just turned 24. I do not want to upset you.
Donaire: You are making me laugh. You are making me smile. I mean, as much as you say you are angry, we will see what happens in the ring. You can spar big guys. I spar big guys myself.
Darchinyan: Okay, you are good for it.
