Don King Boxing: Campbell, Funeka, Angulo, Rivera Meet The Press

ByBoxing Press

IBF, WBO and WBA lightweight champion Nate Campbell, his opponent IBF No. 1-ranked mandatory challenger Ali Funeka and undefeated WBC and WBO No. 1-ranked contender Alfredo Angulo participated in media workouts at American Top Team gym in South Florida today promoting Saturday’s big “St. Valentine’s Day Massacre” card at BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, FL.

“Funeka said he knows me like the back of his hand,” Campbell, 32-5-1 (25), told the media. “Now he gets to meet the front of my hand on Saturday night.”

Funeka, 30-1-2 (25), made comments while training in his native South Africa that Campbell felt were disparaging. After arriving in America, Funeka has taken a much more conciliatory tack towards the unified lightweight world champion.

“Campbell is a good champion and a good boxer,” Funeka said. “I am hungry as well. I don’t want to talk any more trash this close to the fight.”

Angulo, 14-0 (11), who received news yesterday that Cosme “Chino” Rivera, 31-11-2 (23), will step in to face him after Ricardo Mayorga pulled out, said he doesn’t like to say bad things about any boxer.

“It doesn’t matter that Mayorga pulled out,” a resolute Angulo said. “I was only disappointed for people who wanted to see me fight him. I trained to fight and I thank Cosme Rivera for taking the match on short notice.

“I respect Rivera because he is a veteran who has faced many great fighters, but when I enter the ring that respect will disappear. Then he will be just another opponent I must defeat.”

Rounding out the HBO-televised tripleheader is another match of great importance at 154 pounds pitting interim WBC super welterweight champion Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez, 44-1-1 (24), against former IBF welterweight champion Kermit “The Killer” Cintron, 30-2 (27).

Cintron and Martinez arrived in South Florida this afternoon and will attend the event’s final press conference on Thursday.

Tickets priced at $200, $75, $40 and $25 (with all seats 2-for-1 excepting a limited number of golden circle seats) are on sale now and can be purchased at all Ticketmaster outlets, charge by phone at (800) 745-3000, by visiting www.ticketmaster.com or at the BankAtlantic Center box office.

HBO will televise the Boxing After Dark tripleheader starting at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

The event is presented by Don King Productions in association with Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler Attorneys at Law, V Georgio Vodka, The BOVA Restaurant Group, Renato Watches and QTask.

Campbell vs. Funeka is presented in association with One Punch Productions. Martinez vs. Cintron is presented by DiBella Entertainment. Angulo vs. Rivera is a co-promotion with Gary Shaw Productions.

Campbell vs. Funeka, Martinez vs. Cintron and Angulo vs. Rivera will also be televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark beginning at 10 p.m. ET/PT. A full, domestically non-televised, undercard will begin at 5:30 p.m. with 12 bouts in total scheduled for the event.