Boxing Quotes And Weights: Light Middleweights On ShoBox

ByBoxing Press

Two of boxing’s most-talented, world-ranked and unbeaten prospects look to elevate their status to legitimate world title contenders when James “Mandingo Warrior’’ Kirkland (18-0, 16 KOs) and Timothy “Desert Storm’’ Bradley (19-0, 11 KOs) co-headline in separate bouts Friday, June 1, on Showtime’s popular program “ShoBox: The New Generation”, 11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast.

Kirkland, the WBO No. 13 junior middleweight contender, will face Ossie Duran (23-5-1, nine KOs) in the 10-round main event. Duran has never been knocked out.

Bradley, the WBC No. 5/WBA No. 9 super welterweight contender, will square off against southpaw Donald “2 Slick 2 Quick’’ Camarena (18-3, nine KOs) in a 10-round bout.

Note:Weights – At Thursday’s weigh-in, Kirkland tipped the scales at 155 ¼ pounds, and Duran weighed 153 ½ pounds. In the co feature, Bradley weighed in at 142 pounds, while Camarena tipped the scales at 143 pounds.

James Kirkland: “I have not seen any tape on Duran. I just look at my opponent as being in my face and trying to get in my way. I don’t know their records or anything. I just want to fight. I want to kill and destroy. That is what I do.”

“For this fight, I didn’t have any money. The money goes to my baby for child support. It is tough for me to get a job because of my record. My mom is barely making it. I don’t have any money. The situation gets worse and worse.”

“Mentally, I am about 85 percent for this fight. Physically, I am about 75-80 percent. I didn’t get the vitamins and nutrients I needed for this fight or the sparring.”

Ossie Duran: “I have to control Kirkland with the left jab and neutralize the left hand. I am an aggressive, angry and hungry, young man. Kirkland has not been in the ring with someone who has my experience.”

“Kirkland is vulnerable to straight right hands. He is so aggressive and wants to apply the pressure. If he is aggressive, he may walk into something.”

“I have to execute. If I beat Kirkland, maybe it is SHOWTIME (Championship Boxing). Kirkland hasn’t been hit much, but he will get hit tomorrow. It is a big step up for him. He doesn’t know what he is facing.”

Timothy Bradley: “I am not sick of fighting southpaws. Line them up. We have been training against southpaws for the past three months. I am ready for whatever. The key to fighting southpaws is to lead off the jab.”

“We are going to box Camarena all night long. He is a dangerous opponent. Camarena is coming to fight and take my spot. I think he is going to come out and show his stuff. This is a huge showcase for me.”

“The first time I fought on “ShoBox,’ the nerves and hype got on my brain. It stressed me out a little bit. The second fight on “ShoBox,” I was relaxed and got the job done.”

“When I am in there, I am a monster. The game plan now is to box, but it changes in the ring. If I see an opportunity, I am going to go for it. We have been working on counterpunching and finding the spaces in between.”

“I am ready to go. I am ready to fight anybody. I am just hungry. I had a great training camp and should do well tomorrow.”

Donald Camarena: “I need to win this. Bradley is a really skilled boxer. I feel like I will be his biggest test. I can handle whatever he brings. Whatever he decides to do, he will have a problem. I can fight inside or out.”

“If Bradley wants to stand there and bang, I can handle it. Bradley is pretty slick, but I have been in the ring against slicker fighters like Floyd Mayweather Jr. I will fight my fight, but I will eat what they give me.”