Boxing Press Conference: Joe Calzaghe vs. Roy Jones

© Jim Everett / Saddo Boxing

On Saturday, November 8, 2008, two of boxing’s best will step into the ring at Madison Square Garden in New York City, the “Mecca of Boxing”, in an HBO PPV event dubbed “Battle of the Superpowers”.

Undefeated Light Heavyweight Champion Joe “Super” Calzaghe, 45-0 (32), will face eight-time world champion “Superman” Roy Jones Jr., 52-4 (38), in the twelve round main event for the Ring Light Heavyweight Championship.

In addition to the 24/7 coverage that has been running on HBO, the fighters had a busy week with a media workout on Monday and a final press conference at BB King’s Blues Club in New York City yesterday, where many of the attendees were still buzzing over the victory of President-elect Barack Obama.

Jones’ trainer Alton Merkerson said, “I would like to say that I think everyone is pleased that the campaign for the Commander in Chief is over. It was a long campaign. It is time to try to bring this nation back to where it is supposed to be.

“Just like the campaign, it is has been a very long training camp for these two fighters. This fight was supposed to be September 20th. It has been very long, very hard and very strenuous on both athletes.”

Merkerson feels that Jones is more than ready for Calzaghe, “Our camp has been a small productive camp. Roy is ready. He is more ready now than he has ever been for any fight that I have been with him for in the last 18 years. The fight on November 8th is going to make history. Roy will make history.”

Jones also echoed his praise for the Obama victory, “I want to say I’m more proud to be an American now, more so than I have ever been in my life. With that being said, we can all move on. It was a long drawn out campaign. Those guys fought their hearts out. It makes me feel so good to be an American.”

Jones continued, “The 20 years I have been representing this country, I have poured my heart out and on Saturday, I’m going to pour my heart out again.”

”I know Joe is punching already,” joked Jones about Calzaghe’s punch output. “I’ve been ducking and dodging in my sleep, but I’m still the man and I will bring it Saturday night.”

“Joe is going to kick Roy Jones’ ass! What do you think of that?” said Joe’s father and trainer Enzo Calzaghe. “We have just come across the shore to kick ass. We don’t need cheerleaders. On fight night, Joe possesses what no other fighter does; and it’s called a heart. When Joe’s been down in the fight, he always finds a way to win. The harder the fight, the harder he works to win.”

Enzo went on to entertain the media with his statements and joking presentation, “ Roy you are a good friend, but make no mistake Joe Calzaghe is coming to kick ass. On Saturday night, he is going to become 46 and 0. You are going to see a fantastic display of Joe Calzaghe. Roy is going to fight his heart out, but it won’t be enough to beat Joe.”

Joe Calzaghe seemed impressed with his father’s statements when he reached the podium but was no where near as animated, “I’m a person who does actions more than words. I’m not going to talk this up more than it has to be. To finish my career fighting at Madison Square Garden is all the motivation I need.”

”I’m one guy who wrote Roy off, but he came back and won three big fights,” commented Calzaghe about his opponent. “He is a legend bigger than Hopkins. He’s hungry and you can’t write him off. He is in great shape and I can’t come in as sloppy as I was with Hopkins .”

When asked about this being his last fight Calzaghe said, “I wish I had never mentioned retirement. I am a fighter focusing on this fight and this fight only. Not what I am going to do once I retire. I am not planning any retirement parties I am going to come 100% I am hungry for this fight.”

Also present during the press conference were the undercard fighters who had a chance to address the media. Local Brooklyn favorite Dmitriy Salita, 28-0-1 (16), will face Derrick Campos, 17-5 (10), for the vacant IBF Inter-Continental Light Welterweight Title.

“I want to fight the best around,” stated Campos. “I’m ready to get down and win. I normally fight at 130-pounds and when I got the call to fight at 140 from Salita, I jumped on it. I feel good and confident. I want to let Salita know that I’m going to be in his face all night long.”

Salita was meet with applause as he approached the podium to speak, “I had a great training camp, growing up in New York City and watching the big fights at the Garden it’s pretty special to be taking part in this. The last time I fought at the Garden was when I won the Golden Gloves and that was in 2001, so as a professional this will be my first time that I will be fighting at the Garden.”

When asked by someone in the crowd what he was planning on doing to his opponent Salita replied, “I’m going to take care of business! It’s going to be a great night, I can’t wait, I want to thank HBO for giving me this great opportunity, I look forward to putting on a tremendous performance and showing you that I’m the future of boxing and the best junior welterweight in the world, it’s time to take care of business, Brooklyn in the house baby!”

Also fighting on the undercard Brooklyn native Zab Judah, 36-6 (25), will be facing Ernest Johnson, 18-2-1 (7), in a scheduled ten round welterweight bout.

“It is going to be an honor to fight at the Mecca of boxing and it is going to be an honor to fight under Joe Calzaghe and Roy Jones, two legends,” said Johnson “I’m fighting another superstar in Zab Judah . I am excited to be here I am coming to fight and coming to win. It is a major opportunity. He is coming down in weight to be the bigger man, but I want him to know that I am the bigger man.”

Judah was also met with much applause from the local fans as he addressed the media, “This fight means a lot to mean, it’s time for a change, Obama won last night, I’m happy to be fighting the same week that Obama won. To my opponent I’m just trying to figure out which hand to knock him out with, which hand the left or the right. It will be a knockout, my name is Zab Super Judah and I am from Brooklyn .”

In an interesting match up that was recently made Francisco Figueroa, 19-2 (13), will face late replacement Emanuel Augustus, 38-29-6 (20), who took the fight on only a week’s notice after Figueroa’s original opponent was injured in training camp.

For Augustus it has been a long time since he has been on such a big stage, “It feels kind of strange being here; I’ve never been in this type of a light before I’m so use to ESPN deals. I’m kind of nervous I’m trying to hide it but I can’t hide one thing is for sure I won’t be nervous at all at the fight.”

Augustus continued, “I’m looking to restart my career, revitalize myself. I haven’t seen much or know much about my opponent but being that he is a boxer I know he will be coming to fight and coming to win, that’s all I need to know. Anyone that doesn’t know me I come to fight, so it’s going to be on, we going to be poppin’ like popcorn.”

Figueroa spoke well of his opponent, “Emanuel Augustus the “Drunken Master,” I admire him, he is a very great fighter. For the guys that don’t me I also come to fight. I’m relentless in my attack; I’m slick and like the Drunken Master I can dance too, I have good rhythm, I’m a free style dancer so I can get the idea of what’s in his head, so if wants to dance we can dance.”