Philippines, 14 Jun 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Final Press Conference: Vasiliy Lomachenko vs. Jose Pedraza

PhilBoxing.com




LIVE on Saturday, 9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PST on ESPN
Undercard action, including the pro debut of Italian heavyweight Guido Vianello, to stream on ESPN+ beginning at 6 p.m. ET

NEW YORK CITY (Dec. 6, 2018) ? WBA lightweight world champion Vasiliy Lomachenko and WBO lightweight world champion Jose Pedraza exchanged pleasantries on a brisk New York afternoon two days before their title unification tilt, Saturday evening at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden (ESPN, 9 p.m. ET).

In the co-feature, Isaac "Royal Storm" Dogboe will make the second defense of his WBO junior featherweight world title against Emanuel "Vaquero" Navarrete. Dogboe snatched the title from Jessie Magdaleno back in April and defended it Aug. 25 with a first-round knockout over Hidenori Otake.

In the televised opener, unbeaten lightweight sensation Teofimo Lopez faces his toughest test to date in veteran Mason Menard.

And, in a special attraction (ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET), 2016 Italian Olympian Guido Vianello will make his pro debut against Luke Lyons in a six-round heavyweight clash.

Here is what the fighters had to say Thursday from Madison Square Garden's Chase Square.



Vasiliy Lomachenko

On his surgically repaired shoulder

"I had a very interesting camp. I had hard sparring sessions and good preparation for this fight. I used all of my punches, and I think it will be the same as before {the surgery}."

On Pedraza as a challenge

"I can't answer that now. I need to feel what he brings, and after that, I can compare."

"His style is not very interesting and not comfortable for all boxers because he's always on defense and waiting for a mistake. If you've seen my fights, it will be similar to the {Miguel} Marriaga fight. They have the same style."

On fighters out there who are a challenge

"In my weight class and closer to my weight class, we don't have a big superstar. Yes, we have big names at 147, but I can't move up to 147 now because it's too much {weight}, I think."

On Manny Pacquiao

"I'm not disrespecting Pacquiao, but I don't want to make my name bigger because I beat an old legend. I have my own road. There are a lot of good fighters to fight who are comparable to me. He's old. I think his career is done. I don't want to become a legend in boxing because of him."

On his plans for 2019

"Seriously, I want a fight with Mikey Garcia. I think this fight will happen. Then, I don't know."


Team Pedraza.

Jose Pedraza

"Since the moment I signed to fight {Ray} Beltran, I knew that the winner was going to fight Lomachenko. Mentally, I've been preparing, staying positive, staying focused, and also physically, I'm well prepared."

"I had a great training camp for this fight. Lomachenko is a great fighter, a complete fighter, and I know that I will have to be at my best. I am prepared to put on a good fight."

"Me {unifying} the titles on Saturday would mean a lot to {Puerto Rico}. It would be the first Christmas after what happened with Hurricane Maria. Definitely, me winning on Saturday would bring a lot of joy and blessings to the island."



Isaac Dogboe

"We couldn't have asked for a better 2018. Before entering into 2018, my uncle said to me, 'All you have to do is dance into 2018. Be happy.' And that's exactly what we did. We started by knocking out Cesar Juarez, another fine Mexican fighter. And we moved on to Jessie Magdaleno, another tough world champion. He's one of the best in my division. And after that, we defended it against Hidenori Otake, one of Japan's toughest fighters. It's been a blessing. Three knockouts out of three fights, and this will be four knockouts out of four fights in 2018. It's always been a blessing."

"Emanuel Navarrete is also one of Mexico's finest fighters, as tough as they come. He reminds me of Israel Vazquez and Juan Manuel Marquez. These are great, great legendary fighters. When he talks about the fighting spirit of the Mexicans, you know he's going to come and fight."

Emanuel Navarrete

"I am very grateful for the opportunity to fight a great super bantamweight champion like Isaac Dogboe. What better way to become a world champion than to do it on a stage like Madison Square Garden."

"Maybe people don't know me, but I've had a great career in my country and I'm focused on taking advantage of this opportunity and bringing the title home to Mexico."

Teofimo Lopez

"It's my fourth time {fighting at Madison Square Garden}. Like always, I am here to put on a show and 'The Takeover.' That's what I've always said, and come Saturday night, we're here to take over the show."

"2019, I will become world champion."

"I know Mason Menard. He's going to definitely come out there and fight, bring the fight. But they all try the same thing, and it's not going to work. No matter what they do, no matter what they try, they're in there with a real one."

Guido Vianello

"When I started in boxing, my dream was to go to the Olympics and go to America for a fight in Madison Square Garden with Top Rank. So now the dream {has come true}. I am very excited and ready for this fight."

"I am a mix between {Wladimir} Klitschko and Muhammad Ali. I move in the ring and I am aggressive. I want to box and fight."

On training with Abel Sanchez

"I have the best training in the world. The training was very hard every day in Big Bear. We ran every morning. For this, I am very, very ready for the fight."

ESPN, 9 p.m. ET

Vasiliy Lomachenko (WBA lightweight champion) vs. Jose Pedraza (WBO lightweight champion), 12 rounds, lightweight unification

Isaac Dogboe (champion) vs. Emanuel Navarrete (challenger), 12 rounds, WBO junior featherweight world title

Teofimo Lopez vs. Mason Menard,10 rounds, lightweight

ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET

Alexander Besputin vs. Juan Carlos Abreu, 10 rounds, Besputin's USBA welterweight title

Guido Vianello vs. Luke Lyons, 6 rounds, heavyweight

Josue Vargas vs. John Renteria, 8 rounds, super lightweight

Michael Perez vs. Abdiel Ramirez, 8 rounds, super lightweight

Brian Ceballo vs. Daniel Calzada, 6/4 rounds, welterweight

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Madison Square Garden, tickets for the Lomachenko-Pedraza world championship event are on sale now. Priced at $506, $356, $206, $106, and $56, tickets can be purchased at the Madison Square Garden Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster charge by phone (866-858-0008), and online at ticketmaster.com and MSG.com.

Use the hashtag #LomaPedraza to join the conversation on social media.




Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • THE CROWNING OF BAM: Rodriguez Overcomes Early Storm to Detonate Vargas in Six, Eyes Inoue Super-Fight
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 14 Jun 2026
  • New York Knicks win the NBA Championship with historic comeback
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 14 Jun 2026
  • Panamanian superstar Nataly Delgado wins 115lb female WBA world championship in Orlando, Florida
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 14 Jun 2026
  • IBA Bare Knuckle to make historic United States debut in Miami
    , Sun, 14 Jun 2026
  • Laurente remains undefeated, TKOs Aguan in Gensan
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 14 Jun 2026
  • Foundation stone laid for the first-ever IBA arena in Dushanbe
    , Sun, 14 Jun 2026
  • Jerick Faeldonia Wins One Chess Movement Tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 14 Jun 2026
  • Bam Rodriguez vs Antonio Vargas & Martinez vs Cardenas Preview and Picks
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 13 Jun 2026
  • Popper vs. Seldon Jr. Official Weights for June 13 in Atlantic City
    , Sat, 13 Jun 2026
  • GLENDALE, AZ FIGHT WEEK: OFFICIAL WEIGH-IN RESULTS FOR BAM VS VARGAS – LIVE ON DAZN
    , Sat, 13 Jun 2026
  • Undefeated Middleweight Amir Anderson Meets Jonas Sylvain in Battle of Unbeatens on DAZN
    , Sat, 13 Jun 2026
  • Munsayac, Celones get FMA award
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 13 Jun 2026
  • Weigh-In Results for Sanman 101: Laurente Eyes Home Victory
    , Fri, 12 Jun 2026
  • Arleah Cassandra Sapuan of Valencia, Negros finishes ninth in Las Vegas chess
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 12 Jun 2026
  • EVERY WORD FROM THE FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE AHEAD OF BAM VS. VARGAS IN GLENDALE, ARIZONA
    , Fri, 12 Jun 2026
  • IBA President warns Olympic movement will fade unless IOC rewards athletes and reforms now
    , Fri, 12 Jun 2026
  • 2026 NBA Finals: Knicks Rally from 29 Points Down to Steal Game 4 from Spurs 107-106
    By Reylan Loberternos, , Thu, 11 Jun 2026
  • VARGAS: BEATING BAM MAKES ME ‘THE MAN’
    , Thu, 11 Jun 2026
  • Pound-for-Pound Puerto Rican Champion Oscar “El Pupilo” Collazo Hosts Media Workout Ahead of June 20 Defense Against Philippines’ Joey Canoy
    , Thu, 11 Jun 2026
  • Sanman 101 boxing event to push through in General Santos
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 11 Jun 2026
  • Panamanian female champ star Nataly Delgado ready to beat Artiga for WBA title in Orlando, Florida
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 11 Jun 2026
  • Pedro Veitia Eager to Separate Himself in Battle of Unbeaten Middleweight Prospects June 13 in Orlando
    , Thu, 11 Jun 2026
  • Raga, Esquillo, Ortega, Navarrete, Santos, Ripay to compete in Japan 10-Ball Open
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 11 Jun 2026
  • Chess tournament goes to Dasmarinas Cavite
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 11 Jun 2026
  • Roach Jr. vs. Zepeda Press Conference Quotes
    , Wed, 10 Jun 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.