Philippines, 14 Nov 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Claressa Shields vs. Szilvia Szabados Final Press Conference Quotes

PhilBoxing.com




Two-Time Olympic Gold Medalist Claressa Shields Faces Szilvia Szabados In First Women?s Boxing Main Event On Premium Television

Friday, March 10 Live on SHOWTIME? From MGM Grand Detroit

DETROIT (March 8, 2017) ? All eight fighters participating in ?Detroit City Gold?, the ShoBox: The New Generation headlined by two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Claressa Shields, participated in a final press conference on Wednesday in advance of Friday?s four-fight telecast from MGM Grand Detroit.

Shields (1-0) will face former world title challenger Szilvia Szabados (15-8, 6 KOs) in just her second fight since winning gold at the 2016 Olympics and in the first women?s boxing event in premium television history, live on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

?Detroit City Gold,? which takes place less than an hour from Shields? hometown of Flint, Mich., is promoted by Salita Promotions. Shields vs. Szabados is a six-round middleweight bout.

In the ShoBox co-feature, top-10 ranked bantamweight contenders Antonio Nieves (17-0-2, 9 KOs), of Cleveland, and Russia?s Nikolay Potapov (16-0-1, 8 KOs) will put their undefeated records on the line in a 10-round matchup for the NABO bantamweight belt.

In an eight-round televised bout, welterweight Wesley Tucker (13-0, 8 KOs) of Toledo, Ohio, faces Detroit?s Ed Williams (12-1-1, 4 KOs) in a matchup between two former amateur standouts. In the televised opener, Detroit-based bantamweight prospect James Gordon Smith (11-0, 6 KOs) will take on Chicago?s Joshua Greer, Jr. (11-1-1, 4 KOs) in an eight-round bout.

Here?s what the fighters had to say on Wednesday:

Claressa Shields:

?I started boxing at age 11 and all I really wanted was an opportunity. This is one of those big opportunities.

?Her having 124 professional rounds doesn?t mean anything to me. Her being 15-8 with 6 KOs doesn?t scare me either. But I am glad she took the fight and didn?t pull out.

?She?s a challenge and, on paper, she?s not supposed to be someone that I can just walk through. But I?ve been in training camp for three months and I had a great training camp.

I?m not going to let her beat me in front of my family. I?m not going to let her beat me in front of my nephews and cousins and my mom and dad. I just don?t roll like that.

?If she doesn?t have the talent and skill to go six rounds with me, she will not go six rounds. So, I hope she had a very good training camp. I know I did.

?This is the first time that a woman has been the main event on SHOWTIME and I?m not coming to make women look bad when I get in there on March 10.?

Szilvia Szabados:

?I?m ready to fight. I?ve been waiting a long time for this fight. I feel good and I?m in great shape.

?I think everyone has a destiny in life and I?m glad I chose to be a boxer. This is a huge opportunity for me and I plan to take advantage of it.

?I know she has the amateur experience, but I have more experience as a pro. We?ll see what?s more important on Friday.?

Antonio Nieves:

?I trained and did everything I have to do. I?m ready for war.

?Coming out of Cleveland, nobody gives us a chance. We have to fight for everything we get.

?I respect Potapov. He?s a good fighter. He said he?s going to take my belt? He?s going to have to take it from me. I?m here to fight. I?m not going to just give it up. Come try and take it.

?When I get in there Friday, it?s all business. I respect him ? I don?t have any problems with him as a person.

?I?ve fought a lot of Russians and Europeans. They?re straight-up, come forward, and try to put on a lot of pressure. They bring the fight and I?m ready for that. I?m ready for anything he brings to the table.

?Anything can happen in a fight, but I?m focused and ready and I know what I have to do. I?ll be able to adjust to whatever he brings.?

Nikolay Potapov:

?I will be a much more aggressive version of myself for this fight. I trained to be very aggressive. I have a lot of surprises in store for Antonio Nieves.

?I learned a lot training at Kronk and I?m very ready. I had a great training camp and I really enjoyed living here in Detroit.

?In Russia, there is a traditional Russian style. Over here, it?s totally different. The American style is much more aggressive. I loved training with Javan SugarHill Steward at Kronk and learned a lot.?

Wesley Tucker:

?I come to fight every time and everybody knows when I fight, it?s fireworks.

?He may be from here, but Detroit is my home, too. And I?m planning on winning here at home.?

Ed Williams:

?I?m glad to be home. I had a great camp and it?s going to be a hell of a fight.

?Wesley Tucker is coming to fight, but I?m home. You don?t let nobody take you at home. That?s it.

?He may be in for a short night. Or a long one. We?ll see.?

James Gordon Smith:

?I?m knocking you out. I?m not here to play games. I?m coming straight for you. I bet you I knock you out.

?You can?t punch. What are you going to do?

?I?m coming to throw bombs, so I hope you trained for this because I?m going to knock that smile off your face. Your coach can?t fight for you.?

Joshua Greer, Jr.:

?I?m ready. You?re getting knocked out. We didn?t come here to lose.

?This is a fight I?ve been waiting for. We?re ready. Come Friday, I hope he?s ready, too.?





Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Press Conference Notes: Featherweight King Rafael Espinoza Readies for Mexican Homecoming
    , Fri, 14 Nov 2025
  • MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS HOSTS “BABY SHOWER” TO BENEFIT MARINE TOYS FOR TOTS IN HONOR OF PAPA-TO-BE JIMUEL PACQUIAO’S PRO DEBUT
    , Fri, 14 Nov 2025
  • DANGEROUS SUPER WELTERWEIGHTS FRANCISCO VERON AND ROIMAN VILLA COLLIDE IN “DO OR DIE” MAIN EVENT ON PROBOXTV’S FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS
    , Fri, 14 Nov 2025
  • Jeter Promotions Kacie Wheeler Back in Action on November 22
    , Fri, 14 Nov 2025
  • Filipino GM Antonio beats German FIDE Master for stay in second place in Spain Chess Tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 14 Nov 2025
  • ROUND 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: A Gathering Of Legends
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Thu, 13 Nov 2025
  • Antonio draws with England's Arkell in Spain chess tiff
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 13 Nov 2025
  • NBA announces the new format to All Star Game
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 13 Nov 2025
  • Press Conference Notes: Xander Zayas & Abass Baraou Face Off Ahead of January 31 Title Unification Showdown in San Juan, Puerto Rico
    , Thu, 13 Nov 2025
  • Historic Turnout at the 1st Tigerhead Rapid Open Chess Tournament in Laos
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 13 Nov 2025
  • The Hammer Returns to the Fray With a Bang
    By Gianluca (Rio) Di Caro, , Wed, 12 Nov 2025
  • Monzón and Coggi are new Argentina Boxing Hall of Fame members
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 12 Nov 2025
  • GM Antonio moves to 2nd in Spain chess tilt
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 12 Nov 2025
  • Teflon Promotion to host Re:Play Volume 1 on November 22nd at The Alan Horwitz “Sixth Man” Center
    , Wed, 12 Nov 2025
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 10 NOVEMBER 2025
    By Eric Armit, , Wed, 12 Nov 2025
  • FLORES AND CORDINA PREDICT KO NIGHT IN STOCKTON
    , Wed, 12 Nov 2025
  • Lightweight Prospect Charley Leigh Brown Added To Hunter Vs Frankham Card 5th December
    , Wed, 12 Nov 2025
  • Mavericks' Cooper Flagg becomes the second 18-year-old player to score 25 points
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 12 Nov 2025
  • Sit back and enjoy, "Bata' Reyes book is out
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 12 Nov 2025
  • 'THE RING: UNFINISHED BUSINESS': CHRIS EUBANK JR-CONOR BENN II FIGHT WEEK LAUNCHES WITH INTENSE LONDON FACE-OFF
    , Tue, 11 Nov 2025
  • OKC Thunder Quickly Grabs League Lead; Competition Performing Per Formchart
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Tue, 11 Nov 2025
  • Reyes rules 17th edition of Kamatyas FIDE Rated Rapid Chess Tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 11 Nov 2025
  • SPORTS RECORDS 11: NONITO DONAIRE'S TWO KNOCKOUTS OF THE YEAR
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Tue, 11 Nov 2025
  • HIGHLAND BOXING PROMOTIONS OFFICIAL STATEMENT ON JEFF MAYWEATHER'S POSTPONED THAILAND VISIT
    By Carlos Costa, , Tue, 11 Nov 2025
  • Robert Racasa Finishes 9th in World Memory Championships
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 11 Nov 2025




  •  



     
    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
    © 2025 philboxing.com.