Philippines, 02 Apr 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


LUCAS 'LA MAQUINA' MATTHYSSE VS. TEWA KIRAM AND JORGE 'EL NI?O DE ORO' LINARES VS. MERCITO 'NO MERCY' GESTA FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES

PhilBoxing.com




LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Jan. 25, 2018): Fighters on the special double main event of Matthysse vs. Kiram and Linares vs. Gesta held a final press conference today ahead of the explosive Golden Boy Promotions card that will take place this Jan. 27 at the "Fabulous" Forum in Inglewood, Calif. In the first part of this spectacular main event, former interim WBC Super Lightweight Champion Lucas "La Maquina" Matthysse (38-4, 35 KOs) of Chubut, Argentina will take on undefeated Thai superstar Tewa Kiram (38-0, 28 KOs) in a 12-round battle for the vacant WBA Welterweight World Championship. In the second main event, Jorge "El Nino De Oro" Linares (43-3, 27 KOs) will face Mercito "No Mercy" Gesta (31-1-2, 17 KOs) in a 12-round defense of his WBA and Ring Magazine Lightweight Titles. The event will be televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark beginning at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT.

Here's what today's participants said at today's press conference:



LUCAS "LA MAQUINA" MATTHYSSE, FORMER INTERIM WBC SUPERLIGHTWEIGHT:
"I'm excited this opportunity to fight for a world title. We prepared for this fight really well. We prepared in Argentina, and then finished in Indio. This Saturday, we will walk away with a world title. We know that he manages his distance well and that he has a good jab, but we prepared for that. We learned a few things, but I assure the fans that they will once again see the "Machine" this Saturday."

TEWA KIRAM, PABA WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPION:
"I'm very thankful that I'm fighting for a world title this Saturday against Lucas Matthysse. I'm looking forward to winning a world and taking the belt back to Thailand. Don't miss out on this great show."



JORGE "EL NI?O DE ORO" LINARES, WBA AND RING MAGAZINE LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPION:
"Thank you for this opportunity, Mercito Gesta. I'm ready. I'm here to give a good fight. I trained in Japan, and I trained here in the states. I'm not thinking about any other fight right now. Gesta is a tough fighter. He'a a quick southpaw who is dangerous. It's very important to be victorious this Saturday. Bigger and better things will come with a victory this Saturday."

MERCITO "NO MERCY" GESTA, LIGHTWEIGHT CONTENDER:
"I just want to say thank you to the media and to HBO. This Saturday I'll be coming to take home the title. I've been training hard for this fight. This is my second shot at a title, and I'll make the most of it with a knockout victory."

JOEL DIAZ, TRAINER TO LUCAS MATTHYSSE:
"Lucas Matthysse is the type of fighter I like to train. He's aggressive. He has heavy hands. I'm committed to taking advantage of this opportunity--the opportunity that he has to win a world title. This Saturday you will see a new Lucas Matthysse."

MARIO ARANO, MANAGER TO LUCAS MATTHYSSE:
"The time has come for Lucas Matthysse. He is the face of Golden Boy Promotions and Arano Box. I'm confident that Argentina will come to a standstill this Saturday night. The world will celebrate and applaud Matthysse's victory."

TERRY LAOSUWANWAT, PROMOTER OF TEWA KIRAM:
"Tewa [Kiram] is number one. He didn't get there by luck. He worked hard for this opportunity. Tewa is taller and stronger. We are definitely not the underdog, and you will see that this Saturday."

FREDDIE ROACH, HALL OF FAME TRAINER TO MERCITO GESTA:
"It's been a really good training camp. He's worked hard in training camp. I just want to wish the best of luck to our opponent."

ERIC GOMEZ, PRESIDENT OF GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS
"This Saturday will be important because it is the first boxing event of international proportions. I want to thank our partners at HBO working with us to make yet another great card, and the Forum for one again hosting another Golden Boy fight. This Saturday we will have some of our most exciting fighters in tough fights on our undercard, and it will be headline by two spectacular matchups."

Matthysse vs. Kiram is a 12-round fight for the vacant WBA Welterweight World Championship and is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Arano Box and Galaxy Promotions. Linares vs. Gesta, a 12-round fight for the WBA and Ring Magazine Lightweight World Championships, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Teiken Promotions. The event is sponsored by Tecate, "THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING," Hennessy "Never Stop, Never Settle," and Casa Mexico Tequila. The event will take place Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018 at the 'Fabulous' Forum in Inglewood, Calif. and will be televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark beginning at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT. The non-televised undercard action will be streamed live on RingTV.com beginning at 3:05 p.m. PT/ 6:05 p.m. ET.

Tickets for Matthysse vs. Kiram are currently on sale and are priced at $10, $25, $50 and $100, not including applicable service charges and taxes, with a total ticket limit of 12 per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000 or the Forum Box Office (Monday through Friday 11:00 a.m. PST to 7:00 p.m. PST) at (310) 330-7300. Tickets will also be available for purchase at www.fabulousforum.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

For more information visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and
www.hbo.com/boxing, follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @hboboxing; become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing; visit us on Instagram at @GoldenBoyBoxing; and follow the conversation using #MatthysseKiram.




Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Rene “Chulo” Santiago, Masataka Taniguchi Officially Make Weight for Friday’s Unified World Title Clash in Tokyo
    , Thu, 02 Apr 2026
  • Marlon Tapales and Yukinori Oguni Make Weight in Clash of Former World Champions
    , Thu, 02 Apr 2026
  • Taduran in high spirits ahead of title defense in California
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 02 Apr 2026
  • Waiting to beat Floyd
    By Joaquin Henson, , Thu, 02 Apr 2026
  • 20th Philippine Xiangqi Open tournament on May 1
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 02 Apr 2026
  • Can Tapales Overpower Oguni to Increase his Chances of Another World Title Fight?
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 02 Apr 2026
  • BROWN-DUCAR PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES IN FULL: EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID AHEAD OF FRIDAY'S ALTRINCHAM FIGHT NIGHT
    , Thu, 02 Apr 2026
  • Wise Owl Boxing Makes Headlines Again with Signing of Former World Champion  Julio Cesar “El Rey” Martinez
    , Thu, 02 Apr 2026
  • Santiago-Taniguchi Final Presser
    , Wed, 01 Apr 2026
  • Jimuel in Action on Friday!
    By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 01 Apr 2026
  • “Rumble in the Une” Makes History in Union City with Star-Studded Fight Card Headlined by Jacob Macalolooy
    , Wed, 01 Apr 2026
  • Is Floyd chickening out?
    By Joaquin Henson, , Wed, 01 Apr 2026
  • Bacaro to challenge Toyoshima on April 4
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 01 Apr 2026
  • IBA steps forward as potential organiser for Bivol vs Beterbiev trilogy bout
    , Wed, 01 Apr 2026
  • PBF president Almario dies
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 01 Apr 2026
  • Portland Trail Blazers have new owner after $4.25 billion sale
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 01 Apr 2026
  • PH chess wizard seven-year old Noah Lucas Palcis finishes second in Bangkok chess
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 01 Apr 2026
  • 2 Time World Champion Marcos Maidana Confirmed for Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 2, in Las Vegas
    , Wed, 01 Apr 2026
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 30 MARCH 2026: Itauma Destroys Franklin in 5; Fundora Dismantles Thurman in 6
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 31 Mar 2026
  • Panamanian WBC Judge Jesus Aleman murdered in Panama
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 31 Mar 2026
  • ‘I won’t be holding anything back! – Big Bad Bazley challenges The Pilgrim Ryan Williams for Heavyweight title May 29 in Perth – Thunderdome 54
    , Tue, 31 Mar 2026
  • ZAYAS AND BOOTS CLASH IN UNIFIED BLOCKBUSTER AT BARCLAYS CENTER, BROOKLYN ON JUNE 27 – LIVE AND EXCLUSIVE ON DAZN PPV
    , Tue, 31 Mar 2026
  • Manny Pacquiao Promotions Announces Full Card to Join Taduran Vs. Perez on Friday, April 3, at Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, Calif. Live on ESPN Knockout
    , Tue, 31 Mar 2026
  • 13-0 prospect Marco Romero hasn’t lost a Fight in nearly 7 years and he’s only 20
    , Tue, 31 Mar 2026
  • WORLD ELITE SUMO ANNOUNCES NEW DATE – SATURDAY, MAY 16 – FOR LIVE PROFESSIONAL SUMO EVENT AT PRUDENTIAL CENTER
    , Tue, 31 Mar 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.