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Philippines, 30 Jan 2025 |
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LIDDARD VS. OSAZE NXTGEN FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES PhilBoxing.com Thu, 30 Jan 2025  Eddie Hearn, Matchroom Sport Chairman: “I think George Liddard is probably, and it’s difficult to say, the most improved fighter. The way that he’s come on in the last three or four fights has exceeded expectation. We always knew he was going to go on, British, Commonwealth, European, but the way he is dealing with opposition, the way he is sitting down on his shots, the punch power that he has. I love this fight, because it’s a whole different level of the step-up. He’s headlining, and he deserves the spot. He’s been out selling tickets consistently. We talked about being a ticket-seller, he was a ticket-seller with loads of ability, now he’s a ticket-seller with star headline ability. Massive fight for him. This is a serious fight. Serious test. I mean the confidence.. look at the whistle on him! Those loafers are naughty! Confidence through the roof, but a real fight – and that’s what we want.” George Liddard: "I'm extremely grateful to God as well for the opportunity. I'm grateful to Matchroom. I've boxed on loads of your shows. To now headline one, I'm very grateful. I'm excited. The hard work is done and this is the fun part for me. I'm just looking forward to fight. This is what I do. I never shy away from a test. Like you say, Derrick is a good test - I'm ready to pass it. That is what it is. If you look at my record; I've never shied away from anyone. I'll fight any man. I'm a fighting man. That's what I do. My last six or five fights have all been a step up after step up. I think they've all come to flip the script. Someone is yet to do that. Good luck to him. I hope he gives it his all on Friday night and I'm sure he will. He comes to fight. I know that. I'm more than ready. I'm ready for this level and I'm ready to show the level that I'm at and push on for big things in 2025. Like you say, first title on the line. I've treated every fight of mine like it is a title fight. Nothing changes for me. Nothing changes. I'm ready to do the business. It doesn't matter what Derrick turns up. He can come to fight, he can box - it doesn't matter to me. I'm sure he's going to come to fight. Whatever is in front of me I'll beat. All I've focused on is being the best version of myself. That's what I'll show on Friday with another dominant performance." Derrick Osaze: “Firstly I just want to say thank you for the opportunity to be here. I’m thankful to God, faith has been important to the foundation of my life. What do I know about George? He supports West Ham. That’s all I know, and he dresses like Eddie Hearn. As you can see, they’ve probably gone to the same designer. They look good. Eddie Hearn is a lot taller in person. In terms of George, he’s a good fighter. You’re not going to be sitting in this seat and topping a Matchroom bill if you’re not a good fighter. As for the fight, Eddie is right when he says it’s a tough test. If you know me, I’m not really into all this talking. I like to do my talking on Friday. It should be a very good fight. I didn’t get into this sport to become some sort of gate keeper, some sort of stepping stone or some sort of test. My career has not been the easiest or straightest road. I’ve never missed a fight through injury. I’ve never pulled out of fights, but I’ve had fights missed because of COVID tests, I’ve had a fight because of the Queen passing. I've had fights cancelled literally days before. It's not been straight forward, but at the same time, I refuse to become anyone's stepping stone. They've brought me in here for a reason and I'm here to mess up the script." Junaid Bostan: “You don’t have a Scooby Doo on what you’re doing. One minute you’re on the front foot, one minute you’re on the back foot. When I’m asked, ‘how are you going to beat Bilal?’, the truthful answer is I’ll see what’s in front of me because I haven’t got a f*****g clue, and neither has he! You’re here to make the numbers up. Let’s just be real yeah. You’re going to get dealt with. Everyone can have a little bit of a Cinderella story, ‘I’ve had this happen to me or I’ve had that’, and it’s a very good story for you – fair play. I don’t take any credit away. I’ve got story too. The difference is I don’t go around singing my praises and saying, ‘look at me’. I’m doing what I’m doing. You may get your moment, but unfortunately it isn’t going to be on Friday with me. You may get it when I vacate. Potentially this is my toughest fight yet, take nothing away from him. He’s a character and he’s got a vast amateur background with 90 fights. He’s done a lot of unlicensed stuff when he was struggling to get his board license. Since then he’s been professional and he’s fought a few good guys. I’m going to deal with him. I know what I need to do and that’s what I’m going to go and do.” Bilal Fawaz: “This is a momentous moment. It is a moment that will change the trajectory of my career. I’ve came so far in such a short space of time. I’ve never fought on the stage of Matchroom before. Thank you by the way, thank you so much Eddie. This is huge for me. I’ve never fought on this magnitude before. The first time I’m fighting; I’m the headliner. Here’s the deal; I’ve came so far in a short space of time. That should rattle anyone that I’m going to be facing. I had to go up to Middleweight to fight for the Southern Area Title. I kept on drinking water to step on the scale to make weight to fight people. It’s a huge moment for me and this will change everything. It will change my life. My life has been a rollercoaster. Not in a good way, but in a very unpracticable manner. So this right here is sensational. I think he’s a pretty boy. I’ll call him pretty boy. He’s a cheeky guy. Junaid is a good fighter, but the thing is, you don’t command power. There’s no power with it. Look at the people I’ve fought. He’s fought riff raff and vagabonds. It’s realistic, you can see it. I’m not condemning you in any way – I’m saying you’re a good fighter. It’s okay to have confidence, because having confidence will take you further than you would be without it. I adapt. I don’t have a style." Jimmy Sains: “This will be my first eight-rounder. I know that I haven’t gone the distance yet but I’ve done a few six-rounders. It’s just a natural progression to eight rounds. I’ll look for titles next. To be honest I try to put my perfect record to the back of my mind. I don’t really think about it at all. I think everyone wants to have the knockout and it looks good to have a knockout. People want to see a knockout, but if it doesn’t happen it don’t happen. I just go in there and try to put on the best boxing performance I can and if the shot happens it happens. So far it has done. I’ll keep it the same every fight.” Giorgio Visioli: “I think the extra 6 minutes gives me a bit more time. I’m happy to do the eight rounds. I only knew about two weeks ago. I thought I was doing six rounds for some reason. I’m happy I’m doing the eight. I think it gives me more time and I think you’ll see even more of my class. It’s different you know. In the amateurs you don’t do any of this media stuff. I’ve really enjoyed it so far. At the start I was a bit nervous but I’m thriving off it now. I enjoy all of this and I’m looking forward to doing more. You train hard. I’ll beat any man that you put in front of me. I was meant to fight someone else who pulled out on Monday. Another good opponent, but I think on paper this guy has got a better record. A Mexican, tough guy. They’re born to fight but I’m ready. I’m always ready.” Taylor Bevan: “I’m very happy with my debut. I’ve had loads of compliments about the way it went. I couldn’t have asked for much more really. I think I’d score myself an eight or a nine out of ten. There’s always thing that you can improve on but I’m happy to be out again so soon and I’m just looking to build on from that and keep the momentum going. I just want to stay as active as I can. Eddie made it clear after my debut that that’s what they want to do with me. I’m very happy with that. I like to get straight back into camp and work towards my next date. I want to stay as active as I can over the next 12 months, keep developing and keep the momentum going.” Leli Buttigieg: “He’s a good strong man. He comes to fight. I remember watching that fight. He even dropped Aaron Bowen. He ain’t been in the ring with me yet. My team know how good I am. I know how good I am. I’m going to do the business on Friday. Just to keep performing and keep learning. Just keep doing the best I can. I’m ready for whatever. I train hard. I put my hours in. Al and Eddie know how good I am. Whatever comes my way I’ll be ready for it. He can come. I don’t hide. I’ll be ready for him.” Jesse Brandon: “Everyone just supports and appreciates what I’m doing from my community. I’m just trying to transition. I was in the streets and all of that. Now that I’m doing the boxing I feel like everyone is appreciative of what I’m trying to do and for the next generation as well. I appreciate everyone that is buying tickets because obviously they’re spending their hard-earned money for me. I just know on fight night I’ve got to go in there and show this guy who I am. Boxing saved my life and I feel like that’s why me and ‘AJ’ relate so much. I feel like that’s why he’s always so willing to help. When I was venting to him he just called you or whatever and then we’re here now. He’s given me the opportunity, you’ve given me the opportunity. Fight night, just go out there and show out. Look to be busy because of my age. People at my weight are ahead of me, only due to experience. I don’t feel like they’re better than me. I’ve just got to prove it. I’ve got to be active. When the time comes I will be calling out who I need to call out. Until then, just get rid of the cobwebs and get this man out of there.” Maiseyrose Courtney: “Do you know what? I feel very good. In hindsight I’m very grateful, in a sense, that what has happened early on in my career because you don’t realise when things are going wrong and thing aren’t working out, something happens to bring it to the forefront. I work hard. I like to fight. That’s it. I need to make sure it stays like that and everything in perfect. Like Eddie said, I’ve got one more chance to prove how good I am. Another win under my belt and that’s it. Onwards and upwards from there. Anyone, anywhere, any place. The O2 or my mum’s back garden, even Tesco’s car park. Anywhere, I don’t care. I’ll fight anyone. I’ve got nothing to lose now. I’m not fearful. I’ll fight anyone.”  |
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