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Philippines, 29 May 2025 |
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CATTERALL VS. EUBANK + UNDERCARD LAUNCH PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES PhilBoxing.com Wed, 28 May 2025  Jack Catterall: "147 lbs. I find myself in a position now where I can make 140 lbs, obviously the natural step would be to go to 147. It's got to be the right fight. If the right fights come at 140 in the future then we'll consider that. Me and Harlem spoke before. I think he was only fighting at 140 around two or three fights ago. When it got proposed at Welterweight, it did me a favour. "It's a blessing and a privilege to be able to come back to Manchester and headline. Thank you DAZN and Matchroom Boxing for that. I find myself in a position where my back is against the wall coming off a defeat. I've been working on myself since the fight. I took myself to America to do a lot of sparring. I've come home and I knuckled down to training. "When the phone rang and they presented Harlem, it was a yes. It's always been a yes. I've never turned down any fights. What excites me about this fight is the domestic fights. They're the fights that, throughout my career, I've probably performed my best. The pressure is on but I think I thrive under the pressure. Coming off a defeat I've got to go in there and perform and prove that I belong at this level." Harlem Eubank: "This is the opportunity that I've been training for since I came into the sport. I came in because I want to become World Champion. Jack is a world class operator. He's proven it time and time again. Now is my opportunity to go in there and show people I'm ready to win a World Title. Jack is the type of fighter I need to overcome to fulfil my ambitions in the sport. We're prepared, we're ready. We know how good Jack is. This fight isn't about how good Jack is. This is about how good I am, and I'm ready to show the world. "This is the time the fight was meant to happen. I believe that Jack is in the best form of his life. He's just coming off defeat at the highest level. As he said, he's taken himself out to America, we're going to see the best version of Jack Catterall in there on July 5th, and that's the man that I'm ready to overcome." Frank Smith, Matchroom Boxing CEO: “We’ve had a great run in Manchester in recent times, obviously led by Jack Catterall. Years before that as well, William Crolla’s brother Anthony was the man who was selling out this arena back day as well. It’s exciting to be back in Manchester – a real fighting community and somewhere we love to come. A lot of these fighters up on the top table will look to become those stars of tomorrow. "I think this is a tremendous main event. Domestic fights are what people buy into. It's the kind of fight that we need to make to keep the sport building in the UK. It's great to be working with Nisse Sauerland and Wasserman Boxing as always. When we spoke about this fight, there were discussions with everyone around whether this was the right route to go, and within two or three days it was made. That doesn't always happen in boxing, as we know. This was a fight both guys wanted. It's a great fight for both guys. I think it's the perfect fight for both of them. I'm excited for it. “I think everyone was after Leo Atang. Every promoter in British boxing, and in world boxing, was interested in signing Leo. He’s 18 years old; he needs time to develop but we believe we can do that. We’ve done it before, and we can take him all the way. He’s got all of the strengths that are needed to get to the top of this sport. We’re excited to be part of that journey. This is a journey that is going to last for the next 15 years. We’ve done it time and time again, and this will be another story in the Matchroom journey with a young fighter in Leo Atang that goes all the way. We’re excited to get started with him and looking forward to July 5th." Nisse Sauerland, Wasserman Boxing: "Jack has got it all to lose. Harlem is coming in here, it's his first world class step up. Obviously he's coming off his great victory over Tyrone McKenna. He looked a million dollars. Where does he go? Do we do another McKenna fight? Around that level. Or do we go for the big boys? Props to both men. I didn't expect Harlem to accept it so quickly. Jack, if he loses, it's not the greatest position for him, coming off the back of a couple of losses in a row. Props to both guys for taking it. Harlem, I believe, can go all the way. Obviously Jack is in the way now. I do think he has the skills to beat Jack. I see this as a bit of a Froch-Kessler fight. Two gentlemen. They're going to take it very very serious. Two warriors. No trash talking needed. I think the fight will sell itself. I do think Harlem will win. The time is right for us. The time is right for Harlem. Charlie believes he is ready, so I've got to put my trust in the fighter." Jamie Moore, Catterall's trainer: "Jack's work ethic and his commitment to the sport is like something I've never seen. As you would expect, after you first loss, he had a good rest - he needed a good rest - because that was the most active he'd been for years. Two of those camps were extended, which meant they were longer than you'd want. There was a little bit of fatigue there and I feel like the rest has done him the world of good. His attitude has always been bulletproof. He's always been that one track mind type of fighter. It's not an easy fight, but at 31-years-old coming into his peak years he doesn't want to be looking backwards and getting an easier fight. People have questioned whether Harlem is going to be able to make this step up, but at some point in your career you have to take that step up. You either sink or swim. In my opinion, Jack Catterall will beat him because he's too good." Charlie Beatt, Eubank's trainer: "This is a great fight for Harlem. Both of these young men I think should be commended for the way that they conduct themselves in and out of the ring. I think it's going to be a fantastic fight. I just believe that Harlem has got the speed, the power and the tenacity to beat Jack Catterall." Sam Jones, Catterall's manager: "First of all, it really is a brilliant fight. We want to give people fights that the British people care about. The British public will care about this fight because it's a domestic fight, they're the best fights. Credit to Harlem for taking the fight. It's a big step up for him. It's a monumental step up. I don't believe he is going to be ready for the task. I think it's going to be all too much for him. Jack and Harlem both have a responsibility to make this a good fight. Harlem has just watched his cousin take part in one of the best fights I have ever seen. He's under immense pressure as well." Jamie Conlan, Eubank's manager: "It's a fight that Harlem has been asking for for a while. Jack has been to the top. It's a massive opportunity for him to test himself. It's the hardest fight you could pick in the division in Britain. There's a lot of pressure on the line for Jack because I think he's coming off a big loss to Barboza. Back to back losses are hard on the career. It's a fantastic fight. That's where you'll see the best of Jack Catterall and the best of Harlem Eubank. It's a massive opportunity for Harlem to really get into the world stage and to put his name in the big lights and the big fights. He has momentum on his side. Brighton really building something, especially with Channel 5 and Wasserman. I think it's a fantastic clash of styles." Pat Brown: “It was a night to remember. It’s what I dreamt of as a kid. I walked past the Ice Rink so many times as a kid. I used to go there skating as a kid, whereas now I look at it thinking over 1,000 people came to watch my pro debut. I said I didn’t want an opponent that was going to come and just tuck up and go down. Grandone came to win and he wanted to rock the boat. That’s what we trained for. The gym is thriving. Dave is coming off a really good win against Fisher. We’re all just bouncing off each other. We always train hard, nobody is slacking. It’s just keeping ready at all times and having a bit of fun as well. It’s what every fighter wants, they want activity. I’ve got the June 21st fight in Birmingham as well. You can’t underestimate anyone. Whoever I’m fighting in Birmingham, I need to be fully tunnel vision for and get the job done. Then we’ll roll into this one. I’ll bring a big crowd and it’ll go off.” William Crolla: “Last fight done me a world of good. He’s a tough kid him and he’s upset the applecart a few times. You give him notice, and he’ll upset the applecart. He’s a good lad as well. Like you say, July 5th, another step up to eight rounds, another good opponent in Frazer Wilkinson. I think this is a fight that really suits me, a fight that will bring out the best in me, a fight that I believe I will take him out in. It was different, in the first round everything was going to round; I was landing big and I believe I hurt him a few times in the first. He had a great chin. It was different. It was a great learning fight. I took loads from that fight. I’ve shown I can box on the backfoot. I’m not just this one trick pony who can blast people out. I was switch hitting nice, mixing it up. I believe it was a great performance. It’s set me in great stead for this fight. He seems a fit lad, he comes for it and throws a lot. I’ve always said it, when people come to try and beat me, that’s when you’ll see the best of me. July 5th I’ll turn up and do a job on Frazer Wilkinson.” Aqib Fiaz: “I feel like last time was a good performance. I’ve matured so much since the Reece Bellotti fight. I was only 23 at the time. Now is a bad time to be fighting me. I’m excited to get this fight, I cannot wait for July 5th. I feel like he’s made a mistake. This is going to be a big performance from me. I can’t wait to get in there and show him that he’s made a real bad mistake. He wasn’t taking the fight regardless a couple of weeks ago, no matter what weight it was. There’s always pressure to win every fight. I’ve got to win this fight and I’ve got to look good in doing so to get my name back out there with the likes of Bellotti and Garner. A good performance here will put me in good stead for fights like that. I’m going to go through him.” Michael Gomez Jr: “It was a weird one mate. I just didn’t turn up (against Reece Bellotti). No reasons why, I just didn’t turn up. When there’s no reasons as to why you don’t turn up, there’s no answers. I said to my team, for me to get back in, it needs to be a big fight. A Manchester derby in Manchester; what more can you ask for? I actually think he’s a decent fighter to be fair. He just likes to play up. It’s going to come down to who wants it more. It’s a fight where I think we both have to win. I think the loser is pretty much screwed. I’m not ready to let go of these big nights just yet. Absolutely not mate, and I think that’s what is going to get me over the line.” Leo Atang: “It’s something you watch as a kid growing up. Seeing all of the press conferences and all of the weigh-ins. Now that I’m actually doing it, it’s definitely becoming real. Now was the right time to turn professional because I want to make up for the loss of activity as an amateur. I wasn’t going to be fighting for nearly over a year. I just wanted to be in there, learn on the job and eventually it’ll pay dividends in the future. I want to be Heavyweight World Champion one day. Tune in for a good performance, and a little knockout to finish.” Alfie Middlemiss: “I’m just loving it. I’m taking it all in my stride. 3-0 already and back on a massive card. What a great stage for me to go and showcase my skills. I’m looking to put on a statement performance on July 5th. The gym is thriving at the minute and I’m just soaking it up, being like a sponge in the gym. There’s world class fighters and fighters at different levels. I’m just enjoying it, learning as much as I can. I’m going to put it in the ring on July 5th and put on a great performance.”  |
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