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SUNDERLAND PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES AS McCORMACK EYES BIG WIN PhilBoxing.com Fri, 05 Sep 2025  Pat McCormack warned rival Miguel Parra that he will not let the tough Mexican derail his journey towards a future World Title shot as the pair shared a tense stand-off at their final Press Conference in Sunderland on Thursday. On Saturday, the pair collide at a sold-out Sunderland Live in an Eliminator for the WBA World Welterweight Title. The stacked undercard sees Mark Dickinson defend his Super-Middleweight Title in a North East derby with Troy Williamson. Plus, another local lad in Cameron Vuong is looking to extend his flawless record. Sandy Ryan returns to the UK as she meets a game Jade Grierson, as wonderkids Leo Atang, Adam Maca and Tiah-Mai Ayton all look for victories in their respective second professional bouts. Here’s what the fighters had to say at today’s Press Conference, with the quotes in full below. PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES Matchroom Boxing CEO, Frank Smith: “Pat McCormack is a fighter who we believe will go all the way. By the end of next year the aim has got to be for World Titles Conah Walker is a tremendous fight for Pat, but you can’t look past Miguel Parra. Pat needs people who are going to push him and I think Conah walker is a fight will we see one day but it’s all about Saturday night. It’s an exciting card. You’ve always got to be looking towards the future. We’ve had great stars who are coming to the end of their careers. Now we’ve got these young stars who are really building for the future and becoming global stars. These fighters will be looking to push themselves inside and outside the ring and become headliners. You’ve got to work with the fighters who are going to believe in themselves. We need dedicated and hungry young fighters who will go in there and deliver big performances – but who are also willing to make the effort and put themselves out there outside the ring too.” Pat McCormack “I’m buzzing to be back home in the North East. I got a good win against Robbie Davies Jr. last time out, now I’ve got a good world-ranked opponent in front of me. He’s a very good fighter, a tough Mexican, but I believe I’ve got the skills to beat him. All that matters is winning and looking good. The British Title is what I want next or European or Commonwealth. The British against Conah Walker is the fight that everyone seems to be talking about so I’m happy to have it next. But I need to get through Parra first. I’ve got to keep winning, and then I’m just about there. My prediction? Pat McCormack win. And I’ll look good doing it.” Miguel Parra: “It’s going to be the fight of my life [against Pat McCormack]. I’m looking forward to this fight and everything that comes with it. I’ve had a lot of preparation for this fight. Originally, it was set for 10 rounds but now it’s 12 rounds and I’ve had to really work hard in my training for it. Mexican fighters are Mexican fighters. I’m going to enjoy this fight and do the very best I can.” Mark Dickinson: “I don’t take Troy’s [Williamson] recent form into account. Styles make fights and I think this will make for a big fight. I agree with what he is saying about making the weight and I expect the best Troy Williamson in there on Saturday night. I don’t see myself as a Champion yet. This Title is a stepping stone to where I want to be. I wouldn’t box if I didn’t think I could be a World Champion. I need to learn my stripes and become a British champion by next year, if I can. You’d pay to watch us spar, so this will be a cracking fight.” Troy Williamson: “Mark [Dickinson] and I have done a lot of rounds together in sparring. I know he’s a quality operator but I can’t wait to go on Saturday night in a new weight division under a new training team. I’m a big dude and it was killing me to make the weight, but I believe I’ve got a lot left to give and you will see that on Saturday night. Eight years on and I’m back at this weight, my ambition is higher than ever. Some of the best fighters have lost many times on the bounce. I feel great and I’m really excited to get the ball rolling again on Saturday night. I need to do exactly what I’ve been doing in the gym. Sandy Ryan: “You can’t buy experience and I’ve been there, done it. Jade seems confident but she hasn’t been at this level, so we’ll see what she brings Saturday night. You learn in every fight. For me this fight is the get-back to the old Sandy and that’s what you’ll see this Saturday. I’ve got really good rounds in with Terri [Harper] this camp. We laugh and joke about sharing the ring and that’s the good side of boxing you don’t get very often. I respect her massively. You know me, I’ll take any fight. We’ve got Jade in front of us and she seems very game and confident. It should be a good fight, but I don’t ever think she’s been in a deep waters fight. I’ll get past this fight, get back into winning ways and there are some big fights out there for me. “ Jade Grierson: “I’m a young girl from Newark making it happen. You can only respect the things Sandy has achieved so far in her career, but it’s my time now and I was born to do this. Anytime would be a good time to fight Sandy regardless of her coming off two defeats. It’s great for my career. I believe I will set the pace, pick my shots and you will see what I’m capable of on Saturday night. Not many people know but I’ve competed in martial arts since I was six years-old. The amateur game never suited my style. Sandy talks about ‘deep waters’ but who knows until they’re actually in there? Every one has their own motivation. But I’ll do anything for my daughter and this is for her. I hope you haven’t overlooked me, Sandy.” Cameron Vuong: “Things have changed massively for me. It’s another level down there [with new trainer Ben Davison in Essex]. I’ve been enjoying training over the past five months and I feel like I’m a new fighter. I’m Cameron Vuong 2.0. I am looking forward to showcasing it on Saturday night. They say if you’re the smartest person in the room, then you’re in the wrong room. T take that attitude into the gym with me, especially being in with fighters who are way ahead of me. So I’m learning a lot every day. I am around a lot of fighters who are a lot better than me, which is great to be around. I’m happy and I am getting better all the time. [On a potential rematch with Gavin Gwynne] I’m sick of hearing his name to be honest. But I am fully focused. I know I need to take care of things on Saturday night, then get him dealt with before I can put my feet up for Christmas.” Leo Atang: “I felt the pressure [on my debut last July]. There was a lot building up, with the press conference and the weigh-in. It was all new to me. But I took each day at a time and once you actually get in there in the ring, it is what I do day-in, day-out, so I was relaxed completely and do my thing. [On Moses Itauma comparisons] Hats off to him. He’s opened and paved the way for young fighters like myself to turn over early. It’s nice to see someone doing that. I hope I can emulate his pathway. Of course, I take things at my pace, do things my way, and eventually get to where he [Itauma] is at. [On Saturday’s fight] Hopefully it will be the same result with a knockout win and I will be back on the road again soon.” Tiah Mai-Ayton: [After my debut last June] I took away that next time I’m not going to go in at 100mph. I’m going to calm down a bit and hopefully the stoppage will just come on its own. I think I could become an Undisputed World Champion in about four weight categories. Hopefully I can become the youngest to ever do it as a woman and achieve that by the time I’m 22. Things haven’t changed too much outside the ring in Bristol for me since my debut. But I got the [knockout] reel that I wanted. And I love boxing a lot more now. Every time I’m training in the gym it’s worth it, because I’m here now and I’m really excited to be fighting again on Saturday. Adam Maca: “I had a week off after [my debut, last June] New York and was straight back in the gym. I think I’ll take all of that in when I retire, having been a world champion. It was great to get that experience on a big stage straight away, so when I do get to those stages and fighting for world titles, that I’m used to it and it’s nothing new to me. I’ll be ready to go. My opponent was looking to bang me out! We see from his previous fights that he was coming to win. The commentators had remarked that an overhand right would introduce me to the pro game. But I was happy with that because I want to be going up against fighters who want to win. On Saturday, I want another knock out and to keep entertaining people by doing what I love.” Brad Casey: It’s the perfect time for me to turn professional. I’m very excited and I can’t wait to show the world what I’m all about. Obviously, I believe I can go all the way. As an amateur, and I know it’s a cliché to say it, but I believe I had the perfect style to adapt to professional boxing so I can’t wait to prove it. It’s special to be on the same card as Leo Atang and Adam Maca [two of his best friends]. The dream is to go all the way and become a world champion. Tune in on Friday for the Official Weigh-In, starting at 1pm – live on DAZN  |
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