{"id":67119,"date":"2017-05-18T15:20:51","date_gmt":"2017-05-18T20:20:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/?p=67119"},"modified":"2017-05-18T15:21:25","modified_gmt":"2017-05-18T20:21:25","slug":"gary-russell-jr-oscar-escandon-final-press-conference-gets-heated-breaking-boxing-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/?p=67119","title":{"rendered":"Gary Russell, JR – Oscar Escandon Final Press Conference Gets HEATED – Breaking Boxing News"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Photo by Tom Casino\/Showtime<\/strong><\/p>\n

Featherweight world champion Gary Russell Jr. and top challenger Oscar Escandon went face-to-face Thursday at the final press conference before they square-off in the main event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING this Saturday, May 20 from MGM National Harbor in Maryland.<\/p>\n

Also in attendance at Thursday\u2019s press conference and competing in action on SHOWTIME were super middleweight contenders Andre Dirrell and Jose Uzcategui, who battle for the IBF Super Middleweight World Championship, plus two-division world champion Rances Barthelemy and former title challenger Kiryl Relikh, who meet in a 140-pound title eliminator. The telecast begins at 6 p.m. ET\/3 p.m. PT with Gervonta Davis putting his IBF Jr. Lightweight Title on the line against Liam Walsh from Copper Box Arena in London.<\/p>\n

Tickets for the live event at MGM National Harbor, promoted by TGB Promotions, are priced at $200, $150, $100 and $50, and are now on sale. To purchase tickets go to http:\/\/mgmnationalharbor.com\/.<\/p>\n

Russell Jr. was joined by his brothers, 2016 U.S. Olympian Gary Antuanne Russell and unbeaten prospect Gary Antonio Russell, as the trio of brothers look to pick up a hat trick of victories in their hometown Saturday night and on the birthday of their father and trainer, Gary Russell Sr.<\/p>\n

Here is what the participants had to say Thursday from MGM National Harbor:<\/p>\n

GARY RUSSELL JR.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI never magnify an event, even though it\u2019s at home. The end objective is still the same. But I think it\u2019s cool that everyone in our neighborhood has the opportunity to be in the arena and see what we do.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m 100 percent physically and mentally ready for the challenge and I\u2019m on top of everything I can be.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you get caught up in the hype, it\u2019s a deficiency in yourself. You have to be able to focus on the objective over everything else.<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe in my ability but also the ability of my brothers. So I\u2019m not nervous for them. I know what they\u2019ve been taught. They conduct themselves like young men in and out of the ring.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want a unification bout after this. I\u2019m ready for any of the other world champions. We can line them all up in the same night if you want. If I can\u2019t get those fights, I\u2019m going to move up in weight and bully around these bigger guys.<\/p>\n

\u201cI look at each fighter as their own individual. We don\u2019t prepare the same way for every opponent. He\u2019s a tough fighter who comes forward. He\u2019s very physical and I expect him to be at his best on Saturday. It\u2019s up to me to counteract what he does.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love this sport. I love what I do. I love being able to prepare for no one else, but the person across the ring and then dismantling him.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe worked on versatility most. We believe in the sweet science. A lot of these guys just win because they\u2019re stronger and faster. We want to be more technically sound too.\u201d<\/p>\n

OSCAR ESCANDON<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a very important fight for my career. This is going to elevate me to where I want to be and give me the platform to do anything in the sport. I\u2019m very well prepared for this.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel strong and healthy at 126-pounds. I\u2019m focused on this fight Saturday night. I\u2019ll fight anyone but right now I have to get past Gary Russell Jr.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn my last fight I was the underdog. People counted me out. Same thing applies here. I\u2019ve done the work and I\u2019m confident that I\u2019m going to win.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t have complete training camps with my past trainers, but now I\u2019m with Ruben Guerrero. I\u2019m learning so much. You can look at me in my previous fights and you\u2019ll see a vast improvement now.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want that green (WBC) belt a lot. Green is my favorite color. I want to be the best and to me, winning that title signifies that I am the best. To do that I have to beat the best, and that is Gary Russell Jr.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t like to talk much but I will say that I\u2019m coming to bring this world title back to Colombia. I respect Gary but my mindset is that I\u2019m taking this title home.\u201d<\/p>\n

ANDRE DIRRELL<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been a long hard journey for me. But I\u2019ve always managed to climb back on top. The hard work that I\u2019ve put in will make Saturday night easy work.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy opponent is a fantastic fighter. If anyone should be in line for a title it\u2019s this guy. He has the the power and he has the skill. I just believe he\u2019s up against a better and tougher opponent.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to get in the ring and display all of my abilities. I\u2019m very confident and ready. It\u2019s time for Andre to get on top and stay on top.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been out of the ring for a while but most importantly, I\u2019ve stayed in the gym in training the whole time. I\u2019ve kept positive mentally as well. Everything is going upward right now and I\u2019m going to take advantage.<\/p>\n

\u201cUzcategui has everything a world champion needs to get to that title, but he\u2019s facing a more skilled competitor on May 20. He\u2019s deserving of the opportunity and that\u2019s why I trained so hard for this fight.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe title means the world to me. We fight for the titles first. We\u2019re all coming from the amateurs where we got trophies. My love will always be here with the sport until the day I retire.\u201d<\/p>\n

JOSE UZCATEGUI<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYou won\u2019t want to miss any of these fights on Saturday night. It\u2019s a great card and I\u2019m planning to steal the show.<\/p>\n

\u201cI like when my opponent talks a lot. None of the stuff my opponent says can help him in the ring. It\u2019s just me, him and our fists.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a lot of responsibility to be the top contender for the belt. I have to make it clear that we deserve this so that I can move on to bigger and better things.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople are going to get to see my power on display Saturday night, but also my other skills. I can do it all in the ring and I\u2019m going to prove it.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter this I want to take on James DeGale and Gilberto Ramirez. I\u2019m coming to clean out this whole division and be undisputed. It starts on Saturday.\u201d<\/p>\n

RANCES BARTHELEMY<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

“I’m living a dream right now that I myself never in a million years imagined. Every time I get to speak with my mother in Cuba, I tell her of this dream that I am currently living and how it is still surreal to me. To be able to fight on these big cards in the U.S. after the long journey, after all the setbacks, I could not be any more grateful.<\/p>\n

“Being a world champion in two different weight divisions is something still unreal to me after people doubted whether I would even become a world champion one day. But this journey does not stop here for me. I have the urge to keep on going, make history for my people, and fight the big names in boxing.<\/p>\n

“Everyone in my team supports and motivates each other because we know we as Cubans have to work twice as hard as everybody else. There is an unfair representation of Cuban boxers among the press and fans here in America. We are misconstrued as being boring fighters therefore we are determined to erase that stigma and prove to everyone that we can brawl and put on a good show just as much as we can box.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have been working on some new and different things to add to my arsenal this training camp. My whole team has been incredible and pushed me every day.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t miss this fight on Saturday night. It\u2019s going to be eventful and exciting. I\u2019m coming to get a spectacular win.\u201d<\/p>\n

KIRYL RELIKH<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m very happy to be here and be a part of this great show. I will do my best to give a great fight on Saturday.<\/p>\n

\u201cCamp was perfect. I have a great team and I\u2019m ready for anything. We worked hard and it\u2019s going to be a great performance.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m ready for any style that that Rances Barthelemy can bring into the ring. We thought that we got the win in Scotland against Ricky Burns, but it is very hard to win on points on the road.<\/p>\n

\u201cI always fight in different countries so this is just another one on my list. It\u2019s normal for me. I\u2019m very ready for the challenge and I\u2019m expecting a great fight.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope that people like my style. I\u2019m going to entertain the fans and get a victory over Rances Barthelemy on Saturday night.\u201d<\/p>\n

GARY ANTUANNE RUSSELL<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI get to pick up right where I left off after the Olympics. I\u2019m fighting on the same night with my brothers for the first time in so long. It was one of my first amateur fights when we last did it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m feeling really good. We\u2019re making a statement and we\u2019re making history. What\u2019s not to be excited about?<\/p>\n

\u201cMentally and emotionally the Olympics really helped me for the pros. You have to develop over time. We\u2019re constantly training and sharpening our tools. This is a different stage, that\u2019s all.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope everyone is ready for Saturday night. There were some mishaps at the Olympics. Life is going to throw you bumps to get over, and that\u2019s what I\u2019m going to do. Everyone better keep their eyes open Saturday, because it might be quick.\u201d<\/p>\n

GARY ANTONIO RUSSELL<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m really excited about this fight and competing alongside my brothers. It feels good to come home and fight. My family and friends will be in the building.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t wait to get in the ring and show what we\u2019ve been working so hard on. All the hours in the gym with my dad and brothers is going to pay off on fight night.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve seen some video of my opponent. I know his weaknesses and strengths. We\u2019re going to come exploit it on fight night.\u201d<\/p>\n

GARY RUSSELL SR., Father and Trainer of the Russells<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWe work hard in the gym. Everybody has a plan until they get hit. We know that he\u2019s going to bring pressure and we\u2019ll be ready for it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m really happy about this opportunity. We can get it all done in one night and put on a great show for everyone.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m definitely in fight mode. There are no extra nerves at all. I just want to get this done and get it done right.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t really put Escandon in the same category with the top guys we\u2019ve faced. He\u2019s a short fighter. Most people in these weight classes are taller than Gary. At that size, the only way you can fight is straight forward. He\u2019s not going to out box us.\u201d<\/p>\n

RUBEN GUERRERO, Escandon\u2019s Trainer<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re ready over here. We\u2019re going to do what it takes. We know what we\u2019re up against. He\u2019s one of the best. We\u2019ll prove who is the best on Saturday. This is going to come down to a war. Gary knows what he\u2019s going against.<\/p>\n

\u201cI helped Escandon set up a camp in Las Vegas for this fight because this was a huge opportunity. We were up in the mountains and that\u2019s where I wanted him. He\u2019s going to be great on fight night. He\u2019ll be ready to go. It\u2019s not easy to train in Vegas.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re coming to win. We can\u2019t control the judges but we know they\u2019re fair. We\u2019re expecting a fair shake. We\u2019re going to control what we can.\u201d<\/p>\n