Top heavyweight Luis “King Kong” Ortiz and former world champion Charles Martin, along with rising heavyweight star Frank “The Cuban Flash” Sanchez and Puerto Rican track and field athlete Carlos Negron, previewed the events. their heavyweight showdown during Tuesday’s virtual press conference before they enter the FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View Action ring on Saturday, January 1 from Hard Rock Live at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
Ortiz and Martin will meet in 12 rounds of IBF heavyweight qualifiers in the main event, while Sanchez and Negron clash in the 10-round co-main event as part of the action starting at 8pm ET / 5 p.m. Pacific Time.
The pay-per-view action will also see heavyweights Jonnie Rice and Michael Coffie battle it out in a 10-round rematch who challenges former title Gerald “El Gallo Negro” Washington in a 10-round match against Turkish athlete Ali Eren Demirezen, and undefeated Viktor Faust faced Iago Kiladze in a 10-round draw to open the pay-per-view.
Here’s what the press conference participants had to say on Tuesday:
LUIS ORTIZ
“I am just thankful and happy to be in this position. It’s great to be at this stage. I’m ready to do my job and shine on New Year’s Day.
“It was exciting to be fighting near my adopted hometown of South Florida. I’m always motivated to fight, no matter what. My training camp is very stressful so I still don’t have much time to see my family, but I’m looking forward to this game in my backyard.
“My mind and body are both at their peak. If someone thinks I won’t be able to pass the test, they’re wrong. I welcome any challenger, and that includes Charles Martin.
“My strategy and goals have not changed. I want to face the best and the best. Whatever path takes me, I’m fine with it. The goal will remain the same.
“Everyone who knows me knows that I don’t mess around in the gym. Throwing punches is what I do best. I take it very seriously. If someone is best to me one day, I will say a good job, learn the lesson and be better the next day.
“I was able to help Carlos Negron in training, mainly because I knew he was fighting a Cuban opponent. That will help him, and I wish him the best on January 1st.
“No one can take away my dream of becoming a world champion. I will continue to prepare for my next challenge with Charles Martin. Then I’ll keep going up from there. I have no reason to believe that my dream will not come true.
“I am ready for war. And I’m going to go out there and give it all I have. I’m not worried about any size advantage my opponent might have. My mentality is to always be ready and accept any challenge.
“My name is not mentioned by other strong candidates because they are avoiding me. I don’t know why they avoid me, but I will be ready when they call my name. “
CHARLES MARTIN
“The training camp has been excellent. I’m just working hard. I’m used to this now. All I know is hard work. I’m working hard every day. That’s what we do.
“This is what I am most focused on in my career. And this fight is everything to me. A lot of people don’t want to fight me. I credit Ortiz for standing up and joining the fight.
“People will be shocked at what I do in this fight. I always got what it needed, and now I’m adding the main ingredient to it, which is dedication. And I know that’s what it takes to be world champion again.
“It has been like night and day for me since I lost the title. I used to eat fast food, and now my diet is completely different. And I’ve always worked hard, but now I’ve put everything together. I feel unstoppable.
“Manny Robles has helped me become an all-around boxer. I can do more things and I have more tools in my arsenal. I am a much more disciplined fighter in and out of the ring.
“At the moment, my focus is only on Luis Ortiz. I can’t look beyond this war. I focused on getting Luis Ortiz out of there. I woke up in the morning, and I saw Luis Ortiz. And I will handle this business on January 1st, and then I will be able to talk about the future.
“And I am at my peak. I’m ready to compete. I don’t want to fight low level fighters. I want to fight the best. And I want to be a two-time world champion, and I have high expectations. I don’t want to waste any time in my career. I’m ready to rock and roll. ”
FRANK SANCHEZ
“We are excited to be fighting in South Florida on January 1st. We have great preparation with Team Canelo right now. It couldn’t be any better. I wanted to show the Cuban fans in Florida that I would be ready for the world championship title next year.
“My fight in October was easier than I expected. I left uninjured. So when asked about the fight on January 1, I didn’t hesitate. I fought well in my last match and I want to keep that momentum going through 2022.
“This is a meaningful fight for me. I want to keep climbing in the rankings, but I also want to stay active and continue to prove my worth. This is a great time for me to do that.
“Carlos is already in my sights, and I have a feeling I will fight him at some point. I researched him thoroughly in the past. I feel like I’m the better fighter and he’ll be another stop on my title fight next year.
“The most important thing I learned from the match against Efe Ajagba was not to listen to outside noises. All I hear about is how he is a man who knocks everyone down. During the battle, I realized that I was able to roll him. But I realized that it’s not just how hard you punch in boxing, but also your technique.
“I am ready to face the best. Everything I’ve learned from Eddy Reynoso has made me stronger and brought me to this point. I am ready for anyone who gets in my way. I will accept any challenge at any time. ”
CARLOS NEGRON
“I am very grateful for this opportunity. I feel great right now. We are having very active training and top preparation as we prepare for January 1st.
“I am very happy that we were able to make this fight a reality. The winner will be the fan. We both wanted to show our abilities.
“I am proud to be fighting a great fighter like Frank Sanchez. He showed in his final battle. I’m excited about the challenge. I’m very confident and I don’t have any anxiety going into January 1st.
“I have to thank my team for keeping me as active as they have been lately. It is also necessary for me. I want to be in the ring as long as I’m healthy. I hope that operation will continue to be successful in this fight.
“I feel like I do, and Frank’s path will converge at some point. We don’t know when, but we know it will. I respect him as a fighter, and I look forward to this fight.
“I am ready to adapt to whatever happens in the ring. And I’ll just do it one round at a time and base it on my style. I’ll figure it out at this point. Whatever I say in advance will have little effect on what happens in the ring.”
TOM BROWN, President of Advertising TGB
“Heavyweight is the strongest weight class in sport. There’s nothing like a great heavyweight fight, and I’ll put on a great heavyweight fight against any sporting event in the world. Heavyweight boxing is back, and on January 1, we have top heavyweight contenders, top heavyweight prospects and a former heavyweight champion on this almighty card.
“The main event was a very engaging fight, and it was all part of an excellent lineup. The goal of every boxer is to become a world champion. Six-foot-four-year-old Luis Ortiz has contested that title twice and knows he needs to beat Charles Martin for one more chance. Charles Martin, 6 feet 5 years old, is the highest ranked IBF candidate, and he has been a champion before. He wants to get back there again with a statement on January 1.
In the co-main event, ‘The Cuban Flash’ Frank Sanchez, undefeated and four-meter sixth, came from a massive under-fight victory under Fury vs. Wilder III, and he’s in the six-foot-six Puerto Rican heavyweight Carlos Negron, who’s on a five-fight winning streak.
“Nothing but New Year’s Day heavyweights. They are the king of the ring, and you won’t want to miss it. “
