Press Conference Quotes: Shakur Stevenson Set for Brick City Homecoming

NEWARK, N.J. (Sept. 21, 2022) — Shakur Stevenson is 2 days away from the last word homecoming. The WBC/WBO/Ring Journal junior light-weight king will defend his belts Friday night in opposition to Robson Conceição (17-1, 8 KOs) at Prudential Middle. Stevenson, a 2016 Olympic silver medalist, is a Newark native who’s preventing at dwelling as a world champion for the primary time.

Earlier than Stevenson and Conceição took the mic, the Mayor’s Workplace of the Metropolis of Newark introduced Stevenson (18-0, 9 KOs) with a proclamation declaring September 21, 2022, as Shakur Stevenson Day within the metropolis. That was adopted up by particular plaque from Quitman Road Faculty college students, Stevenson attended Quitman Road for elementary faculty, and the constructing sits lower than a mile from Prudential Middle.

Within the eight-round light-weight co-feature, U.S. Olympic silver medalist Keyshawn Davis (5-0, 4 KOs) steps up at school in opposition to Omar Tienda (25-5, 18 KOs).At Wednesday’s press convention, that is what the fighters needed to say. 

Shakur Stevenson

“Actually, I’m simply able to struggle. I’m probably not centered on the stress. I don’t care about all that. I’m actually centered on placing within the work on Friday evening. I’m simply able to struggle on the finish of the day. All I can take into consideration is preventing and performing. That’s all the pieces that’s on my thoughts.”

“He’s fighter. However I feel he misplaced in opposition to Valdez. Should you left it within the judges’ arms, then you definitely misplaced. I fought Valdez, and I beat the s*** out of him. I don’t have any excuses. He’s speaking about having COVID or one thing earlier than his final struggle. All I hear are excuses. I’m able to struggle. Inform him to not have any excuses on Friday evening. I’m able to beat him up.”

“I by no means go away it within the arms of the judges. I am going in there and take all the pieces that I need.”

Robson Conceição

“It was very touching for me to be welcomed by my neighborhood right here. Sure, I perceive that Shakur is a local, however I additionally really feel proper at dwelling right here.”

“I’m very motivated. I’ve educated all my life for this second. The world was capable of see that I used to be higher than Oscar Valdez. I ought to have gained. So, he’s probably not defending two titles as a result of one ought to have been mine. I’m a champion with no crown, and I’m prepared for Friday evening.”

“Shakur is somebody that I actually respect. He’s a fantastic athlete. I can inform that he’s younger, in all probability overly excited and speaks a bit an excessive amount of. This coming Friday, there’ll solely be one champ, and that champ is me.”

Bob Arum

“That is what it’s all about. Shakur and Robson had their first skilled fights with High Rank. Now, they’re preventing for a world title on the large stage with tens of millions of individuals watching on tv and all through the world. You noticed beforehand all these younger males who’re preventing on the undercard. They may quickly take their place on these sorts of phases, preventing on essential occasions. That is how boxing must be. This is the reason I’m nonetheless round doing it on the age of 90.”

Keyshawn Davis

“Keyshawn goes to be Keyshawn and he’s going to have enjoyable in there. The expertise that Shakur and I’ve is extraordinary. We each get to indicate our expertise again to again. Identical to I stated final time in Las Vegas once I fought alongside him, the followers are going to be the winners on the finish of the evening. And that’s undoubtedly what occurred. We’re undoubtedly wanting ahead to only giving the followers what they got here out and paid for.”

“Is he my hardest opponent but? I don’t know. I’m going to attend and see. I’m hoping that it’s a fantastic struggle for me in order that I can continue to learn and creating. I’m greater than ready for this struggle each mentally and bodily.”

Omar Tienda

“I’m comfortable to be within the co-feature of an occasion of his caliber. I’m excited and comfortable to have the ability to come right here and do my job. What will we deliver that could be completely different? Nicely, clearly expertise, onerous work and power. We will even deliver large surprises for all the evening.”

“You all know why I’ve ‘The Heroe’ as my nickname. I labored 13 years in emergency rescue, doing completely different sorts of rescues internationally. Not solely in 2008, however in 2010, 2014 and the final one in 2016. They’ve been essential rescues wherein lives are in danger, the place we all know that we now have to go in there and work and the place we don’t know if we’ll be returning to see our households.”

“So, for me, that is about working, enjoyment and happiness. We’ve come to attain the upset and the identify of ‘The Heroe’ will ring as soon as extra.”

Bruce Carrington

“Being on High Rank boxing is the very best transfer that I’ve ever made. I’m comfortable to be part of this crew. The sky is the restrict, and I’m able to proceed proving myself. I simply need to step into the ring and showcase my expertise so that everyone can see what I’m able to doing. High Rank is the place to be for you to have the ability to showcase that.”

Jahi Tucker

“I simply need to thank God for the chance to be right here. This can be a testomony to all of the onerous work we’ve carried out, and this Friday we’re going to indicate all of the onerous work. This implies the world to me.”

Friday, September 23

ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT)

Shakur Stevenson vs. Robson Conceição, 12 rounds, Stevenson’s WBC/WBO/Ring Journal Junior Light-weight World Titles

Keyshawn Davis vs. Omar Tienda, 8 rounds, light-weight

ESPN+ (6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT)

Andy Vences vs. Henry Lebron, 8 rounds, junior light-weight

Bruce Carrington vs. Jose Argel, 6 rounds, featherweight

Pablo Valdez vs. Noe Alejandro Lopez, 6 rounds, welterweight
 
Jahi Tucker vs. Jose Luis Sanchez, 8 rounds, welterweight
 
Orlando Gonzalez vs. Misael Lopez, 8 rounds, featherweight
 
Floyd Diaz vs. Juan Hernandez Martinez, 6 rounds, junior featherweight
 
Antoine Cobb vs. Jaylan Phillips, 4 rounds, welterweight

Roberto Villa is the CEO, Founder, Government Author, Senior Editor of FightBook MMA. Has a ardour for Fight Sports activities and likewise a podcast host for Sitting Ringside. He’s additionally a former MMA fighter and Kickboxer.