Juan Manuel Marquez vs. Timothy Bradley UNDERCARD Final Press Conference Live Stream

Arum introduces Monaghan and his manager, saying Monaghan has a big local fan base and very crowd-pleasing style, leaving everything in the ring every time, a wonderful athlete to watch.

 

Monaghan says he feels he is living the dream right now, at the point he always worked hard to get to. He is looking forward to participating in a hard fight and then settling in to relax and watch the main event.

 

Monaghan's manager gets up and thanks Arum for plugging the many NYC area bars that he owns. (Arum had mentioned during the introduction that some of them were among his favorite drinking holes)

He says this is great because fans in Ireland and back home who don't always get to see Seanie live will get a chance to see him on PPV and that he will make the most of the exposure; there will be fireworks.

 

Arum says there is nothing better than Mexico vs. Puerto Rico match-ups, obviously as prelude to introducing Cruz and/or Salido.

 

"This particular Mexican, a former world champion, has become a legend in Puerto Rico for going there and knocking out a national favorite and star not once but twice..."

 

Salido, through an interpreter, thanks his coach for helping with all the work and thanks Cruz for accepting. He looks forward to a war and to claiming the vacant title.

 

Arum says Cruz has been chasing a world title opportunity for years and finally has the chance now.

He says he is a courageous man, because it was unpredictable what the fallout would be in a macho sport like boxing when he made his 'announcement' last year. Arum is proud of the sport for not making a big deal of it and seeming to reach a unanimous decision that "it's his business :conf".

 

Arum says the only controversy heading into Salido vs. Cruz is centered around what trunks Cruz is going to wear. :blood

What's up with that? Hot pink with penises drawn on the butt aiming into his crack? :huh How could they be controversial?

 

Cruz thanks everybody several times. He says on Saturday he will become world champion.

He then repeats everything in Spanish.

 

Arum says when he began courting Lomachenko for a contract after they met at some Pacquiao event, Vasyl asked what his plan would be to develop him. Arum had replied "well, start with a couple of 4-rounders and 6-rounders and then build you toward a world title ASAP". Lomachenko balked and said he "isn't the ordinary boxer". He demanded to begin with 10-rounders. So here we are.

A bit stuck up? :yep

 

Arum says Jose "Negro" Ramirez is a very tough character and could be competitive with any top featherweight including Rigondeaux, Darchinyan and Donaire. He says he just got through beating a popular and well-known Filipino in the Philippines. (Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista). He says this isn't a top amateur cherry picking someone - it's a legit dangerous pro.

 

Negro Ramirez is up, saying he is prepared and excited. He went and beat Rey Bautista in the Philippines and is feeling confident and wants his dream to stay alive.

 

Arum says for years all conversation of amateur boxing was dominated, in hushed whispers, by talk of a two-time gold medalist and three-time world amateur champion. Everybody who saw him agreed he was special. He says his debut with its high degree of difficulty is justified by the way he performed in the amateurs. He then introduces Lomachenko as "the greatest amateur boxer in history".

 

Lomachenko starts by thanking everyone present, through his interpreter.

He gives Top Rank big thanks, as well as HBO. He thanks his family and closest friends. He saves biggest thanks for his team - coaches, doctor, manager, psychologist. (?)

He sends greetings to Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi (Lomachenko's hood) and promises to be victorious for them.

 

Lomachenko's manager & interpreter echoes what Arum said about him being the best amateur. He says it was difficult to negotiate this being a 10-rounder and the additional stipulation that he can get a world title shot in his sophomore bout and says that Lomachenko will prove all the hype correct because he is a great athlete, soon to be a great champion.