Media Workout Notes & Quotes: Crawford and Horn Prepare for Las Vegas Showdown
Jose Pedraza to fight Antonio Moran in Lightweight Co-Feature
Unbeaten Prospects Shakur Stevenson and Gabe Flores Jr. to see action
LIVE on Saturday at MGM Garden Garden Arena
LAS VEGAS (June 6, 2018) – Terence “Bud” Crawford looks to conquer yet another weight division Saturday evening, when he challenges WBO welterweight champion Jeff “The Hornet” Horn at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
On the undercard, Jose Pedraza (23-1, 12 KOs), from Cidra, Puerto Rico, will challenge Antonio Moran (22-2, 15 KOs) in a 10-rounder for the WBO Latino lightweight belt; Shakur Stevenson (6-0, 3 KOs), a 2016 U.S. Olympic silver medalist, will step up in class against Aelio Mesquita (16-1, 14 KOs) in an eight-round featherweight contest; light heavyweight prospect Steve Nelson (10-0, 8 KOs) will take on Dashon Webster (10-1, 6 KOs) in a six-rounder; and 18-year-old super featherweight sensation Gabe Flores Jr (7-0, 5 KOs) will face Jorge Rojas (4-3-1, 2 KOs) in a six-round bout.
And, in a battle of unbeatens, welterweight contender Jose Benavidez (26-0, 17 KOs) will face the iron-fisted Frank Rojas (22-0, 21 KOs) of Caracas, Venezuela, in a 10-rounder.
Many of the fighters from Saturday’s card worked out for the media Wednesday at the MGM Grand.
This is what they had to say.
Terence Crawford
“I feel like I’m in the same boat right now as when I was coming up in weight. Thomas Dulorme was a 147-pounder and he came down in weight to fight me for the title and everybody was saying he was this big, strong puncher and saying that I was too small. But I went for it and I prevailed, and I feel like I’m in the same predicament when I was moving up from 135 to 140.”
“I just try to get the victory. I need to go in there and be focused and not overconfident and do what I’ve got to do to get the job done.”
Jeff Horn
“It has definitely been a hard road to get to where I am. I had to fight very hard. The mindset is that I am coming in as an underdog even though I am a world champion. I have had to fight some messy fights and when I can start showing myself to everyone around the world is when I can start thinking differently.”
“I don’t think about the underdog status. I had that before in the Manny Pacquiao fight. I will do what I did for that fight and that is not worry about that and just worry about what I’m going to do in there and make a fight of it and be competitive and win. Just keep thinking along those lines.”
Jose Pedraza
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“I am ready for this moment. We are going to take things step by step, calmly but also with confidence. Once we get this fight out of the way, we will continue our route to another world championship. But, first things first.”
Shakur Stevenon
“I’ve been in the ring with a lot of different styles in the amateurs that have prepared me for this point. People should expect my best performance as a pro. I’m going to put on a show and knock this guy out.”
Gabe Flores Jr.
“I fought my first seven pro fights while attending high school. I eat, sleep and breathe boxing. I have the experience, and I’m looking forward to Saturday.”
Steve Nelson
“It’s fight week. It’s time to have fun in the ring. The hard work is done.”
“I learn so much from Terence and training with him. We came up together, and I’m pushing to get where he’s at.”
Header photo and gallery by Mikey Williams/Top Rank
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