NABF Featherweight Champion Joseph "Jojo" Diaz Jr. (19-0, 11 KOs) and top-rated featherweight contenderJayson "La Maravilla" Velez (23-1-1, 16 KOs) participated in the final press conference for Andre Ward vs. Suillivan Barrera overlooking Lake Merritt ahead of their 10-round NABF Featherweight title fight which will open up the HBO World Championship Boxing® telecast beginning at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT.
"Come March 26, I know I have a really tough fight ahead of me. I know Jayson Velez is an experienced veteran in the ring. He's a warrior. He has a six-inch reach advantage over me so it's going to be a really great fight. I know he's coming off of a loss, so I know he really wants to bounce back and show everybody that he's still a world title contender.
"I had a really great training camp. I've been training for eight weeks. This is my first time fighting on HBO, so I really want to showcase who I truly am. I'm 110% ready. I'm ready to give fight fans a war if Jayson Velez wants to have a war. I'm ready to showcase to everybody all the abilities I have inside the ring. I'm very excited to be fighting on the Andre Ward and Sullivan Barrera card. They're two elite athletes and I'm very honored to be the co-main event for this fight. Come March 26, I promise I'm going to give you a great show."
RALPH HEREDIA, Joseph Diaz's Manager:
"It's an honor to be here, a great opportunity and privilege to be given this opportunity to showcase a talented, 2012 Olympian. To Joseph, this is what we talked about, thank you for being patient, you are ready for the opportunity. We know what a special young man and talented man you are, but now the whole world will get to see on the big stage what a talent, what a real gentleman and what a fighter should be...like Joseph Diaz.
"What can I say about Jayson Velez? He's a gentleman who knows what's at stake and has experience. Believe me, you don't want to miss this. Saturday, you must tune in. It's going to be an action-packed fight."
Diaz vs Velez will be on the Andre Ward vs. Sullivan Barrera opening up the HBO telecast.