Super lightweights Jack Catterall of England and South El Monte, California's Arnold Barboza Jr. held their final press conference Thursday as they square off this Saturday for the vacant WBO world title. Catterall Barboza square off at the Co-op Live in Manchester, live on DAZN.
Jack Catterall:
"What a card we’ve got on Saturday night, three other lads from my gym fighting, some great live fights but on my fight, it’s a huge opportunity for me on Saturday.
"I think we’re both taking confidence from the preparations we’ve had, I don’t want easy fights, Arnold has been in the position that I’ve been in waiting for that opportunity and I don’t think that you can sit back now the way that boxing is on the sidelines, you’ve got to take your chance. I’ve got good momentum, I feel better with every camp, this camp has been great, we’ve bettered it from the last time, and I do believe I’m a better fighter and I get him out of there on Saturday.
"I’ve been very active and the confidence comes from the time spent in the gym and all the hard work has been done and it’s time to relax, recover and perform. I’ve got better and better through the momentum and activity and that’s where the confidence has come from.
"I’m in a great division at 140 lbs with a lot of tremendous fighters, but nothing matters until after Saturday night, I have to remain focused on Arnold. That being said, we understand the business, there’s so many great fights to be made. Teofimo Lopez has the WBO Title, hopefully that’s a fight that can be made down the line, but I’ve got to beat him and beat him well on Saturday.
"This is the final hurdle on Saturday, it’s a big fight, it’s high risk, high reward like he said, I’m ready and we’re bringing that belt back to Charley on Sunday morning."
Jamie Moore:
"Jack’s on a fantastic run, he’s in the form of his life, and he needs to be as these types of fight and the challenges that he wants to put himself in front of, you need to be on top form. Activity was always an issue two or three years ago when he wasn’t getting the fight that he wanted. When you look back to 2018, I know Barboza’s team say they have been waiting a long time, but Jack was mandatory for the WBO Title then and for some reason or the other it kept dragging on, different fights were getting made in front of him. He eventually got his chance and the decision didn’t go our way, and it brings us to the point we’re at now, and it’s going to take some fighter to beat him, and that time is not yet.
"I’ve said for years that Jack is the best 140 lbs fighter in the world, he’s just needed the chance to prove it. He’s been doing that for the last couple of years, I’ve no doubt that Barboza is going to come with everything he’s got, he’s a solid fighter, but Jack has the kryptonite for everyone, he’s always a step ahead, and he’ll show that on Saturday."
Arnold Barboza Jr:
"We had another offer to fight the main event at home, but I just want to fight the best. I believe Jack is a really good fighter at the top of the division, and I think we’re the best, I don’t think the champions are better than us to be honest. We’re always ready for challenges, we’re ready to go.
"I believe I’m the best in the division, I don’t think anyone can fuck with me. I’m just confident in myself, at the end of the day we can do all he talking, I know he’s not a trash talker and I’m not a trash talker, Saturday is going to determine everything and that’s all the matters.
"I’ve watched a lot of fights where people have gone to enemy territory and they are getting booed - I hope it’s sold out and I hope I get booed, that’s just going to turn me on. I’m excited and it’s a dream, a big fight with high risk and high reward, no more of those low risk, low reward fights, I’m excited to get in there and dance with him.
"I really believe I stop him. The way camp has gone, we isolated ourselves with 8,000ft elevation, running in the snow, everything we did and the the way I’ve been feeling in sparring and my sparring partners can attest, I feel stronger and better than ever. He’s coming with everything, I’m coming with everything, so let’s go.
"This fight means everything to me. There’s fans in the UK, expect a great fight and an exciting fight, and I hope to bring some of those fans back with me to the US."
Arnold Barboza Sr:
"We’re ready and we’ve been ready for this opportunity. We’re traveling but we don’t care where it’s at, we’ve been waiting for this for a long time, and it’s here and we’re here. Traveling is fun, it’s a little bit cold, but it’s fun. There’s no fear at all, we had the opportunity to fight at home in a main event on the same day for the same pay, but we’re looking to fight the best and i think Jack is one of the best, so that’s why we’re here and made that decision.
"It’s number one against number two and that’s what it’s supposed to be. The best against the best, give the fans what they deserve, and this fight is going to be worth every penny.
"It’s going to be an exciting fight. We wouldn’t make the trip over here if we weren’t confident, we’re going to stop Jack."
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