QUOTES FROM ARCO ARENA, WORLD CUP PRESS CONFERENCE
By Salven L. Lagumbay
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 10 Aug 2007
SACRAMENTO -- A final press conference for the World Cup was held 1PM today at the Arco Arena here, with no less than the legendary Oscar De la Hoya doing the hosting chores for the event. Here's what Oscar and the fighters have to say at today's press conference.
OSCAR DE LA HOYA: We have a great pleasure to announce the captain for Team Philippines, Manny Pacquiao who will come in i believe will be tomorrow who will be here with his team and who is training right now for his next fight against Marco Antonio Barrera on October 6 and it gives me a great pleasure to introduce to you the captain for the Mexican team who did us the honor of coming down and taking a little break from his training, he'll be fighting Rocky Juarez in Las Vegas come September 15, and that is the great Juan Manuel Marquez.
JUAN MANUEL MARQUEZ: Thank you everybody, well, its an honor for me to be here, and i feel very happy and i want to say thank you Golden Boy Promotions for inviting me to this tournament of the Mexicans and Philippines and i feel very happy, and i want to say Good Luck to everybody. Thank you...
OSCAR DE LA HOYA: We're opening up the night with a local attraction featuring Brandon Gonzalez from Sacramento against Angel Polanco against Rio Grande, Texas. That will open up the show. Now i will introduce to you the participants of the event.
(Translating for the Philippine team was ALA Gym president Michael Aldeguer, while translating for the Mexican fans was Jaime Quintana of Romanza Gym)
DANIEL PONCE DE LEON: First let me thank the press for being here, my trainers Joe Hernandez and Ramon Morales. I am very well-prepared and proud to defend the title. It's an honor to fight for the Mexican team. We know the Philippines are very tough fighters. And we are ready.
REY 'BOOM BOOM' BAUTISTA: Good afternoon to all the press in Arco Arena. I would like to give thanks to Golden Boy Promotions for giving me a chance to fight in this championship fight. This is my dream, this is what i want. I will try my best because i know this fight is very tough. This is a war. The Filipino is one of the best in the world!
Oscar de la Hoya presides over the press conference.
The Boxing World Cup, Arco Arena press conference.
The Philippine and Mexican Teams pose to the photographers after the presscon.
Gerry Penalosa.
Top photo: Rey Bautista (R) and Daniel Ponce de Leon pose with the boxing world cup.
Oscar de la Hoya responds to questions by Philippine journalists, from left, Salven Lagumbay, Recah Trinidad and Homer Sayson.
All photos by Dong Secuya.
FREDDIE ROACH: It's an honor to coach the Philippine team, these guys work very hard, we know we're in tough fights. I couldn't do this alone, my help are all here, the Philippine coaches over there, take a bow. We're gonna take the World Cup to the Philippines.
JHONNY GONZALEZ: First of all i would like to say that i am very happy to take part in this second part of the tournament. The first time we fought against Thailand, and now its the Philippines. Its gonna be a war this Saturday, and im sure the Mexican team will be the winner. Thank you to Oscar De la Hoya and Golden Boy for making us part of the tournament. Viva Mexico!!
GERRY PENALOSA: Thank you Golden Boy Promotions, it is a great honor for me to be in the card by Saturday, and thank you to Jhonny Gonzalez for defending his title against me, we came here ready to fight, and its going to be a good fight, and its our pleasure to be here. Thank you.
ERIC ORTIZ: I feel very happy, it's an honor to fight for Mexico, this is such a great tournament Philippines versus Mexico. I know we all want to die for a victory inside the ring. We are going to perform a great, great fight Saturday, and im just happy to be here, and thank you Oscar De la Hoya and Golden Boy Promotions for making me fight in this tournament.
Z GORRES: Good afternoon to all the press, and to Oscar De la Hoya good afternoon. Thank you to Golden Boy Promotions for giving Filipinos the chance to fight, and i know its gonna be a tough fight for us because we know we are all ready, it's gonna be hard, and we will give hard fight to the Mexican team, and you better watch this fight.
DIOSDADO GABI: Good afternoon to everyone, you know, im very happy to fight next week, aw this week, im sorry guys because im nervous. Once again, thank you very much.
JOSE ANGEL BERANZA: I am very happy to be fighting in this Mexico versus Philippines. I come prepared. Hope to see you all there.
MICHAEL DOMINGO: Magandang hapon sa lahat na narito, at sa Golden Boy Promotions, sa ngayon proud na proud ako dahil nakasali ako sa laban na ito sa World Cup. Hindi ko inaasahan ito, at gagawin ko lahat para manalo sa laban, manalo ang Team Philippines, at saka sigurado akong mananalo kami dahil maganda talaga ang training.
MIGUEL ROMAN: I would like to thank Golden Boy Promotions. I am very happy to be part of this tournament, and i come prepared for this coming Saturday. Thank you.
AJ BANAL: Good afternoon everyone, and i want to say to Golden Boy thank you very much for giving me a fight, and mga Filipino suportahi baya mi ninyo ha. Daghang salamat.
JORGE CARDENAS: It's an honor to be part of this Mexican team, i come well prepared for this fight, i just hope to win Saturday and thank you for this opportunity.
OSCAR DE LA HOYA: May the best country win, may the best boxers win.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Salven L. Lagumbay.
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