Washington, D.C.'s Kennedy Recreation Center was the site of media workout in support of Premier Boxing Champion's pay-per-view show taking place this Saturday, January 7th, at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. Participating were undercard boxers Rashidi Ellis and Roiman Villa, who square off in an IBF welterweight eliminator, plus undefeated former two-division world champion Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade and Demond Nicholson, who kick off the pay-per-view telecast at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT with a ten-round super middleweight matchup. Rounding out the workout lineup was Vito Mielnicki Jr., who takes on Omar Rosales in a junior middleweight tilt that tops the three-fight free-streamed show that will stream live on the Showtime Sports YouTube channel and Showtime Boxing Facebook page at 6:45 p.m. ET/3:45 p.m. PT. Here are the quotes:
RASHIDI ELLIS
“I’m ready for any of the top dogs. I’d step in there right now with anyone in the top five. Ideally, I’d fight the champions, but right now I’m ready for the best man available.
“I feel like it’s my turn now. Especially after January 7th. I think everyone is going to see that I’m coming to take over.
“We’re going to have to see what Villa brings into the ring. He’s a come forward fighter, which can be a difficult task for some. He’s gonna have to show me in the ring. I don’t think he’s going to be able to just walk me down.
“I see a lot of things that I can do in there, that I don’t think he’s capable of. I’ve been the best kept secret, but I’m not a secret anymore. I’m here now.
“I don’t really have any rivals yet because nobody wants this action. Nobody wants to get in there with me. I’d love someone to talk trash with and make the fights even more exciting.”
ROIMAN VILLA
“I’m very thankful for this opportunity to step into the ring on Saturday night. I’m beyond excited to show the whole world what I can do against Rashidi Ellis.
“I wasn’t as prepared for my last fight as I wanted to be, but I still got the victory. Right now, I’m feeling really good and more prepared than I’ve ever been.
“I’m extremely confident heading into this fight. I don’t care if people say that I’m the underdog, because I believe in myself and I know what I can do. It doesn’t matter what Ellis can or can’t do. I believe in myself and my abilities.
“Anything is possible with a victory in this fight. I’m willing to step into the ring with anybody. I trust my team, and if they want me to face Jaron Ennis next, then bring it on.”
DEMETRIUS ANDRADE
“I jumped on the opportunity to be on this card with all these young stars. I know everyone is coming to do what they do, and I’m gonna set the stage right. I respect what Nicholson can do and I know he’s leaving it all in the ring. But my skills will speak louder than my words.
“I was trying to get the big names at middleweight, I was knocking on everyone’s door, but at the end of the day, it didn’t happen. Everything happens for a reason, and I believe that this is the best division for me.
“At the end of the day, all the fights at the top of the division will be tough. I would have to look real close to break down who the biggest challenge is, but I’m giving them all credit and acknowledging that they’re all gonna be tough fights when we get in there.
“I want to give the sport what they’re looking for. Because that’s also what I want with myself. Me and Jermall Charlo have had this rivalry brewing for years. It’s nothing but respect, but I want to take care of it in the ring. Who else is calling him out the way I am?
“I want the Charlo twins, I want David Benavidez and Caleb Plant. I’m ready for anyone who wants to put on a big show.”
DEMOND NICHOLSON
“Andrade definitely has an awkward style, but I’ve been boxing my whole life. When it comes to skill and timing, it wasn’t hard for me to prepare. You’ll see that on Saturday night.
“This is definitely the biggest stage I’ve been on, but it’s not my first rodeo. I’m not really motivated by the crowd, I’m more just excited to get this victory.
“My advantage right now is that I’m mentally more prepared than he is. I’m feeling as strong mentally as I ever have in my career.
“I’m not thinking about anything past this fight. It’s only Plan A now. From here on out, I feel like I’m staying at this level. This is where I belong.
“For this whole entire training camp I’ve been envisioning the victory. I’ve been playing it in my mind over and over again. The doors are wide open now. It’s all about taking it Saturday.”
VITO MIELNICKI JR.
“We had a great training camp with ‘Chino’ Rivas and now we’re just ready to put on a show. I’m excited to be back in a position to showcase my talent on a big stage.
“The 154-pound division, and the divisions around it, are all really exciting. There are a lot of top guys and eventually the big fights will be able to get made. Right now we’re in the growing stage of my career and we’re going to keep learning. When the time comes, we’ll be ready.
“Everyone goes on their own path in this sport. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Sometimes you see fighters rush and their career doesn’t go the way it should. We’re going to take our time. We’ll know when it’s time to take that next step.
“I’m in great condition because I’m always staying in the gym. I stay ready because you never know what type of opportunity might come your way.”
