Press Release: The final pre-fight press conference was held for the Joan Guzman-Anotnio Davis WBO junior lightweight title bout that will take place in the Dominican Republic. The press conference was held at Champions Sports Bar inside the Renaissance Jaragua Hotel & Casino andfeatured both main event fighters for the Monday night encounter when the 26-0 Guzman faces the challenge of 22-2 Antonio Davis.
JOAN GUZMAN--"All my title fights have been outside of my beloved country. But, wherever I do fight, in my heart I am fighting for and representing the Dominican Republic. I will take this guy down. I made this promise to President Leonel Fernandez and to my entire country.I am not thinking about Manny Pacquiao, now. I am thinking only about Davis and Monday night. It is going to be a sweet Christmas for all of us."
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ANTONIO DAVIS--"When a boxer puts on the gloves for the first time, when he has his first fight, he starts to dream of this. He dreams of getting the opportunity to be a world champion. I am planning on doing my best. I am bringing my "A" game in the ring with me. I am just elated to be in this position, to have this great opportunity. I will make the most of it."
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BARRY RICHARDSON, ANTONO DAVIS' TRAINER: "We want to thank (promoter) Jose Nunez (Jay Boxing) and the champ, Joan Guzman. Guzman is not only a good champion he is a good man which is more important in life. After Monday night,Guzman will be a good man but he will not be a world champion any more."
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BRIAN YOUNG, PROMOTER FOR DAVIS: "Guzman is a great champion and the Dominican people, who have shown  us great hospitality and friendship, have a right to be proud of him. We appreciate this chance for Antonio and he will seize the time."
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JOSE NUNEZ, JAY BOXING, LEAD PROMOTER: "I want to thank SEDEFIR, Sports Minister Jay Payano and the entire Dominican government all the way to President Fernandez, We expect a sold out arena with about 12,000 Guzmaniacs cheering for their hero. Davis and his people are all class. We know Antonio means business but we believe that Joan is a super talent in boxing who cannot be stopped. It will be a great night for all Dominicans and we are thrilled that Supercanal Caribe will be showing the main event all the way down the East Coast live, all the way from Boston to Miami. We are gratified that Marcos Jorge and his cable network have made it possible for so many Guzman fans to see the main event live in America."
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TONY RIVERA, GUZMAN'S TRAINER (he works alongside Don House and Delen Parsley): "I had the good fortune to work many years with a Latin legend named Robert Duran. Now he was just elected to the Boxing Hall of Fame. I truly believe that Guzman's career is following a meteoric path like Duran's. Joan will be right there when Pacman, Barrera, Marquez are ready to try him. He will beat them all and his golden years are coming now."
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MICHAEL MARLEY, director of publicity: "The boxing critics, the negative ones, the naysayers, said it would never happen. They said the Dominican government would not deliver on their promises. But you have a persona sympatico, a great president who reminds me of a mixture of Bill Clinton and John F. Kennedy. I had the privilege to meet this man , Hon. Leonel Fernandez, and he is 100 percent in Joan Guzman's coner. He rightly holds Guzman up as a positive example to the nation's youth. Not everyone can be a world champion but every boy and girl can be successful in something. I must say they also said Jose Nunez, a new kid on the block in terms of boxing promotion, would not get it done but the results will speak for themselves Monday night as the greatest boxing show in this country's great history unfolds. So the people to thank are President Fernandez, Jay Payano, Jose Nunez and, of course, your great champion, Joan Guzman. Let me tell everybody this show will be seen live in the DR, Haiti, Puerto Rico, the entire East Coast, Venezuela and on a delayed basis in Japan. Joan said it best, this will be the night the world will learn that this country has many great boxers in addition to all the baseball superstars.
