A media day was held in Los Angeles on Wednesday for the ProBoxTV broadcast event on Saturday, March 21st, headlined by Guatemala's Lester Martinez’s bid to become WBC interim super middleweight championship battle against Immanuwel “The Chosen One” Aleem live (7:00 pm EST/4:00 pm PST)from the NOS Event Center in San Bernardino. While Martinez (19-0-1 16 KOs) is hoping to win the vacant strap for his native Guatemala, Virginia’s Aleem (22-3-3, 14 KOs) will not be a pushover in the twelve-round main event. California's Joshua Kevin Anton (12-0, 11 KOs) will take his toughest test to date against “The Punisher,” Kudratillo Abdukakhorov (22-5, 14 KOs) of Uzbekistan in the ten-round junior middleweight co-feature.
Here is what the fighters and trainers had to say Wednesday at the press conference from the Ukrainian Cultural Center in Los Angeles:
Omar Aleem (Aleem's Trainer)
They’re predicting him to beat us, for him to knock us out. Go on YouTube. All of them say we’ll lose. We don’t need to talk. We’ve got the energy. We’ve got the divine punch for him. It’s going to be a divine, mystic punch. If he can handle it, we’re going to see. We’re not saying, ‘We’re going to do this, we’re going to do that.’ When we’re in the ring, we’re going to see who’s going to knock out who.”
“Mr Martinez, Respect. Bomac, respect. But we are going to show our skills. We don’t underestimate you, but we are going to be defensive and offensive.”
“If you want to underestimate him that’s up to you. We are going to show skill, ability, (and) determination.
“Why can’t we create this upset like Crawford did?”
“My son’s had success, too. How many fights does my son have? More than Lester Martinez, do the research. Go do it. You’ll find out. I trained him like Archie Moore and Jersey Joe Walcott.”
Immanuel Aleem
“Champions are made in people’s backyards. You have to go and get the title.”
“We know who we’re going up against. I don’t understand what an underdog is. I can fight. I can see. And I’ve got hands. I’ve trained to the best of my ability, and I’m going to go out there and execute.”
“I grew up watching Joe Frazier and Ali and a lot of these guys put their talents on the line against other good fighters. There was racism at those times. There were real hardships.
“Just follow the game plan, execute and gain the world title. Perform. Martinez is my main focus. Whatever he brings to the table, I need to be better at Saturday night. Whatever I need to do, do it. Do what we’ve been training for.”
“I got used to this in the amateur system. There’s always ‘this is the number one guy you’re gonna have to beat to win the national championship.’”
Brian "Bomac" McIntyre (Martinez's Trainer)
They’re supposed to say that. But they’re what, 18-to-1 underdogs?
Anytime you step in there, you want to be concerned. Aleem is not in there by mistake. He’s in there by what he’s done in the past.
But one thing I know about him is he’s got losses, right? So, he knows how to lose.”
Lester Martinez
“You’re not Crawford, and I’m Lester Martinez. And that title is going home, back to Guatemala.”
I’m very happy everyone supporting me here. I even see other nationalities such as Mexico that will be supporting us this Saturday. I feel the love and this Saturday, you guys will see a great fight.
“I have a lot to win. I have a lot to lose.”
“I’m not feeling too much pressure, just motivation.”
“After the last fight, my fans expect a lot from me. Regardless of how I win, I want to do well. I know after this fight I will be the official challenger to Canelo-Mbilli, so I promise to do my best.”
“We know what’s at stake. I’m well prepared. I’m fighting a guy with a lot of experience. I have a lot of experience myself and I’m ready to win.”
“Being fight of the year implies a lot. We did a good job, despite the outcome. All the positives I got from that, I’m ready for Saturday night. Whether Aleem brings it or not, I’m ready to bring my all.”
UNDERCARD
The undercard’s chief supporting bout will feature a ten-round junior welterweight battle between LA’s Anthony “2 Quick” Cuba (12-1-2, 5 KOs) and Jair “Kaiser” Valtierra (18-3, 9 KOs) of Leon, Mexico. In Future Stars Series action to start the broadcast, Charles “LOLO” Harris Jr (11-1, 7 KOs) of Rialto, California, will take on Jason “El Gallo” Limon (11-2-1, 2 KOs) of San Antonio, Texas, over eight junior welterweight rounds; while local fan favorite Albert “Chop Chop” Gonzalez (16-0, 9 KOs) of Riverside, California, will face Brandon “The Hitter” Chambers (12-4-1, 5 KOs) of Owings Mill, Maryland in a featherweight eight-rounder. Also scheduled is a female super flyweight four-rounder between former USA National Amateur Champion Jocelyn Camarillo (5-0) of nearby Indio, California and Isis Sio (1-2) of Dickinson, North Dakota. And getting the ball rolling will be LA’s undefeated Sam Contreras (5-0, 2 KOs) going for six straight pro wins against Texas veteran Cesar “El Matrix” Cantu (3-5-2, 1 KO) of Weslaco, Texas. The event is promoted by Pro Box Promotions and Sampson Boxing.
