Only two days remain before four confident, talented world-class fighters with a combined record of 98-1 with 69 knockouts will be featured in a sensational world championship doubleheader this Saturday, July 7, on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast).
In a battle of unbeatens in the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING main event, popular local favorite “Tremendous” Travis Simms (25-0, 19 KOs) of Norwalk, Conn., defends his WBA super welterweight title against supremely-confident No. 1 contender and mandatory challenger Joachim “Ti-Joa” Alcine (28-0, 18 KOs) of Montreal, by way of Haiti.
“The Lord of the Flys,” undefeated, hard-hitting Vic “The Raging Bull’’ Darchinyan (28-0, 22 KOs), of Sydney, Australia, via Armenia, risks his IBF/IBO flyweight belts against once-beaten, world-ranked Filipino Nonito “Flash” Donaire (17-1, 10 KOs) in the co-feature.
The event is promoted by Don King Productions with Darchinyan-Donaire being promoted in association with Gary Shaw Promotions, LLC.
A domestically non-televised third world championship will also be presented Saturday on “Fistic Fireworks” when former IBF super fly champ Luis Perez (24-1, 15 KOs), from Managua, Nicaragua, will tangle with Genaro Garcia (35-5, 20 KOs) for the vacant IBF bantamweight title.
Tickets, priced at $35, $50, $100 and $200, with a limited number of ringside seats at $350, are on sale now to those age 18 and older at Arena at Harbor Yard box office (Information Line: 203-345-2400), all Ticketmaster outlets, on-line at ticketmaster.com or by charging by phone at (203) 368-1000, (203) 624-0033, (860) 525-4500 or (203) 744-8100.
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SHOWTIME/“FISTIC FIREWORKS’’ FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Here is what the four SHOWTIME boxers had to say at Thursday’s press conference:
TRAVIS SIMMS
“I can’t think of one fighter who has come off a two-and-a-half year layoff to win a world title like I did in my last fight. Even Muhammad Ali had a tune-up first. So, in that regard, I do not feel I have received the credit I deserve. But I am not one to pout or cry.
“All I can do is take it out on the next guy, who happens to be Joachim Alcine on Saturday. He talks big, but, the fact is, he has never fought anyone like me. I have fought undefeated fighters before. I have fought world champs. Who has he fought?
“I really want to thank SHOWTIME for bringing me back. I beat Jose Antonio Rivera on SHOWTIME in January, and I hope they bring me back after I win this Saturday.
“I truly believe I’m not only the best 154-pounder but the best pound-for-pound in the world. All I want is a chance to prove it. If it means unifying the title, that is fine by me -- whatever it takes.
“I feel truly blessed to be defending my title in my backyard. I look forward to bringing world title fights back to Connecticut. I feel along with (WBC light heavyweight champion) Chad Dawson, who is the future of the 175-pound division, we can do it.
“The fans, whether they are at the arena or watching on SHOWTIME this Saturday, are going to get a great show.
“It rained in Bridgeport Wednesday so there were no fireworks shows. There will be plenty of fireworks Saturday.
“I am confident and as ready as I can be to show I am the best in the world.’’
JOACHIM ALCINE
“Saturday is not going to be a homecoming. It is going to be a travesty for Travis Simms.
“I have been No. 1 for over a year so I have waited a long time. But in two more days, I will be world champion, which has been my dream since I started to box. Saturday is my night to shine and the night my dream comes true. I feel stronger both physically and mentally than I ever have.
“This is my biggest challenge, but my time is coming and I know I’m going to pick Simms apart. I have no problem fighting him in his hometown. If my fists do the job, I will take the fight out of judges’ hands.
“Nothing he can say can get to me. My time is coming. I can see the light. Like I have said, Simms can underestimate me now but he won’t after Saturday.
“If Simms fights like he did against Rivera, I will win easier than anyone will believe. I am looking forward to having a great night. Once the bell rings, the talk will stop and the real fight will begin. If Simms is looking for a war, he will get one. But if he looks to war, it is going to be a really short night.’’
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SHOWTIME/“FISTIC FIREWORKS’’ FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
VIC DARCHINYAN
“I trained very hard for two months so I’m hoping Donaire comes to fight. I hope he can last with me six-to-eight rounds, and this doesn’t just go one or two. Otherwise, all the training would be a waste and I may decide to only train one month next time.
“I want challenges and want to fight the best. I don’t want to talk. I want to prove I am the best. My point is this: If you are better, let’s fight, let’s unify. If you win, take my belts. If I have to move up and fight super flyweight, bantamweight or super bantamweight to get a real challenge, I will.
“For sure, I am ready and not looking past Nonito. But I am really interested to see if he can back up his talk. Believe me, I want him to give me a good fight
“I read something he said on (a website) that if he would have been fighting Victor Burgos instead of me last time, he would have killed him. What kind of talk is that? We are fighters, but we are also sportsmen. To say something like that only wants to make me punish him more.
“I wanted to knock him out twice anyway for the way his brother quit on me and made me win by technical decision instead of knockout. Now, I want to knock Nonito out three times; once for Burgos.’’
NONITO DONAIRE
“My natural weight is 115, but when I got a chance to fight Darchinyan, I jumped at the chance. If you are going to defeat a world champion at 112, he is the one to beat because he is the most well-known and he is the one regarded as the best at the weight.
“This is the opportunity all boxers want and I plan to make the best of it. I am extremely confident
“If I could become the next “ShoBox” fighter to win a world title (he would make it 17), that would be great. I have trained really hard, so why not?
“Darchinyan is not invincible. He has hands and feet, but so do I. He hits hard, but so do I. He has skills, but so do I.
“I am very relaxed. I have a great game plan. I am very confident I will win Saturday night.
“I really appreciate this chance and thank all involved, including SHOWTIME, for making it happen.
