Talk Heats Up in Cold Miami at Final Press Conference
For Friday’s World Championship Boxing Card
Presented by Don King Productions & Arena Sportspromotion

MIAMI—Although there is a serious cold wave hitting Miami right now, the talk at the final press conference today at Emilio and Gloria Estefan’s Bongos Cuban Café heated up before Friday’s Don King Productions world championship boxing card at AmericanAirlines Arena.

Don King hosted the press conference promoting a WBC heavyweight final elimination bout he is presenting with Arena Sportspromotion between 2004 Olympic gold medalist and now undefeated Odlanier “La Sombra” Solis (16-0, 12 KOs) against WBC No. 1-ranked Ray “The Rainman” Austin (28-4-4, 18 KOs). The winner earns the right to next face WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko.

As far as Solis goes,” Austin said, “I’ve been hearing he doesn’t want to be seen, and that he is planning to get in and get out quickly against me on Friday. That’s exactly what I’m planning to do to him. I’m going to get in with him and get him out.”

Solis’s comments were brief.

“I hope everybody will show up to see what I am going to do to Ray Austin on Friday,” Solis said.

Undefeated IBF light heavyweight champion Tavoris “Thunder” Cloud (21-0, 18 KOs), from Tallahassee, will defend his crown against hard-punching Colombian native Fulgencio Zuniga (24-4-1, 21 KOs).

“I have had to listen to Zuniga and two other people in his camp talking about how they are coming for me,” Cloud said. “On Friday night, all three of them can come in the ring and I’ll kick all of their asses.

“I’m coming in with the [IBF light heavyweight] strap, and I will be leaving with the strap. Other than that, have a Merry Christmas.”

The Colombian challenger Zuniga was not as talkative as his camp members.

“I would like to thank Don King and Tavoris Cloud for this opportunity,” Zuniga said. “I’m coming to fight and to realize my dream of becoming a world champion.”

The real fireworks came when former three-time world champion Ricardo “El Matador” Mayorga, from Nicaragua, stepped to the podium to discuss his scheduled 10-round middleweight fight against Michael “Midnight Stalker” Walker (19-5-2, 12 KOs), from Chicago.

“I’m going to knock out Mike Walker in two rounds,” Mayorga boasted. “My mother could knock him out in two rounds.

“I can see fear in his eyes. Your face looks like a beautiful Cuban woman, like the hookers down on 8th Street hear in Miami.

“The beat down I’m going to give you will stay with you. You’re going to be famous because everybody will know you because I knocked you out. Tell your family to dress in black because I’m going to bury you on Friday. Don King found me a deadbeat.”

Walker was not pleased with Mayorga’s trash talk.

“I’m gonna whip your ass,” Walker said. “We’ll see, Ricardo. I’m going to do my talking with my fists.”

Mayorga then threw a full bottle of water that whipped by Walker, barely missing him, then shouted at him, “Your momma is going to cry for you on Friday!”

Walker then turned on Mayorga, pointed at him defiantly and said, “I don’t like anyone talking about my mama right now. She is sick. I’m going to kick your ass for sure now. I got a Christmas present for Mayorga he ain’t never gonna forget.”

Mayorga wasn’t the only trash talker. There was also spirited comments from heavyweights Mike Marrone (19-1, 14 KOs), from Vero Beach, Fla., and Darrel “King David” Madison (15-1, 4 KOs), from Long Island, N.Y., who will square off in a WBC elimination bout scheduled for 10 rounds.

“Marrone said something at an earlier press conference that upset me,” Madison said. “He said my nickname would change after this fight from ‘King David’ to ‘Burger King.’ Let me tell you Mike Marrone, I’ve got a Happy Meal on Friday that you’re never going to forget.”

Marrone had a quick reply for Madison.

“They say to never mix business with pleasure, but it will be my pleasure on Friday to kick Darrel Madison’s ass, Marrone said.

Raw Quotes

Ray Austin (WBC No. 1-Ranked Heavyweight): “I’m happy this guy [Solis] has finally come for me and we’re going to actually fight. I thought we would have met earlier, but I am of the belief that this must be the right time.

“As far as Solis goes, I’ve been hearing he doesn’t want to be seen, and that he is planning to get in and get out quickly against me on Friday. That’s exactly what I’m planning to do to him on Friday night. I’m going to get in with him and get him out.”

Stacey McKinley (Ray Austin’s trainer): “I’ve heard Solis has disrespect for Ray Austin. We’ll see how it goes for Solis when he’s in there with a true heavyweight.

“We’ve all heard about his fast hands, but they are no match for heavy hands. By about eight or nine rounds, we’ll have him out of there and he can go back to Cuba, Miami or wherever he’s from.”

Odlanier Solis (WBC No. 2-ranked heavyweight and 2004 Cuban Olympic heavyweight gold medalist): “I hope everybody will show up to see what I am going to do to Ray Austin on Friday.”

Tavoris Cloud (Undefeated IBF light heavyweight champion): “I have had to listen to Zuniga and two other people in his camp talking about how they are coming for me. On Friday night, all three of them can come in the ring and I’ll kick all of their asses.

“I’m coming in with the [IBF light heavyweight] strap, and I will be leaving with the strap. Other than that, have a Merry Christmas.”

Al Bonanni (Trainer of Tavoris Cloud): “I am good friends with Fulgencio Zuniga’s trainer Franco Gonzalez, but Zuniga has got to go, and he will at the hands of Tavoris Cloud on Friday.”

Fulgencio Zuniga (Challenger of Tavoris Cloud): “I would like to thank Don King and Tavoris Cloud for this opportunity. I’m coming to fight and to realize my dream of becoming a world champion.”

Ricardo Mayorga (Former three-time world champion): “I’m going to knock out Mike Walker in two rounds. My mother could knock him out in two rounds.

“I can see fear in his eyes. Your face looks like a beautiful Cuban woman, like the hookers down on 8th Street hear in Miami.

“I’m dedicating this fight to my mother and my girlfriend, Zoila.

“Everybody is coming from South America and Central America to see me knock you out, Mike Walker. The beat down I’m going to give you will stay with you. You’re going to be famous because everybody will know you because I knocked you out.

“Tell your family to dress in black because I’m going to bury you on Friday. Don King found me a deadbeat.”

Mike Walker (Challenger to Ricardo Mayorga): “I’m gonna whip your ass. We’ll see, Ricardo. I’m going to beat your ass. I’m going to do my talking with my fists.” [Mayorga then throws a full bottle of water that whips by Walker, barely missing him.]

Mayorga: “Your momma is going to cry for you on Friday!”

Walker: [Points to Mayorga and says…] “I don’t like anyone talking about my mama right now. She is sick. I’m going to kick your ass for sure now. I got a Christmas present for Mayorga he ain’t never gonna forget.”

Darrel Madison: (Heavyweight contender who will be fighting in a WBC elimination bout against Mike Marrone): “Marrone said something at an earlier press conference that upset me. He said my nickname would change after this fight from ‘King David’ to ‘Burger King.’ Let me tell you Mike Marrone, I’ve got a Happy Meal on Friday that you’re never going to forget.”

Mike Marrone (Heavyweight contender who will be fighting in a WBC elimination bout against Darrel Madison): “They say to never mix business with pleasure, but it will be my pleasure on Friday to kick Darrel Madison’s ass.”

Angelo Santana (Undefeated lightweight contender from Cuba): “I am happy to be going back to the ring on Friday. I will stay undefeated and look forward to a great fight.”

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