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“ACTION HEROES” POST-FIGHT QUOTES
Erik Morales, Six-Time & Three Division World Champion
“I want to acknowledge everyone who came to see this fight. I’m a good fighter. I fight for the people of Tijuana.
“I think he [Maidana] may have won a close fight, but not a clean win. I think that I won the fight because I landed the better punches.
“[I thought I could beat him]because I have a lot of speed. I have also have dignity and heart.
“I want a rematch. I thought I won. I’m better than him.
“I finished the fight with my heart. Long live Mexico!”
Marcos Maidana, WBA Interim Super Lightweight Champion
“I am very happy to have won the title.
“We knew that Erik Morales was a great warrior and he was going to give a great fight. I never thought it was going to be an easy fight. I was expecting a war and that is exactly what happened.
“I was staying positive and trying to catch him with the counter [punch]. I was never tired.
“I would like the rematch, but there are other fighters in the division I would want to fight as well.
“It surprised me that he was able to take those punches. He was very difficult to knock out. In order to knock him out, you need a stick or a hammer or something.
“I like when fighters stand in front of me and are brave.
“Morales is a good fighter and a strong fighter. He can continue his career because he’ll do well.
“I really did find this [fight] close, but I came out as the winner at the end.”
Robert Guerrero, WBA & WBO Interim Lightweight Champion
“I had a great camp coming out and training in Las Vegas. This was the first time training away in a long time and it prepared me well. Now that I am able to go out to a training camp, I can learn a lot more.
“I felt great out there. I won two titles tonight.
“I’m a warrior. Sometimes you have to beat the guy at his own game. I got in there and I worked my jabs and punches.
“I was never hurt in the fight.
“One of the main things [I did] was keep the speed up and fire off shots.
“I’m ready for anyone. I want a shot at Marquez, the winner of the main event [Maidana], Zab Judah at 140 or Mayweather. Bring them all, I’ll take the best.
“I wasn’t shocked at all by the point deductions. The referee gave strict instructions before the fight. He said he wasn’t going to mess around, so it wasn’t a surprise. He did a great job.
“He [Katsidis] got in more than two low blows, but you just have to keep going.
“He [Katsidis] is the toughest guy I’ve ever fought.
“You haven’t seen the best of Robert Guerrero yet.”
James Kirkland, Junior Middleweight Contender
“I don’t know why they stopped the fight. There is not a three knockdown rule in Vegas.
“I’m really upset right now. That was a messed up call. I was telling him I wanted to keep fighting. He [Ishida] wasn’t anything. He had no power. This was messed up.”
Nobuhiro Ishida, Former World Champion
“Thank you very much. It was an amazing opportunity to fight in Las Vegas and we appreciate it.
“As you know, Japan had a very big earthquake. It makes me happy and proud to come to the United States and win for my country.
“He [Kirkland] didn’t expect this from me. He didn’t respect what we had. Kirkland kept coming forward at me and so I kept going with my right, my right, my right and it worked. I had my country on my side and now I’m ready for a world title shot.”
Paulie Malignaggi, Former World Champion
“It really felt good to be back in the spotlight and get a good ‘W.’
“I feel great that I got to go 10 rounds against a good fighter. My last fight ended quickly, so this is what I wanted.
“I want to thank Golden Boy because a year after my Khan fight everyone thought I was done, and now I came out and won a big fight on a major network.
“I thought I fought smart and executed a good game plan. For anyone who wants to complain about how I don’t step up to the plate and pick up the pace, I want you to know that I am tired of that shit.
“I look forward to the future and I believe it is still bright for me.”
Oscar de la Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions
“I was telling everybody that you can never count out Erik Morales. I said to everyone ‘Look at what happened to Kelly Pavlik and Bernard Hopkins. Look at what happened to Manny Pacquiao and Oscar de la Hoya.’
“Every single fight was a beautiful fight. Why don’t we do a rematch of the whole card?
“This is what pay-per-view is all about. Giving fans exciting fights all the time.”
