Listen Now:
DARCHINYAN, DIRRELL & OGANOV
OPEN MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES
TUESDAY, OCT. 28, 2008
Charles Williams Combination Fitness Gym,
Long Beach, Calif.
International Boxing Federation (IBF) 115-pound champion Vic Darchinyan, undefeated, world-ranked super middleweight Andre Dirrell and once-beaten, world-ranked 168-pound contender Victor Oganov participated in an open media Tuesday in Long Beach, Calif.,
Darchinyan (30-1-1, 24 KOs) will face World Boxing Association (WBA)/World Boxing Council (WBC) super flyweight champion Cristian Mijares (35-3-2, 13 KOs) in an eagerly awaited 115-pound world title unification showdown this Saturday, Nov. 1, at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast).
Dirrell (16-0, 11 KOs) meets Oganov (28-1, 28 KOs) in the 10-round co-feature on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING.
Tickets, priced at $25 to $250, are on sale at The Home Depot Center Box Office, open 10 a.m-6 p.m. Monday through Friday, all Ticketmaster retail ticket locations, online at www.Ticketmaster.com and Ticketmaster-Charge-by-Phone (213-480-3232). The Home Depot Box Office will open at 10 a.m. the day of the event.
The fight card is co-promoted by DiBella Entertainment, Gary Shaw Productions and KO Entertainment.
What the fights said Tuesday:
VIC DARCHINYAN
“He is a very good fighter, but when he feels my punches he will feel different. He’s fought some tough guys, but no one like me.
“I know when I’m talking that I will deliver. I’m going to be too much for him. He’s overrated.
“I’ve fought southpaws before. It’s no different for me.
“I’m going to do some boxing. You’re going to see how fast and smart I am on Saturday.
“I’m going to put on a show for my Armenian fans at The Home Depot Center.
“I’m very confident and ready for this fight. I’m ready to fight anyone.
“I think I am the best fighter he has ever, and will ever, fight. His style is an amateur style. I will deliver.
“I want to become the undisputed world champion after this fight.
“On Saturday, you’re going to see a different Vic Darchinyan. I won’t try to take him out with just one punch. You’re going to see a much smarter Vic on Saturday night.
“Mijares is a very good fighter, but that’s OK when you fight someone that doesn’t have the power that I have. He’s fought guys that don’t have my power.
“The Mexican fans are going to support me because they are going to see a warrior. They like to see warriors and they will see it in me on Saturday.
“People pay the money and they want to see exciting fights. I’ll give it to them on Saturday.
“In my one loss my opponent didn’t beat me, I beat myself. You won’t see any of that against Mijares. I’m going to prove that I am focused to be the undisputed world champion.
“All I’m thinking about is this fight. I haven’t been this excited and dedicated since my first world title fight.
“The only fight I wanted was Mijares. I want to fight who everyone thinks is the best so I can prove that I’m the best.”
ANDRE DIRRELL
“I’m well prepared for this fight. I know he is a knockout artist, so I’ve been training with guys who can knock me out. I am mentally and physically prepared.
“I’m in tip-top shape. All I have to do is use what I’ve been working on in training camp and show the viewers on SHOWTIME and the fans at The Home Depot Center that I am an exciting fighter.
“There’s a saying in boxing that goes ‘You can’t knockout everyone.’ I’m not going to take him lightly, but I’m ready.
“Right after this fight I’m looking for a world title. I’m looking to go up the ladder as fast as possible.
“I just want to become the best as soon as possible. I need a big win on Saturday to do that, so you better believe I’m ready.
“Look out. I’m on the map now and I’m going to become No. 1 soon.
VICTOR OGANOV
“He is a good technical boxer and he will be smart in the ring, but I have the muscle and the power. Muscle and power will beat techniques and smarts.
“This is the first time in my career that I have had a great training camp. I’ve been training with Vic (Darchinyan) and it has been going great. I’m very fortunate to be training with Vic. He is a big man with a big heart.
“I know that Saturday night is a big opportunity for me on SHOWTIME. I have not taken this fight lightly.
“I’m going to do the best that I can. I think it’s going to be a good fight.
“We have a good game plan and we will use it.”
