Marcos Maidana
You know what? I’m not sure. I’m not sure about getting credit or not. It’s not up to me to say. I just know that it’s a very important fight, and I have to win this fight.
Q
Just to be clear, Eric, ask him is it more important for him to fight somebody who’s got an established name like Morales in the fight? You know, a young guy who doesn’t have a name, like a Victor Cayo or even Ortíz, by comparison.
Marcos Maidana
Well, the important thing for me is to be a good fighter. Érik Morales is a good fighter. He’s a good boxer. This is not going to be an easy fight. It’s going to be a tough fight. I think that it’s very important for me to win this fight.
Q
Eric, would you ask Marcos, I’m curious to know if he has watched or seen any the three comeback fights that Érik has had since he exited his retirement and also if he did, what he thought of those performances.
Marcos Maidana
Well, obviously, yes, I did see the fights. Basically, he looked like a fighter that was retired for two years, but that doesn’t take away anything. I’m prepared for the best possible Morales for this fight. I think that he’s going to come. I think it’s going to be a tough fight. I’m expecting the Morales of old, the Morales when he was in his prime. That’s what I’m training for.
Q
Does he think it’s at all possible for Érik-I think it was Doug Fischer that mentioned it-that he’s older and he’s also smaller. He’s not very experienced against top opponents in the weight class, that that will play a factor into it. Did he see, based on what he saw in those three fights, have a chance to turn back that clock and have that type of Érik Morales performance that we’ve seen so many times in his best fights?
Marcos Maidana
I mean, obviously, I talked it over with my new trainer, Rudy Perez, who’s very familiar with Morales. We’ve talked about his speed’s not the same, maybe the reflexes are not the same, but I’m still ready. I’m going to be ready for everything because I don’t want to let my guard down and basically be ready for the best Morales possible.
Q
You mentioned Rudy Perez. I know in his last fight when he fought Amir in that great fight in December, that his head trainer was Miguel Diaz. I’m wondering what was the reason that he made the change, if he could talk about that for a minute.
Marcos Maidana
Well, I feel that I reached a point with Miguel where I wasn’t advancing any more. I think that’s what happened to me in the Khan fight. I felt that I needed a change. I might have plateaued with Miguel Diaz. With Rudy, now it’s different. That’s what I wanted. I just needed something different.
Q
Now, Eric, wasn’t he originally, if I’m not mistaken, was supposed to go to train with “Nacho” Beristain in Mexico. I guess there was something at the last minute where there was an issue with Juan Manuel Márquez, and he ended up going for Rudy sort of at the last minute. Could he explain what happened with that, and what was the reason for-if I’m accurate with what I just said. I think I am about that whole Beristain thing. What was up with that?
Marcos Maidana
Yes, you’re correct. You’re correct. I was there in Mexico. I traveled to Mexico. We had an agreement. I was supposed to train with Beristain. As soon as I touched down in Mexico, Beristain informed us that he wasn’t going to be able to work with us. That Marcos pretty much prevented him from working with him. That Marcos made a comment that possibly down the line there could be a fight with Maidana. I think maybe he just got jealous and he didn’t want me to train with him.
Q
Then Rudy, he just found Rudy at the last minute, I guess, even though Rudy’s obviously been a good trainer for a long time.
Marcos Maidana
Yes.
Q
Was he upset by that? I mean on the surface, it would seem kind of weak that you would have a top fighter travel all the way from Argentina to Mexico without notice ahead of time, take the job and then say at the last minute, “By the way, forget about it. I can’t do it,” kind of leaving Marcos in a little bit of a tough spot. Was he upset by that whole situation? I mean, it sounds like he was pretty calm about it.
Marcos Maidana
Yes, of course, I was upset. I was very upset. That’s something that’s very unprofessional. I was upset about it, but at the end of the day there’s other trainers. There’s other trainers that are at the same level, if not better than Beristain. I think I found that in Rudy Perez. But, yes, I think it would bother anybody.
Q
What do you think about a lot of the comments, a lot of the press people saying that this should be an easy fight for you? What do you think about that?
Marcos Maidana
You know what? It’s not for me to say. I train to win. I train to win whether it’s fought a hard fight or an easy fight. I’m always training to win. So, it doesn’t bother me. It doesn’t change me. I just train to win, basically. That’s it.
Q
From the three fights you saw, what did you think about the three fights, three comeback fights? Did you see anything in there that suggests that he has the ability to fight like the Érik Morales of old, from five years ago, six years ago? What was it you see? What did you think?
Marcos Maidana
Well, what I saw in those three fights was that he is a fighter that’s not in his prime anymore. He’s not at his prime any more. I’m in my prime. I think that’s going to be the difference. I’m going to win this fight.
Q
Given the fact that a lot of people think this should be an easy fight for him, I wanted to know if he feels any pressure for the fight to end in a knockout in his favor, and I guess a sensational knockout.
Marcos Maidana
No, not at all. No pressure. The same old Maidana’s going to come out. You’re going to see the same old Maidana from all my other fights. I’m going to come out and I’m going try to win. If a knockout comes, it comes. If it doesn’t, I’ll go and I’ll win by decision. There’s no pressure whatsoever.
Q
In his last few fights, even since losing to Kotelnik, he’s either hurt or stopped everybody he’s fought. Given the fact that he’s fought a certain caliber fighter with the exception of maybe DeMarcus Corley, does he expect Érik Morales to be able to stand up to the kind of punishment he was able to administer in those fights?
Marcos Maidana
I’m going to come out throwing punches, guns blazing. If he can withstand it, great. If he can’t, then good night.
Q
Eric, I wonder if you could ask Marcos, first of all, if he could just quickly explain what the decision was in staying in Mexico, if it was just simply a matter of not wanting to travel once again. Secondly, if he could just discuss a little bit what it’s been like for him training in Mexico in terms of, obviously, the altitude, just the atmosphere in general.
Marcos Maidana
You know what, it was great. It was great. I took advantage of the altitude. It was great. I had a good training camp out there in Mexico, and just recently moved over to Las Vegas. I’m in Las Vegas now to finish up my training and ready for the fight.
Q
Now, the last question is, from going from supposedly going to train with Beristain and now Perez, was there any change of game plan or just any change in general that came about from not going with the original trainer that he was supposed to have with Beristain? Was there any change at all? Or, did he have a kind of game plan in mind that he wanted to follow?
Marcos Maidana
No, obviously, we didn’t get that far with Beristain. We didn’t talk about strategy, or we didn’t talk about any game plan for the fight. So, we didn’t even get that far. We sat down with him in Mexico City and he basically told us he couldn’t train me. So, we moved on and we went to another trainer.
Q
The question was, “Érik Morales did some interviews in Mexico and he said that there’s two things that he had to worry about and protect himself. One of them is rabbit punches. He feels that Marcos Maidana throws rabbit punches. He’s looked at videos and that he throws behind the head. He had to make sure that-take care of himself and make sure that doesn’t occur. The other thing is the power. Obviously he’s a big puncher and he’s knocked out a lot of opponents. What do you think about that?”
Marcos Maidana
No obviously, I mean look. I don’t try to do that, but look, when I’m up on the ring, anything goes. It’s a war. It’s a war. I don’t do it purposely, but look I might maybe here and there land a couple of punches there. But I’m going out there and I’m giving it my all. So its war and everything goes when it’s a war. Yes, I think I do have power and I think that if I hit anybody as hard as I can they’re probably not going to be able to take it.
Q
Obviously, coming off the Khan fight it was a difficult fight for you, very close. Do you think that this fight with Érik Morales can be the same? You think it can be just as difficult?
Marcos Maidana
Well obviously for me, I don’t underestimate anybody and I think that anything can happen up in that ring, anything can happen. I don’t underestimate anybody and I think Morales is capable of giving a good fight. It’s my job to win the fight and I’m going to do what I always do. I’m going to come forward and I’m going to be throwing punches. My stamina is going to be the most important thing for me. So I think that if he can withstand what I bring than great.
K. Swanson
Now everybody we do have Érik Morales on the line calling in from Mexico. Dave, do you want to say anything or do we go-Gomez, if you’d like to do the introduction for Morales.
Erik Morales
Good afternoon, good afternoon to everybody. Welcome and thank you for being here on the call. This is going to be a very, very good fight; a very, very important fight in my career probably one of the most important fights. I’m trying to do something that no other Mexican fighter has done win a fourth divisional title and I’m ready. I’m ready for the fight and just waiting to get to Las Vegas.
Q
The question is, “How are you doing Érik? Everybody thinks that Maidana is a favorite. He’s getting a lot of support. Everything thinks he’s in favor for this fight. What do you think? What are your comments on that?”
Erik Morales
This is a very, very important fight for me and it’s even more important that he’s a favorite because I think I’m going to win this fight. I think I’m going to win this fight and I know I can win this fight. Everybody has to remember I choose Maidana. I decided to fight with Maidana and it’s going to be a war up there, but obviously, I think that my technique is a lot better than his and there’s certain rules. There’s certain rules in fights and I just hope he follows the rules and there’s things that he doesn’t do up in the ring that he’s not supposed to. But this is going to be a very good fight and I’ve had a great training camp and I’m right on schedule and feeling great.
Q
Érik, what do you think about this fight? What kind of fight is it going to be and how do you counter a kid who’s in his prime? Who’s younger than you?
Erik Morales
Look, I don’t have to explain myself. I don’t have to say who I am. You guys know exactly what I am, who I was, what I’m capable of doing. I have a goal. I have a goal in this fight. Since I came back, I’ve been training for a year and a half now and I think I’m reaching my peak. I’m reaching my peak and I’m going to be ready for this fight. I made a goal for myself and I’ve decided I’m going to reach that goal and I’ve always been able to do that in my career. It’s going to be very, very good. I’m feeling great and I know one thing for sure that at the end of the fight I’m going to be declared the winner.
Q
Érik Morales, you said pretty clearly that you choose Maidana to be your opponent and you mentioned his style. But could you tell us more specifically what is it about his style that you think is a perfect match up for you at this point in your career?
Erik Morales
Well, there’s a lot of things that I see there that I can exploit. He’s a fighter that comes forward. He’s a fighter that throws punches. He’s going to be right in front of me. But let me ask you something? Let me ask you something? Do you think that he’s faster than some of the fighters I faced? Do you think he hits harder than Pacquiao, for instance? Do you think that he’s superior, technique wise, than some of the other fighters? I choose him for a reason and I feel that I can win this fight. I feel that I can win this fight.
Q
Is he saying-see what we’re thinking is that he didn’t think that Marcos was a particularly skillful boxer and I’m talking about his power but just his boxing skills. Is that sort of what attracted him then? Is that what he’s saying?
Erik Morales
Yes, you know, yes that’s part of it. Yes, but not really. That’s not the main thing. I think that it’s just styles make fights and I think that his style is very good for my style. I think that that’s the most important thing. I think that I can adjust very, very well to his style. I’ve seen him and I feel very confident that it’s the right style for my style.”
Then obviously, a little earlier, a little earlier he also said one other thing that nobody’s giving him a chance to win and he feels that that’s great for him. It’s very, very good because if he beats him than you guys should give him all the credit in the world for beating a guy that you guys called “great” or “one of the top fighters in the division” that he wasn’t supposed to beat.
Q
There’s no question about that. If he wins this fight, this is one of the great comebacks I think in recent years. I didn’t mean that to be a question but maybe you could run it by him and see if he thinks of it the same way.
Erik Morales
I think that, for me, in this fight it was very, very important to have a goal, to be motivated. This fight has brought that out; it has brought it out. I’m fighting a guy that’s a bigger guy, fights in a higher division, a guy that’s in his prime, one of the top fighters in his division. That has motivated me and it’s given me a goal. The last few fights I had in my career, I kind of lost myself. I had accomplished so much and I kind of lost myself and I didn’t have a goal or any direction, but with this fight, here, I found myself again. I can assure you … that I’m going to win this fight.
Q
Eric, would you ask “El Terrible” at what point after his retirement following the Davis Díaz fight did he start to seriously think about making another run at it?
Erik Morales
Obviously, after that David Díaz fight, I felt very, very bad-morally, mentally, physically. I was very devastated. It was devastating. That loss was very hard for me. I felt that I wanted to blame people. I felt that someone caused me to lose. I just felt very, very bad. Right there and then after that fight I wanted to come back, but I just didn’t have the reason to. I didn’t know how to come back. I wasn’t sure how to go about it. I was very unhappy, personally with myself. I didn’t know what to do.
It finally came down to where I was very, very depressed. I had a personal problem and I started thinking to myself, “What’s going to make me happy in life? What do I want to do in life? What is it that makes me happy?” Ultimately, fighting is what makes me happy. I like to fight. I love it. I like the big stage and lights and then fighting. It must have been in October of 2009 when I finally decided I’m going to start training again and I’m going to do it. I haven’t stopped since.
Q
So I wonder Eric, and if you could ask him, in the three comeback fights-I’ve seen all three of those fights and he hasn’t looked bad in those fights. He just hasn’t looked the way that you remember when Érik was at his best in those fights. So I wonder, how has he felt in those fights and does he feel as each successive fight has gone by that he’s knocking a little bit more rust off or does he not feel like he’s gotten a lot better? Just, generally, to assess his performances in the three fights he’s had, and also I’m curious, how much weight did he have to take off to get down to those weight limits for those matches because he had put on quite a bit of weight after being off for such a long time?
Erik Morales
Yes. I’ll get to the basic points. It’s very hard. Basically, what he said, he said, “Look, everything was by design. Everything was by design. I had a game plan. I had a goal, certain goals and I reach those goals. For the first fight, yes, I was still a little heavy. I got fought. I got 147 at welterweight. I lost like 25 kilos, which it’s almost half-what is it? Like double, almost in pounds, so it’s close to 50 pounds. Yes, I didn’t feel that good, but little by little, I had a game plan and I started feeling better each time out.
The first fighter I fought was a very tough fighter; a fighter that has a big punch and I fought and that was by design. I wanted to do that. I wanted to see how it felt to get punched again and I passed the test and it was great. The next fight I got a guy that can box a little bit. Everything was moving towards this fight. I think that right now I’m peaking. I’m peaking, even my body feels better. I haven’t struggled for weight whatsoever. I’m already on weight and I’m feeling great. My speed’s come back now.
You’re going to see a different fighter in this fight from those three fights because I feel that everything was by design. We had certain goals. We kept reaching our goal. I’m going to go ahead and I’m going to peak. I’m going to peak in this fight and I feel great.
Q
He mentioned multiple times in the call that it was him that picked Maidana to fight, but my understanding is when this was-and that ultimately he did select Maidana from the available opponents, but originally when the fight, when the card was conceived, it was going to be Érik against Juan Manuel Márquez. Because of Márquez’s own contractual issues, he declined the fight and so therefore needed another opponent. So, was he geared up to fight Márquez and then ended up looking to Maidana as an alternative or was Maidana always in his mind and Márquez was just sort of like maybe the bigger fight at the time when it was still being discussed?
Erik Morales
He said, “Well look, there wasn’t a specific fighter in mind. I just wanted a big fight, and right now, one of the biggest names is Márquez, obviously. He’s had a good run lately and I felt that I can come in and beat him and recoup what I once had, what I once was. I wanted to come in and steal everything that he had done.
Yes, I’ve also thought of Maidana, but I figured that I would first fight Márquez and then maybe Maidana down the line maybe after Márquez or a couple of fights after Márquez. So, Maidana came in. There were other names that were offered, but I felt Maidana right now is also in that category as Márquez, who’s made a good name for himself, has come off some very good wins and I can recoup a little bit of what I had in the past, of who I was, by beating a big name like Maidana.
Q
The question is, “A little while ago Maidana was on the line and he said that, ‘Your time has passed. Your time has passed and now it’s my time and I’m in my prime right now.’ What do you say to that Érik?”
Erik Morales
The answer was, “I’ve heard the same from a bunch of fighters, possible rivals of mine that say that my time has passed, that I’m not the same fighter anymore, but once that up in the ring with me it’s a different thing and they realize that I can still fight. I’m not old. I’m not old at all. Look at my age. I just decided at 30 years old to take a break. Take a break. Let my body rest, my mind rest. I was a little burned out. Now I’m back and I feel fresh and I feel great and I’m going to be ready. Believe me. I’m going to be ready for this fight.”
Q
Do you think it’s an advantage to you, Érik, that Maidana has been-he’s changed trainers. He just recently changed trainers and now he’s with Rudy Perez. Do you think it’s a benefit for you, Érik?
Erik Morales
Look he’s only been with Rudy Perez for a little bit of time. It’s only been a few weeks. I don’t think that Rudy Perez is going to be able to do what we hadn’t been able to do in all these years of fighting. So, it’s very clear to me what type of fighter I’m going to face. It’s going to be the same old Maidana. I don’t think that Rudy Perez can be a miracle worker and change up his style all of the sudden for one fight after working with them for a few weeks.
So you know the only difference with the Mexican trainer could be that his conditioning might be a little better because he trained in Mexico City but I’ve also heard rumors that he left Mexico City because he couldn’t train there. He couldn’t train there. He wasn’t use to the altitude. He couldn’t hang being in Mexico and that’s why he had to leave. So, we’ll see what’s going to happen but I’m expecting the same old Maidana to come out, perfectly clear what to expect.
Q
The question is, “Érik how do you feel about a lot of the question? A lot of the reporters in the U.S. are asking questions and questioning your health. How do you feel about that? What does that make you feel?” The second question was, “Maidana was very clear, he said, ‘Look, be ready for a war. Anything goes in a war,’ when he was questioned about possible rabbit punches. How do you feel about that?”
Erik Morales
I feel good. I feel calm. I know that I’ve been in some tough fights, very tough fights. I’ve been in some wars in the past, but I know, physically, that I’m fine because I take care of myself. I think that the reason that I was in some of those wars was more of a weight issue. I’ve struggled so much to make weight. I’ve grown so much. I’m not that little fighter anymore. I’ve grown and it was very difficult for me to make weight in a lot of those fights. I was forced to fight at a weight division that was not my weight division anymore and that’s what caused a lot of problems.
I think that a lot of the questions on my health are coming from ex-promoter Fernando Beltrán. He’s the one that’s causing all the stir. He’s the one that’s causing the problems. I think it’s a matter of revenge. I think that he wants to get back at me because I’m not with him anymore. He’s the one that’s bringing it up. He’s the one that’s made comments in Mexico. He’s probably the one that’s causing the problems with the commission. I’m fine. I’ve done all my tests. I’ve passed everything with flying colors. I know that I’m fine physically and mentally. I feel great and I feel very good for this fight. I’m very, very calm. I know that Beltrán-I know the kind of person he is and I know that he’s the one that’s causing these problems.
As far as Maidana with rabbit punches and this and that, it’s a shame that he does not admit that he has done it in the past because he has done it in the past. He’s hit fighters in the back of the head and in places where he’s not supposed to. I just hope that he stays clean for this fight and I hope the referee does his job because if he does something that’s dirty, I’ve always been a clean fighter, but if he does something that’s dirty than he’s going to get some payback.
K. Swanson
Wow, what an unbelievable conference call, that’s all I’m going to say. I’ve been on many. Eric, thank you so much. Espionage, competition, threats, you got it all, April 9th, Maidana, Morales meeting in the middle of the ring. Oh, I can’t wait to see this fight. Thank you everybody.
END OF CALL
“Action Heroes,” featuring Erik Morales vs. Marcos Maidana in a 12-round junior welterweight bout, Robert Guerrero vs. Michael Katsidis in a 12-round bout for the vacant WBA and WBO Interim Lightweight Championships, James Kirkland vs. Nobuhiro Ishida in an 8-round middleweight bout and Paul Malignaggi vs. Jose Miguel Cotto in a 10-round welterweight bout, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Erik Morales’ Box Latino and Universum Box Promotions and sponsored by CervezaTecate, AT&T, DeWalt Tools and TresGeneraciones Tequila. Guerrero vs. Katsidis is presented in association with Sampson Boxing. The bouts will be produced and distributed live on HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.
Tickets for “Action Heroes,” priced at $350, $250, $150, $75, $50 and $25, are on sale now. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.
For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, on Twitter at@GoldenBoyBoxing, @boxlatino, @UBPboxen, @terrible100, @ChinoMaidana, @TeamGuerrero,@MickKatsidis, @PAULMALIGNAGGI or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing. Follow HBO Boxing news at www.hbo.com/boxing, Facebook atwww.facebook.com/hboboxing and on Twitter www.twitter.com/hboboxing.
The Morales vs. Maidana pay-per-view telecast, which begins at 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT, has a suggested retail price of $44.95, will be produced and distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View® and will be available to more than 71 million pay-per-view homes. The telecast will be available in HD-TV for those viewers who can receive HD. HBO Pay-Per-View, a division of Home Box Office, Inc., is the leading supplier of event programming to the pay-per-view industry. For Morales vs. Maidana fight week updates, log on to www.hbo.com.
