Kelly Swanson

Thanks everybody for joining us.  We are but almost a week away leading up to a terrific show. That, of course, is Érik Morales versus Marcos Maidana in the main event of the April 9th Action Heroes HBO pay-per-view and presented by Golden Boy Promotions.  As you saw from your press conference call alert we have both fighters with us.  We’ve switched the order a little bit because Marcos Maidana is ready now.

Before we get to Marcos, I’d like to introduce on the call is Dave Itskowitch, the Chief Operating Officer of Golden Boy Promotions, and also Eric Gomez, who’s Vice President, Matchmaker, Golden Boy Promotions, and who will be our interpreter.  As most of you know for these calls, please be patient because if we have a reporter asking in Spanish, Eric will be kind enough to translate back to English and then in the opposite for when we have an English speaking reporter asking the question.

I’m going to turn it over to Dave, who will make the introductions for the fighters.

David Itskowitch

Thank you everyone for joining the call today.  Sorry, we’re running a couple of minutes late.  We appreciate your patience.  Just a little housekeeping before we introduce Marcos.

As you all know, main event Érik Morales versus Marcos Maidana.  The show also has three great fights:  Robert Guerrero versus Michael Katsidis for the vacant WBA and WBO interim lightweight world titles; James Kirkland versus Nobuhiro Ishida and Paulie Malignaggi versus José Miguel Cotto.  The event is presented by Golden Boy in association with Érik Morales’ Box Latino and Universum Box Promotions, with Guerrero-Katsidis being presented in association with Sampson Boxing.  I want to thank our sponsors Cerveza Tecate, AT&T, DeWalt Tools, and Tres Generaciones Tequila.  Saturday, April 9th MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas tickets still available starting very reasonably priced at $25.  If you can’t make it to the venue, of course, HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9 p.m. Eastern/6 p.m. Pacific with a suggested retail price of $44.95.

We’ve got a great line-up of fight week activities.  We just want to touch on them briefly.  On Sunday, in Los Angeles, we are going to have a fan rally open to the public with Érik, Marcos, and Oscar De La Hoya at Olvera Street.  Tuesday will be grand arrivals in Las Vegas with all four pay-per-view fights, all eight fighters.  Wednesday, we will have fighter media workouts at the MGM Grand Garden Arena with all eight fights.  Thursday, we’ll have our final press conference.  Friday, we will have our weigh-in, which will be open to the public, as will the grand arrivals on Tuesday.

First fighter that I would like to introduce, he’s really developing a name for himself now throughout the boxing world.  He’s becoming known for his crushing knockout power.  He’s knocked out 10 opponents in the first round, 22 of his opponents haven’t seen the fourth round.

He burst onto the scene in June of 2009 with an upset win over Victor Ortíz to capture the WBA interim world title at Staples Center.  He went on to defend that crown three times.  Then in his most recent fight on December 11th, he lost a close decision, but showed an amazing amount of heart in battling his way back from a first round knockdown and some dominant rounds early that were won by Khan to close the gap.  He almost knocked out Khan in the tenth round of a fight that was named Fight of the Year by the Boxing Writers Association of America.

He’s got a record of 29-2 with 27 KOs, from Santa Fe, Argentina, Marcos Maidana.

Marcos Maidana

Hi, my name’s Marcos Maidana.  I’m currently in Las Vegas getting ready for the fight against Érik Morales.  I’m in the last phase of my training.  I’m feeling great.

Q

Hi, Marcos.  Do you think that the judges for the fight against Khan stole the fight, took it away from you?  Is that going to make you try to come up for a knockout?

Marcos Maidana

Well, yes.  Obviously, I felt that I won.  It was very disappointing, but no, I have a lot of confidence in the commission.  I’m very well prepared.  It’s not going to matter.  I think I’m going to win the fight.

Q

Is there a big difference in trainers?  Is there a difference between Miguel Diaz and Rudy Perez who’s now your trainer for this fight?  How do you feel?”

Marcos Maidana

Well, there’s a lot of similarity, some differences obviously, but we’re just getting to know each other.  I’m feeling really good right now.  I feel great for the fight.

Q

The fight’s about a week and a half away.  What is it you’re working on?  What are you focusing on now?

Marcos Maidana

Well, the main thing is maintaining the weight.  I’m sharpening up.  I’ve got to be fast.  I’ve got to be strong.  I know that this is a very, very important fight for my career.

Q

Can you ask Marcos-when he first heard that he was about to fight with Morales, what were his first thoughts and was he concerned like so many are about the health of Morales?

Marcos Maidana

No, no, no, not at all.  I’m not worried.  I was very happy.  I was very happy when I got the call for this fight.  He’s a big name.  He’s a very big name, well known throughout the world.  We all know that he’s at the tail end of his career, but it should still be a very, very good fight.

Q

David, did Érik have to undergo any special tests by the Nevada Commission or just the basic ones that everybody else does?

D. Itskowitch

As far as I know, he went through just the basic tests that everyone goes through.  Eric Gomez can actually-

E. Gomez

I can elaborate.

D. Itskowitch

-elaborate on this.  But, I don’t even think he had to go-some fighters, when they’re past a certain age or they’ve fought a certain number of rounds, they have to do what’s called comprehensive medicals.  I don’t believe he even had to do those.

E. Gomez

I’ll elaborate a little bit.  The rule in Nevada is anybody at the age of 36 or older has to do comprehensive.  As you know, Érik Morales is still very young.  He’s only 33, I think, or 34.  I would have to look it up, but he’s fine.

He did some tests like maybe three years ago, some MRIs and MRAs.  He did those tests about three years ago.  They’re still good in standing in Nevada because when you do an MRI head test, they’re good for about five years, but nevertheless, we had him do additional tests in Mexico.  He’s been cleared.  He’s been cleared.  He did extensive tests all over his body, and he’s passed every test-every test.

In fact, the doctor that looked at him in Mexico City is Dr. Madrazo, who’s very well known throughout the world, one of the best neurosurgeons in the world.  He’s also the guy that’s credited for-he’s the one that operated on Barrera when he had some sort of growth on his head.  It’s the same guy.  He’s well known in Nevada.  He did all the tests.  He did extensive tests.  He was cleared 100%.

Q

Were these recent tests, Eric.

E. Gomez

Yes.  They’re very recent-very, very recent.

Q

Eric, can you ask Marcos since he made his name in America beating young up and comers just like Victor Ortíz and Victor Cayo, and a young titleholder, Amir Khan.  Can you get him to elaborate a little bit about what it means to him to fight somebody who’s a bona fide legend and a future hall of famer?

Marcos Maidana

Obviously, it’s going to help my career tremendously fighting a legend like Morales, a guy with a big name like Morales.  It’s another step in my career, to get more notoriety, and a bigger name for myself here in the United States.

Q

Can you ask him if he feels he’s going to get more credit for beating an Érik Morales than beating younger, bigger guys?  I mean, some people would say-even if he knocks him out in one round, some people would say, “Well, you did what you’re supposed to do.  Morales is old and he’s smaller than you.”  Can he comment on that perception?

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.