An Inspiring Group of Future American Leaders Set to Take the Ring at the Veterans Day Boxing Spectacular onNovember 8 at Foxwoods Resort Casino

(MASHANTUCKET, CONN.) - The athletes taking the ring for the 2014 Veterans Day Boxing Spectacular presented by Columbia Dental possess more than just athletic skill. The bout line-up on November 8 at Foxwoods Resort Casino will feature many of the United States' brightest minds competing in honor of United States' veterans. The 22 boxers taking part in the event include aspiring engineers, foreign diplomats, world-renowned physicians and military officers.
 

Boxers from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point will compete in 10 of the 11 bouts on the night with reigning National Collegiate Boxing Association champion Cappy Polou (West Point, N.Y./ Faga'itua, American Samoa) leading the Army team in to action at Foxwoods. An aspiring military officer, Polou began boxing only two years ago and cites the warrior ethos of the sport as his reason for taking up the sweet science.
 

The reigning NCBA team champion Army Black Knights roster boasts many bright stars. In addition to the four engineering majors on the West Point team, the squad possesses athletes with goals that include becoming a Rhodes scholar, pursuing a career in Army special operations, and leading an infantry platoon.
 

Two-time NCBA champion Taylor Tennyson (Virginia Beach, Va.) will headline the U.S. Coast Guard Academy squad on November 8. Tennyson, who is pursuing a career in Coast Guard Law Enforcement, enjoyed tremendous success in his previous appearance at Foxwoods last year. He not only won the 175-pound national title, but was also named Outstanding Boxer of the Tournament in the 2013 National Collegiate Boxing Association Championships at the Fox Theater.

The impressive student athletes on the West Point squad aren't the only leaders taking the ring in the Veterans Day Boxing Spectacular. The boxers on the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and U Mass/Westover Air Force Base teams have inspiring goals outside the ring as well.  A future pediatric surgeon, foreign services officer, novelist, and foreign diplomat are among the athletes slated to take the ring on November 8 at the Fox Theater.
 

Six boxers from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, five athletes from the UMass /Westover Air Force boxing team and one Connecticut high school student will join the 10 West Point athletes in the event honoring United States' servicemen and women.
 

A star-studded commentary crew will call of the night's action with all 11 bouts being made available for the low price of $7.95 via the official live stream at www.NCBALive.com. "Irish" Micky Ward, Edwin Rodriguez, 1960 Olympic gold medalist Wilbert "Skeeter" McClure, 1988 Olympic Coach Tom Coulter and television executive Bob Yalen are teaming up to provide commentary for the live stream.
 

The official bout card and full list of athlete bios for the November 8 show at Foxwoods Resort Casino is attached.

 

2014 Veterans Day Boxing Spectacular Bout Sheet

 

Veterans Day Boxing Spectacular Athlete Bios

An Inspiring Group of Future American Leaders Set to Take the Ring at the Veterans Day Boxing Spectacular onNovember 8 at Foxwoods Resort Casino

Event Rosters' Include Aspiring Military Officers, Pilots, Engineers, Ambassadors, a Pediatric Surgeon and a Future Novelist

(MASHANTUCKET, CONN.) - The athletes taking the ring for the 2014 Veterans Day Boxing Spectacular presented by Columbia Dental possess more than just athletic skill. The bout line-up on November 8 at Foxwoods Resort Casino will feature many of the United States' brightest minds competing in honor of United States' veterans. The 22 boxers taking part in the event include aspiring engineers, foreign diplomats, world-renowned physicians and military officers.   Boxers from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point will compete in 10 of the 11 bouts on the night with reigning National Collegiate Boxing Association champion Cappy Polou (West Point, N.Y./ Faga'itua, American Samoa) leading the Army team in to action at Foxwoods. An aspiring military officer, Polou began boxing only two years ago and cites the warrior ethos of the sport as his reason for taking up the sweet science.   The reigning NCBA team champion Army Black Knights roster boasts many bright stars. In addition to the four engineering majors on the West Point team, the squad possesses athletes with goals that include becoming a Rhodes scholar, pursuing a career in Army special operations, and leading an infantry platoon.   Two-time NCBA champion Taylor Tennyson (Virginia Beach, Va.) will headline the U.S. Coast Guard Academy squad on November 8. Tennyson, who is pursuing a career in Coast Guard Law Enforcement, enjoyed tremendous success in his previous appearance at Foxwoods last year. He not only won the 175-pound national title, but was also named Outstanding Boxer of the Tournament in the 2013 National Collegiate Boxing Association Championships at the Fox Theater. The impressive student athletes on the West Point squad aren't the only leaders taking the ring in the Veterans Day Boxing Spectacular. The boxers on the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and U Mass/Westover Air Force Base teams have inspiring goals outside the ring as well.  A future pediatric surgeon, foreign services officer, novelist, and foreign diplomat are among the athletes slated to take the ring on November 8 at the Fox Theater.   Six boxers from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, five athletes from the UMass /Westover Air Force boxing team and one Connecticut high school student will join the 10 West Point athletes in the event honoring United States' servicemen and women.   A star-studded commentary crew will call of the night's action with all 11 bouts being made available for the low price of $7.95 via the official live stream at www.NCBALive.com. "Irish" Micky Ward, Edwin Rodriguez, 1960 Olympic gold medalist Wilbert "Skeeter" McClure, 1988 Olympic Coach Tom Coulter and television executive Bob Yalen are teaming up to provide commentary for the live stream.   The official bout card and full list of athlete bios for the November 8 show at Foxwoods Resort Casino is attached.   2014 Veterans Day Boxing Spectacular Bout Sheet   Veterans Day Boxing Spectacular Athlete Bios

Patriotic Night of Boxing Action to Raise Funds for United States' Veterans

(MASHANTUCKET, CONN.) - Just days before our nation celebrates Veterans Day, top Olympic-style boxers from four military branches will take the ring for the 2014 Veterans Day Boxing Spectacular.  The exciting night of boxing action on Saturday, November 8 at Foxwoods® Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Conn., will raise funds for Team Red, White and Blue, the nation's premier veterans support group, and the National Collegiate Boxing Association. "Team RWB is all about connecting veterans to the community through physical and social activity. This will be a great community event surrounding the physical activity of boxing. We are fired up to be a part of it," said Team RWB Northeast Regional Director Joe Quinn. The patriotic event will showcase athletes from the U.S. Military Academy, Coast Guard Academy, Marine Corps and Air Force as well a boxer from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in an evening of collegiate boxing action at the Fox Theater. "It is an honor for the West Point Boxing team to participate in an event that recognizes the selfless service  of our nation's veterans.  We enjoy the freedoms that we have because of the sacrifices that they have made," said U.S. Military Academy boxing coach Ray Barone. The U.S. Coast Guard team will be competing just 15 miles from their campus, providing a home state advantage for the fighting Bears at the November 8th event. "The U.S. Coast Guard Academy team is thrilled to compete in the Veterans Day Boxing Spectacular so close to home," Coast Guard Academy boxing coach Tom Barile said. "I know it's going to be a great night of boxing and the fact that we are able to raise money for our country's veterans makes it even more special." The annual event is taking place at the Foxwoods Resort Casino for the fifth time in its history and the elite northeast boxing venue also served as the host for the 2013 National Collegiate Boxing Association championships. "We are honored to be part of this Veterans Day tradition. It is exciting for us, especially as we continue to bolster our Boxing events as part our overall Entertainment platform, to be part of such a meaningful event that showcases the best military talent," said Scott Butera, President & CEO of Foxwoods Resort Casino. The sport of boxing and the United States' military academies have a storied history as evidenced by the fact that cadets on all of the campuses are required to participate in boxing training.  The Veterans Day Boxing Spectacular began in 2003 and has featured numerous military teams as well as foreign athletes. 2012 Olympian Jamel Herring competed in the event twice before representing the United States in the London Olympics. "We are excited to return to Foxwoods Resort Casino, host of the 2013 NCBA National Championship Tournament," said NCBA President Ken Cooper. "The NCBA is privileged to be a part of the Veterans Day Boxing Spectacular and provide a great night of collegiate boxing for our men and women of the military." Local members of the VFW and American Legion posts will be honored guests at Foxwoods Resort Casino on November 8 as well. A list of the night's bouts will be released upon completion. Tickets are priced at $35 and $25 and can be purchased online at www.foxwoods.com or by calling the Foxwoods' box office at 800-200-2882.  2014 Veterans Day Boxing Spectacular What: A night of military boxing competition to raise funds for Team Red, White and Blue and the National Collegiate Boxing Association Who: Teams from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, the Marine Corps, Air Force and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst When: Saturday, November 8 at 7:30 p.m. Where: Foxwoods Resort Casino Fox Theater

Top Collegiate Boxers from Four Military Branches to Convene at the 11th Annual Veterans Day Boxing Spectacular on November 8 at Foxwoods Resort Casino

Patriotic Night of Boxing Action to Raise Funds for  United States' Veterans (MASHANTUCKET, CONN.) - Just days before our nation celebrates Veterans Day, top Olympic-style boxers from four military branches will take the ring for the 2014 Veterans Day Boxing Spectacular.  The exciting night of boxing action on Saturday, November 8 at Foxwoods® Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Conn., will raise funds for Team Red, White and Blue, the nation's premier veterans support group, and the National Collegiate Boxing Association. "Team RWB is all about connecting veterans to the community through physical and social activity. This will be a great community event surrounding the physical activity of boxing. We are fired up to be a part of it," said Team RWB Northeast Regional Director Joe Quinn. The patriotic event will showcase athletes from the U.S. Military Academy, Coast Guard Academy, Marine Corps and Air Force as well a boxer from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in an evening of collegiate boxing action at the Fox Theater. "It is an honor for the West Point Boxing team to participate in an event that recognizes the selfless service  of our nation's veterans.  We enjoy the freedoms that we have because of the sacrifices that they have made," said U.S. Military Academy boxing coach Ray Barone. The U.S. Coast Guard team will be competing just 15 miles from their campus, providing a home state advantage for the fighting Bears at the September 8th event.   "The U.S. Coast Guard Academy team is thrilled to compete in the Veterans Day Boxing Spectacular so close to home," Coast Guard Academy boxing coach Tom Barile said. "I know it's going to be a great night of boxing and the fact that we are able to raise money for our country's veterans makes it even more special." The annual event is taking place at the Foxwoods Resort Casino for the fifth time in its history and the elite northeast boxing venue also served as the host for the 2013 National Collegiate Boxing Association championships. "We are honored to be part of this Veterans Day tradition. It is exciting for us, especially as we continue to bolster our Boxing events as part our overall Entertainment platform, to be part of such a meaningful event that showcases the best military talent," said Scott Butera, President & CEO of Foxwoods Resort Casino. The sport of boxing and the United States' military academies have a storied history as evidenced by the fact that cadets on all of the campuses are required to participate in boxing training.  The Veterans Day Boxing Spectacular began in 2003 and has featured numerous military teams as well as foreign athletes. 2012 Olympian Jamel Herring competed in the event twice before representing the United States in the London Olympics. "We are excited to return to Foxwoods Resort Casino, host of the 2013 NCBA National Championship Tournament," said NCBA President Ken Cooper. "The NCBA is privileged to be a part of the Veterans Day Boxing Spectacular and provide a great night of collegiate boxing for our men and women of the military." Local members of the VFW and American Legion posts will be honored guests at Foxwoods Resort Casino on November 8 as well. A list of the night's bouts will be released upon completion. Tickets, which will go on sale on September 22, are priced at $35 and $25 and can be purchased online at www.foxwoods.com or by calling the Foxwoods' box office at 800-200-2882.  2014 Veterans Day Boxing Spectacular What: A night of military boxing competition to raise funds for Team Red, White and Blue and the National Collegiate Boxing Association Who: Teams from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, the Marine Corps, Air Force and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst When: Saturday, November 8 at 7:30 p.m. Where: Foxwoods Resort Casino Fox Theater

Micky Ward's 49th birthday celebration PHOTO GALLERY

(L-R) - Promoter Lou DiBella, "Irish" Micky Ward and Foxwoods host Tom Whipple (Photo by Bob Barton / Rumble Time Promotions) (See photo gallery below) NEW YORK (Oct. 7, 2014) - Last Saturday night at Foxwoods Resort Casino, DiBella Entertainment, Warriors Boxing and Foxwoods Resort Casino helped celebrate the 49th birthday of "Irish" Micky Ward with boxing fans attending theSHOWTIME Boxing Special Edition tripleheader at Fox Theater in Mashantucket, Connecticut. Promoter Lou DiBella, who promoted Ward (38-13, 27 KOs) during the latter part of his career, including the epic Arturo Gatti-Ward trilogy, gave Ward a beautiful watch as a birthday present during a private meet-and-greet. "We had a terrific crowd at the SHOWTIME Boxing event on Saturday night, and it was made more special by the celebration of Micky Ward's 49th birthday," said Lou DiBella. "DiBella Entertainment was and always will be Micky's promoter. It was a great pleasure to celebrate Micky's birthday with him." Fellow boxers from the past and present celebrated with Ward, a three-time participant in the "Fight of the Year," including WBA/WBC welterweight champion Marlon "Magic Man" Starling (45-6-1, 27 KOs), 1955 World welterweight champion Tony "The Pride of Fleet Street" DeMarco (58-12-1, 33 KOs), former WBA junior welterweight and welterweight champion Jose Antonio "El Gallo" Rivera (41-6-1, 24 KOs), former IBO middleweight champion and star of The Contender, Season Ireality television show, Peter "The Pride of Providence" Manfredo Jr. (40-7, 21 KOs), 2014 "Connecticut Fighter of the Year" Luis "KO King" Rosa Jr. (17-0, 7 KOs), unbeaten former WBA Interim featherweight champion Javier "El Abejon" Fortuna (25-0-1, 18 KOs), and two-time world junior welterweight title challenger "Sucra" Ray Oliviera (47-11-2, 22 KOs). Three lucky fans were selected as winners of a "Micky Ward Birthday Contest." Each winner and one guest apiece sat ringside with Ward during one of three televised fights and were able to take photos with him and get his autograph.    "Irish" Micky Ward cuts his 49th birthday cake  with a video of him vs. Arturo Gatti playing in background  (Photo by Ashley Polo / Foxwoods)   (L-R) - Ring announcer David Diamante led fans at Fox Theater with a rousing rendition of "Happy Birthday" to Micky Ward, who is shown here thanking everybody. (Photo by Bob Barton / Rumble Time Promotions) (L-R) - Micky Ward with another New England boxing favorite, Marlon Starling (Photo by Bob Barton / Rumble Time Promotions) (L-R) - Micky Ward and Peter Manfredo, Jr., who served as Ward's chief sparring partner for his first fight (and win) against Arturo Gatti. (Photo by Bob Barton / Rumble Time Promotions)   (L-R) - Micky Ward and 82-year-old World welterweight champion in 1955 and fellow Bay State fighter, Tony DeMarco (Photo by Bob Barton / Rumble Time Promotions)

BARTHELEMY DOMINATES SAUCEDO IN TITLE DEFENSE, MARTIROSYAN DEFEATS NELSON AND DAWSON SHOCKED BY KARPENCY SATURDAY ON SHOWTIME®

Watch The Replay On SHOWTIME EXTEME^® Monday, Oct. 6 At 10 p.m. ET/PT

Photo Credit: Amanda Kwok / SHOWTIME

Click HERE To Download Photos

MASHANTUCKET, CONN. (Oct. 5, 2014) – Rances Barthelemy defended his IBF Junior Lightweight World Championship against Fernando David Saucedo with a dominating unanimous decision, scored 120-108 by all three judges, Saturday on SHOWTIME from Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Conn. 

Barthelemy (21-0, 12 KOs) controlled the bout from the opening bell and was the more active and accurate fighter, throwing 819 punches to Saucedo’s 382.  Saucedo (52-6-3, 8, KOs) tried to counter, but he wasn’t quick enough to land anything meaningful against the elusive Cuban. Barthelemy, who landed 50 percent of his power shots, employed a diverse attack of uppercuts, hooks and jabs and fought with his hands down and by his side for most of the fight. 

“It was a good fight,” Barthelemy said. “Saucedo is a veteran guy. In one moment, I thought I was going to knock him out, but he knows how to make the fight last. 

“I want Mikey Garcia. They say he’s the best. I say I’m the best. Let’s settle it.”

Saucedo didn’t win a single round and was outclassed in his United States debut. 

“I did everything I could,” Saucedo said. “We gave it our all but he is just a stronger and bigger guy. He’s a very good fighter, but he’s too big for this weight division.”

Vanes Martirosyan won a hard-fought unanimous decision over previously once-beaten Willie Nelson in a matchup of two top 10 ranked junior middleweights, scored 97-93 twice, 96-94. 

Martirosyan promised to win this fight for his promoter, the recently deceased Dan Goossen, and he delivered.  The contender was able to get inside the lengthy Nelson, where he did the majority of his damage with powerful right hooks. 

The pace picked up in the second half of the fight, with Martirosyan cleanly landing right shots and backing up Nelson. In the latter rounds, Martirosyan consistently threw wide shots around Nelson’s guard and opened up a cut under his eye in the eighth. Martirosyan’s power shots were the difference, with the Armenian landing 42 percent compared to Nelson’s 32 percent.

“We had to turn this into a fight,” Martirosyan said. “He is tall, he has long arms and it’s hard to fight a guy like that.  Around the seventh or the eighth I thought about [Diego] Corrales vs. [Jose Luis] Castillo and going to war. I knew we needed to dig deep to win this fight and that’s what we did.”

“It’s been a hard week for us. Around round eight, I thought about Dan and he made me fight hard. This was for Dan. I know he was watching me and this is for him. We love him and we miss him.”

Martirosyan’s trainer and Dan’s brother, Joe, agreed: “He asked us to win this fight and we honored that request as best as we could.”

Nelson, who was more accurate that Martirosyan with his jabs, disagreed with the judges’ scorecards. 

“I thought I won, but the judges saw otherwise,” Nelson said. “I can’t complain. Vanes has some nice pop and hand speed. He’s nothing special, but I felt he fought me differently than he has past opponents. I just need to keep fighting and keep moving forward and we’ll see what happens. 

“It was a good, tough fight.  What else would you expect from two guys in the top 10 in the division?  Of course I’d like another shot at him.”

In the opening bout of the telecast, underdog Tommy Karpency upset former light heavyweight world champion with a split decision victory, scored 96-94 Dawson, 96-94 Karpency, 96-94 Karpency.

Karpency (24-4-1, 14 KOs), who took the fight on short notice, was supposed to be a tune-up for Dawson (32-4, 18 KOs) as he climbed back from two tough consecutive losses to Andre Ward and Adonis Stevenson.  But Karpency fought with confidence and controlled the pace of the fight, which was contested almost entirely in the center of the ring. 

“I just came here to win, I had nothing to lose,” Karpency said. “I know I did enough to win and thankfully the judges got it right. I know it was close but I won hands down. I came here on short notice and I had to pace myself and make my punches count. I buzzed him a few times but couldn’t get him down. He was running. He thought he had the fight won.

“I believe that I belong in the top 10 in the light heavyweight division. I want to fight the best. I just beat a two-time former champ and I’m ready to fight the best.” 

Dawson didn’t throw any meaningful punches with his left hand in the second half of the fight and told to SHOWTIME announcer Steve Farhood that he hurt his left shoulder in the third round. 

“I hurt my shoulder in the third round,” Dawson said. “I landed more jabs than he landed punches. That’s [expletive]. They must want me out of the game. That’s crazy. I fought with one arm since the third round. Come on, man”

RANCES BARTHELEMY vs. FERNANDO DAVID SAUCEDO WILLIE NELSON vs. VANES MARTIROSYAN CHAD DAWSON vs. TOMMY KARPENCY FINAL WEIGHTS, QUOTES & PHOTOS

SHOWTIME Boxing Special Edition This Saturday, Oct. 4,

LIVE On SHOWTIME^® At 9 p.m. ET/PT

From Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Conn.

Photo Credit: Amanda Kwok / SHOWTIME

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MASHANTUCKET, CONN. (Oct. 3, 2014) – Undefeated Rances "Kid Blast" Barthelemy and Fernando  David “El Vasco” Saucedo both tipped the scale at the limit of 130 pounds during the official weigh-in for their world title showdown, tomorrow/Saturday, LIVE on SHOWTIME at 9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast.

Barthelemy (20-0-0, 12 KOs), of Las Vegas by way of Cuba, will defend his IBF junior lightweight title against former world title challenger and IBF No. 3-ranked challenger Saucedo (52-5-3, 8, KOs), of Florencio Varela, Argentina, in the main event of a SHOWTIME Boxing Special Editiontripleheader from the Fox Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino, in Mashantucket, Conn.

Willie “The Great” Nelson (23-1-1, 13 KOs), of Cleveland, Ohio, and Vanes “The Nightmare” Martirosyan (34-1-1, 21 KOs), of Glendale, Calif. by way of Armenia, both weighed-in at 153 pounds for their 10-round collision of once-beaten junior middleweights.  Martirosyan will be stepping into the ring with a heavy heart just five days after the death of his promoter Dan Goossen, brother of his trainer, Joe Goossen. 

Former light heavyweight world champion “Bad" Chad Dawson (32-3, 18 KOs), of Las Vegas by way of New Haven, Conn., measured 173 pounds for his first fight in his home state in five years.  He’ll take onTommy Karpency (23-4-1, 14 KOs), of Adah, Penn., who also weighed-in at 173 pounds, in a 10-round light heavyweight fight in the opening bout of Saturday’s tripleheader.

RANCES BARTHELEMY:

“I’m excited.  This is a huge fight for me, fighting on national television, fighting on SHOWTIME.  I’m excited and anxious to get in there and give the crowd and the fans a great fight.

“You’re going to see a solid, smart fighter that knows how to keep his distance and knows how to control the pace.  And you’ll see a lot of my jab, my biggest weapon.

“I’m going to win any way possible.  We’re ready to go the whole 12 rounds.  We’re just going to take it round by round.

“He has over 60 fights so we have to respect him.  But we’re going to let him know we’re the bigger man.”

FERNANDO DAVID SAUCEDO:

“I came here to win the world title and that’s what I’m going to do.

“This is the perfect matchup for me and my chance to show that I deserve to be a world champion.

“It’s a dream come true to fight here in the United States.  It’s obvious that I can’t do what I did in my previous 60 fights.  I need to bring a little more to go home with the title.  I’m very well-prepared and I’m looking forward to getting in the ring.”

WILLIE NELSON:

“I believe the jab is the key to this fight.  The person who establishes the jab is the one that is going to come out on top.

“I just need to follow the game plan and pick him apart.

“I’m going to win a unanimous decision.

“If I win this fight I should get a shot at a world title.  But, you know, it’s boxing, so anything can happen.”

VANES MARTIROSYAN

“We have a good game plan put together with Joe [Goossen].  We’re ready to box or brawl if we need to.  We’ll just take it from there.  We’re ready for whatever he bring and we’re just going to be on top of him the whole fight.

“We’ve been heartbroken since we’ve heard the news [that Dan passed].  Especially because they kept it away from me the whole training camp.  It was a big surprise to us.  The second we heard it we all, my wife, my mother, we all started crying. 

“But, in a way, we’re happy that we get to fight Saturday night and dedicate this victory to Dan Goossen.

“It gives me more motivation to fight and make him proud because I know he’s going to be looking down on us.  On Saturday we get to thank him.

“I think this will make me stronger.  The last thing, boxing-wise, that Dan said to Joe was, “make sure Vanes wins.’  I’m taking that in the ring with me.  He’s going to be watching me from above so we’re going to put on a good performance for him.

“I’m going to win by knockout.  I have too much happiness and too much strength going into the ring that I will win by knockout.”

CHAD DAWSON:

“As a fighter, the scale is a part of the fight, too.  I beat the scale andtomorrow night we’ll go out and win the fight.

“I know that I have to go out tomorrow night and perform.  I have to let the world know that I’m the same fighter, that I’m still one of the best fighters in the world.  If anything, I think I’m wiser and that makes me a better fighter.

“I’m going to go out there and do what I do best, use my jab, use my hand speed.  People underestimate my jab, but I have one of the best jabs out there.  I just need to use my size and win the fight. 

“Hopefully within the next two fights I’ll get a world title shot.  We want to get another fight after this, hopefully in December, and then sometime early next year I’ll be fighting for another world title.

“I’ll probably put on about 10 pounds before the fight tomorrow.  No more than that.  We don’t want to go in the ring too blown up.  Tonight we’ll eat light, eat a light breakfast a light lunch and get in the ring.

“I want to get some rounds in.  Hopefully he has it in him and hopefully we can get in some rounds.  I’m not the type of fighter to look for a knockout, but if it comes, it comes.  We’re just looking for a great performance.

“You’ll see on Saturday night –I’m back to being ‘Bad’ Chad.”

TOMMY KARPENCY:

“His weight doesn’t impact me at all.  I came here to win the fight no matter which Chad Dawson showed up and we prepared for the best Chad Dawson. 

“I’m going to fight to win.  I have nothing to lose.  This is a great opportunity for me –it’s Chad Dawson’s backyard so all the pressure is on him.  I have to take advantage of this opportunity.

“I’m going to try to impose my style; I try to fight in spurts.  I’m just going to let my hands go and whatever happens, happens. 

“I’m going to win, that’s all.  It’s going to be a life changing victory and that’s how I’m approaching it.  I have nothing to lose and everything to gain.  I just need to take advantage of this opportunity.

“This is a fight we went after.  We’re ready to go.  I don’t think this is the tune-up he’s expecting.  We’re ready for the best chad.”

JOE GOOSSEN:

“We trained very hard, even if it was under impossible circumstances.  Dan brought it up, he said, ‘just make sure Vanes wins Saturday night.’  That was Dan.  Always thinking about boxing and business up until the very end.  Dan was concerned about Vanes like he would be at any other time. 

“We didn’t miss a minute in the gym and that’s the way he would want it.  If anything it motivates me.  The gym is probably the only place where I can go to forget everything.”