PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES SAMUEL PETER vs. VITALI KLITSCHKO, Wednesday, Aug. 26, at Gallagher’s Steak House, New York, New York

PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES SAMUEL PETER vs. VITALI KLITSCHKO, at Gallagher’s Steak House, New York, New York

On a night that will electrify the boxing world, active World Boxing Council (WBC) Heavyweight Champion Sam Peter (30-1, 23 KOs) will defend his title against WBC Champion Emeritus Vitali Klitschko (35-2, 34 KOs), making his dramatic return to the ring after a four-year absence, on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING, Saturday, October 11.

Immediately following the heavyweight world title fight, which begins at 9 p.m. ET/PT on tape delay, two light heavyweight champions will meet, live on SHOWTIME, when Antonio "Magic Man" Tarver and "Bad" Chad Dawson square off in a long-awaited grudge match.

The Peter-Klitschko showdown will be co-promoted by Duva Boxing, K2 Promotions and Don King Productions from the O2 Arena in Berlin, Germany. Tarver vs. Dawson will be promoted by Gary Shaw Productions in association with AT Entertainment and take place at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada

SAMUEL PETER

“I am very grateful to be here today. I want to clear up one thing. I am the true heavyweight champion.


Vitali, you never beat a champion. You say you are the champion, but you are not a champion. You can’t be the champion until you beat me, and you can’t.

“I have fought 31 fights and never ducked anyone. I fought with my eardrum broken and lost 25 pounds that night, but I still fought.

“I am making one promise today. I will knock Vitali out. Trust me. I will knock out Vitali, and then I will beat his brother (IBF/WBO Heavyweight Champion Wladimir Klitschko). There is no doubt about that.”

VITALI KLITSCHKO

“Thank you to everyone who put energy into making this fight happen.”


“I am pleased to say that I am back. I am happy to be back in the ring, happy to fight for my title. I gave away my title freely because of my knee injury.

“I feel sorry for Peter that I must fight him. Skeptical people say that I won’t win because I have been out of the ring for three years, but I did not lose the title. I am honored to fight for (WBC President) José Sulaimán, who gave me this chance.

“I have big respect for Mr. Lou Duva, but his fighters always say they will knock me out and it never happens. Mr. Duva is preparing Peter to knock me out, but this will never happen.

“I don’t underestimate Peter. He is a good puncher. I will give my best to be the winner, to take my title back, and to make history where two brothers will be champions at the same time. It’s a huge motivation for me.

“I promise the fight will not be easy and it won’t go to the scorecards. It will probably end between rounds four-six. I have a lot of presents ready for Peter for October 11.”



DINO DUVA (Peter’s promoter)

“This fight was a fight that a lot of people never thought would happen. When the WBC ordered Sam Peter to fight Vitali Klitschko, I was the most skeptical about Klitschko’s ability. But, a few weeks ago, I ran into Vitali at the Olympics in Beijing. I saw him walk toward me with a fire in his eye and he asked me if the fight was happening. When I told him yes it was, he promised me that he would show up as ready as ever. After seeing him and the fire in him, my doubts were put to rest.

“We are so happy to work with SHOWTIME. SHOWTIME is pound for pound the best network in boxing. We are proud to have this fight on SHOWTIME.”

LOU DUVA (Legendary trainer)

Peter reminds me of Rocky Marciano, and he will definitely knock out Vitali. You’re going to see a fight here, and I’ll tell you what, on October 11, you will see Peter knockout Klitschko.”

BERND BOENTE (Klitschko’s Manager)

“This will be a great fight between two great punchers. I doubt however that this fight goes 12 rounds.”

Starlite Boxing's Sweetscience The Video Channel Online http://www.youtube.com/ELEmpress1

EL Boxing Empress Keisha Morrisey's Myspace http://www.myspace.com/Keishadivine

Honorable Keisha Morrisey http://www.keishamorrisey.com

©®™ 2007, 2008 All photos by "EL Boxing Empress" Keisha Morrisey- Empire Morrisey Studios, for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and Starlite Boxing's Sweetscience Magnews-Online Publication all rights reserved

Lauzon positioning himself for UFC title run in 2009 Bradley fight Sept. 17 in Omaha on UFC Fight Night 15

E. BRIDGEWATER, Mass– In a relatively short period, 24-year-old Joe “J-Lau” Lauzon has gone from computer geek to starring on The Ultimate Fighter 5 television reality show, upsetting a former world mixed-martial-arts champ, and then headlining UFC Fight Night 13.

Not too shabby for the nerd-looking but fearless fighting lightweight contender who has a Bachelor’s degree in computer networking from Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston. Two years ago, he was fighting part-time and working full-time at Charles River Analytics in Cambridge (MA), where he was responsible for maintaining a 130-computer network.

Now, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist Lauzon (16-4, 3 KOs, 13 submissions) is currently preparing for his next fight, September 17 against Kyle Bradley (13-5) in UFC Fight Night 15, on Spike television live from Omaha, Nebraska.

“Every fighter will tell you that their next fight is the most important and that won’t change here,” Lauzon said. “Fighters can make or break their careers with a few good or bad fights, so I’m not going to let any fight slip by.”

Born in Brockton, Massachusetts, known as the “City of Champions” because Hall of Fame boxers Rocky Marciano and Marvelous Marvin Hagler fought out of there, Lauzon fought on the relatively small New England circuit during the early part of his still young MMA career, earning 2004 Massachusetts Fighter of the Year honors.

In 2006, “J-Lau” won an 8-man tournament by defeating three fighters on one night in the World Fighting League, and he was crowned WFL Grand Prix champion. His impressive showing led to a UFC contract, although he believed that he’d lose his love of fighting if he became a fulltime fighter and it became a job.

His UFC debut was against former world light weight champion Jens “Little Evil” Pulver (21-7-1), who was a solid 7-1 favorite, in UFC 63 (September 23, 2006). Lauzon immediately took Pulver to the mat, but they got up and Joe rocked Pulver with a right knee, leading to a devastating left hook that dropped Pulver. A barrage followed and the referee halted the fight at 43 seconds of the opening round, marking Pulver’s first UFC loss in eight fights.

“Going into the fight with Jens,” Lauzon reflected, “I had all the upper tier fighters on his plateau and I thought that I was far off. Getting a big win like that let me know that I could compete at that level.”

Lauzon’s impressive performance led to him being cast on The Ultimate Fighter 5, where Joe met his new mentor and training partner, UFC lightweight champion BJ Penn, who was his coach on the television series. Joe won his first two fights in the series against a team coached, ironically, by Pulver, but Joe lost a decision to Manvel Gamburyan in the semifinals. In the finale, however, “J-Lau” beat Brandon Melendez by submission (triangle choke) at 2:09 of the second round.

“The Ultimate Fighter was great for me because it put me on television in front of everyone,” Joe noted. “On the local level, MMA shows are filled by fighters selling tickets to their friends. The UFC has expanded that model by letting the world get to know fighters. You could fight a dozen times and still not have the same connection with people as you do when they see how you live for a month and a half.

After The Ultimate Fighter 5, Lauzon finally left his job at Charles River Analytics to become a fulltime MMA fighter, and took Penn up on his offer to train him, moving to Hawaii where one of his training partners was WEC featherweight champion Urijah Faber.

“Training with BJ was the best,” Lauzon remarked. “You always try to have a worst case scenario opponent in mind while training and BJ is just that” world-class Jiu-Jitsu, great striking with heavy ands and a solid chin, as well as crazy flexibility and takedown defense. All of that is hard to come by in one person, but BJ brings it all, the complete package. I am fortunate enough to have worked with BJ and I realize how much further I can improve. I am back training in Bridgewater at my school for this fight, but I’m sure I will be training with BJ again in the future.”

Last November, Joe defeated Jason Reinhardt by submission (rear naked choke) in the first round at UFC 78: Validation, setting up an All-Massachusetts showdown against Kenny Florian in the main event on UFC Fight Night 13 in Denver on April 2. The older, more experienced Florian registered a win by second-round TKO. “I learned from that fight that I need to pace myself better and not think that I have to go all out from bell to bell,” Joe commented. “It was real tough in Colorado with the elevation. I tried to prepare for it but I didn’t do enough. It was a costly lesson but one that I will never make again.”

Lauzon, representing Lauzon MMA, has moved back to Massachusetts and he’s living again in the town he grew-up in, East Bridgewater. Given his youth and talent, along with Penn possibly moving up to the welterweight division, “J-Lau” hopes to parlay an impressive win next month against Bradley into a top 10 ranking and eventually a UFC lightweight title shot in 2009.

For more information about Joe “J-Lau” Lauzon, go online to www.joelauzon.com or myspace.com/lauzonrsd.

Starlite Boxing's Sweetscience The Video Channel Online http://www.youtube.com/ELEmpress1

EL Boxing Empress Keisha Morrisey's Myspace http://www.myspace.com/Keishadivine

Honorable Keisha Morrisey http://www.keishamorrisey.com

©®™ 2007, 2008 All photos by "EL Boxing Empress" Keisha Morrisey- Empire Morrisey Studios, for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and Starlite Boxing's Sweetscience Magnews-Online Publication all rights reserved