Leonard Ellerbe
All right, thank you
Representing SHOWTIME, we have on the call Chris DeBlasio. Chris, would you like to say a few words?
Chris DeBlasio
Thanks, Leonard. Happy New Year to everybody and thanks for being on
We have a four-fight pay-per-view telecast with each matchup up holding a unique, significance in its own right.
We have two world title fights on the pay-per-view. There’s also a 12 round featherweight bout that’s going to open up the show between
But the co-feature here, this is an interim title fight between Badou Jack and Marcus Browne. These are two fighters that have come of age on SHOWTIME.
Both began their careers, early in their careers were featured on ShoBox: The New Generation against very tough opponents and have fought on virtually every live boxing series that we have on the network.
This is Marcus Browne’s eighth fight with SHOWTIME and this will be Badou’s 13th fight with us. So we’re proud to have them back. They have a special place for all of us on the crew and on the team here at SHOWTIME Sports and for all of our viewers who seen him develop
Both men have something to prove on January 19. The light
Just a brief program reminder regarding this event, ALL ACCESS: PACQUIAO VS. BRONER
Episode two will premiere on Friday, January 11 at 9:30 p.m., and that’ll be followed by our first ShoBox
L. Ellerbe
Yes, thank you, Chris. Again, as Chris touched on, this – in my eyes, this is an outstanding bout. This is a bout that the fans have
These two have been going back and forth a little bit on social media. What an outstanding co-feature to a great main event and
Talking a little bit about Marcus Browne, he’s a very, very
And I think that, come fight night on January 19, Marcus is looking to, not only make a statement but open himself up to fighting anyone
So, without further ado, I would like Marcus Browne, who comes to
Marcus Browne
Happy New Year everybody. I’m honored. I’m ready. I’m working hard.
I’m ready to take care of business. I know he knows what’s coming
I’m not huge braggadocios kind of guy. Neither is he, from what it
Come January 19, you got hell coming. You’ve got fury. You’ve got everything coming to you. This ain’t no Anthony Dirrell. This ain’t no washed up George Groves that got beat up by Carl Froch twice.
This ain’t no old Adonis Stevenson. This ain’t no Nathan Cleverly.
L. Ellerbe
Well, thank you, Marcus. And moving on to the former
This is a fight that he asked for and it’s a fight that I think that Marcus Browne’s style will make for a very, very exciting fight.
It’s a fight that he’s really, really looking forward to. So
Badou Jack
Hey, how is everybody doing? You know, I’m excited for this fight. I’m always in the gym, always working hard. So I don’t have to say that I’m ready. I’m always ready.
It’s going to be
I don’t have to brag about what I’ve done. This is the best
M Browne:
Trust me. I know it ain’t easy. And I’m working like I’ve never worked before in my life, so trust me, I know it ain’t easy. And you could say what you want from the outside. Come January 19, you’re going to see. You’re going to see. So, keep it up.
B, Jack
I let my hands do the talking. Everybody knows me.
M. Browne
Same here.
B. Jack
We’ll see fight night.
Q
Badou, I was just wondering if you could maybe talk about your experience level at the top level,
do you feel you’re more prepared for this type of fight than Marcus is because of the level of opposition that you fought?
B. Jack
To have experience against great fighters, of course, is going to play a major role in big fights but in boxing, anything can happen.
I’m very confident. I’m ready and I’ve been waiting. I haven’t fought since May. I’m definitely ready. I’m really hungry, so experience is a major key, of course.
Q
Marcus obviously has
B. Jack
The little that I’ve seen, he’s a good fighter. He’s definitely a good fighter.
Q
Marcus, what do you think of Badou Jack and maybe his level of experience against top guys?
M. Browne
Well, most of his fights have been at 168. Nathan Cleverly was
This is the light heavyweight division. He’s fighting a real
Q
Marcus, I’m not sure how closely you watched the fight but when he fought Adonis Stevenson back in May, who did you think won?
M. Browne
I didn’t watch it
He started off slow. Picked it up towards the end. Still couldn’t get him out of there. So, good fight.
Q
Thank you, Marcus. I have a question for both guys, as well.
I was just wondering, Badou, having shared the ring with him, what
B. Jack
I was very emotional about it because I’ve been in that ring with him
He was stumbling around in the hotel after the fight. Everybody said he really took a beating. So, it’s sad. But this is what we signed up for. I’ve been praying for him since this thing happened. I’m glad he woke up and hopefully he can recover. It’s the business. It’s nothing personal.
This is just business. We’re trying to feed our families.
M. Browne
It’s a sad and unfortunate situation but this is what we sign up for, what we sign on the dotted line for, getting in the ring. That’s
I feel bad for him but
Most importantly, he’s older. He’s an older fighter. Father time
Q
Badou are you now at the point where you kind of feel that you have
B. Jack
Yes, you can’t really complain to the judges. In all those close fights I had, I landed more than 100 more punches than my opponents. And most of them – this is sad, but most of them were not the same fighter after. I just have to make a statement. They’re not going to do me any favors.
Q
This is for the interim WBA title and if you win, would you welcome a fight against the full world champion, Dmitry Bivol?
B. Jack
L. Ellerbe
I’ll speak on that. If Badou is victorious in this fight against Marcus Browne, he’s willing to fight any of the light heavyweight champions
Q
Would you say that the winner of this fight can make the claim that they are the best light heavyweight in the world?
B. Jack
There are four champions better ahead of Marcus Browne. So just me beating him, that doesn’t really make me number one. I thought I would beat Stevenson and he was the lineal champion. But I don’t really focus on that. I’m focusing on winning my fight. All of the other stuff is just bonus.
Q
Badou do you feel that you will be able to get up the way you
B. Jack
Yes, that comes with experience. It’s the ability be ready whenever. It doesn’t matter if it’s the champion or if it’s a contender or whatever. You’ve got to think that every fight is a world title fight or the toughest fight of your life. So, my motivation is never a problem.
Q
L. Ellerbe
We’re willing to listen and entertain any offers that are out there. Obviously, Badou has a very tough fight ahead of him in Marcus
Q
Marcus, how badly did you have your mind set on Badou? Was this your only option?
M. Browne
Actually, well,
Q
Is there anything that you see in Badou that’s giving you
M. Browne
No, no frustration, and I don’t see anything. He’s a tough, tough fighter. He’s not an easy fighter. He’s no walk over. Super tough. Super gritty. Super headstrong, so there’s nothing that I see. He was just a guy who wasn’t busy and I wasn’t busy.
We’re in the same weight division. He’s a light heavyweight. He’s a two-time world champion. He really didn’t lose the belt. He gave it
All I see is a champion, the guy who’s ready and willing to fight and so on. This is a business.
Q
Do you feel that it would be easy for you to get a fight after
M. Browne
I’m not overlooking him. I’ll be focused on him. I’m not worried about fighting no other champions. All I’m worried about is fighting Badou Jack on January 19. And after that, we can discuss whatever.
But until then, I’m only talking about fighting Badou Jack at MGM Grand on January 19 in Las Vegas. That’s about it.
Q
Leonard, quick question here. I hope you’re having a good New Year’s. Looking at the WBA and WBC ratings, Badou and Marcus were both one
Is there a particular reason why you went with the WBA route for this fight in terms of the interim title?
Leonard Ellerbe
No, not necessarily. As you just mentioned, both of these guys
He has a tough fight against Marcus Browne for the WBA interim title and we’ll move on from there.
Q
Badou, if you beat Marcus Browne, would be your preference to
Badou Jack
There are a lot of big names out there. Sergey Kovalev and Eleider Alvarez fight two weeks after me, so let’s see what happens.
But I’m willing to fight any one of the champions. I prefer the one
Q
One more question for you, Badou. What did you think of Bivol’s
B. Jack
I think he is a good fighter. I think he’s a good boxer, athletic. Everybody says, oh, he’s going to knock this guy out. Yes, but this is boxing. Jean Pascal is a tough guy.
It’s not easy to knock everybody out. That’s the thing. It’s a
It’s a different story. My last fights have been against world champions. It’s a little harder to knock guys like that out. But Bivol, I think he won every round. Most of the rounds against him anyway. I think he’s a good fighter.
Q
Marcus, should you beat Badou Jack, is it your wish to go directly to Bivol or would you like to explore other possibilities?
M. Browne
This is prize fighting, so whoever’s got the biggest prize, that’s who I want to fight. But, yes, whatever makes the most dollars, makes
That’s where I’m at with that. But I’m not looking past Badou Jack.
Q
Marcus, just want to get your personal opinion. Leaving you out of it, who do you think is the best light heavyweight in the world out of
M. Browne
Marcus Browne. I ain’t leaving me out of it because I don’t care
Q
Marcus, given how most of your fights, since 2015, the last three years, really ended pretty quickly, are you making any adjustments in
M. Browne
That’s for me to work on and for you to see on January 19. At the end of the day, I know the type of fighter he is. We know he’s a work horse of a fighter and we’re prepared for that. He’s got great form. On January 19, you’ll see that I’m in shape or not.
Q
Do you still kind of feel like you need that win over Badou Jack to
M. Browne
I need a win against every fighter that I step in the ring with.
Badou Jack is not going to define my legacy and determine whether or not I am a real player in the light heavyweight division. My performance
Q
Badou you said you wanted to make a statement. What advantage does
Also, when you say you want to make a statement, does that mean that
B. Jack
Of course, I don’t want to leave it in the hands of the judges. If you’re a fighter, you should never go the distance.
Every fight is a different fight so you never know. But all I know is I’ve been there before. I know what it takes. I know I’ve been on a bunch of pay-per-view cards.
I know what it takes in front of those lights. When it’s really
Q
Do you feel like, when you say you want to make a statement, do you
B. Jack
I’m listening to my corner and following the game plan. Of course, I want to knock guys out. If they don’t come, they don’t come. I’ll show you January 19 what I’m about.
Q
Marcus, do you feel any pressure to get the knockout, win every
M. Browne
I’m not concerned about anything at all. At the end of the day, we
I’m not here to lose rounds and that’s about it. But I’m not concerned about what the judges are doing. We already know what type of time it is already.
We should know how we’re coming. I’m not looking for a knockout.
L. Ellerbe
We would like to thank everyone for joining the call. We’re 17
I guarantee you, this fight here will be probably the best fight on the card. These guys will be looking to steal the show, and again, it’s a very outstanding matchup and we’re very excited. Thank you, everyone, for joining the call.
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