With just a few days removed from their fight, Brooklyn's Daniel Jacobs (36-3, 30 KO) and.Gabe Rosado (25-12-1, 14 KOs) of Philadelphia met at the final press conference as they will square off this Friday night at at Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, Florida live on DAZN.
Daniel Jacobs
“I don’t agree with him, I think I beat him in every category, and I will show that on Friday night, plain and simple. My goal for taking this fight is to make him eat his words - there’s levels to this game and I’ll show I’m beyond this guy.
“There’s no easy fights in boxing, he’s a top 15 guy, I would say he’s a gatekeeper, but he’s a tough gatekeeper, he doesn’t lay down and if he goes down, he gets back up. A durable guy like Gabe serves as a great show, and the respect that I give every opponent is to prepare at 100 per cent to give my very best.
“We’ve had similar opponents and look at my performances versus his against the same opposition. My resume and skillset speak volumes, take nothing away from Gabe but it is what it is, and I will show him.
“I can’t predict what is going to happen, but I can train my best to be prepared to go in the ring for the best Gabe Rosado we’ve ever seen. He understands that this is his last opportunity, and let’s be clear, I am giving him this chance, he hasn’t earned it, he talked his way into this fight.
“The main goal is to get a KO; you don’t want to be in there longer than you have to be. We get paid for 12 rounds but if it ends early, you go home and enjoy the rest of the night. My plan is to go in there and execute, but what that execution looks like, we shall see.
“You are going to see a more improved and enhanced Daniel Jacobs. It’s my second fight at Super-Middleweight, I had a great camp, I am very comfortable at 168lbs and I am looking forward to putting in a stellar performance on Friday night. I get the chance to shut this man’s mouth once and for all.
“For me, this is an opportunity to shut a man’s mouth that has been speaking bad about me over the past few years. We both know the things he’s said, the hate that he’s been giving me and the jealousy that resides in his heart.”
Gabe Rosado
“My self-belief and confidence, knowing I am willing to do whatever it takes, and I don’t think that he has that in him. There’s nothing he brings to the table that I haven’t seen already. I’m experienced I have a great team and had a great camp, so I am locked in.
“There’s only one Gabe Rosado and I am relevant because I am authentic, and the fans relate to me. I am not here because the promoters or networks are pushing me, I am here because the fans want to see Gabe Rosado.
“Freddie Roach brings the best out of me. We had a great camp, he’s so knowledgeable and old school - straight down to business. Maybe in the past I was probably dictating too much of my camp, how the pace went and things like that, but Freddie is the boss. Whatever he says, I do.
“The fight will be whatever it will be. At this level we will both make adjustments and whatever type of fight it is, it will be at a high level, because this is a must-win situation.
“The competition he fought coming up was no big deal, no disrespect to those guys. When he had to step up, two times against Canelo and GGG, he fell short. I came up fighting the top guys, I had to learn on the job, he was groomed to be where he’s at, it’s different. But when he stepped up, he lost. It’s going to be a war on Friday, I promise you.”
Daniyar Yeleussinov – Berezino, Kazakhstan, 9-0 5 KOs, fights Julius Indongo for the vacant IBF Inter-Continental Welterweight title.
“Trash talk doesn’t bother me. I am a tough guy, I have a great amateur background and I am fast and strong, I will show my speed, skills and power on Friday night, this is not easy work. Maybe for me it will be, I know he’s an experienced fighter with power and he’s a strong guy, but I think I am better than him. I feel great and I think that this is my time and my night.
“This is the right time to fight him, it’s a good fight and my first for a title against a former unified World champion. I respect him a lot, but I want to show beautiful boxing on Friday night.”