Night of Champions Ring Magazine IV Press Conference

Night of Champions', the upcoming Ring Magazine IV fight card as part of Riyadh Season will feature four 12-round championship bouts, headlined by David “The Monster Bandera Roja” Benavidez (30-0, 24 KOs) defending his WBC Light Heavyweight Title against two-time challenger Anthony Yarde (27-3, 24 KOs) and former Undisputed Lightweight Champion Devin “The Dream” Haney (32-0, 15 KOs) stepping up against WBO Welterweight Champion Brian “The Assassin II” Norman Jr. (28-0, 22 KOs). The fighters met face-to-face at the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square in New York City today ahead of the November 22 fight from the anb Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which will air live worldwide on DAZN.

The Ring IV card will also see undefeated British and Commonwealth Lightweight Champion Sam Noakes (17-0, 15 KOs) and the undefeated Abdullah Mason (19-0, 17 KOs) meet for the vacant WBO Lightweight Title and The Ring and WBO Junior Bantamweight Champion Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez (21-0, 14 KOs) square off with IBF and WBA titleholder Fernando Martinez (18-0, 9 KOs) in a battle to determine who is undisputed at 115 pounds.

Hosted by DAZN analyst Chris Mannix, today’s press conference featured faceoffs of Benavidez and Yarde, Haney and Norman Jr., and Noakes and Mason. Martinez was in attendance as well.

This is what the fighters and their teams had to say:

David Benavidez

Are you okay with a shootout style fight?

“Yeah, I’m perfect with that.. It's been a great year for me so far, and we’ve got another great fight on the table. Anthony Yarde, he’s a tremendous fighter. He has a lot of experience, this is his third time at a world title, so I know he’s gonna leave it all on the line on November 22nd. Like he said, I like to go to war too. I’m not gonna back down from him, he’s not gonna back down from me, so let’s have some fun on November 22nd, let’s give the people what they want to see.”

You’re starting to stack some pretty quality wins together, do you think you’re getting the opportunity to show the kind of fighter you are?

“Definitely, and that’s really what motivates me most at the end of the day. I want to set an example to everybody in the light-heavyweight division that even if they come for the best, there’s nothing they can do. You know this is my time. That’s why I want to fight the best of the best because I don’t want to just show the people, I want to show myself. I want to know that I’m the baddest man on the planet and that’s the route I’m taking.”

He’s fought guys like Sergey Kovalev, and Artur Beterbiev – do you believe you’re on an even higher level?

“Yeah, I believe in myself. I’d put myself against anybody at the end of the day. I feel like I’m the best in the world, and that’s why I’m here to show it. I wanna show that I’m the best in the world against the people that are really good and have a lot of experience. I get excited, any shot can change the fight, so like I said, he wants to go to war, we’re okay with that. Let’s go to war.”

Do you think this fight will go to a decision?

“I’m just gonna be focused. I’m gonna go in there, do what I’ve gotta do, execute my game plan and I think that’ll be enough. I see a lot of openings in him and like I said, it’s gonna be a fun fight. At the end of the day, once people think about The Ring IV, they’re gonna look at this as one of the events that’s gonna live in history for a long time. Me, Anthony Yarde, Devin Haney, Brian Norman, Abdullah Mason, Bam Rodriguez, man this card is stacked top to bottom. I’m honored to be a part of this card, and I know everybody is gonna be putting their best on the line on this day but I wanna steal the show, so I wanna have some fun this November 22nd.”

Anthony Yarde

What are you expecting going against David Benavidez

“Entertainment. I think he’s expecting the same. There’s a lot of respect there, but he knows what I bring to the table. I’ve seen him fight. When I respect somebody, you’re going to get the best version of me. I’m excited.”

What did you learn from your past fights against Beterbiev and Kovalev?

“I learned a lot but it doesn't matter. I have a different fighter in front of me, a different style. He knows I can hit and he can hit, too, but in boxing, one punch can change a fight. It’s not like I’m going in there swinging, trying to land a lucky punch. I’m calculated. The boxing fans are in for an entertaining night.”

What do you have to do to win this fight?

“We’re going to have to wait and see. I have to keep him off of me, push him back. In the UK, the Kray twins, if you’ve seen the movie ‘Legend,’ one of them says they want a f****** shootout. That’s what I want. I want a shootout and he wants one.”

Do you think you’re on a different level than Benavidez?

“I’m a realist. I’m not on his level yet, I have to go out there and prove myself, and I think he knows that. I’m not a joker and going out there looking for a payday. We’re chasing something… I want to look in the mirror and really see myself. When I look in the mirror, I know who I am and that’s the kind of person Benavidez is fighting. I’m looking forward to it.”

Devin Haney

Why was Brian Norman Jr. the right fight for you?

“I know it’s a shock for me to become a three-division champion. Brian Norman is just another guy. I’ve been at this level for a long time. Brian Norman, this is his big moment, this is his first time here and I’m here to show him that there are levels. I’m on a totally different level than him but I’m happy for this opportunity.”

Why do you believe that your on a different level than him? He’s obviously the champion at 147. What gives you that confidence?

“I don’t know anybody that he fought. He’s never knocked out anybody at the top. I know he’s going to say ‘Oh you’re going to be the first one.’ Yeah, ok, sounds good. We’ve heard this before. But he’s never done this at the highest level. I’ve been at the highest level for 7-8 years now.”

What do you think this will look like on fight night?

“I think it’s going to be one-sided. I’m going to go in there and handicap him. I know he has power. We all know he has power, but against guys we’ve never seen before. We’ve never heard of these guys before. I will show him that power is good, muscles are good, he’s got a lot of muscles— but muscles don’t win fights at the high level. To the best of the best, it doesn't matter how many muscles you got, or how much power you got. I will show him.”

You got a chance to fight above 140 in your last fight now you’re fighting at 147. What do think this extra weight has done for you?

“It doesn't matter. I’m levels above this guy. It doesn't matter what weight. We could've done it at 140, 145, 143, or 147; it doesn't matter.”

Brian Norman Jr.

With wins over the likes of Giovanni Santillan’s and Jin Sasaki, what do you think you’ve shown people over the last 12-13 months?

“Obviously not enough. I still have some doubters out there. Besides that, everybody has given credit to how great the card was – it’s going to be a great event.”

Do you think people are still doubting you going into this fight?

“That’s what it is, people keep doubting me, they’ve been doubting me my whole life, that’s why I’ve got a big ol’ chip on my shoulder. And shoot, yesterday even amped it up even more so, y’all boys let me get too comfortable… Time is up, man. Time for y’all to get up out of my sport.”

Besides your power, do you feel you have any other advantages over Haney?

“I mean that’s what everyone keeps looking at, they’re looking at the power, but the power don’t mean nothing if you can’t land it, so you have to have the IQ. You’ve got to learn how to put that thing together, so I’m gonna show you something different come this fight.”

Sam Noakes

How are you feeling about this matchup with Abdullah Mason?

“I think obviously we’ve been trying to get in this position for a little while. I think it’s not just crept up out of nowhere. We’ve been working for it since, obviously, the beginning and keep working up the WBA rankings, but if it’s not Keyshawn (Davis), it’s Abdullah Mason, and as Carl (Moretti) said, I’ve never been in there with anyone like him and he’s never been in there with someone like me”

How would you describe your style?

“Probably rough and ready, to be honest, but listen I do what I do. It doesn't look pretty but it gets the job done.”

What have you seen from Abdullah Mason?

“He’s a real nice fella, to be honest with you. I saw him and his old man yesterday, but that’s how it should be. I’ve got no problem with Abdullah Mason. We’re just two boys trying to do the same thing.”

Abdullah Mason

How are you feeling about getting this world title opportunity?

“This is a huge card. This is a big step up in terms of the magnitude of the fight card that I’m fighting on. Four world championship fights so it's something different for me but it’s going to be the same thing. I’m still inside a square circle with an opponent that I’m prepared for. So we’re going to be in there scrapping with eight-ounce gloves on and I'm prepared to come home with that title.”

Did you think this opportunity would present itself this quickly?

“Yeah, I did. I've seen it coming. Before the Sam Noakes fight was made, I was ranked number two in the WBO, so it would have come sooner or later, but I’m prepared for it. I started this year out as boxing's top prospect in the sport, fighting eight-rounders, and now I’m contending for a world title. I’m prepared for it and I knew I’d be here. As long as I’m staying focused, we’re going to keep coming out the same way.”

What gives you the confidence that you’re ready to potentially go 12 rounds for a world title?

“I know what I can do inside the ring and with the right preparation, you all will see the same thing time and time again. Ever since I turned pro, I’ve been putting on amazing performances with each step-up fight and I feel like this is going to be the same thing, no different.”

Fernando Martinez

Is it strange to be here when your opponent has another fight in a couple of weeks?

“It’s a weird feeling, absolutely, but it’s a great opportunity. I’m going to come prepared to do my job.”

What do you think you showed in your last two fights?

“I’ve fought two great champions and beat them. On November 22nd, I’m gonna show the world I’m a bigger champion. The main thing I got out of those fights was the experience, which I’ll show in November.”

Do you have a prediction on the fight between Bam Rodriguez vs. Phumelele Cafu?

“Rodriguez by knockout. We’ll see what happens.”

Rick Reeno, COO, Ring Magazine

“This is a sensational card from top to bottom. The Mexican monster, David Benavidez, is one of the most exciting fighters in the sport. But he’s got a tough assignment on his hands in Anthony Yarde. It’s not Tom and Jerry here. It’s Tom and Tom. I expect these guys to go right into it, bombs away, and I certainly don’t expect this fight to go the distance. It’s going to be a war.”

“Co-feature, Brian Norman is fast becoming one of the biggest knockout artists in the sport. Devin Haney, pound for pound one of the best boxers in the sport. It’s going to be a sensational matchup with Brian’s power against Devin’s speed. I think the styles will mesh very well.”

“We have Sam Noakes – Frank (Warren) believes he’s the next superstar in the sport. Then Top Rank believes Mason is the next superstar in the sport. Another fight I’m looking forward to.”

“You can’t forget about Bam Rodriguez against Fernando Martinez, one of the best fights to be made in lower weight classes. I really look forward to this card, one of the most stacked events in the last couple years.”

Frank Warren, Queensberry Promotions

“On the 22nd of November, we’re in the world capital of boxing, which is Riyadh. They've taken over, and every show on there, every fight, has been great fights, fabulous shows and this main event is something special – just as Rick said, it's going to be a war. As soon as that bell goes, styles make fights; it's going to be in your face. They're going to be frying bums. It's going to be a shootout, and I am telling you, you will not be disappointed; it's going to be a fantastic fight.”

“Anthony Yarde comes to fight, it's his dream to win a world title. It’s his third shot at it, in his other two he was very unlucky to be beaten by Kovalev, He was winning that fight, and had he got his taxes right he would have won it and he gave Beterbiev his toughest fight to date at that time. But look, he comes to fight; he believes it’s his time, and David, who I have the utmost respect for who’s another great fighter. He’s done everything he’s been asked, but I’ll tell you he’s going to have his hands full on the 22nd.

“Speaking of our guys, we’ve got another young guy in there, Sam Noakes with Abdullah Mason, as you said, someone's 0 has got to go. Between them they’ve had 36 fights and 36 KOs so you know it's going to be explosive and all action. I’ll tell you about Sam Noakes, he is non-stop. As soon as that first bell goes, he’s on you. He doesn't stop throwing punches. You're going to love him. I promise you're going to love him. We have respect for Abdullah, but this is going to be a fantastic fight.”

“The other two fights on there, Brian Norman and Devin Haney, what a great fight that’s going to turn out to be. We hope that Jesse (Rodriguez) comes through his fight against Cafu next week and he and Rodriguez again is a brilliant fight. Three belts on the line. Great super flyweight fight.”

Eddie Hearn, Matchroom Boxing

“We’ve seen it so many times and he’s done it again, His Excellency. We’re seeing these monster cards, and I’m here on behalf of Bam Rodriguez. He’s made his way onto the pound-for-pound list and one of the top talents in the sport. To see a fighter from those weight classes get the recognition on that list shows you his quality.”

“One thing you cannot deny is his [Haney] resume and achievements. They speak for themselves and he’ll fight anybody. It’s a great fight against Brian Norman, who's coming off a big win.”

“David Benavidez, the monster – what a fighter. Yarde steps up straight away. He never ducks anyone. What a fight for the lightweight division as well. Abdullah Mason looks to be one of the top stars in the sport, but Sam Noakes is a tremendous fighter, very dangerous and heavy handed. That’s a life-changing opportunity in a division that’s opening up quickly.”

Carl Moretti, Top Rank Boxing

“We’ve got confidence and we’re gonna show that come Nov 22. We talked about this in the office. What our advantages are and should we take the fight. The only other advantage I see is that we’re not going up against Eddie Futch and George Benton on the other side, but that’s fine we’ll do what we have to.”

“From a matchmaking point of view, Abdullah probably hasn't fought anyone like Sam Noakes, but then again, Sam Noakes hasn't fought anyone like Abdullah Mason. You throw them out there, see who wins, and go from there.”

Sampson Lewkowicz, Sampson Boxing

“When promoters want to get together, and they want the best fight, you can make a deal in 48 hours. With Anthony Yarde, I really appreciate him taking this fight… Anthony Yarde took the fight in less than 48 hours.”