"I am not worried about the distractions...We've been keeping a low profile. When we got back into town from training camp [in Colorado Springs] there wasn't a big entourage. I actually didn't let anyone know when I was coming back into town. It's been kind of cool just chillin' and waiting on the fight," stated undefeated WBO lightweight champion Terence Crawford, who spoke during a conference call to promote his upcoming clash this Saturday with fellow undefeated interim WBA lightweight champion Yuriorkis Gamboa. Check out what else he had to say!
TERENCE CRAWFORD...
When you won the title in Glasgow, was it a plan to defend it in your hometown?
TERENCE CRAWFORD: Yes, that was my goal, to make my first defense in Omaha and I was real pleased with Bob [Arum] keeping his word. Now that we are here I am just happy for everything. I am in my hometown where my fans have never really got to see me perform as a professional and I am ready for the moment
There are always stories of distractions, tickets etc., when a fighter fights in his hometown. Have you experienced that?
TERENCE CRAWFORD: I don't handle any of that no tickets or t-shirts, so they can't call me for nothing. So I am not worried about the distractions.
BRIAN McINTYRE: Well, we already have a game plan planned out what everybody's job is going to be as far as the tickets go and the t-shirts. We are keeping Terence secluded so he has no distractions. We talked about that months in advance and now we are just executing the plan.
Do you have knowledge of the last world championship fight that took place in Omaha? [Joe Frazier vs. Ron Stander World Heavyweight Championship, May 25, 1972]
TERENCE CRAWFORD: It was news to me. I never knew about it until a few years back. I know about it now and that's all that matters.
You looked much bigger than Gamboa at the initial press conference. Do you feel you have a big size advantage? Do you think you will use it?
TERENCE CRAWFORD: Like I tell everybody you never know. Gamboa is a real skillful fighter and he can make adjustments in the ring as the fight goes on. We just have to wait to see what happens.
Gamboa has been tweeting some odd things towards you how do you feel about that?
TERENCE CRAWFORD: I just look at it as being part of boxing. That's something he feels he wants to do and I don't take it personally. I am going to go in there, come Saturday, and look at him eye-to-eye and see what he has to say then.
Does Gamboa pose a big challenge to you?
TERENCE CRAWFORD: He is going to be a big challenge. He is a great fighter, like myself. I never got hit by him so I don't know about his power.
How is he different than Burns?
TERENCE CRAWFORD: Gamboa has a lot more amateur experience, but at the same time they are two different fights. One is tall and one is short and they fight two different styles.
How do you feel about fighting in your hometown?
TERENCE CRAWFORD: My managers, Cameron Dunkin and Brian McIntyre they came in and got the job done. I am just blessed to be able to fight in Omaha.
How have you dealt with the demands on your time while fighting in your hometown?
TERENCE CRAWFORD: We've been keeping a low profile. When we got back into town from training camp [in Colorado Springs] there wasn't a big entourage. I actually didn't let anyone know when I was coming back into town. It's been kind of cool just chillin' and waiting on the fight.
Cameron?
CAMERON DUNKIN: I leave that up to Brian. These guys have lived there their whole lives. Brian and I were concerned about it and we had a long talk about it. He told me he would set everything up and keep all the distractions away. Brian has done a great job, giving everyone jobs so Terence is just focused on the fight and ready to go. He hasn't had any distractions and Brian has assured me he is ready to go.
Do you get a feeling, by walking around town, the magnitude of the event?
TERENCE CRAWFORD: Yes, I can tell it is big. Big not just for me but for the city of Omaha, Nebraska. It's not just the boxing community; it is all the people in Omaha. I can also tell that I give the people hope that they can be what they want to be, if you believe and work hard at it.
How do you characterize yourself? Some say you are a southpaw and some say you are a switch-hitter?
TERENCE CRAWFORD: I don't look at myself as one-dimensional. I can fight a lot of different ways I'm very flexible.
Do you plan to attack Gamboa, since he has been off for a while and he may have a suspect chin?
TERENCE CRAWFORD: I never go into the ring thinking that's the way he is going to be I just go in to fight my fight. I don't go in there looking for the knockout. If it comes it comes and if it doesn't it doesn't.
Terence, what do you think you will bring to the table that will give Gamboa problems? He mentioned that he has been fighting guys like you since his young amateur days in Cuba
TERENCE CRAWFORD: We are going to have to wait until Saturday. The guys he has fought, I am pretty sure don't have the same style as me. He may have fought guys with similar styles but no one has the same exact style as me. So we will have to see on Saturday.
What one thing that you will bring to the table will get you the victory?
TERENCE CRAWFORD: Just me being myself. Me going in there and fighting my fight.
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World Championship Boxing returns to Omaha for the first time in 42 years! Undefeated world champions TERENCE CRAWFORD, the Pride of Omaha, and Cuban sensation YURIORKIS GAMBOA, who boast identical 23-0 (16 KOs) professional ring records, will be battling for Crawford's newly-won World Boxing Organization (WBO) lightweight title This Saturday! June 28, at the the CenturyLink Center in Omaha (455 North 10th St., Omaha, Neb. 68102). This will be the first world championship fight Omaha has hosted since Joe Frazier successfully defended his heavyweight title against Nebraska's-own Ron Stander on May 25, 1972. It will also be a professional homecoming for Crawford, who has not fought in his home state since 2011. The fight will be televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark®, in its first-ever visit to Omaha, beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT. The telecast will open with undefeated Top-Five contenders MATT KOROBOV and JOSE UZCATEGUI battling in a 10-round rumble for the vacant WBO Inter-Continental middleweight title.
This exciting all-action doubleheader features four undefeated gladiators with a combined record of 91-0, 63 KOs.
Promoted by Top Rank®, in association with SMS Promotions, PS4 and Tecate, remaining tickets to Crawford vs. Gamboa, priced at $27, $52 and $102, can be purchased at the CenturyLink Center Omaha box office and all Ticketmaster outlets. To charge-by-phone call 800-745-3000. To order online, visit Ticketmaster.com.
For fight updates go to www.toprank.com, or www.hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/trboxing, facebook.com/trboxeo, or facebook.com/hboboxing, and on Twitter at twitter.com/trboxing, twitter.com/trboxeo, or twitter.com/hboboxing. Use the Hashtag #CrawfordGamboa to join the conversation on Twitter.