THE MODERATOR: Thank you Joseph, thank you, Andrew, have a great day. We’ll now turn it over to Gabriel Rosado versus Willie Monroe Jr.
ERIC GOMEZ: We’re ready now for the co-feature. I’d first like to introduce a good friend of mine and partner for this fight. He is the president and CEO of Banner Promotions, and that’s Mr. Arthur Pelullo. Arty, can you please introduce Willie and say a few comments.
ARTHUR PELULLO, President and CEO of Banner Promotions: Sure. Hi everybody. I just want to thank Eric, who we have become friends over the last year or so, and Oscar, for this opportunity for Willie. You know, my mom used to say one door shuts, another one opens. Willie, and before I introduce him, I just would like to say this, Willie and GABRIEL ROSADOgot this opportunity because Billy Jo Saunders would not fight either one of them. And Eric calls us up and says would you fight Gabe? And Willie, who I’ve had ever since before we started the Boxcino tournament has never really turned anybody down. He just would like to know the details, but he’s never turned anybody down. He won the Boxcino tournament and was willing to fight Saunders.
Then when Eric said this opportunity came up, I said to Willie, make the fight already. And that was only a couple weeks ago, because Willie’s always in the gym ready to fight. He’s a real pro.
So this opportunity is terrific for both Willie and Gabe Rosado. The winner of the fight, and everybody knows this, is a natural for the winner of the Canelo-Smith fight. Either fighter gets it or doesn’t get it, their careers go in a different direction because they won a big fight on the big stage, Dallas Stadium. It’s all good stuff. HBO, pay-per-view, it’s what guys live to do. This is the reason they become professionals to get to these type of fights.
So it’s been my pleasure to work with Willie. I’m going to introduce him now. You all know him, Willie Monroe. He is quite the athlete. He’s quite the person, and him and Gabe are going to give a great fight on a great show. Willie, are you there?
WILLIE “THE BODY ROCK” MONROE, Former World Title Challenger:
I’m just happy to be back. Happy to be back in the ring. Happy to be on this stage. Like I said before, things don’t happen the way you expect them. A lot of times if we don’t get the blessing that we wanted the way we thought we were going to get it, sometimes we miss out on it. Whether it’s a front door or back door, I’m happy to be on pay-per-view. I’m happy that this opportunity came up. I’m just happy to be back in the ring and have an opportunity like this.
ERIC GOMEZ: Arties right when we made this fight, it’s funny in the experience I’ve had making the fight, there’s always a back story. The original fight I was trying to get done was GABRIEL ROSADOagainst B.J. Saunders. And when that fell apart, I went to Gabe and I said, Gabe, there’s a couple of other guys out there. I want to try to repair this fight. I want to make an exciting fight.
The first name that came out of Gabe’s mouth was Willie Monroe. He said get me Willie Monroe. I want to fight Willie Monroe. I want to teach this guy a lesson. This guy has been going after me on social media. That’s the guy I want.
So Gabe’s one of the most exciting fighters in boxing today. He’s always in a great fight. September 17th won’t be an exception. He’s going to come to fight, and the big prize is Canelo. The winner of this fight very well could be fighting Canelo in December. So I want to introduce him, say a few words. King Gabe Rosado, Gabe?
“KING” GABRIEL ROSADO, Former World Title Challenger:
What’s up, Eric. Just glad to be back on the big stage. You know we’re on a two fight winning streak and looking to keep the momentum going.
ERIC GOMEZ: Perfect. Thank you very much, Gabe.
Q. Gabe, I wanted to know what were the differences between the BKB boxing that you’ve participated in as opposed to regular boxing?
GABRIEL ROSADO:The BKB there’ no ropes. Shorter rounds, less rounds. I had fun while it lasted, but my first love is traditional boxing. So I’m just excited to be on the big stage again and showcasing my talent.
Q. What kind of differences have you addressed in preparation for Willie, as opposed to getting Billy Jo, which was the original opponent?
GABRIEL ROSADO: The game plan doesn’t really change as much as far as they and Billy Jo. They’re both southpaws. We were already working with southpaws and things like that, and they kind of in a way have similar styles. I think Billy Jo is probably a little more slicker. But you know it’s really the game plan didn’t change. Both guys can box, and move and things like that. It’s just the style we’re working on, and it’s pretty much the same size, so nothing changed.
Q. Willie, given the opportunity to take this fight, what are the things that you did address? What did you make sure you had to have going on before saying yes?
WILLIE MONROE, JR.: Obviously, business first. I mean, make sure that we were satisfied with the money and the opportunity that comes after it. But we don’t look past anybody, so we just kept training camp going. Like I said, we were approached with the Billy Jo Saunders fight first. And GABRIEL ROSADOat least made it to negotiations.
When Billy Jo Saunders was asked to fight Willie Monroe, they immediately said, nope. But at least they made it to negotiations with Rosado. So I mean we were already in the gym.
GABRIEL ROSADO: Honestly, I don’t even know who Monroe thinks he is. He thinks he’s a big puncher or something and people are scared to fight him. Nobody knows who the hell he is.
Honestly, I told Gomez just, whoever it is, just make it happen, doesn’t matter. Willie’s acting like he’s being ducked, like he’s some big puncher. He’s really not that special. He only fought one world class —
WILLIE MONROE, JR.: I didn’t know punching was the only aspect of boxing.
GABRIEL ROSADO: You didn’t fight nobody. You didn’t fight no world class fighters. You fought Triple-G and you quit, and I’m going to make you quit too.
WILLIE MONROE, JR.: That’s all you can say. But you’re like the middleweight guy. Every time a middleweight has you, he’s run through you.
GABRIEL ROSADO: You ain’t special. You fought a bunch of ESPN fighters.
WILLIE MONROE, JR.: Okay, and I’m about to fight another one.
GABRIEL ROSADO: Okay. Whatever. I beat world class fighters. I’ve got world class fighters on my resume. You didn’t beat nobody special. You’re a bum, dude. I’m going to show you a bum.
WILLIE MONROE, JR.: Okay.
Q. Why do you think it was so hard to get Saunders in the ring? This is for Gabe and Willie. Why do you think Saunders has been reluctant to get in the ring with you guys?
WILLIE MONROE, JR.: I don’t know.
GABRIEL ROSADO: I don’t know. At the end of the day, I’ve got Willie Monroe and we’re going to take care of business. That’s all it is. I’m not even going to think about Billy Jo Saunders.
WILLIE MONROE, JR.: Y’all know me from the past. I don’t do that much jaw-jacking and talking. Come September 17th we’re going to see. That’s all. I don’t have much to say. I’ve never been a talker. All my interviews and everything, you never saw me talk smack. That’s just not my style.
GABRIEL ROSADO: But I’m just saying you say Billy Jo ducked you and all this shit. Nobody’s ducking you because nobody knows who you are. So it doesn’t matter. That’s what I’m saying.
WILLIE MONROE, JR.: Okay, nobody knows who I am, but come September 17th when the opportunity comes up.
GABRIEL ROSADO: Let’s see on the 17th. Step up to the plate, we’ll see.
Q. Eric, you mentioned that the winner of this fight could potentially be going on to face Canelo in December, if I heard that correctly. Does that mean you are not wholly confident in having to deal with Billy Jo Saunders consummated for December given what happened with this September card?
ERIC GOMEZ: Yeah, you know what? We’re keeping all the doors open. Obviously, you know, we weren’t able to get the fight done with Billy Jo Saunders. I haven’t closed the door yet.
But, look, we’ve got two guys that are going to go at it. This is a real fight. Gabe wants to prove that he still belongs and he’s in the upper echelon of boxing, and he’s got a tough fight. Willie Monroe wants to do the same thing. So these guys put on a great fight, a great show, anything’s possible. We’re going to keep all avenues open, all doors open. I don’t see why the winner of this fight shouldn’t get a Canelo fight. So we’re going to keep everything open.
Q. Where do things stand in negotiations, if there are any, with Saunders and his team right now?
ERIC GOMEZ: Right now they’re stalled. We’re going to wait till after. We’re going to get together with Frank Warren, the week of the fight. He also represents Liam Smith. So we’re going to sit down again and see what happens. But I’m interested in seeing the outcome of this fight. There is real animosity. You can hear both guys and there is real animosity there.
We’ve been working with Rosado now for about three years. He’s a guy that’s got a lot of heart, and just talking to Arty Pelullo, he’s told me that Willie Monroe is one of the toughest son of a guns out there. He’s worked with him for a long time now as well, and this is going to be a real fight. These guys are going to go at it. They’re at each other’s throats now. I’m excited.
Q. Then for the fighters, hearing that Canelo fight could be in the balance, how much more does that add to the fight that each of you obviously already wanted?
GABRIEL ROSADO: I know not to think ahead. So I’m not even thinking about that. I’m just thinking about what’s ahead of me and that’s it. I’ve been in this game long enough to know, you know, nothing in boxing is promised. So they could say that Canelo’s next, but that don’t mean nothing if I don’t win the fight. So I’m just thinking about winning this fight and looking good. And I want to do it by knockout. So that’s just what’s on my mind. I’m not thinking ahead of that.
Q. Willie, obviously you wanted this fight and you wanted this appearance on pay-per-view. What does having Canelo potentially in the balance add to you for the this fight?
WILLIE MONROE, JR.: Definitely a motivation factor. But I mean, I’ve got to focus on what’s in front of me and I can’t look past anybody. I mean, I wouldn’t look past and infant let alone Gabe Rosado. So you’ve got to focus on what’s in front of you. And if Canelo’s next, so be it. I’m just ready. I’m ready. (Indiscernible).
Q. Willie, as the co-main event for this fight taking place, do you feel an added pressure getting into the ring or are you doing anything to prepare differently for this?
WILLIE MONROE, JR.: Oh, no, we’re just keeping everything the same. The fight is the fight. Once the bell rings it could be either one of us. So just staying focused and focusing on the task at hand.
Q. Gabe, just curious, I know that you really came close to fighting Saunders off of this card. And you guys had a little back and forth when that fight didn’t take place. You’re known as a guy that’s fought everybody and is highly skilled. At the same time, Saunders called you a world class journeyman. I’m just curious your reaction to being called that, and what do you think about when people do refer to you as a journeyman?
GABRIEL ROSADO: Obviously, if they really believe that he would have taken the fight because why would he want a tough fight if the next fight is supposed to be Canelo? I would assume he wouldn’t want an easy fight. So if I was so easy, he would have taken the fight. So if y’all believe in it, that’s on y’all. Obviously he didn’t take the fight because he feels it’s a threat.
But I’m not even thinking about Billy Jo no more. I’m just focused on this fight and that’s it?
Q. Both of you guys have faced Triple G and now Golovkin is facing a much smaller guy in Kell Brook, I’m just curious your reaction to that fight being made and what do you think will happen in that fight. Willie?
WILLIE MONROE, JR.: I think you’ve got to give props to Kell Brook for taking on a monster like Triple G. I think it’s definitely a daring move. I’m a big believer in step big, win big. So it will be good for Kell Brook either way. But we’ve got to understand also that boxing isn’t what it was yesterday. It’s not what it’s going to be tomorrow. They just have to enjoy what you have in front of you. These are the type of fights that people may complain about or have bad things to say about now, and 15 years from now they’ll talk about how great it was.
So instead of waiting for 15 years from now and look back and say, damn, that was a great opportunity. Again things have to step up, so go ahead and give him his props now.
Q. Do you give Brook a good chance in that fight, or do you think Golovkin is going to be too big and storm through him?
GABRIEL ROSADO: I mean Kell Brook is an awesome boxer and boxing is a cerebral sport. It’s 99.9 mental and .1 physical. And Brook has the experience and knows how to put it together. So mentally if he can neutralize Golovkin’s power and relentlessness, then it’s a fight he can win. I’ll never count any man out, because like I said, boxing is 99.9% mental and .1 physical.
Q. Gabe, I’m curious your thoughts as well with Kell Brook challenging Golovkin? What do you think of the match-up and what do you think will happen in that fight?
GABRIEL ROSADO: I think just the match-up, maybe Brook will box him for a couple of rounds before he gets knocked out. But I mean it’s a welterweight fighting a middleweight, so I don’t think — I mean, skillwise Brook could hang with him, but this is the reason they make weight classes.
WILLIE MONROE, JR.: Thanks to everybody, thanks to HBO. Thanks to pay-per-view. Thanks to Golden Boy and Banner Promotions for giving Willie Monroe this opportunity. And God bless everyone, and September 17th, ready to rock ‘n’ roll.
GABRIEL ROSADO: Yeah, just looking forward to Cowboy Stadium. I’m really, really looking forward to knocking Willie Monroe out.
ERIC GOMEZ: Arthur Pelullo to say a few words.
ARTHUR PELULLO: Yes, I want to thank everybody and I want to thank Eric and Oscar. You can see it’s going to be a heck of a co-feature. Two good fighters, and Willie showed a lot of class today, so it should be an excellent show. I believe that the winner at all time will be in a very good position for Canelo. Thanks a lot to everybody at Golden Boy.
ERIC GOMEZ: I want to echo that it’s going to be an exciting fight. I’m very excited. You just heard it from Gabe Rosado, he’s predicting a knockout. You know he’s going to come guns blazing. It’s going to be a very good fight.
I want to thank everybody that was on the call today. It’s going to be a very exciting undercard. A little bit of everything. You have two guys with their backs against the wall. Going at it, do or die. Then you’ve got some great up and coming fighters, JOSEPH DIAZ, JR., Diego De La Hoya and tough fights with Cancio and Del Valle. Don’t miss it.
Tickets are priced at $750, $500, $300, $200, $100, $85, $50 and $40, not including applicable service charges with a total ticket limit of 8 per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets are also available for purchase online at www.ticketmaster.com. Additionally, walk up purchases are available at the AT&T Stadium Box Office (Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. CT to 5:00 p.m. CT).
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
Canelo vs. Smith, a 12-round fight for the WBO Junior Middleweight World Championship, is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Frank Warren and Canelo Promotions. Gabriel Rosado vs. Willie Monroe, Jr. is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Banner Promotions and Diego De La Hoya vs. Luis Orlando Del Valle is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Roc Nation Sports. The event is sponsored by “Tecate, BORN BOLD,” O’Reilly’s Auto Parts, Adriana’s Insurance and Casa Mexico Tequila and will take place on Saturday, September 17 at AT&T Stadium. Doors open at 2:00 p.m. CT, first fight and the RingTvLive.com live stream begins at 3:20 p.m. ET/2:20 p.m. CT/12:20 p.m. PT; the preliminary live stream begins at 6:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. CT/3:30 p.m. PT; with the main show produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/8:00 p.m. CT/6:00 p.m. PT.
For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.frankwarren.com, www.attstadium.com or www.hbo.com/boxing, follow us on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @Canelo, @LiamBeefySmith, @KingGabRosado, @WillieMonroeJr, @JosephDiazJr, @AndrewCancio, @DiegoDeLaHoya, @OscarDeLaHoya, @FrankWarren_tv, @ATTStadium and @HBOboxing, become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.Facebook.com/frankwarrenpromotions, www.Facebook.com/ATTStadium or www.Facebook.com/HBOboxing, join us on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing, @Canelo, @LiamBeefySmith, @KingGabRosado, @Willie_elmongoose_monroejr, @JosephDiazJr, @Aa_Cancio, @DiegoDeLaHoya94 @ATTStadium, @OscarDeLaHoya and @HBOboxing, and follow the conversation using #CaneloSmith.
The HBO Sports special ROAD TO CANELO/SMITH debuts SATURDAY, SEPT. 10 at 12:45 a.m. (ET/PT) immediately following HBO World Championship Boxing.
B-roll and images of the fighters are available for use and download HERE or by copying and pasting:bit.ly/CaneloSmith. Video and photo credit must be given to Golden Boy Promotions.