NEW YORK (April 12, 2016) \u2013 Former junior welterweight world champion Ruslan Provodnikov, former world title challenger John Molina Jr. and undefeated former 154-pound world champion Demetrius Andrade participated in a media luncheon on Tuesday hosted by SHOWTIME\u00ae and Banner Promotions before beginning training camp for their June 11 fights, live on SHOWTIME\u00ae from Turning Stone Casino in Verona, N.Y.<\/p>\n
Former Fight of the Year participants Provodnikov and Molina will meet in the June 11 SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING\u00ae main event. The tripleheader begins at 9 p.m. ET\/6 p.m. PT and features former WBO Junior Middleweight Champion Demetrius Andrade facing off against Willie Nelson in a WBC Super Welterweight Title Eliminator. In the opening bout, WBC No. 1-ranked lightweight Dejan Zlatcanin will challenge No. 2-ranked Emiliano Marsili for the vacant WBC Lightweight World Championship.<\/p>\n
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Banner Promotions, Inc., are priced at $85, $60, $45 and $35 and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased in person at the Turning Stone Box Office, by calling 877.833.SHOW, or online at Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com).<\/p>\n
Below is what the fighters had to say:<\/p>\n
RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV
\n\u201cAs soon as I heard the name John Molina, I jumped on it. Molina fights with the type of style that people want to see. He brings the action. <\/p>\n
\u201cJune 11 is another Fight of the Year-type fight. You can expect fireworks. <\/p>\n
\u201cPeople expect action fights when I get in the ring. I appreciate that SHOWTIME saw a value in what I can offer and I want to make sure that I don\u2019t let them down.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve only seen one fight of his, and that was the fight with (Lucas) Matthysse. That fight shows the type of fighter he is. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think our styles are going to clash. The reason people love this is because it\u2019s unpredictable. Nobody knows what\u2019s going to happen on June 11. Nobody can even predict which way it\u2019s going to go. We\u2019re both punchers, we both go forward, we both fight in a risky style. I think that\u2019s going to make this fight a fight that everybody should watch.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe fight is already a huge motivation, but the fact that the Hall of Fame is the same weekend is definitely great. I\u2019m definitely pleased to know that because hopefully one day I can be a part of that.\u201d<\/p>\n
JOHN MOLINA JR.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re never say die fighters. We come forward. It\u2019s literally like two trains that are going to collide. It\u2019s a can\u2019t miss fight.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a hell of a fighter. He has a big heart and a big will.<\/p>\n
\u201cRight now, my only focus is \u2013 and I know it sounds generic \u2013 but my only focus is on Ruslan Provodnikov. He deserves my undivided attention right now because he\u2019s that kind of fighter.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have to prepare for someone that has a never say die attitude. He\u2019s like a virus that will never go away. He\u2019s a hell of a fighter \u2013 he has a big heart and a big will. It\u2019s tough to beat a guy that wants to win.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going to give the fans a treat, a Gatti-Ward type fight. I expect nothing less. We can have a phone booth, we don\u2019t need a big ring.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe judges probably don\u2019t even need to be there because we\u2019re going to decide the fight ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n
DEMETRIUS ANDRADE<\/p>\n
\u201cWillie Nelson, he\u2019s going to come in and he\u2019s going to try and throw those power shots. He\u2019s going to try to stomp me down and make a statement, but I\u2019ve been doing this for too long. I\u2019m just ready to be where I need to be, where I deserve to be, and that\u2019s on the top.
\n\u201cI\u2019m not worried about ring rust. I stayed in the gym like a true champion should. I\u2019m still young in the game so I don\u2019t think I should have any problems seeing or ducking any punches.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m confident and I know I\u2019m the best 154-pounder out there and this fight right here is going to let people know that I\u2019m back in business.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverybody knows the work that I\u2019ve put in. The time is now and the time is coming.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m ready to re-introduce myself to boxing fans and show them I\u2019m the best 154-pounder in the world.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter this fight with Willie Nelson, I plan on fighting the winner of Jermell Charlo and John Jackson and getting that WBC belt. And after that, I want to face the rest of the division and prove I\u2019m the best.\u201d<\/p>\n
For more information visit www.SHO.com\/Sports and www.banner-promotions.com follow on Twitter @SHOSports, @BannerBoxing; @RuslanProvod, @johnmolinajr135 or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com\/SHOSports. www.facebook.com\/BannerPromotions<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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