WORLD JR. FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPION WILFREDO VAZQUEZ JR.DEFENDS TITLE AGAINST IVAN “CHOKO” HERNANDEZSATURDAY, OCTOBER 16 AY SILVER SPURS ARENA
Quotes from Thursday, September 30 Press Conference at Silver Spurs Arena
Kissimmee, FL: On Saturday, October 16, 2010, one of the biggest shows in Central Florida history will be hosted by the 10,500 seat Silver Spurs Arena of the Osceola Heritage Park in an event billed: “The Rising Son Returns”. In the main event WBO Jr. Featherweight Champion Wilfredo Vazquez, Jr. of Bayamon, Puerto Rico will make the second defense of his title when he meets his toughest opponent so far in Ivan “Choko” Hernandez of Ensenada, Mexico for Vazquez’ WBO Jr. Featherweight Title.
“The Rising Son Returns” is promoted by All Star Boxing in association with Kissimmee Convention & Visitors Bureau. Tickets, priced at $202, $102, $52 and $27, are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, the Silver Spurs Arena box office and on-line at Ticketmaster.com.
Profesor Roberto Quesada, Team Vazquez Sr. & Jr.
(Taught boxing at University of Sports in Cuba)
“Someone once asked President Truman if he thought the USA would be able to send people to the moon. Truman replied, “It will be difficult, but we can do it.” Can a person with no amateur experience become a world champion? It was difficult, but Wilfredo Vazquez, Jr. proved it could be done. Vazquez Jr. trained for six months, alone, to prove to his father he was ready, before his father would let him enter the ring.”
Wilfredo Vazquez, father/trainer
“Wilfredo has always fought tough opponents and now he is moving up to fight the toughest opponent yet of his career. He is growing up as a boxer and he will have to when he faces Ivan “Choko” Hernandez.”
Wilfredo Vazquez, Jr. WBO World Jr. Featherweight Champion
“I am excited to come back to Kissimmee and it will be my first defense of the world title in Kissimmee. I am very happy to return here where I started a dream. A dream where nobody believed in me. Every time I have fought in Kissimmee I have felt like I was fighting in my living room. I respect my island of Puerto Rico and my blood is from there and I love it there but here in Kissimmee is where I was made to get to where I am today. I tell my friends that I work for my family. I do what I do every day for my daughter and my wife and I am going to keep doing it for as long as I can because I work for my family and I have to respect my family.”
“There has been a lot of sacrifice. I am glad that I am champion to prove that the sacrifices I have made have paid off. It takes a lot to get in the ring and if you’ve never gotten in the ring, you don’t know what it feels like. We are a big group, and my father saw my talent when no one else thought I had any talent to make it like I did. I wasn’t even a boxer. But he showed me all this talent.”
“To professor Roberto Quesada, who when I asked for support at the beginning of my career when nobody believed in me he gave me his hand, not knowing that I could come without fighting an amateur fight and then making it to this place, from the bottom of his heart. I want to thank Ruben DeJesus who, because of the constant rush of the press, I have never had the chance to than before. And to Tuto Zabala who without his help I wouldn’t be where I am today. I want to thank Osceola County Commissioner Quinones who has supported me from day one.”
“Now lets talk about the fight. Ivan Hernandez is an excellent fighter. He is a former world champion and I know he has fought the best in the division.”
(Staring at Ivan Hernandez sitting to his left) “I want you to know that you won’t be taking the title away from me. I have worked very hard to be where I am and I know and I am glad that you are coming well prepared. I am not a kid that after he trains or fights he goes out partying in the clubs. You are going to fight a man and boxing is my life. Boxing is breakfast. Boxing is lunch, and boxing is dinner. That’s my life. You will not be in my way to make my dream happen. In my vocabulary, ‘not proud’ is not there, because anyone who talks about that is only working to the half.”
“I hope you fight in the middle of the ring with me, toe-to-toe, because this is boxing and you have to fight. If you try to run, I will look for you and I will find you. And when I find you (laughing) I will introduce you to my best friends (holding up his fists and looking at them laughing). These two are going to talk for me on the 16th. I hope you are ready for the punishment I am going to give you in the ring. I showed you my body in Puerto Rico yesterday and you could see that I am well-prepared for whatever you bring.”
Ramon Marchera, Hernandez trainer
We are here once again to bring together another great fight between Puerto Rico and Mexico. We know they have always had great fights and a great rivalry. We have all intention of taking the title back home. We know Wilfredo is a great champion but we have prepared really well. Even though it is a great rivalry, when we win and take the belts back, we want to stay friends.
Ivan “Choko” Hernandez
I would like to thank Wilfredo Vazquez Jr for this opportunity. I admire Wilfredo Jr and his father. It is going to be a great fight on the 16th of October. It is going to be a big fight and I am ready and I want to tell Wilfredo to be ready on October 16. I call all the fans to come out to watch the fight. It is going to be a great fight. Every dollar you spend on this fight is worth it because you are going to get your money’s worth.
Tuto Zabala
“Like father like son, from myself to Wilfredo Jr, we are promoting this event like a family event. It will be stacked with Jr’s. I am a Jr. and if it weren’t for my father, none of us, Wilfredo or myself, would be here today. I am a promoter because of my father, who promoted Wilfredo Sr, who was a three-time world champion and now his Jr. is a world champion. The ring announcer on October 16 will be Jimmy Lennon Jr, whose father was one of the greatest ring announcers in the sport. On the undercard there we will feature Guty Espadas, Jr, Pipino Cuevas Jr. and Tony Laporte, Jr (son of Juan Laporte). The youngest son of Wilfredo Vazquez Sr, Israel Vazquez, will also make his pro debut on the card. The publicist for the fight, Ed Keenan, is also a Jr. It is going to be a great night to be able to pay respect to our fathers. That inspired me to do the show the way we are doing it.”
Wilfredo Vazquez, Jr. vs. Ivan “Choko” Hernandez will be broadcast live on-pay-per-view, distributed by Integrated Sports in the US and in Puerto Rico by Pay Per View Connection beginning at 9 PM ET/6PM PT at a suggested retail price of $34.95.
For more information about the Vazquez-Hernandez PPV event go to www.integratedsportsnet.com. Follow Integrated Sports Media on Twitter @IntegratedPPV.
