Quotes from today’s final Jack Catterall vs. Arnold Barboza Jr WBO Interim Jr Welterweight Clash press conference ahead of Saturday’s action at Co-op Live in Manchester, shown live worldwide on DAZN.

FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES

Eddie Hearn, Matchroom Sport Chairman:

“A huge night of boxing at the wonderful Co-op Live here in Manchester on Saturday – live on DAZN around the world. For me one of the best fights in the world at 140 lbs. It’s the interim WBO Super-Lightweight World Title between England’s Jack Catterall and America’s Arnold Barboza. Jack Catterall, the man that should be undisputed. The man that has gone through Jorge Linares, Josh Taylor, Regis Prograis and now this man awaits – 31-0 Arnold Barboza that sat at the top of the pecking order for a long long time. One of Golden Boy’s top charges. Straight off a fantastic victory over Ramirez in Saudi Arabia. Ready now to put himself in a golden position for huge fights within the division.”

Jack Catterall:
“What a card we’ve got on Saturday night, three other lads from my gym fighting, some great live fights but on my fight, it’s a huge opportunity for me on Saturday.

“I think we’re both taking confidence from the preparations we’ve had, I don’t want easy fights, Arnold has been in the position that I’ve been in waiting for that opportunity and I don’t think that you can sit back now the way that boxing is on the sidelines, you’ve got to take your chance. I’ve got good momentum, I feel better with every camp, this camp has been great, we’ve bettered it from the last time, and I do believe I’m a better fighter and I get him out of there on Saturday.

“I’ve been very active and the confidence comes from the time spent in the gym and all the hard work has been done and it’s time to relax, recover and perform. I’ve got better and better through the momentum and activity and that’s where the confidence has come from.

“I’m in a great division at 140 lbs with a lot of tremendous fighters, but nothing matters until after Saturday night, I have to remain focused on Arnold. That being said, we understand the business, there’s so many great fights to be made. Teofimo Lopez has the WBO Title, hopefully that’s a fight that can be made down the line, but I’ve got to beat him and beat him well on Saturday.

“This is the final hurdle on Saturday, it’s a big fight, it’s high risk, high reward like he said, I’m ready and we’re bringing that belt back to Charley on Sunday morning.”

Arnold Barboza Jr:
“We had another offer to fight the main event at home, but I just want to fight the best. I believe Jack is a really good fighter at the top of the division, and I think we’re the best, I don’t think the champions are better than us to be honest. We’re always ready for challenges, we’re ready to go.

“I believe I’m the best in the division, I don’t think anyone can fuck with me. I’m just confident in myself, at the end of the day we can do all he talking, I know he’s not a trash talker and I’m not a trash talker, Saturday is going to determine everything and that’s all the matters.

“I’ve watched a lot of fights where people have gone to enemy territory and they are getting booed – I hope it’s sold out and I hope I get booed, that’s just going to turn me on. I’m excited and it’s a dream, a big fight with high risk and high reward, no more of those low risk, low reward fights, I’m excited to get in there and dance with him.

“I really believe I stop him. The way camp has gone, we isolated ourselves with 8,000ft elevation, running in the snow, everything we did and the the way I’ve been feeling in sparring and my sparring partners can attest, I feel stronger and better than ever. He’s coming with everything, I’m coming with everything, so let’s go.

“This fight means everything to me. There’s fans in the UK, expect a great fight and an exciting fight, and I hope to bring some of those fans back with me to the US.”