Two days before they enter the ring, Andrzej Fonfara, Nathan Cleverly, Kohei Kono and Koki Kameda hosted a final press conference at DoubleTree By Hilton Hotel Chicago as they near their Premier Boxing Champions on Spike showdowns from UIC Pavilion.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Warriors Boxing in association with Matchroom Boxing, are priced at $151, $101, $51, $41 and $31, not including applicable service charges, and are on sale now. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000 or UIC Pavilion Box Office at (312) 413-5740. Tickets are also available at www.ticketmaster.com or by visiting the UIC Pavilion Box Office (Thursday or Friday 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.).
Fonfara and Cleverly will battle in Fonfara’s adopted hometown for positioning amongst the best in the light heavyweight division while Kono and Kameda square-off in the first world title bout held on U.S. soil between two Japanese fighters.
Here is what the fighters had to say Wednesday:
ANDRZEJ FONFARA
“I’m happy to be fighting in Chicago again; it’s my hometown right now. I’m so thankful that this show was brought here to Chicago.
“I’m ready for this fight. We had a great training camp, a lot of sparring with great partners. My team has prepared me well.
“We are both tall guys, strong guys, good punchers, and I’m happy Cleverly is ready for this fight too. I want him to be in top shape because I want to fight the best Cleverly of his career. I’m ready for the best Cleverly.
“I did a lot of the same things we always do to prepare for this fight, just more of it. Of course, we used different sparring partners and my strength and conditioning was longer. I definitely feel stronger and faster than ever before this fight.
“Everything is in the right spot. We have our game plan, and I’m more than ready for this fight.
“I’m ready for a good fight, and I want to win this fight. I want to be the next world champion, so I must win this fight to take the next step.”
NATHAN CLEVERLY
“I want to thank everyone for the great welcome to this wonderful city of Chicago. This is my first opportunity to fight on the PBC platform, and I’m very grateful.
“This is my third time fighting in the U.S.; I was victorious the previous two times, and I’m looking to do it again.
“This is going to be a great fight. We’re right on the fringe behind Adonis Stevenson and Sergey Kovalev. We both come to fight; we let our punches go and fight on the front foot.
“It’s going to be difficult; he’s a good fighter, and we’re in his hometown.
“The fight fans are in for a great show on Friday night, and I cannot wait.”
KOHEI KONO
“I’m very grateful to everybody involved with this show. I really appreciate this opportunity and for making this match happen in Chicago.
“I am here to make a statement. I want to defend my world title, and I want to do it by knockout.
“I’m in the best shape of my career, and all I have to do now is wait for the fight.”
KOKI KAMEDA
“I am in the best condition for this fight. I’m really looking forward to this fight. I want to leave my mark on the U.S., and I’m looking forward to capturing a fourth world title.
“I promise a great show for boxing fans. I will be a four-time world champion.
“I was surprised how nervous Kono was. I don’t know what he’s afraid of, but maybe he’s just afraid of me.
“I’m always very confident. I’m 200 percent confident I’m going to win. I am imagining a knockout.
“I’m thankful to my whole team for helping build my career in the U.S., and I look forward to more big fights here in the U.S.”
