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PROVING POINTS: Quillin, Collazo and Napoleon Have Hight Hopes For Aug. 4
Peter Quillin spoke about being more ready for the rigors of the ring after taking some time to solidify his family unit. Luis Collazo…
…spoke about being that veteran who is a high risk-low reward sort of foe, which makes it hard for him to entice name guys to rumble with him. And Alicia Napoleon told the assembled media on Thursday at the Palm West, in an event presided over by Lou Dibella, that she wants to be part of the brigade lifting the women's ships higher in the water.
And here's something–all three made sure to mention that they were motivated and buoyed by their faith as they readied themselves for the Aug. 4 fight night in Long Island, at the Nassa…at the NYCB Live arena.
Three hitters, all with serious motivational fuels coursing through their veins, different strains, and each unafraid to admit that they take solace in worship of a higher power.
I hadn't come across that sort of wave of spiritual warriors in my decades of coverage but this is boxing, if you haven't seen something, just wait awhile, it will pop up after a spell.
I chatted at length with Collazo, who admitted that he's just pleased as heck to be campaigning, after hitting a low that had him contemplating killing himself. And Quillin and me went deep into behavioral-philosophical waters, talking about the hard road that is marriage, for a high profile athlete in an age when Instagram models are advertising their figures and availability 24-7.
Quillin said he realized he had to stop following THOSE accounts, and dedicate himself to the home life, or he'd be another in a line of wayward sorts who had trouble with commitment and dedication to those closest who most deserve his faith. I taped those chats and hope to get them sent over to the Everlast folks and put onto the TALKBOX pod platform…Here is a release which went out that fleshed out the media session:
NEW YORK (July 19, 2018) – Former world champions Peter Quillin and Luis Collazo were joined by WBA Women's Super Middleweight Champion Alicia Napoleon at a media luncheon in Manhattan Thursday to discuss their respective showdowns taking place Saturday, August 4 from NYCB LIVE, home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.
Quillin will take on J'Leon Love in a super middleweight attraction in primetime as part of Premier Boxing Champions on FOX and FOX Deportes action beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT. The primetime action is headlined by a showdown between former welterweight world champions Andre Berto and Devon Alexander.
Collazo collides with Bryant Perrella in a welterweight attraction on FS2 and FOX Deportes beginning at 5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT on a telecast that also features unbeaten light heavyweight Marcus Browne facing Lenin Castillo.
The undercard will be highlighted by Long Island-native and WBA Super Middleweight World Champion Napoleonmaking the first defense of her title against Hannah Rankin.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and DiBella Entertainment, are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.ticketmaster.com, www.nycblive.com, or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Tickets are also available at the Ticketmaster Box Office at NYCB LIVE. Group discounts are available by calling 516-231-4848.
Here is what the fighters had to say Thursday from The Palm West Side in Manhattan:
PETER QUILLIN
“August 4 is a big day. It's been a long time since I fought in New York and I'm ready to showcase my talents here once again.
“I've been away from my family for the last two years training in California with Virgil Hunter. Basically I made the decision to come back home and be closer to my family. Now being home, I'm learning how to adjust my methods and my camp around my family.
“I think this is a new chapter in my life. J'Leon Love is trying to showcase and do something memorable against me. He's trying to get a name on his record because he desperately needs one.
“We can make it a dog fight. I wouldn't say that J'Leon likes to be in a dog fight, he's more of a classical boxer. He likes to be on his legs, he likes to pop the jab out and he likes to move around the ring. So let's see who comes and brings their better stuff that night. I want to make it a dog fight.
“Love definitely wanted this fight, but it's a perfect fight for me. I hope that he brings his very best because I'm definitely going to bring that on my behalf.
“I'm just planning to go out there and be ‘Kid Chocolate'. I've got some good people around me. I'm training in Brooklyn with Aureliano Sosa, who has been pushing me to the max. August 4 for me is really about J'Leon being delivered into my hands and giving the fans a good showcase.”
LUIS COLLAZO
“Finally, it's been so long. I'm grateful for this opportunity. I know that I need to make the most of each opportunity I get at this point, and I feel like I've definitely done that in all my recent fights. August 4 will be another night for me to show how much I still have left.
“It's amazing to be able to perform at this venue with me being from New York. The people, the atmosphere, the fans and how they react to the fights, it's phenomenal. Now it's my turn to give it back to my boxing fans and entertain them.
“I feel 100 percent physically and am geared to be that way on fight night. I know that I have a tough, young opponent who needs this win as badly as I do. I'm going to show him what this sport is all about.
“I just want that win, if the knockout comes we'll take it. But the main thing is going out there get the win and looking good while I'm doing it.”
ALICIA NAPOLEON
“I'm expecting a good fight. I know that Hannah Rankin is credible fighter and she's a tough girl with a WBC Silver belt. I have the WBA World Title and I know she's coming to take it. She's a standup opponent, and I'm sure she's going to be ready to give it her all that night just like I will.
“I'm a Long Island girl born and raised, so there's nobody better to make history that night than myself. I'm ready to be the first female to fight in that arena. It's such a beautiful feeling, I'm so excited that it's me who is getting this opportunity, with so much to follow.
“The future is female. That doesn't mean that were taking anything away from the males, it just means that it's time for them to share the stage. We have a lot to offer, and we have a whole different audience and crowd to bring to boxing.
“It's awesome to see women fighters starting to climb the ladder and I want to see more of us. It's not about that one female fighter, it's about the multitude of us. There is power in numbers, and we need to be shown. You'll be surprised how quickly the crowd will just attract to the women, and we'll automatically be bringing a bigger base than they ever brought before.”
LOU DIBELLA, President of DiBella Entertainment
“Peter Quillin knows what's at stake August 4 and so does J'Leon Love. It's a must-win fight for both guys, which usually equals a fun fight for the fans.
“This card has so much talent. You have Marcus Browne back in the ring and Luis Collazo back against a good opponent. Plus, Alicia Napoleon “The Empress”, the Long Island Female World Champion is in there with a really good fighter in Hannah Rankin. She's the biggest fighter in Scotland. That's a real quality women's fight between two recognizable women fighters.
“It's a stacked card with solid fights from top to bottom. It should be a really good night of boxing on television, and a great night of fights for Long Island.”
