Wednesday's Fernando Vargas-Ricardo Mayorga Conference Call Quotes

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CONFERENCE CALL QUOTES
FERNANDO VARGAS AND RICARDO MAYORGA
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 22, 2007

In one of the most highly anticipated grudge battles of the year, two-time world champion Fernando Vargas faces three-time world champion Ricardo Mayorga
at a catch weight of 162 pounds on Saturday, Sept. 8, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, Calif., on SHOWTIME PPV.

Kermit Cintron will defend his IBF welterweight title against Jesse Feliciano, and Roman Karmazin faces Luca Messi for the WBA super welterweight Intercontinental
crown in other 12-round bouts.

Tickets priced at $300, $150, $100 and $50 are on sale online at Ticketmaster.com, via Ticketmaster charge-by-phone lines at (213) 480-3232 or (714)
740-2000 and at all Ticketmaster ticket centers including Wherehouse Music, Robinsons-May, Tower Records and Ritmo Latino locations. Tickets are also
available at the STAPLES Center box office and the box office at TEAM LA at Universal CityWalk.

Leaders from two of the most successful boxing promotional firms in history—Don King from Don King Productions and Kathy Duva from Main Events—have
joined to promote the event in association with AEG & STAPLES Center & VEP. The event will also be televised live beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT domestically
at a suggested retail price of $44.95, which is being distributed by SHOWTIME® PPV.

Opening Statement

Vargas: Training is going great. I'm with my vice president of Vargas Entertainment Productions. We're watching my training. We talk about
business. We basically make the time fly – because there's not enough time. So we talk about my company and this fight and continue to move forward.
I'm excited about the last fight. I'm at 170, only have to lose eight pounds. I did 10 rounds yesterday. We'll do 12 next week and bring it down.
I'm working hard, and I'm looking forward to stepping into the ring with Mayorga. He’s (made for) me. So I'm excited about it.
I'm looking forward to this.

Question: So where are you training?

Vargas: Santa Clarita, California.

Question: This is your final fight, regardless; is that correct?

Vargas: That is correct.

Question: What's motivating you more, this being your final fight or Mayorga’s usual antics?

Vargas: That is my final fight. But he (has) definitely (added) wood to the fire and (is) going to make it more pleasing. I got one over on
him one already. So I'm going to finish the rest come Sept. 8, because at the press conference he tried to backhand me to no prevail. And that's when
I landed ‑‑ first hand did not land. The second one landed very well. And then he tried to pull my coat (my tuxedo on my suit coat) over my head and
tried to pull an old school one (trick) and kind of blind me. Then I ripped him with two left upper cuts. So, regardless, he ate it up. He had to eat
up that embarrassment. I got him. You know what I mean? He didn't want to look at me in New York. And there was some Plexiglas between us. Just look
at the cameras, please. I'm like, see, I got him. Now I'm working hard and I never side‑step or slack in my training. I always work hard. You're going
to see a great performance from me, and I know I'm going to knock him out. He can't take this heat. He can't take it.

Question: Your career has been spent with Main Events. What has your experience been like with them?

Vargas: Right now I'd rather not talk about Main Events. I think it's been a mutual relationship. They made a lot of money. I've made a lot
of money myself. But that's all I'm going to say. This is our last fight and I'm going to make sure that everything is there, is correct and we dot
the Is and cross the Ts and everything.

Question: Fernando, you won two titles, had a lot of big fights and, like you said, made a lot of money. Can you reflect on your career?
Do you feel you accomplished all you could? Did you do more than you expected? Can you sum it up because it's been such an exciting career that so
many fans have played close attention to over the years?

Vargas: I think I accomplished everything I wanted to accomplish. I wanted to become world champion. God blessed me to be the youngest ever
in the history of professional boxing. Gave me a shot. I only had 14 fights.

Question: Middleweight champion?

Vargas: Yes. Beating (Yory Boy) Campas. He was a champion. And I went out there and took the title away from him in Atlantic City. Then I
(fought Jose Alfredo “Shibata”) Flores and beat him. I'm (a) three‑time (champ); everybody says it. My family says it. I am three‑time world champion
because I beat Javier Castillejo. He was the WBC champ, 154 pounds. And he got stripped because of politics. There's not going to be (a title at stake
against Mayorga). But the titles don't make the fighter. We make the titles. I'm going to make sure that he's going to come to LA and he's going to
get hurt Sept. 8. (After that), I'm going to still be involved in boxing (as a promoter).

Question: What's the name of the company?

Vargas: VEP.

Question: What does it stand for?

Vargas: Vargas Entertainment Promotions.

Question: Putting aside the fact that you think you're going to beat Mayorga, what do you think was the biggest, most important victory
in your career? Campas? Winky Wright?

Vargas: I have a number of them. Campas, Ike Quartey, (Raul) Marquez, Winky Wright (who I beat on (my worst night). (I had to eat) hard-boiled
egg whites (which is what I eat) and (take) Nyquil to make weight.

Question: If you could only take one videotape or DVD of your top fights, which one would you hide away and pull out every now and then?


Vargas: Man, that's going to be a toss up between Campas and Quartey. Or the Marquez fight; the way I felt like that before inside the ring.
Like I peaked that day in that ring. I felt so good. Could have fought 15- 20 rounds, I felt so good.

Question: What was your most disappointing loss? Felix Trinidad? Oscar De La Hoya? Shane Mosley?

Vargas: All of them. I'm a born winner. And anybody that's a competitor like I am hates to lose. I hate to lose at checkers. That's why
I don't play.

Question: You've had a lot of hard fights. You're a young guy. Do you feel you've taken too much, or you have other things you want
to do with your life, or you feel like you've made enough money?
Why did you decide to make this is the farewell fight?

Vargas: I have a lot more other things to do in my life. This fight is for pride. I'm built for pride. There's some other things going on.
I don't need money. I'm very thankful to my manager for putting me in the right hands of showing my where money (goes and) what my money does, where
my real estate is at, what my stock portfolio is doing. (I am going to concentrate on) my promotion company. And I signed with ICM, Innovative Creative
Management, Chuck Gilarde. Just finished doing a movie, "Stiletto." I get killed in it. (I am a) gangster type. And I have a movie after this fight
in Thailand that I'm going to be filming with Oliver Stone.

Question: So, it is more or less just time to move on?

Vargas: Yes, (but) it will never be enough. I want to be the one that says, OK, I want to retire, I'm going to retire. Not people say retire
now, you should retire (like some fighters) like (Muhammad) Ali and (Evander) Holyfield. I'm going to retire when I want to retire. And I'm going to
do it on my own terms. And I'm pleased with everything God blessed me with. I'm moving on to a different chapter of my life. I'll still be in boxing
with VEP. I promise my fighters I will get them and I will show them how money is made in boxing. That way they can see how it's made and how business
works and how they can get stolen from, how people can steal from them. And if they want to go with somebody else, cool. There's enough money to be
made in boxing doing it the right way instead of like taking it from fighters. That's wrong. You don't do that. People put their life on the line.
And numbers don't lie.
So sooner or later people at the end of the day, there's a surprise development.

Question: Mayorga has had only one knockout since moving up from welterweight. You're the naturally bigger man. How much do you
think is going to play into that?

Vargas: Not just that but I think I'm the better fighter. He's a stupid fighter.

Question: Do you feel you are a way better technical fighter, too?

Vargas: You have to be intelligent and smart to win the game. Yeah, I could be stronger, but I'm not going to go in there and go crazy. I'm
intelligent. I like (Miguel) Cotto and Winky Wright. Raul Marquez fights like that, that's how you fight intelligently. Then you stop them and then
you finish them. I'm going to fight intelligently, but I'm going to make him commit. I'm going to make him make a mistake. And then come Sept. 8
I'm going to finish it and ride into the sunset happily. It will be where I feel good and then I can change the things in boxing and I will never come
back. I promised my family. First of all, my mother, second of all, my wife, both of them together, my wife is my rib and my mother, I come from my
mother and I love my mother. They're telling me just, please, we don't need to fight any more. We don't need to fight no more. This will be my last
fight for pride. At 162, he's going to see how fat I am.

Question: Most of the times you have been knocked down, they have come from left hooks. Do you think he's going to be looking to land
that shot; and, if so, are you going to be looking to block that one shot?

Vargas: He can look at any shot he wants to. He can look at any shot and bring his A game. Because his A game will never be as good as mine.
He's a stupid street fighter, and I'm going to capitalize on the mistakes on Sept. 8.

Question: What if should you look great and feel great on Sept. 8? Would you consider another fight?

Vargas: I will never, I don't care if it's for $100 million. I don't care if it's with anybody that didn't want to fight me before or gives
me a rematch. I will never fight after this fight again.

Question: Do you think the feeling fighters are being taken advantage of is the reason they are starting more promotional companies?


Vargas: I personally feel fighters are opening their eyes (and seeing) that people are making a lot of money off of them. And fighters are opening
their eyes (to see that this is not) a rocket science project. This isn’t like launching a space shuttle. You get your site. You get your casinos. You
get your sponsors. You get your TV. Everything. There's a lot of money that goes into the pot. So a lot of fighters end up with nothing. The fighters
that are going to be sent to VEP are going to know how boxing is done. If you want to do it yourself, do it. But you have to have capital at least
to start up. But I'm going to make sure that the way we treat all our fighters ‑‑ there's so much money to be made the right way instead of doing it
the wrong way. People think that you forget. That's wrong.

Question: Do you think loyalty works both ways, as far as the promoter and fighter, as far as the promotion that leads to the fighter
becoming a big name?

Vargas: I think that a fighter (should feel) comfortable and happy with the job that the promoter has done and that he wants to continue to
have that relationship with them. I think it should be a mutual respect.

Question: What do you think is the main reason why you've always had such a huge fan base?

Vargas: I think my fans know that I don't know how to back down. I don't know how to even if I'm lost, dead and beaten. I don't know how to
say no. I think Mexicans and fight fans in general respect that from any human being because there are guys out there that are just dogs. (With me,
I think fans are like) I dig that cat because you just see eye to eye with that person, about how he is, what type of individual he is. He's willing
to take it to where other men say they will, but they don't. And I honestly am humbled by the fact that everywhere I go my fans are with me, win, lose
or draw. This last fight (coming up), you watch how crazy insane it is. You watch the crazy Mexicans, Mexican Americans and white and black fans I
have there. It's insane. I'm just humbled by everything. I'm humbled by it.

Question: What do you think of Mayorga’s particular type of trash talking, where he continually crosses the line and brings family into
the mix?

Vargas: That's being a jackass. He's a street fighter. He has no fundamentals, no intelligent fundamentals. He just comes out winging shots,
anything to get caught. I'm going to make him apologize to my mother. Watch when I see him. I'm going to make him apologize to my mother. And just thinking
about that the other day, when I knock him out, I'm going to make him apologize to my mother in front of the world.

Question: Are you prepared to end your career and what will you miss most about boxing?

Vargas: I am definitely, absolutely 110 percent ready to end my boxing career. But I'm going to miss my ring bell. I'm going to miss when
they call my name when they're introducing me. (I am going to miss) them taking about what I've done in boxing, my titles, etc. But I'm going to soak
it in real good for this last fight. So that's something I'll definitely miss.

Question: When did you realize that it's time for you to end your career?

Vargas: After my last fight with Mosley. I take nothing away from Mosley, a great, talented, intelligent fighter. But I mean getting down to
154 pounds, I (couldn’t) do that. That's not me. I went to the Olympics at 147. Then shortly after that moved to 154. I was 18 when I went to the
Olympics and 21 when I won the world title. I've been staying that way for 10 years. I can't do that. (But for) this fight I still have to work.
My people around me have seen what I have to do, and they can't even believe it. It's not even about money. It's about me fighting and winning.
That's what it's always been about for me. And I just feel that after this fight, that's it. (After the Mosley) fight, the guy in my head kept messing
with me for two months. (Finally) I said I can't go out like this..

Question: Are you satisfied with the way your career turned out?

Vargas: I accomplished everything I wanted to accomplish in boxing: Three‑time middleweight champion of the world, only one in the history to
do so. I made a lot of money and I still have my faculties and I still have my family.
Everything is fine with me. My health is fine. I did everything I wanted to do in boxing.

Question: Is there anything sentimental or nostalgic about wrapping up training for your last fight; like, this is the last time I'm
going to be two weeks out before a fight or this is going to be the last time I spar or hit the bag? Is any of that crossing your mind?

Vargas: Yes. It's tough because I work hard and I'm thinking about (how) I did it many, many times. I got one last (fight) and I'm going to
enjoy the suffering a little bit. This is the last time I need to make weight. Shrink down my 5-foot-10 inch body to 162 pounds or whatever it will be.
When it gets a little hard, I push myself and I find strength in God. I thank God for everything he's done for my family and I. I know he's going to
help me in this last fight and I'm going to be successful and be strong. I know it's tough. But I get the strength through God.

Question: Why did you pick Mayorga for your last fight and not a rematch with Trinidad or a rematch with Oscar De La Hoya, something
bigger that would be more money?

Vargas: First of all, it's not about money. Second of all, it's for pride. Mayorga said that I was scared of him in Chicago. I was going
to fight to win the WBC world championship. That's why we picked Mayorga, because I wanted to fight him and he's a stupid fighter and it's a great
fight for me to capitalize on my boxing career and finish it.

Question: You say it's about pride and you wouldn't come back for a rematch. But say if De La Hoya offered you a rematch, wouldn't
that also be about pride?

Vargas: No, that would be ‑‑ what else would that be for? This one is for pride. This is my last one for pride.
That wouldn't be for pride.

Question: How do you feel at 162 pounds and does your power carry up to that weight?

Vargas: I feel strong. Been working hard with Robert Ferguson, I've been training since January. Everything has been a work in progress.
I haven't just been in camp for two months or six weeks. I've been working since January, Monday through Friday. We’ve just been working. Everything
is coming together for the last one.

Question: How is your body adjusting right now? Will you be able to take off those eight pounds easy enough?

Vargas: I have to do it. It's crunch time. You have to crunch it.

Question: Since you've been working since January, why did you pick 162 than 160?

Vargas: Because I feel 162 is better for me.

Question: Do you feel like you were rushed a little too soon? You got your title when you were 21 years old. As far as getting some
of the other bigger fights in your career, did you ever feel like those were set up a little too quickly? Would you have liked more time?

Vargas: Absolutely not. I fight. Every fighter who has beaten me knows what they went through to do it. (It was) their toughest fight. I
take nothing back. It's made me who I am.

Question: You have a couple of sons. If one of them were interested in fighting …?

Vargas: I definitely don't want to encourage that. But my kids are athletes, star athletes, basketball players, football players. They always
want them on the teams. Top scorers. But I'm just glad none of them have (ever said they wanted) to box. But I have to support them in whatever they
do, whatever they want.

Question: Where do you see yourself in 10 years' time? More acting work?

Vargas: Yes, more acting. (Spending) more (time) in the gym. After this fight I get to go eat whatever I want.
Whatever I want I'm going to eat. If I want to drink a little bit, I drink a little bit. But (for) now I like it; it's for your health. I know now
the fact that my body has been so used to doing something since I was 10 years old. Every day I used to do something at the gym after school. (I got
the fate gene from) my biological father. I needed to stay in the gym, Monday through Friday and through the weekend. But, now, if I want to let loose
a little bit, I'll do that. But other than that I’ll be keeping my shape for my health, and looking good for my wife and doing movies and staying in
business.

Question: When you fought Oscar, there certainly was a huge promotion, a lot of contention. A lot of trash talking. Obviously that
was one of your big disappointments. How is your relationship with him now and would you consider working with him as a promoter?

Vargas: I think we have to (if) we're going to have to work together. This is mutual respect. There's no disrespect on my part. I said there's
no disrespect on his part when we see or run into each other. It's not like I will (initiate) any confrontation or anything of that manner. We do business
together as professionals. So I look forward to doing that in the future with him, with whomever it might be, in the promoter business.

Question: Kathy Duva, when the question came up about Main Events Fernando seemed a little cool. Maybe that's just my interpretation.
Does his contract with you run out after this fight? Was this (last fight) his idea or your idea or how is your relationship?

Vargas: I think we should move on from that conversation.

Duva: We're in complete agreement on that.

Vargas: Thank you for respecting my decision on that.

Question: Ending on good terms?

Vargas: We are.

Duva: Yes, as far as I am concerned. How about you Fernando?

Vargas: Absolutely. Maybe we can do something together in the near future.

Question: You fought a lot of top-level fighters at a very young age compared to other fighters, and you're retiring at a very young
age compared to most of the fighters who have been at the top world championship level. Looking back, do you think that you were moved along too quickly
into these kind of fights?

Vargas: I'm the one that picked out the fights. I'm the one that wanted to fight top‑notch fighters right away and I said I was going to leave
by the time I'm 30. I'm doing that. I'm 29. And I'll be 30 Dec. 7th. So I said I'll never be fighting after 30. And I remember saying that, even as a
kid. That's too old to be fighting. I'm glad (for the fighters that are top‑notch fighters) who are 30 or over. But that’s not me. I don't want to do
it. My body won't let me any more. My body is tired of all these ups, downs, ups, downs. I want to stay healthy for myself, for my wife and for my
kids and continue doing that.

Question: You mentioned about your promotional company, Vargas Entertainment Promotions, VEP. Do you see doing something in both boxing
and mixed martial arts?

Vargas: Definitely, I'm going to do martial arts. Wait for a show to be up soon with VEP.

Question: Anything differently you would do as a promoter from what you've seen in general?

Vargas: I'm going to bring the entertainment aspect of it and you'll have to wait to see that when it unravels.

Question: Aside from the personal feelings, are you happy with the fact that Mayorga has the type of style where you're going to be
able to showcase all your abilities – that you'll be able to outbox him and then when the time is right you'll be able to bring back that macho and knock
him out in the fashion that's one of your trademarks?

Vargas: That's perfect, (you hit the) nail on the head. That's exactly how I'm approaching this fight. I'm going to be intelligent. But
when he feels the wrath, he's not going to be able to take it. When I catch him, I'm definitely going to finish him. But right now the only thing
I'm thinking about is working hard and being focused and thanking God every night as I go to bed on my knees praying and thinking about all the things
he's done for me and my family.
I say that with no embarrassment that I pray on my knees before I go to bed. I'm humbled by everything God's blessed me with. This will be my last
fight. And that's exactly how the fight is going to pan out.

Question: Would you like to see more fighters walk away while they still have something left?

Vargas: Absolutely. I feel fighters should do that. There are other things you can do in boxing. But I just felt I never was going to be one
of those fighters that they say you should retire. I'm going to retire on my own terms. I made a lot of money. I'm looking forward to capitalizing on
this last fight and leaving on my own terms, God willing.

Opening Statement

Mayorga: I'm going to show you, Vargas! Hello to everyone, (this is) Ricardo Mayorga with Don King Productions. I'm the one and you're just a fat
guy that wants to come down and fight me. I want to thank God because my health is good. I want to thank Don King Productions and SHOWTIME for all the
interviews and everything they've been doing for the fight. My training has been 100 percent great and I'm ready to knock out Fernando Vargas.

Question: Vargas has been saying 162 is the big weight class for you, Ricardo, that you're a stupid fighter; you don't know how to fight,
you just come to the ring and throw punches and he has the advantage to knock you out. What’s your reaction to that?

Mayorga: First of all, Vargas is out of his mind. He doesn't even imagine how much power I have. He doesn't even know that I'm the fighter that
is going to hit him harder (than he’s been hit). I'm going to hit him as hard as I can.
I'm going to knock out that fat guy from Mexico, that is Vargas. I'm in better shape than he is.

Question: How do you feel about the fact that Vargas keeps referring to you as a stupid fighter?

Mayorga: The world is just full of crazy people and stupid people. I'm going to show him who is stupid and who is the one that is going to beat
him in the ring.

Question: Fernando says he has the confidence to beat you because of what happened in Los Angeles where he felt he did a number on
you. What's your response to that?

Mayorga: I don't know why he said that because he hasn't won anything from me yet.

Question: Why do you feel the need to bring people's families into your trash talking?

Mayorga: First of all, he was the one that mentioned my family. And then I kept going with that flow. But he was the one that started it. He
made me go in, and now I'm going to beat him; and as soon as I beat him, no matter what his family, no matter when I fight, if I'm going to fight somebody,
I don't really like their families either.

Question: Fernando said after he knocks you out he's going to make you apologize to his mother in front of the world. What is your
response to that?

Mayorga: I'm a man, and I guess I'll sustain my words. If he's willing to do the same thing, I'll do it and he can make the bet right now. But
he has to go back and apologize to my mom, too, because he said it first. If I lose, I say it. If he loses, he says it.

Question: Where are you calling from?

Mayorga: Don King Production offices in Deerfield, Florida.

Question: What's training like and are you still chain smoking and having a shot here and there?

Mayorga: I basically have been doing the same thing because that's my style. I like to drink and smoke. (But) This time a little less. But it
doesn’t matter. I'm going to fight a bum that is going to get knocked out.

Question: You have a tendency to do a little bit more than trash talk and you seem to really get under your opponent’s skin in most
cases. Is this something that you're doing to throw them off their game, or do you just really develop this hatred for them?

Mayorga: This time it's not to just take the guy out of his mind, it's because this guy I really don't like. What I want him to know is after
the fight when I knock him out, when I hit him, he's not going to even recognize his mother when he goes home.

Question: You seem to be the “opponent of choice’’ on many occasions. Why do you think you're chosen and is there something about you
that makes fighters want to use you?

Mayorga: They chose me because I'm No. 1 and I've been a three‑time world champion. I've been losing to the best, not to anyone. They know I'm
a great fighter. And, win or lose, they are going to remember me forever.

Question: Ricardo, do you feel like you have to win this fight?

Mayorga: I'm going to win the fight no matter what. But after this, I want to beat really big people. I'm going to beat Vargas easily.

Question: Why is it you decided to fight once again at middleweight, at 162 when you feel your best weight is welterweight at 147.
Why risk another fight at such a high weight?

Mayorga: I had my chance, fought with (Felix) Trinidad and all these guys. For pounds, I'm just not going to say no to a fight because I know
he's just a fat guy from a barrio in Mexico. I took the fight because I know I'm going to beat him. Make sure he brings his mother to the press conference
after the fight so in front of his mother he apologizes to my mother, who is going to be there, too. He has to do it in front of them and then I will
apologize to his mother, too, because she doesn't deserve to have that. It's just he started this.

Question: Should you win and go back down to welterweight, who would you like to fight?

Mayorga: I'm going to come down for (Miguel) Cotto, Mosley and anybody who wants to fight. I'm ready for them. That's my weight class. I'm doing
this to knock out this guy and go back to my weight class and beat anyone that’s there.

Question: What was your motivation for throwing a punch at Vargas at the press conference in Los Angeles?

Mayorga: I just threw him a punch. I didn't hit him. I threw it to scare him. Then he just went back and wanted to fight.

Question: Are you training differently for this fight?

Mayorga: I haven't done anything basically different from other fights. But I have a picture of him in my room.
Every morning I wake up to run, I hit the picture of Vargas. I hit him every morning in the face just to remind him that I'm going to knock him out.


Question: Are you looking forward to having your own promotional company?

Mayorga: No.

Question: Is this a must‑win situation for you?

Mayorga: I'm not going to lose. Don King has been really great to me. And he's just putting this fat boy there for me to knock him out and keep
going to win money. He's been great with me.

Question: Is there one fighter in the lighter weight classes that you would like to fight?

Mayorga: Floyd Mayweather is the one I really want to fight. I take Cotto off the list because Mosley is going to beat him. If not, I will beat
him after. But he's going to beat him. I'm taking him out of the list.

Question: Do you see fighting Vernon Forrest again?

Mayorga: Vernon? That one I haven't thought about it – because, first of all, he’s my son. I send my son to win the title. Now that he got it,
I just have to show up and knock him out again and get my title back. That's an easy one. Whenever he wants to do it.

Closing statement

Mayorga: I want to say hi to my friends in Nicaragua, let them know I'm back and I'm going to win this fight. To the people that are going to
bet on the fight, bet for a knockout, don't bet for a decision, because that's not going to happen. And thank you everybody. Thank you for the interview
and we'll see you soon. And say bye to Mayorga, the bad boy.


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Cintron-Feliciano, Karmazin-Messi Conference Call Quotes

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(Note from Casey: thanks to the individual who sent this to me.)

CONFERENCE CALL QUOTES
KERMIT CINTRON AND JESSE FELICIANO
ROMAN KARMAZIN AND LUCA MESSA,
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 15, 2007

Kermit Cintron will defend his IBF welterweight title against Jesse Feliciano in one of three 12-round fights Saturday, Sept. 8, at STAPLES Center in
Los Angeles , Calif. , on SHOWTIME PPV. In another, Roman Karmazin faces Luca Messi for the WBA super welterweight Intercontinental crown.


In the highly anticipated Sept. 8 main event, two-time world champion Fernando Vargas faces three-time world champion Ricardo Mayorga at a catch weight
of 162 pounds.

Tickets priced at $300, $150, $100 and $50 are on sale online at Ticketmaster.com, via Ticketmaster charge-by-phone lines at (213) 480-3232 or (714)
740-2000 and at Ticketmaster ticket centers including Wherehouse Music, Robinsons-May, Tower Records and Ritmo Latino locations. Tickets are also available
at STAPLES Center box office and the box office at TEAM LA at Universal CityWalk.

Opening Comments

Karmazin: I've been training very hard, and I'm taking this fight extra seriously, not only because I have a tough opponent in front of me, but
also because my trainer, Boris Zykanov, recently passed away. I’ve dedicated my next fight, this fight, and my title run for a new title to my late trainer.
I'm training very hard and very seriously to make him proud.

Messi: I trained in Italy for two months. I've been in Miami , or I will be in Miami , for about five weeks in total, for sparring.
I'm happy. I feel very good, and the heat is making me get acclimated to the hot weather.

Question: Roman, what do you know about of Luca Messi?

Karmazin: I haven't had a chance to study some film yet. I plan on studying him. I've just been working more on getting ready for the fight
and sparring a bit. But I don't take him for granted. I heard he's a very good fighter with a good pedigree. On this level, fighting for what we're
fighting for, I don't expect him to be anything but world‑class.

Question: Luca, it’s been a little over a year since you fought and lost to (Michelle) Piccirillo. What have you been doing to stay sharp?


Messi: I continue to train. I have my own gym in Miami and have my own trainer. I had problems with my promoter. I was with him and then
with Don King. Now I'm back with Don King Promotions. So I had some legal problems. That’s why I didn't fight.

Question: Luca, will you make a prediction on the fight?

Messi: The only thing I'm going to say is I am coming to win and I'm going to win. That's enough.

Question: Roman, what is your prediction?

Karmazin: The results of the fight; only God knows what the results are going to be, but anything can happen in boxing. But I only come out to
win and that is my plan. I intend to win.

Question: Luca, what is your background?

Messi: This is only my second fight in America . I was an Italian 154‑pound champion. I came over as somewhat of an unknown on Aug.13,
2005 and fought Alejandro Garcia, who was like 24‑1 and had 22 knockouts and it went to decision. I surprised everybody. I was tenacious and did a nice
job. That was my only title shot. And the rest of it is explanatory on my record.

Question: Roman, if triumphant, would you like a rematch with Cory Spinks, who dethroned you two fights ago?

Karmazin: I would very much like a rematch with Spinks; that's actually all I want right now.

Question: Luca, despite your inactivity the last few years, do you think a victory over Karmazin can make you a major player in the 154‑pound
division?

Messi: Exactly, which is why I'm fighting a tough fighter like him. I know he's classified and very highly regarded and I want to show (what
I can do). I know that when I win it will place me in the highest possible position for a title fight.

Question: Luca, even if you lose, are you going to get back into the ring again?

Messi: I am sure, absolutely sure, that Don King will put me back in the ring for a title because I came to America because I was promised this by
Don King, and I'm here for that reason. Don and I are very good friends. It was my Italian friends and I who invited Don over and facilitated the visit
where you saw Don meeting and shaking hands with the Pope.

My brother is a priest and my good friend, a parish priest, sings in the choir in the Vatican . It was through my brother and Don Gilberto that got
us in to see the Pope.

I'm from Bergemo , Italy . That's why I'm known as the “Bergemo Bomber.’’ I want to change my name from the Bergemo Bomber to Miami Made in Paradise
(Laughter).

Question: Luca, so you got Don hooked up with the Pope?

Messi: Yes. I've got the Victoria Gym, a youth program there. It's a huge gym. It has a swimming pool and everything. And the priests are
always invited free there. All the priests, the monsignor, the bishop, they come and work out; they swim in the wintertime because it's cold where I
come from. It was easy for me through my brother and Don Gilberto, the monsignor, and the bishop to hook it up because of that.

Question: Roman, how has the loss of your trainer impacted the atmosphere of your training camp?

Karmazin: Losing Boris is a very big loss to me on many levels. But right now I've been working with Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Gym ( Hollywood
, Calif. ). That's where I trained before with Boris. I'm in the same atmosphere I have been in the past.

Question: Freddie’s now in the Philippines , is he going to be coming back Sept. 8 to work your corner?

Karmazin: Yes, absolutely, he assured me he'd be there.

Question: Luca, what is it about Miami that you like in terms of being able to train down there?

Messi: Because of all the beautiful women. (Laughter) I like it because of the sparring partners. I have terrific sparring partners. I
don't have that in Italy . Sparring partners are too easy in Italy . Here they are tougher; also my trainer is here. I love and hate him so much.


Question: What part of Italy are you from?

Messi: I'm Neapolitan. My mother is from Naples . But I was raised in Bergemo , Italy , which is near Milano, a very wealthy suburb
of Milano.

Question: Luca, is your family all very religious; and if so, how did you end up fighting ‑‑ were you an altar boy to begin with?

Messi: It's very interesting, my family is not that religious. But it's really strange, my brother became a priest and I became a boxer.
I'm the first boxer in my family. My brother, Alejandro, is the first priest.

Question: Was your family against you fighting?

Messi: I grew up poor. Even though we're from the south, from Naples , which is poor, I worked at 13 and 14 years old in the foundry area
where they make the steel and stuff like that. It's very dangerous and very hard work, so they didn't care if I was boxing or working with hot metal.
It's very dangerous. So they never gave a second thought about me being a fighter.

Question: Is your brother, the priest, younger or older?

Messi: He's older.

Question: Luca, is it important for you to win this fight or do you need to win it impressively?

Messi: I feel it's important to win, and I don't care how I win.

Question: Roman, you said Cory Spinks is a top priority to fight again. But being this is for a WBA Intercontinental title, would you turn down
a fight for the WBA title, right?

Karmazin: No, of course I wouldn't turn it down. I would take that fight.

Opening comments

Cintron: First of all, I want to thank Main Events and Don King and also SHOWTIME for giving me the opportunity to be able to defend my title
one more time. Feliciano is a great fighter. Seems strong from the fights I've seen of him. He comes to fight. He never backs up. Always forward.
He's a fighter that tries to win his fights. And I'm getting ready for the fight and I'll be ready for Sept. 8 to defend my title one more time successfully.


Feliciano: My thoughts are, man, I can't believe I got this shot. I've been waiting for this all my life. And now that I have it, I'm going
to give it all I've got. I am a true warrior. And I'd like to thank Kermit Cintron for letting me get this shot and Main Events and Don King and Star
Boxing. It’s going to be a tremendous show. Cintron is there to defend his title and he comes to fight as well. Once we put our gloves together,
it's going to be a major war. It's not going to be a Mayweather fight. It's going to be the real deal.

Question: What was your initial reaction when you found out that you had the opportunity?

Feliciano: I was very excited. I didn't think I would get this shot so soon. I thought maybe next year. But I'll take it however I can get it.
I'm ready. I've got nothing to lose. I am going all out.

Question: Kermit, what do you know about this guy? Is there any chance you might overlook him to move on to bigger and better names?

Cintron: No, not at all. I take my fights seriously. They're putting Jesse Feliciano in front of me for a reason.
They're giving him the opportunity to fight me for my title. And like I said, he's a fighter that comes to fight and I know he has three good wins under
his belt. So I'm not taking this fight lightly. Just going to go in there and do what I do best.

Question: Kermit, how tough was it to get over your knockout loss to Antonio Margarito?

Cintron: It was a fight I wasn't well prepared for. Just a loss, it just happened. And not being well prepared for that fight, only having four
weeks of training and only two weeks of being able to hit with my right hand, I just wasn't well prepared for the fight. But I took the fight like a
warrior. The loss did me good -- I think that it got me stronger mentally, physically and emotionally.

Question: Why were you only able to train four weeks and what was the matter with your hand?

Cintron: I just had a ruptured tendon. Took cartilage and had no blood flow going to my middle knuckle so my bone was dying. I had to get
that fixed, and finally they got it fixed and it's been 100 percent since.

Question: Were you surprised you were able to recover that quickly from that first loss? A few fights later, you we're fighting for a championship.
How exciting was that for you to be able to be right back in the thick of things?

Cintron: Definitely not surprised. I knew I could do it. It was just the fact of having the proper training and the proper trainers around
me. I was not surprised at all. I decided to go back in there and fight, win fights. I knew that eventually I was going to get my title shot again.


Question: The welterweight division is pretty awesome right now. What kind of a mark would you like to be able to leave on this division in the
next few years?

Cintron: Just want to definitely be myself in and outside the ring. And I definitely want to unify the titles. One of my biggest goals is to
being able to win all titles and be the undisputed welterweight champion of the world.

Question: Would you want to fight Margarito again, only this time if you were healthy and with a two‑month training camp?

Cintron: Yes, I definitely would love to fight Margarito again, to avenge that loss, and move on to better things.

Question: Kermit, can you talk about your last fight and how, after a couple fights not using it, you have been able to utilize the jab? Do you
just think you're just a better, more well‑rounded fighter now?

Cintron: I think that I definitely am. I just needed the proper training and having the proper trainer. I've been improved a lot ever since
I've been with Emanuel (Steward), and it's going to continue. I'm going to continue to look better and better as fights goes on.

Question: Everyone seems to have made a big deal of how you were working the pads before your last fight. Was that a factor?

Cintron: The pads, just in general, I had a perfect training camp in Austria , getting ready for the Walter Matthysse fight. I had no
complaints at all. I had no injuries. I was 100 percent. I was ready to go. I was focused mentally, physically and emotionally, I was ready.


Question: Kermit, coming off such an impressive knockout, do you feel the need to ‑‑ is it possible for you to top that performance?

Cintron: It was a great performance. Like I said, Emanuel and I have been working hard together. I'm still young in the sport, still learning.
I've been boxing seven years. I know I'm going to be better. And as fights, as time goes on, as fights go on, you're going to see that Kermit Cintron
will improve more and more.

Question: Jesse, obviously fighting for the title is big and obviously is what you fight for. But Kermit is a much different fighter than, say,
Delvin Rodriguez and even Alfonso Gomez. Do you approach it differently, or do you just do what you normally do?

Feliciano: A little bit of both. Like he said, he's not just any regular fighter or any other fighter at that. He's at a whole other level,
a whole other stage. I can't go in there like I did in other fights all big-headed. I have to maintain and focus and mentally be ready as well as physical.


Question: Jesse, what do you credit for your resurgence in the sport?

Feliciano: I credit my father. He's been there for me. He's my boxing manager, baby‑sitter/caretaker. He's been everything, taking care of
me and helping me. And also credit goes to my son, Jesse James. If it wasn't for my son, I would never have been in this game still. I won that USBA
title for my son, rest in peace. He died on June 11th. I dedicate my life to my son.

Question: What happened to your son?

Feliciano: The veins in his lungs were obstructed and his heart only had three chambers instead of four. So he didn't have a good chance of making
it. He was alive for about 13 hours. I got to hold him and bathe him before he passed away.

Question: Kermit, didn't your arm turn black in the Margarito fight?

Cintron: My knuckle was turning black.

Question: Did doctors say you would never fight again?

Cintron: The doctor did say that if what they did wasn't going to work, then that would have been it for me.

Question: Kermit, what do you think about (WBO welterweight champion) Paul Williams?

Cintron: I'll fight Paul Williams any day. Everybody keeps saying I'm avoiding Williams. I'm not avoiding him. I think Paul Williams is avoiding
me. I think the fight with Paul Williams; it would be a perfect match for me and a great win for me.

Question: Kermit, how important is it to get your revenge against Margarito as opposed to getting a shot at unifying the title against the other
champions?

Cintron: Both. I want to fight everybody. I want to fight Margarito. I want to fight every other champion out there in the welterweight division.


Question: Kermit, what has been the reaction following your last fight?

Cintron: A lot of people have been calling. A lot of people have been impressed about it, the way I look, the way I stopped him. Everybody's
been impressed. It's a good feeling that a lot of people are opening their eyes and seeing that the fight against Margarito was a difference Kermit Cintron.


Question: Kermit, how do you see this fight playing out?

Cintron: I'm just going to go in well prepared. Feliciano is a fighter that comes to fight and never backs down.
I see it a win for me.

Question: Prediction?

Cintron: I don't have any. As long as I win the fight, that's all that matters.

Question: Kermit, last few fights you've been training in Europe and over the place. Where will you concentrate your training camp for this
fight?

Cintron: I'm in the Poconos. I'm here with Jermain Taylor.

Question: You've been talking about unifying the titles. Will you wait and see what happens in the next (Miguel) Cotto fight?

Cintron: I think that any possibility I can get to unify the titles I'll take. I'm here. The plan is to keep me busy. That's what we're doing.
Eventually by 2008, we'll be unifying the titles.

Question: Specifically what things do you need to learn in order to continue to be successful?

Cintron: I think in boxing you never stop learning. Emanuel Stewart knows every trick in the book about boxing and little by little we've been
going one‑on‑one with it and learning.

Question: Kermit, it seems as though regardless to what you've done since the loss to Margarito, you still get questions regarding that fight.
Does it bother you?

Cintron: No, it doesn't bother me at all. It's a fight that I looked bad in. I lost a fight. And who cares. I moved on. Everybody's still,
I guess, still on that date back in '04. I moved on with my career. I'm a world champion now.

Question: Why would you come back to fight a guy like Jesse Feliciano, who is on such a roll in these last few fights?

Cintron: This is a fight that Main Events and SHOWTIME gave me. It's just through a fight to keep me busy with what I do. I think the busier
I am the better I get.

Question: Can you motivate yourself to fight a guy moving up in weight after the tough fights you’ve had?

Cintron: I don't take any fight lightly. Every fighter that steps in there is trying to hurt me. They're trying to win against me of course
they want to get the title away from me. That's not going to happen. I train hard for every fight, if not harder, and you will see Sept. 8.


Question: This is the biggest fight of your career, Jesse. Can you continue your level of success?

Feliciano: I'm raising the bar, as you can see. I'm on a whole other level. I'm on a winning streak; I'm not losing. But I think it's going
to last. Good things are going to happen to me.

Question: Kermit, what are your thoughts on fighting Floyd Mayweather?

Cintron: It's a fight that every fighter in the welterweight division wants. That's a fight I would love to have, but that's his decision. With
my style, Mayweather would be a great fight for me.

Question: Your style is going to pose problems for all the other champs; do you think it's going to be a stumbling block in regards to you unifying?


Cintron: It's up to the other champions. If I don't get the opportunities I will continue to defend my title successfully until I get a chance
to fight for the other titles. I think that there are champions they'll fight me.

Question: Were you sparring with Wladimir Klitschko?

Cintron: Yes.

Question: How did it go?

Cintron: It was a totally different experience but it was a great experience for me.

Question: Fighting somebody that tall is getting you ready for Paul Williams, right?

Cintron: Yeah.

Question: Jesse, some regard you as a stay-busy fighter, someone that others fight to stay busy?
What do you think about that?

Feliciano: I think it motivates me more to do a better job.

Question: Kermit, you're fighting less than two months after knocking out Matthysse. Is there added pressure to come back so quickly?

Cintron: Not at all, no pressure at all. These are the things I like. I like to stay busy. The sooner I get back into the ring, the better
it is. The more fights I get, the better I get.

Question: Jesse, why do you think you have the advantage in this fight especially after the spectacular knockout that Kermit had in his last fight
in July?

Feliciano: Everybody thinks I'm the underdog. Everybody wants to fight me because they think it will be an easy fight. I’ll be ready. I'm training
hard. This fight is the real deal and we're both coming to fight and we're probably going to steal the show.

Question: What specifically did you see in the fight that Kermit won against Matthysse that you think you can take advantage of?

Feliciano: I'm not really too sure if I can answer that question. But all I saw was a good, pinpoint sharp-shooting assassin right there. He
just took that guy out. I don't know, man. It's going to be all‑out war is all I can say. I'm not going to go down in the second round.

Question: Kermit, have you gained more respect since the Matthysse fight?

Cintron: People are still talking about my loss against Margarito, but I've moved on. That was the past. I'm in a better position than I ever
was back then. But I do get some props as well.

Question: Did you feel when you first started working with Emmanuel that you had to prove yourself to him?

Cintron: Yeah, definitely and I did prove myself sparring with a kid named Dominic Dawson, who is an extremely fast, good boxer, who is going
to be probably making the Olympic team. That's who I've actually been sparring with right now. But, yeah, I definitely felt that I needed to prove myself.


Question: Are you disappointed a guy you called out, Shane Mosley, is fighting Cotto instead?

Cintron: I wasn't disappointed. I just see how fighters are. They try to avoid big punchers. They see what I did to Matthysse and they see
and saw that Kermit Cintron is no joke. He's a totally different fighter than he was against Margarito. There are always fights out there -- big fights
against other fighters willing to fight me. As long as I stay busy I'll be fine. I'll get that big fight.

Question: What is it that makes you confident you can beat Paul Williams?

Cintron: People keep saying I'm avoiding Williams. I've never avoided anybody. I never backed down, never said no to a fight. Williams is
just another fighter. He's more an amateur than a pro, a fighter that throws a lot of punches but with no power. It's a fight that I definitely want.
People think I'm avoiding him but I'm not.

Question: So you would love to fight Cotto?

Cintron: I think that the fight would definitely be a fight I would love to have. It would definitely be a great fight.

Question: Will you knock him out?

Cintron: It will be definitely a tough, rough fight. And I know if I connect him with my hard shots that, yes, I think he will go down. And
the record for ticket sales at Madison Square would be broken. It will definitely be a big fight.

Question: Jesse, do you see anything in Kermit, any weaknesses, that you can capitalize on?

Feliciano: I don't really see any weakness, especially in his last fight. The Margarito fight is the past. This is a new Kermit Cintron. He's
dangerous and nobody to take lightly.

Question: Kermit, what do you think if you never get the fight with Margarito. What is it going to take for you to get rid of that in everybody's
mind? Do you think a good fight with Williams would erase that from everybody?

Cintron: I think getting a win over Paul Williams would definitely erase the Margarito fight. But everybody keeps asking me that question.
I've moved on from that loss. You can never go back to that. There are a lot better things in the near future for my career.

Closing Comments

Cintron: I want to say thanks to Main Events, Don King and SHOWTIME and Pay Per View for giving me an opportunity to get in a fight and defend
my title successfully. I'm looking forward to Sept. 8.

Feliciano: I'd like to thank Star Boxing most of all and everybody for putting this fight together, SHOWTIME and Pay Per View and all the fans
out there. You're very greatly appreciated, and thank you for sticking around and here we go for the fight. Thank you.