A press conference this afternoon featured the participants of the “Return to Glory: Bermane Stiverne vs. Deontay Wilder” main card face off against each other and the media before Friday afternoon’s weigh-ins, and two days before their bouts Saturday, Jan. 17 which air live on Showtime from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Amir Imam and Fidel Maldonado Jr face the media at today’s press conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo: Esther Lin/SHOWTIME
The undefeated junior welterweight Amir Imam (15-0, 13 KOs) of New York and Albuquerque’s best boxer Fidel Maldonado Jr. (19-2, 16 KOs) traded verbal jabs before their highly anticipated 10-round fight for the WBC Continental America’s 140-pound title fight, in a bout that will open the Showtime telecast.
Quotes form the presser-
Amir Imam: “I’m ready to put on a show for you all. I want to thank my whole team. I don’t think you know what you got yourself into, Fidel. You’re going to be the one laying on the mat come Saturday night. You’re scared and I can see it in your face.”
Fidel Maldonado Jr.: “I know I’m not underestimating this fight but come Saturday we’ll see how it is when he’s out on
the floor.”
The fight will be both men’s biggest payday with Imam, the Don King Productions product, bringing in $45,000 and Maldonado Jr., the Golden Boy Promotions fighter, bringing in $50,000.
European odds lean toward Imam where he is anywhere from a 7 to1 to 9 to 1 favorite while Maldonado Jr. comes at a very surprising 5 to 1 underdog.
Tickets for the event are on sale and priced at $500, $350, $250, $125 and $50, not including applicable service charges and taxes. Tickets are limited to eight (8) per person with a limit of four (4) at the $50 price range. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available at www.mgmgrand.com orwww.ticketmaster.com.
