6/19/08HBO "BAD" Shakeout for June 21st!
From Prize Fight Boxing Gym –– Photos coming Soon!
By JD Meredith, Memphisboxing.com FIND TICKETS



Above From L to R: Andre Berto, MIkki Rodriguez, Chazz Witherspoon and Chris Arreola.
Berto will Face Rodrigeuz in the main event this Saturday night at the FedexForum for the WBC Welterweight Title and Witherspoon will face Arreola in an potenitaly Explosive heavyweight Bout. Photo by: JD Meredith

Southaven, MS - Andre Berto who faces MIkki Rodriguez in the main event Saturday night at the FedExForum in Memphis, TN, for the WBC Welterweight Title, along with Chazz Witherspoon who faces off Chris Arreola in a potenitally explosive heavyweight class of unbeatens were at the Prize Fight Gym yesterday for a pre-fight media shakeout.

Rodriguez and Witherspoon took the gym first where Rodriguez jumped rope, shadow boxed and hit pads. Witherspoon, worked out at about half speed, hitting a heavy bag, speed bag, jumped some rope and stretched. Both fielded questions from the media.

Mikki Rodrigeuz, (29-2, 23KO's) – Welterweight

On this fight with Berto...
Rodriguez: I have worked for his fight. I have made preparations and want it to be a good fight for the people. We've worked for this guy. Everything I have worked on --my hands, my mind -- is specifically for this guy. I want this guy. I'm in shape. I am prepared. If Berto is in shape this fight will be really good.

On his chances getting better the longer the fights goes...
Rodriguez: I don't know -- I don't know -- I have worked to hard for this guy -- for this fight. I am prepared for a win. I know I am going to win this fight.

On any predictions...
Rodriguez: No, No, No -- I have worked to hard. I show them that I come to win this fight. I want to show the world, HBO -- everybody. I am (glad) for the opportunity from HBO (for this fight). Chazz

Witherspoon, (23-0, 16KO's) – Heavyweight

On how he feels coming into this fight....
Witherspoon: I feel good. I feel very well prepared. This is my first time I have had a paid camp where I had sparing partners. So I feel good. I feel like I am in really good shape and I am ready.

On this fight being a pivotal point in his career...
Witherspoon: Definitely so. Definitely the biggest test in my career. Up until now I have been taking the right steps. Taking the right opponents to get the lessons I need to get. This fight came a little earlier than I had anticipated I thought it would be a little further down the line but it will be a good test for me. I think I am going to do well. I think I am going to do a lot better then everybody thinks. I am the underdog for the first time in my professional career.

On feelings about this fight going the distance...
CW: I don know -- I'm not a profit. I don't want to give out any predictions. I mean theres a good chance that it won't because we both have pretty good power. I think it will be really entertaining -- a fast paced fight.

On watching tape of Arreola and seeing any potential opportunities there...
Witherspoon: Yeah, I've seen a couple. Some but I mean he is getting better every fight so I pretty sure he is tightening up his flaws and I am trying to tighten up mine so I have to see what he is giving me when the fight starts. I am coming with a plan but things always seem to change.

(Once the gym was cleared Berto and Arreola entered.)

Berto worked out at full speed and hit pads with blistering speed over several rounds.

Arreola's heavyweight frame offered a quick hands on his training partner when hitting the pads.
Both fielded questions from the media.

Andre Berto, (21-0, 18KO's) – Welterweight

On Mayweather...
Berto: It was a big surprise when I heard about it. I was down in training camp. I'm just looking at this as a fight. I don't want to add too much more pressure on me. I'm just looking at this as a fight and all the rewards will come afterwards.

I have been in Tampa about six or seven weeks. You know, I have been working hard. I am tired of training. I'm just ready to get in there and go to work and show everybody I am ready to be world champion.

On becoming a world champion...
Berto: It will be a dream come true for me. Its been something I have dreamed about since I laced up a pair of boxing gloves so it will be a huge achievement for me.

On Rodriguez...
Berto: I don't really know too much about him. I've heard he is pretty strong and he's a tough guy. I know he has a family to feed so he is going to come 100% so I am looking forward to the best Mikki Rodriguez.

On his own fighting style...
Speed and power pretty much. Just real explosive. My fighting style is self explainable and every time anybody goes in to watch me fight you know its going to be something exciting.

On predictions...
Berto: No predictions, no predictions, no predictions at this point. ...You know if he comes in there half steppin', it might be a short night.

Chris Arreola, (23-0, 21KO's) – Heavyweight

On how he feels coming into this fight...
Arreola: I feel great. I am ready. I have put in all my work in the gym. I have been sparring twelve rounds with three minute and thirty second rounds so I am ready.
What I love -- the great thing about Boxing is to make fights like this. Two kids that are hungry that want to showcase their skills. This should be a great fight and I am looking forward to it.

On the type of fight he expects...
Arreola: All I want is a good fight. I want to be in a fight were the fans will talk about tomorrow. After the fight is over. Water cooler talk.

On Witherspoon...
Arreola: I have nothing but good things to say about him. He's a nice guy -- a classy dude. I have never seen him spar I have never seen him fight. I don't know about none of my (opponents). I listen to my coach. He watches film on them. Other than that, all I know is that he is a real nice guy.

On his positive talk outside the ring...
Arreola: There is no reason to bad mouth him. I do my talking in the ring. Thats where I do all my talking. You probably hear me say a lot of stuff while I am fighting because I do. I do all my talking in the ring. Outside the ring no -- I respect the guy. Especially going in the ring with the guy no one can on in the ring for you. Anyone can lose their life at any moment.

On watching film...
Arreola: I have never looked at any film off my opponents. Reason being, I trust my coach. I'm going to listen to him. Also, I have extensive amateur experience. I have about a hundred and thirty something amateur fights. When you are at an amateur tournament, in five days you are going to fight five different guys and five different styles and you have to adapt yourself. No guy is going to ever come to the same fight twice. I just want to go in there with a clear head and just fight.

I go in there expecting the unexpected. I'm not in there expecting for him to throw jabs, throw jabs he might do something different, just use the right hand.

On his own fighting style...
Arreola: I'm the type of fighter, basically I am going to come forward and going to bring the fight to a person. I don't throw like thirty punches a round I try to throw like seventy, eighty a hundred punches a round. You know I have 21 knockouts. Its not because I punch hard its because I am relentless in the ring.

The FedExForum, on Historic Beale Street, will play host to HBO's "Boxing After Dark," Saturday June 21. Fight fans in the city of Memphis welcome DiBella Entertainment and HBO back to the Bluff City while we applaud Prize Fight Boxing for bringing championship boxing back to West Tennessee.

A final press conference will be held today (6/19) at the FedExForum. Check back for more info.
Presented by DiBella Entertainment, in association with Prize Fight Promotions.

Tickets on sale now. All ticket prices are subject to additional fees and service charges.

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