Jahi Tucker and Euri Cedeno make things personal

The fight between middleweights Jahi Tucker and Euri Cedeno has turned personal after both made off-color remarks at the final press conference for the DAZN PPV broadcast of WBO and WBA junior middleweight champion Xander Zayas defending against former welterweight king Jaron “Boots” Ennis this Saturday, June 27, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Queens, New York’s 23-year-old Tucker, 16-1-1 (7 KOs), ranked IBF No. 9 and WBO No. 13, and The Dominican Republic’s Cedeno, 14-0-1 (12 KOs), ranked WBA No. 7, WBO No. 7 and IBF No. 10, will meet in one of the televised supporting bouts of the high-profile event.

“No matter how confident or how hard you all say he hits. No matter what, he’s subpar to me. I can’t wait to demonstrate that,” said a fired-up Tucker.

“Nobody in boxing has a resume like I have without a world championship at this point,” he continued. “This is my second or third Olympian that I have fought. Another top 10, top-ranked guy that I’ve fought… Saturday is not the first step, but it’s another step to show you all I’m the best.” (26-year-old Cedeno competed in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo).

“I don’t have anything to show him on Saturday,” replied an amused-looking Cedeno through translator Ricardo Solis. “We are going to knock him out. He’s going to die there.”

“Belt to ass. That's what's gonna happen,” replied the now incensed Tucker. “I'm gonna destroy this guy. The only one dead is him... I just can't wait to show you. I could fight him right now. It's just can't. I gotta wait till Saturday.”

When told that Cedeno looks in shape and is known as a power puncher, the still angry Tucker fired back: “Everybody throws punches. Everybody trains harder, but one thing I’m certain about is that he has nothing for me. He has nothing for me. I’m so serious. I can’t wait to show you all.”

“I'm gonna run in your house. You're gonna face a Dominican like me. We are crazy,” replied Cedeno.