Fighters on the special double main event of Matthysse vs. Kiram and Linares vs. Gesta held a final press conference today ahead of the explosive Golden Boy Promotions card that will take place this Jan. 27 at the "Fabulous" Forum in Inglewood, Calif. In the first part of this spectacular main event, former interim WBC Super Lightweight Champion Lucas "La Maquina" Matthysse (38-4, 35 KOs) of Chubut, Argentina will take on undefeated Thai superstar Tewa Kiram (38-0, 28 KOs) in a 12-round battle for the vacant WBA Welterweight World Championship. In the second main event, Jorge "El Nino De Oro" Linares (43-3, 27 KOs) will face Mercito "No Mercy" Gesta (31-1-2, 17 KOs) in a 12-round defense of his WBA and Ring Magazine Lightweight Titles. The event will be televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark beginning at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT. Photos by Tom Hogan/Hogan Photos.

JORGE "EL NIÑO DE ORO" LINARES, WBA AND RING MAGAZINE LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPION:
"Thank you for this opportunity, Mercito Gesta. I'm ready. I'm here to give a good fight. I trained in Japan, and I trained here in the states. I'm not thinking about any other fight right now. Gesta is a tough fighter. He'a a quick southpaw who is dangerous. It's very important to be victorious this Saturday. Bigger and better things will come with a victory this Saturday."

Linares Gesta

 


"I just want to say thank you to the media and to HBO. This Saturday I'll be coming to take home the title. I've been training hard for this fight. This is my second shot at a title, and I'll make the most of it with a knockout victory."

 

FREDDIE ROACH, HALL OF FAME TRAINER TO MERCITO GESTA:

"It's been a really good training camp. He's worked hard in training camp. I just want to wish the best of luck to our opponent."

Linares Gesta

 

ERIC GOMEZ, PRESIDENT OF GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS

"This Saturday will be important because it is the first boxing event of international proportions. I want to thank our partners at HBO working with us to make yet another great card, and the Forum for one again hosting another Golden Boy fight. This Saturday we will have some of our most exciting fighters in tough fights on our undercard, and it will be headline by two spectacular matchups."

Tickets for Matthysse vs. Kiram are currently on sale and are priced at $10, $25, $50 and $100, not including applicable service charges and taxes, with a total ticket limit of 12 per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000 or the Forum Box Office (Monday through Friday 11:00 a.m. PST to 7:00 p.m. PST) at (310) 330-7300.  Tickets will also be available for purchase at www.fabulousforum.com or www.ticketmaster.com.