Mikael Lawal and Isaac Chamberlain exchanged heated words at today’s final press conference as the British cruiserweight rivals prepare to settle their long running feud on Saturday night at London’s iconic York Hall, live on Sky Sports Arena and Sky Sports Showcase.
Hailing from opposite sides of London, the two former sparring partners are now bitter rivals who have been getting into heated exchanges every time they’ve been brought face to face in the build-up to what is one of the most highly-anticipated domestic fights of the year. .
On the line is both Lawal’s British Cruiserweight Championship and the vacant Commonwealth Cruiserweight Championship, along with all-important London bragging rights.
The card also features Commonwealth super-welterweight champion Louis Greene defending against Sam Gilley, Olympic bronze medallist Karriss Artingstall facing Canadian former world title challenger ‘Vicious’ Vanessa Bradford and Michael Hennessy Jr facing fan favourite Joe Laws.
Final quotes:
BEN SHALOM:
“It’s been a crazy 48 hours. I’ve never experienced anything like it. But I think when things get tough, that’s when you learn about yourself, that’s when you learn about your team. To see the passion from the team and from Sky, to fight for the show to stay on and to be able to move venues like they did, was incredible.
“I’m delighted and excited now, to be here and be looking forward to an amazing night at York Hall this Saturday. It’s going to be one of the biggest nights I think the venue has ever seen.”
MIKAEL LAWAL
“He’s not winding me up. It’s all irrelevant, on Saturday we’re going to fight… All the talking this guy’s been doing. We can finally lay it to rest.
“If I land, definitely [I knock him out]. I’m just going to beat him. I just find a way to win.”
ISAAC CHAMBERLAIN
“I’ll knock [Lawal] out. It’s going to be big, finally all of this comes to a close on Saturday and I’ll be crowned the new British and Commonwealth cruiserweight champion.”
“I’ve come a long way, I’m enjoying the journey.”
LOUIS GREENE, defending Commonwealth Super-Welterweight Champion
“I believe I can beat Sam, he believes he can beat me, with his style and my style there’s going to be fireworks, it’s going to go off.
“This is combat, we’re here to fight and when you’ve stopped boxing do you want to have a look at your record and have a list of 30 men who just danced for a few rounds or do you want to be in memorable fights?
SAM GILLEYchallenger
“We don’t need to sell it as bad blood. We’re both very aggressive, very strong, we both punch, so it makes for a good fight. His strengths work for my weaknesses and my strengths work for his weaknesses, so it’s down to whoever makes the least mistakes. So, it’s going to be explosive.
KARRISS ARTINGSTALL
“She’s not going to teach me anything in the pro ring. Boxing’s boxing. On Saturday night I want to show what I have been working on, I do work very hard. I just want to show my skills.”
VANESSA BRADFORD
“This is the pro game and I’m excited to show her what the pros is all about on Saturday night.”
MICHAEL HENNESSY JR
“When we sparred your head was like a magnet for my hands. I’m sending you out of pro boxing, you’re going to Misfits.”
JOE LAWS
“I’m not a boxer, I’m a fighter – I’m getting stuck clean in, I wear my heart on my sleeve and I’m getting the win. Nobody thinks I’m going to win, most of my friends don’t think I’m going to win, but I do.
“When I knock him out, that propels me to big fights. Of course, I’m the underdog – I’ve been eating cheesecake and drinking cocktails. If you want to drink champagne, you’ve got to take chances, and that’s why I’ve taken this shot.”
Lawal and Chamberlain top the bill in York Hill following the postponement of the world title final eliminator showdown between Josha Buatsi and Dan Azeez due to an injury sustained by Azeez in his final training session this week.
Tickets for the postponed Buatsi v Azeez bout at The O2 will automatically remain valid for the newly rescheduled date, which will be communicated soon. A full refund is available to all ticket holders via their original ticket provider.
Tickets for York Hall on Saturday are now on general sale from £35. General sale is on a first come first served basis and expected to sell out today.
This Saturday’s broadcast begins at 7.30pm on Sky Sports Arena and Sky Showcase.
