Press Conference Notes & Quotes: Robson Conceição & Xavier Martinez Set for 130-Pound Showdown

Live on ESPN & ESPN Deportes (simulcast on ESPN+) Saturday at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT

CLICK HERE for Photos 
Courtesy: Mikey Williams/Top Rank via Getty Images

CLICK HERE to watch the Press Conference

TULSA, OK. (Jan. 27, 2022)— The 130-pound title picture will crystallize Saturday evening at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa, as the unbeaten Xavier Martinez (17-0, 11 KOs) battles recent world title challenger Robson Conceição (16-1, 8 KOs) in a 10-round WBC title eliminator.

Conceição is coming off last September’s valiant challenge of WBC world champion Oscar Valdez in Tucson, Arizona. Valdez rallied late to edge the unanimous decision. Martinez grinded out decisions over veterans Claudio Marrero and Juan Carlos Burgos in his last two outings, ample preparation for his Top Rank debut.

In the 10-round junior lightweight co-feature, Mexican knockout artist Rene Tellez Giron will battle rising Puerto Rican star Luis Melendez. Conceição-Martinez and Melendez-Giron will be televised live on ESPN & ESPN Deportes (simulcast on ESPN+) at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

The undercard — streaming live on ESPN+ starting at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT — includes Tulsa-born heavyweight Jeremiah Milton (3-0, 3 KOs) and middleweight Nico Ali Walsh (3-0, 2 KOs) in four-rounders.

At Thursday’s press conference, this is what the main event fighters had to say.

Robson Conceição

“What happened against Valdez was just a small setback. What I learned from that fight is that it was a great fight, but the fans know I won the fight. They know I’m the man.”

“I’m very motivated. After the fight with Valdez, I walked out of the ring very happy with my performance. I went straight to the gym. I had a very good training camp, and now I’m facing a very tough opponent. That makes me even happier. I hope he is ready for a great fight. I’m ready! I always overcome all obstacles. Martinez is a very tough fighter. We will be battling for our lives inside the ring. I trained very hard to come out with a big victory.”

“For me, every fight is a world title fight. I’ve been away from my family and sacrificing for over a year. I’m very close to my goal, and I will not rest until I accomplish my goal.”

Xavier Martinez

“Now I’m really motivated. I just had my little girl. I have to fight for my little girl. She is my motivation. Makes me even hungrier, and that makes me train even harder.”

“Those last two fights were very tough and got me ready for this moment right here. I’ve been putting the work in, and I can’t let this opportunity slip by me.”

“I’m not overlooking Conceição. He is a great opponent. He is the main objective right now, but after this, I want a title shot. If it’s not right after, I want to keep active and maybe fight for a title next year.”

SATURDAY, January 29, 2022

ESPN, ESPN Deportes & ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT

Robson Conceição vs. Xavier Martinez, 10 rounds, WBC super featherweight title eliminator

Luis Melendez vs. Rene Tellez Giron, 10 rounds, junior lightweight

ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT

Stephan Shaw vs. Joey Dawejko, 8 rounds, heavyweight

Tiger Johnson vs. Xavier Madrid, 4 rounds, welterweight

Pink Tyson vs. Carla Torres, 8 rounds, junior lightweight

Bruce Carrington vs. Steven Brown, 4 rounds, featherweight

Jeremiah Milton vs. Dell Long, 4 rounds, heavyweight

Dante Benjamin Jr. vs. Herman Rendon, 4 rounds, light heavyweight

Haven Brady Jr. vs. Diuhl Olguin, 6 rounds, featherweight

Nico Ali Walsh vs. Jeremiah Yeager, 4 rounds, middleweight

Giovanni Cabrera vs. Rafael Reyes, 8 rounds, lightweight

If you’re interested in accessing additional Top Rank imagery available for licensing beyond the photo link above, please go to the following event home pages to license our images:

Event Name: Robson Conceição vs. Xavier Martinez — Press Conference
Date: Thursday, January 27, 2022
Link to Images on Getty: CLICK HERE

 • CLICK HERE for PHOTOS
Credit: Mikey Williams (Top Rank via Getty Images)

• CLICK HERE for VIDEO

(ESPN, ESPN Deportes & ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT)

    •  Robson Conceição 129.6 lbs vs. Xavier Martinez 129.4 lbs 
(WBC Super Featherweight Title Eliminator — 10 Rounds)

   •   Giovanni Cabrera 138.6 lbs vs. Rene Tellez Giron 137 lbs
 
(Junior Welterweight — 8 Rounds)

   •    Tiger Johnson 145 lbs vs. Xavier Madrid 145.6 lbs
 
(Welterweight — 4 Rounds)

* The original co-feature —Giron vs. Luis Melendez — was called off after Giron missed the contract weight of 132 by five pounds. Giovanni Cabrera, who was fighting on the undercard, stepped in to fight Giron.

(ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT)

   •   Stephan Shaw 234.8 lbs vs. Joey Dawejko 258.6 lbs
 
(Heavyweight — 8 Rounds)

   •    Pink Tyson 130 lbs vs. Carla Torres 129.6 lbs
 
(Junior Lightweight — 8 Rounds)

  •    Bruce Carrington 125.8 lbs vs. Steven Brown 125.6 lbs
 
(Featherweight— 4 Rounds)

  •    Jeremiah Milton 237 lbs vs. Dell Long 287.8 lbs
 
(Heavyweight— 4 Rounds)

•    Nico Ali Walsh 162.4 lbs vs.  Jeremiah Yeager 159 lbs
 
(Middleweight— 4 Rounds)

  •    Haven Brady Jr. 127.8 lbs vs.  Diuhl Olguin 127.4 lbs
 
(Featherweight— 6 Rounds)

  •    Dante Benjamin Jr. 172.6 lbs vs. Herman Rendon 175.8 lbs
 
(Light Heavyweight— 4 Rounds)

 

Event Name: Weigh-in — Conceição vs. Martinez
Date: Friday, January 28, 2022
Link to Images on Getty: CLICK HERE




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