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The debut of the Main Events boxing series on NBC Sports is coming up quickly on January 21, headlined by a heavyweight bout between contender Eddie Chambers and former titlist Sergei Liakhovich, with scrappers Gabriel Rosado and Jesus Soto Karass in a 10-round junior middleweight co-feature.
Main Events put out a release with some quotes from some of the fighters featured on the card, who spoke about fighting in Philadelphia.
Eddie Chambers
"I'd really like to thank NBC for stepping up to the plate and trying to bring boxing back to what it used to be. I hate to disappoint NBC because they want competitive fights and all, but in my opinion this is not going to be a competitive fight. I got a lot of respect for Sergei; he's been a world champion; a really good fighter; but I think I'm a little more advanced than he is. I think I pose a lot of threats to him. I've watched some his tapes, and some of the things he's done. It doesn't hurt that I am probably in the best shape that I've ever been in. I think it's not going to be easy, but I think what I bring to the table is going to be too much for him to handle."
Kathy Duva, Main Events
"When the time comes to try to actually make the fights that everybody wants to see, you find out it's a lot harder than you thought it might be. As we went through the list, we found consistently that in the heavyweight division there were a lot more people willing to fight each other than anywhere else. And I think that that's a good thing."
"There's a lot of talk about how the heavyweight division isn't what it used to be. Well I'll tell you, in recent years the only opportunity for heavyweights was to wait their turn to go to Germany and get beat up by one of the Klitschkos. That does not make for becoming a better fighter, that does not cause anyone to learn or get better. What makes a great fighter is that they have to be in competitive fights, they have to learn as they go along."
"We were delighted when we were able to make arrangements with Eddie Chamber's promoter, Dan Goossen of Goossen Tutor to bring him to this show. He hasn't fought in Philadelphia in a very long time, so this is a bit of a homecoming for him. He is one of the top heavyweights in the world and he has agreed to fight another one of the top heavyweights in the world, Sergei Liakhovich. This is exactly the kind of match we were looking for. They both have a lot at stake, they are both going to come in and do their best, and they're both going to try to win."
Gabriel Rosado
"I am excited about this card. Soto Karass is a tough guy and I am excited to make a statement. I am going to show that I am a heavy hitter at 154. It's going to be one helluva fight. Soto Karass is gonna bring it. I'm ready for everything. I have a big following and they're all gonna come. I can't wait."
Ray Robinson (off-TV vs Doel Carrasquillo)
"This is going to be an action-packed fight. Anybody that knows me knows I bring the fight. I'm a great boxer. I've trained hard enough for anything. I'll make sure that it's going to be a great fight on January 21st because it is on my birthday!"