Abner Mares
"When we first came to the United States, like any immigrant, it was hard. With no money, my mom had no job. Seven kids living in a one, two-bedroom apartment. Eating out of trash cans. It was tough."
Daniel Ponce De Leon
"For the first 12 years, I lived in the mountains. There was no electricity, medical services, drinking water, none of that. I had five brothers who died, so I'm the only one that is here living. My mother planned many funerals. She would think I was going to die the next day, but then I would wake up with my eyes wide open. So I was always fighting death."
Abner Mares
"At the end of the day, all the struggles that I went through, it made me the man that I am today."
Daniel Ponce De Leon
"We have the same manager and promoter. I never thought this fight would happen."
Frank Espinoza
"I love these guys like they were both my sons. Abner is a boxer, mover, and Ponce is a straightfoward puncher with a devastating left hand. Out of respect for both fighters, this particular fight, I'll remain neutral."
Abner Mares
"Frank came to me and he said, what do you think of fighting him? My first reaction was, I know this guy. We used to train out of the same gym. Now I consider him a friend. Good guy. I know his family. But we both know, this is business."
Daniel Ponce De Leon
"We are friends. Now that we are in the ring, if we lose our friendship, it's in the name of sports. But for me, I'll always extend a hand of friendship to Abner."
Frank Espinoza
"I'm not thrilled to see both of my guys pounding on each other, but come fight night, it's gonna be a war."
Abner Mares
"It's funny how you dream about becoming a world champion. I've conquered that already, not once but twice. The goal of mine is to become a three-time world champion."
Daniel Ponce De Leon
"In history there's only been a couple fighters that have been undefeated, so sooner or later, he has to lose."
Abner Mares
"This is not a harder punch than, you know, life punches."
Daniel Ponce De Leon
"My desire was to live and I was always fighting for that, and I feel I have the power of my fallen brothers."
Abner Mares
"It's amazing, we had this talk, my mom and I, we came to this country without no language, with no money, and now headlining a big event, as I did my last fight. My mom broke down in tears, saying how proud she was of me. I can only say the same thing of my mom."