Brick City Boxing

Punch Fitness – Deerfield Beach, Fla. – Noon to 2:30 p.m.

DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla.—Boxing stars appearing in Don King’s Summer Sizzler on Saturday at BankAtlantic Center (SHOWTIME 9 p.m. ET/PT) laced up their gloves to participate in gym workouts for the media today at Punch Fitness.

IBF bantamweight champion Joseph King Kong Agbeko (meeting Vic “The Raging Bull” Darchinyan in the main event); IBF No. 4-ranked lightweight Anges “Baby Face” Adjaho (facing WBO No. 2-ranked lightweight Antonio DeMarco in the televised co-feature to determine the WBC’s mandatory challenger); and former IBF cruiserweight champion Steve “USS” Cunningham (meeting former WBC cruiserweight champion Wayne “Big Truck” Braithwaite in a non-televised IBF elimination bout to determine the mandatory challenger) were among the fighters answering questions and providing a glimpse into their ring training regimens.

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“Vic Darchinyan has talked a lot but I am still the champion and he is fighting for my belt,” Agbeko told the assembled reporters.

Anges Adjaho said losing to Tony DeMarco is not an option for him.

“I have prepared to fight like a great Mexican champion because I am fighting a Mexican. No backing up, no dancing, power to power, fighter to fighter,” Adjaho said.

Former IBF cruiserweight champion Steve “USS” Cunningham, whose last fight against Tomasz Adamek (a split-decision loss) on Dec. 11 was named one of the five best fights of 2008 by the prestigious Boxing Writers Association of America, talked about what he thinks his new trainer, Naazim Richardson, has brought to him.

“People are going to see an improved Steve Cunningham on Saturday, both physically and mentally,” Cunningham said.

Richardson thinks a lot of Cunningham as well.

“Steve is a heck of a human being that happens to know how to box,” Richardson said. “He’s good for the game.

“This kid Braithwaite that Steve is fighting is one of the most dangerous big men out there when he shows up with his A game.”

Tickets to the event, priced at $75, $40 and $25 and $10 (with a limited number of golden circle seats available at $200), can be purchased at all Ticketmaster outlets, charge by phone at (800) 745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com or BankAtlantic Center box office. The event is promoted by Don King Productions in association with BankAtlantic Center. Agbeko vs. Darchinyan and DeMarco vs. Adjaho are co-promoted with Gary Shaw Productions.

Full Quotes

Joseph King Kong Agbeko – “Vic Darchinyan has talked a lot but I am still the champion and he is fighting for my belt. I have never been more confident than I am for this fight. I prepared so well I believe I can beat him with any style he brings into the ring.

“The call him The Raging Bull. I call him The Raging Bullshitter.”

Anges Adjaho – “I feel great. I have prepared to fight like a great Mexican champion because I am fighting a Mexican. No backing up, no dancing, power to power, fighter to fighter. I must and will win this fight.”

Steve Cunningham – “It’s good to be going back into the ring with my new trainer Naazim Richardson. People are going to see an improved Steve Cunningham on Saturday, both physically and mentally.

“Big Truck [Wayne Braithwaite] is still a player, a former world champion, but my job is to make him look bad on Saturday.”

Naazim Richardson – “Steve is heck of a human being that happens to know how to box. He’s good for the game.

“This kid Braithwaite that Steve is fighting is one of the most dangerous big men out there when he shows up with his A game. It says a lot about Steve that he fights Tomasz Adamek and then comes right back to face a tough guy in Braithwaite.”