Plant-Resendiz, Charlo-LaManna Host LA Press Conference

The President of TGB Promotions, Tom Brown, opened the presser up after being introduced by the host, Ray Flores. Before getting into the fight card that features Caleb Plant vs. Armando Reséndiz and Jermall Charlo vs. Thomas LaManna, Brown couldn’t help himself to take a jab at this weekend’s fights, especially the one with Canelo Alvarez and William Scull.

“We all saw what happened this past weekend when Rolly wrecked some serious plans,” said Brown. “Canelo escaped barely in a terrible fight. Many people and many people in this room felt like he didn’t even deserve to win that night. You noticed, Crawford hasn’t done anything. He was smart enough to sit on the shelf and not blow it for that September date.”

It’s interesting that he would make that comment about Canelo, as the undisputed super middleweight champion is no longer fighting under Premier Boxing Champions/TGB Promotions. Would Brown have made that comment if Canelo were still doing business with them? Likely not, but that is the boxing business and just business in general, as we live in the times where “what have you done for me lately” is front and center.

Aside from that, another interesting note is that during the press conference, Charlo and Plant whispered some words to each other from behind the podium, as they may have been settling whatever their previous issues were, if any.

It has been almost two years since the incident at the T-Mobile Arena during the Terence Crawford vs. Errol Spence Jr. weigh-in ceremony. The video circulated on social media saw Plant and Charlo get into a disagreement with Plant slapping Charlo. Since then, there have been a bunch of social media jabs between the two former champions, but those quieted down after a few weeks. Now they are on the same card but in separate fights with the hope that they face each other later this year.

Here are the quotes from Wednesday’s press conference in Los Angeles:

CALEB PLANT

“May 31 is gonna be fireworks. It’s gonna be a great show with a great card. From top to bottom, it’s a stacked card.

“Me and my team have been working really hard to make sure we step on Armando in impressive fashion and get my hand raised. Then we’re gonna go on about our business. It’s gonna be a show and I’m gonna step on him.

“This is his big moment and I know he’s coming with everything he’s got. But there are levels to this, and I’m gonna show him that. I’m gonna handle him and go from there. Whatever he’s got planned, best of luck, because he’s gonna need it.

“I’ve always been hungry and I’ve always been driven. I’m a competitor and I’m a winner in life. Regardless of the money or fame, I don’t care about stuff like that. I care about getting my hand raised and seeing how many titles I can rack up. I wanna show my kids what hard work looks like.

“I feel like I am the man in the division. Obviously Canelo is still active and I have a lot of respect for him, but I still feel like I’m the best super middleweight in the world. That’s just my mentality. May 31 I take another step toward proving that.

“Depending who gets their hand raised in the co-main event, I can get it cracking with either one. I’m not hard to find and I’m not hard to make a fight with. A lot of fighters make the mistake of looking past their opponent and they end up not even winning the fight in front of them. I won’t make the same mistake.

“I’m not gonna expand on the sparring we had. He remembers and he knows what happened.”

ARMANDO RESENDIZ

“I’m very excited for this opportunity. I’m thrilled to represent my people on May 31. That means the world to me. I’m here to stay. I’m capable of everything inside the ring. I have what it takes to win and I promise May 31 is gonna be a great show.

“This is a big challenge, but I see it as a great opportunity. I’m going to lean on the work that I’ve done so far and you’re going to see me at my best.

“His talk just gives me fuel. I’m not a talker, I’m a doer. I’m gonna talk with my fists. May 31 is gonna mark a new chapter in my career.

“This is a very important fight for me. This isn’t just for me, it’s my family’s future on the line. My family is counting on me. I can’t let them down. I’m telling everyone right now that I’m gonna put on a show and it’s gonna be fireworks. I can’t let this opportunity pass me by.”

JERMALL CHARLO

“It’s been a journey and a long time coming. I’m going up to 168 to make a statement. I’ve been focused and locked in. I wanna get this fight out of the way and possibly get it on with Caleb Plant. I have big plans in the works, so keep it locked in. Lions Only.

“I just miss boxing period. I miss getting up and just focusing on boxing and I’m back to doing that at the highest level.

“The sky’s the limit for me at this weight. I’m sparring bigger guys and I can lift more now. I’m squatting more than I ever did and using my body more than I ever did. I feel like this is the division I’m gonna end my career in.

“You’re gonna see me go out and be more explosive than you’ve ever seen me before in my life.

“I’m gonna go do my job. I got bigger fights and bigger fish to fry. I’m not overlooking him. I know he’s training for Jermall Charlo. I know how they come at me. ‘Breadman’ Edwards is sitting right there, he’ll tell you that I stand up to the challenge every time.

“This guy LaManna is trying to Facetime me and write me on Instagram and all this stuff. Go train, I’m busy man.”

THOMAS LAMANNA

“I’m grateful to be here. Professionally and personally, I’m not supposed to be here. A win over Jermall Charlo changes my life. I’m glad he’s here and on May 31, we’re gonna rumble and the best man is gonna win.

“I’ve been in this same seat before and I came up short when I fought Erislandy Lara. I never want to go through that again. It messed me up. We all know what the task at hand is and we’re gonna give this my best shot. I’m gonna give it my all. We’re gonna upset the apple cart.

“He’s a two-division champion who’s been at the top level. I won’t take that away from him. We can talk about what we’re gonna do, but that’s why we fight the fights. Talking about sparring and training won’t win the fight.

“We’re gonna see what happens on May 31. I’m gonna shock the world. That’s what I’m coming to do.

“He’s put me on ice since the end of September. I just wanted to know what we’re doing. I wasn’t getting answers and I wanted answers. I’m not trying to play mind games. We don’t know each other. But now I know we’re fighting May 31 and that’s all that matters.”