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03/14/2007 Archived Entry: "Former Champ Jean-Marc Mormeck: "I will bring the title back to France""
Press Release: Former Champ Jean-Marc Mormeck: "I will bring the title back to France"
Fighter Quoted from final presser
LEVALLOIS-PERRET, France—The final press conference for Saturday’s rematch of a 2006 Fight of the Year candidate featuring World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association cruiserweight champion O’Neil “Supernova” Bell meeting former unified cruiserweight champion Jean-Marc Mormeck was held today at the Evergreen Laurel Hotel in Levallois-Perret, France, a suburb of Paris.
The officials for the sold-out match were also announced today.
The referee will be Massimo Barrovecchio from Italy.
The judges will be Hubert Minn from the United States; Guido Cavalleri from Italy; and Michael Hook from Sweden.
The WBA supervisor will be Sebastian Contursi from Argentina. The WBC co-supervisors are Edmund Lipinksi, from Russia, and Houcine Houichi, from Tunisia.
Please find quotes from the fighters and their handlers, below.
O’Neil Bell: Regarding the incident in Big Bear during his training: “You have a man here who wants to fight. A lot of what they said about the incident was fiction but I did take a hatchet to defend myself when I went running because I was out their in the wilderness with bears.
“My sparring partner was trying to disrupt me from whupping Mormeck’s ass.”
After some verbal barbs were exchanged between Bell and Mormeck, Bell turned towards Mormeck and said, “I beat you the first time. Why are you so confident? I haven’t fought in a year. I’m famished. What is so big that’s happened between the last fight and now that I’m going to see anything different from you, Mormeck? I’m ready to die for the cause on Saturday night. Are you?
The French press asked Bell if he is a dirty fighter. “What do you mean by dirty fighter? There’s a difference between accidentally hitting a guy in the back of the head because he turns when you’re throwing a punch and intentional fouls. I never intentionally foul.”
James Plenty (Bell’s longtime trainer): “We were able to adjust in the first fight and we can adjust to anything Mormeck brings on Saturday. We’re going to let O’Neil’s gloves do the talking.”
Jean-Marc Mormeck: “O’Neil Bell has not fought anyone since he fought me last year. Where have you been? You won all three titles and didn’t do anything with them. You never fought anyone until you fought me. O’Neil Bell only exists because of me, because he beat me last time.
“Bell will not finish the fight this time. I have improved greatly since the first fight. The two championship belts are coming back to France.”
Richie Giachetti (Mormeck’s new trainer): “We’ve got something for you on Saturday night, O’Neil, and it’s not just talk. Vive Le France! We will win.
“I saw Jean-Marc beat himself in the first fight. He made some mistakes and there were some low blows and elbows.
“We haven’t made any drastic adjustments in training. We have just focused on maximizing the considerable assets Jean-Marc possesses.”
