Carlos Adames: ‘I Know the Fans Want Me to Fight Janibek Alimkhanuly’

LAS VEGAS – Carlos Adames admitted he is thrilled to be fighting among the Las Vegas stardust of the 100th championship boxing event at the famous venue.

Adames, the WBC 160-pound titleholder is 23-1 (18 KOs), and the Dominican Republic hero is making his first defense of his title.

He will meet former Olympian Terrell Gausha (24-3-1, 12 KOs), who is from Cleveland but fights out of Encino, California.

“It’s an honor to be here for MGM Grand’s 100th fight card,” said Adames.

Then, asked at today’s Grand Arrivals about whether the tough work starts now, having been upgraded to full champion only recently, Adames replied: “I think it’s going to be easier because I’ve always had the heart, hunger and conviction I can be [a titleholder] and I will be for a long time.”

Adames is incredibly popular in the Dominican Republic, and he said he is a man of the people there.

“I’m the people’s champion,” he said. “They know they have a responsible and eager champion in their hands, they know I want them to wave the flag and represent them.

“Let’s win this Saturday because we’re going to give the fans whet they want.

“I know what the fans want – they want me to fight Janibek [Alimkhanuly]. … It’s an honor to be part of the 100 championship fights and it’s going to be a spectacle.”

Adames also listed the other fighters on the bill, including Gervonta “Tank” Davis and Frank Martin and David Benavidez, who will fight Oleksandr Gvozdyk up at light heavyweight.

In the other corner, Gausha – wearing a pair of Scarface shorts and with a diamond pendant with TG sparking on it – said: “I feel great. I’m just ready. We had to work hard [in camp] because this is a big fight and I want to bring that belt back to the city of Cleveland.”