Jalil Major Hackett and Peter Dobson had to be separated when they came head-to-head before they fight for real in Philadelphia on Saturday.
After some light-hearted exchanges during today’s press conference, Hackett pushed Dobson away by the neck and Dobson tried to slap him with a right.
Until that point, the fighting talk had been colorful but hadn’t threatened to boil over.
Hackett said that New York’s Dobson was a clear loser to Conor Benn earlier in the year, but Dobson believed that Hackett had not stepped up his level of opposition and would be exposed at the Wells Fargo Center.
“I feel like my last opportunity, I fell short [against Benn],” said Dobson. “This one, I’m 100 per cent prepared for the victory. I came up the hard way fighting on club shows, so fighting on the big shows is what I’ve been preparing for since I started boxing.”
Then, taking aim at Washington DC’s Hackett specifically, “Pistol Pete” added: “It’s definitely too early…. I don’t know if it’s his team is money hungry or what it is, but they’re moving him way too fast. He’s not a [Vasiliy] Lomachenko, he’s not an Olympian or won gold medals or anything, so I don’t know why they believe he can jump to this level so fast.”
Dobson called 8-0 (7 KOs) welterweight Hackett a “social media boxer.”
Hackett shot back: “He got his ass whipped last time when he fought Conor Benn and it ain’t gonna be no different this time. He’s just a hyped-up journeyman.
“I haven’t been past four [rounds]. A lot of people [are] predicting six or seven but I can almost guarantee this won’t be the fight where I go the distance again.
“I’m gonna stop you,” Hackett added.
Australian Skye Nicholson, 10-0 and WBC featherweight champion, makes the first defense of her title against 19-1 Dyana Vargas, from the Dominican Republic, on the bill.
“She’s definitely a dangerous opponent. We’ve got a lot of respect for Dyana Vargas, but I’m so excited. I feel like I’m in a great position, I love that I’m being called out now instead of having to chase the fights and try and make these fights happen. They’re coming to me.”
Vargas said she was excited to be on the bill and added: “I think it’s the opportunity any fighter would love to have, to be able to fight for a world title, and I’m extremely well prepared for this. I’m ready to perform on this stage.”
In an interesting 175lbs clash, 8-0-1 (6 KOs) Khalil Coe meets 11-1 (9 KOs) Kwarme Ritter.
“I’m super-excited to be fighting out here in Philly,” said New Jersey’s Coe. “I’ve been training out here with Bozy and Boots for a while, I’ve known those guys for years. Saturday, I’m going in there to make another splash in the boxing game. Saturday I’m goin’ to make a statement. Those top 15 guys are gonna be watching… we’re gonna see them next.”
Looking relaxed and enjoying the moment, Ritter – who fights out of Baltimore – countered: “I’m ready. I’m feeling good. I know I got called up last minute for this opportunity but this is something that us fighters on this stage are very, very pleased about. This is the stage. He’s a great fighter, I’m eager to get in there and I love to test myself and make the best happen.”
Veteran Puerto Rican Christopher Diaz-Velez (24-4, 18 KOs) returns on the bill against Dylan Hernandez-Geraldo, who is 12-1-1 (10KOs) and he called out WBA super-featherweight champion Lamont Roach.
“I’m back for the big dogs,” said Diaz-Velez. “I’ve been tested at 126, 130, I fought Shakur [Stevenson], I fought Emanuel Navarrete, I want to come for the world title and the next on the page is Lamont Roach, I’m coming for you.”
Another Bozy Ennis-trained fighter, 22-1 (15 KOs) Christian Carto – from Philly – said he was excited to be on a major card alongside good fighters.
“I’m just ready,” he said. “I just want to keep winning, keep looking good and go on to the bigger fights.”
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