Final Words: Ortiz vs. Lopez!

The final press conference for one of the most oft-discussed fight cards of the year – “Ortiz vs. Lopez” taking place this Saturday, June 23 and televised live on SHOWTIME® (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) from STAPLES Center – took place Thursday before boxing media and fans, who turned out for the free-to-the-public event.

With much at stake, popular former World Champion Victor Ortiz (29-3-2, 22 KO’s), of Ventura, Calif., will take on former NABF Champion Josesito Lopez (29-4, 17 KO’s), of Riverside, Calif., for the vacant WBC Silver Welterweight Championship in Saturday’s 12-round main event on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING.

In a collision of world-rated super lightweights in the 12-round co-feature, former Three-Time World Champion Humberto “Zorrita” Soto (59-7-2, 34 KO’s), of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico, will be opposed by hard-hitting, top-rated contender Lucas Matthysse (30-2, 28 KO’s), of Trelew, Argentina, for the vacant WBC Continental Americas 140-pound title.

Preliminary fights will be televised live on SHOWTIME EXTREME at 7 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). The featured televised prelim will be unbeaten Jermell Charlo (17-0, 8 KOs), of Houston, Texas, against Denis Douglin (14-1, 8 KOs), of Marlboro, N.J., in a 10-round junior middleweight scrap.

Tickets priced at $250, $150, $100 and $50 are available online at www.staplescenter.com, www.ticketmaster.com, via Ticketmaster charge-by-phone lines at (800)745-3000 or at STAPLES Center box office. Fight live fight Saturday is at 2:30 p.m. PT. Doors at STAPLES Center open at 2 p.m.

Here are what the fighters and executives had to say Thursday from the press conference at STAPLES Center.

VICTOR ORTIZ

“Josesito, I take nothing from him. He’s a great fighter and I’ve been watching him as much as he’s been watching me. No disrespect on my end. We both plan to do one thing and that is to destroy each other. I will hold my hand up at the end. I’ve been working too hard. Tune in guys and thank you for checking out this fight. Get your beers and your chips and everything you need to get ready and come support us or check us out on SHOWTIME.”

JOSESITO LOPEZ

“I am prepared for this fight. I have a very, very tough man ahead of me and I’m going to have to fight the fight of my life, but this is what I’m used to. I have prepared really well for this moment. I’ve had a tough training camp and I’m ready to get in there. This is an anxious moment to get in there and prove myself.”

HUMBERTO SOTO

“I’m very happy to be here in Los Angeles. It’s like my second home. I’m very well prepared for this fight. We know the level of fighter that Matthysse is. It’s the level of fighter that I have been asking for. The winners are going to be the fans. On Saturday you’re going to see a great fight.”

LUCAS MATTHYSSE

“I’m very happy that Golden Boy invited me back. Soto is a very good fighter. We’re excited and we’re going to put on a great fight.”