At the final press conference before the fight night, Efe Apochi was surprisingly talkative, both praising his opponent while also promising a brutal ending for him.
In contrast, his opponent Cheavon Clarke, an unbeaten cruiserweight, remained quiet. He prefers to let his fists do the talking.
The anticipated clash between Apochi and Clarke is set for Saturday night on the undercard of Diego Pacheco facing Maciej Sulecki. The event will be aired on DAZN from the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.
Apochi boasts a record of 12-2 with all wins coming by knockout, including a noteworthy victory over Deon Nicholson. However, his first defeat came in a split decision loss to Brandon Glanton in 2021, a fight that was hailed as one of the best that year.
Clarke, with a record of 9-0 (7 KOs), recently participated in the 2020/2021 Olympics as a heavyweight before transitioning to the cruiserweight division.
Apochi, a 36-year-old from Houston originally from Nigeria, expressed his excitement for the upcoming fight, claiming to be the most dangerous cruiserweight globally. He also took a jab at Clarke, emphasizing his own dominance in the ring.
Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing mentioned Apochi’s past victory over Jai Opetaia, now a renowned cruiserweight champion.
Despite previous losses in split decision fights, Apochi remains confident in his abilities, vowing to knock out Clarke and demonstrate his true potential in the ring.
After Apochi’s spirited words, Clarke responded succinctly, focusing on his actions in the ring rather than engaging in verbal sparring.
Clarke, with two recent knockout wins, maintains a composed demeanor, citing his track record of defeating formidable opponents.
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