Four of the top trainers in the sport, Freddie Roach, Robert Garcia, Ronnie Shields and Stephen Edwards met with media in Los Angeles to discuss their fighters’ respective showdowns this Saturday from Galen Center at USC and live on Showtime.

Photo: Stephanie Trapp/Showtime

Saturday’s event is headlined by featherweight world champion Jesus Cuellar defending against former three-division world champion Abner Mares with junior middleweight world champion Jermall Charlo and top-rated challenger Julian Williams.

Freddie Roach, Cuellar’s Trainer: “I’ve gotten to know Cuellar quite well and have spent a lot of time with him. I think he’s learned a lot and I think he’ll carry that into the fight with him. He’s prepared and he won’t go out there just trying to look for a knockout. He’s a good puncher and everybody thinks he’s looking for the KO, but I told him to just let it happen. If you force it, it will never happen.”

Photo: Stephanie Trapp/Showtime

Robert Garcia, Mares’ Trainer: “I don’t have the secret recipe. It’s just that I know Abner is in great shape and we’ve had a year to prepare for this fight. And I know Cuellar very well. I know how he thinks and that could be a plus. I think facing a guy I used to train can be an advantage for us…if Abner does everything that he needs to do, there’s no doubt he will walk out of there a world champion. But this is my first fight with him so I don’t know if during the fight he will forget all I told him, and do what he is used to doing. He’s picked up a lot of good things from me, so I think he’ll stick to the game plan.”

Photo: Stephanie Trapp/Showtime

Ronnie Shields, Charlo’s Trainer: “All I hear is Charlo is scared. Jermall isn’t scared to fight anyone. Why would a guy who is champion of the world be scared of fighting [Williams]?
On Charlo calling Williams an “undefeated nobody”
“That’s just Jermall [laughing]. All fighters are confident in their ability, and he just feels like he’s the better guy. And I’m glad he feels that way, because I don’t have to do anything extra to motivate him. He’s highly motivated, and ready to go.”

Photo: Stephanie Trapp/Showtime

Stephen Edwards, Williams’ Trainer: “We were ready for this fight, maybe a year and a half ago but unfortunately it took a bit longer than we thought to come into fruition. But he’s had a great camp…[Jermall’s] not better than Julian at anything. I’m not trying to concede anything. He doesn’t punch harder, he’s not faster and you all can quote me when I say he’s not better than him at nothing!”

Photo: Stephanie Trapp/Showtime