(From Don King Productions press release)

Selected quotes from last night’s post-fight press conference following the Don King/Showtime card in Cleveland:

GUILLERMO JONES, after scoring a fourth-round TKO of Wayne Braithwaite to become an official challenger for the WBC cruiserweight title:

“A cramp developed in my foot in the second round so I did what I had to do. I felt like I had no choice but to let my hands fly and go for it………….I hit him with an uppercut, then a big right hand and finished him off with combinations. Now I want to be a world champion…….“I need to go and get a world a world title now. I want unified world champion Jean-Marc Mormeck or O’Neil Bell.”

WAYNE BRAITHWAITE, after suffering the devastating loss:

“I cannot believe that the referee stopped the fight. All I was doing was waiting to counter. Jones has no power. He never hurt me once. This was very disappointing. The most trouble I had was keeping my footing. The mat was very slippery. I hope I get a rematch. I know I deserve one.�

RAY AUSTIN, about opponent Owen Beck, whom he beat on a split decision to become the IBF’s #2 world contender:

“Beck didn’t hit that hard. He didn’t hit like a heavyweight. I did think he’d be easier to knock out. I hit him with some hard shots but he wouldn’t go down. Every punch I hit him I thought he would go down. His eyes rolled to the back of his head and he did a little boogie woogie when I hit him in the 11th round. I got him………I also want to give special thanks to heavyweight Samuel Peter for the great sparring sessions that prepared me for this fight.â€?

OWEN BECK, whose career appears to be derailed by Austin:

“I am really disappointed right now to come in as a favorite and lose a fight like this. I really don’t know what to say. I feel I deserved the decision tonight………….He was a dirty fighter. He fought a dirty fight. But I think I did enough to win.â€?

STEVE CUNNINGHAM, the undefeated cruiserweight who scored a unanimous decision over Kelvin Davis:

“I felt like I could have done more but I think I did enough to win. I came in here and did what we trained to do: jab, move and throw combinations off the jab. I rate my performance just a 7.5 out of 10 but a win is a win…….Davis was strong as nails. He [Davis] took this fight on short notice and gave me a great battle. I give him all the credit in the world for that.â€?

KELVIN DAVIS, who blamed injuries for the loss to Cunningham:

“My right hand is messed up and it’s been messed up for two months. I have bone chips and fragments in there that need to be cleaned out. Next time I hope I get more than seven days training in before my next fight…………..Even with all that, I think I won the fight tonight and I don’t understand the lopsided scoring by the judges.â€?

Former bantamweight champion TIM AUSTIN, who came back from a layoff of over two years to stop Reynaldo Hurtado:

“I felt strong even though I haven’t fought in two years and was moving up in weight from 118 pounds. My jab felt strong and crispy. I feel like I’m 24—not 34.�