Transcript (en)

to pay off as this fight progressed. Absolutely, but they told me I was down. I can't see the fight from the outside. From the inside, I felt like I was touching somebody. I was walking them down. And for a last-minute replacement, I felt like I had an amazing performance. But I was kind of trying to go upstairs for most of the second half of the fight. But my brother told me I was down. I didn't want to get out of here with an L tonight. So I just went upstairs and ended it. You've sparred with that man before. You've known him for a long time. Was he what you expected in the ring? Absolutely. He's a great opponent. You know, he doesn't like to make a lot of mistakes. He uses his reach well. So I knew it was going to be a great fight. I just had to take my time, per usual. Walk me through the finish of this fight in the 12th round. You just exploded out of the corner and went for it right as the round started. Absolutely. You know, successful title defense, alhamdulillah. You know, I got an appetite for smoke. So anybody that's willing to get in there, I'm willing to step in there and make it happen against them. And much respect to Abel. You know, I feel like he definitely got the skills to become a world champion, but I didn't feel like it was going to happen on my watch. You're a world champion. and there are two other belts out there, a vacant belt out there right now. What is that fight? What's the smoke that you want next? Anybody who want to come and get it, they can get it. And thank you, Cleveland. Thank you, Cleveland. I appreciate y'all. Mason Brothers box in time. Thank you, Toledo. We're coming out on top. Pull up to the top pop-up shop. West 9th. Yo, I want everybody. Y'all hear me out. Pull up to the pop-up shop. West 9th. This ain't clear. Mason Brothers box in time. Let me ask you right on the way out the door. You didn't just fight here in Cleveland. You put more than 9,000 fans here at the Wolstein Center in Cleveland. What did that mean to you? It means a lot. You know, I love Cleveland. They've been behind me all the way. I want to come and pack it out here or go to the Rockies.