LOS ANGELES (Feb. 20, 2017) – Tickets for two-division world champion and boxing pay-per-view king Canelo Álvarez (48-1-1, 34 KOs) and former WBC World Middleweight Champion
Julio César Chávez, Jr. (50-2-1, 32 KOs) go on sale today at 10:00 a.m. PT / 1:00 p.m. ET.
The 12-round clash will take place on Cinco de Mayo weekend, Saturday, May 6 at Las Vegas’ new T-Mobile Arena, located along The Las Vegas Strip between New York-New York and Monte Carlo. As one of the biggest boxing matches in Mexican history, the mega-fight features two of Mexico’s most popular and powerful fighters to determine who is Mexico’s greatest. The event will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

Tickets priced at $1,500, $1,250, $1000, $800, $600, $400, $300, $200, $125 and $75, not including applicable service charges and taxes, with a total ticket limit of 12 per person (a limit of 10 per person at the $1,500, $1,250, $1000, $800, $600, $400 price levels and a limit of two [2] per person at the $125 and $75 price level), go on sale Monday, February 20 at 10:00 a.m. PST/1:00 p.m. EST. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849). Tickets also will be available for purchase at www.t-mobilearena.com or www.axs.com.

Canelo vs. Chávez, Jr. is a 12-round fight presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Tecate, BORN BOLD, Adriana’s Insurance and Interjet. The event will take place Saturday, May 6 at T-Mobile Arena and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

For more information, visitwww.goldenboypromotions.com and www.hbo.com/boxing; follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing, @OscarDeLaHoya, @hboboxing; become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing and www.Facebook.com/HBOboxing; follow on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing, @HBOboxing and @OscarDeLaHoya; follow the conversation using #CaneloChavezJr.

Photos and videos are available to download by clicking here or copying and pasting the link http://bit.ly/Canelo-ChavezJr into a browser. Credit must be given to Golden Boy Promotions for photos and videos used.

LONDON (8 February) – To celebrate the launch of the ground-breaking deal between pioneering boxing channel BoxNation and BT Sport, the eagerly anticipated superfight between Mexican rivals Canelo Alvarez and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr will be shown live on both BoxNation and BT Sport on Saturday May 6th, as part of a bumper night of boxing that kicks off Saturday evening at the Copper Box Arena in London.

The landmark deal between BT Sport and BoxNation will see Frank Warren promote up to 20 premium live boxing events a year that will be screened on both BoxNation and BT Sport.

BoxNation customers can also look forward to a further ten domestic events per year exclusively live on the channel, plus an unrivalled amount of exclusive live international events from the very best Promoters around the globe.

On May 6th, BoxNation and BT Sport will air one of the biggest international fights of the year as Canelo and Chavez Jr finally meet in the ring following years of bad blood between the pair.

Taking place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, the showdown will rival the biggest fights in the history of Mexico’s proud boxing lineage, as pound-for-pound king and two-division world champion Canelo and former WBC middleweight world champion Chavez Jr go toe-to-toe in a 12-round battle, to be contested at a maximum 164.5 pounds.

In addition to this exciting match-up BoxNation customers can sit back and enjoy some quality live boxing over the coming months that will only be available on BoxNation. A bumper schedule with more to be added soon already includes Adrien Broner v Adrian Granados on February 18th and the mouth-watering dual between Danny Garcia and Keith Thurman on March 4th.

Residential BT Sport Pack customers can look forward to enjoying BoxNation, the UK’s first and only dedicated boxing channel, being made available to them from 1st March for free on the BT TV platform or the Sky digital satellite platform.

The Canelo-Chavez Jr match-up, however, is sure to generate huge interest as both men look to settle a long-standing score that will give the victor bragging rights throughout their home country of Mexico.

Canelo has taken the boxing world by storm since turning professional at the tender age of just 15, going on to become the world’s number one Super Welterweight boxer having run through a host of leading names in recent years including Miguel Cotto, Amir Khan and Liam Smith.

Chavez Jr, the son of Mexico’s greatest ever fighter Julio Cesar Chavez, is aware of what is on the line and will be looking to kick start his career following indiscipline away from the ring.

Both men are looking forward to producing an unforgettable night of boxing on May 6th, live on BoxNation and BT Sport.

“I’m excited to announce my fight against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr and confirm that I will be prepared, like I’ve been throughout my career, to give a great fight,” said two-division world champion Canelo.

“I want to remind you that when two Mexican fighters face-off, a spectacular show is guaranteed and I can assure you that May 6 will be no exception, especially during the Cinco de Mayo festivities.”

“Cinco de Mayo and Mexican Independence Day in September are important dates for us Mexicans, and I’m expecting a great night for boxing and the whole world,” Canelo added.

“I dedicate this fight to Mexico,” said Chavez Jr. “I’m going to win, but my country will too because this is the fight that boxing needs.”

Canelo’s last performance was his knockout of the previously undefeated WBO light-middleweight world champion Smith in front of more than 51,000 fans in Dallas, Texas last September.

Chavez was last in action in December when he secured a unanimous decision victory over highly regarded German fighter Dominik Britsch in Monterrey, Mexico.

George Warren, CEO of BoxNation, said: “We are delighted to announce that we have secured the live rights to the upcoming superfight between pound-for-pound star Canelo Alvarez and the ever-entertaining Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, that will be screened on BT Sport and BoxNation. This is an event and fight that will undoubtedly have fans on the edge-of-their-seats and we are very pleased to deliver it to our loyal BoxNation subscribers, and it is great to have BT Sport showcasing this great event too. BoxNation will continue to air exclusively live international and domestic fights on the channel, but partnering with BT Sport for this megafight not only ensures we are able to deliver the event to BoxNation customers but allows us to engage a new audience, growing boxing on BT Sport and in the UK as part of our wider agreement.”

For more information about BoxNation and how to watch Canelo vs Chavez Jr please visit boxnation.com or for BT Sport go to bt.com/sport.

– ENDS –

About BoxNation
BoxNation, the Channel of Champions and proud partner of Rainham Steel, is the UK’s first dedicated boxing channel. From £12* per month with no minimum term customers can enjoy great value live and exclusive fights, classic fight footage, magazine shows and interviews with current and former fighters.
Previous highlights have included Haye vs Chisora, Mayweather vs Maidana, Saunders vs Eubank Jr and Khan vs Canelo.
The channel is available on Sky (Ch.437), Freeview (Ch.255), Virgin (Ch.546), TalkTalk (Ch.415), online at watch.boxnation.com and via apps (ios, Android, Amazon, Apple TV). BoxNation is also available in high definition on Sky (Ch. 490), at no extra cost to Sky TV subscribers, providing they are already HD enabled.
Available on selected internet-connected Freeview products only, subject to coverage. Visit freeview.co.uk/availability.
BoxNation is also available to commercial premises (inc. pubs, clubs and casino’s) in the UK and Ireland, for more information on a commercial subscription please call 0844 842 7700.
For more information visit www.boxnation.com
*Plus £8 registration fee for Sky TV customers

LOS ANGELES (Feb. 3, 2017) – On Saturday, May 6, Las Vegas will play host to the kind of massive boxing event the city is known for when two-division world champion Canelo Álvarez (48-1-1, 34 KOs) squares off at the new T-Mobile Arena. In 2017’s first true mega fight, Alvarez will take on former WBC World Middleweight Champion Julio César Chávez, Jr. (50-2-1, 32 KOs) during the Cinco de Mayo weekend on Saturday, May 6. The event will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View.

Information on a press tour and tickets will be announced soon.

Nearly one year ago to the day before Canelo and Chávez, Jr. go head-to-head, Canelo celebrated T-Mobile Arena’s first boxing event with a thunderous knockout of Amir “King” Khan before a crowd of 16,540 in the brand new event center.

I love fighting in Las Vegas where the most important fights have historically been, and I’m very happy to be back at the T-Mobile Arena for this huge event on Cinco de Mayo weekend,” Canelo said. “I know that people from all over the world, America, obviously Mexico and everywhere else will attend to witness a great show.”

“I’m happy to return to Las Vegas where I’ve had many important battles in the ring. Las Vegas is the home of boxing,” Chávez, Jr. said.

Álvarez was last seen in September of 2016, knocking out the previously undefeated WBO junior middleweight champion Liam Smith in front of more than 51,000 fans in Dallas, Texas. Chávez, Jr. was last in action in December, when he won via unanimous decision over the highly regarded Dominik Britsch in Monterrey, Mexico.

“When my team and I talked about where to hold what will be the biggest fight of the first half of the year – we kept coming back to Las Vegas,” Golden Boy Promotions Chairman and CEO Oscar De La Hoya said. “The biggest fights of the last 30-plus years have taken place in Vegas, and it is a natural home for this enormous event.”

Canelo vs. Chávez, Jr. is a 12-round fight presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Tecate, BORN BOLD. The event will take place on Saturday, May 6 at T-Mobile Arena and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

For more information, visitwww.goldenboypromotions.com and www.hbo.com/boxing; follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing, @OscarDeLaHoya, @hboboxing; become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing and www.Facebook.com/HBOboxing; follow on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing, @HBOboxing and @OscarDeLaHoya; follow the conversation using #CaneloChavezJr.

By Bart Barry-

Friday brought what announcement boxing craves – a superfight! And here it is: May 6 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas Mexican cinnamonweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez will trade hands with Mexican chavezweight champion Julio “Son of the Legend” Chavez Jr. at the celebrityweight limit of 164 1/2 pounds. What we know of boxing contracts assures us even this loopiest of catchweights remains open to negotiation till opening bell – and without mandatory-minimum sentencing there’s good a chance of Chavez weighing over 200 pounds on May 5 as under 165 – and so as to ensure competitive bidding there are still threats of returning to the stadium where the Dallas Cowboys play, whatever it’s currently called, but if you’re a Mexican national booking his Cinco de Mayo vacation plans anywhere but Nevada, eres un payaso.

The obvious temptation is to go full misplaced aggression on this fight and use it as a convenient metaphor for what plagues our oncebeloved sport as if such metaphors composed a paucity, and of course for those GGG fans who long for a fight that justifies their ardor by legitimizing their guy last week’s announcement brought more ire – which says lots about the chances they honestly give a post-Pirog Daniel “Miracle Man” Jacobs, and the word ‘honestly’ must be emphasized because the promotional center of boxing is about to pretend Jacobs is a daunting foe, maybe even dangerous as David Lemieux – but Cinnamon versus Son of the Legend is an actually intriguing prizefight in spite of itself. It’s not what boxing needs, but who in the hell even knows what that is anymore? Boxing’s woes now need remedies prescribed in years, not fights, so it’s way outside the point to accuse any fight anylonger of not benefiting the sport that, were it not for certain broadcasters’ bespoke budgets, would soon find itself remanded to UFC undercards in the U.S.

This fight will sell hugely among Mexicans largely because it is so exclusively Mexican – it has nothing to do with WBC titles (though one gets giddy imagining what sanctioning ploys Consejo Mundial de Boxeo has planned) or official records or contrived gravity and legacy; it will feature two Mexicans who at least partially resent one another’s acclaim in the sense one man’s acclaim taxes the other’s revenue in the finite if inelastic Mexican boxing marketplace. From an aficionado’s perspective this fight made much more sense when this column prescribed it six years ago but from a promoter’s perspective it’s good a time as any.

Chavez ate himself hastily away from Canelo before HBO succeeded in making Canelo the draw he is now – HBO’s interest in Canelo began with the network’s stint as “an Oscar De La Hoya-search company that populates its undercards with Al Haymon-managed trial balloons” until Haymon bought Showtime and now HBO’s interest in Canelo is some combination of wanting exclusivity with the last guy in the sport who moves the pay-per-view needle and selfinterested altruism: without HBO as a partner Golden Boy Promotions probably wouldn’t see fiscal 2018 and then HBO would be stuck broadcasting solely Top Rank cards and every single product of the former Soviet Union’s amateur program.

Which brings us limping towards Son of the Legend whose career and life were shortened by his 2012 match with middleweight champion Sergio Martinez. Never a picture of discipline before Maravilla calmly, crisply, cooly diddled his cranium hundreds of times Chavez Jr. lost his remaining impetus thereafter and snuck through the next two years and two sizable paychecks beating on Brian Vera before changing his manager and promoter and advisor and getting bitchmade by a limited Pole named Andrzej Fonfara. Rumors of Chavez’s reform persist as ever, but making fights in El Paso and Monterrey as Chavez has done for the last two years has convinced no one Chavez is on the fruitful side of his career, and therefore the time is now for making a fight that proves nothing, but again, so what?

It’s no insight to say Golden Boy Promotions cannot afford to get Canelo beat; Cinnamon is nowhere near frightened of Gennady Golovkin as Oscar De La Hoya is since Canelo is not using his fortune to supplement more than a car collection and some houses while De La Hoya is using Canelo to subsidize a whole lot more. There’s no chance De La Hoya or HBO thinks Chavez can beat Canelo, but Chavez can beat Canelo, and Mexicans know this because whatever fuzziness Chavez’s lifestyle has brought his fighting trim the fact remains Chavez took Martinez to the quivering precipice of a knockout, and that Martinez was better in every way than Canelo.

The Maravilla whose career Chavez effectively razed in 90 seconds was creative and mobile and talented as any fighter Canelo has faced including the Floyd Mayweather who embarrassed him in 2013. And Chavez came a punch from snatching Martinez’s consciousness with nothing but size and will; he measured the physical disparity between a man who walks the earth at 210 pounds and starves to 160 and a man who had to eat his way up from 154 and invested in it by being hit relentlessly for 34 minutes simply for a chance to spend one minute whacking that smaller man with impunity.

Canelo is naturally larger than Martinez but not nearly large as Chavez, and if Canelo plans to stand in the pocket and counterpunch with Chavez he will get hit. No evidence has surfaced Canelo’s whiskers aren’t stiff but 36 minutes with Chavez should moisten them for Golovkin (unless Canelo can sue revenue projections for another year of PPV showcases), and therein lies the delicious irony of this money grab: In seeking one last enormous payday for Canelo before his reckoning with Golovkin the Cinnamon handlers ensure their man’s eventual middleweight-unification match will be a cashout.

Bart Barry can be reached via Twitter @bartbarry

LOS ANGELES (Jan. 13, 2017) – In a historic showdown that will rival the biggest fights in the history of Mexico’s proud boxing lineage, two-division world champion and Pay-Per-View star Canelo Álvarez (48-1-1, 34 KOs) will take on former WBC World Middleweight Champion Julio César Chávez, Jr. (50-2-1, 32 KOs) on Cinco de Mayo weekend, Saturday, May 6 in a 12-round battle to be contested at a maximum 164.5 pounds. The event will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View®.

Details regarding venue and an international press tour will be announced soon.

“I’m excited to announce my fight against Julio César Chávez, Jr. and confirm that I will be prepared, like I’ve been throughout my career, to give a great fight,” said two-division World Champion Canelo Álvarez. “I want to remind you that when two Mexican fighters face-off, a spectacular show is guaranteed, and I can assure you that May 6 will be no exception especially during the Cinco de Mayo festivities.”

“Cinco de Mayo and Mexican Independence Day in September are important dates for us Mexicans, and I’m expecting a great night for boxing and the whole world,” Canelo continued. “Don’t miss this special event live on HBO Pay-Per-View®. We’ll soon be announcing where the fight will be held.”

“I dedicate this fight to Mexico,” said Julio César Chávez, Jr. “I’m going to win, but my country will too because this is the fight that boxing needs.”

Álvarez was last seen in the ring Sept. 17, 2016, knocking out the previously undefeated WBO junior middleweight champion Liam Smith in front of more than 51,000 fans in Dallas, Texas. Chávez was last in action Dec. 10, 2016, when he secured a unanimous decision victory over highly regarded German fighter Dominik Britsch in Monterrey, Mexico.

“Boxing has been searching for a fight to draw the casual fan back to our sport, and Canelo versus Chávez, Jr. is just that fight,” said Oscar De La Hoya, CEO and Chairman of Golden Boy Promotions. “Canelo, the biggest star boxing, will take on not only a former world champion in Julio César Chávez, Jr., but the son of the biggest star in the history of boxing in Mexico. Add in 98 victories and 66 knockouts between these two superstars along with a Cinco de Mayo fight date, and you have a can’t-miss battle.”

“Canelo vs. Julio César Chávez, Jr. is one of the premier and most compelling matchups in boxing today,” said Tony Walker, Vice President of HBO Sports. “May 6 has all the makings of an extraordinary event as these two Mexican warriors will lay it all on the line to show who is the best on Cinco de Mayo weekend. It will be an evening that every fight fan will want to experience live on HBO Pay-Per-View®.”

Canelo vs. Chávez, Jr. is a 12-round fight presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Tecate, BORN BOLD. The event takes place on Saturday, May 6 and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

For more information, visitwww.goldenboypromotions.com andwww.hbo.com/boxing; follow on Twitter @Canelo, @jcchavezjr1, @GoldenBoyBoxing, @OscarDeLaHoya, @hboboxing; become a fan on Facebookby searching @SaulCaneloAlvarez, @JCChavezJr, @GoldenBoyBoxing, and follow on Instagram @Canelo, @JCChavezJr, @GoldenBoyBoxing and @OscarDeLaHoya; and follow the conversation using #CaneloChavezJr.

It’s a holiday treat for HBO Boxing fans. Over four consecutive nights in late December, HBO will present six of the year’s standout fights, spotlighting some of the biggest names in the sport. Featured are signature wins by Canelo Alvarez, Terence Crawford, Gennady Golovkin, Roman Gonzalez and Andre Ward plus a leading candidate for “Fight of the Year.”

Starting Tuesday, Dec. 27, HBO will replay six major league showdowns from this year sprinkled over four consecutive nights. All the fights will also be available on HBO ON DEMAND® as well as the HBO NOW and HBO GO® services.

The “Boxing’s Best” lineup includes:

Tuesday, December 27 Canelo Alvarez vs. Amir Khan &
11:00 p.m. ET/PT Sergey Kovalev vs. Andre Ward

Wednesday, December 28 Gennady Golovkin vs. Kell Brook &
11:30 p.m. ET/PT Terence Crawford vs. Viktor Postol

Thursday, December 29 Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez vs. Carlos Cuadras
11:00 p.m. ET/PT

Friday, December 30 Francisco Vargas vs. Orlando Salido
11:00 p.m. ET/PT

*Winners names are in italics, Vargas-Salido ended in a majority draw.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, there has been some talks about a possible fight between Mexican superstars Canelo Alvarez and Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. for a fight next May.

“We’re in talks, we’ve been talking for about a month,” Eric Gomez, president of Golden Boy Promotions, Alvarez’s promoter, said. “There’s interest on both sides.”

The biggest obstacle is the weight. If a deal is hammered out the weight would probably 164 or 165 pounds. Alvarez has never boxed above 155 pounds. Chavez has been 167½ or heavier for his past five fights dating to 2013.

“The catchweight is being negotiated,” Gomez said. “Canelo has a limit he wants, they have a limit Chavez wants, so it’s being negotiated.”

“It would be a good fight. The Mexican fans would really get behind it,” Gomez said. “It’s two really big names. We’re far apart, but we’re in talks. Hopefully, we can make it.”

He had some bad people in his life making bad decisions and giving him bad advice,” said Sean Gibbons, Chavez’s longtime matchmaker. “Julio was derailed from the path that he needed to be on. He’s back on the right path. He made weight comfortably for Britsch. He made the weight so easy. The contract was 169 but he said, ‘I’m coming in under to show that I’m back and serious.’ He proved to the people he’s serious and that he’s for real. The time is right and he can make the weight. The fight with Britsch was to prove to the public that he is ready for Canelo or (Gennady) Golovkin.”

LOS ANGELES (November 10, 2016) Canelo Alvarez’s famed world class trainer Eddy Reynoso and his company Clase y Talento and RingTV have entered into an exclusive partnership to bring fans premium boxing from Ciudad Valles, San Luis Potosi, Mexico.

11/12 promo video con Canelo Alvarez
11/12 promo video con Canelo Alvarez
The partnership kicks off this Saturday night, Nov. 12, at 6:00 p.m. PST with world championship boxing streamed live on RingTV.com. The first televised bout will be a lightweight match-up between Christian Gomez (8-2-0 3 KOs) and Randy Lozano (10-10-2 7 KOs) followed by Alexis “Laberinto” Salazar (8-2-0 3 KOs) against Juan Carlos Raygoza. The Main Event will feature the IBF Minimum-weight World Championship Title Bout between current titleholder Jose “Tecuala” Argumedo (18-3-1 10 KOs) from Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico and challenger Jose Jimenez (17-5-1 7 KOs) from Maguangue, Colombia.

This new partnership provides fans in Mexico and in the U.S. to watch the fights at RingTV.com in an ad-supported environment. For fans around the world, outside Mexico and the U.S., the fights will be offered on Pay-Per-View via the FITE App for $4.99. Golden Boy’s Media and Entertainment division will serve as the exclusive distributor of this International Championship fight card. The fights will be broadcast in Spanish.

“My team and I are very excited to be partnering with RingTV.com, the FITE App and Golden Boy Media and Entertainment in bringing these great fights to fans around the world,” said Eddy Reynoso. “The success of this initial venture will provide us with a road map into the future for new events in 2017.”

The goal of the partnership is to bring boxing fans the best fights from top promoters around the world. Both RingTV.com and the FITE App are new tools in the arsenal that provide boxing enthusiasts with access to these fights wherever they are and on the device of their choice.

Argumedo vs Jimenez promo spot

Argumedo vs Jimenez promo spot
“RingTV.com and Golden Boy approach this new venture as an opportunity deliver fans premium live sports programming on premium digital platforms across the globe,” said Oscar De La Hoya Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “We are ramping up our digital capabilities at break-neck speed at Ring Magazine and with Golden Boy Media and Entertainment in an effort to drive the sport of boxing to new heights by delivering access and visibility from fighters and promoters throughout the world.”

The deep history and boxing heritage Ring Magazine brings to its digital platform RingTV.com stands at the cornerstone of this new partnership, as both entities will contribute digital resources to marketing and promoting the event.

“Partnering with Eddy Reynoso on this new venture further escalates our digital distribution goals for Golden Boy Media and Entertainment as we have created a robust platform that allows boxing events to be distributed in a seamless manner to fans anywhere in the world,” said David Tetreault, EVP, Golden Boy Media and Entertainment.

Click here to read exclusive interview with Ring TV’s Doug Fischer of Eddy Reynoso

The Ring was founded in 1922 by Nat Fleischer. Originally located in New York City, the magazine relocated to Long Island, New York, in 1990, and then moved to suburban Pennsylvania in 1993. It is now based in Los Angeles. The Ring has had five owners throughout its history: Nat Fleischer and family, Dave DeBusschere and Nick Kladis, Stanley Weston, Nick Karabots, and now, Oscar De La Hoya.

For more information visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and www.ringtv.com follow on twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, and @ringmagazine and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing and www.facebook.com/RingTV, visit us on Instagram at @GoldenBoyBoxing and @ringtv.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, the September 17th Canelo Alvarez – Liam Smith Pay-Per-View card generated close to 300,000 buys.

“We’re going to wind up doing close to 300,000 homes, which is great when you combine that with almost 52,000 fans we had in the crowd,” Oscar De La Hoya said. “We’re very happy, extremely happy with the numbers.”

“Obviously, nobody had ever heard of Liam Smith, and when you have to try and sell a pay-per-view fight with somebody that nobody has ever heard of, you have a tough job ahead of you,” De La Hoya said. “We were able to attract the fans who love boxing, and they were treated to a special fight. When it was all said and done it was a terrific fight, a lot of action.”

“I’m sure when Canelo decides to fight at 160 next year there will be plenty of name fighters and opponents who will bring excitement and great fights and the fans will acknowledge that and, once again, he will do even bigger pay-per-view numbers,” De La Hoya said.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, Super Welterweight champion Canelo Alavrez does not need surgery on his injured right thumb.

“Canelo came up to Los Angeles [on Wednesday], and we took him to see the doctor, who took off the cast he had on from the doctor in Mexico,” Golden Boy president Eric Gomez told ESPN on Thursday. “The doctor did another MRI and came to the same conclusion as the doctor in Mexico, which is that Canelo doesn’t need surgery. He needs to rest the hand.

“He put another on and will take it off on Nov. 10, and then Canelo can start using the hand. If he has any more discomfort, he needs more rest. If he doesn’t feel any discomfort or pain, then he’s ready go.”

“He’s open to a fight in the first quarter, assuming there’s no discomfort with his hand, but we’ll have to play it by ear,” Gomez said. “We’ll have to make a determination if we want to do a fight then or if Canelo wants to rest it until fighting in May.”

Philadelphia, PA (October 5, 2016)–After his emphatic unanimous decision victory over Gabriel Rosado on September, 17th, it was widely understood in the boxing industry that middleweight contender Willie Monroe, Jr. would get an opportunity to face Canelo Alvarez in a bout this winter or next spring.

Now it seems, Canelo’s team, led by trainer Eddie Reynoso, have seemed to do a 180 degree turn, and they don’t want their prized fighter anywhere near the former world title challenger.

“I don’t think it’s Canelo himself, but it is his team. I know Canelo would fight me,” said Monroe. “I think it is trainers who fear that they can’t prepare Canelo for my style.”

Monroe points to pre-fight talk that came from Canelo’s side that the winner of the fight between Monroe & Rosado would be the front-runner to receive the fight with Alvarez.

“If he is a true man, they should stick to their word. The plan was for the winner of that fight to be able to fight Canelo. They thought Rosado would win, and he would just be a guy that would get pounded by Canelo.”

“If the shoe was on the other foot, and it was me who did not want to fight an aggressive fighter, I would look like a punk.”

“They keep putting me on the “B” side, and I just keep on winning. Remember Rosado was the guy who kept saying he was going to knock me out and talking a lot, calling me scared and a bum; I am not that type of guy. I don’t have nine gold chains around my neck or gold teeth in.”

Watch the fight with Rosado. I stood in the middle of the ring with my feet planted in. I was waiting for Rosado to come in, and after I hit him a few times, he looked scared and it was me pressing him.”

“All I want is the opportunity. Canelo got to where he is by fighting big names, so I feel I deserve this opportunity.”

By Norm Frauenheim

So who is the A-side now?

In a not-so-surprising report, Canelo Alvarez’ crown as the reigning pay-per-view king got knocked sideways, if not completely off his redhead, with news that the PPV audience for his victory over Liam Smith last Saturday is not expected to be bigger than 300,000.

The Los Angeles Times reported the news, citing sources who blamed the disappointing number on mounting frustration at Canelo, who has yet to agree to a fight with Gennady Golovkin.

Meanwhile, Golovkin’s victory on Sept. 10 over Kell Brook, a British welterweight fighting at middleweight, was a PPV success in the UK with a reported audience of 500,000.

The Canelo-Smith fight was promoted as a way to showcase Canelo at AT&T Stadium, the Dallas Cowboys home field, during a celebration of Mexican Independence. The live gate was considered a success.

In terms of leverage in potential negotiations for Canelo-Golovkin, however, the key is in the PPV numbers. Golovkin appeared to gain a significant edge at London’s sold-out O2 Arena against a fighter, Brook, better-known in the hot UK market than Smith.

Meanwhile, chances of Golovkin-Canelo appear to be as uncertain as ever. Canelo suffered a fractured thumb during his business-like stoppage of Smith in a junior-middleweight bout. That means he won’t fight in December, as has been planned.

His next appearance could be in early May as part of the annual Cinco de Mayo celebration, but it’s safe to say it won’t be against Golovkin. Even before the thumb injury, talk was that September, 2017 was the chance for Golovkin-Canelo.

Now, who knows? Meanwhile, there are reported talks for an intriguing fight between Golovkin and Danny Jacobs, possibly on Dec. 10 in a middleweight unification bout in New York.

It could be another opportunity for Golovkin to add further evidence that he is boxing’s A-side. Or is that the GGG-side?

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (September 20, 2016)–Middleweight contender Willie Monroe, Jr. won the WBO Inter-Continental title this past Saturday night with a solid 12-round unanimous decision over Gabriel Rosado.

The bout served as the co-feature to Canelo Alvarez’ 9th round stoppage over Liam Smith, where he captured the WBO junior middleweight title in front of 51,240 fans at AT&T Stadium.

Monroe boxed with precision and accuracy, befuddling Rosado throughout the contest as he continuously beat his opponent to the punch.

“Based on what he was saying at the press conference, I expected Gabe to try to knock me out,” said Monroe.

The Rochester native, Monroe mixed up his attack as he countered with his left hand and set up a lot of his offense with a piston-like jab.

“Once I got into my rhythm, I knew he would be two steps behind me, and that’s what happened. I started to notice that in the 3rd round that my jab was controlling the fight. Then he started reacting off a lot of my feints. He is a strong fighter, durable, and he has heavy hands.”

Monroe was generally pleased to be able to win this important bout in front of over 51,000 fans.

“That was pretty cool. It was a little nerving to be able to perform in front of that many screaming fans.”

With the win, plans are in motion for a fall showdown with Alvarez or a chance at the WBO Middleweight title.

“I am excited about what is next. Whether It is Canelo or Billy Joe Saunders, I am just excited about everything that will come in my future.”

“I am very proud of Willie,” stated Artie Pelullo, Banner Promotions President. “He showed how talented he is in fighting Gabriel Rosado. Rosado is not an easy guy to fight., and Willie dominated the pace of the entire fight. There are big fights in Willie’s future, as he is one of the top middleweights in the world.”

After taking x-rays and conducting a CT scan, the doctor found an avulsion fracture of the right thumb. Canelo does not need surgery and the prognosis is excellent.

Canelo’s hand will be immobilized for the next six weeks, and he will be unable to fight again in 2016.

This does nothing to Canelo’s plans to move up and take on the best in the middleweight division next year.

For more information visit us at www.goldenboypromotions.com, follow us on Twitter: @GoldenBoyBoxing, follow the conversation on Facebook www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, and visit us via Instagram on @GoldenBoyBoxing.

By Bart Barry-

NOT ARLINGTON, TEXAS – Saturday Mexican junior middleweight Saul “Canelo” Alvarez toed the line against former Commonwealth super welterweight titlist, former BBBofC British super welterweight titlist, former WBA Continental super welterweight titlist, former WBO Inter-Continental super welterweight titlist, and reigning and defending WBO World super welterweight titlist, Liam “Beefy” Smith. Canelo prevailed by ninth round knockout, nevertheless, a result that suffered nary a moment’s doubting since their contract was signed.

Canelo selected Beefy, softened Beefy, slipped Beefy and stabbed Beefy – in a spectacle ending with a left hook to the liver and resembling more nearly a bullfight than a competitive athletic contest between men. The bullfight metaphor holds as a way to impart what our sport’s championship matches have become in the Mayweather and post-Mayweather eras, because if Saturday’s attendance figure in the former Cowboys Stadium can be believed, the real problem most of us had with Mayweather fights were not their lopsidedness or handicapping but rather Mayweather’s ineptitude at the estocada – an ungrateful and graceless unwillingness to risk himself slightly enough to thrust his sword in a hopeless opponent.

We didn’t mind Mayweather’s taunting the dimwitted creature in a corral beforehand just as we didn’t mind Mayweather’s attention to securing his traje de luces just as we didn’t mind Mayweather’s picador jabs to soften the flailing beast just as we didn’t mind a festooned decoy like Joe Cortez on standby in case things got unexpectedly competitive, none of it, but we were deeply insulted by Money’s failure to square his shoulders to a dying creature and give us our catharsis by taking its consciousness. Not even a billion-dollar purse would buy Mayweather that ear.

Canelo conversely thrusts his sword with precision and aplomb, and in an era when competitiveness is not demanded by consumers the Mexican’s habit of closing fights imperatively rather than dully or via his opponent’s trainer makes him an exceptional draw, along with Mexicans’ extraordinary appetite for a sport that is now much less than they deserve. Less explicable is Brits’ passion for a sport in which their exports fare so poorly at the international level; where the Mexican retains a still-justifiable belief his country’s best fighter in a weightclass may well be the world’s best fighter in that weightclass it’s hard to imagine a British aficionado who believes likewise very often.

But still we get Khans and Brooks and Smiths and Murrays served to Canelo and Gennady Golovkin because of their reliable fanbase and predictable fighting styles; they are toros bred to lose valiantly, not gore. No banderillero is needed in these bullfights because no bull is eligible for import to a corrida till figurative spears decorate his nape – it is best if he is slow of foot and quick to bleed but if not his chin should be suspect, and if somehow he is both nimble and durable he’s put in the ring with a man much too large for him to render unconscious.

“Brook landed some great combinations in that round!” we say; “Smith really showed valor when all was lost!”

All was lost for Smith throughout but he absorbed a beating gamefully and soon was distracted by futility enough to mistake Canelo’s retreating as opening, and Beefy remained so confused through three rounds and two knockdowns he’d still be tripping the Mexican’s every trap as you read this had Canelo not put his middle knuckle on the button, that quarter-sized opening to the liver that resides between the right hipbone and lowest rib, in round 9. Smith crumpled as every man does when struck there, and Canelo had another knockout victory that in another era would corrupt his legacy more than burnish it. Or as Saturday’s commentary crew might put it: What combination punching! what red hair!

We cloak fated mismatches like Canelo-Beefy with lore to obfuscate what we know they are, recollecting for our friends that time the underdog did this or the favorite broke his hand doing that or statistics showing, historically, being a torero is a dangerous trade whatever the fraternity’s record against its opposition. Our matadors play along best they are able – taking a backwards step every other round or bleeding every third or fourth fight – but ultimately their contempt tells, contempt for their opponents’ weaponry, mostly, but also contempt for their promoters’ embellishments and contempt for fans who would reward them so longly for such short risk.

Then we tell ourselves Canelo and GGG deserve their riches because any man who steps through the ropes blah blah blah without mentioning how complicit we’ve become in the brutalization of these victims trotted to the ring for b-side paychecks. Perhaps it’s better Mayweather was so professionally opposed to risktaking schemes, then, doing enough to subdue and humiliate his toros but nothing so personal or sadistic as clipping their consciousnesses.

This whole ugly flesh trade was more honorable, frankly, when promoters matched two men of equal ratios of talent and size then bought judges’ favoritism; spectators at least enjoyed 36 minutes of competition before getting outraged at official scorecards. Today’s opposite of that: Imagine for a moment promoter Oscar De La Hoya feeling desperate enough about Liam Smith’s chances Saturday to waste money ensuring a decision victory for Canelo by bringing, say, Chuck Giampa out of retirement. At long last we’ve come to the clean sport Oscar promised us a decade ago.

Bart Barry can be reached via Twitter @bartbarry

Follow all the action as Liam Smith defends the WBA Jr. Middleweight title against Canelo Alvarez.  The action from AT&T Stadium kicks off at 9 PM ET / 6 PM PT with a 3 fight undercard that will start with super bantamweight’s Diego De La Hoya battling Luis Orlandito Del Valle; Joseph Diaz takes on Andrew Cancio in a featherweight bout and in the co-feature, Willie Monroe, Jr. battles Gabriel Rosado in a middleweight clash.

NO BROWSER REFRESH NEEDED…THE PAGE WILL UPDATE AUTOMATICALLY

Round 1: Hard right from Alvarez..Jab..Double jab..body shot..jab..

Round 2 Good right from Smith..2 jabs and hook from Alvarez..Hard right to body..Alvarez bleeding over his left eye..Left from Smith..

Round 3 Alvarez lands a body shot..Hard right..right to head..body shot..left right to body.Good left fro, Smith..right..Uppercut by Alvarez..Good uppercut from Smith..

Round 4 Smith cut above his left eye..Body shots from Alvarez..

Round 5 Smith lands a body punch…jab..double uppercut and body from Alvarez..good right from Smith..Hard right

Round 6  Good right from Smith..2 hard uppercuts from Alvarez..Body shot..Great right to the body

Round 7 RIGHT TO HEAD AND DOWN GOES SMITH..Big left hook from Alvarez..Smith lands a right..

Round 8 Counter right from Alvarez..Good left from Smith..HARD BODY SHOT AND DOWN GOES SMITH..

Round 9 Body shot from Alvarez..another good body shot..HUGE LEFT TO THE BODY AND DOWN GOES SMITH…HE IS HURT AND THE FIGHT IS STOPPED

Round 1 Right hook from Monroe..2 jabs…

116-112, 118-110, 117-111 WILLIE MONROE JR

Round 1: Diaz lands a left..Left at end of round

Round 2  Cancio lands a left hook…Right from Diaz..Good body shot..Solid left..

Round 3 Cancio bleeding from the nose..Trading uppercuts…1-2 from Cancio

Round 4 2 straight lefts from Diaz..

Round 5 Diaz lands a combination..Jab/straight left…Good right from Cancio..Straight left from Diaz..And another 1

Round 6 Good body shot from Diaz..Good left

Round 7 8 Punch combination from Diaz

Round 8 2 rights from Cancio..Combination..Combination from Diaz,,Good left hook from Cancio..Good left from Diaz..

Round 9 REF STOPS FIGHT…TKO WIN FOR JOSEPH DIAZ JR.

Round 1 De La Hoya lands a right..

Round 2  Del Valle lands a left and right to chin..Jab from De La Hoya..Jab ..Straight right from Del Valle..Good right..Let to body from De La Hoya..

Round 3 Good exchange..Right from Del Valle..Solid right from De La Hoya…Good body shot from Del Valle..

Round 4 Del Valle lands a right..De La Hoya lands a right ..Good body shot…Good exchange

Round 5 Exchange of rights’..Hard right from De La Hoya

Round 6 Left hook to body from De La Hoya..Good left hook to body…Good right..

Round 7 Del Valle has a mouse under his right eye

Round 8 De La Hoya lands a nice right

Round 9

Round 10 Nice jab from De La Hoya..

100-90, 99-91 twice for DIEGO DE LA HOYA

Canelo Alvarez won the WBO Junior Middleweight title with a 9th round stoppage over previously undefeated Liam Smith in front of 51, 240 fans at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Alvarez came out with a fast and vicious assault for which Smith was able to withstand.  Smith got in an occasional right and uppercut.  In round four, Smith was cut over his right eye.

In round seven, Alvarez landed a hard right to the head that sent Smith to the canvas for the first time in his career.  Smith went down again in the next round from a perfectly placed left to the body.  Alvarez finished things with another left to the body that not only dropped Smith, but curled his legs in the air undoubtedly due to a quick sharp pain from the show at the fight was stopped at 2:28.

Alvarez of Guadalajara, Mexico is 48-1-1 with 34 knockouts.  Smith of Liverpool, England is now 23-1-1.

Willie Monroe, Jr. won a 12-round unanimous decision over Gabriel Rosado in a middleweight bout.

Monroe won by scores of 118-110, 117-111 and 116-112 and is now 21-2.  Rosado is 23-10.

Joseph Diaz Jr. remained undefeated as he bloodied and battered Andrew Cancio for almost nine rounds en route to a technical knockout victory.

In round three, Cancio began to bleed from his nose after eating an uppercut.  From there it was all downhill for Cancio as he ate combination after combination and the blood streamed down his nose and all over the trunks of both fighters until the fight was stopped at 2:27  of round nine.

Diaz, 125 1/2 lbs of South El Monte, CA is 22-0 with 13 knockouts.  Cancio, 126 lbs of Blyth, CA is 17-4-2.

“This is a great victory, it will open up so many doors for me moving forward,” said Joseph Diaz, Jr. “I felt very comfortable today, I was the better puncher, I was faster and was able to cut the ring more efficiently.  I knew that Cancio was going to be a strong guy, I knew he was going to be tough and try to push me around, so I had to be the better fighter tonight. I was able to display my defense and my power.”

Diego De La Hoya remained undefeated with a 10-round unanimous decision over Luis Del Valle in super bantamweight bout.

De La Hoya, 121 3/4 lbs of Mexicali, MX won by scores of 100-90 and 99-91 twice  and is now 16-0.  Del Valle, 121 3/4 lbs of Bayamon PR is 22-3-0-1.

Former world title challenger Sadam Ali won a ten round unanimous decision over Saul Corral in a welterweight bout.

In round four, Ali dropped Corral with a right to the head.

Ali of Brooklyn, NY won by scores of 99-91 and 99-90 twice and is now 23-1. Corral is now 22-8.

“The plan was to get the knock out, but that didn’t happen with this victory,” said Sadam Ali. “My opponent definitely had a Mexican style to him, and I was not expecting the reach he had with his arms. I knew I hurt him in the exchange of blows in the fourth round, and other times throughout the fight. This is still the win I needed and worked hard for, and I know the next fight I am in will demonstrate my will power.”

Vergil Ortiz scored a first round stoppage over Ernesto Hernandez in a scheduled four-round super lightweight bout.

Ortiz is now 2-0. Hernandez is 1-4.

“I feel motivated with this win. Never in my dreams did I expect to be on such a stage so early in my career,” said Ortiz. “In the ring, I knew my opponent was hungry for redemption early because he kept trying to throw some overhand punches. But I kept tight and when I landed my double jab and straight right punch combination, I had a feeling that he wasn’t going to get back up. I am glad I have such a solid start to my career, and I’m looking forward to more massive fights.”

Hector Tanajara Jr won a four-round unanimous decision over Roy Garcia in a lightweight bout.

Scores were 40-36 on all cards for Garcia, 132 1/2 lbs of San Antonio, TX and is now 7-0. Garcia, 133 1/2 lbs of Alice, TX is 3-20-1.

“It’s an amazing feeling being able to fight in my home state – I could hear my family members cheering from the stands, and it’s a blessing that they were able to come out to my first Texas performance,” said Hector Tanajara, Jr. “I honestly thought I was going to be able to get the knock out, but my opponent wanted to brawl and he had a resistance in the ring that I didn’t expect. In the end, I got my victory, and back to the gym we go to begin training for the next one.”

Zachary Ochoa remained undefeated with a eight-round unanimous decision over Daniel Montoya in a junior welterweight bout.

Ochoa is now 16-0. Montoya is 11-5.

“It felt good to go all eight-rounds.” said Zachary Ochoa. “It’s a good experience for me, to make sure that all my training is working.  He was a tough guy, resilient, but I was in control the whole time. I knew my body shots were hurting him and I continued doing that to break him down. I knew going in it was going to be a tough fight, but we trained exactly for this, and we are ready to take on the next talented fighter.”

Alexis Salazar won a four round unanimous decision over Larry Smith in a super welterweight bout. The scores read 60-54 twice and 58-56 for Salazar who is now 8-3. Smith is 10-29-1.

“I felt good throughout the fight. I feel it was my technique that won this fight for me,” Alexis Salazar said. “My opponent was a tricky guy to fight and I thought it would be an easier night for me because of his loss streak on his record, but he made me work and I think it was a good experience.”

Anthony Yarde (8-0, 7KOs) scored a first round stoppage over Rayford Johnson in a scheduled four round light heavyweight bout.

Yarde of Great Britan is now 8-0 with seven knockouts. Johnson is 11-21.

Arlington, Texas (September 16 2016)–Middleweight contender Willie Monroe, Jr. weighed in at a ready 158.75 lbs this afternoon at AT&T Stadium, while his opponent Gabriel Rosado tipped the scales at 159.25 for Saturday night’s WBO Inter-Continental Middleweight title bout. The fight will serve as the co-feature bout to the Canelo Alvarez – Liam Smith WBO Junior Middleweight title bout from AT&T Stadium and televised live on HBO Pay-Per-View.

After a tense stare-down, Rosado shoved Monroe, to which Monroe simply smiled at the Philadelphia native.

Below are quotes from the two fighters:

Willie Monroe, Jr.
(On the shove) “Let him do what he does. We have twelve rounds or less to see what he can do. We are going to see what happens.”

“It’s never personal for me, it’s always business. I do this for the fans. I am part Cubano, so I have that Latino blood.”

Gabriel Rosado
He was talking some smack, so I will just take care of it. Like a true Latino fighter, I am coming to fight. He is running. He don’t want a war, but that’s what it is going to be on Saturday.”

(On the impact of his trainer, Fernando Vargas) “Me and Fernando Vargas are cut from the same cloth. We come to bring it. We come to bring the pain. That’s what it’s going to be on Saturday.”

New York, NY (9/15/16) – Since turning pro in July 2014, former Ukrainian amateur standout Sergiy Derevyanchenko (9-0, 7KO’s) (32-1 including the World Series of Boxing) has let his fists do the talking for him in the ring, as he has climbed the rankings of the middleweight division at a blistering pace. Already rated #2 in the IBF world ratings, Derevyanchenko has looked absolutely sensational with each passing performance and is honing in on the opportunity to fight for his first world title. Upon hearing recent reports that the winner of the Gabriel Rosado-Willie Monroe Jr. bout this Saturday on the undercard of Canelo Alvarez’s world title match against Liam Smith, the usually quiet and well-mannered Derevyanchenko couldn’t help but voice his disgust with Canelo.

“It’s absolutely ridiculous. There is no other way to describe it,” said Derevyanchenko. “If you count the loss against J’Leon Love, Rosado is 2-5 in his last seven fights and has been stopped twice in that time. He has nine losses on his record in total. Monroe was absolutely dismantled by Golovkin and has a loss to Darnell Boone. With all due respect to Rosado and Monroe, I would beat them both on the same night. They could have a tag team match against me alternating rounds and it wouldn’t matter. If these are the fighters that you want to face, you should be ashamed to call yourself middleweight champion!”

Derevyanchenko had an astounding amateur career, which saw him compile a 390-20 record, as well as represent his native Ukraine at the 2008 Olympics and win a bronze medal at the 2007 Amateur World Championships. Derevyanchenko also competed in the World Series of Boxing, where he posted a 23-1 overall record and was the 2012 WSB Team Champion and 2011 and 2012 WSB Individual Champion. Derevyanchenko earned the number two ranking in the IBF in his last bout, when he obliterated former middleweight champion Sam Soliman, dropping him once in the first and twice more in the second before the referee mercifully called a halt to the contest. No other fighter had ever dominated Soliman in his career in such easy fashion, and it was only the second time he had ever been stopped.

Canelo’s next bout is tentatively scheduled for December 10, and Golden Boy Promotions, Canelo’s promoter, has said that they would like the fight to take place in New York. Derevyanchenko, who lives and trains in Brooklyn, would love the opportunity to take on the Mexican superstar in his adopted home of New York City.

“I would love to welcome Canelo here in New York, in his NYC debut. This is my adopted home and with his fan base and mine, it would make for a tremendous atmosphere,” stated Derevyanchenko.

Of course, the one fight that the boxing world wants to see is Canelo against GGG. Canelo has made it clear that that fight is not happening next. To this point, Canelo, like so many other middleweights, has done everything to avoid the fight with GGG, frustrating boxing insiders and fans alike. Derevyanchenko, though, is one fighter who is looking forward to and anticipating fighting the middleweight kingpin in the future.

“I would love the fight against GGG in the future. I have known GGG since his amateur days. He is a tremendous fighter and a world champion. Right now, he is the best that there is in the middleweight division, and that’s the crown I am aiming for. To be the best in this division, you have to beat him. I am number two in the IBF right now and GGG has that belt. I anticipate that I will be challenging for that belt in the not-so-distant future, and it would be an honor to share the ring with such a terrific fighter. Beating GGG makes me a superstar, and that’s what I am striving for.”

LONDON (16 September) – World champion Liam Smith believes he is being overlooked in his superfight with Canelo Alvarez and has vowed to cause a huge upset.

The Merseyside light-middleweight puts his WBO title on the line this Saturday night, exclusively live on BoxNation, as he battles the Mexican superstar at the 80,000 seater AT&T Stadium in Texas, home of the Dallas Cowboys.

The undefeated Smith, however, feels that he is being unfairly written off and has promised to cause a major surprise by beating the heavy favourite Canelo and is even preparing to rematch him as a result.

“I’m coming to fight Canelo, and you’re going to be in for a massive shock. This fight is me making a name for myself the world over and establishing myself to the world of boxing and not just for British fight fans,” said Smith.

“My mind is just set on Canelo. And when I beat Canelo, my next fight will be Canelo again, because I know they will throw everything back. They overlooked me, and I know after September 17, the excuses are going to come.

“I know they’re going to do what they can to get the rematch again. So my mind will be focused on Canelo, and it will be on Canelo again because I can see what’s going to happen,” he said.

28-year-old Smith will be fighting Stateside for the first time and is going in against fan-favourite Canelo, who has lost just once, that being against pound-for-pound legend Floyd Mayweather in 2013.

The British fighter knows he will enter the ring with the odds stacked against him but has asked for a fair shake should the fight go to the scorecards.

“I know on paper I’m the B-side of this fight. Canelo’s the big name. It’s always Canelo, and it’s Mexican Independence Day, so I know that. But I’m the champion, and just looking back on that, that is one reason why I hope they’ll respect that I’m champion and be fair,” Smith said.

“If I win the fight, then make sure I get the decision. Give me the respect I deserve. I am the champion, even though I am the B-side in the fight.

“I’m not in a situation where I have nothing to lose in this fight. I’ve got a title to lose. So I’ve taken this fight because it’s an opportunity to make a name for myself and establish myself as one of the best fighters pound-for-pound in the world,” he stated.

Both fighters have an attractive style that is set to make for an explosive affair, with Smith believing that Canelo’s way of fighting is perfect for his approach in the ring.

“This is the fight that if I could pick a style of a fighter, it would be similar to Canelo’s style. I always wanted a Canelo fight, a Cotto fight. A style like that is what I prefer to fight. This fight can only be a great fight. There’s no way the styles will make a bad fight,” he said.

“They gel well, and this is a fight, again, you’re going to see me smile in. Because I smile even when it’s not going my way. I’m not going to not smile because I’m not winning. I’ll smile because I enjoy every minute of this fight.

“Canelo and this fight is right up my street stylewise,” Smith said.

Tonight’s weigh-in ahead of the fight this weekend will be live free-to-air on Sky Channel 437 from 8pm.

Canelo v Smith is exclusively live on BoxNation (Sky/Freeview/Virgin/TalkTalk/Online & App) this Saturday night. Buy now at boxnation.com.

– ENDS –
About BoxNation

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From £12* per month with no minimum term customers can enjoy great value live and exclusive fights, classic fight footage, magazine shows and interviews with current and former fighters.

Previous highlights have included Haye vs Chisora, Mayweather vs Maidana, Saunders vs Eubank Jr and Khan vs Canelo.

The channel is available on Sky (Ch.437), Freeview (Ch.255), Virgin (Ch.546), TalkTalk (Ch.415), online at watch.boxnation.com and via apps (ios, Android, Amazon). BoxNation is also available in high definition on Sky (Ch. 490), at no extra cost to Sky TV subscribers, providing they are already HD enabled.

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By Norm Frauenheim-

In the political season, Gennady Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez are acting a lot like candidates.

Maybe, that’s because they have been campaigning longer than Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump for a fight presumably sometime after somebody finally moves into the White House next January.

The Golovkin campaign stopped in London last Saturday with a predictable stoppage over welterweight-turned-middleweight Kell Brook in a bout surprising only because of marks left on GGG’s usually unmarked face.

A week later, this Saturday, Canelo takes his turn in the bully pulpit against unbeaten, yet little-known UK junior-middleweight Liam Smith in a ring on top of the Dallas Cowboys home field at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Tex., in a pay-per-view bout (HBO 9 pm ET/6 pm PT).

For those reading the tea leaves – and that’s just about everybody, the bruises represent early signs of vulnerability in GGG. Then again, they also might only mean the feared middleweight champion can take a punch.

Safe to say, the 26-year-old Canelo and his partisans connected the abrasions and welts like dots in a progression that perhaps confirms what they’ve been doing all along. Time has begun to do what no punch ever could to a younger GGG. It’s inevitable. It’s also business.

Next year –say in May during the annual Cinco de Mayo celebration, Golovkin will be 35, late enough in his prime to attack early signs that had not been evident until Brook’s punches landed. Of course, a potential symptom might also be nothing more than a pimple.

Nevertheless, there’s good news in talk from Dallas that Canelo and his corner are finally beginning to see a chance at beating GGG.

It’s never been about the weight, although Canelo’s corner continues to insist he’s really a 154-pound fighter, still growing into a true middleweight.

Yet, he declined to step on a scale for HBO in his dressing room just before his crushing stoppage of ex-junior-welterweight Amir Khan last May for the WBC’s 160-pound title, which he subsequently relinquished amid mounting criticism from frustrated fans who only want to see him against GGG.

The guess here is that Canelo didn’t want any of those fans to know that he is in fact a true middleweight already and perhaps a division or two heavier.

Time is the only scale that really matters here. As long as Canelo stays at 154, Golovkin gets a little older and maybe a lot more vulnerable to big punches from a fighter entering his prime just as GGG is exiting his own.

Toronto – Fight Network, the world’s premier 24/7 multi-platform channel dedicated to complete coverage of combat sports, presents an action-packed weekend of live combat sports action, including the live prelims for UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: POIRIER vs. JOHNSON on Saturday, Sept. 17 at 8 p.m. ET, a live broadcast of LEGACY FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP 59 on Friday, Sept. 16 at 10 p.m. ET, plus live coverage ahead of Saturday’s showdown between Canelo Alvarez and Liam Smith.

Fight Network will air the live UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: POIRIER vs. JOHNSON prelims across Canada. In featured bouts from Hidalgo, Texas, Mexico’s Gabriel Benitez (18-6) battles American power puncher Sam Sicilia (15-6) at 145 pounds, Mexico’s Augusto Montano (15-2) meets Chicago’s Belal Muhammad (9-1) in a welterweight contest, Brazilian middleweight compatriots will clash when Antonio Carlos Junior (6-2, 1NC) faces Leonardo Augusto Leleco (11-2, 1NC), and Mexican bantamweight Jose Quinonez (5-2) throws down with the “KO King” Joey Gomez (6-1).

Friday’s presentation of LEGACY FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP 59 will air live on Fight Network in Canada and globally in over 30 countries across Europe, Africa and the Middle East. In the middleweight main event, Trevin Giles (7-0) puts his perfect record on the line against Ike Villanueva (11-7). Meanwhile, Ray Blodgett (10-3) takes on undefeated Jason Langellier (4-0) in a lightweight bout, featherweight Alex Black (10-4) welcomes Japan’s Takayuki Ijima (6-6) to American soil, once-beaten bantamweight Domingo Pilarte (5-1) collides with Cody Williams (10-6), plus heavyweight sluggers Orlando Coulter (6-1) and Jeremy Hardy (4-2) will cross paths. A pair of bantamweight bouts round out the card as Colin Wright (5-2) meets Adrian Yanez (4-1), while Randy McCullough (3-0) looks to extend his perfect mark against Mike Trinh (4-3).

Ahead of Saturday’s live UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: POIRIER vs. JOHNSON prelims, Fight Network presents the live weigh-ins on Friday, Sept. 16 at 5 p.m. ET, preceded by the live weigh-ins for Canelo Alvarez vs. Liam Smith at 3:30 p.m. ET. Fight News Now will also feature exclusive one-on-one interviews ahead of Saturday’s HBO pay-per-view event.

ARLINGTON, TX (Sept. 15, 2016) – Canelo Alvarez (47-1-1, 33 KOs) and Liam “Beefy” Smith (23-0-1, 13 KOs) held their final press conference, today at the great AT&T Stadium, ahead of their highly anticipated showdown that will be aired live on Saturday, September 17, presented by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 6:00 p.m. PT/9:00 p.m. ET. The fighting stars were joined by Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, Oscar De La Hoya, Future Hall of Famer and Golden Boy Promotions Partner, Bernard Hopkins, Dallas Cowboys Owner, President and General Manager Jerry Jones, Director of HBO Sports Tony Walker, and the full pay-per-view undercard.

Below is what the fighters had to say at today’s press conference.

OSCAR DE LA HOYA, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions

“This Saturday night-over Mexican Independence weekend-former two-division world champion, Canelo Alvarez will look to reclaim the holiday for all Hispanics fight fans. Many boxing legends such as Julio Cesar Chavez himself have fought over Mexican Independence weekend, which has been a time for all boxing fans to gather with their friends and family and enjoy a great night.

“We are overjoyed to be bringing this fight to all of Canelo’s many fans here in Texas to one of the biggest and most iconic sporting stadiums in the nation-AT&T Stadium, home to America’s team, the Dallas Cowboys. They say everything is bigger in Texas, and this certainly couldn’t be truer with this venue for Canelo vs. Smith.
“For this particular fight, the stakes are high and everything is on the line for both Canelo Alvarez and Liam Smith, as these fighters seek to establish themselves as the true WBO Junior Middleweight Champion of the world.

“Tickets are still available for purchase and sales have been through the roof, we are already close to 40,000 have been outpacing Manny Pacquaio’s last two fights held at AT&T Stadium, but luckily there are still some available for the Saturday night showdown. So get them while you can by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000, or visiting www.ticketmaster.com. Additionally, walk up purchases are available at the AT&T Stadium Box Office.”

JERRY JONES, Dallas Cowboys Owner, President and General Manager:

“I dreamed I was going to spend my days around men and women that could or would be world champions. Men and women who were willing to lay on it all on the line, athletically. I wanted to rub elbows with the top. Oscar the fact that I get to stand with you, have your fighters stand in this stadium chief combatants: Canelo Alvarez and Liam Smith, has been a fulfillment on that dream.

“We had Oscar talk to the Dallas Cowboys, and he mentioned that ‘There’s a champion in each of you. You’ll find out when you get ready.’ When I think about the legacy and how you’re moving, you really encourage a whole team; that is not only because of this particular fight, but you really are a leader in this.

“The biggest source of pride for me and one of the our largest dependencies are on the Latino fans. The Cowboys depend on them, and they love boxing, so the cowboys love boxing. Saturday night, will be one of the best-selling boxing events for this stadium and we are all looking forward to an exciting night.”

CANELO ALVAREZ, Former Two-Division World Champion:

“Thank everyone for coming and supporting this great event.

“We know how dangerous and difficult Liam Smith will be. We have not taken him lightly and we know he will come to fight on Saturday.

“But that will make a great night of boxing for Mexicans and boxing fans all over. Hopefully by the end of it, I will have my hand in the air screaming Viva Mexico!”

EDDY REYNOSO, Head Trainer of Canelo Alvarez:

“Thank you to all of you who are involved in this great event. There is nothing left to say, we’ve had a great camp, and thanks again for all the help and support.”

JOSE “CHEPO” REYNOSO, Manager and Trainer of Canelo Alvarez:

“Thank everyone for coming and attending this great show. We are coming off a tremendous 10 week training camp.

“We have great goals and one is to break the attendance record in a boxing match here at this great stadium.

“This is another opportunity to become a world champion, another opportunity to continue to make history.

“We can’t wait to hear all the people yell at the end of this fight Viva Mexico and Viva Canelo Alvarez!”

LIAM “BEEFY” SMITH, WBO Junior Middleweight World Champion:

“Thank everyone, team Canelo and my team for this opportunity. We are very calm about entering this fight.

“Canelo is an elite fighter and this is my chance to go up in the ladder.

“I look forward to Saturday and the show we are going to put on for all the fans.”

FRANK WARREN, President of Box Nation and Promoter of Liam Smith:

“Thank Oscar, Eric, and Robert. Thank you Jerry Jones for the stadium and to the

“Liam is a great fighter, a come forward fighter, he has the style of Mexican brawlers something we call in Liverpool a Scousce fighter. This is a great battle, potentially ‘Fight of the Year.’

“You guys are going to be great fans of him. He is coming in as a lion, an undefeated fighter on an eight-fight knock out streak.”

JOE GALLAGHER, 2015 Ring Magazine Trainer of the Year and trainer of Liam Smith:

“This is going to be a great fight, he’s a superstar.

“We know that Saul wants to be a world champion, but Liam is ready to stay that way.”

“KING” GABE ROSADO, Former World Title Challenger:

“I want to thank god for this opportunity, without him noting would be possible and I want to thank Golden Boy Promotions. I wasn’t spoon fed coming up, but this is a new and approved Gabriel Rosado.

“Vargas and I work well together, he lit up the fighter in me. I know this is a fight, but this is also entertainment. I’m going to bring a knock out on the 17th.”

WILLIE “EL MONGOOSE” MONROE, JR. Former World Title Challenger:

“I come from nothing and I want to thank my team and my brother for everything.

“We worked hard for these opportunities, we gave gone from fighting out of the garage and living off of food stamps and now we are on the big stage. This is one of the biggest stage and I want to thank you all for your support today.”

JOSEPH “JOJO” DIAZ JR, NABF Featherweight Champion:

“I want to thank Golden Boy Promotions, Jerry Jones, HBO, Adriana’s Insurance and my team for this great opportunity.

“This is the biggest stage in my career, thus far, and I promise all my fans to expect the best from me. I will put on a great fight and show all the fans who Jose Diaz, Jr. is! See you all in two days.”

ANDREW “EL CHANGO” CANCIO, Featherweight Contender:

“Stylistically, it’s a great match up. I am well prepared and I’m thankful for this fight. I am excited to brawl and to showcase myself in front of all the fans at this great stadium.”

DIEGO DE LA HOYA, WBC Youth Super Bantamweight Champion:

“I am very excited for this opportunity and I am very thankful to Golden Boy Promotions.

“This fight is going to open many doors for me and I can’t wait to give everyone a good show.”

ORLANDO ‘ORLANDITO’ DEL VALLE, Super Welterweight Contender:

“I guarantee you fireworks on Saturday, September 17. I want to thank all my sponsors and my team for this great opportunity.

“The Puerto Rico vs. Mexico, rivalry always grantees action, and Fireworks on fight night.

“I know the odds are crazy against me, but encourage you all to bet on me, because I am going to win on Saturday night.”

ARTHUR R. PELULO, President of Banner Promotions:

“Most great fighters enter the ring knowing they’re going to be great fighters and that is who Willie Monroe, Jr. is. He is a very entertaining fighter, a young man who I know as family.

“I know he will be giving all boxing fans a great show this Saturday.

“Eight months ago I was in Manchester, my guy was fighting Liam Smith, challenging him for the vacant title. I figured I was going to win, I was told we are going to win, but my guy was knocked out in the fifth round. And let me tell you, Liam is the real deal. I have been promoting for 30 years, and I have no skin in this, but Liam Smith just keeps coming, he is the real deal. I am not promoting the fight, Oscar is, but Liam Smith took the victory that night and I know he is an intense fighter. Fans will be in for a great fight.”

FERNANDO VARGAS, Former World Champion and Trainer to Gabriel Rosado

“We are excited, ready, Gabriel is a great listener. Starting at 18 and being where he is and his boxuing IQ has improved.

“We’ve worked hard and are ready.”

TONY WALKER, Director of HBO Sports:

“On behalf of Peter Nelson and the staff at HBO, it’s an honor to be a part of so many premiere organizations and to be able to open up this grand palace.

“Thank you Liam and Canelo for taking this challenge and reach in to fans on this great weekend of boxing.”

GREG ALVAREZ, Combative Sports Manager of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation

“There’s a lot of work that goes into these fights, to make them all happen. Watch these guys back here, they are great fighters and this is going to be a great event. Let’s buy more tickets and create bigger and better fights.”

Canelo vs. Smith, a 12-round fight for the WBO Junior Middleweight World Championship, is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Frank Warren and Canelo Promotions. Gabriel Rosado vs. Willie Monroe, Jr. is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Banner Promotions and Diego De La Hoya vs. Luis Orlando Del Valle is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Roc Nation Sports. The event is sponsored by “Tecate, BORN BOLD,” O’Reilly Auto Parts, “Hennessy. Never Stop. Never Settle,” “Adriana’s Insurance, El seguro que necesitas Al precio que quieres pagar,” “AT&T, mobilizing your world,” and Casa Mexico Tequila and will take place on Saturday, September 17 at AT&T Stadium. Doors open at 2:00 p.m. CT, first fight and the RingTvLive.com live stream begins at 3:20 p.m. ET/2:20 p.m. CT/12:20 p.m. PT; the preliminary live stream begins at 6:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. CT/3:30 p.m. PT; with the main show produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/8:00 p.m. CT/6:00 p.m. PT.

B-roll and images of the fighters are available for use and download HERE or by copying and pasting: bit.ly/CaneloSmith. Video and photo credit must be given to Golden Boy Promotions.

Tickets are priced at $750, $500, $300, $200, $100, $85, $50 and $40, not including applicable service charges with a total ticket limit of 8 per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also will be available for purchase online at www.ticketmaster.com. Additionally, walk up purchases are available at the AT&T Stadium Box Office (Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. CT to 5:00 p.m. CT).

WBO World Junior Middleweight Champion Liam Smith came face-to-face with challenger Canelo Alvarez at today’s final head-to-head press conference at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Undefeated Smith (23-0-1 13 KO’s) defends his World Title against Mexican pound-for-pound star Canelo (47-1-1 33 KO’s) this Saturday (17th) live on BoxNation.

Merseyside hero Smith looked calm and relaxed as he vowed to prove his doubters wrong and carve his name in to the history books.

“All I can say is wait and see what happens on Saturday,” said Smith. “Make sure you admit you were wrong and wrote me off without properly judging me or watching my fights. When I turn up on Saturday and put the performance in that I know I have in me then you will realise that Liam Smith is a very very good fighter.

“When you strip him down and forget he is one of the biggest names in boxing, he is a very good fighter but he isn’t out of this world. He’s not the best defensive fighter in the world, he’s vulnerable when he opens up. It will take a good fighter to exploit any weaknesses he has but I am confident I am that fighter.

Mexican superstar Canelo admitted that he was in for one of the hardest fights of his life but promised his fans that they would celebrate together after he took Smith’s belt from him.

“I’ve prepared for a very tough fight against a tough opponent,” said Canelo. “Some people in the U.S. might not know who Smith is yet but I definitely do. He’s a world champion for a reason and the important thing is that I know what he has and what he brings. That is what I have prepared for and that is what I have worked really hard for.

“I love his aggressive come-forward style, I think our styles will gel and we will provide fight fans around the world with an exciting contest. We have had an amazing camp and come Saturday night we can all celebrate together; we are taking home the title!”

BoxNation, the Channel of Champions, will televise this fight on Sky (SD Ch.437 and HD Ch.490), Freeview (Ch.255), Virgin (Ch.546), TalkTalk (Ch.415), online at watch.boxnation.com and via apps (iOS, Android, Amazon).

Go to www.boxnation.com to see how you can watch this fight and more live!

In addition to the Boxing’s hottest target, the Canelo vs. Smith undercard strutted their skills as a preview to their performance this Saturday. Vergil Ortiz Jr. (1-0, 1 KO) will be taking on El Paso, Texas’ Ernesto Hernandez (1-3, 1 KO) in a four round super lightweight bout before the pay-per-view undercard commences; Brooklyn’s Sadam Ali (22-1, 13 KOs) strutted his stuff, as he has been pitted against Saul Corral (21-7, 12 KOs) of Agua Prieta Mexico in a ten round welterweight fight and Hector Tanajara Jr. (6-0, 4 KOs) will be battling against Roy Garcia (3-19-1, 2 KOs) in a six round lightweight bout; all three fights will be part of the preliminary undercard streaming on RingTv.com, the HBO Boxing YouTube Page and on select pay-per-view providers. Joshua Franco (6-0, 3 KOs) is featured in a six round bantamweight fight against Mexico City’s Brian Bazan (9-2, 6 KOs). Another Brooklyn Native, Zachary Ochoa (15-0, 7 KOs) is scheduled to battle Daniel Montoya (11-4, 8 KOs). Alexis Salazar (7-3, 3 KOs) rumble with Larry Smith (10-28-1, 6 KOs) of Dallas Texas in a six round super welter weight bout. Also a part of the media work out, was London’s Anthony Yarde (7-0, 6 KOs) who will be participating in a six round light heavy weight bout against Michael Mitchel (3-7-2, 1 KOs), kicking off the fight night.

Below is what the fighters had to say at today’s media workout:

CANELO ALVAREZ, Former two-time World Champion:

“I always give the best of me for the fans. Texas is special is my second my home, the people are great the fans are great. This is a historic night for me and for boxing and I am very motivated to perform for all the fans at AT&T stadium.

“We have seen footage of Liam Smith, he is a strong fighter and his style of boxing is similar to mine. Both our styles will make a great fight for all the fans on Saturday. He is hard puncher, connects, comes forward and has good combinations. We know he is dangerous and we are not underestimating him.

“I am preparing for a fighter that comes forward, I am ready for anything. We will show the best fight we can for all the fans on Saturday night.”

JOSE “CHEPO” REYNOSO, Manager and Trainer to Canelo Alvarez:

“Styles make fights and Liam Smith’s style is one that suits Canelo. Canelo likes fighters that come forward he is that type of fighter as well. And these kinds of fights are the ones that are very exciting for the fans.

“I can’t predict what Liam will do in the ring and we can’t necessarily plan for it. We have to be ready for everything. We can have a game plan and if your opponent isn’t letting you execute and you have to adjust.

“A fighter has two hands and both hands can punch. Liam has power and we need to be prepared for that power, whether that comes from the right hand or the left hand.”

EDDY REYNOSO, Head Trainer to Canelo Alvarez:

“We have been working very hard for 12 weeks, and have been focusing on hand speed and foot work. We have really been working on cutting of the ring and defense.

“Canelo is a very talented fighter, a very complete fighter. He is strong, connects very well and has a great defense. Those skills will be on display on Saturday and show why he is the stronger fighter.

“Liam Smith is a very hungry fighter and throws great combinations. He is strong aggressive fighter and that style suits Canelo.

“I have worked with Canelo for a long time, have had the opportunity to see him grow as a person and as a fighter. He is a humble person who is very serious about the sport and the people love him. He is dedicated to his fans and trains very hard to make sure he gives them great shows.”

SADAM ALI., Former two time Welterweight Champion:

“I think it’s great to be back on a big stage. Last time it didn’t work out as planned, but I just have to work my way back up. I got caught with a good shot and I take nothing away from my opponent, he was the better man that night. It was back to the drawing board for me and now I’m back and ready to fight again.”

HECTOR TANAJARA, Welterweight Contender:

“As an amateur, I qualified for the Olympics, but became injured. However, I received about eight national titles and have traveled all of the world.

“Being signed with Golden Boy Promotions by former World Champion fighter Oscar De La Hoya, is something I’ve always dreamed of, and since I saw De La Hoya fight Vargas-he’s been an inspiration for me to follow in his footsteps and have a great professional career like he did.

“I know my opponent is aggressive, so this should be a very action-packed fight for me. I hope to fight two or three times more this year.”

JOSHUA FRANCO, Bantamweight Contender:

“It’s a great feeling to be fighting in Texas for the first time, because all of my fans will be coming out to see me. Being from Texas, when I fight out in California, not all of my friends and family can make it, so this gives them an opportunity to watch me.

“It feels amazing to be a part of such a huge event like this, I’ve always dreamed of this and someday being a part of it.

“I’ve been training hard, like always, and hopefully this fight will be an easy one. I want to thank all my fans for their continued support.”

VERGIL ORTIZ JR, Lightweight Contender:

“It’s my second fight so to fight on such a big stage is great. My opponent’s record is 1-3,all ending within the first round so I know I have to be careful but I’m confident I will get the win.”

ZACHARY OCHOA, Superlightweight Contender:

“During this training camp, I’ve been focusing more on my body shots and landing my punches to look for the right punches-not throwing just to throw-but pacing myself.

“It makes me feel great to be a part of such a big event because it pushes and motivates me to perform event better.

“I know my opponent is tough-all Mexican fighters are tough, but I’ve come in and have been preparing myself well and doing everything I need to be doing in the gym. My weight is good, and I just want to get in the ring, have fun and be impressive for all of the fans coming out.”

ANTHONY YARDE, Light Heavyweight Contender:

“I’m excited to be here. With my past, being on this stage I have an opportunity to inspire people and that means a lot to me.”

Canelo vs. Smith, a 12-round fight for the WBO Junior Middleweight World Championship, is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Frank Warren and Canelo Promotions. Gabriel Rosado vs. Willie Monroe, Jr. is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Banner Promotions and Diego De La Hoya vs. Luis Orlando Del Valle is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Roc Nation Sports. The event is sponsored by “Tecate, BORN BOLD,” O’Reilly Auto Parts, “Hennessy. Never Stop. Never Settle,” “Adriana’s Insurance, El seguro que necesitas Al precio que quieres pagar,” “AT&T, mobilizing your world,” and Casa Mexico Tequila and will take place on Saturday, September 17 at AT&T Stadium. Doors open at 2:00 p.m. CT, first fight and the RingTvLive.com live stream begins at 3:20 p.m. ET/2:20 p.m. CT/12:20 p.m. PT; the preliminary live stream begins at 6:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. CT/3:30 p.m. PT; with the main show produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/8:00 p.m. CT/6:00 p.m. PT.

B-roll and images of the fighters are available for use and download HERE or by copying and pasting: bit.ly/CaneloSmith. Video and photo credit must be given to Golden Boy Promotions.

Tickets are priced at $750, $500, $300, $200, $100, $85, $50 and $40, not including applicable service charges with a total ticket limit of 8 per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also will be available for purchase online at www.ticketmaster.com. Additionally, walk up purchases are available at the AT&T Stadium Box Office (Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. CT to 5:00 p.m. CT).

Dynamite-punching light-heavyweight talent Anthony Yarde (7-0, 6 KO’s) will fight over six rounds against an opponent to be confirmed on the undercard of Liam Smith’s blockbuster World title defence against Mexican pound-for-pound star Canelo at the iconic AT&T Stadium this Saturday.

The red-hot Ilford demolition man has made an explosive start to life in the paid ranks, blasting out six of his first seven opponents via devastating knockouts, and will now look to announce himself to American fights fans in front of a packed out AT&T Stadium.

Hackney-born knockout menace Yarde is fast emerging as one of the most promising light-heavyweight talents in the UK and is now looking to impress American fans with his brutal power and incredible speed on his debut on U.S. soil.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to joining such a huge card,” said Yarde. “This is the kind if stage where I can showcase exactly what I’m made of. I want to reach the very top of the fight game and fighting on a massive show like this will give me a taster of things to come; this is the level I want to reach.”

“It’s going to be an amazing show, fight fans across the world are looking forward to watching Canelo take on Smith and I’m excited to be part of it. Fighting at the home of the Dallas Cowboys in front of a sell-out crowd will be special.

“To get to where I want to be I just need to keep on doing what I’m doing. As always I’m putting the work in in the gym and gaining more experience with each and every fight. Saturday can’t come soon enough and I’m going to give an unforgettable performance.”

BoxNation, the Channel of Champions, will televise this fight on Sky (SD Ch.437 and HD Ch.490), Freeview (Ch.255), Virgin (Ch.546), TalkTalk (Ch.415), online at watch.boxnation.com and via apps (iOS, Android, Amazon).

Go to www.boxnation.com to see how you can watch this fight and more live!

ARLINGTON, TX (Sept. 13, 2016) – Kicking off fight week on a high note, Liam “Beefy” Smith (23-0-1, 13 KOs) hosted a media work out at the Texan Resort and Convention Center ahead of his highly anticipated debut in the United States when he takes on former two-division world champion, Canelo Alvarez (47-1-1, 33 KOs) in the home of the Dallas Cowboy’s, AT&T Stadium this Saturday, September 17. The fight is presented live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

Fightersfeatured on the pay-per-view undercard of Canelo vs. Smith were also part of the media workout in front of local fight fans. Philly’s “King” Gabriel Rosado (23-9, 13 KOs, 1 NC) and former world title challenger Willie “El Mongoose” Monroe, Jr. (20-2, 6 KOs) of Rochester, N.Y. who will be facing off in a in a 12-round middleweight bout for the WBO Inter-Continental Middleweight Title were in attendance today to show off their boxing skills for the media. Also in attendance today, 2012 U.S. Olympian and current NABF Featherweight Champion Joseph “Jojo” Diaz, Jr. (21-0, 12 KOs), and Andrew “El Chango” Cancio (17-3-2, 13 KOs) who will face each other in a 10-round fight. Also, WBC Youth Super Bantamweight Champion, Diego De La Hoya (15-0, 9 KOs) of Mexicali, Mexico, and Bayamon, Puerto Rico’s Luis “Orlandito” Orlando Del Valle (22-2, 16 KOs) were part of the day’s festivities as they prepare to face off in a 10-round fight opening up the pay-per-view broadcast.

Below is what the fighters had to say at today’s media workout:

LIAM SMITH, WBO World Junior Middleweight World Champion:

“I know Canelo is a very accurate puncher and has a great deal of variety in the ring. This training session we did an open sparring session, and I got to work with Kell Brook to prepare. Canelo isn’t a full light middleweight like I am, and that’s to my advantage. It feels very good to be on this big stage, and it’s one that I have asked to be on.

“I am going to show everyone that I can fight at a high magnitude and hopefully I’ll gain some more fans once I beat Canelo. Looking back at his last fight, I think Canelo’s attitude was thinking that he was going to grab the knock out sooner or later, and he wasn’t willing to box. I won’t let that be the case this fight because I’ve got the ability to out box him, and put him in his place. Just because the writers and the boxing critics label me as the underdog isn’t my motivation – my family and their support is the only one I need. With this opportunity, I’m hoping for bigger and better fights to come my way.”

“Despite my gym being owned by Amir Khan, I haven’t talked to him about the fight because what he can do well, I can do well, and what Amir failed to do in the ring, I will not fail to do. I have my own skill set that I can excel in. I’m comfortable going toe to toe with Canelo, and let that be a warning to him come Saturday.”

JOE GALLAGHER, 2015 Ring Magazine Trainer of the Year and Trainer for Liam Smith:

“Training camp has been great, we have been sparring with world champion partners, specifically Kell Brook and others. It was an easy decision to say yes to Canelo – the name was already in the books before the Khan fight, and this was the fight that we wanted.

“We are full heartily confident in what we have come to show the crowd. Smith is a serious threat. Liam Smith can box from the outside, he’s a great counter puncher, can fight from the inside, has great shots from the inside, and has a great temperament. These are some of my favorite characteristics of Liam Smith. I think he might shock a lot of people in just how great he is come Saturday night.”

“KING” GABRIEL ROSADO, Former Middleweight World Title Challenger:

“I am excited to be in Dallas – what fighter can say that they have fought in the Cowboy’sStadium – and I am excited to be on the Canelo versus Smith card. Training camp has been good and I am feeling powerful knowing that I am going to put on a great show for everybody.

“I feel like Monroe disrespected me, and he will see what I think about that in the ring. I am going for the knock out once I step on the mat. This fight has the potential to leave a huge mark on my career, and once that final bell rings, there will be even more opportunities and fights waiting for me. This one is for all the Puerto Rican and Mexican fight fans who have shown me a great amount of love and respect.

WILLIE MONROE JR., Former Middleweight World Title Challenger:

“It’s going to be a fun night this September 17. I am ready to get in and brawl. It’s a privilege to be under one of the biggest HBO cards of the year. Going up against Rosado will be interesting, and I am ready to see what he brings into the ring.”

“The fans can expect an exciting night of boxing, will go out and show them the best Willie Monroe, Jr.”

JOSEPH “JOJO” DIAZ, JR., NABF Featherweight Champion:

“I am at 110 percent right now, and my confidence levels are through the roof. I feel like no one can beat me. I feel like I’m at my best, and come Saturday night, I’m going to show the fans that I’ve got what it takes to be at the very top. If fight fans want to see a fighter who has the speed, who has the power, the guy who has the ability to fight at the right angle, they need to tune in on Saturday night.

“I am fighting someone who wants to pull an upset, and I won’t let him have it. This is the fight of a lifetime for me, and hopefully come Saturday, I’ll take it all. I’m ready for this opportunity, and I am ready for this chance – I’ve been ready since I was a little kid when I used to dream about this – and I can’t wait to showcase what I’ve got. Being under a big card run under a Promotions company like Golden Boy hasn’t unfocused me – it’s just another fight. I know what it’s like to have millions watching when I fought in the Olympics and I’ve fought on an HBO Canelo card before and I know what mentality you need to have to be in the ring in those situations. Once I go into the ring, the only person I will be focused on will be Andrew Cancio.”

ANDREW “EL CHANGO” CANCIO, Featherweight Contender:

“I am ready for this fight in every sense of the word. We’ve been putting in hard work. Jojo is a very sharp in the ring, and a very slick fighter, but we have been training to prevent any surprises in the ring. If we have to go the distance, we will. I am trained to make it all ten rounds.

“It’s an incredible opportunity to be fighting on the Canelo vs. Smith undercard at AT&T Stadium. The way the fight got put together was a complete blessing. Come Saturday night, we’re going to go in there looking for a war.”

DIEGO DE LA HOYA, WBC Youth Super Bantamweight Champion:

“It’s a very important fight this Saturday, and I have to take advantage of it. This fight hasthe potential to open so many doors, and we are going to show how hard we have trained for this. This is my biggest stage, and we are going to leave it all on the mat. We know that Del Valle is a fighter with a lot of experience, but we are expecting a knock out come Saturday night. We have worked extremely hard, and we are hoping to represent the Mexican community and show off our pride in the ring.”

LUIS “ORLANDITO” ORLANDO DEL VALLE, WBC Youth Super Bantamweight Champion:

“I love the Mexican community – they are the most humble and welcoming people. I remember when I visited Mexico for the first time, and I felt at home. While the Mexico Versus Puerto Rico matches are always heated, I have a deep respect for the Mexican Public.

“I am going to leave the ring with a victory under my belt on September 17 without a doubt. Not being the favorite doesn’t affect me at all. I have had many experiences in which things have not gone the way we anticipated, however those setbacks have brought me to this stage I stand on now, and the opportunity to further my career. This is my destiny, and I’ll prove that this Saturday.”

Canelo vs. Smith, a 12-round fight for the WBO Junior Middleweight World Championship, is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Frank Warren and Canelo Promotions. Gabriel Rosado vs. Willie Monroe, Jr. is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Banner Promotions and Diego De La Hoya vs. Luis Orlando Del Valle is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Roc Nation Sports. The event is sponsored by “Tecate, BORN BOLD,” O’Reilly Auto Parts, “Hennessy. Never Stop. Never Settle,” “Adriana’s Insurance, El seguro que necesitas Al precio que quieres pagar,” “AT&T, mobilizing your world,” and Casa Mexico Tequila and will take place on Saturday, September 17 at AT&T Stadium. Doors open at 2:00 p.m. CT, first fight and the RingTvLive.com live stream begins at 3:20 p.m. ET/2:20 p.m. CT/12:20 p.m. PT; the preliminary live stream begins at 6:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. CT/3:30 p.m. PT; with the main show produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/8:00 p.m. CT/6:00 p.m. PT.

B-roll and images of the fighters are available for use and download HERE or by copying and pasting: bit.ly/CaneloSmith. Video and photo credit must be given to Golden Boy Promotions.

Tickets are priced at $750, $500, $300, $200, $100, $85, $50 and $40, not including applicable service charges with a total ticket limit of 8 per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also will be available for purchase online at www.ticketmaster.com. Additionally, walk up purchases are available at the AT&T Stadium Box Office (Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. CT to 5:00 p.m. CT).

NEW YORK, September 13 – With less than a week to go before the Canelo vs. Smith fight on Saturday, September 17, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Tecate, the fight’s presenting and exclusive beer sponsor, has descended on the Dallas-Ft. Worth (DFW) Metroplex through a series of digital and physical activations to bring fans 21+ closer to the international mega fight and celebrate Mexican Independence Day Weekend.

Fighting on Mexican Independence Weekend, a date reserved for some of the most recognizable fighters in boxing history: Julio Cesar “J.C.” Chavez, Sr., Juan Manuel “Dinamita” Marquez, Marco Antonio “Baby Face Assassin” Barrera Erik “El Terrible” Morales and “The Golden Boy” Oscar De La Hoya; now former two-division world champion Canelo Alvarez (47-1-1, 33 KOs) will reclaim the historic weekend for Hispanic fight fans when he faces off against WBO Junior Middleweight World Champion Liam “Beefy” Smith (23-0-1, 13 KOs). The event takes place Saturday, Sept. 17 and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9pm ET/6pm PT.

Today, fight fans 21+ looking to get closer to the fight before and during the bout, can gain access to exclusive pre-fight training content and come fight night, feel one of Canelo’s power punches through their smartphone with the popular boxing app, Tecate Bold Punch. The immersive app, which debuted on iOS in May, is now available for Android. Tecate Bold Punch is the perfect second screen companion for the faceoff featuring five unique types of content as demonstrated here:

Punches – Don’t just see the punches, feel them. Every time Canelo lands a bold punch, your phone will vibrate to reflect the bold intensity of the match.
Behind-the-scenes-video – Live streams and exclusive pre-fight locker room content.
See Fight – All of the ways to see the fight – from where to buy tickets to how to watch the fight, how to purchase the HBO Pay-Per-View event beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT
Tecate – Check out the latest national television campaign featuring Canelo and the brand’s iconic black eagle.
Fighters – A quick tale of the tape that highlights the fighters’ important stats ahead of the fight.

“You can’t just go big in Texas! Therefore, we’re going big nationally to bring fight fans closer to the ring while fueling Canelo’s crossover to the US market through extensive broadcast, retail and digital promotions,” said Felix Palau, Vice President, Tecate. “From the moment fans step off the plane at DFW or if they’re viewing with friends and using our Bold Punch app as a companion experience across the country, Tecate will instantly emerge you into the fight.”

“Boxing and Tecate go hand in hand, which is why we are thrilled to be giving the fans an exclusive inside look to the Canelo vs. Smith fight with the Bold Punch app,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “Over Mexican Independence Day weekend, Tecate will be the fight fan’s ultimate guide to all of the action-packed festivities and behind-the-scenes content during the fight.”

From Monday, September 12, in DFW and nationally, Hispanic broadcasters including Univision, UniMas, Telemundo, Fox Deportes, NBC Universo, ESPN Deportes and many others will air the Tecate branded commercial “Flashy” featuring Canelo and driving consumers to buy the HBO Pay-Per-View®.

On Friday, September 16 at 2pm CST, the Tecate Fan Fest will open to the public inside the AT&T Stadium’s East Plaza and feature branded consumer experiences including celebrity autographs and photo opportunities with current and past boxing legends, an Oscar De La Hoya meet & greet and the ability to measure your best punch against Canelo’s through the Bold Punch Challenge where a consumer’s punch power is measured through digital impact and laser sensors.

Friday night will conclude with the Tecate Born Bold Champions Chat hosted by award-winning boxing journalist Dan Rafael, and broadcast live on the Bold Punch App, RingTv.com and Golden Boy Promotion’s Facebook Page from 6-7pm CST featuring an entertaining debate with Golden Boy Promotions Chairman and CEO Oscar De La Hoya, the timeless Future Hall of Famer and Golden Boy Promotions Partner Bernard Hopkins, the greatest boxing analyst of all time, Larry Merchant and very special guest, Jerry Jones.

Tecate’s 21+ national consumer opportunities continue with thematic point-of-sale activations across more than 4,000 off-premise and 200 on-premise accounts driving beer trials; a text-to-win competition for 3,300 instant win prizes including limited edition Canelo + Under Armour + Tecate branded fight gear; the popular, national, no purchase necessary mail-in-rebate program; and the brand will be prominently featured on Canelo’s trunks, at the center ring, around the mat and throughout the fight.

For additional details on Tecate’s “Born Bold” campaign, the sponsorship of Golden Boy Promotions’ fights, or to speak with a Tecate Light representative about the brand, please contact BRAYA at HUSA@BRAYAUS.com.
Tickets for Canelo vs. Smith are priced at $750, $500, $300, $200, $100, $85, $50 and $40, not including applicable service charges with a total ticket limit of 8 per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also will be available for purchase online at www.ticketmaster.com. Additionally, walk up purchases are available at the AT&T Stadium Box Office (Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. CT to 5:00 p.m. CT).

About HEINEKEN USA
HEINEKEN USA Inc., the nation’s leading upscale beer importer, is a subsidiary of HEINEKEN NV, the world’s most international brewer. Core brands imported into the U.S. are Heineken®, the world’s most international premium beer brand, the Dos Equis franchise, the Tecate franchise and Strongbow Hard Apple Ciders. HEINEKEN USA also imports Amstel Light, Newcastle Brown Ale, Red Stripe, Sol, Indio, Carta Blanca and Bohemia brands. For the latest information on our company and brands, follow us on Twitter @HeinekenUSACorp, or visit HEINEKENUSA.com.

Canelo vs. Smith, a 12-round fight for the WBO Junior Middleweight World Championship, is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Frank Warren and Canelo Promotions. Gabriel Rosado vs. Willie Monroe, Jr. is a 12-round fight for the vacant WBO Inter-Continental Middleweight Title presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Banner Promotions, Joseph Diaz, Jr. vs. Andrew Cancio is a 10-round fight for the NABF Featherweight Title presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Diego De La Hoya vs. Luis Orlando Del Valle is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Roc Nation Sports. The event is sponsored by “Tecate, BORN BOLD,” O’Reilly Auto Parts, Hennessey, Adriana’s Insurance, AT&T, and Casa Mexico Tequila and will take place on Saturday, September 17 at AT&T Stadium. Doors open at 2:00 p.m. CT, first fight and the RingTv.com live stream begins at 3:20 p.m. ET/2:20 p.m. CT/12:20 p.m. PT; the preliminary live stream begins at 6:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. CT/3:30 p.m. PT on HBO Boxing YouTube page and select pay-per-view channel providers; with the four fight pay-per-view card produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View and also available via live stream on www.goldenboyppv.com beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/8:00 p.m. CT/6:00 p.m. PT.