Molina Working Hard, Preparing for Defense Against Charlo

IBF Junior Middleweight Champion “King” Carlos Molina (22-5-2, 6 KO’s) took a break from training yesterday to hang out with all-time-great “Iron” Mike Tyson in Chicago.

Molina, 30, is deep in preparations for his upcoming fight, his first title defense against unbeaten, but unproven, Jermall Charlo (17-0, 13 KO’s) on the Showtime PPV undercard of Saul “Canelo” Alvarez vs. Alfredo Angulo on March 8 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

“We always have a good game plan going in and we’ll have one this time,” said Molina. “We have to train to beat him a number of different ways because you never know what will happen on fight night.”

Molina says he’s not taking 23-year-old Charlo, rated #5 IBF, #5 WBO, #13 WBC, lightly, despite his being unproven against top-flight opposition.

“It’s hard to tell what he’ll bring,” said Molina. “But he’s undefeated, so you have to take him seriously. I’ll be ready for anything.”

Molina is sparring, once again, with undefeated cruiserweight contender Dimar Ortuz, among others.

“Dimar gives me a lot of movement and fights me on the inside and the outside. And he’s very strong, so no matter who I fight on fight night, they’re never as strong as he is.”
ABOUT WARRIORS BOXING

Launched in 2003, Warriors Boxing operates under a simple philosophy-bring the best boxers in the world to fight fans, match them in competitive bouts, and in doing so help re-establish the sport of boxing for a new generation.

With a series of successful Pay-Per-View shows and packed houses to it’s credit, the Warriors business model is working wonders in a sport that was sorely in need of the innovation and energy that the company brings to the table.

When it comes down to it though, a promotional company is only as good as the fighters and fights it promotes. Warriors Boxing has delivered on all fronts, with outstanding bouts such as Lara-Molina, Cayo-Peterson, Abraham-Miranda I and II, Miranda-Pavlik, Miranda-Green, Ibragimov-Briggs, Ibragimov-Klitschko, Urango-Hatton, Urango-Bailey, Cayo-Maidana and Ibragimov-Holyfield.

For more information on Warriors Boxing, visit their website at www.WarriorsBoxing.com.

Champion Molina Staying Active in Chicago Community While Waiting for Next Big Fight

IBF Junior Middleweight Champion “King” Carlos Molina is making good on his promise to be a “people’s champion”, as he continues to interact with the public in his beloved Chicago while waiting for his next big fight.

Last Friday at Curie High School on Chicago’s Southwest side, Molina and WBA # 6 heavyweight “Fast” Fres Oquendo were guests of honor at Curie’s annual Community Fall Festival. The pair signed autographs, posed for photos and spoke to young people about the importance of hard work.

“This is an amazing event, and it feels really good to give back to my neighborhood. I am grateful for the invite,” said Molina, who was raised and still lives minutes from Curie.

Meanwhile, Molina (22-5-2, 6 KOs) has been staying active in the gym while fielding offers and challenges from a variety of big names including former champs “Sugar” Shane Mosley and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, as well as recent title winner Demetrius Andrade.

“I don’t care who it is,” said Molina. “I know everybody says that, but I mean it. I would like to bring boxing back to how it was in the old days with guys fighting all the time. Fighters fight and that’s what I want to do. I’m ready to go.”

Molina, a true Cinderella story in boxing, says he’d rather be a champion who defends his belt with regularity than a PPV star fighting once yearly.

“I want to be an old-school champion. I’ll fight anybody. I want to be recognized as the best in my division and I feel like I am ready to go out and get victories over the top guys and unify the belts. If Mosley or Alvarez or Andrade want to be next, I’ll be ready.”

Molina’s advisor, Luis DeCubas, says it really doesn’t matter who the opponent is for his guy. “Carlos is old-fashioned that way. He’ll be ready to go, no matter the date and they can put any junior middleweight in the world in front of him.”
ABOUT WARRIORS BOXING

For more information on Warriors Boxing, visit their website at www.WarriorsBoxing.com.

Molina Throws Out First Pitch at U.S. Cellular Field

On Monday night, September 23, newly crowned IBF Junior Middleweight Champion “King” Carlos Molina threw out the Ceremonial First Pitch at U.S. Cellular Field before the Chicago White Sox played the Toronto Blue Jays.

Molina was presented with a custom White Sox Jersey before the game and was given a strong ovation by the fans in his hometown of Chicago. A long-time underdog in the sport, Molina finally overcame the adversity to win his first world title via split decision against Ishe Smith on the pay-per-view televised undercard of Mayweather vs. Alvarez on September 14.

“That was a dream come true,” said Molina after throwing a perfect strike. “I want to thank the Chicago White Sox organization and all the fans for being so kind. I will always make you all proud.”

Molina is currently rumored to be making his first defense on premium cable in December.
ABOUT WARRIORS BOXING

For more information on Warriors Boxing, visit their website at www.WarriorsBoxing.com.

MIGUEL ZUNIGA STEPS IN FOR CARLOS MOLINA AGAINST MICHAEL PEREZ IN SEPTEMBER 30 CO-FEATURE FIGHT AT CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD THEATER AT BARCLAYS CENTER IN BROOKLYN, NY ON FOX SPORTS 1 & FOX DEPORTES

BROOKLYN (September 23, 2013) – With Carlos Molina forced to withdraw from his Monday, September 30 bout against Michael “The Artist” Perez due to flu-like symptoms, tough Mexican prospect Miguel “Dinamita” Zuniga will step up to face “The Artist” in a 10-round fight for the vacant WBA Fedelatin Super Lightweight Title at the Cushman & Wakefield Theater at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY in the Golden Boy Live! co-featured event on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes.

In the main event, Brooklyn’s undefeated welterweight and 2008 U.S. Olympian Sadam “World Kid” Ali takes on “Smokin” Jay Krupp in an eight-round matchup.

Plus, 2012 U.S. Olympian “Sir” Marcus Browne of Staten Island, fellow Olympic team member Jamel Herring of Coram, NY, The Bronx’s Emmanuel Gonzalez, Brooklyn’s Claude Staten Jr. and Maryland’s D’Mitrius Ballard will all be in action to help Barclays Center celebrate its one-year anniversary.

Newark’s Michael “The Artist” Perez (18-1-2, 10 KO’s) is unbeaten in five of his last six bouts with the only loss to recently crowned World Champion Omar “Panterita” Figueroa Jr. and a technical draw with Lonnie Smith due to a cut from a clash of heads. Unbeaten in New York, Perez hopes to keep the streak going on September 30.

A native of Tijuana now fighting out of San Diego, 26-year-old Miguel “Dinamita” Zuniga (13-2, 8 KO’s) has won four of his last five bouts, with his only loss in that stretch coming against unbeaten hot prospect Daquan Arnett. Zuniga has the opportunity to make a name for himself by defeating Perez, his highly respected foe, on national television.

Unbeaten as a professional, Staten Island’s “Sir” Marcus Browne (6-0, 6 KO’s) has made a seamless adjustment from the amateurs to the pros. Fresh from a knockout victory over Robert Hill on the first Golden Boy Live! card on August 19, the 22-year-old will take on Lamont Williams in his fourth appearance at Barclays Center in a six round televised light heavyweight fight.

Gardena, California’s Lamont Williams (5-1-1, 2 KO’s) has rebounded from a 1-1 start to his career to go unbeaten in his next five bouts, leading him to the biggest fight of his career against Browne. To win, the 33-year-old will have to be firing on all cylinders, but with high risk always comes a high reward as he looks to upset the hometown fan favorite.

In a featherweight swing bout scheduled for four or six rounds, The Bronx’ Emmanuel Gonzalez (12-0, 7 KO’s) is back in action, looking to follow up his Golden Boy Live! debut win over Michael Doyle in August with a victory over fellow unbeaten Noel Echevarria (11-0, 6 KO’s) of Guayama, Puerto Rico.

Rounding out the card will be Brooklyn’s Claude Staten Jr. (1-0) who will return to Barclays Center to face Philadelphia’s Derrick Bivins (1-1-1) in a four-round super bantamweight bout, highly-regarded super middleweight D’Mitrius Ballard (2-0, 2 KO’s) of Temple Hills, Maryland battles Lynchburg, Virginia’s Jess Noriega (2-5, 2 KO’s) in a four-round contest and in the six-round super lightweight opener, 2012 U.S. Olympian Jamel Herring (4-0, 2 KO’s) of Coram, NY hopes to keep his unbeaten streak going against Springfield, Illinois’ Justin Robbins (2-3, 1 KO).

Ali vs. Krupp is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona and O’Reilly Auto Parts. Barclays Center doors open at 7:00 p.m. ET with the first bell sounding at 7:45 p.m. ET. The FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes broadcast airs live at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

Tickets starting at $25, plus applicable taxes and service charges, are on sale now and available at www.barclayscenter.com, www.ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations, and by calling 800-745-3000. Tickets are also available at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. For group tickets, please call 800-GROUP-BK. A limited number of suites are available for the event. For more information on how to reserve one, please call 718-BKSUITE (718-257-8483).

Cushman & Wakefield Theater is an intimate theater within Barclays Center. The theater can accommodate 3,500-6,000 seats and is ideal for theatrical performances, concert artists, music festivals, boxing events and comedy acts.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com orwww.sports.sho.com, follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxing
, www.twitter.com/realworldkidali,
www.twitter.com/SmokinJK, www.twitter.com/theartistperez, www.twitter.com/Marcus_Browne, www.twitter.com/Claudie_Boy,
www.twitter.com/barclayscenter and follow the conversation using #GoldenBoyLive, become a fan on Facebook at Golden Boy Facebook Page and visit us on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing. For more information on FOX Sports 1 visit www.FOXSports.com/FOXSports1 and become a follower on Twitter at www.twitter.com/@FOXSports @FOXSports1 and @FOXSportsPR.

‘King’ Carlos Molina to Throw Out First Pitch Monday Night at U.S. Cellular Field

On Monday night, September 23, brand-new IBF Junior Middleweight Champion “King” Carlos Molina will be at U.S. Cellular Field in his native Chicago to throw out the Ceremonial First Pitch when the Chicago White Sox play the Toronto Blue Jays.

Enjoying the celebrity that comes with success on the world level, Molina has gone on an extended media tour since winning his IBF belt via split decision against Ishe Smith on the pay-per-view televised undercard of Mayweather vs. Alvarez. It’s attention that has been a long time coming for the perpetual underdog Molina, who was the victim of several scoring controversies and other administrative misdeeds during his climb to the top.

“I am honored by this,” said the humble Molina. “This has been a dream come true for me and even better than I pictured the day I started boxing. I want to thank the Chicago White Sox for thinking of me and I will continue to do my city of Chicago proud.”

The Chicago White Sox versus Toronto Blue Jays game begins Monday night at 7:10 pm (Central). It will be televised on Comcast Sports Net (CSN+) in Chicago and on radio on WSCR 670 and 97.5 ESPN Deportes (Sp.).
ABOUT WARRIORS BOXING

For more information on Warriors Boxing, visit their website at www.WarriorsBoxing.com.

New IBF Light Welterweight Champ ‘King’ Carlos Molina Not Resting on His Laurels

Brand-new IBF Light Middleweight Champion “King” Carlos Molina says when he heard the ring announcer say the words “and the NEW”, he could finally relax a bit.

“I knew I had reached one of the goals I set on the day I started boxing,” said the happy champion, now home in his beloved Chicago.

Molina (22-5-2, 6 KOs) won a split (116-112 and 117-111 over-ruling a card of 112-116) decision over now former champ Ishe Smith on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, on the undercard of the 12-round Floyd Mayweather vs. Canelo Alvarez fight.

But like every elite competitor, reaching one goal just means moving onto the next one.

“Now that I’m home, I want to start defending my belt right away, before the end of the year if possible.” Molina continued. I want (Saul) Canelo Alvarez or (Miguel) Cotto next. Beating either of those guys is the fastest way to Floyd Mayweather, so that’s who I want to fight.”

Truly an inspiration, the habitual underdog Molina says he is grateful to his whole team for believing in him during his difficult climb: his promoter, Leon Margules of Warriors Boxing and Advisor, Luis DeCubas, as well as his training team, Trainer Victor Mateo, co-trainer Lou Askenette, cornerman Harrison “Hammer” Funmaker, and Strength and Conditioning Coach Freddy Cuevas, as well as all the local fighters who helped prepare him for the big fight at Oakley Fight Club in Chicago.

Having been the victim of boxing politics and been ripped off and robbed in several other high-profile fights, Molina also wants to thank a certain sanctioning body: “My sincere thanks to the IBF. If they hadn’t made me the mandatory, there’s no way I would have had this opportunity.”

Molina’s Promoter, Leon Margules, says Molina deserves every bit of the credit he has earned.

“First let me say congratulations to a fighter who works hard every day and didn’t let anything get him down for years. Carlos truly deserves this belt and I am every bit as happy for him as he is. What a great story his climb up the rankings has been.”

Advisor Luis DeCubas says Molina’s victory was one of his proudest moments in a long career in boxing.

“Saturday was one of the most satisfying victories I’ve been a part of in 30 years in the boxing business. I am so proud to be part of Team Molina and so happy for Carlos. I will always tell young fighters about Carlos’s dedication and how badly he wanted it, no matter what they tried to do to him. That’s how you become a champion. He’s a true inspiration.”

Margules says he and DeCubas are going back to work quickly, looking to make a big fight for Molina.

“Carlos is the only world champion in the 154-lb division right now who is not named Floyd Mayweather. If a Canelo or a Cotto want to leverage a world championship into another Floyd fight, they have to go through Carlos… only our guy has something for either one of them if they try it. Carlos will use them to get himself to the front of the line for Floyd.”

Molina says he wasn’t surprised by anything Smith brought to the table on Saturday.

“We had a game plan for him to out-work him and that’s what we did. My team is so strong. We knew exactly what we had to do. It wasn’t easy, but we did it. No fights are easy. But now, looking forward, we’ve also got a plan against Canelo or Cotto. Looking forward to using it on either of them next.”
ABOUT WARRIORS BOXING

For more information on Warriors Boxing, visit their website at www.WarriorsBoxing.com.

Mayweather wins big according to everybody but one judge

LAS VEGAS – Floyd Mayweather Jr. did the expected. One judge didn’t.

It was brilliant. It was bizarre. It was boxing all over again.

Mayweather didn’t have to explain himself for fulfilling the promises he made in dancing around and all over Canelo Alvarez Saturday night at the MGM Grand. It was called The One. For once, the promoters got it right. Two great fighters didn’t show up. Only Mayweather did in a one sided-display of brilliance that further embellished his undisputed claim on being the best of his generation.

Canelo never had a chance. Not one.

Still, a judge gave him one. C.J. Ross scored it 114-114. Maybe, nobody should be surprised. Ross was also one of two judges who scored it for Timothy Bradley in the controversial split-decision over Manny Pacquiao on Dec. 8.

When Ross’ score was announced, there were gasps from a capacity crowd that was dominated by Canelo fans from Mexico. They also had seen what everybody other than Ross had witnessed.

Two other scorecards ensured that Mayweather had a victory by majority decision. On judge Craig Metcalfe’s card, it was 117-111. Dave Moretti scored it 116-112. On the 15 Rounds card, Mayweather scored a shutout. Outgunned and out-classed, Canelo didn’t win a round on this card.

“I can’t control the judges,’’ Mayweather (45-0, 26 KOs) said after moving in and out while landing punches with sniper-like speed and accuracy.

It was the right answer from Mayweather, who collected a record-setting guarantee of $41.5 million. Still, it didn’t explain Ross’ score. There had been plenty of talk before opening bell about a rematch. A buzz for the junior-middleweight fight was in the air for days. Money was being made. A pay-per-view record for the Showtime telecast was a real possibility. At the MGM Grand’s sports book, one of the popular bets was a draw. Odds on a draw were 10-1 on Thursday and Friday. Early Saturday, they had dropped to 8-1.

Mayweather’s dominance of the fight might have eliminated any appetite for a rematch, despite what Ross’ score might say.

Canelo (42-1-1, 30 KOs) entered the ring 13 pounds heavier than the 152 pounds he recorded at Friday’s weigh-in. He was bigger and looked it, especially in the upper body. The 165-pound Canelo out-weighed Mayweather by about 15 pounds. But that was no advantage for the young Mexican. It only meant he was a bigger target for Mayweather. A stationary one, too.

“I couldn’t connect,’’ said Canelo, who could wind up with a career-high $12 million once he gets his undisclosed share of the television money. “He was just too elusive, too smart and too experienced.’’

Canelo did not dispute the loss. He said he knew he had been beaten.

It’s strange that C.J Ross didn’t.

Danny Garcia said it was his job to take away Lucas Matthysse’s power.

Mission accomplished.

Garcia (27-0, 16 KOs) employed patience and smarts to nullify that proven power for a unanimous decision over Matthysse (34-3, 32 KOs).

Matthysse was the early aggressor. The junior-welterweight dictated the pace as he stalked Garcia, who retained the 140-pound title.

In moving forward, however, Matthysse stepped into a trap set brilliantly by Garcia. First, Matthysse walked into body shots. Then, there were repeated right hands. Not long after a head butt in the fifth round, an ugly mouse appeared below Matthysse’s right eye. It wasn’t clear whether the butt caused the bruise. From the seventh through the 11th rounds, swelling began to close the eye as he continued forward and straight into Garcia’s right.

In the 11th, Matthysse knocked out Garcia’s mouth piece with a right hand. But Garcia still took the round, knocking down Matthysse with a sucession of puches along the ropes.In the 12th, Garcia was penalized a point for a low blow,

By then, however, it wasn’t enough to take the victory away from the Philadelphia fighter.

There was only one way to score the Ishe Smith-Carlos Molina fight: Dull and duller. Molina (22-5-2, 6 KOs) won it, scoring a split decision and taking the International Boxing Federation’s version of the junior-middleweight title from Smith (25-6, 11 KOs). But there weren’t many cheers or boos about the scoring. There were only yawns for zero action in a fight that went to Molina, who prevailed with some aggression in the early rounds.

Mexican welterweight Pablo Cesar Cano (27-3-1, 20 KOs) bloodied Ashley Theopane’s nose, rocked him with a left in the third, nearly knocked him down with a right in the fifth and backed him up for eight of the 10 rounds, yet had to wait and wonder whether he won the first televised fight. Cano did, scoring a split decision. But he didn’t do enough to convince judge Richard Ocasio, whose score was the first announced on a curious card that favored Theopane (33-6-1, 10 KOs), a Mayweather-promoted fighter.

Luis Arias (7-0, 3 KOs), a super-middleweight from Milwaukee, wore Packer green-and-gold into the ring. Then, he made James Winchester (16-9, 6 KOs) of Reidsville, N.C., look like the Jacksonville Jaguars. Arias scored a shutout, winning every round in a six-round unanimous decision in the final bout before the pay-per-view telecast began. Arias was the fourth Mayweather fighter to win.

Ronald Gavril (7-0, 5 KOs) , a super-middleweight from Romania, made it 3-0 through the card’s first three fights for Mayweather Promotions with a unanimous decision over Shujaa El Amin (12-5, 6 KOs) of Flint, Mich. Gavril suffered a bloody nose early in the bout, but he was the busier fighter throughout the eight-round bout.

Chris Pearson, a Mayweather-promoted middleweight from Dayton, followed Bellows’ first-round TKO with an even quicker stoppage. In the opening seconds, Pearson (12-0, 9 KOs) threw a jab that landed like a baseball bat, leaving Joshua Williams (9-6, 5 KOs) of Westerly, R.I. with a badly bloodied nose. About a minute later, it was over. Referee Russell Mora ended it at 1:14 of the opening round.

Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s promotional company got things started with a victory.

“Easy Money,’’ was the chant from one of the few fans seated Saturday in a chilly, empty Grand Garden Arena two-and-a-half hours before Showtime’s pay-per-view telecast was scheduled to begin for the card featuring Mayweather-Canelo Alvarez at the MGM Grand.

Lanell Bellows (6-0-1, 5 KOs), a Mayweather-promoted super-middleweight, made it easy with a first-round TKO of Jordan Moore (3-1) of Logan, W.V.

Bellows put Moore onto his knees with a paralyzing body shot, a right-handed hook, 2:30 after opening bell.

VIDEO: CARLOS MOLINA

The One: Mayweather v Canelo Alvarez Live on BoxNation late Saturday night

It’s the biggest fight night in recent memory as Floyd “Money” Mayweather puts his 44-0 record on the line against WBC and WBA Super World Light-Middleweight Champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. Before this superfight, Danny Garcia is out to silence his critics and defend his WBC and WBA Super World Light-Welterweight titles against the powerhouse Argentine Lucas Matthysse, while Ishe Smith defends his IBF World Light-Middleweight title against Carlos Molina. Londoner Ashley Theophane provides the British interest as he faces Pablo Cesar Cano over 10 rounds on a thrilling night of live action on BoxNation!

Join us late on Saturday night (1.30am Sunday) for a truly huge night of boxing LIVE from the MGM Grand Arena, Las Vegas.

WATCH THE WEIGH-IN LIVE ON BOXNATION.COM

Website to stream weigh-in free from 10pm to midnight tonight

Tonight at 10pm on the www.boxnation.com website, we’re streaming the weigh-in LIVE as 44-0 Floyd Mayweather and 42-0 Saul “Canelo” Alvarez face off for one final time before the talking stops and the fight of the year begins!

Join us from 10pm tonight to catch the weigh-in before the main event on Saturday night!

WATCH THE OFFICIAL BOXNATION FIGHT PROMO NOW

DANNY GARCIA vs. LUCAS MATTHYSSE & UNDERCARD FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES TWO DAYS BEFORE “THE ONE: MAYWEATHER vs. CANELO”

LAS VEGAS, NEV. (Sept. 12, 2013) – Unified WBC, WBA and Ring Magazine Light Welterweight Champion Danny “Swift” Garcia and current WBC Inter-Continental Light Welterweight Champion Lucas “The Machine” Matthysse proved that there is more than one main event scheduled at MGM Grand in Las Vegas this Saturday night. The bout headlines one of the strongest undercards in boxing history and precedes the highly anticipated matchup between Floyd “Money” Mayweather and Canelo Alvarez.
Also featured on the undercard are Ishe Smith vs. Carlos Molina in a 12-Round battle for the IBF Junior Middleweight Title, and Pablo Cesar Cano vs. Ashley Theophane in a 10-Round Welterweight battle.

Here’s what the fighters, promoters and trainers had to say during the today’s press conference:

DANNY GARCIA, Unified Super Lightweight World Champion
“I had a great camp. I trained very hard. I’m prepared for this fight. Come Saturday night I’m going to put on another epic performance.

“I’m starting to feel like a young veteran.

“I’ve been counted out a lot of times, but always find a way to win.”

LUCAS MATTHYSSE, WBC Interim Super Lightweight World Champion
“Yes, I do believe I should be the favorite. I’ve been coming and getting those very important wins. Come Saturday I know I’m going to come out with the victory.

“I am very well prepared and I want to thank everybody. We are ready to go.”

ISHE SMITH, IBF Junior Middleweight World Champion
“Pray for Oscar De La Hoya and that he gets through this and comes back healthy. Oscar was a great champion and has done a lot for this sport, so please pray for him.

“Carlos is a good fighter and I’m just happy to represent Las Vegas on this big stage and put together a good fight and go out here and execute the game plan.

“To be here today, sometimes I have to step outside my body. I’m just happy to be living life and sharing my testimony with people. I’m excited about this fight.”

CARLOS MOLINA, Top Junior Middleweight Contender
“I’m ready to go. I just want to fight, I wish the fight was right now. I’m in top shape. I want to go out there and prove that I’m the best 154-pounder in the world, no matter who it is. I’m ready.

“Let’s bring up Lucas with a big applause, this Saturday he will become the next World Champion.”

PABLO CESAR CANO, Top Welterweight Contender
“I don’t like to talk, like my opponent. I like to talk with my fists. Saturday night, I’m going to talk with my fists. We’re going to put Mexico in the No. 1 spot, from top to bottom.”

ASHLEY THEOPHANE, Former British Junior Welterweight
“I want to thank the whole Mayweather staff, Floyd and Leonard for giving me this big opportunity. Working with Mayweather Promotions has been amazing. I’m from London, so I’m representing the U.K. in this big event.

“I’ve got Cano here and he’s a very good fighter. But when you look at his record and you look at mine, who has he beaten? He hasn’t beaten anybody. I can guarantee that a lot of the boxing experts and writers here don’t know the guys he’s knocked out. It’s all good to have 20 knockouts and 26 wins, but if you’re knocking out nobodies then it doesn’t mean anything.”

RICHARD SCHAEFER, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions
“As it relates to live-gate, we have a new gate record. The official number now is $20,300,150. So we broke the $20 million mark.

“This is an event within the event. Danny Garcia and Lucas Matthysse is a main event anywhere, it could be its own PPV. Clearly one of the most anticipated fights in the sport of boxing. I want to give a big thank you to Floyd Mayweather for giving his ‘OK’ to have this amazing showdown on this card. This is without any question the best one-two punch in boxing PPV.

“This is not just a co-main event; it really is top-to-bottom an absolutely fantastic card.

“We are hitting this one out of the park. This PPV is tracking and it’s tracking well, very well. We couldn’t have done it without SHOWTIME PPV, they really have stepped up. What they have done with the SHOWTIME and CBS platforms is unheard of.”

LEONARD ELLERBE, CEO of Mayweather Promotions
“This card, from top to bottom, is the best card that I’ve personally seen in a number of years. The co-main event with Garcia and Matthysse, that’s a main event within itself. It’s going to be a tremendous fight.

“Ashley did it the old-fashioned way. He paid his way to Las Vegas and said he was going to make a name for himself, make his way into Mayweather Promotions.

“He came to our gym and had been training in our gym for about a month or two. Then Ashley asked to box Floyd. From there, the rest is history. He’s 33-5 with 10 knockouts.”

STEPHEN ESPINOZA, EVP SHOWTIME Sports
“This year has been the strongest programming lineup, the best and biggest fights, and the strongest year for SHOWTIME Sports in a long, long time. It’s been a perfect lead up for this event. For boxing fans, this is Christmas in September, there’s no other way to look at this. And I can’t wait to open the presents at 6 p.m. PT on Saturday.

“This is not an undercard. Regardless of what you’ve heard or seen, this is not an undercard. Danny Garcia has headlined two SHOWTIME cards, Lucas Matthysse has headlined three SHOWTIME cards, Ishe Smith headlined a card for us in February and Pablo Cesar Cano was the co-feature last October in Barclays.

“The bottom line is this event has four main event fights. This is an event where everyone should be in their seats or in front of their TVs by 6 p.m., because all four fights will promise fireworks.”

KEITH KEISER, Nevada State Athletic Commissioner
“We are very happy to be here on Mexican Independence Day weekend at the MGM for this huge fight card on Saturday night.

“We’re very pleased to have this many great athletes up on the stage and in the ring at one time is quite impressive; more impressive than I even thought possible.”

BERNARD HOPKINS, President of Golden Boy East
“I’ve been involved in a lot of big fights, but this is huge. To see an undercard that could just as well be a main event anywhere in the world, it just makes it even better. You get a chance to see boxing at its best.

“Enjoy, because you never know when you might see great fights like this. They only come around every so many years. Thanks for representing that boxing is still alive.”

ANGEL GARCIA, Danny Garcia’s father and trainer
“People still underestimate the champ of the world.

“People still don’t give the Americans props.

“Danny had to earn his, he had to fight for his. I told him that since he was a young kid, nobody will ever give you anything.

“Danny knows how to win. Saturday night, I swear to you, I will not be back-washing my words. If I am, I will cut my head off. I’ll cut my head off, because blood is thicker than anything.”

ABOUT “THE ONE: MAYWEATHER VS. CANELO”:
“THE ONE: MAYWEATHER VS. CANELO,” a 12-round fight for Canelo’s WBC, WBA and Ring Magazine Super Welterweight World Championships and Mayweather’s WBA Super Welterweight Super World Championship taking place Saturday, Sept. 14 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, is promoted by Mayweather Promotions, Golden Boy Promotions and Canelo Promotions and sponsored by Corona, O’Reilly Auto Parts, AT&T, Valvoline, Mexico Tourism, Fred Loya Insurance and Nature Nutrition. In the 12-round co-featured attraction, WBC, WBA Super and Ring Magazine Super Lightweight World Champion Danny Garcia and thunderous puncher WBC Interim Super Lightweight World Champion Lucas Matthysse square off in a fight presented in association with Swift Promotions and Arano Box Promotions. Also, Ishe Smith vs. Carlos Molina square off in a 12-round battle for Smith’s IBF Junior Middleweight World Title which is promoted in association with Warriors Boxing. The opening bout on SHOWTIME PPV features a 10-round welterweight showdown between Pablo Cesar Cano and Ashley Theophane. The mega-event will be produced and distributed live by SHOWTIME PPV® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. The event can be heard in Spanish using secondary audio programming (SAP).

Less than 24 hours after going on sale in June, the event was sold out, but six MGM Resorts properties will host live closed circuit telecasts of “THE ONE.” Properties showcasing the event include ARIA, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, The Mirage, Monte Carlo and New York-New York. General admission tickets for the closed circuit telecasts are priced at $100, not including handling fees, and are available for purchase at each individual property’s box office outlets and also are available for purchase by phone with a major credit card at 866-799-7711. Closed circuit ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. Tickets also are available through Ticketmaster by calling (800) 745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com. “THE ONE” will also be broadcast on nearly 550 select movie theaters across the country. Tickets are available at participating theater box offices and online at www.FathomEvents.com.

Carlos Molina Trainer Says Molina Going to ‘Beat up’ and ‘Knock Out’ Ishe Smith This Saturday at MGM Grand in Las Vegas

Victor Mateo, trainer of upcoming world title challenger, “King” Carlos Molina says Team Molina has their fighter in the shape of his life and ready to beat up and possibly knock out Ishe Smith this Saturday.

Molina (21-5-2, 6 KOs) will face defending champion and Las Vegas resident Smith (25-5 11 KOs) for the IBF Light Middleweight Championship this Saturday, September 14, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The pair will meet on the pay-per-view televised undercard of the 12-round Floyd “Money” Mayweather vs. Saul “Canelo” Alvarez fight for Canelo’s WBC and WBA Super Welterweight World Championships and Mayweather’s WBA Super Welterweight Super World Championship.

“He’s really strong,” said Mateo of his Chicago-based junior middleweight, Molina. “I never felt this power in him before or seen the look that he has in his eyes. Not too many fighters have this look: the ‘I’m going to kill you’ look. He’s got it. I haven’t seen that look in a fighter in a long time, since Roberto Duran. He’s in the best shape of his life. You’re going to see the best Carlos Molina the world has ever seen on Saturday.”

In preparation for the big fight, Team Molina (consisting of Trainer Mateo, original trainer Lou Askenette, cornerman Harrison “Hammer” Funmaker, and Strength and Conditioning Coach Freddy Cuevas), have been putting in double their usual amount of work at Oakley Fight Club in Chicago.

“It’s been a long training camp. The fight was postponed once before, so we were careful not to burn him out. It went very well. We’re working more on his balance and more a lot of technical stuff. But as far as training we’re just doing more of what we always do.”

Mateo says an unusual series of coincidences brought him and Molina together about seven years ago.

I always say God gave me this direction. I was an amateur boxer, but I gave it up due to a shoulder injury. Years later, my brother Louie suggested I start working with kids at the local gym. I started with this one kid and within six months, he won the junior Olympics and all kids of other tournaments. That’s when I realized I had a talent. From there, I started getting more people and getting good things out of them, even kids they never thought would go anywhere. I was working with another kid, a featherweight who was undefeated. He was getting ready for one of the fights and all of a sudden, I see this guy I’d never seen before standing there. It was Carlos. He asked me if we needed a sparring partner? I said yeah, put your gear on. After the sparring session, the heavyweight Fres Oquendo was ready to go in the ring and Carlos wanted to go spar with Fres! I couldn’t believe it. He would get in with anybody. The following day, Carlos came back to the gym and asked me if I’d work with him. We’ve been together ever since. And a few times since then, I have put him in with heavyweights and he was tearing them up.”

Mateo says he feels blessed to be part of such a big event and is glad he saw what he saw in the raw version of Molina that day.

“People used to tell me all the time that Carlos isn’t going to go anywhere and ask me why was I wasting my time? But I saw something special in him. He was a hard worker. He needed a little more polishing, but he was able to learn and absorb everything. I always felt like he would be champion one day.”

Despite opponent Smith’s contention that the fight will be an easy win for him, Mateo says he’s expecting a big night for his fighter.

“Smith is a strong guy. He likes to throw the double and triple jabs and right hand and likes to counter with the hook a lot. He’s a well-conditioned fighter. It’s not going to be easy, but I guarantee we’re going to win. I see Carlos beating him up and hurting him with pressure, possibly knocking him out.”
ABOUT WARRIORS BOXING

For more information on Warriors Boxing, visit their website at www.WarriorsBoxing.com.

‘King’ Carlos Molina Physically and Mentally Prepared to Reach His Lifelong Dream

Chicago junior middleweight “King” Carlos Molina says he’s had a perfect training camp in preparation to fight for his dream of winning a world championship.

Molina (21-5-2, 6 KOs) will face defending champion and Las Vegas resident Ishe Smith (25-5 11 KOs) for the IBF Light Middleweight Championship on Saturday, September 14, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, on the undercard of the 12-round Floyd “Money” Mayweather vs. Saul “Canelo” Alvarez fight for Canelo’s WBC and WBA Super Welterweight World Championships and Mayweather’s WBA Super Welterweight Super World Championship.

“Training has been going as good as it can get,” said Molina. “I’m used to being the underdog and going into other people’s hometowns and everyone thinking I won’t win. I’m used to dealing with that. I never let anything get me down. I prepare myself mentally and physically for any obstacle.”

Molina, who says winning a world championship would be the realization of his lifelong dream, is trying hard not to get excited or let the pressure of fighting on this year’s biggest boxing event get to him.

“You have to take it as another fight. It’s a good feeling to fight for a title, especially on this stage, but I know that I can’t get excited until I bring the belt back to Chicago. Once I have it, then I can be more excited. I’ve been through a lot of bad decisions and stuff, so I’m just staying focused. Besides, I treated all my fights like they were for a world championship. I have a lot of practice for this fight because every fight I’ve gone into, I’ve mentally told myself it was for a world title. I love the pressure. I feel like it pushes me through camp and keeps me working hard.”

Molina also says the public shots Smith has been taking at him via the Internet are not a concern.

“Nothing he says can bother me. All that talk doesn’t matter. You go in and win and do your job. He’s a well-rounded fighter, but I’m just going to go in there and do what I do and beat him. I can adjust to whatever he brings. Me and my trainer (Victor Mateo [original trainer Lou Askenette also works the corner on fight night] have a plan A through Z and I’ll be ready to adjust to anything.”

It’s been a long, tough and unlikely rise for the previously little-known Molina, but he’s kept himself positive and focused, just as his parents taught him. And now his lifelong dream stands before him with only one man standing in the way. And what will he do if he does each his dream on September 14? He’s already got a new dream in mind.

“The world championship is right there for me for the taking. I have to go get it. That’s what I always wanted since the first day I started boxing. For me to be here and so close to reaching my goal is the greatest feeling. I won’t stop here though. I want this belt, but I want it to be my first of many. I want them all in my division. With my style, I can figure out any boxer. I want to get this title and defend it as much as possible. As long as I’m healthy, I’ll just keep defending it every month or two and fight everybody like they used to do back in the day.”
ABOUT WARRIORS BOXING

For more information on Warriors Boxing, visit their website at www.WarriorsBoxing.com.

UNDEFEATED WELTERWEIGHT & BROOKLYN’S OWN SADAM ALI MAKES HIS GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS DEBUT AT BARCLAYS CENTER’S CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD THEATER ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 IN THE FOURTH INSTALLMENT OF THE GOLDEN BOY LIVE! SERIES ON FOX SPORTS 1 & FOX DEPORTES

BROOKLYN (August 29, 2013) – Making his Golden Boy Promotions debut in his hometown of Brooklyn, undefeated welterweight and 2008 U.S. Olympian Sadam “World Kid” Ali headlines the latest edition of Golden Boy Live! on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes (9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT) against “Smokin” Jay Krupp at Cushman & Wakefield Theater atBarclays Center on Monday, September 30.

The event will also feature two exciting stars in the 140-pound division as Newark, New Jersey’s Michael “The Artist” Perez takes on a tough challenger in Carlos Molina for the WBA Fedelatin Super Lightweight Title, in the pivotal co-main event with the winner looking for championship gold next. Opening the televised portion of the card is a light heavyweight bout between Staten Island’s 2012 U.S. Olympian “Sir” Marcus Browne and St. Louis veteran Kevin “Hitman” Engel, as part of the Barclays Center Anniversary Celebration in Brooklyn.

In exciting undercard bouts, the Bronx’s Emmanuel Gonzalez, Brooklyn’s Claude Staten Jr. and Maryland’s D’Mitrius Ballard will all risk their unbeaten records against opponents to be announced.

Tickets starting at $25, plus applicable taxes and service charges, will go on sale Friday, August 30 at 10:00 a.m. ET. Tickets will be available for purchase at www.barclayscenter.com, www.ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations, by calling 800-745-3000. Tickets will also be available at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center beginning Tuesday, September 3 at noon. For group tickets, please call 800-GROUP-BK.

A limited number of suites are available for the event. For more information on how to reserve one, please call 718-BKSUITE (718-257-8483).

“Brooklyn has become our second home, so it’s only fitting that we come back to help celebrate Barclays Center’s first anniversary with a stacked card,” said Oscar De La Hoya president of Golden Boy Promotions. “The recently signed Sadam Ali is a perfect headliner, as he is a Brooklyn native and unbeaten former Olympian. Plus we have Michael Perez vs. Carlos Molina in an explosive matchup between two fighters hungry for a big win.”

“As we head into year two, Barclays Center has established itself as the home for major boxing on the East Coast,” said Brett Yormark, CEO of Barclays Center. “We are looking forward to welcoming Brooklyn’s own Sadam Ali and are thrilled to team with Golden Boy Promotions for another great night of boxing at Barclays Center.”

“There’s no place like home,” said Brooklyn fighter Sadam Ali. “I’ve seen some great fights at Barclays Center and I have waited for my name to be called to fight here. Now that day has come and I couldn’t be more excited. This is going to be a performance and a win you won’t forget.”

“Sadam Ali’s a great talent with a bright future, but I’ve been waiting years for an opportunity like this and I can’t let it slide,” said Jay Krupp. “I’ve been a fighter my whole life and that’s what this is going to be on September 30, a fight.”

A decorated amateur boxer who was a Junior Olympic, PAL and Under-19 National Champion, as well as a two-time New York Golden Gloves Champion, 24-year-old
Sadam “World Kid” Ali (16-0, 10 KO’s) reached the pinnacle of the amateur game in 2008 when he represented the United States in the Beijing Games. In January of 2009, “World Kid”, who is of Yemen descent, turned professional with a first round technical knockout over Ricky Thompson. Ali has gone on to become a popular fighter in the New York and New Jersey area putting together win after win against increasingly tougher opposition. In his most recent fight on October 27, he knocked out Ronnie Warrior Jr. in the second round.

A native of New Orleans, Louisiana now making his home in Catskill, New York,
“Smokin” Jay Krupp (17-5, 8 KO’s) is a nine-year pro who gained notoriety for being trained by the man who brought Mike Tyson to prominence, Kevin Rooney. Winner of three straight fights, the 30-year-old Krupp most recently won a hard fought eight-round unanimous decision over Milton Ramos on June 21.

Newark’s Michael “The Artist” Perez (18-1-2, 10 KO’s) is a gritty 23-year-old fighter who will do whatever it takes to get the win. In 2010, Perez left his mark as a prospect to watch with his eight-round win over Jose Hernandez, a bout that was a definite “Fight of the Year” candidate. Since then, Perez is unbeaten in five of his last six bouts with the only loss to recently crowned World Champion Omar Figueroa Jr. and a technical draw with Lonnie Smith due to a cut from a clash of heads. Unbeaten in New York, Perez hopes to keep the streak going on September 30 in front of his local fans.

A product of the ultra-competitive Southern California boxing scene, where the battles in the gym are as intense as the ones on fight night, Carlos Molina (17-1-1, 7 KO’s) has emerged as a top prospect ready to take his game to the next level. Coming off of a tough 10-round meeting with former Unified World Champion Amir Khan last December, the 27-year-old Molina is eager to get back in the ring in his comfortable weight class of 135 pounds and show off the crisp counterpunching form that has led him to 17 victories thus far in his professional career.

Unbeaten as a professional, Staten Island’s “Sir” Marcus Browne (6-0, 6 KO’s) has made a seamless adjustment from the amateurs (where he represented the United States in the 2012 Olympics) to the pros. Fresh from a knockout victory over Robert Hill on the first Golden Boy Live! card on August 19, the 22-year-old will take a big step up against Engel on September 30. This will be Browne’s fourth time fighting in his adopted home at Barclays Center.

St. Louis’ Kevin “Hitman” Engel (20-8, 16 KO’s) is a hard-hitting veteran ready to push Browne to the limit. Having been in the ring with Anthony Dirrell, Thomas Williams Jr., Edwin Rodriguez and Dallas Vargas, the 33-year-old has the experience and power to make it a rough night for the highly-touted Browne in Brooklyn.

A full undercard will be announced shortly. For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com or www.sports.sho.com, follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.twitter.com/realworldkidali, www.twitter.com/SmokinJK,www.twitter.com/theartistperez,www.twitter.com/carlosmolina562,www.twitter.com/barclayscenter and follow the conversation using #GoldenBoyLive, become a fan on Facebook at Golden Boy Facebook Page and visit us on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing. For more information on FOX Sports 1 visit www.FOXSports.com/FOXSports1 and become a follower on Twitter at www.twitter.com/@FOXSports @FOXSports1 and @FOXSportsPR.

DANNY GARCIA, LUCAS MATTHYSSE, ISHE SMITH, CARLOS MOLINA, PABLO CESAR CANO AND ASHLEY THEOPHANE DISCUSS THEIR UPCOMING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHTS ON SEPT. 14 AT MGM GRAND GARDEN ARENA IN LAS VEGAS, NEV.

Kelly Swanson
Thanks everybody for joining us today for “THE ONE” media conference call with the pay-per-view undercard fighters. At this point, I’m going to turn it right over to our hosts of the call; that’s both Oscar De La Hoya and Leonard Ellerbe; Oscar is President of Golden Boy Promotions and Leonard Ellerbe is CEO of Mayweather Promotions. So I’m going to turn it over to Oscar, and then he will introduce Leonard.

Oscar De La Hoya
Yes. We are one month away from the mega event, “The One: Floyd Mayweather vs. Canelo Alvarez,” which will be a 12-round fight for Canelo’s WBC and WBA and Ring Magazine Super Welterweight World title and Mayweather’s WBA Super Welterweight Super World Championship. We also have a tremendous co-main event, Danny Garcia vs. Lucas Matthysse, which obviously you all know that fight could have been a pay-per-view itself, but for the fans Mayweather decided along with Ellerbe and Golden Boy Promotions that this fight belongs on the big stage along with Floyd Mayweather and Canelo Alvarez. That will be a unification fight for the lightweight world title. Also, Mayweather promotions put on a tremendous undercard, co-main event with Ishe Smith vs. Carlos Molina. Ishe Smith is promoted by Mayweather Promotions. Also another spectacular fight with Pablo Cesar Cano, who had a tremendous fight against Sugar Shane Mosley in Cancun, Mexico a few weeks ago, is fighting against Ashley Theophane, which will be a ten-rounder in the welterweight showdown.

This event is being brought to you live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions along with Canelo Promotions. We are excited and thrilled to once again by hosting the live events throughout the MGM properties, which will host the closed circuits at ARIA, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, The Mirage, Monte Carlo and New York-New York. Also, to make sure that fans get a unique experience nationwide, for all the fans who cannot make it to Las Vegas or watch it at home on pay-per-view, NCM Fathom will be showing Mayweather-Canelo on over 400 movie theatres to get that experience with other fans. Get your popcorn, your drinks, and experience this once in a lifetime opportunity to watch a Mayweather vs. Canelo and the entire card in movie theaters.

It’s a wonderful wonder experience. I really recommend this experience to anyone who hasn’t seen a fight. We’re expecting this even to shatter all records. We have broken one record already, which is the live gates and those are obviously indications that this event will break the pay-per-view record of 2.5 million homes so it’s very exciting for boxing. It’s very exciting for all the fighters, everybody participating so let’s show the world that this is “THE ONE.” This is the one that is going to put boxing on that worldwide stage and show everyone that boxing is the best sport in the world.

So without any further ado, I would like to introduce to you the CEO of Mayweather Promotions and that is Leonard Ellerbe.

Leonard Ellerbe
I’d like to welcome everyone to the call today. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to join us. We have a tremendous event, obviously, on September 14th and it all starts, with the Mayweather vs. Canelo. We have three other undercard bouts—two of those which are world championship fights, so we’ve got a total of three world championship fights on the card. This is the biggest pay-per-view card definitely that I can recall in recent history from top to bottom.

And to start off in the first fight on the show a gentleman, he’s originally from London, England. He’s now living in Las Vegas fighting out of the Mayweather Boxing Club, a gentleman that I just recently signed last week, a guy who I would say is the definition of what a blue-collar worker is all about, a guy who didn’t have it easy. He worked his way through fighting some very, very tough fights. He owns victories over Delvin Rodriguez who is getting ready to fight Miguel Cotto. He’s beaten a number of different top guys along with DeMarcus Corley who took forward 12-rounds. He’s just a very, very tough fighter. A guy who we’re very proud to have on our stable, so without further ado, I’d like to introduce Ashley Theophane. He’s 33-5 with one draw with 10 KO’s.

Ashley Theophane
It’s a pleasure to be on “THE ONE” card. It’s the biggest boxing event in the world. It’s going to be one of the biggest ever and it’s a big achievement on that. Leonard and Floyd have put me on the card and I’m looking forward to it. And for me, obviously, I’ve got Pablo Cano. He’s fought Erik Morales. He’s fought Paulie Malignaggi. He’s fought Johan Perez, Shane Mosley. He is a very tough operator, and I’m going to be in great shape, but to me every time he steps up is when he’s lost, and to me this is another step up, and he’s going to lose again, but I respect him. And I’m saying I’m going to be 110 percent ready, and I didn’t fly over here from London, England to take a loss, that’s not even on my mind. I’m training with the best in the world. I’ve got a great training team, and we’re going to be ready for “The One” and it’s an honor to be on the show with—you’ve got Ishe Smith who is world champ. You’ve got Danny Garcia who is world champ. You’ve got Lucas Matthysse, and then you’ve got the pound-for-pound king who is Floyd Mayweather himself so it’s a great card. It’s one of the best I’ve ever seen, and it’s going to break records.

For me coming from London, England it’s a very big deal. It’s all over the news in England that I’m part of Mayweather Promotions, and I’m representing the UK and at the same time I’m representing like Mayweather Promotions, which is the face of boxing. Mayweather Promotions is taking over boxing. They’ve just had their first world champion, Ishe Smith who is the first Las Vegas born world champ. So it’s great to be part of such a great team, and I have to thank Floyd and Leonard again for this great opportunity that they believe in me and I believe in me. So it’s just all about taking it to the next level and Pablo is the—he’s the great step in the right direction so I want to thank everyone.

Q
Ashley, can you just give us some perspective on what you already did, on you know how big it is to sign with Mayweather Promotions at this point in your career, and also, how important it is at your age to reignite your career against someone like Pablo?

Theophane
Well, it’s great to be with Mayweather Promotions at any point in your career if you’re just starting out, if you’re in the middle of it, or if you’re at the end of it. I’ve been a professional for ten years now, and to me it feels like the right time. Floyd has been a professional for years, for nearly 18 years. I’ve been a professional for ten. You’ve got to have been around for a long time. I still feel that I’ve got a lot left in me, another five or six years so.
I’m not worried about the age. I’m 32-years-old. I’m going to be 33 but if you look at the guys who Pablo lost to he lost to guys who were in their 30s so experience is a very—youth is good but experience at the same time is—you can’t buy experience and that’s what I’ve got. I’m a smart fighter. I’m a strong fighter. I’ve been in with like some good like boxers. There’s Delvin Rodrigues. He’s going to fight Miguel Cotto next. You’ve got Garcia – he’s going to fight Lucas Matthysse. I’ve beaten DeMarcus Corley. He’s fought everyone in boxing. I’ve been British champ so I’ve been around the block. I’ve sparred with the very best in boxing so to me I’m at a good point in my career, and I don’t want no easy fight. This is going to be my … fight. I’m training up with Mayweather Promotions. With them behind my back the world is my oyster and Leonard and Floyd both believe in me and it’s just up to me to do it in the ring and that’s what I’m going to do.

Q
Do you still believe that you could still win a world title maybe even despite your age?

Theophane
Yes, 100 percent. You don’t have to be a world champion in your 20s. Like there’s no age where if you’re 32-years-old you can’t win a world title. Ishe Smith has shown—he won his first world title—oh, I think he was 34-years-old or 33-years-old so it doesn’t matter because everyone they get their—because they get their opportunities at different times in their careers so the age is not an issue. I still feel good. I’m 32-years-old. I haven’t been in like many hard fights because I’m a smart boxer and I have a good defense. The age it doesn’t play a role. I eat well. I don’t smoke. I don’t drink. You don’t see me out in the clubs so the age is not an issue.

Q
And have you set a time limit on when you can—how long you want to wait to do it?

Theophane
Well, I’ve been a pro for ten years. I would be—I’m happy to be a professional for another five years so I’m cool. Floyd is 36-years-old now and he’s still in great shape. If he wanted to continue to go on like Oscar did with SHOWTIME he could. If you live the life you can’t put an age restriction. You’ve got Bernard Hopkins, he’s well in to his 40s and it’s not an issue. I don’t want to be boxing when I’m 40-years-old but I’ve set a goal. I’ve had 39 fights so I’m just focused on this fight and to get a win; that’s it. That is the most important thing.

Q
Ashley, when you look at your opponent he’s had some notable fights. Do you take that into consideration knowing that you want to make it big in the states and want to win, of course, a world title and not—as you just finished saying, you may—whether you said it or not you may be patterning your career under Mayweather and you want to have a world title before it’s all over. So what are you doing in consideration to prepare for Cano?

Theophane
Well, if nothing really changes I’m always in shape so it’s just continuing to put forth the hard work in the gym to do my runs, my swimming and stuff, and it’s all about just being focused and being smart. I’m not going to really change anything up. I’ve watched him fight in the past and to me every time he stepped up he lost. He may have 20 KO’s but you have to look who is he knocking out? He’s knocking nobody out. You’ve got Erik Morales. You’ve got Paulie Malignaggi, and you’ve got Shane Mosley so every time he stepped up he lost. If you look at the guys who I beat and you look at the guys who he beat there’s no comparison, so that is what you have to go by. But with every fight you have to respect your opponent, and I respect him because all of those fights that he stepped up he gave them a very hard fight so I expect a hard fight, but I expect to win as well.

Q
Boxing takes all of your life. Mayweather said—and I’m quoting Floyd Mayweather and I think he’s absolutely right because 44 tried and 44 failed. He said that, “Boxing is a 24/7 business not a 9 to 5er.” Do you believe in that concept?

Theophane
One hundred percent and you have to see that. I’ve been a professional for ten years. I’ve never had it easy so I had to go on the road. I’ve boxed in five countries. I’ve won in five countries, but I’ve never had it easy. For me I’m used to being in the backyard and having to fight the promoters’ guy and I’m supposed to lose and I win. So for me I’m used to doing it the hard way so to finally have a team to back me and believe in me that’s only going to make me a better fighter because I know that they have my back. So for me I’m just continuing to work hard and to even work even harder. So we have a young lion who may—he may watch me and think that I’m old now and it’s his time, but he fought that against the other three guys he stepped up to and he always was a bit short. He’s going to be a bit short again because I’m in that class where he stepped up. He is going to lose. It’s just how but I’m focused and I live the life. I don’t party. I don’t drink. I don’t smoke so I don’t put no limit on what I can achieve.

Q
Ashley, Do you have a weight at which you feel most comfortable and when you’re ready to fight for a title it’s just going to matter on the best opportunity or do you have a particular weight class in mind?

Theophane
Well, all through my career I’ve boxed being the junior welterweight and welterweight division so I don’t really like to restrict myself. It’s just on the opportunity, the opponent. I want to fight the best in the world in both divisions so I make weight like good so I’m okay. The weight issue is not a problem for me.

Q
Leonard, I just wanted to ask what caught your eye about Ashley that led Mayweather Promotions to want to sign him and put him on this show?

Ellerbe
Well, Ashley’s a gentleman that I’m very familiar with. I’ve been watching him work for the last couple months. He’s a guy that once I did my research on him—obviously, I had watched him in the Danny Garcia fight a couple years ago and it was a fight that I personally thought that he got the bad end of the stick. And he’s a gentleman that like I say he has tremendous character. I think that he’s had a tough road, as he just mentioned, with going in other fighters’ backyards and getting it done the hard way. So now with us—with him being part of Mayweather Promotions I think that we’re going to go out and create these opportunities, and he just has to go out and win. And I think that he will be a guy that the world will get a chance to see him on September 14th. He’ll put on a tremendous fight, and he’s going to make a lot of noise, and he’s going to be right there in the thick of things with the Danny Garcias and Lucas Matthysses right off the bat.

Q
My question for Ashley was I just was curious how he came to wind up in Vegas training at Mayweather’s gym and how he had kind of met them and wound up with them. I heard what Leonard had said a little earlier about seeing him and doing his research, but I’m curious how and when that Ashley ended up in Las Vegas working with Floyd and the gym.

Theophane
Well, it goes back to Cotto camp when I came over to Vegas because I was in New York. That’s where I normally train and I was there for like eight weeks, and I knew that Floyd was going to fight. I just thought that I would just come over as part of my camp and just do two weeks at the Mayweather Boxing Club. I came over for two weeks. Leonard and Floyd were very nice to me. The sparring there it was great. When I left back I wished Floyd well in his fight with Miguel Cotto, and then the next time came for the Robert Guerrero fight and I had other fight which was going to come up so I said I’ll go out to Vegas again, went out to Vegas for four weeks for this time. I was sparring with great guys, and I just liked the vibe at the gym. The Mayweather Promotions team was all like just friendly with me and I just stayed there for like the whole camp, and it just went on like this from there. So I think Leonard and Floyd just heard about the work that I was putting in the gym, and then I got to spar with Floyd and it was just step-by-step, bit-by-bit just keep working, the way I’ve done my whole career just putting in the work. Floyd and Leonard listened to what others were—like said that I was a good boxer and they got my record, and then the rest is history. I signed up with Mayweather Promotions to take it to the next level now.

Q
I have one other question for you, Ashley, and Leonard made reference to it in his comments about thinking that maybe you came out on the wrong end of the stick in the very close good fight you had with Garcia a couple years ago, which is really the first time he had ever faced what people would consider yourself one of the top guys in the weight class. I’m curious to see him in this undercard fighting in the co-feature and a pretty big fight. Do you feel like with a good performance on a card in which he is also features that you could perhaps if he does okay in his fight get a rematch with him like for the title?

Theophane
You know I don’t focus on one opponent because there’s many great boxers in the welterweight and the junior welterweight division, but if a rematch happens it happens. A lot of people thought that I beat him the first time around. To me it was a close fight and they gave it to him. It happens in boxing, but the fight could happen down the line. I thought I won the first time. I’ve watched him fight and he’s big so I’m very happy that he’s gone on to be a world champ, but I don’t think that he has improved much since I watched him fight. He beat Amir Khan. He beat Erik Morales, but other than that I haven’t really seen much improvement, but you never know. It could happen in the future. I just want to fight in the division, and I’m not just going to focus on one man. It’s whoever.

Oscar De La Hoya
Now I would like to introduce to you the other participant, which will be fighting Theophane. He has a record of 26-3-1, 20 KO’s. He hales out of Mexico, Tlalnepantla, Mexico. He’s one of the top hopefuls from Mexico. We would consider him a future world champion who is fighting the best and this is no exception. Theophane is a fighter who is going to bring his a-game and Cano understands that. He’s coming off two close decision losses against Paulie Malignaggi and Shane Mosley. Obviously, we know him making his breakthrough battle against legendary Eric Morales, and so he’s always here to put on a show. He’s in tremendous shape now. He’s ready to take the world by storm September 14th so let me introduce to you Pablo Cesar Cano.

Q
Pablo, what has your preparation been for this fight with Ashley?

Pablo Cesar Cano
I understand I came off two controversial fights, but I am preparing very hard. I am 100% ready and I am not looking for a knockout. I am just looking to make a great fight, and just give the fans what they want.

Q
You are very young. Do you feel that’s an advantage?

Cano
I believe it is an advantage however there are older boxers just like Bernard Hopkins that even though he’s at an older age he’s still very strong, very fast, and I believe age is nothing but a number, and I’m going to just give 100 percent and fight a great fight.

Q
Pablo, you’ve been in with three former champions and lost close decisions. Is there any concern that after this fight you could, at an early age, slip in to opponent status or more or less sparring partner mentality?

Cano
I understand I have been in three close fights with three great champions with great names and that I have gained a lot of experience, and with that experience I’m taking that in to account with my new plans. I’m just going to fight, and gain more experience there. I just believe that I am going to give a great fight.

Swanson
We will now make the transition to our next set of fighters and will turn it over to Leonard to make the introductions. Leonard.

Ellerbe
Mayweather Promotions’ first world champion, what can I say? A gentleman that has been the epitome of what hard work and dedication is all about. He’s a guy that’s been around the sport for quite some time. He’s had his ups and downs but he’s persevered. He’s a guy that’s obviously just not even a year ago was initially—you know got the opportunity to come in, worked with Floyd to help him prepare to get ready for Cotto, and he made the most of the opportunity because he’s a guy that we’ve been familiar with for quite some time. He’s been knowing the whole Mayweather family for a number of years. A guy that we know firsthand the kind of setbacks that happened in the sport and a lot of times it’s really about the right situation that you’re in to protect your best interest and he was a guy that we took under our wing. We got him an opportunity with “K-9” Bundrage for the world title, and he definitely made the most of that opportunity and the sky is the limit. He’s a guy, like I said, who represents not only Las Vegas with being the first born Las Vegas world champion, which is a tremendous feat within itself, but he’s a very, very proud champion. He understands what being world champion is about. He has a responsibility to that, and he wants to be the best that he can be. He’s a guy, like I said, I personally admire quite a bit. Without further ado, I’d like to introduce the IBF Junior Middleweight Champion, none other than Ishe Smith.

Ishe Smith
Training is going great. I had put in eight weeks before I suffered the cut to fight July 19th and we took a couple weeks off and got right back in the gym so training has been great. It’s just a fabulous, wonderful opportunity to be fighting on this card; the biggest card of my career. You know I’m not the main event. It’s just an honor. It’s just sometimes I just can’t believe it. It’s taken me 13 years to be on a big card, but I’m truly honored. I’m truly blessed, and I wouldn’t be here without God and just without him placing the right people in my life, like Mayweather Promotions people. It’s been a great ride. It’s been a real good ride.

Ellerbe
This next gentleman has been around for quite some time himself. He’s a guy that’s finally getting his shot after quite some time. He began making a lot of noise with his definitely heavily disputed draw against Lara in 2011. He’s won four of his last five fights. He has beat former world champions like Kermit Cintron and Cory Spinks with his only loss coming with a controversial DQ against James Kirkland in March of 2012. He’s a very, very tough competitor. It took quite some time for me to make this fight happen, and we were more than happy to put this fight as a world championship fight on the biggest card ever, and we know that Carols Molina—he’s a very, very tough fighter, and he’s coming to win, and his promotional company, Warriors Boxing, they’ve been behind supporting him, and, like I say, he’s coming to lay it on the line come September 14th. So, without further ado, I’d like to introduce Carlos Molina.

Carlos Molina
I’m ready. I had a good training. I was ready July 19th. We’ve been training all summer long and the best shape of my life. I’m just entering my time in my career. I just turned 30-years-old. I’m feeling great. I’m feeling my best and I am ready for September 14th.

Q
I have a question and maybe Ishe and Carlos you can both answer this. I’ll start off with Ishe. I know you probably would have liked to have the fight when it was originally planned on July 19th after participating in your training camp and doing all the things you do to get ready for the fight, but now looking back is it almost better for you do you think that this fight was postponed and now you get to be on a much, much bigger stage than you would have otherwise been on previously?

Smith
I think so. It’s a privilege to, like I said, to be on the biggest card of my career, bigger than any contender card I ever fought on, bigger than any show boxing main event, bigger than any co-features that I’ve been on. It’s a blessing. July 19th was because I work a lot with the youth out here in Vegas. I coach various sports, and I had a lot of people coming in town and these tickets are already sold out so it’s disheartening. Now I’m not able to have the people that can’t get tickets or can’t afford these kind of priced tickets to come see me fight but they’ll be tuned in on TV watching on pay-per-view. And like I said, it’s just an honor. Mayweather Promotions made sure that I get another date at home after this so it definitely is an honor. I don’t take it for granted at all.

Q
And Carlos, how about yourself? Like you just said you were going to fight the 19th on TV but not on a big mega card like this. Do you think from the way you look at it it’s almost better to be on this level of a show than had you been on that other card on the 19th?

Molina
Yeah well I mean like to me really it doesn’t matter where it is. I just want to fight. I want to fight for the IBF belt and wherever it happens to be—this happens to be an even greater opportunity I feel, but like I said it doesn’t really matter as long as I get the title shot and get that belt. But yeah to be on a big card like this and get all that exposure that’s definitely better.

Q
Well, especially because the main event happens to be taking place in the same weight class where you guys both fight, and certainly people will look at that main event, look at the winner of the fight between you two, and it’s certainly not out of the question if the winner wants to further unify the title they would have to see you. Do you think about at as a prospect of—it may be a long shot but—landing a shot with the winner against Alvarez or Floyd?

Molina
Yes, definitely. I mean right now, first things first is, Ishe. I’m ready for that fight. The belt, without that it’s nothing else but getting that and making a statement in this fight, and then being considered to be—being on the radar for these guys. If they don’t want to give me the fight right away I’ll be really—I’ll be willing to fight anyone. Just keep winning and sooner or later you might get that.

Q
All right. I have just one other question for you, Ishe. With regard to the cut that you suffered, how bad was it and how is it now?

Smith
It was pretty bad at the time, but we have great doctors. I was able to see a doctore here in town, and we did the right things we needed to do, and it’s healed up really well. I’ve been sparring for some weeks now and everything is going perfect, everything is great.

Q
Ishe Smith, I have been following you for years before the contender series but you remind me of a very young Sugar Ray Robison and that is the truth. I’m wondering how come after the contender you seem to fall off the radar screen and I didn’t see you for years and years until now finally Golden Boy—not Golden Boy but Mayweather Promotions finally put you where you belonged a long time ago. I see the emotion broke out of you when you won the title. Has it been frustrating all these years to finally come up in to a title owner and under the biggest fight of the year card?

Smith
Well, you know I think as a man I needed to go through those things. Those things you can’t predict life. Obviously, it’s not the way I scripted it starting off and then going to the contender, but things happen and I couldn’t be happier with my life where it is right now. I have some very important people that have helped me get to where I am today, and without them I wouldn’t be where I am, and that’s why I’m always grateful to Mayweather Promotions and everything that they’ve done for me. But you know this is the biggest card. It don’t matter what happened in the past. This is probably arguably the biggest card in the last ten to fifteen years just because of the main event and the co-feature so it’s a privilege and an honor to be on this card, and, like I said, as a man I think I needed to go through those trials and tribulations to be where I am today and I’m truly blessed.

Q
Yeah this question both of you can answer. Given your past and you both had tough luck stories—and Ishe, I thought you beat Fernando Guerrero by the way—knowing what you’ve been through, each of you, and knowing who you’re fighting has been through similar situations could this, for both of you, and each of you answer, be the most difficult fight and at the same time probably bring out the best in each of you? Can each of you answer that question?

Molina
Ishe is a pretty well-rounded fighter. I feel like the harder I train—it depends on how hard I train to make the fight easier for me, so I’m not sure. I can’t say something like that until I actually get in there and go through it and do it, but I feel like it is going to bring out the best in me because there’s a championship fight that I would have. Even though I train for every fight and I can pine for the championship fight this is it right here. This is what I visualized since I started boxing and it’s right in front of me, and I’m so focused. I’m so ready. I’m ready to go. I wish the fight was closer.

Smith
Whenever you’re world champion you know you’ve got a lot of people gunning for you and coming to take what you’ve earned and what you fought hard to accomplish. And I was able to do that in Detroit, and I don’t want to fall victim to looking past Carlos. He’s a tough competitor, and I’ve trained really hard so I won’t have any hiccups and I don’t have any trip ups. This fight we’re in tremendous shape and I’m ready to go, but I think it’s going to be a good night of boxing. Everyone on the card is going to be great from top to bottom, and I’m looking forward to putting on a tremendous fight for all the Las Vegas fans and all the fans across the world who will be tuned in on pay-per-view.

Q
One more question for Ishe. Can you address Carlos’ style? Have you faced anybody with guess awkward would be the best word?

Smith
I’ve faced all kinds of styles. They said K-9 was going to be too big and strong for me and he was awkward. You don’t worry about styles; skills pay the bills, and come September 14th I’ll be ready to go and I’ll be keeping my title here at home. I don’t worry about he going to fight. I just have to listen to my coach and go out there and execute the game plan, and I feel like the one fight I didn’t do that—where I didn’t listen to him was the only fight I lost and that was Danny Jacobs. But, as you said, I thought I beat Guerrero and since I’ve been with Eddie we haven’t lost a fight at 154 pounds so I’m extremely excited to be defending my title at home. To accomplish so much in my career in such a short period of time being with Mayweather Promotions and having this wonderful opportunity to fight on the biggest state in boxing is just amazing.

Q
Ishe, first of all you’ve ended up with an opponent who is, in my mind, going to be much trickier than K-9 Bundrage. Why did you select him as an opponent? How did that come to be? This is a fight nobody saw coming, and do you see any parallels between youself and Molina? You have had similar circumstances coming up.

Smith
He’s a hard worker. You can’t really say that he’s tougher or trickier than K-9 because K-9 was a world champion. Like I said, I don’t worry about styles. I just go in there and fight my fight. I told Leonard to make this fight. I fold Leonard when I won the title that he was going to be the first guy I fought. I didn’t have to make this mandatory until November but I respect his story. I respect where he come from, and I want to give the fans what they want, and I want to fight the best. That’s just the bottom line. I want to fight the best in my division and go out on top. When I retire I want to be talked about and I want to be remembered, and I think that’s what everybody wants in this game, and I think I’ve already left a legacy by being the first Las Vegas born world champion but it’s not complete. We still writing the script and, like I said, I’m excited to be fighting on the biggest card in boxing and I can’t wait to go.

Q
You’re a titleholder now. Have you changed any in your day-to-day approach to life or has anything changed in your mind or what you do or how you approach things in general?

Smith
You know you’ve become champion it just takes your training to another level because you realize you got guys coming for you. There’s not a week that I can’t go by without somebody mentioning my name so that all comes with the territory. I haven’t changed anything. I still work very hard. I still train hard, and I’m ready to defend my title and keep my title.

Swanson
Thank you very much gentlemen. We will now move on to our co-featured fight of the evening and I would like to reintroduce Oscar De La Hoya to make the introductions.

De La Hoya
It is very exciting to be introducing what we expect is an explosion come September 14th with two great fighters, and I am saying great because you have on one hand Lucas Matthysse who has a tremendous, tremendous record, an outstanding knockout ratio, 94% of his wins come by knockout; and on the other hand you have the champion Danny Garcia who is undefeated, 26-0, 16 KO’s who keeps on proving to every single person day in and day out that he is going to be great. He is going to be taking all comers. This is a fight that, like I said before, belongs on its own pay-per-view on any given day. This is a fight that the people have been waiting for. This is a fight that when you finish watching if you do not love boxing already you will fall in love with the sport because this is what it’s all about. Putting Lucas Matthysse against Danny Garcia in that same squared ring will be a tremendous, night for every boxing fan across the globe.

Let me introduce to you first—he is rated number one at 140 pounds by the Ring Magazine, has scored a staggering 94% of his wins by knockout. He does possess the highest KO percentage of any world champion in history, and has won six fights in a row by KO including his third round KO of Lamont Peterson on May 18th. He has a record of 34-2, 32 KO’s, Trelew, Chubut, Argentina, Lucas “The Machine” Matthysse.

Lucas Matthysse
Hi. Good afternoon. I’m here at the gym trying to train. We’re sparring and I’m very happy and pleased to be on this call.

De La Hoya
Now, I’m going to introduce to you a young man who needs no introduction. He is the unified super lightweight world champion. He first won his world title in 2012 by dropping then … legendary Erik Morales for the WBC 140 pound title, and, like I said before, he keeps proving everyone who has doubt in him—he keeps proving them wrong in every fight that he’s in. He has great knockout power but at the same time he does possess the talent of a boxer/puncher. He hales out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is the unified super lightweight world champion with a record of 26-0, 16KO’s, Danny “Swift” Garcia.

Danny Garcia
Hey. What’s up, everybody? I want to say good afternoon to everybody. I hope you’re having a blessed day, and I’m very motivated for this fight. I’ve been working hard in the gym, and I’m very excited for September 14th and it’s going to be another epic showcase by me that night.

Q
Lucas, what is your plan for this fight?

Matthysse
I am training very hard. It’s a hard fight but I’m going to give the fans what they want, and I’m going to bring the win to Argentina.

Q
Lucas, Danny Garcia as an athlete and as a fighter or are you going to go in to the ring and just give it your all?”

Matthysse
I respect Danny as a fighter. He’s a great champion, but I am going to give the fight 100%.

Q
Lucas, can you talk about what it has been like for you since you’ve signed with Al Haymon? Do you have this new sense that you’re going to be able to be in big fights such as this in your future?

Matthysse
Yes the plans are to have bigger and greater fights and to continue fighting.

Q
Danny, just from some of the stuff that I’ve read and some of the way your father has reacted I get the sense that he feels you’re not being as respected as a champion as you feel you should be and he feels you should be, and, in fact, that maybe you’re not being treated as or perceived as the a-side. Most notably, he talked about Lucas’ presence on the cover of Ring Magazine. What are your thoughts? What do you have to say about that and is that true?

Garcia
You know I really don’t care what the media thinks or who they think is the best because in my heart I know I’m the best, and I hold the titles, and September 14th is going to be another day at work for me, and I’m just going to defend my title. I’m still champion and the people who don’t believe hey that’s their problem. I know in my heart I’m the best 140 pound fighter in the world, and I’m going to show it on September 14th.

Q
Last question for you, that left hook sequence—where Lucas dropped Lamont Peterson with his left hook, and obviously Peterson landed his but it didn’t have as much of an effect. You are known as the left hooker. If that sequence happens in your fight can you kind of address what might happen? Do you think he’s seen a left hook like yours?

Garcia
We’ll have to see. I’ve fought big punchers. I took big shots before, but Peterson when he threw that left hook he was more in a position that’s why he got the end of it. But I’m just going to be smart. I’m going to do what I do best, make adjustments in the fight and get the victory.

Q
Okay. My question is for Danny Garcia; Danny, do you think that for this match the winner deserves the fight with Mayweather and Canelo’s winner? Do you think you are ready for the fight with Mayweather?

Garcia
It’s a big fight but I’ve got to worry about my fight. I’m not really worried about the future right now. My future is Lucas Matthysse and I’m not looking past him, but that’s up to Golden Boy and Al Haymon and whatever they want to do. I’m just a fighter and that’s what I do is fight, so whoever they put me against that’s what I do.

Q
Why do you think that the people doesn’t believe you after the many fights, many knockouts in favor of you?

Garcia
I really don’t know because I feel like I’m before my time a lot of people still don’t understand it because I’m not supposed to be here right now. It wasn’t supposed to be my time right now. I made it my time. I took it and the people still don’t understand it but I’m just going to keep building my legacy and proving myself.

Q
My question for Lucas is he had such an easy time knocking out Lamont Peterson, I wondered did he anticipate that victory was going to be as easy as it, at least, looked on the outside of the ring, and does he think that he can do something similar and make that kind of statement against Garcia?

Matthysse
Going in to the Lamont Peterson fight was difficult at the beginning but then it became easy for me and that’s why I knocked him out. With Danny Garcia, I have prepare myself but I believe that I’m going to do my best and just give a great fight.

Q
Do you think though that the end result could be the same, an early knockout because your power at least it looks so good in his recent fights?

Matthysse
I respect Danny Garcia as a champion. I am going to give a lot of resistance, but I feel that I am confident enough to give a great fight. It is going to be a difficult fight but I’m not looking for a knockout. I am looking to have a great victory and give a great fight.

Q
I have just one other question for Lucas. Some of the comments Danny has made—although he is showing respect for Lucas it doesn’t sound like he really thinks a whole lot of his punching power. He has said that he has a built up record in Argentina where he really didn’t fight a lot of top opponents, and then when he came to the United States and fought people like Zab Judah, like Devin Alexander that—the way Danny described it was as soon as somebody hit him back he lost, and that the record and the knockout power is maybe a little overrated. How does Lucas respond to that?

Matthysse
On September 14th I’m going to prove to Danny—That’s going to be the proof that when he feels my punches if they’re strong enough or not, and that will either give him the benefit of the doubt if he is strong.”

Q
How do you think the ambiance is going to be around Las Vegas? There’s going to be a lot more Mexicans than there is Argentinians. Do you believe the Mexicans are going to be behind your back?”

Matthysse
Yes. I believe the Mexicans will be behind me; although, there will be a few Argentinians there to support me and to see a great fight.

Q
If there is a victory against Danny Garcia what element will it give you with the Argentinian public?”

Matthysse
I would be on top of the world. The Argentinians will—it would be the best fight of my life.

Q
Hey, Danny. I know that you said that your job is just—on your team is just as a fighter but the reality was this fight was on the table for a while. How soon after your win over Zab Judah did you realize that you would probably be fighting Lucas Matthysse?

Garcia
I accepted the fight when he came to me. I think it was about five, six weeks ago, five weeks, six weeks ago. As soon as the fight was gave to me I accepted it but it took them time because the negotiations; you know it’s a big fight. It’s not an easy fight to make, and as my fighter I accepted the fighter. Me and my dad we accepted the fight and the negotiations—where the fight was going to take place, the money so it was a lot of things but the fight got done. I’m happy and then I’m happy to give the fans again what they want.

Q
I guess what I was trying to get at like when you—before you even accept a card do you have like an idea of who you want to fight next? I know you’re the type, you know I fight whoever they put in front of me, but obviously I know you always want to fight the best. Did you recognize Matthysse as the best of the lot and that you would have to fight him? Not that you would have to fight him but fight him to prove that you are the best.

Garcia
Yeah no doubt it was a fight that the fans wanted and the boxing world. He’s buzzing off his last two victories; his last two knockout wins so the fight was built up. Showtime made it big. The media made it big so it was only worth it to fight with me.

Ellerbe
I want to touch on to what Danny just added on. I just think this is kind of important. A lot of times when you have big events like this and obviously this is a main event on its own, but there was a lot of criticism coming Danny’s way, unjustifiable, by members of the media and the fans because obviously those out there who thought that Danny was unafraid to take the fight. But let me go on the record with this; I know firsthand. Obviously, I have a very close working relationship with my business partner and everyone knows who that is and we at least talk ten times a day. Danny and his dad, I know firsthand, have been very, very adamant that they wanted that fight to the point where they were bugging Haymon about making the fight. What’s taking so long?

I just want to be clear that this is a fight that Danny and his dad wanted from the very beginning. It’s just a matter of the things that take time for fights to come together, and it’s just not simple little things. Obviously, when you’re talking about large amounts of revenue and other particulars that come in to play because that’s great but you know fighters at this level there’s no such thing about being scared of one another. When it comes down to it nobody is scared to make money. Danny didn’t get to this level—his father is a tremendous trainer. They didn’t get to where they’re out—Lucas didn’t get to where they’re at—two fighters being scared of one another. This is a tremendous fight and this is the fight that the fans have demanded and both guys want to fight and it’s going to be a great fight come September 14th. I just wanted to add on the fact that I know firsthand that Danny and his dad had demanded this fight to the point where they were bugging Mr. Haymon about what was taking so long in getting this fight made.

Q
Danny, I know that you were ringside for Lucas’ KO Peterson and you’re a champion. I mean we all know that you have the ability and the goods to make this happen and pull off a victory, but I’m just wondering what you’re doing psychologically to prepare yourself because he’s a scary dude.

Garcia
I’m doing the same thing I always do, just training hard, and yeah he has power but I have power too so if he’s not careful he’s going to get hurt. But I’m not going in there worrying about another man. I’m doing what I do best and just training hard, staying focused, and adapting; adapting to the fight. I’m not going in there worrying about another man’s power. I’ve got power myself so I’m just going to go in there, make adjustments and get the job done.

Q
Hey, Danny. Was the random blood testing as a result of what happened with Eric Morales or is it something that’s related to suspicions that have crept up concerning Lucas’ camp or his results in fights?

Garcia
No. That has nothing to do with Lucas Matthysse. Ever since I won the world title, ever since I bet Erik Morales the first time, Amir Khan took the test, Morales took it again, Zab Judah took the fight and now this fight. It doesn’t matter who I fight for what it’s just something I feel needs to be done if you want to be the champion. And it’s my fourth defense and it’s the fourth fighter who has took the test; it’s just something that comes with do you have to beat the champion and that’s something I ask for. I just want a clean fight and that’s it. It has nothing to do with Lucas Matthysse. It’s just what I do.

Q
Hey, Danny, this question is for you. You’ve been in lots of fights. We all know this is not going to be an easy fight. Would you say this is your hardest fight up to date?

Garcia
I could probably answer that question after the fight because the fights not here yet. I really don’t know because sometimes the hardest fights—sometimes you think the hardest fights will be the easiest fights, sometimes you think the easiest fights will be the hardest fight. You really don’t know until the fight happens, but you know at this level you know you’re going to get hit. It’s all about preparing for the fight and making adjustments, and that’s what I feel I bring to the table.

Garcia
Okay. You know I’ll thank the media for taking the time out to ask these questions, and I’m very excited about being a part of this and I’m training hard. I’m very motivated, and I can’t wait to show my fans and all the new fans that are going to be watching me September 14th what I’m about and I’m going to keep the title in Philadelphia. I’m going to do this for all my Latinos around the world. The end.

Matthysse
I just want to thank everyone for their time today. I am training really hard in Argentina and will be ready for September 14.

Ellerbe
You heard today from all six guys who are fighting on the card, and we have, like I said, a top fight card, best that I’ve seen in recent history. We’re expecting great things. We know we have great fights, and the Matthysse v. Danny Garcia, like I said, that fight is fireworks all over. You have Matthysse who is known as—he has the most feared man out there in boxing today and we know that Danny’s a great champion and that fight’s going to come down to one guy trying to impose his will and the other guy doing what he does. I think you’re going to see a tremendous, tremendous fight in that fight. I think you’ll be able to see Garcia be able to do things that many people hadn’t seen him do before, and I think that you’ll be able to see what happens when Danny backs Matthysse up. All those things will be answered in that fight and come September 14th those questions will be answered on that night. And the fight before that we have Ishe and Molina; that’s going to be another barn burner, another world championship fight. Ishe is coming to win. Carlos is coming to win. It’s going to be a great fight, and to open up the card Ashley and Cano, both guys have never ever been in a not exciting fight.

From top to bottom we have a tremendous card, and we’re just really, really truly excited. Mayweather Promotions working with Golden Boy Promotions, Richard, Oscar and their great staff and obviously my staff and Kelly’s staff we’ve all been working together to make this a great night of boxing, and we look forward to all you guys continuing to support this event, and come September 14th expect a great night.

De La Hoya
Thank you very much. Guys, we have we have exciting news coming up in the weeks leading up to the event so we will talk soon, and we will see you soon. Thank you.

END CALL

“THE ONE: MAYWEATHER VS. CANELO,” a 12-round fight for Canelo’s WBC, WBA and Ring Magazine Super Welterweight World Championships and Mayweather’s WBA Super Welterweight Super World Championship taking place Saturday, Sept. 14 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, is promoted by Mayweather Promotions, Golden Boy Promotions and Canelo Promotions and sponsored by Corona, O’Reilly Auto Parts, AT&T, Valvoline, Mexico Tourism, Fred Loya Insurance and Nature Nutrition. In the 12-round co-featured attraction, WBC, WBA Super and Ring Magazine Super Lightweight World Champion Danny Garcia and thunderous puncher WBC Interim Super Lightweight World Champion Lucas Matthysse square off in a fight presented in association with Swift Promotions and Arano Box Promotions. Also, Ishe Smith vs. Carlos Molina square off in a 12-round battle for Smith’s IBF Junior Middleweight World Title which is promoted in association with Warriors Boxing. The opening bout on SHOWTIME PPV features a 10-round welterweight showdown between Pablo Cesar Cano and Ashley Theophane. The mega-event will be produced and distributed live by SHOWTIME PPV® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. The event can be heard in Spanish using secondary audio programming (SAP).

Less than 24 hours after going on sale on June 25, the event was sold out, but six MGM Resorts properties will host live closed circuit telecasts of “THE ONE.” Properties showcasing the event include ARIA, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, The Mirage, Monte Carlo and New York-New York. General admission tickets for the closed circuit telecasts are priced at $100, not including handling fees, and are available for purchase at each individual property’s box office outlets and also are available for purchase by phone with a major credit card at 866-799-7711. Closed circuit ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. Tickets also are available through Ticketmaster by calling (800) 745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

For more information, visit www.floydmayweather.com, www.mayweatherpromotions.com, www.goldenboypromotions.com,www.sports.sho.com and www.mgmgrand.com, follow on Twitter at @FloydMayweather, @CaneloOficial, @MayweatherPromo, @DannySwift, @IsheSugarShay, @GoldenBoyBoxing, @mgmgrand and @SHOSports, follow the conversation using #TheOne and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FloydMayweather, www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions, www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing and www.facebook.com/SHOBoxing.

“THE ONE” PAY-PER-VIEW CARD IS COMPLETE WITH A WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHT BETWEEN ISHE SMITH AND CARLOS MOLINA

LOS ANGELES, (August 8, 2013) – Just when fight fans thought “THE ONE: MAYWEATHER VS. CANELO” couldn’t get any bigger, the opening two Pay-Per-View bouts of the September 14 mega-card at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas have been announced, with a third world championship bout and a meeting of two rising stars making this the must-see event of 2013.

In a 12-round battle for the IBF Junior Middleweight World Championship, Mayweather Promotions star and Las Vegas’ own Ishe “Sugar Shay” Smith defends his crown for the first time against feared top contender Carlos Molina. The opening bout on the SHOWTIME PPV will be a 10-round welterweight showdown between Mexico’s
Pablo Cesar “El Demoledor” Cano and England’s Ashley “Treasure” Theophane, the most recent fighter to sign with Mayweather Promotions.

“THE ONE: MAYWEATHER VS. CANELO,” a 12-round fight for Canelo’s WBC, WBA and Ring Magazine Super Welterweight World Championships and Mayweather’s WBA Super Welterweight Super World Championship taking place Saturday, Sept. 14 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, is promoted by Mayweather Promotions, Golden Boy Promotions and Canelo Promotions and sponsored by Corona, O’Reilly Auto Parts, AT&T, Valvoline, Mexico Tourism, Fred Loya Insurance and Nature Nutrition. In the 12-round co-featured attraction, WBC, WBA Super and Ring Magazine Super Lightweight World Champion Danny Garcia and thunderous puncher WBC Interim Super Lightweight World Champion Lucas Matthysse square off in a fight presented in association with Swift Promotions and Arano Box Promotions. Also, Ishe Smith vs. Carlos Molina square off in a 12-round battle for Smith’s IBF Junior Middleweight World Title. Smith vs. Molina is promoted in association with Warriors Boxing. The mega-event will be produced and distributed live by SHOWTIME PPV® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. The event can be heard in Spanish using secondary audio programming (SAP).

After a long career that saw him go from the world of reality television as a star on “The Contender” to a series of ups and downs at 154 and 160 pounds, Las Vegas’ Ishe “Sugar Shay” Smith (25-5, 11 KO’s) finally put it all together in late 2010, beginning a four fight winning streak that culminated in a 12 round decision win over Cornelius Bundrage on February 23 earning the 34-year-old the IBF Junior Middleweight World Championship. Now the reign of “Sugar Shay” begins with a hometown bout against the always-tough Molina.

Long avoided by the elite at 154 pounds, Patzcuaro, Mexico native Carlos Molina (21-5-2, 6 KO’s) is finally getting his shot at championship gold on September 14 after a decade slugging it out in the ring. Now making his home in Chicago, the 30-year-old Molina began making noise with his disputed draw against Erislandy Lara in 2011, and he has since won four of five bouts, defeating former world champions Kermit Cintron and Cory Spinks, with his only loss coming via controversial DQ against James Kirkland in March of 2012.

Mexico’s Pablo Cesar “El Demoledor” Cano (26-3-1, 20 KO’s), like countryman and headliner Canelo Alvarez, will have a nation in his corner when he steps between the ropes on September 14. Given the controversial nature of his recent decision losses to Paulie Malignaggi and Shane Mosley, the 23-year-old plans on giving the judges the night off by scoring a defining knockout of Theophane. A pro since 2006, Cano can do it all in the ring, and in his first Las Vegas fight since his classic 2011 battle with the legendary Erik Morales, he vows to put on a show.

A proud native of London, England, 32-year-old Ashley “Treasure” Theophane (33-5-1, 10 KO’s) is a graduate of the School of Hard Knocks in the ring and is finally getting his chance to shine on the world stage. A former British junior welterweight champion, the talented Theophane owns victories over Delvin Rodriguez and DeMarcus Corley, and he gave current world champion Danny Garcia one of his toughest fights in 2010 before losing a split decision. Winner of two straight, Theophane is looking to prove that he was made for the bright lights of Las Vegas.

For more information, visit www.floydmayweather.com, www.mayweatherpromotions.com,www.goldenboypromotions.com,
www.sports.sho.com and www.mgmgrand.com, follow on Twitter at @FloydMayweather, @CaneloOficial, @DannySwift, @Ishesugarshay, @MayweatherPromo, @GoldenBoyBoxing, @mgmgrand and @SHOSports, follow the conversation using #TheOne and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FloydMayweather, www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions, www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing and www.facebook.com/SHOsports.

Ishe Smith cut; fight with Molina postponed

IBF Jr. Middleweight champion Ishe Smith suffered a cut over his right eye that forced the postponement of his July 19th mandatory defense with Carlos Molina according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

“I suffered an injury [Saturday], a minor setback in my preparation to face off against Molina,” Smith wrote on his Facebook page. “I want to make sure I am properly prepared and in the best form possible to fight him. Not only does he deserve to fight me at my best, but also my family, friends and training team deserve to have me fight at 100 percent.

“It’s very hard to postpone after we have had such a great camp, but the sport of boxing and the fans deserve to watch Molina and I fight at our peak fitness levels, and I just can’t provide that with the untimely injury. With that said, I will be postponing our July 19th fight in order to heal from a cut on my eye.”

“We are very disappointed. Carlos was looking forward to the fight,” Luis DeCubas Sr., Molina’s adviser, told ESPN.com. “We’ll reschedule the fight and Carlos will be ready to go. He is always training. We were ready to go on July 19, but an injury is an injury.”

The Showtime televised show will go on at the Hard Rock in Las Vegas featuring undefeated Super Middleweight Badou Jack taking on Farah Ennis and Lightweight’s Mickey Bey battling former world title challenger John Molina Jr.

Ishe Smith to defend against Carlos Molina July 19th

IBF Jr. Middleweight champion Ishe Smith will make the 1st defense of his crown on July 19th at the Hard Rock in Las Vegas and will be televised on Showtime according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

“This is the homecoming I’ve been waiting for my entire career and there is no way that Carlos Molina is leaving Las Vegas with my championship belt,” Smith said. “He’s a tough fighter and a guy no one wants to fight, but that’s why I have no problem fighting him in my first title defense. I’m here to fight the best and show that I’m a true champion.”

“I respect Ishe Smith for stepping up and taking this fight, because not many world champions would,” said Molina, a top contender who has had a hard time getting top opponents to face him. “That being said, this is my opportunity to win the title and it may not come around again, so I have to make the most of it and I will.

Ishe Smith to defend Jr. Middle crown against Carlos Molina

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, IBF Jr. Middleweight champion Ishe Smith will defend against mandatory challenger Carlos Molina this Summer.

“We made an agreement to let [Mayweather Promotions] promote the fight,” said Molina’s promoter Leon Margules. “We made a deal on the money, on the airline tickets, on the parameters of the fight. I went back and forth with Leonard and we worked it out.”

“I think Molina can beat anybody in the division, whether it’s Ishe Smith, Canelo Alvarez, Austin Trout, anybody,” Margules said. “He’s hell for anybody, so we’re excited to get a shot at the title.”

CORNELIUS “K9” BUNDRAGE VS. ISHE SMITH IBF JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE FIGHT IS A TOUGH CALL

NEW YORK (Feb. 15, 2013) – So who’s going to win the eagerly awaited IBF Junior Middleweight World Championship fight between defending champion Cornelius “K9” Bundrage (32-4, 19 KO’s) of Detroit and Ishe “Sugar Shay” Smith (24-5, 11 KO’s) of Las Vegas on Saturday, Feb. 23 in the main event live on SHOWTIME® (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) from the Masonic Temple Theatre in Detroit?

Neither undefeated WBA Super Welterweight World Champion Austin “No Doubt” Trout (26-0, 14 KO’s) nor three top-10 contenders in the 154-pound division, hard-hitting Alfred Angulo (22-2, 18 KO’s) unbeatens Jermell Charlo (20-0, 10 KO’s) and Carlos Molina (17-0-1, 7 KO’s), could predict a clear-cut winner, although they say the challenger may hold the slightest of edges.

What the four boxers agreed on, however, is that this is a compelling matchup that they definitely will be watching and that, most important of all, they want to fight the winner.

Below is what they said about the upcoming world title fight:

AUSTIN TROUT

“I think this is going to be a good ol’ fashioned brawl. Ishe has more technical skills than “K9,” but he still likes to bang it out. I really don’t know who to pick, but it will be a good fight between two guys who are both kind of inactive, up in age and evenly matched.

“I’ll be tuned in and watching, but I have no any personal interest in who wins. I respect both fighters, they are men of God.

“I’ll respect the winner even more if he’s willing to unify the belts. If one guy has an edge, I think it’s probably Ishe more than “K9.” But good luck to whoever wins, and let’s unify.”

ALFRED ANGULO

“I’ll be watching because these are two important fighters in my weight class in a world title fight. One of them holds the IBF title, and the other might be the new titleholder. The outcome could affect my career, so it’s important for me to watch this fight.

“As for picking a winner, I don’t have a preference either way. Both are talented, yet have contrasting and distinct styles. One is more of a technical fighter, the other is a brawler, so it should make for a very interesting fight.

“I think a lot will depend on Ishe’s condition and if he can handle the pressure because K9 throws punches with a lot of power and a lot of fighters can’t handle that.”

JERMELL CHARLO

“There will be a lot of competent fighters in this weight class who’ll have their eyes glued to the TV for this one. The main reason I’ll be watching is to see who will win. I’m anxious to see if Ishe actually made the changes to his style and, if so, if they made him better.

“I suppose I’m rooting for Ishe because “K9” turned me down for a fight before after I thought it was a 95 percent done deal. If he wins I’m pretty sure he’d turn me down again. Ishe is a guy with a lot of heart who comes to fight. Who knows that if he won the title that he would fight me, but I’d be willing.

“As for a flat-out prediction, I see it going either way, but have a feeling someone’s going to get caught with a good shot. At his age and the route he’s been going, I can see Bundrage winning if it goes the distance, but I see Ishe, who doesn’t get knocked out and is more of a boxer than “K9,” coming along. It’s very possible he can win by KO.

“My pick is Ishe by KO, but Bundrage if it goes the distance.”

CARLOS MOLINA

“I plan on attending the fight and look forward to watching. I’m the mandatory challenger in the IBF for whoever wins, so I’m hoping to be fighting the winner. Really, I just want my first world title shot. It’s what I’ve worked for my whole career.

“It doesn’t matter to me who wins as long as there’s no controversy. I wish them both the best. They’re both good people. Ishe said I deserve the title shot and he would fight me next if he wins; “K9” has not been as committal.

“Still, this is a tough fight to predict. Smith is a good boxer and I expect he’ll be boxing more and using his defense. “K9″ is a slugger whose style is to be aggressive, go right after Smith and try to land something early. If Ishe is more aggressive, he can win a decision.”

Bundrage vs. Smith, a 12-round fight for Bundrage’s IBF Junior Middleweight World Championship, will take place Saturday, February 23 at the Masonic Temple Theatre in Detroit, Michigan. The event is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and Mayweather Promotions, sponsored by Corona and MGM Grand Detroit and will be televised live on SHOWTIME beginning at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

Tickets priced at $200, $125, $100, $75, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes, fees and services charges are on sale at the Masonic Temple box office, online at www.ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations or by calling 800-745-3000.

The historic Masonic Temple in downtown Detroit was dedicated on November 25, 1926. With 1,037 rooms and 550,000 square feet, and built to house numerous fraternal organizations, it is the largest structure of its kind in the world. This amazing Gothic building was constructed between 1920 and 1926 at a cost of $7 million. George Washington’s own working tools were used to spread the first mortar for the cornerstone. Washington, who was a Freemason used these same tools to lay the cornerstone of the Capitol building in Washington DC.

For information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.mayweatherpromotions.com, and www.themasonic.com, follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.twitter.com/MayweatherPromo, www.twitter.com/K9Boxing, www.twitter.com/IsheSugarShay, www.twitter.com/JLeonLovewww.twitter.com/SHOsports, follow the conversation using #BundrageSmith or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing or www.facebook.com/SHOsports.

Molina earns title shot; Easily decisions Spinks

Carlos Molina won a twelve round unanimous decision over former two division world champion Cory Spinks in an IBF Jr. Middleweight elimination bout at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago.

Molina dominated the sction as he pressed and pushed Spinks with consistent punching while Spinks would only push with the jab and do alot of holding.

Molina became more dominant as the rounds progressed and big round’s seven and eight. In round nine Spinks was deducted a point for the excessive holding. In round eleven, Molina landed a little left hook that sent Spinks to the canvas. Spinks as was able to get out of the round but took alot of punches against the ropes and the referee ruled a eiht count for a second knockdown in round twelve. Dpinks made it to the final bell but was not even close as the scorecards read 120-105, 119-106 and 119-106 for Molina.

Molina, 153.4 lbs of Chicago will now await the winner of the February 23rd title bout between champion Cornelius Bundrage and Ishe Smith. Molina is now 21-5-2. Spinks, 153.2 lbs of Boca Raton, FL via St. Louis is now 39-8.

Antwone Smith scored a ten round unanimous decision over former two-time Lightweight champion Jose Luis Castillo in a Jr. Middleweight bout.

The fight did not have much sustained action with the difference of the fight being Smiths work rate over the 39 year old Castillo. Castillo had a decent round four but was docked a point in that round for excessive low blows.

Scores were 100-90, 98-92 and 99-91 for Smith, 155.6 lbs of Miami ans is now 23-4-1. Castillo, 151.8 lbs of Empaine, Sonora Mexico is now 64-12-1

Weights from ESPN Friday Night Fights in Chicago

Carlos Molina 153.4 vs. Cory Spinks 153.2
Antwone Smith 155.6 vs. Jose Luis Castillo 151.8
Artur Szpilka 230.8 vs. Mike Mollo 231.6
Don George 164.4 vs. James Cook 161.8
Mike Jimenez 167.8 vs. Jordan Brown 167.8
Jaime Herrera 146.8 vs. Marlon Smith 146.2
Jimmy Murphy 145.4 vs. Aloric Carson 150.2
Sergio Montes de Oca 126.2 vs. Antoine Knight 127
Junior Anthony Wright 197.6 vs. Tim Johnson 203.8

Venue: UIC Pavilion, Chicago

TV: ESPN Friday Night Fights

Promoters: 8 Count Productions, Round 3 Productions, Warriors Boxing and Blue Wave Boxing in association with Don King Productions

Former Welterweight Champion Spinks Meets Top-Ranked Contender Molina on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights

The February 1 edition of ESPN’s Friday Night Fights presented by Corona Extra will feature two top Junior Middleweight contenders –The Ring Magazine’s no. 7, ESPN.com’s no. 8 ranked Junior Middleweight “King” Carlos Molina (20-5-2, 6 KOs) and former Junior Middleweight titlist and former undisputed Welterweight Champion Cory “The Next Generation” Spinks (39-7, 11 KOs) — in the 12-round main event. Friday’s show will air live at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2 HD, and will be available online through WatchESPN.com and on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app. The card will also air live on ESPN Deportes+, the new digital extension of ESPN Deportes, and will air tape delayed on ESPN Deportes at 2 a.m. The card from Chicago is promoted by Eight Count Promotions.

Joe Tessitore and Teddy Atlas will be ringside at the UIC Center describing the action for ESPN2 HD, while studio host Todd Grisham will present all the latest boxing news and look back at the best of Friday Night Fights from the month of January. Alex Pombo and Delvin Rodriguez will call the fights for ESPN Deportes’ Viernes de Combates (Friday Night Fights) with Leopoldo Gonzalez and Pablo Viruega in the studio. Bi-lingual reporter Bernardo Osuna will present live interviews and reports for both shows.

Main Event:
Chicago’s Molina is coming off an August 10-round unanimous decision win over Damian Frias. After the fight, ESPN.com’s Dan Rafael wrote: “Frias proved to be no match for a better all-around fighter in Molina, who pitched a clean shutout. Molina was better in every facet of the fight. He jabbed Frias well, worked the body and went upstairs. It was all Molina, all the time. He showed his full arsenal and stayed sharp, awaiting the day he gets a title shot — one that he richly deserves.”

Molina said of Friday’s fight, “Spinks knows how to box, he knows how to fight. He’s been around boxing forever, since he was a kid. I’ve just got to pressure him and work his body. I need to attack.”

Spinks is looking to rebound from a June seventh-round knockout loss to Cornelius Bundrage. Spinks, son of former Heavyweight Champion Leon Spinks, enters Friday’s fight experienced, having fought former and current titlists Bundrage, Verno Phillips, Jermain Taylor, Roman Karmazin and Zab Judah. Manager Scott Hirsch said, “Molina is a very good fighter. Molina outhustles people, outworks them, and Cory knows that he’s got to up his work rate and just not get outhustled and outworked.”

Co-Feature:
Friday’s co-feature will pit former Lightweight titlist Jose Luis “El Temible” Castillo (64-11-1, 55 KOs), against “The Truth” Antwone Smith (22-4-1, 12 KOs) in a 10-round Welterweight bout. Castillo is coming off a ninth-round TKO win over Ivan Popoca, while Smith is coming off one of his career-best wins, a 10-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Ronal Cruz.

Additional Bout Exclusively on ESPN3:

Friday’s card will also include an eight-round bout between undefeated Heavyweight Artur Szpilka (12-0, 9 KOs) and Mike Mollo (20-3-1, 12 KOs). The card will be carried exclusively at 11 p.m. on ESPN3, ESPN’s live multi-screen sports network, that delivers thousands of global sports events annually and accessible online via WatchESPN.com, on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app and through ESPN on Xbox LIVE to Gold level members.

Follow ESPN’s Friday Night Fights on Twitter @ESPNFNF or like it on Facebook. Follow ESPN Deportes’ Viernes de Combates on Twitter @ESPNBoxeo. Also score the fights round-by-round with the “Live Friday Night Fights Facebook Voting App,” an application on the ESPN FNF Facebook page that allows viewers to score the fight round-by-round.

MOLINA LOOKING TO TURN UP THE POWER AGAINST SPINKS

A new, meaner “King” Carlos Molina is ready to go for his ESPN Friday Night Fights main event at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago on February 1.

29-year-old Molina (20-5-2, 6 KOs) will face two-division and five-time world champion Cory “The Next Generation” Spinks in a 12-round IBF Junior Middleweight Title Eliminator to headline the night of boxing presented by 8 Count Productions, Round 3 Productions, Warriors Boxing and Blue Wave Boxing in association with Don King Productions.

The intriguing co-main event that night is a 10-round welterweight battle between two-time former world champion Jose Luis “El Temible” Castillo (64-11-1, 55 KOs) and Florida’s Antwone “The Truth” Smith (22-4-1, 12 KOs).

Molina, who divides his time training at Chicago’s 8Count and LA Boxing gyms with trainer Victor Mateo (original trainer Lou Askenette also works the corner on fight night), says he’ll be going into this important fight with a new mindset and outlook.

“They say I don’t have much power, but I’m really working on sitting down on my punches for this fight, especially when he’s on the ropes,” admitted Molina. “I want the knockout. That’s what we’re going for. I’ll make him miss and put constant pressure on him. And as soon as he misses, I’ll make him pay. I’m going to break him down and get him out of there.”

Molina, an underdog in nearly every fight, is switching roles for this one. Fighting at home and sure to be favored by the oddsmakers, he’s in the exact opposite role this time.

“You just have to look at things a different way. Being the underdog motivates you. When everybody thinks you’ll lose, you train hard and fight hard to prove them wrong. Now I’m the favorite fighting in my hometown. I’ll use that as a motivation. I haven’t fought here in over four years. It motivates me to look good and fight better than I ever have.”

Molina says he’s waited a long time for this opportunity and it means the world to him to fight for a world title.

“That’s my goal since I started boxing. I picture in my head winning a world title. Not just one. Maybe a couple straps. And this is the first step to reaching my goal. I set my goals high and that’s definitely what I want. Not even just for me. For everybody that has helped me. I can’t go out and say I did it all myself. I have had a tough road; my trainers have always been with me. It’s tough being a trainer you have to be just as dedicated as a fighter. I want to see the smile on my trainer’s face and my mom and dad’s, my family and everybody that has supported me. I won’t forget who helped me when I win.”

###

Presented by 8 Count Productions, Round 3 Productions, Warriors Boxing and Blue Wave Boxing in association with Don King Productions, advance tickets are priced are $151, $101, $51 and $31 and can be purchased through Ticketmaster (Ticketmaster.com, 1-800-745-3000), the 8 Count Productions Offices, 312-226-5800 or the UIC Pavilion Box Office, 312-413-5740.

In a special attraction eight round clash, fast rising Polish heavyweight prospect Artur “The Pin” Szpilka will battle Chicago-based heavyweight contender “Merciless” Mike Mollo.

Additionally featuring in separate bouts will be local favorites; middleweight contender Donovan “Da Bomb” George, 23-3-1 (20 KOs), highly regarded and undefeated super middleweight prospect Mike “Hollywood” Jimenez, 8-0-0 (5 KOs) and popular welterweight newcomer Jimmy Murphy, 1-0-0 (1 KO).

Further details on this world-class evening of professional boxing will be announced shortly.

The UIC Pavilion is located at 525 S. Racine, at the corner of Harrison and Racine on the campus of University of Illinois-Chicago. Doors on the night of the event will open at 7 pm with the first bell at 7:45 pm.

ABOUT 8 COUNT PRODUCTIONS

8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING, was started by Dominic Pesoli in 1998 and has consistently presented the highest quality professional boxing events in Chicagoland.

Fighters currently under the 8 Count Productions banner include; super middleweight contender Donovan George, world ranked light heavyweight Andrzej Fonfara, former world title challenger Edner Cherry, middleweight prospect Viktor Polyakov, junior welterweight prospects Ivan Popoca and Adrian Granados along withwelterweights Achour Esho and Jaime Herrera.

For more information on 8 Count Productions please visit their new website, 8countproductions.com. Follow them on Twitter at 8_Count and Facebook at “8 Count Productions”.

ABOUT WARRIORS BOXING

For more information on Warriors Boxing, visit their website at warriorsboxing.com.

TICKET ALERT!!!! ESPN FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS FEBRUARY 1, 2013 CHICAGO’S UIC PAVILION

CHICAGO, IL (December 26, 2012) ESPN Friday Night Fights will return to the UIC Pavilion on FEBRUARY 1, 2013 headlined by an IBF Junior Middleweight Title Eliminator between Chicago fan favorite and perennial contender “King” Carlos Molina and two division and five-time world champion Cory “The Next Generation” Spinks.

Also featured at ESPN Friday Night Fights is a sensational ten round welterweight clash between Mexican boxing legend and two-time former world champion Jose Luis “EL Terrible” Castillo and upset minded Miami, Florida’s Antwone “The Truth” Smith.

In a special attraction eight round clash, fast rising Polish heavyweight prospect Artur “The Pin” Szpilka will battle Chicago based heavyweight contender “Merciless” Mike Mollo.

Additionally featuring in separate bouts will be local favorites; middleweight contender Donovan “Da Bomb” George, 23-3-1 (20KO’s), highly regarded and undefeated super middleweight prospect Mike “Hollywood” Jimenez, 8-0-0 (5KO’s) and popular welterweight newcomer Jimmy Murphy, 1-0-0 (1KO).

“We’re very proud to work with the terrific team at ESPN on this Friday Night Fights presentation and we’ve got a sensational card to kick off the 2013 year in style for Chicago boxing fans.” said Dominic Pesoli. President of 8 Count Productions.

“This the first time in over four years that Carlos has fought at home in Chicago and it’s a huge opportunity for him to face a multiple time world champion in Cory Spinks.”

“In the co-main we’re bringing back former world champion Jose Luis Castillo who won a fantastic “blood and guts” war with Ivan Popoca in July at the UIC Pavilion and our special attraction between Szpilka and Mollo should be bombs away from the opening bell.”

“Complimenting these three fights Donovan George is returning to fight in Chicago for the first time in two years, ‘Hollywood’ is back at the UIC Pavilion where he won his first three pro fights by knockout and we’re excited to have Jimmy Murphy fight on our card for the first time.”

“We’ve had massive crowds at the UIC Pavilion for our last two events and we’re expected another tremendous crowd of Chicago boxing fans. For the best seats, I strongly encourage fans to purchase tickets in advance for this event.”

The 29-year-old Molina, 20-5-2 (6KO’s), known for his sensational upset performances over his eight-year professional career, is coming off a ten round shutout unanimous decision win over Damian Frias on AUGUST 17 which was also broadcast on ESPN Friday Night Fights.

Earlier this year, Molina was the victim of horrendous judgment as he was disqualified him after the tenth round enroute to a decisive victory over James Kirkland on MARCH 24 in Houston, Texas.

In a bout broadcast on HBO’s World Championship Boxing, Molina’s corner mistakenly entered the ring before the bell rang following the tenth round. At the time of the stoppage Molina was significantly ahead on two of the scorecards.

Born in Patzcuaro, Michoacan de Ocampo, Mexico, Molina holds victories over former world champion Kermit Cintron, very highly controversial draws with former world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Erislandy Lara and clear-cut victories over contenders Danny Perez, Allen Conyers, Ed Parades and Alexis Camacho.

Fighting out of St. Louis, Missouri and from the legacy of his father, heavyweight champion Leon Spinks and uncle, light heavyweight champion Michael Spinks, Cory Spinks has won world titles three times in the welterweight division and twice as a junior middleweight.

Spinks’ illustrious career included an up and down 2012 as he looked sensational defeating Sechew Powell in a twelve round unanimous decision on JANUARY 28 but getting stopped by Cornelius Bundrage in the seventh round on JUNE 30 as he challenged for the IBF Junior Middleweight Title.

Molina is currently world ranked #4 by the IBF and #7 by the WBC while Spinks is ranked #12 by the IBF.

The 23-year-old Szpilka, 12-0-0 (9KO’s), a native of Wieliczka, Poland, will be making his Chicago debut in front of the huge legion of Polish fight fans.

Sporting an undefeated record of 12-0-0 (9KO’s), the hard hitting southpaw is coming off his career best victory, a dominant ten round unanimous decision on JUNE 30 over two-time world title challenger Jameel McCline in Lodz, Poland.

Born and raised in nearby Oak Lawn, Illinois, the heavy handed Mollo, 20-3-1 (12KO’s), is best known in Chicago for two brutal second round knockouts; over Mike Tyson conqueror Kevin McBride at the Allstate Arena in 2006 and contender Art Binkowki at the Sears Centre in 2007.

In his last start, Mollo battled to a hard fought eight round draw with Gary Gomez on AUGUST 6, 2010 at the UIC Pavilion.

Fighting in the ten round televised co-main event, former two-time world champion Jose Luis Castillo, 64-11-1 (55KO’s) will return to the UIC Pavilion against Antwone Smith following his eighth round stoppage of Chicagoan Ivan Popoca on JULY 13 which was broadcast on ESPN Friday Night Fights.

The 25-year-old Smith, 22-4-1 (12KO’s), heads back to the ring following a career highpoint with a ten round decision win over previously undefeated Ronald Cruz on SEPTEMBER 21, broadcast on NBC Sports Network from the Sands Casino Resort in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

Further details on this world-class evening of professional boxing will be announced shortly.

ABOUT 8 COUNT PRODUCTIONS/ROUND 3 PRODUCTIONS

8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING, was started by Dominic Pesoli in 1998 and has consistently presented the highest quality professional boxing events in Chicagoland.

Joining forces with Frank Mugnolo’s Round 3 Productions in 2011, their partnership is currently among the premier boxing promotional firms in the United States.

Fighters currently under the 8 Count Productions/Round 3 Productions banner include; IBO Light Heavyweight World Champion Andrzej Fonfara, super middleweight contender Donovan George, world class junior welterweight prospect Adrian Granados, former world title challenger Edner Cherry, super middleweight prospect Paul Littleton, middleweight prospect Viktor Polyakov and welterweight prospect Jaime Herrera.

For more information on 8 Count Productions/Round 3 Productions please visit their new website, www.8countproductions.com. Follow them on Twitter at 8_Count and Facebook at “8 Count Productions”.

ABOUT WARRIORS BOXING

Launched in 2003, Warriors Boxing operates under a simple philosophy—bring the best boxers in the world to fight fans, match them in competitive bouts, and in doing so help re-establish the sport of boxing for a new generation.

For more information on Warriors Boxing, visit their website at www.WarriorsBoxing.com.

A KING-SIZED VICTORY FOR AMIR KHAN; FORMER UNIFIED CHAMPION SCORES

amir-khan1
LOS ANGELES (Dec. 16, 2012) – British superstar and former Unified Super Lightweight World Champion Amir “King” Khan punctuated a sensational day-night boxing marathon presented by Golden Boy Promotions and SHOWTIME Sports® by winning a dominant 10th round TKO over gallant but out-gunned Carlos Molina Saturday on SHOWTIME® from The Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena.

Making his first start with new trainer Virgil Hunter, Khan (27-3, 18 KO’s), of Bolton, England, was near-perfect against the previously undefeated Molina (17-1-1, 7 KO’s), of Los Angeles, as he snapped a two-fight losing streak while capturing the vacant WBC Silver Super Lightweight Championship.

The quicker, physically stronger and bigger Khan was in control throughout, showing excellent poise while utilizing his advantages in height and reach, moving and jabbing, punching in flurries and landing countless combinations. He didn’t score a knockdown, but he cut Molina on his left eye and thoroughly had his way. When the referee stopped the fight upon the suggestion of the boxer’s corner at the end of the 10th round, Khan had won every round on all three judges’ scorecard.

“I stuck to my game plan which means I stuck to the jab,” said Khan, who called out the boxer who dethroned him, WBA Super, WBC and Ring Magazine Super Lightweight World Champion Danny Garcia, after his victory on Saturday. “Carlos took some good shots and kept coming forward. That is when I thought to myself I am going to have to stick to the game plan and not get too aggressive.

“Virgil is a great trainer and I feel I am getting better as a fighter. He is teaching me boxing, speed, patience, picking the right shot and knowing when to throw it.

“I am my biggest critic. After each fight I always think what did I do and why did I make the mistakes I did. Danny Garcia caught me with a good shot, but I will fight him anytime anywhere. I want to fight him again”

Molina had some success and landed some good shots but was mostly confounded by Khan’s performance.

“I don’t know what happened,” Molina said. “I wanted to pull the trigger, but I couldn’t get my hands to go. I had a lack of precision. He was fast in his jab, and I was hesitant in trying to get in because he has a long reach.

“I didn’t do my job. I lost my undefeated record.

“I felt like I connected two or three times, but I wasn’t in the right distance to reconnect after I wobbled him. I am going to go back (to the drawing board), work hard and get back in the ring.”

In co-featured scheduled 10-round bouts on SHOWTIME, knockout artist and 2008 Olympic Bronze Medalist Deontay “Bronze Bomber” Wilder, of Tuscaloosa, Ala., improved to 26-0 with 26 knockouts with a one-punch, third-round knockout over previously undefeated Kelvin Price (13-1, 6 KO’s), of Pensacola, Fla., to capture the vacant WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight Championship while junior middleweight Alfredo “Perro” Angulo (22-2, 18 KO’s), of Los Angeles, won a 10-round decision in a slugfest over Jorge Silva (18-3-2, 14 KO’s), of Chula Vista, Calif.

The 6-foot-7 Wilder finished Price, who’s also 6-foot-7, with a long, picturesque right hand. Wilder was even on two scorecards and ahead on the other when he landed the heavyweight haymaker that halted matters in sudden and dramatic fashion.

“Bomb squad baby. I practice patience in the ring because I know my punch is going to come and my opponent is going to get hit.” Wilder said. “It’s just a matter of time, but when it comes, it’s going to work and tonight it did.

“Everyone has their season and it might not come when you expect it, but it does come. Tonight my season came for me. My experience has started to pay off and I felt great in there tonight.

“I feel more polished now. We set a goal we wanted to reach and tonight it seems like that goal is almost there.”

Price offered no excuses. “I felt like I was controlling the action and just getting into my rhythm,” he said. “Then he hit me with a good shot. I could have continued, but I take my hat off to Deontay. He’s very strong and was the better man tonight.”

In a crowd-pleasing, non-stop action brawl in which the sluggers took turns pummeling each other, Angulo got the best of Silva often enough to win by the scores of 97-93 on all three judges’ scorecards.

“I asked for a fighter that would make me work because I wanted to see where I really was after taking a year off,” Angulo said. “I think I am a lot better than I was then. I threw a lot of punches and he did too, but I had to take it slow because I felt a bit sluggish in there. For some reason I came in the ring tonight at 168, which I have never done before. I thought I could knock him out in the 7th or 8th round, but he went into survival mode.

“I’m happy I got the work and it makes me feel good that I have a better idea of where my career can go.”

Said Silva, “That was a really tough fight and I thought I was doing enough to win some of the rounds the judges gave to him. It was a hard fight and I had to fight every round.

“He was strong and hit me with some good shots. I was expecting a tough fight tonight and that is what the fight was. I’m disappointed I didn’t get the win.”

In a great action fight on SHOWTIME EXTREME that preceded the SHOWTIME telecast, undefeated welterweight Shawn “Showtime” Porter (20-0-1, 14 KO’s), of Cleveland, Ohio, and former World Champion Julio Diaz (40-7-1, 29 KO’s), of Indio, Calif., battled to a crowd-pleasing 10-round draw. One judge had it for Porter, 96-94, another judge scored it for Diaz, 96-94, and the third judge had it 95-95.

The event was presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Khan Promotions and sponsored by Corona and AT&T.

The tripleheader will re-air the first time this week as follows:

DAY CHANNEL

Sunday, Dec. 16, 10 a.m. ET/PT SHOWTIME

Saturday’s fights will be available ON DEMAND beginning Sunday, Dec. 16.

Brian Kenny served as host of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING with Mauro Ranallo calling the blow-by-blow action, Hall of Fame analyst Al Bernstein and current WBA Welterweight World Champion Paulie Malignaggi serving as expert analysts with Emmy Award winning sports reporter Jim Gray reporting from ringside.

The executive producer of SHOWTIME Sports is David Dinkins Jr. with Bob Dunphy directing.

In a battle of unbeatens earlier in the day on CBS, Leo Santa Cruz (23-0-1, 13 KO’s), of Los Angeles, retained his International Boxing Federation (IBF) World Bantamweight Championship with a hard-fought, entertaining 12-round unanimous decision win over previously unbeaten Alberto Guevara (16-1, 6 KO’s) of San Diego, Calif.

Amir Khan, Carlos Molina, Alfredo Angulo and Leo Santa Cruz Media Conference Call Transcript

Kelly Swanson
Thank you everybody for joining us. We know we had a busy boxing weekend this weekend and a very exciting one at that. So we appreciate you taking the time to call in and listen to the news on the next big, exciting boxing weekend, which is going to be coming up this Saturday, December 15th from Los Angeles. We have four fighters on the call today, as well as Stephen Espinoza, executive VP and general manager of Showtime Sports, and Asif Vali from Khan Promotions.

Oscar is going to make opening statements and make some introductions, and then he is doing some other things to help promote the show. So he’s going to drop off and I’ll take over and introduce the secondary fighters that come on after we introduce the first two. So without further ado, let me turn it over to Oscar De La Hoya, president of Golden Boy Promotions. Oscar?

Oscar De La Hoya

Thank you, thank you very much, Kelly. Yes, we are extremely, extremely excited. First off, you know boxing is on a great roll, a great, exciting fight this weekend with Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez. Now boxing is moving on to a bigger stage in terms of viewership and people watching on free TV. Boxing is back on CBS.

We are extremely excited, extremely proud to be working with Showtime, to be working with Stephen Espinoza. I think having boxing on network television can only help the sport and can only elevate the sport to a whole new level. We are extremely excited to be having on Leo Santa Cruz, who will be fighting the main event on CBS this Saturday. We will also be putting on in the co-main event Joseph Diaz, who was is my eyes the best Olympian making his professional debut out of the 2012 squad of the U.S. team. This event is all taking place at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena in Los Angeles.

Just because it’s close to the holidays and a way of giving back, Golden Boy Promotions, along with all the fighters, all the sponsors, AT&T and Corona, we wanted to step it up a notch. We wanted to give back. We’re starting off with the fights in the afternoon on CBS. After those fights we’re doing a big fan fest for all the fans who attend the fights with autographs, food, music, and then we’re moving on the Showtime Extreme portion of it and then on to the Showtime Championship Boxing.

So this is really, really exciting to work at Golden Boy Promotions. We’re really looking forward to it, to the fights, to the events, but most importantly giving back to all those fans who supported Golden Boy Promotions throughout this year. So without any further ado, I would like to introduce to you the man who makes it happen at Showtime. He is Stephen Espinoza. Stephen?

Stephen Espinoza

Thanks, Oscar. We’re here ending the year with perhaps our most ambitious undertaking of the entire year, a grand finale so to speak. Oscar’s already described a little bit about the ambitious plans that Golden Boy has from the toy drive to the toy giveaway to the fan fest. It’s a very generous holiday gift in truly a liberal sense.

Showtime’s big day starts at 1:30 Pacific/4:30 Eastern, with Showtime Boxing on CBS. First time boxing’s been on CBS in 15 years. This is something that CBS is excited about, very pleased to be able to do, and it’s obviously something that Showtime is also very happy that we’ve been given the opportunity. We’ve got two great young boxers that we’re very pleased to be highlighting.

We’ll have the pro-debut of 2012 Olympian, Joseph Diaz. I actually met JoJo; it’s been a year ago. It was December before the Olympics. He came to one of our shows. He couldn’t be a nicer young man and very, very talented in the ring.

Leo Santa Cruz, who continues a pretty incredible 2012, has gone from Extreme to Showtime Championship Boxing and now to CBS. He deserves every second of the attention he’s getting because he is a fighter who fights his heart out for the entire fight.

Then we will take a break, and as Oscar said, they’ll be filming with the fan fest at 9:00 Eastern. That’s very exciting. Shawn Porter on Showtime Extreme against Julio Diaz. At 10:00 Eastern we are premiering All Access the epilogue episode, which covers Fight Night and beyond. All Access Epilogue Cotto vs. Trout.

Then at 10:30 we will kick it off on Showtime for Showtime Championship boxing, the return of Alfredo Angulo, his second straight appearance on Showtime coming after a very impressive knockout there at Staples Center just a few weeks ago. We’ll then be featuring Deontay Wilder, another Olympian, a bronze medalist in 2008, with probably his toughest fight to date in Kelvin Price. Then we’re going to our main event, Amir Khan, his first appearance on Showtime versus a very tough challenger, the up and coming Carlos Molina

For my money, Amir is probably the most exciting fighter in the world. It’s all action, never a dull moment in Amir’s fights. I think that goes for all of these from Joseph Diaz to Leo Santa Cruz all the way through Shawn Porter. Deontay, Alfredo, these are continuing the incredible run of action fights that we’ve been providing and we’re very excited about it. Kelly, thanks.

K. Swanson

If you notice your fight week schedule, we’re going to be having toy drive events at the various workouts as well as the weigh-in. Also on Thursday, Oscar is going to be hosting a special toy drive gift at the Golden Boy building and he will be accompanied by none other than Santa Claus.

So we really encourage you guys, if you could, to mention the locations of the toy drive. The people do receive two tickets to the Khan v. Molina fight and I think that’s a generous gift that Golden Boy is giving to their loyal fans out in the L.A. area. Also the afternoon fight is a free ticket for the Santa Cruz portion of the show. So there’s a lot of giving back that Golden Boy is doing and I really want to commend them for their efforts.

At this point I am now going to introduce Alfredo Angulo. He will go first, and then we are hoping to have Leo Santa Cruz join us too. But Alfredo Angulo is of Baja California Mexico, now fighting out of Los Angeles, California. Of course everybody saw his return last month. He’s a junior middleweight and has already demonstrated his amazing punching power. He returned on the ring November 10th for the first time since his fight of the year battle with James Kirkland in 2011.

Of course, Mr. Angulo’s story has been well documented and we certainly welcome him back to the ring, his great fight back, and we’re so happy to have him again. He will be preparing to face Chula Vista’s Jorge Silva.

A. Angulo

Thank you so much, everybody. It’s the best. I thoroughly appreciate this, and also thank you so much for having me. I appreciate it.

K. Swanson

We’re also joined at this time by Leo Santa Cruz, very exciting. He’s going to be the main event on the CBS portion of the show. I think he’s absolutely adorable and he fights out of Los Angeles, California. He’s the current IBF Bantamweight World Champion, making his second title defense Saturday night. He’s a young Mexican-American phenom who is one of boxing’s brightest young stars, very exciting in the ring.

He has knocked out 11 of his last 12 opponents. He’s been very busy in the 2012 year, which always keeps a fighter crisp and able to continue his winning streak. On November 10th we saw him, too, and he scored a crushing knockout victory over Victor Zaleta in the 9th round. He will now face Alberto Guevara and again, that’s on network television, on CBS.

For the first time 15 years we have a show on CBS. So that’s very exciting, and Leo, we welcome you to the call and if you want to make an opening statement, we will open the questions up for both you and Alfredo.

Leo Santa Cruz

Thank you very much. I’m very happy to be here and thank you guys for having me.

Leo, my question for you is pretty simple. You’re going to be in the first main event on network television for the CBS network for like Stephen Espinoza said first time since 1997. I believe their last time they had a main event was a world title fight when Bernard Hopkins knocked out Glen Johnson in the middleweight championship fight. It’s a long time ago, and he was a great fighter obviously. What are your thoughts about being highlighted in the return of network boxing on CBS?

L. Santa Cruz

I’m very happy. I’m very excited that they chose me to be the main event right there. It’s a dream come true and gives me more motivation to train harder and to focus more on this and try to give the fans a good show. I’m always in the gym training really, really hard for our fans because that’s what I came for, to give the fans what they want and hopefully everything goes good. I’m ready.

I was going to ask you, I mean, because you are the main event and you are the champion going into the fight, if CBS looks to do more boxing in the future, which many boxing fans probably hope will happen, they are obviously hoping that they’re going to see a good fight. Does that add pressure knowing that they’re going to be looking for you to deliver something so they have a reason to continue to do boxing? If the fight was a complete flameout then maybe they would say you know what, there was a reason we stopped doing boxing in 1997. We don’t need this anymore. That another good fight from Leo Santa Cruz like you did so many times before could then get them pumped up even more to see more network boxing. So do you feel like you carry that a little bit on your shoulders, or are you just going to go and do your normal fight?

L. Santa Cruz

Yes. I want to please everybody, I want them to be happy and it makes me work harder and everything but I’m still going to go up there like I always do and do what I do because some people, they’re happy already with how I fight. There is a little bit of pressure but I am going to go out there and do what I do and try to please everybody and do my best.

D. Rafael

How old were you in 1997?

L. Santa Cruz

I was nine years old, eight years old, around there.

D. Rafael

So you were a kid last time this happened. So you probably don’t remember. So you’ve never watched a boxing match on network TV before probably.

L. Santa Cruz

Nope, never.

Leo, Kelly called you adorable. I don’t think any of your opponents think that. Do you?

L. Santa Cruz

No, I don’t think so.

I think you’re pretty much a terror. Very quick short turnaround for you. You start last month. Before that even with Morel and you come back and fight as a leader, that’s a pretty short turnaround from September to November. Are you comfortable with this pace? I mean, after fighting nine rounds you’re going to be right back in there just a little more than a month later.

L. Santa Cruz

Yes, they told me that if I was ready to come on and fight and I was like, yes, I want to fight. They told me that it was up to me and yes, I decided to fight because I wanted to finish the year strong. After this one I’m going to take a little rest and get ready and hopefully everything goes good on this one. I’ll take some rest and become stronger for next year.

It’d be great for you to finish off the year with a third straight knockout in less than four months. How do you feel about that? Do you really feel like you want to go out there and just continue the dynamic performances that you’ve turned in?

L. Santa Cruz

Yes, I do. I would like to go out there and finish the year strong and finish with a knockout and this year could be good, because I do get more times and people get to know me and for this great exposure thanks to Golden Boy, to my manager, and to all my team. Thanks to them and that’s what I’m here for, to please all the fans and give them a good show.

Last question I have is when you think of the Mexican fans; you’re a Mexican-American, you just probably watched one this past weekend. When you hear the crowd cheering for a guy like Marquez, do you imagine yourself reaching that kind of a level even though you’re only in your early defenses of your title?

L. Santa Cruz

Yes, I totally imagine myself that I one day I want to be like that and I want all the fans screaming for me and everything. Even imagining that and thinking of that it gives me chills and I feel really excited, so it gives me more motivation and strength to go in the gym and so one day I could become like that, like someone like Marquez and a true Mexican like that.

Do you have a true Mexican boxing idol?

L. Santa Cruz

Yes, it was Cesar Chavez before and when he was beginning with him. Then it was Oscar Larios too. They were my biggest idols.

Hey Alfredo, how long before you won a challenge for one of the junior middleweight titles? How long before you do that? I mean, I know you’ve only just been out of the-that was your first fight back in a long time. How many more fights do you think you want to have before you’re ready to step in there and win a belt?

A. Angulo

I’m ready to fight for a belt. I’m working, now the decision is up to my team and Golden Boy, he’s the decision for my opponents. I would be ready to fight for the belt tomorrow. I don’t care, the champions now are a good challenge and I’m ready. I’m working very hard-I know I stopped a lot of times, but I’m going for the title.

If you were to have your choice of the champions, Austin Trout, Alvarez, Bundrage, etc. Would you have a preference? Would you want to go for one of the guys that aren’t considered so good first or would you want to go for Trout or Alvarez first?

A. Angulo

Any of those would be a great opportunity for me. I don’t care. I’ll fight for anybody.

How big would an Alvarez fight be for you given that you’re both Mexicans?

A. Angulo

Every fight when two fighters-he’s Mexican, he’s a really good size. He fights really hard and with a lot of heart.

Last question. Do you ever envision yourself being in the ring with Canelo? Have you ever, even when you weren’t able to fight, hearing about him and what level he’s reached, possibly being in the ring with him and how that would go?

A. Angulo

I don’t fight names. I fight opponents; I fight whoever is in front of me to get through him. So to me right now the name Canelo doesn’t mean anything because I have the other opponent. That’s who I fight, the one in front of me. It’s up to my promoter, it’s up to my trainer, and who they put in front of me and I’m ready to fight.

Yes, my question if for Leo Santa Cruz. Leo, I just want to know back in November, was it even on your mind that you were going to fight in December, and if so, were there opponents already in mind?

L. Santa Cruz

No, they had given me some kind of clue. They told me that if everything came out good in November and everything was good that they had maybe something in December. They didn’t tell me that for sure but they had told me that maybe they were going to put me in the show. So I trained really hard so I could do good in November and I won. So yes I kind of knew that maybe in December they were going to give me another shot.

Okay, so with that in mind, how does it affect the way you train for this fight as opposed to others? Most fighters going into training camp, they already know who they’re fighting and they know how to prepare. So for this fight is just you’re training for a fight as opposed to training for your specific opponent. So did that make a difference for this particular training camp?

L. Santa Cruz

A little bit because I didn’t know the other guy’s style or anything, but I kept training like how we train really hard and doing things that my dad showed me. He has really good ideas in the gym. He taught me to fight any kind of fight; all types of styles.

Robert Diaz

I just want to make it clear that this opponent was scheduled a few-as soon as we knew that he was back on we had the opponent lined up.

Thanks, I appreciate it. Leo, just one more question. What does it mean to you, and we touched on it earlier, but returning to CBS, like you said you didn’t even grow up in an era where boxing was regularly showcased on network TV. So what does that mean to you? You’re bringing back something, I guess, to an entirely new generation.

L. Santa Cruz

It means a lot to me. I’m very grateful and happy that they picked me to be on this kind of TV because millions of people are going to be watching and this is what I need, exposure so that people to get to know me. Hopefully they become fans and they like how I fight so I can give them a good show and they keep on watching and following me.

The question is for Alfredo. You’ve had your first fight. Obviously it was a very emotional night coming back into the ring. How difficult was it to get through those moments of the anguish, the difficulties that you had in the past?

A. Angulo

No, I’m a little bit more tranquil this time around. As I told everyone before the first fight, the training was done, the hard work was put in so I don’t get nervous but I do from the locker room to the ring. You know, obviously this time we’ve worked very hard where we’re back into the rhythm and it shouldn’t be as much of a surprise once we go out there and hear the crowd again. We’ll be used to it. We’ll be ready.

This one is for Leo. 2012 was a very, very busy year. Do you expect 2013 to be the same scheduling and also your breakout year?

L. Santa Cruz

Yes, 2013 we’re going to train even harder and be ready and prepared so that the bigger fights come, the big names, and leave the crowd and make them happy. Definitely.

Okay. Alfredo, you were sensational in your last fight. However, it was very quick. Do you want to get some more rounds in in this fight?

A. Angulo

Thank you for what you said. I think so. I’m ready for more rounds.

Okay, and when I talked to you the last time you said you have some new weapons in your arsenal since working with Virgil Hunter. Will we see these new weapons in this fight?

A. Angulo

A lot of people, I hear the words, it’s very hard to tell and I used the word and the reason is the fight for the people on the field why is there a fight.

Okay, and do you feel that you will challenge for a world title in 2013?

A. Angulo

I don’t know. I think so. You see it’s I think so like tomorrow Golden Boy officially is switched for even fight for the title, I think for the next year for sure.

How do you feel about fighting on network television in front of a huge national audience in your hometown, how does it feel?

L. Santa Cruz

Exciting, happy, but at the same time really nervous and I have a lot of pressure on me because I want to give all the fans and the network a good show and I think it’s hard to do that and please everybody.

All right, and you have been sensational at bantamweight. How long do you plan to stay at this division now before moving up?

L. Santa Cruz

The truth, I’ve been ready to move already like two months ago, but like the opportunities have been coming at this weight right now, and as opportunities keep coming, if there are opportunities to unify the belt and it’s a great opportunity for me, I think I will probably stay for a few months. If not, if there are better opportunities for moving up from 122, I think that next year is going to be my chance to move up and probably this is my last fight at 118.

K. Swanson

Thank you. Okay, so next up we’re switching to our main event. Oscar has already talked about the particulars, as well as Stephen Espinoza from Showtime, so I’m going to cut right to it and we will hear from Mr. Molina first, Carlos Molina of Norwalk, California. He’s undefeated as a professional, 17 and 0 with one draw and seven KOs. He’s a former national amateur champion. He has shared the ring with many top competitors and now he probably is stepping up, if not probably, definitely stepping up to face his toughest opponent to date and that, of course, is Amir Khan. Mr. Molina, if you want to make an opening comment, and then I will introduce Mr. Khan.

Carlos Molina

Sure, how are you guys doing? I’ve been training extremely hard for this fight. I’m excited and I’m ready. I’m ready to go a 12 hard round son Saturday. I’m just excited to be fighting here in my hometown of LA and be fighting a world class fighter like Amir Khan. I think it’s just going to elevate my skills, so like I said, my team has been working very hard with my head trainer Clemente Medina; my strength and conditioning coach, Luis Garcia, they’ve been pushing me to the max every single day. My manager, Frank Espinoza, my dad along my side. I’ve got a great team and come Saturday we’re going to show the world who Carlos Molina is.

K. Swanson

Of course without further ado, this is a fantastic fighter from Bolton, England, Mr. Khan, 26 and 3 with 18 knockouts. He’s the former Unified Super Lightweight World Champion. Of course, we all know he’s an Olympic silver medalist from the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. He gives a tremendous amount back in the U.K. and in Pakistan. We know he fights for all of the people that are attached to his life.

And you do know his history in the ring. He’s had unbelievable fights with top, top opponents and recently he did have a little bump on his radar, but he is back and probably the most exciting thing about this is that he has a new trainer, Virgil Hunter, so that’s a great association. He now is going to be facing Carlos Molina in his first fight back since he had his upset loss in July against Danny Garcia.

So Amir, if you want to make an opening statement and then we’ll open it up to the reporters?

Amir Khan

Hello, everyone. Thanks for joining the call. Training has gone great. I feel I’m in great condition and I know what mistakes I made in the previous fights and we’re not going to make them again. You will see a new Amir Khan come into this fight and I just want to say that the training that I’ve been doing with Virgil Hunter has been going great because to work on new techniques and new skills and everything and be a totally different fighter. I’m excited to show you all what the new Amir Khan is going to be like, but yes, training has been tough and hard.

The conditions have been very hard, as well. I kept everything really quiet and just being focused on what I need to do to. The training camp was in San Francisco. So it’s been a great camp and we just can’t wait to get in the ring there and put on a fight because it’s been such a long time since the last fight. I just want to get back in the ring now and show what Amir Khan is all about, but training, while in LA we’ve been doing the training over here as well and Virgil is also in LA, as well, so it’s fight week and it’s all about just making sure that we’re going to do things right and we’re going to stick to a game plan.

We know we’re up against a tough Carlos Molina, and we know what it’s like to fight and be inside, because they’re very confident and we’re not taking this fight lightly. We’ve taken it very seriously; especially we know that Carlos is going to come into the fight very confident after my last fight. So we’re going to be ready for everything he brings to the table and I’m excited more than anything. While the U.K. fans are excited to see me fight, fans that are in Pakistan and around the world and also in America, they’ve been messaging me and saying we can’t wait to see you fight come this Saturday. So I’m excited and I hope you guys are as well. Thank you.

Hello, Carlos, do you feel like this is kind of your Rocky moment coming into this fight? You’re the big underdog and you’re going to be fighting in front of your hometown and a wink could potentially set you up with fights that for a title on the other 140 or 135 you beat a name like Khan?

C. Molina

Definitely. I know a lot of people see me as the underdog, but man, little do they know that we’re going to shock everybody on that night. Like I said, we’re training extremely hard. We’re going to be called the Sea Biscuit after this fight. We’re going to come out of nowhere and shock the world.

How do you see this fight playing out with Amir?

C. Molina

I know Amir, he’s a fast fighter and I know he likes using his jab a lot, so I know we’re going to have to be working in there and I see it going 12 hard rounds and if it ends early, even better for me. But I just see this as being a great all action fight. It’s going to be great for the fans because there’s no way he’s going to put me down and I know he needs this win bad and he needs a little practice, so I know he’s going to go in there and like I said, we’re going to go to war.

Thanks, Carlos. For Amir, you’ve lost two in a row coming into this fight. Do you feel a lot of pressure to go out there and really perform well, or would you just be happy with a win?

A. Khan

We just got to go in there and we’re going to do what we do best, really. It’s been a tough road. We fought some big names and so far I think coming into this fight against Carlos, it’s going to be another tough fight. We know it’s going to be tough and we’re just going to go in there and do what we do best. A win is a win and we’re just going to be sticking to the game plan and sticking to the instructions from the corner. Instead of me getting too wild and stuff, I’m just going to be the best I can be. We’re working on a great game plan for this fight, so I’m going to be just sticking to that.

Just one more question for you, after what happened in the Lamont Peterson fight, were you a little bit apprehensive about fighting another guy in his backyard?

A. Khan

I’ve been spending a lot of time in Los Angeles as well, so it’s kind of a second home for me over here because we’ve trained over here for like four years, so I think it’s going to be perfect. It’s always tough when you fight someone is his backyard, but we know we have to maybe that’s the reason we’ve been working even harder, because we know we have to win even more convincingly when you come to someone’s backyard and that’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to be working harder.

I wanted to know in your opening statement you talked about making corrections to mistakes that you made against Garcia. I’m wondering if you could tell me when you talk about fixing mistakes, in your mind what were those mistakes that you believe that you made in that fight.

A. Khan

We made mistakes when we usually go in there and it’s like there’s no defense and jumping into a war when we don’t need to have a war and the game plan going out the window and me getting over confident and just whereas if I just stick to the game plan more. I start to forget the things that got me far in my career and start to focus more on the power of speed or aggression or however in the work that I have.

We know about the boxing arena, we’re going to stick with that and we’re going to stick to the skills and be smart of everything because that’s what’s got me this far. So that’s why I’ve been working with Virgil and Virgil is a great trainer defensively as well. We’ve been working on a lot of new defenses, which I think will help me in this fight.

Amir, do you get a little, I guess, maybe mad at yourself because, like you said, you maybe got a little reckless against Garcia. You were winning that fight easily, we know that. We were watching it. Garcia was able to finish the fight, but when you go back and have looked at it, do you just shake your head and say I can’t believe I got, like you said, out of control? How are you going to prevent yourself from doing that, because it seems to me, I’ve followed your whole career, that’s your nature, which is why we like watching you so much because you are on the edge of sometimes and trying to go for the knockout, which leaves you open a little bit?

A. Khan

Yes, definitely. I think it’s when you’re in a gym with other fighters, who have a similar style. I was in the gym with Manny Pacquiao he had a very similar style to me offensively a great fighter, and defensively we’re both not the best. We did a couple tough, tough sparring in there where we have to prove a point. There used to guys coming from all over the place all over the country to spar with, and we do spar that way. The way we spar is the way that we used to fight.

Then I’m gone because I’m a clever fighter. I’m a wild fighter. I should use my skills instead of jumping in there and getting into wars. I think it’s what you do in the gym; not you do in the ring. This comes from being very mentally and thinking about a lot of things and doing a lot of things different and that’s what I’m going to take into the ring.

Just one more question for you, Amir, can you talk about what specifically Virgil has brought to you? You did well with Freddie for a while, won some world titles and such. Now you’re going with Virgil. We know he’s a good trainer, but what is different about him, say, than Freddie, or what do you believe he brings to you that will help you in the fight, or not just this fight, but in your career in general?

A. Khan

Yes, I think in my career, I think he’ll help me because he’s a great corner man. He will tell you straight if you’re doing something wrong. And also he sees a fight the way it should go and if you’re making mistakes, he’ll pull you up on them, and tell you how to change your style and stuff and also when we’re working in the gym together, we’ve changed a lot of stuff, which is the defense, working a lot on the defensive side, something I’ve always wanted to work on with a trainer.

I have offensively, that’s always going to be there because that’s just the nature of the fighter I am. I’m that type of fighter who likes to fight and get into a tear up, but at the same time defensive as well, Virgil has added to my fighting style I think is going to help me big time. It will take me to a different level seeing things better and also defending a lot of shots where I was normally just move and whereas now I can block them. I know exactly what to do, and like I said, come the fight, you will see the Amir Khan and you’ll see a very settled and very mature fighter.

Are you saying the other trainers didn’t do those types of things, didn’t talk about defense, didn’t talk well in the corner between rounds, which you haven’t had a real fight with Virgil just yet, or are you just satisfied with how he does it also and then your other trainers have done the same thing?

A. Khan

Yes, the other trainers have been great, the ones I’ve worked with, but with Virgil, I think it’s just a little different. He tells you straight how it is. He will shout at you in the corner and also he’ll teach you more defense. With the other trainers it was mainly a lot of offense and the defense a little bit of defense, but with Virgil, there’s a lot of defense at the same time, because maybe that’s something I wanted to work on as well, so that’s why he has me working on the defensive side because offense is always going to be there.

But if it’s defensive, you think after that combination what position you should be in, what position you’re going to be in way before you throw a shot. I think it’s all about positioning and balance as well. He’s helped me on a lot as well, I’ve tried all this stuff as well, all this stuff he’s been teaching me. It’s made my sparring so much easier and so much cleaner and I’m a better fighter this way. But don’t get me wrong, the excitement is still going to be there. People want to see Amir Khan is very exciting and they will still see that, but a very more mature fighter.

December is usually a pretty good month for you. Obviously the Peterson fight notwithstanding. Is there anything about this time of year that brings out good things in you, the McDonagh fight, I think the Barrera fight maybe.

A. Khan

Yes, December is always a nice time to have a fight because it’s coming towards end of year and it’s great to finish a year off strong. I’ve had a nice break coming to the December fight and it’s nice and relaxed and me changing a lot of things might count as well and being a lot more serious than ever, really. Even though I have to train hard for my previous fight for this fight, especially I know it’s a make or break fight for me. That’s why I’m taking it so seriously.

We can be more than ready in this fight. I will be in the best condition ever. Conditioning wise, boxing wise and everything is going hopefully come together on Friday and we’re going to win this fight and finish the year off strong and then put us in a good position coming into next year.

Virgil Hunter, I spoke to him recently and he said a number of things, but one of the things that I’ve always thought with your fights, and I’ve always thought that this thing about your chin was overblown. What he said was it’s two things that cost you in the fights that you ended up being knocked out in. One he says you didn’t think when you got up. He said people are talking about his chin, but what they’re not looking at is it’s what he does when he gets up, because you got up from a heck of a punch.

I think what he’s talking about is you go right back into the fray. You didn’t gather yourself. What does it mean to you and how has he conveyed that to you?

A. Khan

Yes, we’ve seen the fight numerous times and two previous fights of mine and I tend to get to ballsy at times and where I should be more smart. I think he made me think more in that sense where why I get up from a knockdown and the shot that Garcia caught me with, I don’t think many lightweights would have got up off that fight. He’s a very big punisher and he hits very hard, but I got up the first time, got up the second time, but I don’t think I was thinking what was in my mind and what I was doing in the sparring.

On the wild card, I was in the wild card and going to wars. When someone hurts you in the sparring and you want to knock their head off, you want to go into a war with them. That’s totally got in my system of taking that in my system of where now if you do get caught with a shot, you regroup yourself. It’s all about thinking instead of jumping, rushing and making mistakes because when you’re not thinking enough you do start making more mistakes and you do start getting caught more.

I started realizing that with Virgil where he made me, when I do get caught with a good shot in sparring, he first couple of times it’s hard for me to slow myself down, but then I start slowing myself down and say okay, fine, you caught me one time. That’s fine. I start working on the, again, I start working on technique and then my time will come. This is boxing, a 12 round fight. It’s not a split where you go in there and try knocking your opponent out. And that’s what Virgil has taught me and put into my head where it’s a boxing fight.

You have to use your skills and if you’ve got 12 rounds to do it in, so take your time and be smart about everything and think about everything that you do. That’s why we’re doing more, the more thinking I’ve been doing is the more easier I’ve been working with Virgil and I’ve been enjoying it more as well.

Manny Stewart once told me that Tommy Hearns was so concerned about the crowd, pleasing the crowd, that he never liked to hold guys when he got hurt. I wonder if there’s a part of you that that you get so excited, you really want to entertain, that you just didn’t think about holding, clinching, doing whatever it takes just to get out of jeopardy. Would that be accurate or is that not-

A. Khan

Yes, maybe that’s what it is. Maybe that’s what it is, you want to show how brave you are, how strong you are to everyone. I think that’s the wrong way of going about it. This time we’ve been working a lot with heavier guys and guys that have been holding me. We’ve been doing a lot of holding work as well like teaching me when you are hurt, what you have to do if you’re holding, using these things.

But we’ve also got a lot of other things that we’ve been working on when you are hurt in a fight what you should do to avoid getting into a fight. So we’ve been-Virgil is very smart that way. He’s been helping me do a lot of different things; not only just holding, but different things we’ve been working on.

Hey Carlos. In fighters, great fighters who have had to transition from one trainer to a next or another, a lot of times they get caught in that transition and that’s a vulnerable time in their career, Jermain Taylor, Kelly Pavlik, guys like that. What are your thoughts about the vulnerability factor in terms of maybe catching Amir in transition?

C. Molina

Yes, I think he’s going to go out there with that game plan to be more defensive, but like Mike Tyson says, nobody has a game plan until you get punched in the face. I know Amir kind of loves to fight, so I think once we start putting those shots on him, I think he’s going to be in there. Like I said, we’re going to go to war.

But he is a good boxer, and one thing that Virgil Hunter said is that if you’re going to get to Amir’s chin, you’re going to have to take a lot of punishment. Danny Garcia took a lot of punishment, Lamont Peterson really had to take some shots, and of course, he dropped McDonagh in the first round with a wicked body shot, so he’s a very capable fighter and I don’t think that’s something you can overlook.

What do you see in his arsenal and how much are you willing to walk through fire to get to his chin?

C. Molina

Yes, I’m willing to walk through hell and back, man. This is my shot. This is my opportunity, so I know I got to be smart about it. I just can’t run there and just attack a tiger. I’ve got to be smart about it and I know he’s a good boxer, so we have a great game plan for him. We’re going to execute it on Saturday.

I know you have a fighter’s mentality and I’m not denigrating any of your opponents, but how big of a step up in quality and intensity and in marquee value is this fight for your career, and how much does it mean to you?

C. Molina

It’s a huge step. This fight right here is me beating Khan is going to catapult me to that level where everybody is going to know who I am. That’s why this fight means so much to me. Like I said, Amir is a world class fighter and me being in with a fighter at his level, it’s only going to make my boxing ability even greater, and everybody is going to know who I am.

Okay, Amir, my question for you is what do you think about the work of Freddie Roach in Pacquiao’s corner last weekend?

A. Khan

Manny Pacquiao is a great friend and a good friend of mine. We worked together for such a long time and also Freddie is a great trainer. It’s a shame to see a friend like that get beat because it shows that’s boxing for you, and in boxing one punch can change a fight.

No matter who you are, and Manny is such a great fighter going into the fight I was probably the favorite to win the fight, but one punch can of change a fight and that’s boxing for you. We’ve been training very hard because we’ve been in that position where we were beaten and got caught with a shot. That’s boxing for you, so it’s like with my new trainer we’ve been working on the defense a lot and we’ve been working on a lot of new things.

But in your personal opinion, Freddie Roach didn’t use the right strategy against Marquez?

A. Khan

Well, you don’t know because it is hard to point fingers and so if Freddie fought, like Manny fought., etc. You can’t really say anything, when the fight is so exciting with fighters like Marquez and Pacquiao who are very exciting. One punch can change a fight because they’re very experienced, so you can’t really blame no trainer or anyone. It was just that Marquez was very clever and very smart and he hit Manny Pacquiao with a good, clean shot.

My first question is for Carlos Molina. Carlos, with only seven knockouts, you have a great record, 17 and 7 knockouts. By moving up in weight in your training are you doing anything different to win this fight?

C. Molina

Yes, I think we’re moving up five pounds and I think those five pounds are going to benefit me. It’s was never easy for me to make the 135 pounds and I think being 140 pounds I think I’ll be a lot more comfortable. We’ve been working a lot doing a lot of agility work and a lot of sand work and we’ve been doing a lot of cross-training just various types of training that is going to make me more explosive in the fight. I think I’m going to be stronger at this weight.

Right, and what is the motivation going into this fight with a fighter like Amir “King” Khan, with a hard puncher, what are your goals when you fight him?

C. Molina

This is something I always dreamed of, something like I said I’ve always dreamed this since I was a little kid, having a big, huge fight right here, right here in the city where I’m from, the city of LA. I’m just so motivated and so excited for my opportunity. This is my time. It’s my time to show the world who I am and I’m ready to become a world champion.

Right, and if you do win against Khan, would you fight your next fighter, would it be a junior welterweight Danny Garcia, or would you move back down to your weight to Adrien Broner in order to help you win the title?

C. Molina

Yes, right now I’m just focused directly on Amir Khan. Whatever happens after that, if it’s Broner, if it’s Garcia, it doesn’t matter. I just want to fight Amir Khan right now and whatever opportunity comes next and I’m going to be thankful for that.

A. Khan

I just want to thank everyone for coming onto this conference call and we’ve got training to go to as well, but yes, it’s going to be great. I hope you all come to the fight and we’ll see you all at the press conference waiting, but yes, we’re ready. We can’t wait to get into the ring and show you the new Amir Kahn and I just want to thank you all for coming, thank you.

C. Molina

Thank you guys for your questions. We’re ready. We’re ready to put on the show come December 15th.

END OF CALL

Khan vs. Molina is a 12 round fight for the vacant WBC Silver Super Lightweight Title and is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Khan Promotions and sponsored by Corona and AT&T. In the co-featured attractions, charismatic unbeaten knockout artist and 2008 Olympic Bronze Medalist Deontay “Bronze Bomber” Wilder squares off against undefeated Kelvin Price in a 10-round heavyweight clash for the vacant WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight Championship and hard-hitting junior middleweight Alfredo “El Perro” Angulo of Los Angeles by way of Mexicali, Mexico faces Jorge Silva in a 10-round bout. The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast begins live at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) with a ten round welterweight fight featuring rising star Shawn Porter vs. former World Champion Julio Diaz airing live on SHOWTIME EXTREME beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). The Sky Sports 1HD telecast begins live at 2:00 a.m. GMT on Sunday, December 16.

Santa Cruz vs. Guevara is a 12-round fight for Santa Cruz’s IBF Bantamweight World Championship and is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona and AT&T. The CBS broadcast, which airs live from 4:30 p.m. ET/1:30 p.m. PT until 6:00 p.m. ET/3:00 p.m. PT, will also feature the professional debut of 2012 U.S. Olympian Joseph Diaz Jr. as he faces Vicente Alfaro in a four-round junior featherweight fight.

VIDEO: SHOWTIME FEATURE: KHAN VS MOLINA

OSCAR DE LA HOYA, AMIR KHAN, CARLOS MOLINA, DEONTAY WILDER, KELVIN PRICE, ALFREDO ANGULO AND JORGE SILVA LOOK FORWARD TO SATURDAY’S BOXING EXTRAVAGANZA AT THE LOS ANGELES MEMORIAL SPORTS ARENA

LOS ANGELES (Dec. 12, 2012) – Golden Boy Promotions President Oscar De La Hoya, former Unified Super Lightweight Champion Amir “King” Khan, his opponent, unbeaten Carlos Molina and the four other pugilists fighting this Saturday, December 15, live on SHOWTIME® (10:30 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena participated in a media workout Tuesday at the jam-packed Ponce De Leon Boxing Gym in Montebello, Calif.

Khan meets Molina in the main event in a 12-round bout for the vacant WBC Silver Super Lightweight Championship. In co-featured 10-rounders on SHOWTIME, knockout artist and 2008 Olympic Bronze Medalist Deontay “Bronze Bomber” Wilder (25-0, 25 KO’s), of Tuscaloosa, Ala., takes on Kelvin Price (13-0, 6 KO’s), of Pensacola, Fla., in a collision of 6-foot-7 unbeatens for the vacant WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight Championship and Alfredo “Perro” Angulo (21-2, 18 KO’s), of Los Angeles, battles Jorge Silva (18-2-2, 14 KO’s), of Chula Vista, Calif., in a junior middleweight match.

The evening event will also be televised live on Sky Sports 1HD in the United Kingdom at 2:00 a.m. GMT on Sunday, December 16.

The tripleheader on SHOWTIME concludes an unprecedented day-night boxing marathon that begins with fights on CBS Television Network in the afternoon and is followed later by one fight on SHOWTIME EXTREME.

Undefeated IBF Bantamweight World Champion Leo Santa Cruz (22-0-1, 13 KO’s), of Los Angeles, will defend his title against Alberto Guevara (16-0, 6 KO’s) of San Diego, Calif., in the main event on CBS while talented 2012 U.S. Olympian Joseph “Jo-Jo” Diaz, of South El Monte, Calif., will make his pro debut against Vicente Alfaro (5-2, 1 KO), of Northfield, Minn., in the opening bout.

The live 90-minute broadcast on CBS, its first since Bernard Hopkins knocked out Glen Johnson in the 11th round on Jan. 20, 1997, will begin at 4:30 p.m. ET/1:30 p.m. PT.

Admission is free to the afternoon event that begins at 1:00 p.m. PT and will include three of Diaz’s U.S. Olympic teammates who were all victorious in their professional debuts on Nov. 9 on SHOWTIME’S ShoBox: The New Generation: Errol Spence Jr. of Brentwood, N.Y., Marcus Browne of Staten Island, N.Y. and Dominic Breazeale of Alhambra, Calif., all in four-round bouts. Junior middleweight Spence will face Richard Andrews (5-2-3, 2 KO’s), of Charlottesville, Va., light heavyweight Browne is matched against Ritchie Cherry (3-5, 1 KO), of Oklahoma City, Okla., and heavyweight Breazeale faces Michael Dennis (0-1), of Glendale, Calif.

Welterweight Shawn “Showtime” Porter (20-0, 14 KO’s), of Cleveland, Ohio, will put his unbeaten record on the line against surging former World Champion Julio Diaz (40-7, 29 KO’s), of Indio, Calif., in a 10-round bout on SHOWTIME EXTREME (9:00 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).

Tickets for the evening boxing session (SHOWTIME-televised fight card) are priced at $150, $100, $75, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes and service charges, and are on sale at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena box office, all Ticketmaster outlets, by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

Non-televised fights on the undercard (first fight is 4:00 p.m. PT): Frankie Gomez (13-0, 10 KO’s), East Los Angeles, vs. Pavel Miranda (19-8-1, 10 KO’s), Tijuana, Mex., 8 rounds, welterweights; Hugo Centeno (16-0, 8 KO’s), Oxnard, Calif., vs. Allen Conyers (12-7, 9 KO’s), Bronx, N.Y., 8 rounds, junior middleweights; Chris Pearson (6-0, 5 KO’s), Trotwood, Ohio, vs. Dashon Johnson (13-9-3, 4 KO’s), Escondido, Calif., 6 rounds, middleweights; and Jerren Cochran (6-0, 3 KO’s), Houston, Texas, vs. TBA, 4 rounds, featherweights.

Tickets for the afternoon boxing session (CBS broadcast) will be free of charge as part of the Golden Boy Promotions Holiday Fanfest and can be acquired at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena box office.

Fans who present ticket stubs from the CBS event when purchasing tickets for the SHOWTIME event will receive a 20 percent discount. There is a limit of one discounted purchased ticket per ticket redeemed while supplies last.

Saturday’s mega-event will also feature Golden Boy’s Holiday Fanfest on the grounds of the Sports Arena that will include music, autograph sessions with boxing’s biggest stars, games, boxing memorabilia, a visit by Santa Claus at an Oscar De La Hoya Foundation-sponsored toy give-away (10:00 a.m.), and much more.

Khan vs. Molina is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Khan Promotions and sponsored by Corona and AT&T. Santa Cruz vs. Guevara is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona and AT&T.

Below please find quotes from Tuesday’s workout:

OSCAR DE LA HOYA

“Saturday is a special day for all of us – the fighters, fans, everybody. Because of the toy drive, there will be lots of gifts to give away, lots of gifts for us to disperse to the kids. That makes it a win-win for everybody.

“The turnout today is wonderful. The fights on Saturday will be exceptional. We’re very proud to be teaming up with CBS and SHOWTIME for what will be a memorable day and night of exciting fights.

“The main event on SHOWTIME has attracted international attention and is very intriguing. The big questions are: who is Carlos Molina and what is he bringing to the table? And what does Amir Khan have left? A strong contingent of press are here from England, which is always the case whenever and wherever Amir fights. There is a huge amount of interest in his return to the ring. As a fan, I can’t wait for Saturday.”

AMIR KHAN

“Obviously, this fight means a lot to me and is very important. I can’t afford to get beat. Yes, I want to fight the biggest names, but to do that, I first have to win on Saturday. I think it’s equally important for me that I win and that I win impressively.

“I never treat a fight as a tune-up or go in underestimating my opponent because all opponents are dangerous. I am certainly not taking Molina lightly. I’ve seen a little of him. I expect a good fight and for him to come at me. I appreciate the fact he took this fight.

“My sparring has been brilliant. The switch in trainers has been a positive change. I feel great and I’m in a great state of mind. You’re going to see a smarter, much more mature fighter, a mistake-free, precise puncher who’ll make every punch count and won’t make any mistakes.”

CARLOS MOLINA

“I grew up in tough neighborhoods with tough neighbors, so one thing I won’t be is intimidated by him, or by his reputation. I’ll be ready for anything.

“We got the call for this fight in September and I’ve been running and training hard ever since. My trainers have really pushed me. I’m in tip-top shape and feel stronger at 147 pounds than I ever have. I believe we have a great game plan.

“I’ve seen all his fights and know what he brings into the ring. There have been a lot of great fights this year and a lot of upsets. This is going to be a great fight, too, and I’m confident I can win it.’’

DEONTAY WILDER

“I’ve won all my fights by knockout, but I never go into a fight thinking I’ll win that way. I still have too much to prove to think that way.

“I’m thrilled and very happy to be part of a great fight card like this. I like pressure, so that is never a factor, but I know this is going to be a good fight. Both of us are hungry and are coming to win.

“People criticize me all the time. They look at my record, see all the knockouts and say I haven’t fought anybody, but we set out with a game plan when I turned pro and we continue to follow that game plan.

“The next step is Saturday night. I’m not saying it will be my toughest fight, but it could be my hardest. Both of us dream of becoming heavyweight world champion one day. Both of us want to impress on SHOWTIME. I’ve had a great camp with really great sparring. To the fans, all I’ll say is…buckle up.”

KELVIN PRICE

“It’s great to be back on SHOWTIME and to get this kind of opportunity. Finally, after years of missing out on big fights for one reason or another, I get the chance for my coming out party. I am beyond excited.

“Despite a late start in boxing after switching over after playing pro basketball for years in Europe, I should have many more fights than I do. But the fact is I’ve been turned down by almost all the young heavyweights, including Tyson Fury, David Price and Chris Arreola. They may agree to fight, but once they do their research on me the fight is scrapped.

“I consider myself the best unknown fighter in the world, but now I’m finally getting my chance. I’m like a diamond in the rough, still learning every day, but this is the kind of fight I’ve been waiting for. I’m ready to show my stuff. I’m hungry like you wouldn’t believe.’’

ALFREDO ANGULO

“I’m really excited to be coming back so quickly and fighting again in Los Angeles. Like I always do for any opponent, I’ve trained very hard and am ready to go 10 rounds. You never know what’s going to happen once the bell rings. I’ll take early knockouts all the time, but you can never count on them.

“Silva is a really good fighter, and he’s Mexican. So we have a Mexico versus Mexico fight, which is always a war.

“You may not be familiar with Silva or know his name, but those are the fighters who are the most dangerous. They’re very eager to change that and make a name for themselves.

“No one’s paid a lot of attention to Silva, but I have. I know that hunger he has, his ambition to be somebody and make himself a name. This is going to be a hard fight. No way I’m taking him lightly.’’

JORGE SILVA

“This is my second fight in the United States and first on SHOWTIME, so I have a lot to prove, but I’ve waited a long time for this kind of opportunity and I’m ready to take advantage of it.

“I’m really excited and motivated to finally be fighting a quality opponent, and I most definitely feel I will win and get the recognition that goes with it. I look at this as not only the biggest fight of my career, but the most difficult. I think I a lot of the guys Angulo has knocked out were intimidated by him before they even got in the ring. I’m not intimidated by anything or anybody.

“I’m in great shape and confident of a victory. I look forward to showing SHOWTIME and all the fans exactly who I am.’’

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For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, follow us on Twitter at, www.twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.twitter.com/AmirKingKhan, www.twitter.com/CarlosMolina562, www.twitter.com/ElPerro82, www.twitter.com/BronzeBomber, www.twitter.com/teampriceboxing, www.ShowtimeSHAWNP, www.JosephDiazJr, www.twitter.com/ErrolSpenceJr, www.twitter.com/Marcus_Browne, www.twitter.com/SHOsports, follow the conversation using #KhanMolina or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing or www.facebook.com/SHOsports.

IBF BANTAMWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION LEO SANTA CRUZ TO FACE ALBERTO GUEVARA AND 2012 U.S. OLYMPIAN JOSEPH DIAZ TO MAKE PRO DEBUT ON DECEMBER 15 AT LA SPORTS ARENA LIVE ON CBS

LOS ANGELES, December 6 – Before British superstar Amir “King” Khan makes his ring return against Carlos Molina at the legendary Los Angeles Sports Arena on Saturday, December 15 live on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING, LA’s own IBF Bantamweight World Champion Leo “Terremoto” Santa Cruz will face unbeaten Alberto “Metro” Guevara in a 12-round bout that will air as a special boxing feature live on SHOWTIME BOXING on CBS beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET/1:30 p.m. PT.

U.S. Olympian Joseph “Jo-Jo” Diaz’s bout against an opponent to be named will also be broadcast live on CBS, the first live fight on CBS Television in 15 years. Rounding out the early portion of the fight card will be Olympians Errol Spence and Marcus Browne, who made their pro debuts one month ago on November 9, in separate bouts also against opponents to be named.

Also featured on the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast (10:30 p.m. ET/PT, SHO) will be a 10-round junior middleweight clash between Alfredo “Perro” Angulo and Jorge “Pantera” Silva as well as a 10-round heavyweight bout featuring charismatic unbeaten knockout artist and 2008 Olympic Bronze Medalist Deontay “Bronze Bomber” Wilder in a tough test against undefeated Kelvin Price.

But that’s not all, as SHOWTIME EXTREME will kick-off the evening action at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) with unbeaten welterweight Shawn “Showtime” Porter stepping up to the plate against surging former World Champion Julio “The Kidd” Diaz. Also slated for undercard action will unbeaten East Los Angeles prospect Frankie “Pitbull” Gomez taking on Pavel Miranda.

Khan vs. Molina is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Khan Promotions and sponsored by Corona and AT&T. The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast begins live at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) with preliminary fights live on SHOWTIME EXTREME® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). The Sky Sports 1HD telecast begins live at 2:00 a.m. GMT on Sunday, December 16.

Santa Cruz vs. Guevara is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona and AT&T. The CBS telecast air live from 4:30 p.m. ET/1:30 p.m. PT until 6:00 p.m. ET/3:00 p.m. PT.

Tickets for the SHOWTIME televised fight card are priced at $150, $100, $75, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes and service charges, are on sale now and available for purchase at the Los Angeles Sports Arena box office, all Ticketmaster outlets, by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000 or online at ticketmaster.com. Tickets for fans traveling from the United Kingdom are available for purchase online at www.sportscorporation.com or by calling +44 (0)845 163 0845.

Tickets for the CBS televised fight card will be free of charge as part of a Golden Boy Promotions Holiday Fanfest and can be acquired at Los Angeles Sports Arena box office.

Perhaps boxing’s most exciting fighter, IBF Bantamweight World Champion Leo “Terremoto” Santa Cruz (22-0-1, 13 KO’s) is a thrill machine with a warrior’s heart, making him a fan favorite wherever he goes. In the midst of a breakout year, the 24-year-old from Los Angeles won his first world title in June, beating Vusi Malinga, and he has since defended it with knockout victories of Eric Morel and Victor Zaleta, making him the perfect candidate to be aired on network television.

Unbeaten in 16 professional fights, Mazatlan, Mexico’s Alberto Guevara (16-0, 6 KO’s) is expected to give Santa Cruz a tough battle in their 12-round clash and with the high stakes involved, expect “Metro” to come out with guns blazing on December 15. A three-year pro, Guevara is taking a big step up against the world champion, but is ready for the fight of his life.

A proud native of South El Monte, California, 20-year-old southpaw Joseph Diaz Jr. was a 2011 U.S. National Champion at featherweight and winner of his opening bout at the London Olympics earlier this year, garnering him a devoted fan following. Now ready to take the next step in what is expected to be a spectacular professional career, Diaz makes his pro debut on December 15 in a4-round fight against an opponent to be determined.

A native of Mexicali, Mexico now making his home in Los Angeles, Alfredo Angulo (21-2, 18 KOs) made his long awaited return in November after an emotional year out of the ring, but “Perro” delivered on the promise he has shown over the years as he took just 56 seconds to knock out Raul Casarez. Now determined to make up for lost time, the 30-year-old power puncher is back again and looking for another knockout win, this one over 20-year-old Tijuana product Jorge Silva. Silva (19-2-2, 15 KO’s) has some dynamite in his gloves as well, and after two straight wins and a draw with Japan’s Yoshihiro Kamegai, he’s got all the momentum he needs to score the biggest victory of his career.

The hottest prospect in the heavyweight division, Tuscaloosa, Alabama’s Deontay Wilder (25-0, 25 KO’s) has left no one in his path standing after winning a Bronze Medal at the 2008 Olympics. Standing at 6-foot-7, the “Bronze Bomber” has not only shown power in his victories over Damon McCreary, Owen Beck, and Kertson Manswell, but his charisma and personality have captured a huge fanbase for the 27-year-old that he hopes to grow even bigger on December 15.

One of the few heavyweights that match Wilder with not only an unbeaten record, but also in size, Pensacola, Florida’s 6-foot-7 Kelvin “Price is Right” Price (13-0, 6 KO’s) will present some difficulties for the former Olympian that he has yet to see in his pro career. A six year veteran who got a late start in the sport, the 37-year old is best known for spoiling the perfect record of hot prospect Tor Hamer in 2010. He’s ready to play that spoiler role again when he faces Wilder.

Akron, Ohio’s Shawn Porter (20-0, 14 KO’s) is an exciting welterweight who is beginning to make his move on the elite in his division and is doing it with a two-fisted, aggressive attack that none of his opponents have been able to handle. A decorated amateur and 2008 U.S. Olympic team alternate, the 25-year-old Porter won the NABF welterweight title by beating Hector Munoz in 2010 and he added the NABO crown in July with his hard fought win over the respected Alfonso Gomez.

The fighting pride of Coachella, California, Julio “The Kidd” Diaz (40-7, 29 KO’s) is a former world lightweight champion who has fought it out with Jose Luis Castillo, Angel Manfredy, Jesus Chavez, Juan Diaz and Herman Ngoudjo. After a year-long break and a move up to welterweight, the 32-year-old Diaz has looked better than ever in knocking out Henry Aurad and Hector Sanchez in 2012. With a win over Porter, he can move back into title contention.

Unbeaten as a professional, former amateur star Frankie “Pitbull” Gomez (13-0, 10 KO’s) made a triumphant return to the squared circle after nearly a year off when he stopped veteran Manuel Leyva in three rounds on November 3. Now looking to stay busy and pile up some more wins on the way to a welterweight title shot, the East LA battler will meet up with Tijuana veteran Pavel Miranda (17-8-1, 8 KOs) on December 15.

Winner of two bouts in the 2012 Olympics as a member of Team USA, 22-year-old Dallas native Errol Spence Jr. (1-0, 1 KO) may have been the most impressive of his fellow teammates in his pro debut on November 9, as he showed off a wide variety of skills and poise before dispatching Jonathan Garcia in the third round. Now he’ll look to repeat that feat in another four round affair against an opponent to be named later this month.

22-year-old Marcus Browne (1-0, 1 KO) fought with a heavy heart during his pro debut on November 9 after his native Staten Island, New York was hit hard by Hurricane Sandy. Despite the devastation back home, with the heart and resolve that took him to a National Amateur Championship, three Golden Gloves titles and a spot on the 2012 U.S. Olympic team, Browne took out unbeaten Codale Ford in three rounds to earn his first professional win. On December 15, he looks for win number two against an opponent to be determined in a four round bout.

The evening session of boxing will begin with Houston, Texas’ Jerren Cochran (6-0, 3 KO’s) against an opponent to be named in a four round feather fight followed by an eight-round junior middleweight battle between Oxnard, California’s Hugo “The Boss” Centeno (16-0, 8 KO’s) and Allen Conyers (12-7, 9 KO’s) of the Bronx, New York.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, follow us on Twitter at, www.twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.twitter.com/AmirKingKhan, www.twitter.com/CarlosMolina562, www.twitter.com/ElPerro82, www.twitter.com/BronzeBomber, www.twitter.com/teampriceboxing, www.ShowtimeSHAWNP, www.JosephDiazJr, www.twitter.com/ErrolSpenceJr, www.twitter.com/Marcus_Browne, www.twitter.com/HugoBoss805, www.twitter.com/SHOsports, follow the conversation using #KhanMolina or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing or www.facebook.com/SHOsports.

CARLOS MOLINA WANTS TO HELP GENNADY GOLOVKIN WITH HIS SEARCH FOR AN OPPONENT

The world’s “Uncrowned” #1 154-lb contender “King” Carlos Molina (20-5-2, 6 KOs) is offering help to WBA middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin with his quest to find an opponent.

Golovkin’s trainer, Abel Sanchez, was recently quoted as claiming that no one wants to face his fighter, and so far no opponent for Golovkin has been announced.

“I will!” said the eager Molina. “We can do it at 154 or at any weight between 154 AND 160 lbs. It doesn’t matter to me. If you want a top opponent to face, here I am. Let’s do this.”

Russia’s Golovkin (24-0, 21 KOs) is scheduled for a January 19 HBO appearance in New York, and Sanchez went so far as claiming Edwin Rodriguez turned down a half million dollars for the fight.

Despite the five losses on his ledger, Molina truly is the uncrowned number one contender. His 20-5-2 record includes draws with Erislandy Lara and Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr., both fights most people thought he clearly won. His disqualification against Kirkland was one of boxing’s truly low moments, and he also ended up on the wrong end of several other bad split-decision losses early in his career.

In fact, it is Molina who is the fighter truly willing to fight anyone between 147 and 160 lbs.

“I got you Gennady. Bring your half a million and your boxing gloves and let’s fight. I’m not busy January 19 and I’d love to be world middleweight champion. Call my people and let’s make a deal.”

AMIR KHAN, CARLOS MOLINA, OSCAR DE LA HOYA, ASIF VALI & STEPHEN ESPINOZA KHAN VS. MOLINA LOS ANGELES PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES

LOS ANGELES (Oct. 31, 2012) – Former Unified Super Lightweight World Champion and British superstar Amir “King” Khan, unbeaten super lightweight contender Carlos Molina, President of Golden Boy Promotions Oscar De La Hoya, Khan Promotions’ Asif Vali, Khan trainer Virgil Hunter, Molina trainer Clemente Medina and Executive Vice President and General Manager of SHOWTIME Sports Stephen Espinoza participated in a press conference Tuesday to formally announce Khan’s and Molina’s Saturday, Dec. 15 fight at the Los Angeles Sports Arena which will be broadcast live on SHOWTIME® (10:30 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).

Khan (26-3, 18 KO’s), of Bolton England, a Silver Medalist at the 2004 Olympic Games who’ll be making his SHOWTIME debut and first start under new trainer Virgil Hunter, and Molina (17-0-1, 7 KO’s), a former National Amateur Champion from Norwalk, Calif., will meet in a 12-round 140 lb. bout in a main event on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING. The event will also be televised live by Sky Sports 1HD in the United Kingdom at 1:00 a.m. GMT on Sunday, December 16. The SHOWTIME telecast will be preceded by live preliminary fights on SHOWTIME EXTREME (8:00 p.m. ET/PT).

Khan, 25, has defeated past or current world champions Marco Maidana, Paulie Malignaggi, Zab Judah and Marco Antonio Barrera. Molina, 26, is taking a big step up in class after defeating the likes of Manuel Leyva, Glenn Gonzales and Marcos Jimenez.

Festivities on Dec. 15 will feature a holiday fanfest complete with musical acts, memorabilia and gift giveaways, autograph signings, and meet and greets with some of boxing’s biggest stars.

Tickets priced at $150, $100, $75, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes and service charges, are on sale at the Los Angeles Sports Arena box office, all Ticketmaster outlets or by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000, or online at ticketmaster.com. Tickets for fans traveling from the United Kingdom are available for purchase online at www.sportscorporation.com or by calling +44 (0)845 163 0845.

What the fighters, trainers and executives said at the Sports Arena on Tuesday:

AMIR KHAN

“I’d like to thank the promoters for putting this fight together and Team Molina for taking the fight. I’m looking forward to fighting on SHOWTIME in the United States.

“I made some mistakes in my last fight, so I changed trainers and training camps. I am now in the Bay Area and I love it. There are no distractions. Sparring has been brilliant.

“I came to the States early so I could work on my technique. Virgil’s got me thinking more, but in a way that won’t get in the way when I fight. I know I have to keep thinking once the fight starts.

“I think Molina has a similar style to mine. He’s a pressure fighter and exciting to watch. We both want to win. I know he doesn’t want to lose his unbeaten record, and I want to show I’m back.

“This fight is in Molina’s backyard but I expect a lot of fans from England to be there. I believe I will win and get back to where I want to be.”

CARLOS MOLINA

“I’m prepared for an all-out war. I want to thank Amir Khan for this great opportunity, but I have to say I think he’s made a big mistake. I’ve got a great team behind me including my trainer Clemente Medina and I’m fighting in my hometown. I can’t ask for anything more than that.

“Come December 15th, the only outcome I see is me remaining undefeated. We’re going to be ready for anything he brings to the table.

“Khan’s a good fighter, a fast fighter. He’s got a great jab and good footwork, but on fight night I’m going to be the dictator and he’s going to fight the way I want to fight. We’re going to shine.

“I think I have the power to knock him out. I don’t think I’ll do it in one punch. I don’t think I have one-punch power but if I hit a guy with three or four shots he will feel it.”

(On his ring-walk on Dec. 15)

“Just like Mike Tyson — focused and straight ahead. Nothing flashy.”

VIRGIL HUNTER (Khan’s Trainer)

“We’re going on our fourth week together and I couldn’t ask for anything better, or for a better situation to be in. Amir is easy to work with and easy to train. He has an open mind and is easy to communicate with.

“Everything has just been great so far.”

CLEMENTE MEDINA (Molina’s Trainer)

“We’ve had some great sparring. We know Amir Khan is considered the greater fighter, but we are hungrier right now, and that’s why we’ll win.

“We are training more with the legs because we know that we will have to move a lot. We’re training hard, like this is a championship fight.”

OSCAR DE LA HOYA (President, Golden Boy Promotions)

“We’re very excited about this main event fight and to be back on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING. We’re extremely fortunate to have Amir Kahn back in action against a tough local fighter in Carlos Molina.

“Once again, we will have an action-packed event. I’m proud and happy that SHOWTIME will televise this great fight card from the L.A. Sports Arena, which has a lot of great history. Danny “Little Red” Lopez fought “Schoolboy” Bobby Chacon in a great, great fight here. That fight, like Kahn against Molina matched youth vs. experience.

“It’s always great to do fights in Los Angeles and what better way than with Amir Kahn in the headliner. Amir is always entertaining, always on his game and always in great shape. He’s also always prepared to put on a great show and go 12 hard rounds.

“Amir’s been there and fought the best of the best and wants to prove he’s the No. 1 fighter pound-for-pound in the world.

“In Molina we have a fighter who comes to fight, has made a name for himself on the local scene in L.A. and has been on several high-profile cards.

“This is not an easy comeback fight for Kahn. He could have taken an easier fight, but once again he chose to fight a tough, unbeaten guy in his backyard. It shows what kind of character Amir has.

“With the December 15th event so close to Christmas, we here at Golden Boy Promotions decided to do a fanfest. Anyone with a ticket can participate in all the events leading up to the fights. It’s a family-friendly experience where fans will be able to get autographs and have photos taken with some of their most favorite fighters from around the world. It’s our way of saying thank you for all their continued support.”

ASIF VALI (Khan Promotions)

“I want to thank everyone for having us here. The Sports Arena is a fantastic facility. Muhammad Ali fought here and a “Rocky” movie was filmed here.

“I’d like to wish Team Molina all the best.

“We went back to the drawing board after Amir’s last fight. We made a lot of changes, all because we wanted to make Amir the great fighter we thought he could be. We parted ways with Freddie Roach. There were 20-25 trainers to choose from, but we brought in Virgil Hunter to see what he would bring to the table.

“The first big test is December 15th. We know this is Molina’s coming out party, but it’s Amir’s coming in party. He will make a statement. He will show all the people who ever doubted him.”

STEPHEN ESPINOZA

“Amir Khan vs. Carlos Molina will cap off what is likely the highest-profile and most star-studded run of fights in the history of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING. Over the last few months SHOWTIME has already brought you established stars such as Victor Ortiz, Robert Guerrero, Canelo Alvarez, Devon Alexander, Paulie Malignaggi and the legendary Erik Morales, and the new faces and stars of tomorrow, Lucas Matthysse, Danny Garcia and Peter Quillin.

“On Dec. 15 we have a classic match-up between two exciting fighters: the established star, Amir Kahn against the up-and-comer, Carlos Molina. Each has questions to answer. Each has a lot at stake.

“We are very excited to have Amir fighting on SHOWTIME for the first time and look forward to having him on SHOWTIME for the rest of his career. We are also looking forward to seeing Carlos Molina, who is also fighting for the first time on SHOWTIME and will be striving to make a great first impression.

“One programming note: The Nov. 10 telecast starts at 7:30 (PT). A half-hour before, at 7, “All Access: Cotto vs. Trout’ – Epilogue” will premiere on SHOWTIME. This episode will give fans an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at fight week and the aftermath of the December 1 fight between Miguel Cotto and Austin Trout.”

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Khan vs. Molina is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Khan Promotions and sponsored by Corona. The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast begins live at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) with preliminary fights live on SHOWTIME EXTREME® beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). The Sky Sports 1HD telecast begins live at 1:00 a.m. GMT on Sunday, December 16.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, follow us on Twitter at, www.twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.twitter.com/AmirKingKhan, www.twitter.com/CarlosMolina562, , www.twitter.com/SHOsports, follow the conversation using #KhanMolina or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing or www.facebook.com/SHOsports.

AMIR KHAN, RICHARD SCHAEFER, STEPHEN ESPINOZA & ASIF VALI LONDON KICKOFF PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES

LONDON (Oct. 10, 2012) – On Tuesday, at the five-star The May Fair Hotel on Berkeley Street in Central London, former Unified Super Lightweight World Champion Amir Khan, Richard Schaefer, Stephen Espinoza and Asif Vali met with the top British and European sports media to formally announce the upcoming showdown between Khan and undefeated Carlos Molina on Saturday, Dec. 15 at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, live on SHOWTIME.

Former National Amateur Champion Carlos Molina (17-0-1, 7 KO’s) has passed all his tests to date but faces his toughest test in Khan. After debuting in 2007, the talented 26-year-old from Norwalk, California has showed skill, patience and poise in the ring while defeating Manuel Leyva, Glenn Gonzales and Marcos Jimenez.

AMIR KHAN
, Former Unified Super Lightweight World Champion

“I am excited for this fight. It will be in LA where I hope to see my UK fans and American fight fans. I am sure Carlos Molina will have his fans turn up in support of him. And we can finish the year with a bang.

“Molina is an undefeated fighter and all undefeated fighters are dangerous fighters. This fight is a step up for him and, in a way, it’s a step up for me too coming of a loss. I have to win this fight and I have to win it in good fashion.

“I’ve seen him fight. He is very skillful but he is beatable. I can win this fight but I need to win convincingly. This is the time to prove myself and I will do just that on December 15.”

On new trainer Virgil Hunter
:

“We have spoken quite a bit already. We discussed the fact that I am an offensive fighter but now it is time to be a smart fighter, to win fights with my brain.

“He told me that he wants the type of fighter-trainer relationship where we get along really well together, where we don’t just see each other at the gym. We will watch tapes together and work out our game plan together. With Virgil, that is a style that will work for me.

On Boxer vs. Brawler
:

“My main style was to be a boxer using my brain. But when you start to win so comfortably, you can forget the meaning of being a boxer. You can get drawn into ‘fights’. What Virgil and I spoke about is going back to boxing, smart boxing. I think that is what Virgil Hunter has to teach me, to stick to a game plan. At times in the past, you go out there and I see ‘red’ and go all-out, forgetting the game plan. I think Virgil will get me to use all of my speed, ability and skill at the right times.”

RICHARD SCHAEFER, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions

“The television rights for Amir Khan’s next fights were very hotly contested in the U.S. In the end, the decision was made by Amir and his team to go with SHOWTIME because of the commitment they showed to Amir.

“Carlos Molina is a very skillful fighter. We started promoting him at Golden Boy Promotions when he was 3-0 or 4-0. He is now 17-0. No, he is not a big puncher but he is very, very skilled inside the ring. He is undefeated and when a fighter is undefeated he has that something extra.

“Amir Khan knows that this is a big opportunity for Carlos Molina so he will not underestimate this man.

“Carlos is a former National Amateur Champion. He has fought good competition as a professional and consistently stepped up throughout his career. He and his team, which includes
Clemente Medina, the very talented trainer, and Frank Espinoza

, the very experienced manager in the U.S., they feel that Carlos Molina is ready. And they know this is their big opportunity. It will be up to Amir Khan to prove them wrong.

“We at Golden Boy Promotions are very proud of our relationship with Amir, his family, Asif and the rest of Khan Promotions. This is the next chapter in the career of Amir Khan. He has a new beginning on December 15 at 140 pounds and eventually, we expect, at 147. It is time to look forward and Amir is ready. He is taking Carlos Molina very seriously.”

STEPHEN ESPINOZA
, Executive Vice President & General Manager of SHOWTIME Sports

“There are a number of fighters making their SHOWTIME debut this year and others returning after several years away from our network, among them are the biggest names in the sport today – Victor Ortiz, Canelo Alvarez, Miguel Cotto

, and we are very excited to add to that list Amir Khan.

Over the years, SHOWTIME has televised some of the best of British Boxing. Most recently, Joe Calzhage, Ricky Hatton and Carl Froch. And again, it is my pleasure to etch Amir Khan’s name to that list.

“I had the pleasure to get to know Amir over the years and the reason why he was a top priority for me when I began at Showtime is that he has the rare combination of being charismatic, articulate and personable outside the ring and being incredibly entertaining inside the ring. In short, he is a television executive’s dream.

“There are only a handful of fighters that are truly recognizable to boxing’s most casual fans, to American sports fans at large. They are
Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao

, Miguel Cotto and Amir Khan.

“On December 15, we will have a supportive Hispanic American fan base coming out for Carlos Molina and a rabid UK and international fan base for Amir Khan. That adds up to a recipe for a very compelling event to close out an incredible year of boxing on SHOWTIME.”

ASIF VOLI,
Khan’s Manager:

“When we came back from Las Vegas (following the Danny Garcia

fight), people said that Amir Khan was finished. Well, Amir Khan is not finished. In fact, he’s only just begun.

“He knew after that loss that he needed to make a change. He faced up to that fact with his team, with the press and, above all, with himself. He said, ‘I have to do it my way because I am the only one who has to train and make that sacrifice and I am the only one going into that ring.’

“So, he has rededicated himself and he is ready to reclaim a World Championship. And I, along with his team, who are a very loyal and close knit group, have every faith in this champion that he will rise again.”

Ticket prices and on sale information will be announced shortly. For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, follow us on Twitter at, www.twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.twitter.com/AmirKingKhan, www.twitter.com/CarlosMolina562, , www.twitter.com/SHOsports, follow the conversation using #KhanMolina or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing or www.facebook.com/SHOsports.

AMIR KHAN VS. CARLOS MOLINA HEADLINES DECEMBER 15 EVENT FROM THE LA SPORTS ARENA IN LOS ANGELES LIVE ON SHOWTIME IN THE UNITED STATES AND LIVE ON SKY SPORTS 1HD IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

LOS ANGELES (October 9, 2012) –The holiday season begins early this year as Golden Boy Promotions is pleased to present a Super Saturday for fight fans on Saturday, December 15 at the Los Angeles Sports Arena. The event will be headlined by the return of former Unified Super Lightweight World Champion Amir “King” Khan who faces undefeated Californian Carlos Molina in a SHOWTIME /Sky Sports 1HD televised junior welterweight main event and will also feature a holiday fanfest complete with musical acts, memorabilia and gift giveaways, autograph signings, and meet and greets with some of boxing’s biggest stars. All in all, it’s the one day no boxing fan will want to miss.

“I am looking forward to getting back in the ring and continuing my career,” said Khan, who recently announced his relationship with new trainer Virgil Hunter. “I believe in myself and my abilities. With each fight I learn what I am capable of doing and these opportunities afford the chance to better myself and continue to comeback stronger than before. I fight for all of the fans that continue to support me regardless of outcome and I will not be satisfied until I give them what they want. I want to be a world champion again and that is what the goal is starting with this fight against Molina.”

“I look forward to this fight and the opportunity to fight someone like Amir Khan,” said Molina, who will be looking for his 18th victory as he continues his quest for a world championship. “I expect him to fight with a new intensity, but I will be prepared and ready. I am the undefeated fighter in this fight and I do not plan on that changing.”

“I am looking forward to putting on this show, not only for boxing fans watching across the country and in the U.K., but also for the fans who will be able to attend and be part of this special Saturday of boxing,” said Golden Boy Promotions President Oscar De La Hoya. “Amir Khan is a fighter through and through and I believe he is taking the necessary steps to continue his career and become a champion again. Carlos Molina is not going to make that task an easy one as he is undefeated and always prepared to fight. We will see what happens on December 15.”

“Amir is eager to regain his place at the very top of the 140lb division,” said Asif Vali of Khan Promotions. “This path starts against Carlos Molina who is an undefeated fighter and someone who Amir knows he will need to be at his very best to overcome. This is going to be an exciting matchup between two talented fighters and one which we believe will lead Amir to another chance at world title glory.”

“This fight represents a major crossroads in each fighter’s career,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President & General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports. “For Khan, this is an opportunity to demonstrate that he is still one of the elite fighters in his division. For Molina, this is a chance to knock off one of the biggest names of this era and become a player in the deep 140-pound division.

“Showtime has upped the ante this year,” continued Espinoza. “This is the perfect end to an incredible run of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING events in 2012.”

“We are very much looking forward to working with Golden Boy Promotions and Khan Promotions on this December 15th event,” said Joe Furin, Senior Director of Operations of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and Sports Arena. “The Sports Arena was actually inaugurated with a boxing event and has hosted some momentous fights over the years, so we are very excited about an event of this magnitude coming to our venue.”

The former Unified Super Lightweight World Champion, British superstar Amir “King” Khan (26-3, 18 KO’s) is ready to bounce back under the guidance of new trainer Virgil Hunter following a controversial defeat to Lamont Peterson last December and an upset loss to Danny Garcia the past July, and knows a win over undefeated Carlos Molina on December 15 will end the year on a high note. The 25-year-old Bolton, England native won a Silver Medal in the 2004 Olympics and has been even more impressive as a professional with wins over a series of top guns, including Marco “El Chino” Maidana, Paulie “Magic Man” Malignaggi, Zab “Super” Judah and Marco Antonio “Baby Faced Assassin” Barrera. The young former champ knows his prime years are still approaching and it’s clear that the best is yet to come starting with December 15 against Molina in his SHOWTIME debut.

Former National Amateur Champion Carlos Molina (17-0-1, 7 KO’s) has passed all his tests thus far as a professional and the way he sees it, ‘Graduation Day’ is December 15 with his toughest test to date in Khan. After debuting in 2007, the talented 26-year-old from Norwalk, California has showed skill, patience and poise in the ring while defeating the likes of Manuel Leyva, Glenn Gonzales and Marcos Jimenez. Now ready to step up to the big leagues as he faces the former world champion in Khan, Molina is more confident than ever that he has what it takes to beat the best.

The Los Angeles Sports Arena opened its doors to the public in July of 1959, hosting a bantamweight boxing title match between Jose Becerra and Alphonse Halimi. The 15,000 seat Sports Arena plays host to a variety of events throughout the year, including mainstream and Hispanic concerts, religious events, and frequent other cultural and musical events. Among the many notable events that have taken place at the Sports Arena are the boxing competition for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, two NCAA Basketball Championships (men in 1968, women in 1992), numerous NBA Championship series, an NBA All-Star Game (1963), the 1960 Democratic National Convention where John F. Kennedy was nominated for as a presidential candidate. Major events at the Sports Arena have included Bruce Springsteen’s most two most recent, sold out Los Angeles performances (October 29th and 30th), as well as annual Halloween and New Year’s Eve Celebrations and electronic music festivals. The Sports Arena is also the site of frequent Naturalization Ceremonies, where immigrants make their way to the floor of the Arena to take the Oath of Citizenship. Notable professional boxing events to have taken place at the Arena include Sugar Robinson vs. Gene Fullmer (1960), Muhammad Ali vs. George Logan (1962), Muhammad Ali vs. Alejandro Lavorante (1962), Muhammad Ali vs. Archie Moore (1962), Bobby Chacon vs. Danny “Little Red” Lopez (1974), Roberto Duran vs. Pipino Cuevas (1983) and Jose Luis Lopez vs. Luis Ramon Campas (1996).

Molina decisions Frias

World ranked Carlos Molina pitched a shutout victory by pounding out a ten round unanimous decision over Damian Frias in a ten round Jr, Middleweight bout at the Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Oklahoma.

Molina was very solid landing shots at different angles and not letting Frias get into any type of consistent offense.

Molina,153.6 lbs of Chicago won by scores of 100-90 on all scores and is now 20-5-2. Frias, 152. lbs of Miami is now 19-5-1.

Donovan George stopped late replacement Dionisio Miranda after round six of a scheduled ten round Super Middleweight bout.

George started slow maybe due to being in limbo for his perspective IBF Elimination bout with Adonis Stevenson, which has been postponed on two occasions.

When George got loose he amped up the ammunition and landed a big flurry of punches which hurt Miranda at the end of the round. Miranda was unable to come out for round seven.

George, 170 lbs of Chicago is now 23-2-1 with twenty knockouts. Miranda, 168 lbs of Barranquilla, Colombia is now 21-7-2.

Vilier Quinonez scored a four round unanimous decision over Edward Tigs in a Super Middleweight bout.

Scores were 40-36 on all card for Quinonez who is now 5-0. Tigs is 1-3-2.

Morales – Garcia ; Kirkland – Molina postponed

Dan Rafael of espn.com reports that the entire January 28th HBO televised doubleheader that would have saw WBC Super Lightweight champion Erik Morales defend against undefeated Danny Garcia and James Kirkland – Carlos Molina Super Welterweight clash from Houston has been postponed to a later date.

“I talked to HBO and we are looking at different dates in February and March, so the card as a whole will just be postponed,” Said Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer told ESPN.com. “It’s still going to be Morales-Garcia and Kirkland against Molina. The only thing changing is the date and maybe the venue depending on the availability. We’ll check in Houston first. We want to just make sure that Erik Morales is going to have enough time to be fully healed from his surgery. So my feeling is that March is more likely when we’ll reschedule the fight.

“We are looking at different venue availability and we hope to have something to announce on that soon. But we’ll still do this card. HBO wants to do it, just on a different date than Jan. 28. Everybody is on board.”