LONDON (27 Nov) – Sky Sports has secured the rights to show Amir Khan’s pivotal fight with Devon Alexander exclusively live from the MGM Grand in December.

Khan tops the bill in Las Vegas as he goes head-to-head with Alexander on Saturday 13 December, live on Sky Sports 1, with the winner set to throw their name into the sweepstakes to face WBA Super and WBC welterweight world champion Floyd Mayweather Junior.

Khan’s first fight at 147 pounds came in May when he overcame Luis Collazo on points, and the Bolton fighter returns to Las Vegas again to face the former two-weight world champion from St. Louis.

As part of a huge night of boxing from the US, Sky Sports will also show the mouthwatering fights from the undercard, including Keith Thurman against Leonard Bundu, Abner Mares taking on Jose Ramirez, and Jermall Charlo against Italian Lenny Bottai.

Khan said: “It’s great to be back on Sky Sports once again for what is one of the biggest fights of my career so far against Devon Alexander. I have had a great training camp and have no doubts it’s going to be a very special night for me on December 13th, headlining at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. I look forward to putting on a spectacular performance for everyone tuning in on the night, against a very tricky and respected opponent in Alexander. I can’t wait to step in the ring again and am raring to go.”

Adam Smith, Executive Producer of Sky Sports Boxing, said: “This is a great fight, and fabulous night of action from Las Vegas. Boxing fans are in for a momentous week with all the build up and live action on Sky Sports.

”It’s a vital fight for Amir and for British boxing, with both fighters desperate for the chance that could come their way in 2015 it really is winner takes all in Las Vegas.”

The fight from Las Vegas is yet another outstanding contest in a year of great boxing on Sky. 2014 has seen Froch v Groves II from Wembley Stadium, the return of Cleverly v Bellew and Kell Brook overcoming Shawn Porter in Los Angeles.

LAS VEGAS (Nov. 25, 2014) – With the holiday season fast approaching, boxing fans will have plenty to celebrate at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, Dec. 13, as the star-studded “ROYAL BATTLE: Khan vs. Alexander” has grown to a quadrupleheader. Added to the previously announced SHOWTIME telecast will be a 10-round featherweight bout featuring former three-division world champion Abner Mares (27-1-1, 14 KOs) against Mexico’s Jose Ramirez (24-3-2, 15 KOs), and opening the live SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING portion of the event at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT will be a 12-round IBF Title Elimination bout between unbeaten Jermall Charlo (19-0, 15 KOs) and Italy’s Lenny Bottai (22-2, 9 KOs).

Headlined by the high-stakes 12-round welterweight matchups between British superstar and former unified super lightweight world champion Amir “King” Khan and former two-division world champion Devon Alexander “The Great,” and featuring the interim WBA Welterweight World Championship 12-round title fight between Keith “One Time” Thurman against Leonard “The Lion” Bundu, the live SHOWTIME event will offer a full night of boxing action.

SHOWTIME EXTREME viewers will also be treated to outstanding live action beginning at 7 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast), with top 154-pound contender Jermell “Iron Man” Charlo(24-0, 11 KOs) putting his unbeaten record on the line in a 10-round bout against Mario Alberto Lozano (28-5, 20 KOs) and undefeated 2012 United States Olympian Errol Spence Jr. (14-0, 11 KOs) taking on longtime contender “Mighty” Mike Arnaoutis (24-10-1, 11 KOs) of Greece in an eight-round junior middleweight contest. Plus, the return of former welterweight world champion “Vicious” Victor Ortiz (29-5-2, 22 KOs) against Denver’s Manuel Perez (21-10-1, 4 KOs) will be aired during the SHOWTIME EXTREME telecast.

Rounding out the non-televised card, in an eight-round cruiserweight bout featuring Beibut Shumenov (14-2, 9 KOs) versus Robert Thomas Jr. (14-2-1, 9 KOs) and Tokyo’s Yoshihiro Kamegai (24-2-1, 21 KOs) will face off against San Jose’s Oscar Godoy (13-3, 6 KOs) in an eight-round junior middleweight showdown.

Tickets for the live event are on sale now and are priced at $300, $200, $100, and $50, not including applicable service charges and taxes. Tickets are limited to eight (8) per person with a limit of four (4) at the $50 price range. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

Facing off against former world champion Abner Mares will beMazatlan, Mexico native Jose Ramirez, (24-3-2, 15 KOs), who can put himself in the running for a world title shot at 126 pounds with a win on Dec. 13. A professional since 2006, the 27-year-old former WBO International Featherweight World Champion is 3-2 in his last five bouts, a stretch that includes a victory over veteran contender Rey Bautista. Ramirez now makes his home in Oxnard, Calif., where he’s put in an intense training camp for the biggest fight of his career.

Former amateur sensation Jermall Charlo (19-0, 15 KOs) of Houston, Texas has made his presence known in the professional game with all but four of his wins coming by way of knockout. The 24-year-old Charlo is ready to continue to make a statement that he is one of the best junior middleweights in the world when he opens the Dec. 13 telecast against Lenny Bottai. His most recent win, a seventh round technical knockout over Norberto Gonzalez in September has given Charlo the drive to close out the year with a victory and head into 2015 with a world championship in his sights.

On a quest to bring a world championship home to Italy, Livorno’s Lenny “Mangusta” Bottai (22-2, 9 KOs) is a seasoned veteran of European rings, where he has won the Italian, IBO International, IBF International, IBF Intercontinental and WBC Mediterranean Junior Middleweight titles. The only thing missing for the 37-year-old warrior is a world title belt and following seven consecutive victories, four by knockout, he can move one step closer to glory should he upend Charlo.

Winner of nine of his last 11 fights, 27-year-old Mario Alberto “Aguila” Lozano (28-5, 22 KOs) will be a stern test for unbeaten Jermell Charlo on Dec. 13 in Las Vegas. A stellar welterweight contender for several years, the Chihuahua, Mexico native is now putting his skills on display at 154 pounds, where he has recently battled respected contenders Vanes Martirosyan and Charles Hatley. But to set the stage for a title run, Lozano must dispatch Charlo from the ranks of the unbeaten and end 2014 with a bang.

2012 U.S. Olympian Errol Spence Jr. (14-0, 11 KOs) has been making a steady climb up the divisional ranks since turning professional. After a shutout win over rugged veteran Ronald Cruz in June and a dominating technical knockout victory over the experienced Noe Bolanos in September, the 24-year-old from Desoto, Texas is primed to take his next big step.

Fresh from his first fight as a professional in his native Greece, a second round knockout of Andrei Staliarchuk in May, Athens’ “Mighty” Mike Arnaoutis (25-10-2, 12 KOs) will see if 2012 U.S. Olympian Errol Spence Jr. has what it takes to move to the next level when they collide. A veteran of nearly 14 years in the pro game, the 35-year-old Arnaoutis has battled the likes of Josesito Lopez, Chris Algieri, Danny Garcia and Victor Ortiz in his career, and he still feels he gas plenty left his as he tackles one of boxing’s brightest prospects.

“ROYAL BATTLE: Khan vs. Alexander,” a 12-round welterweight bout for the WBC Silver Welterweight Title, is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Khan Promotions and The Great Promotions and is sponsored by Corona Extra, AT&T and Mexico – Live It To Believe It! The event will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. and will air on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT). In the co-main event, Keith Thurman defends his interim WBA Welterweight World Title against Leonard Bundu. Additionally, Abner Mares will face Jose Ramirez in a 10-round featherweight bout and opening the telecast, Jermall Charlo will meet Lenny Bottai in a 12-round IBF Junior Middleweight Title eliminator. The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast will also be available in Spanish via secondary audio programming (SAP). Preliminary bouts will be televised on SHOWTIME EXTREME (7 p.m. ET/PT).

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and www.sports.sho.com, follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing,@SHOSports, @AmirKingKhan, @TheRealDevonA, @KeithfThurmanJr, @abnermares00, @FutureOfBoxing, @TwinCharlo, @ErrolSpenceJr @viciousortiz, @MGMGrand and @Swanson_Comm follow the conversation using #KhanAlexander, become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing and www.facebook.com/SHOBoxing, or visit SHOWTIME Boxing Blog at http://theboxingblog.sho.com/.

LOS ANGELES (Nov. 5, 2014) – Accomplished and widely recognizable former world champions still in the prime of their careers — Amir Khan and Devon Alexander — participated in a Golden Boy Promotions press conference on Tuesday at The Conga Room at L.A. Live to formally announce “ROYAL BATTLE” on Saturday, Dec. 13, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas; live on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT). Former world champion Victor Ortiz was also in attendance as he prepares for his undercard bout against an opponent to be named.

An important welterweight battle for both fighters, British superstar and former unified super lightweight world champion “King” Khan (29-3, 19 KOs) of Bolton, England will take on former two-division world champion Alexander “The Great” (26-2, 14 KOs) of St. Louis, Mo., in the 12-round main event on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING®.

Four more talented boxers, all unbeaten, will compete in two world title fights on the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast: undefeated interim WBA Welterweight World Champion Keith “One Time” Thurman (23-0, 21 KOs) of Clearwater, Fla., will defend against a consensus top-five ranked welterweight Leonard “The Lion” Bundu (31-0-2, 11 KOs) of Lazio, Italy, and WBO Junior Middleweight World Champion and 2008 U.S. Olympian Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade (21-0, 14 KOs) of Providence, R.I., will risk his 154-pound belt against tough undefeated up-and-coming star Jermell “Iron Man” Charlo (24-0, 11 KOs) of Houston, Texas, who’ll be getting his first crack at a world title.

Ortiz (29-5, 22 KOs), of Ventura, Calif., and former three-time, three-division world champion Abner Mares (27-1-1, 14 KOs) of Downey, Calif., by way of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, will fight on the undercard in separate bouts against opponents to be announced.
Tickets for the event are on sale and are priced at $300, $200, $100, and $50, not including applicable service charges and taxes. Tickets are limited to eight (8) per person with a limit of four (4) at the $50 price range. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

Here’s what the boxers as well as trainers Virgil Hunter (Khan) and Kevin Cunningham (Alexander), and Senior Vice President of Golden Boy Promotions, Eric Gomez, had to say on Tuesday:

AMIR KHAN, Former Unified Super Lightweight World Champion

“This fight means a lot to me. At the end of the day it’s going to be a tough fight against an A-class opponent who I really believe I can shine against. This is a big fight for me. I’m one of those fighters that loves a battle and that’s exactly what this fight will be. I really want people to tune in and enjoy the show.

“I look at this as a make or break fight for me. I am focused 100 percent on this fight. [Floyd] Mayweather is motivation for me, makes me work harder, but my main goal is to get past this fight. If I win this fight it will take me onto bigger and better things. This is a statement fight for me and if I beat [Devon] Alexander, then I believe I have secured my position in a super fight, but it’s all about winning this fight and looking good.

“My last fight [against Luis Collazo] helped me because he was a southpaw and Devon Alexander is also a southpaw. I can take the experience I had in the last fight into this fight and hopefully we will get the job done. Devon [Alexander] is a very good and skilled fighter like myself. It’s going to be a game of chess to find out who is the bigger and more skillful fighter.

“This fight’s been brewing for a long time, a lot of people want to see this fight. We’ve had this fight in the works for a couple years now, but now it’s time. It’s a fight that the fans are going to love. You’ve got two fighting styles, two young fighters that are hungry and also two fighters that are at the peak of their career.

“Virgil [Hunter, trainer] has taught me to spend more time in the gym, which I’ve been doing the last two the last two years to become a better fighter. Going into this fight I’m going to be a different fighter.

“I feel like my style, with speed, power, hand and foot movement, would give someone like Floyd Mayweather problems. Floyd’s a great fighter, but first we have to look good and shine against Alexander and then I think the fight with Floyd will be secured.

“I’ve noticed with Alexander that when he wants to fight he can fight and when he wants to box he can box. The thing about Alexander is he’s quick and has good movement, but he needs to develop his power and sit down on his shots a little more. He is getting better as a fighter and I know that he’s going to be ready for this fight.

“Alexander is fighting a big name and is also fighting in Las Vegas for the first time, so it’s only going to motivate him to train harder. When it comes down to the fight he knows that if he wins there will be a bigger prize at the end of this.

“I like fighting in Las Vegas in front of an entire crowd. We are looking at having a lot of Brits turn up from the UK to Las Vegas. It’s going to be one hell of a show and I want the fans to know that. It’s going to be an exciting and explosive fight.”

DEVON ALEXANDER, Former Two-Division World Champion

“It’s going to be a huge fight, everyone’s talking about it and everyone knows what it means. This fight can catapult me to the top level. I’m ready to fight; it’s going to be awesome. Two guys with speed that are both determined not to lose. We have both tasted defeat and don’t want to taste it any longer, so that makes for a great fight.

“We’ve been working exclusively on speed and movement during this training camp. I’m making sure my reflexes are there so I can come off how I want to. It’s all going to come together and it’s going to be an awesome night for me.

“As far as me being underrated, I do believe that I am. I’ve been in with top-notch guys and people are quiet about those things. But it’s OK because I’m going to continue to prove myself and earn my respect.

“I don’t believe his hand speed is going to give me problems. I’ve fought them all, I’ve been fighting since I was seven-years-old, so I’ve seen it all. I am going to utilize whatever he does to my advantage and that’s how I’m going to get the victory.

“It’s a dream come true for me to fight in Las Vegas. Every time that I was supposed to fight there during my professional career it always fell off. I said to myself that whenever I do fight in Las Vegas it’s going to be the right time, and there’s no better time for me then on Dec. 13.

“All Khan does is hit, hit, hit and move out in every fight. I’m a versatile boxer who can stand in the pocket but also be a smart fighter. I fight differently in each fight.

“I’ve come from some very rough times. When I was seven I never thought that I would become champion, but here I am under the big lights of MGM Grand. You just have to stay true and believe in yourself.

“Ever since I was seven I believed that I could be a champion and Kevin [Cunningham, trainer] instilled that in me. He stuck with me and I needed that. He started the gym and I never looked back because that was the opportunity for me to get out.

“This is definitely the biggest fight of my career because this fight determines who goes to the elite level and who has to start back over again. This fight determines who the cream of the crop is and I plan on showing people that I belong at the top.”

VICTOR ORTIZ, Former Welterweight World Champion

“I’ve fallen a few times in my career, it happens. I don’t care what career you choose to do, you’re going to fall. You get up and shake it off and move forward.

“Two years ago I broke my jaw in a fight, but I didn’t sit around feeling sorry for myself. I immediately took on Dancing with the Stars and six weeks in I was eliminated. From there I get a call from Sylvester Stallone to do Expendables 3. Why not? I can’t fight and my jaw is still shattered, so I went to Eastern Europe for three months.

“I had the opportunity to fight on the Mayweather-Maidana undercard in May but I didn’t want to risk my boxing career because I was still injured.

“No one is forcing me to keep boxing, but I’m only 27 and I have a lot left in me. I’m in my prime and at the end of the day I’m back in the ring. It’s in me to fight and I have a lot of unfinished business in the ring. I will, mark my words, be one of the greatest.

“This is a fight that I’m taking very seriously. I can’t afford to fall. I’m fortunate to have options, but right now my option is to be world champion.

“I’ve put two films aside to fight on Dec. 13. I could’ve trained and acted at the same time but I knew that I had to focus completely on this fight.

“Not having an opponent doesn’t affect my current training. I’m finally with a team that I feel confident with and at home with.”

VIRGIL HUNTER, Khan’s Trainer

“The training is going quite well. Where we are six weeks out, we feel real good about that. The stakes in this fight are enormous. A lot of people are talking about this fight being an elimination fight to fighting Mayweather. I’m not sure how true that is, but we’re not paying attention to it because we’ve been down that road before.

“The focus is on fighting Devon [Alexander]. It’s mixed emotions for me because I’ve known Devon since he was 10-years-old. But I knew inevitably that a day like this would probably come so I’ve put that aside to go about the business.

“Amir [Khan] is going to have to be completely focused to beat a two-time world champion. Both of these guys have been to the top of the mountain and have proved that they know how to get back there.

“Whoever has the most focus and implements their game plan consistently is the one who will emerge victorious.”

KEVIN CUNNINGHAM, Alexander’s Trainer

“Training is going well so far, everything is going as planned. It’s a great fight for both fighters, both fighters need this fight. It’s a huge opportunity for both guys, two of the best welterweights in the division. Both have good accomplishments and have fought all the top guys.

“As far as my guy, I think that this is the perfect fight for him. Devon has the skill set, ability and timing that you need when you fight a guy like Amir Khan with his style.

“Timing is the key. Amir is fast, but he’s not quick. Devon’s going to expose a lot of the mistakes that Amir makes, like coming in and pulling out with his chin up.

“Devon has had opportunities to prove to people that he was everything they thought he was, but he has come up short in the past. We accept that, but this opportunity here will propel him right back into that situation and the scenario he was once in going into the Tim Bradley fight.

“Right now, this is the biggest fight of Devon’s career. If he gets past [Amir] Khan, he puts himself right back in the mix with Mayweather. Anything else than a Mayweather fight for us after beating Amir Khan would be a major disappointment.”

ERIC GOMEZ, Senior Vice President of Golden Boy Promotions

“We’re excited about this fight card. The main event really is a toss-up. It is two guys going at it in their prime. It’s a 50-50 fight where the winner is going to be in a great place. This is the type of fight that fans want to see, where they see that guys are risking something. You can’t clearly see who is going to win this fight, and that’s exactly how this entire card is.

“The winner of this fight is going to earn a shot at fighting Floyd [Mayweather]. They aren’t necessarily going to get Floyd because he decides who he wants to fight, but they would have earned it.

“You’ve got four fighters who are undefeated fighting in the two world title fights so it’s going to be a great night of boxing.”

# # #

“Royal Battle: Khan vs. Alexander,” a 12-round welterweight bout for the WBC Silver Welterweight Title, is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Khan Promotions and The Great Promotions and is sponsored by Corona Extra, AT&T and Mexico – Live It To Believe It! The event will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. and will air on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT). In the co-main event, Keith Thurman defends his WBA Interim Welterweight World Title against Leonard Bundu, and in the televised opener, Demetrius Andrade defends his WBO Junior Middleweight World Title against Jermell Charlo in a bout promoted in association with Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing and Banner Promotions. The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast will also be available in Spanish via secondary audio programming (SAP).

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and www.sports.sho.com, follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @SHOSports, @AmirKingKhan, @TheRealDevonA, @KeithfThurmanJr, @LeonardBundu, @boobooboxing, @TwinCharlo, @abnermares00, @viciousortiz, @MGMGrand and @Swanson_Comm follow the conversation using #KhanAlexander, become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing and www.facebook.com/SHOBoxing, or visit SHOWTIME Boxing Blog at http://theboxingblog.sho.com/.

LAS VEGAS (Oct. 31, 2014) – The stars of boxing’s present and future will be out in full force at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, Dec. 13, when Golden Boy Promotions in association with Khan Promotions and The Great Promotions present a SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING tripleheader featuring a pivotal welterweight showdown and two world championship fights, live on SHOWTIME® (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT).

In a pair of must-see, high-stakes welterweight matchups, British superstar and former unified super lightweight world champion Amir “King” Khan of Bolton, Englandwill take onformer two-division world champion Devon Alexander “The Great” of St. Louis, Mo., while undefeated interim WBA Welterweight World Champion Keith “One Time” Thurman of Clearwater, Fla., will defend against Leonard “The Lion” Bundu of Lazio, Italy.

Rounding out an action-packed night on the three-fight SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast will be WBO Junior Middleweight World Champion and 2008 U.S. Olympian Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade of Providence, R.I., who risks his 154-pound belt against tough undefeated young star Jermell “Iron Man” Charlo of Houston, Texas. Charlo will make his first attempt at world title glory in a battle of unbeaten junior middleweights.

Featured on the undercard will be two separate 10-round bouts featuring former three-time, three-division world champion Abner Mares and former welterweight world champion “Vicious” Victor Ortiz. Mares, who will fight in a featherweight bout against an opponent to be determined, will look to build on his recent victory over Jonathan Oquendo. Ortiz is looking to make a comeback statement in a welterweight bout against an opponent to be named.

Tickets for the live event are on sale now and are priced at $300, $200, $100, and $50, not including applicable service charges and taxes. Tickets are limited to eight (8) per person with a limit of four (4) at the $50 price range. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

“Getting back in the ring is all I’ve been looking towards these last few months,” said Khan. “I want to show everybody that I’m a major force at 147 pounds and I’m ready to take on the best. This fight with Alexander has been on the table for a while, but it is finally happening and I plan on winning impressively to show that I am truly one of the best welterweights in the world.”

“I’ve wanted this fight for a long time and I’m ready to show that I’m worthy of this opportunity and the opportunities ahead after I win on Dec. 13,” said Alexander. “I’ve worked hard my entire life and now the pressure is on to really show what I can do.”

“I can’t wait to get back in the ring and defend my title,” said Thurman. “I’m going to give all my fans the performance of a lifetime and prove why my name should be at the top of the welterweight conversation.”

“December 13 is going to be the biggest night of my professional career thus far,” said Bundu. “To be fighting in the United States, in the fight capital of the world — Las Vegas on SHOWTIME against one of the most promising American prospects is a dream come true. But Keith Thurman doesn’t scare me. I know that I have what it takes to win and truly make a name for myself throughout the boxing world.”

“There is no way I’m letting go of my belt,” said Andrade. “Jermell Charlo is a good fighter, but nothing is going to stop me from defending my belt and raising my hand in victory on Dec. 13. I am confident that this will be a fight fans won’t want to miss.”

“I am beyond excited to finally get a shot at a world title,” said Charlo. “This is what I’ve been waiting for. I’m ready to be a world champion. Nothing is going to stand in my way. Andrade is the champion and I’m not looking past him at all, but this is my time. I know it. The title will lead to bigger and better things and that is what I’m all about.”

“I am so happy to be back at MGM Grand after my recent win in July,” said Mares. “My ultimate goal is another shot at a world championship and a win on December 13 will help me get there. I plan on putting on a great performance and showcasing my skills once again.”

“I’m excited to get back into the ring,” said Ortiz. “I got caught in my last fight, but I’m ready to get back to work and improve my game. I know what it takes to win and that is what I plan on doing on December 13. I’m thankful for the opportunity and looking forward to giving fans a great show.”

“A huge main event with two former champions looking to take a major step back towards a title shot; undefeated fighters going head-to-head on the undercard; our last big show of the year -Dec. 13 at MGM Grand will have it all,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Founder and President of Golden Boy Promotions. “Golden Boy Promotions is finishing 2014 strong and will move into 2015 continuing to make good on our promise to make the most exciting fights for boxing fans.”

“The Dec. 13 edition of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING delivers on our promise to televise stacked fight cards featuring big name fighters in meaningful fights,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports. “The main event, Amir Khan versus Devon Alexander, is a matchup between two renowned former world champions, each at a critical juncture in his career. In the co-feature, Keith Thurman, one of the brightest young stars in boxing, faces perhaps his toughest test to date in the highly regarded and undefeated Leonard Bundu, as each boxer battles for position in the ultra-competitive welterweight division. The opening bout on the telecast features two very talented undefeated rising stars, champion Demetrius Andrade and No. 2-ranked challenger Jermell Charlo. Each fight on the telecast will have a significant impact on the top-10 divisional rankings.”

Khan(29-3, 19 KOs), a 2004 Olympic Silver medalist who turns 28 on Dec. 8, has won his last three contests, all against former world champions. In his most recent outing, he scored three knockdowns en route to a lopsided 12-round decision victory over Luis Collazo in the co-main event on May 3. Before that, the popular, lightning-quick Brit defeated Julio Diaz via unanimous decision in April of 2013 and Carlos Molina in Dec. of 2012. A victory against Alexander would put Khan in a position to become a two-division world champion in 2015.

The 27-year-old southpaw Alexander (26-2, 14 KOs), is a former welterweight and junior welterweight world champion and is coming off of a 10-round unanimous decision over the tough Jesus Soto Karass last June. Fighting with a newfound passion and aggressiveness, Alexander was victorious by the scores of 99-91 twice and 97-93. A winner of five of his last six bouts, a stretch that has seen him defeat the likes of Lucas Matthysse and Marcos Maidana, Alexander believes that his technical artistry will put him back in the world title hunt soon.

Thurman (23-0, 21 KOs) has always been feared for his knockout power, but when he won the WBA Interim Welterweight World Title with a 10th round knockout over Diego Chaves in July of 2013, he was put in a position where the elite of the fight game would have to square off with him eventually. The 25-year-old Thurman has since made two successful title defenses with knockouts over Jesus Soto Karass and Julio Diaz, and he will attempt to achieve the same result against Bundu.

Bundu(31-0-2, 11 KOs), who represented Italy in the 2000 Olympic Games, is making his United States and SHOWTIME debut. The European and Commonwealth Champion, is coming off a hard-earned 12-round decision over previously undefeated contender Frankie Gavin on Aug. 1. Bundu was born in Sierra Leone before moving to Italy, where he has fought the majority of his fights since turning pro in 2005. He is ranked No. 3 in the WBC and No, 4 in the WBA and IBF.

A decorated amateur, Providence, Rhode Island’s Andrade (21-0, 14 KOs) turned professional in 2008 after representing the U.S. in the Olympic Games in Beijing. In November of 2013, the talented southpaw won the vacant WBO Junior Middleweight World Title with a 12-round decision over Vanes Martirosyan and this past June, the 26-year-old successfully defended his title for the first time with a seventh-round technical knockout over Brian Rose.

Charlo (24-0, 11 KOs), 24, is the younger-by-one-minute brother of identical twin, Jermall, who is also a world-ranked undefeated contender at 154 pounds. A tall fighter for his division, Charlo has stepped up in class in some recent fights and is coming off two consecutive terrific points’ victories against Charlie Ota in a 12-round fight on May 24 and against Gabriel Rosado in a 10-round battle on Jan. 25. Charlo, also a top-notch amateur, won the bronze medal at the 2005 Junior Olympics. December 13 marks a milestone in Charlo’s career as he will do everything he can to capture his first world title.

Mares (27-1-1, 14 KOs) of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, and fighting out of Downey, Calif. is coming off of a unanimous decision victory over Johnathan Oquendo at MGM Grand in July. Prior to his impressive win, Mares suffered the first loss of his professional career to the hands of Johnny Gonzalez, but has since bounced back and is ready to fight. Mares found himself on the pound-for-pound list in 2013 after winning the WBC Featherweight title, adding to his accomplishments as he already held world championships at bantamweight and super bantamweight.

Ortiz (29-5, 22 KOs) is ready to show the boxing world that he still has what it takes to be great. The 27-year-old Ventura, Calif. native has made headlines in and out of the ring, not only as a fighter, but also an entertainer. A former welterweight world champion who has engaged in memorable battles against the best in the boxing business including Floyd Mayweather, Marcos Maidana, Andre Berto and Josesito Lopez. He has also crossed over into the bright lights of Hollywood as a member of the cast of ABC’s hit series “Dancing With The Stars” and most recently as part of the film “Expendables 3.” Now Ortiz will return to the ring for the first time since his knockout loss against Luis Collazo in January and looks to show the boxing world he’s serious about another run at a world title.

“Royal Battle: Khan vs. Alexander,” a 12-round welterweight bout for the WBC Silver Welterweight Title, is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Khan Promotions and The Great Promotions and is sponsored by Corona Extra, AT&T and Mexico – Live It To Believe It! The event will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. and will air on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT). In the co-main event, Keith Thurman defends his WBA Interim Welterweight World Title against Leonard Bundu, and in the televised opener, Demetrius Andrade defends his WBO Junior Middleweight World Title against Jermell Charlo in a bout promoted in association with Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing and Banner Promotions. The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast will also be available in Spanish via secondary audio programming (SAP).

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and www.sports.sho.com, follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @SHOSports, @AmirKingKhan, @TheRealDevonA, @KeithThurmanJr, @LeonardBundu, @boobooboxing, @TwinCharlo, @abnermares00, @viciousortiz, @MGMGrand and @Swanson_Comm follow the conversation using #KhanAlexander, become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing and www.facebook.com/SHOBoxing, or visit SHOWTIME Boxing Blog at http://theboxingblog.sho.com/.

Former world champions will collide when Amir Khan takes on Devon Alexander on December 13 in Las Vegas that will headline a tripleheader on Showtime, according to Dan Rafael of espn.

“There are just little details that we are finishing but Khan and Alexander are going to fight,” said Golden Boy Promotions De La Hoya told ESPN.com on Monday.

“Amir Khan looked good against my boy Collazo, but I have a feeling he wants to make a statement against Alexander, and Alexander is coming off a good win in a good action fight with Soto Karass,” De La Hoya said. “What’s happening here is they realize they have to prove themselves if they want to get a really big fight, like against Mayweather.”

“It came right back around,” Alexander told ESPN.com. “It looks like it will happen, and I’m excited about it. Should be a big win for me. He tried to just wait to get the Mayweather fight and he didn’t get it, and now he has to fight me. So it is inevitable we get in the ring and see who’s best and who is catapulted to the next level.

“He’s a good fighter. He has some speed. I can hit and not get hit, and I’m faster. He stands there. He’s a good, solid fighter, but he don’t do anything special. He hits and jumps back. That’s how he lost; he got timed jumping in and got caught. People know me as a good counter puncher, and I’m fast so of course I will be able to catch him and catch him good, and my boxing will be there, too. So I think I have the ability to outshine him in this one.”

Alexander is also excited to have the first fight of his 10-year career in Las Vegas.

“Every time I was scheduled to fight in Vegas, it always fell through,” Alexander said. “This is my dream to fight in Vegas. That’s one of my goals, to fight in Vegas, and what better fight than to do it for the first time on a big stage.”

“It matters [that there’s no title], but I want to beat a good name and let people know I’m one of the best at welterweight and that I am still the future of the welterweight division and I am still here, and I’m not going anywhere,” he said.

De La Hoya also confirmed a previous ESPN.com report that one of the other bouts on the card would be junior middleweight titleholder Demetrius Andrade (21-0, 14 KOs), 26, of Providence, Rhode Island, defending his title for the second time when he faces Golden Boy fighter Jermell Charlo (24-0, 11 KOs), 24, of Houston.

The third bout is likely to pit interim welterweight titlist Keith Thurman (23-0, 21 KOs), 25, of Clearwater, Florida — one of boxing’s most exciting rising stars — against European welterweight champion Leonard Bundu (31-0, 11 KOs), 39, of Italy. Bundu, who recently signed with Haymon (who also handles Thurman), is unknown in the United States and has no wins of serious note on his record except for his last fight, a split decision against then-undefeated prospect Frankie Gavin of England in European title defense.

In a 12-round war, former multi-division world champion Robert Guerrero outlasted Yosahiro Kamegai in a Welterweight bout at the StubHub Center in Carson, California.

The two fought in the proverbial phone booth with Guerrero and Kamegai landing hard shots in close. Guerrero landed tremendous punches with both hands. Kamegai had success in the middle rounds as he landed a hard uppercut that opened up a cut around the right eye of Guerrero. Even with the cut and fast swelling, Guerrero was able get by on his championship experience and give better then he received in the 12 round thriller.

Guerrero, 146 lbs of Gilroy, CA won by scores of 117-111 twice and 116-112 to improve to 32-2-1-2. Kamegai, 146 3/4 lbs of Tokyo, JAP is now 24-2.

Former two-time Olympic Gold Medal winner Vasul Loamchenko won the WBO Featherweight title over previoously undefeated Gary Russell Jr, via 12-round majority decision.

Lomachenko was dominant using quick combinations that focused on the body. Although it was just his 3rd pro bout, Lomachenko looked like the more experienced performer as he forced Russell into much ineffective offense. Lomachenko for his part used a variety of punches both from in close and from distance. Lomachenko landed more punches and by far the most effective.

Lomachenko won by scores of 116-112 twice and 114-114.

Lomachenko, 125 1/2 lbs of Ukraine is now a world champion at 2-1. Russell, 125 1/2 lbs of Washington, DC is 24-1.

Former two-division world champion Devon Alexander scored a 10-round unanimous decision over Jesus Soto Karass in a Super Welterweight bout.

It was good action in round four as Alexander landed some hard uppercuts but Soto-Karass came back with some strong rights. Soto Karass started getting to Alexander with the right hands in the middle rounds. Alexander was able to box well down the stretch and win by scores of 99-91 twice and 97-93.

Alexander, 148 1/4 lbs of St. Louis, MO is now 26-2. Soto Karass, 148 lbs of North Hollywood, CA is now 28-10-3-1.

Former Light Heavyweight champion Chad Dawson returned with a 1st round knockout over George Blades in a scheduled 10-round Light Heavyweight bout.

Dawson knocked Blades down with a straight left to the body. Blades got up only to be a dropped by a right hook and he was down for the 10-count at 2:35.

Dawson, 182 3/4 lbs of New Haven, CT came into the ring at a staggering 202 lbs but he ups his record to 32-3-1-1 with 18 knockouts. Blades, 177 1/2 lbs of Indianapolis, IN is now 23-6.

In a battle of former U.S. Olympians, Dominic Breazeale scored a 3rd round stoppage over Devin Vargas in a scheduled 10-round Heavyweight bout.

Breazeale landed a hard combination to the body. In round two, Breazeale landed a right to the head that sent Vargas to the canvas. Brezeale continued to pound away at Vargas. In round three, Brezeale landed some hard shots and Vargas turned his back to the action and the bout was stopped at 2:26 of round three.

Breazeale, 251 1/2 lbs of Alhambra, CA is now 11-0 with 10 knockouts. Vargas, 234 lbs of Toledo, OH is now 18-4.

Robert Guerrero 146 – Yoshahiro Komegai 146 3/4
Gary Russell Jr. 125.5 – Vasyl Lomachenko 125.5
(WBO Featherweight title)
Devon Alexander 148 1/4 – Jesus Soto Karass 148

LOS ANGELES (June 19, 2014) – Oscar De La Hoya and Golden Boy Promotions hosted the final press conference at the Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles Thursday for Saturday’s stacked 10-fight card at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. The first live bout is at 2 p.m. PT.

In the main event of a tripleheader live on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT), former four-division world champion Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero (31-2-1, 18 KOs), of Gilroy, Calif., returns from a 13-month layoff to face offensive-minded, hard-hitting Yoshihiro Kamegai (24-1-1, 21 KOs), of Sapporo, Japan, in a 12-round welterweight bout.

The co-feature on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is a clash of exciting southpaws, undefeated yet untested Gary Russell Jr. (24-0, 14 KOs), of Capitol Heights, Md., against perhaps the most prolific amateur boxer of all-time, Vasyl Lomachenko (1-1, 1 KO), of Ukraine, in a 12-rounder for the vacant WBO Featherweight World Championship. The telecast will open with former two-division world champion Devon Alexander (25-2, 14 KOs), of St. Louis, facing the always-dangerous Jesus Soto Karass (28-9-3, 18 KOs), of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico, in a 10-round super welterweight match.

Former light heavyweight world champion, “Bad Chad” Dawson (31-3, 17 KOs), of Las Vegas by way of New Haven, Conn., makes his first start in 12 months when he takes on George “Honey Boy” Blades (23-5, 16 KOs), of Indianapolis, Ind., in the featured bout on SHOWTIME EXTREME® (8 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).

In a battle of U.S. Olympians in the SHOWTIME EXTREME co-feature, 2012 U.S. Olympian and undefeated heavyweight Dominic “Trouble” Breazeale (10-0, 9 KOs), of Los Angeles, makes his 10-round debut when he takes on 2004 U.S. Olympic team captain Devin “Devastatin'” Vargas (18-3, 7 KOs), of Toledo, Ohio.

In non-televised fights: Vyacheslav Shabranskyy (8-0, 7 KOs), Los Angeles, makes his debut for GBP against Michael Grenga (15-14, 15 KOs), Lagos, Nigeria, 6 rounds, light heavyweights; Sharif Bogere (24-1, 16 KOs), Las Vegas, Nev., faces a foe to be announced, 8 rounds, lightweights; Michael Hunter (4-0, 3 KOs), Van Nuys, Calif., takes on Jerry Forrest (7-1, 6 KOs), Lafayette, La., 8 rounds, heavyweights; the brother of Marcos “Chino” Maidana, Fabian Maidana (pro debut), Santa Fe, Arg., clashes with Alejandro Arteaga (3-8, 1 KO), Bakersfield, Calif., 4 rounds, welterweights; and Marcos Hernandez (1-0), Fresno, Calif., vs. Dante Spinks (0-4), San Diego, Calif., 4 rounds, super welterweights.

Tickets priced at $150, $75, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes, fees and services charges, are available
online at AXS.com, by phone at 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849) and at StubHub Center Box Office
(Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. PT to 6 p.m. PT). VIP Suites are available by calling 877-604-
8777. For more information on group discounts or VIP packages, please call 877-234-8425.

Below is what the fighters and Oscar De La Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions, said at Thursday’s press conference:

ROBERT GUERRERO

“I want to thank God for the blessings he’s blessed me with and my entire management team. It’s been a year and it’s time to get back in the ring. Since teaming with CrossFit, I’ve been doing so many different types of exercise and I feel great.

“I want to thank Kamegai for coming out here from Japan. I’ve seen film on him and he likes to brawl and bang it out and I am the same type of fighter so it will be a very exciting match for both me and the fans who will be watching. I can’t wait for Saturday.”

YOSHIHRO KAMEGAI

“My weight is no problem and I’m ready to go. I’m here to make a name for myself. I know that people have problems pronouncing my name (“kah may guy”) so I want to make a great impact in this fight so they will learn to say it.

“Outside the ring I have the utmost respect for Guerrero. But inside, it’s all business. This is will be a good fight, a hard fight and my opportunity to become a mainstay in the fight game.

“I plan on putting on a very exciting show on Saturday.”

GARY RUSSELL JR.

“It’s actually a little funny standing here getting ready to compete for a world title based on the fact that I was never a fighter that said I wanted to be a world champion until I was on the U.S. Olympic team.

“I was one of the favorites to medal (in the Olympics) and to not be able to compete was devastating. The only way that I could make it up to my fans and family was to become a world champion, plain and simple.

“In this situation I get the opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. My competitor fought in the Olympics and I can also become a world champion on this card. I can become a world champion on Saturday as well as beating an Olympian. It’s the best of both worlds.”

VASYL LOMACHENKO

“I want to thank everyone in my training camp and everyone who helped prepare me for the fight and my friends and family who are in Ukraine supporting me.

“I think it will be a very good fight on Saturday and I am looking forward to proving that I can win the featherweight title.”

DEVON ALEXANDER

“I want to thank my creator, without him I wouldn’t be here. I would also like to thank Golden Boy, Oscar, everyone involved.

“This is a statement fight for me. I belong on top and I want to be on top. I have beaten some tough guys out there and on Saturday night I want to prove to you that I am the best. I plan on making a statement in the welterweight division and I look forward to the opportunity to show the world what I am capable of.”

JESUS SOTO KARASS

“Los Angeles is my second home. Coming off a loss against (interim WBA welterweight world champion) Keith Thurman, I want to come back and be impressive against Devon Alexander. He is fast, strong and has good foot speed, but I am ready to go.

“I am already at the contracted weight and I want to show the fans that I can come back and win. I have a mentality that I don’t care and that I just want to win and show that I am capable of getting the victory.”

DOMINIC BREAZEALE

“I definitely feel that I am improving and prepared to fight my first 10-round fight. In camp, we picked up the cardio and conditioning, but we really haven’t changed a whole lot.

“My last fight went eight rounds and it was the first time I’d gone the distance. But I always prepare to go the distance and for this fight I’m ready to go 10 hard rounds. But I’m really determined and always looking for the knockout.

“It’s an honor fighting a fellow U.S. Olympian, but at the end there is only one winner and I want the referee to raise my hand. I look forward to exposing him and proving no doubt that I am better.”

DEVIN VARGAS

“I’m looking forward to this fight and want to thank all those involved for making it happen. This is a big fight for me, for both of us. He may be undefeated but he hasn’t faced anyone like me.

“We’ll find out who is best on Saturday. But I’m confident and ready to go all-out to win.”

VYACHESLAV SHABRANSKYY

“I don’t change for my opponents so I will keep my same style. I was able to get into the gym right after my last fight because it only lasted for 23 seconds.

“I was able to watch a few videos on my opponent but I don’t know much about him. I won’t give anything away on my style of fighting, but I will fight to the best of my abilities.

“I am ready for all six rounds for this fight if it goes that long, but at this time I won’t know what the outcome will be. All I can do is prepare to the best of my ability.”

OSCAR DE LA HOYA, President of Golden Boy Promotions

“Our SHOWTIME EXTREME fights have always been highly competitive. It is one thing we at Golden Boy and SHOWTIME pride ourselves on. We want to consistently present the most competitive fights in the boxing business today.

“Chad Dawson is a great fighter who is back with a vengeance, looking to make a statement against a tough fighter in George Blades. For us, we look at this fight on SHOWTIME EXTREME as a great appetizer to the main course, which will also be very exciting.

“Guerrero is back, he’s stronger, he’s faster. The new team that he is working with at CrossFit will make a huge difference coming off the biggest fight of his career against Floyd Mayweather.

“That type of fight will elevate your game to a new level. We are looking forward to Saturday and witnessing a very much new and improved Robert Guerrero.

“All our matchups Saturday are exciting from top to bottom. We have an unbelievable history of staging fight-of-the-year candidates at StubHub. If you’re a boxing fan and you love action-packed, competitive fights, the StubHub Center on Saturday will be a good place to be.”

# # #

Guerrero vs. Kamegai is a 12-round fight promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by
Corona and AT&T. In the co-main event Gary Russell Jr. faces Ukrainian star Vasyl Lomachenko in a
12-round showdown for the vacant WBO World Featherweight Title and in the opener Devon Alexander
will face off against Jesus Soto Karass in a 10-round super welterweight match up. It will take place at
StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., and will air as the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® main
event live on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT) and will be available in Spanish via secondary audio
programming (SAP).

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com,www.sports.sho.com and www.homedepotcenter.com, follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.twitter.com/shosports, www.twitter.com/StubHubCenter, www.twitter.com/GhostBoxing, www.twitter.com/MrGaryRussellJr, www.twitter.com/VasylLomachenko and www.twitter.com/TheRealDevonA, follow the conversation using #GuerreroKamegai or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.facebook.com/SHOBoxing and www.facebook.com/StubHubCenter.

LOS ANGELES (June 18, 2014) – Seven of the talented boxers who will fight Saturday on SHOWTIME® and SHOWTIME EXTREME® and one promising fighter making his Golden Boy Promotions debut participated in an open media workout Wednesday at Westside Boxing Club.

In 12-rounders on Saturday’s SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING tripleheader live on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT) from StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., former four-division world champion Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero (31-2-1, 18 KOs), of Gilroy, Calif., returns from a 13-month layoff to face Japan’s hard-hitting Yoshihiro Kamegai (24-1-1, 21 KOs) in a welterweight scrap and unbeaten, yet untested Gary Russell Jr. (24-0, 14 KOs), of Capitol Heights, Md., meets perhaps the greatest amateur boxer of all-time, Vasyl Lomachenko (1-1, 1 KO), of Ukraine, for the vacant WBO Featherweight World Championship. Former two-division world champion Devon Alexander (25-2, 14 KOs), of St. Louis, battles hard-hitting Jesus Soto Karass (28-9-3, 18 KOs), of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico, in a 10-round super welterweight match that will kickoff the telecast.

Former light heavyweight world champion, “Bad Chad” Dawson (31-3, 17 KOs), of Las Vegas by way of New Haven, Conn., makes his first start in 12 months when he takes on George “Honey Boy” Blades (23-5, 16 KOs), of Indianapolis, Ind., in the featured bout on SHOWTIME EXTREME® (8 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).

In a battle of U.S. Olympians in the SHOWTIME EXTREME co-feature, 2012 U.S. Olympian and undefeated heavyweight Dominic “Trouble” Breazeale (10-0, 9 KOs), of Los Angeles, makes his 10-round debut when he takes on 2004 U.S. Olympic team captain Devin “Devastatin'” Vargas (18-3, 7 KOs), of Toledo, Ohio.

In non-televised fights that begin at 2 p.m. PT: Vyacheslav Shabranskyy (8-0, 7 KOs), Los Angeles, makes his debut for GBP against Michael Gbenga (15-14, 15 KOs), Lagos, Nigeria, six-rounds, light heavyweights; Sharif Bogere (24-1, 16 KOs), Las Vegas, Nev., faces a foe to be announced, eight-rounds, lightweights; Michael Hunter (4-0, 3 KOs), Van Nuys, Calif., takes on Jerry Forrest (7-1, 6 KOs), Lafayette, La., eight-rounds, heavyweights; the brother of Marcos “Chino” Maidana, Fabian Maidana (pro debut), Santa Fe, Arg., clashes with Alejandro Arteaga (3-8, 1 KO), Bakersfield, Calif., four-rounds, welterweights; and Marcos Hernandez (1-0), Fresno, Calif., vs. Dante Spinks (0-4), San Diego, Calif., four-rounds, super welterweights.

Tickets priced at $150, $75, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes, fees and services charges, are available on AXS.com, by phone at
888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849) and at StubHub Center Box Office
(Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. PT to 6 p.m. PT). VIP Suites are available by calling 877-604-8777. For more information on group discounts or VIP packages, please call
877-234-8425.

Below is what the fighters and Oscar De La Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions, said at Wednesday’s workout:

ROBERT GUERRERO

“Training camp went great. I feel fresh and I can’t wait to get out there. The time off felt good, I was able to recuperate my body and spend time with my family. There were a couple of things going on that kept me out of the ring but it’s now time to take care of business.

“I was able to incorporate CrossFit into my training regime and it made me able to get up to my optimal 147-pound weight. Before that I had trouble even trying to make weight.

“If I take care of business I would of course like to fight Floyd Mayweather; everyone would like that fight. I felt like I could give a lot more and I am excited to showcase everything that I have been doing to prove that I can hang with a fighter like Mayweather. Floyd is a pretty smart fighter but I can stay on my boxing game now, be a smarter fighter and walk guys down.

“I plan on providing an action-packed fight. Kamegai comes to fight and you know I always come to fight, so it should be very exciting. I look forward to showcasing a lot of stuff that I’ve been working on and put on a great show for the fans.”

YOSHIHIRO KAMEGAI

“I’m from Japan, and we respect everybody outside the ring. There is no trash-talk. In Japan, we think of Robert Guerrero as a multi-division world champion who fought Floyd Mayweather. That said, I didn’t fly all the way across the ocean to lose. I came here to not just win the fight but to have a decisive victory.

“I’m very confident and I feel I’m acclimated. I’ve been in America about 10 days. What I’ve worked on most since arriving is a way to avoid all his holding tactics and a way to keep him from being able to fight from long range.

“This is a very important fight and a tremendous opportunity for me. Not a lot of people know me now, but they will after the fight.”

GARY RUSSELL JR.

“You always have to be careful no matter who you are competing against, I never overlook anybody. You must have a level of defensive discipline. As far as him in general, we’re ready; I don’t believe he has what it takes to win this fight. He’s not a volume puncher; he tries to be more accurate. Even if he tries to outbox me he doesn’t have the hand speed and boxing ability to make it a tough fight. I am overall physically bigger and stronger and it won’t be a good thing for him. He is most definitely a stepping stone for me. The objective is to get out of the ring with a victory; we never look at the venue or anything where my focus shouldn’t be on. I will look good and expose this guy.

“It doesn’t matter who I’m fighting, I come to win. Everything is in my favor in this fight in terms of the speed, power and general fight charisma and we will exploit that on Saturday. This guy is just not on my level.

“Every fighter I fight is a learning experience, you look at my fights now and you can see the maturity level from when I was 8-0, 10-0.

“A lot of these fighters are one-dimensional. There are good boxers with no inside game. When it comes to me, what makes me a lot better than the other fighters is how versatile I am in the ring. You can see me walk these guys down or turn the fight into a brawl. With each style that we adapt to, we have the same level of creativity and that is what sets us apart.”

VASYL LOMACHENKO

“I’m excited and looking forward to Saturday but, for me, I go into the ring thinking the same thing before every fight, and that’s I want to win.

“Gary Russell is much faster than me. He’s a very quick, speedy fighter, and I won’t know until we get into the ring how I plan to deal with it. But we’ll find out soon enough.

“I fought really fast guys in the amateurs but those were only three-round fights so I didn’t have time to try and figure out the style of who I was fighting.

“It’s not easy to talk about myself. I’m not sure how I would describe my style. I would much rather practice then talk, I’ll let the experts describe how I fight.

“I got good experience from my two professional fights. I came on the last half of my first fight so I think my stamina and conditioning is good. But every fight is different so we’ll have to see how it goes on Saturday.

“I expect a good fight on Saturday and I expect to win.”

DEVON ALEXANDER

“Nobody likes to lose, but you have to take some licks across the head to get to where you need to be. I hope that this will be the last lick I will take across the head.

“I would love a rematch with Shawn Porter. I know my skills and technique are way better than his, but we will see what happens. I don’t want to talk past this fight.

“I want to fight all the elite fighters; I never want to duck anyone. I am looking to make a statement in this fight; you are only as good as your last fight, so I plan on making a statement.

“On the night of the fight you will see a mix of everything — power, speed, legs and I will show everyone why I am the former world champion.

“When you are a competitor you want to win all the time and be at the top. When I see these fights on TV, I get anxious because I know my skills are good and that I can compete with the best.

“I love St. Louis and they love me back and are always behind me. They know fighters stumble but they always support me and I am ready to get back in the ring and show them that they have a real good champion from their city and that’s what I plan to show them.”

JESUS SOTO KARASS

“My mindset is, I have to put a beating on him. This is it for me; it’s do or die. I’m very confident in the work I put in and with my conditioning, but I know I have to win this.

“Alexander is a good fighter. But he’s not going to change his style. I know I have to go in and take it to him. I can box, too, but to make this fight exciting I have to pressure him and make him fight my fight.

“My total concentration has been on this Saturday and Devon Alexander. I’ve had some hard fights, but win this and then I can take a rest.”

CHAD DAWSON

“I had the privilege of becoming a world champion early. I’ve been a professional for almost 13 years. There was never a doubt in my mind that I wouldn’t come back. I needed to take time to be a family man and come back when I felt like I could come back.

“I’m looking to get back to being the old Chad Dawson, the smart boxer who has height and reach. Once I get back to that, back to the top. I’m happy to be back in the game. I have to thank Al Haymon for giving me the opportunity; my division is hot right now.

“I’ve seen tapes of Blades from 2007. He looks like a durable guy. He is coming to win, it’s a big opportunity on TV.

“I don’t have anything to prove except for myself and my family. I know what I am capable of.”

VYACHESLAV SHABRANSKYY

“I’m extremely happy and blessed to have signed a contract with Golden Boy. They have given me the opportunity to go on to bigger and better things in my career. This will be my ninth pro fight and ninth in Los Angeles.

“In the amateurs I was considered a pure brawler, but since turning going pro and hooking up with trainer Manny Robles, he has changed me up a little and now I have learned to think and show patience in the ring.

“My career is just starting and I’m starting from the bottom up. I have to take it one step at a time. It’s like building a big brick hose. You do it one brick at a time, and that’s how it is with my career. Saturday is just another step for me”

OSCAR DE LA HOYA, President of Golden Boy Promotions

“I’m very excited about Saturday’s fights. It’s great to have Robert Guerrero back and fighting again, but he’s got a tough opponent in Yoshihiro Kamegai. Devon Alexander and Jesus Soto Karass is another excellent, tough fight, a 50-50 fight that you know that both fighters are coming to win.

“The world title fight is another 50-50 fight, Gary Russell Jr. vs. Vasyl Lomachenko. I’m very proud of this event, from top to bottom. I truly believe the fans are in for a great night of fights.

“This is the kind of event that Golden Boy Promotions is all about: great fighters, crowd-pleasing fights.”

Former two-division world champion Devon Alexander “The Great” took a break from training camp for this Saturday’s showdown with Jesus Soto Karass to throw out the first pitch for his hometown St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on Father’s Day. Alexander was joined by his children, Cesily and Devon Alexander Jr.

The 27-year-old Alexander (25-2, 14 KOs) returns against the hard-hitting Soto Karass (28-9-3, 18 KOs) in the opening bout of Saturday’s SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® tripleheader, live on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT) from StubHub Center in Carson, Calif.

Zab Judah 146 – Paulie Malignaggi 147
Anthony Dirrell 167.4 – Sakio Bika 166.6
Austin Tout – 153.8 – Erislandy Lara 153.2
Shawn Porter 146.8 – Devon Alexander 146.4

LOS ANGELES (Nov. 25, 2013) – As the Thanksgiving holiday quickly approaches, the boxers participating in the back-to-back quadruple headers on Saturday, Dec. 7 and Saturday, Dec. 14 live on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING took time out of their training camps to share some of the things they are thankful for this holiday season. While turkey, stuffing and yams may not be on their Thanksgiving menus, they are all in agreement that there is much to be thankful for.

PAULIE “THE MAGIC MAN” MALIGNAGGI, Former Two-Time, Two-Division World Champion (Training in Brooklyn, NY)
“[I am thankful for] My family and my true friends, especially those that have stuck with me from the start.”

“SUPER” ZAB JUDAH, Former Five-Time, Two-Division World Champion (Training in Las Vegas, NV)
“I am thankful for this time and that I get to be together with my family.”

DEVON “THE GREAT” ALEXANDER, IBF Welterweight World Champion (Training in St. Louis, MO)
“I am very thankful just to be living and in the position I’m in to help a lot of kids and inspire them too. I’m really thankful for so many things in my life, but I can’t mention them all because then the list would go on and on. I do want to say that I am thankful for my team and Golden Boy Promotions for getting me the best opportunity possible. Many peoplewant to be in the position that I am in and I am glad that I am one of them!”

SHAWN “SHOWTIME” PORTER, Top Welterweight Contender (Training in Las Vegas, NV)
“I am most thankful for family because they are the most important thing to me.

ERISLANDY “EL ORO DE GUANTANAMO” LARA, WBA Interim Super Welterweight World Champion (Training in Houston, TX)
“I am most thankful for being in the United State of America and for the freedom I have been given.”

AUSTIN “NO DOUBT” TROUT, Former WBA Super Welterweight World Champion (Training in Houston, TX)
“First and foremost I am most thankful for God, the Son of Jesus. Also, I am thankful for the love from my family, friends and fans. I have so much that I am grateful for including my health and career that allows me to provide for family.”

SAKIO “THE SCORPION” BIKA, WBC Super Middleweight World Champion (Training in St. Louis, MO)
“I am most grateful to have my family. Also, I am thankful that I have my health and a roof over my head because in this world there are a lot of disabled and homeless people.”

ANTHONY “THE DOG” DIRRELL, Super Middleweight Contender (Training in Del Rey, FL)
“I am most thankful for my family and getting this world championship title opportunity. What I have been through has been amazing with the cancer (Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma) and the motorcycle accident. Having the opportunity to recover and fight for the title means a lot to me.”

ADRIEN “THE PROBLEM” BRONER, Undefeated WBA Welterweight World Champion (Training in Colorado Springs, CO)
“I am thankful to God for giving me the ability to take care of family, friends and children.”

MARCOS “EL CHINO” MAIDANA, Former WBA Intercontinental Welterweight Champion (Training in Oxnard, CA)
“I’m thankful for this opportunity that Golden Boy Promotions is giving me. I’m really excited about this fight because of the many more opportunities that will come my way if I win. I’m also grateful to the fans, all the Mexican fans that are showing me their support.”

KEITH “ONE TIME” THURMAN, Undefeated WBA Interim Welterweight World Champion (Training in Clearwater, FL)
“I am most thankful for my career in boxing. Boxing is the only job that I have ever had and the only job I have ever wanted and I am truly grateful for that.”

JESUS “EL RENUENTE” SOTO KARASS, Top Welterweight Contender (Training in Los Angeles, CA)

“I am most thankful for my life and my family. I am grateful to have the love of my wife, kids, parents and siblings. I have the best in life with them. I am also grateful for my health.”

LEO “EL TERREMOTO” SANTA CRUZ, Undefeated WBC Super Bantamweight World Champion (Training in Los Angeles, Calif.)
“I am most thankful for my family, especially my brother. He still suffers from his illness [lupus], but he is doing much better. I am also thankful for my promoter Golden Boy Promotions, my manager Al Haymon and his hard working staff and my fans for supporting me in becoming a champion. Without any of them I wouldn’t be where I am at today.”

CESAR SEDA, Super Bantamweight Title Challenger (Training in Salinas, Puerto Rico)
“I am thankful to God for my health and all of the good things in life that have happened to me and my beautiful family. I know that this Thanksgiving I won’t be able to be with my wife, kids, mother or my grandparents and the rest of my family, but they understand the sacrifice that I am making for their good. This Thanksgiving I pray that God blesses the whole world and that he brings a lot of peace. I am so grateful for the new opportunity he gave me to fight for a world title again.”

BEIBUT SHUMENOV, WBA Light Heavyweight World Champion (Training in Las Vegas, NV)
“As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, I am most thankful for my family. My father and mother raised me to be the person I am today and the continuous love and support from my brother, Chingis.”

TAMAS “TOMI KID” KOVACS, Top Light Heavyweight Contender (Training in Budapest, Hungary)
“I am very thankful for my family and feel very grateful every day to see my kids and my wife. When I am preparing for a fight my family is always on my mind and in my heart. In my career I am very grateful for the opportunity that I can fight for the WBA title.

# # #

ABOUT “MALIGNAGGI VS. JUDAH”:
Malignaggi vs. Judah is a 12-round fight for the NABF and NABO Welterweight titles taking place on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The event is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Super Judah Promotions and sponsored by Corona, AT&T, Casamigos Tequila and Grudge Match. In the co-featured bout, Devon Alexander puts his IBF welterweight title on the line in a 12-round bout against Shawn Porter, Erislandy Lara defends his interim WBA Super Welterweight title in a 12-round fight against Austin Trout and Sakio Bika defends his WBC Super Middleweight title against Anthony Dirrell in a 12-round bout. The SHOWTIME telecast begins at 8:00 p.m. ET/ 5:00 p.m. PT immediately following ALL ACCESS: Broner vs. Maidana which begins at 7:30 p.m. ET/ 4:30 p.m. PT. The telecast will be available in Spanish via secondary audio programming (SAP).

Tickets priced at $250, $125, $75, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes and service charges, available at www.barclayscenter.com, www.ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations, by calling 800-745-3000 and at the American Express Box Office. For group tickets, please call 800-GROUP-BK.

ABOUT “DANGER ZONE: BRONER VS. MAIDANA”
“DANGER ZONE: Broner vs. Maidana,” a 12-round fight for Broner’s WBA Welterweight World Championship taking place on Saturday, Dec. 14 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and Leija*Battah Promotions and sponsored by Corona, AT&T, Casamigos Tequila and Grudge Match. In the 12-round co-featured attraction, Keith Thurman will defend his interim WBA Welterweight World Championship against Jesus Soto Karass. Leo Santa Cruz will put his WBC Super Bantamweight World title on the line against Cesar Seda in a 12-round bout and Beibut Shumenov faces Tamas Kovacs in a 12-round clash for Shumenov’s WBA Super & IBA Light Heavyweight World titles. The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® telecast will air live at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and can be heard in Spanish using secondary audio programming (SAP). Preliminary bouts will air live on SHOWTIME EXTREME® at 6:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

Tickets priced at $250, $200, $150, $100, $75, $50, $25, $20 and $10, plus applicable taxes, fees and services charges, went on sale today, Thursday, Oct. 31 at 10 a.m. CT and are available at the Alamodome box office, or through Leija*Battah Promotions by calling (210) 979-3302 or emailing m@leijabattahpromo.com or online at www.ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster locations, by calling (800) 745-3000.

Kelly Swanson
Thanks, everybody for joining us today. We have four fantastic fighters that are going to be available to talk to you and answer your questions about their fight on the December 7th, Zab Judah and Paulie Malignaggi Undercard at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
This call is with Devon Alexander, Shawn Porter, Erislandy Lara and Austin Trout and we’re going to start the call with Austin Trout and Erislandy Lara and then we’ll switch over to Devon Alexander and Shawn Porter. So, I’m going to turn it over to Richard Schaefer, Chief Executive Officer of Golden Boy Promotions to make the introductions. Richard?

Richard Schaefer
Thank you, Kelly. Hello, everybody. Good morning, good afternoon. You’re right, four great fighters on the phone here, but we’re going to have four great fights on that card. It’s going to be a quadruple header with three world title fighters, Sakio Bika against Anthony Dirrell opening up the night and then Lara against Trout and Alexander against Shawn Porter and then although no world title at stake, it’s going to be the fight of Brooklyn, Malignaggi against Zab Judah.

Tickets are going extremely well. I do anticipate the largest yet crowd at the Barclays Center on December the 7th. Tickets are priced very attractively, starting at $25, $50, $75, $125 and $250. I’d like to thank our sponsors as well, Corona, AT&T and Grudge Match. Yes, the movie, Grudge Match is a sponsor of this event and I’d like to welcome as well a new sponsor, Casamigos Tequila, which is one of the fastest growing tequilas here in the United States and, of course, in Mexico. It’s owned, among others, by George Clooney and Cindy Crawford, so I really want to welcome Casamigos to the boxing family.

The Showtime telecast is going to start at 9:00 p.m. Eastern and I’d like to introduce now the two fighters, which are going to be fighting for the WBA Interim Super Welterweight World Title in a 12-round fight. First up I’d like to introduce to you Austin Trout with a record of 26 and 1, from Las Cruces, New Mexico, fighting out of El Paso, Texas. We all know he’s the former WBA Super Welterweight World Champion belt he won over Rigoberto Alvarez in February 2011.

He defended the belt successfully four times and then lost, including against Miguel Cotto, which was a great performance there at Madison Square Garden. So, for him it’s a coming home to New York to the place where he had the biggest victory of his career.

He is going to be fighting Erislandy Lara, one of the greatest amateur boxers to emerge from Cuba. In 2011 he lost a highly controversial decision over former World Champion Paul Williams, but then followed up with impressive knockouts over Ronald Hearns and outpointed Freddy Hernandez. Then in one hell of an exciting fight his 10-round technical knockout victory over Alfredo Angulo earlier this year and so now he on December the 7th, Lara will face Austin Trout for the WBA 104 pound crown. Lara and Austin Trout are without any question two of the top five pound-for-pound 154 pound fighters. Most experts have them ranked right there, number three and four.

So, this is a very meaningful match-up in this division, in a division I might add, which is loaded with a lot of good names out there. So, I’d like to introduce to you now, with a record of 18 one and two with 12 knockouts, from Cuba now fighting out of Houston, Texas, Erislandy Lara.

Erislandy Lara
Hi everyone. I’m working very hard in the gym. Thank God that everything is going great. Just waiting for the date of the fight, but everything is going very, very good moving forward.

Austin Trout
Well, I want to thank God for the opportunity to get right back to the position where I left, where I felt I belonged. A fighter like Lara is right there in my resume to be fighting the best and being the best.

Q
Hi, guys. Thanks for taking the time to do the call. First question is for Mr. Trout. Austin, I’d like your assessment of Erislandy Lara. What does he bring to the table? What do you think of him technically and how do you plan to beat him?

A. Trout
Well, you know, I’m not going to give how I’m going to beat him, but he brings a very strong technical amateur base to it. He’s very strong, having a lot fights in amateurs. I feel like he lacks real heart and will and we’re going to go out and expose out that because I’m a technical fighter as well, but as I said I’ve got the high determination to win in all different types of scenarios.

Q
All right. That’s a good assessment. A question for Erislandy. What do you think of Trout technically? What does he bring to the table? And I’d like you to comment on him saying that you maybe lack the heart and the will to win?

E. Lara
Austin Trout is an okay fighter. There’s nothing special about him. I feel that he’s on his way out. He had his time and I’m going to prove that. And as far as having a heart, you know, let’s see in the ring. I’ll show him in the ring who has a heart or not and we’ll decide then.

Q
Richard, you’re talking about these being two of the best here at 154, don’t know who’s going to win; it’s kind of a coin flip fight, but I am curious, do you have any ideas what will happen with the winner? Who might the winner face?

R. Schaefer
Well, you know, you have Carlos Molina, you have Canelo Alvarez, you know, there’s obviously Floyd, but I don’t see Floyd fighting at 154 unless it’s a really big undisputed truly middleweight fight, that kind of thing. You have Angulo still there, you have a bunch of guys so we’ll just have to see on how that will match up with the calendars of some of those names I just mentioned now. But I can definitely see a potential fight down the road with Canelo Alvarez.

Q
Hey, guys. Obviously, Richard just said you both have, well, you’ve already fought Canelo, Austin, and Erislandy has wanted Canelo for a long time. How much incentive does having his name out there as an immediate fight, how much incentive does that add to this fight for you guys, for each of you?

A. Trout
I’m not worried about Canelo. My focus is on Lara. You know, whether Canelo picks the fight with the winner, that’s great. I don’t know or believe that he will, but regardless of that or not my whole focus is beating Lara on his way out.

Q
Erislandy, same question.

E. Lara
I’m not even thinking about that. I’m even thinking beyond this fight. My job is to first beat Austin Trout and then after that all the other doors are going to open up and I’ll take on all comers. Right now I’m just focused on the fight and I’m focused on busting up Austin Trout’s mouth.

Q
Okay. One more question for each of you. Austin, the last time you fought a southpaw was David Lopez and we all know how Erislandy did against Paul Williams, who is a southpaw. Can each of you address what the difference is for each of you in facing a southpaw of the caliber that you’re going to face on December 7th?

A. Trout
Well, Lara is not David Lopez and I’m not Paul Williams, so the comparison is not really there. David was a bigger slugger, in my opinion, but he was also slower. So, to try to look at that fight towards this fight, it’s apples and oranges. He’s a different caliber of fighter and a different breed and I’m going to make him look like the amateur he is.

E. Lara
Well, the big difference between Paul Williams and Austin Trout is that Paul Williams has balls. He was a fighter that would attack you and he was aggressive and he would come at you and he knew how to box as well. With Austin Trout, he’s just a guy that runs; he’s a fighter that runs.

Q
My question for you, Austin, is it’s been since April where you had the fight with Canelo. A lot of people thought you did enough maybe to get the decision in that fight. And I’m wondering, you’re coming back now end of the year, how much excitement is there for you to get back in the ring? I know that fight didn’t go the way you wanted, just your general enthusiasm for the combat once again?

A. Trout
I’m absolutely excited to get in the fight. I really wanted to fight as soon as I could. I wasn’t injured, I wasn’t necessarily beat up, but I had to wait for December. So, all that in value then builds up and I’m ready to take it out on Lara. Somebody has got to get rid of this guy and I’m happy to be the one to do it. I feel like I’m the only one that can do it, so it’s really honorable to be able to get in there and get my belt back at the same time.

Q
Now, when you lost to Canelo in what by all accounts was a very close fight and then you watch Canelo go in his next fight in the humongous event that he had with Floyd and lose in the estimation of most a completely one-sided decision, did you sit and watch that and think to yourself, boy, man, I would have done a lot better against Mayweather than this guy just did?

A. Trout
Most definitely. Like I said, Canelo had his best fight in his life when he fought against me. And in my opinion I’d give myself maybe a seven or eight; it was definitely not my best and then an off night for him, by his standards. And that was the number one thing I thought, like, come on, Canelo, you’re making us both look bad, one. And two, you should have just let me go ahead and get that fight because I sure would have put up a better fight than that.

Q
And now, the other big name opponent that you fought, which is Miguel Cotto, who you beat in a fight that there was no controversy about. He’s come back and got a victory last month and now he is now in contention, a fight, a big fight with Canelo Alvarez, another huge fight, for the guy that you beat. Do you feel like, I mean, he’s the bigger name, I guess, he’s the bigger, but does the competitive unfairness maybe gnaw at you a little bit and make you motivated to go out and kick some butt against Lara?

A. Trout
Well, I use that as motivation. It’s not necessarily the best fighting the best and, again, except the fight with me and Lara fighting each other, but it’s more; I think really that we’re fighting each other because nobody else wants to fight us. But you know me, I’ll take all comers and for him to say I don’t have any balls, he’s never watched me fight, which is fine. He can sleepwalk if he wants to.

It’s the golden rule; you punch, that makes the rule. I can’t be bitter about it because that’s something I don’t have control over. I’ve just got to do what I can do with opportunities that come my way and that’s really why I’m going to make the most of this opportunity that’s presented itself.

Q
So, when you saw Erislandy’s last fight, which was a much more action packed fight than we’ve seen him in typically when he fought, what did you think about that? It seemed like he took advantage of the shortcomings that Alfredo Angulo has, but he also fought in a much more crowd pleasing way than he has in the past. Did you think he changed his style a little bit in that fight and what did you make of it?

A. Trout
I think he had to. He had to fight; Angulo was coming for him and Angulo was catching him. You’re either going to fight or flight and he fought some, but he did run a lot so he chose both.

Q
I think maybe, you tell me if I’m wrong here, I think part of the reason why you have not fought since April was you were going through the legal situation and your separation from your previous promoter. Can you talk a little about just the whole aspect of going through the separation and dealing with the legalities and not sure when you’d be allow to fight again?

A. Trout
Gladly. It was hard to not know when you’re going to be able to work again. I fell out of work, I felt like I was waiting for my unemployment check which was not coming any time soon. I’m very happy and proud to say that I’m not with Greg Cohen Promotions. It was the best thing that could happen to my career as this year goes and I’m just happy to put that all behind me and move forward.

Q
What actually happened in that? What was the disagreement?

A. Trout
He was trying to sue for some bogus basis. The word forgery can be used very heavily so without going into too many details, I’m just happy that it’s over with and now Showtime and Golden Boy, they know that it was all bullshit. So, to get that bullshit aside I’m ready to fight and that’s awesome motivation to whip Lara’s ass.

Q
Did you sign with Golden Boy now?

A. Trout
I am not signed with Golden Boy technically, but they have promoted my last four or five fights.

R. Schaefer
We have a great relationship, as you know. Austin’s with Al Haymon and Al and me work very closely together so even though it’s not signed, you know, Floyd Mayweather is not signed with us either, but sometimes those contracts where you don’t have a contract may be the best one.

Q
I understand that. I know you guys have a good relationship. I just wanted to know the technical fact of whether he was under your promotional contract. I know that he’s with you guys. Thank you, Austin. Good luck in the fight and appreciate your time. Thanks, Richard.

Q
Austin, as you mentioned before, you’re getting right back in there and you’re going right for a world title just after you lost one. How do you feel about having the opportunity to win back immediately what you lost?

A. Trout
I feel that God doesn’t make mistakes. In my loss I learned a lot of things, I learned a lot of things and it helped me tighten up my game, tighten up my business. And, in a sense, the lessons learned kind of evened it up for me and to be able to come right back and get back to my world title, it’s kind of predestined in my opinion.

I believe God does everything for a reason and He put me right back in this spot to put me back to where I need to be. Had I won I probably would have never learned these lessons that unfolded themselves.
Q
Erislandy said that he believes that you’re going to run in the fight, that you won’t stand toe-to-toe with him. It comes down to a situation where you basically have to do that. Will you stand in the trenches with him?

A. Trout
Have you ever seen me run in a fight as opposed to Erislandy Lara? That’s all he does in the ring, so I mean, he’s just talking. I’m not a runner; I box, but I don’t run. And I like to fight, which you can’t say about him. If you watch my fight you’ll see, I don’t run.

Q
All right, when you look at his last fight do you think the type of war that he had with Angulo could actually take something out of him?

A. Trout
Yeah, and that war was brought by Angulo. Lara didn’t want any part of that war. He was in a war because he had to survive. I think it’s hilarious that he says I’m a runner. That’s his MO. He ran from Cuba, he runs in the fight; he’s the runner of boxing. So, the title fight will be in my favor.

Q
All right, now having heard Lara does it give you extra motivation to beat him because he’s talking so much before this fight?

A. Trout
He talked before the fight was even made and once the fight was made he’s gotten real quiet. Whether I like him or don’t like him, which I don’t, it’s not going to change the fact that I’m going to try to take his head off.

Q
And my questions now for Erislandy. You’ve heard Austin speak and he’s saying he’s not going to run from you. Why do you think he’s going to run?

E. Lara
That’s what he’s always done in all the fights. It’s not the same as stand and fight right in front of you at a fighting distance than to be standing far away and trying to fight far away.

Q
Erislandy, you were dropped twice in your last fight with Angulo. What did you learn from that whole experience?

E. Lara
Yeah, you’re right, yeah, he did drop me twice, but we’re talking about Angulo, who is a very good fighter. He’s a big puncher. He came to win. He was well prepared and he caught me with perfect punches that could pretty much drop anybody. But the fact is that I did get up and I finished the fight and I won.

Q
All right, my final question here is you’ve had a few decisions that, obviously, didn’t go your way the way you wanted to. If this fight builds a scorecard do you feel confident that you will get the decision?

E. Lara
You have to remember that there are technicalities in those two fights that I didn’t get the decision and part of it was that I fought on other promoters’ fight cards. When I fought Vanes it was a top ranked show and when I fought Paul Williams it was Paul Williams promoter, Goossen, so I fought with them. This time I’m fighting under my promoter’s banner and that’s the difference.

Q
Austin, when Lara’s name was brought to your attention to be a possible opponent in the future, what was the first thing that was going through your head? Was it then beating Lara at the elite level or was that beating Lara would legitimize your name in the sport?

A. Trout
It was both. Beating him was definitely put my stake as the best in 154 pound division. I had a little setback in April and I think Lara’s the type of name and opponent that put me right back into the running for the best. After taking out the 154 pound division I want to be ready to go, so first things first. You pass this cat, get my belt back, unify the belt and then go after the top pound big headers.

Q
All right, thanks a lot. And then my next question is for Erislandy. On this call we’ve mentioned a few times the loss with Paul Williams. Is there anything that you’re going to be doing different in this fight, maybe looking for a knockout or more aggressive to kind of prevent the judges from even needing to score the fight?

E. Lara
No, no I’m going to calm. I’m going to be calm in this fight. I’m going to do my job and I’m very confident that doing my job is going to have the results and I’ll be fine and I should win.

R. Schaefer
Thanks, Austin. Gracias, Erislandy and I’ll see you guys in New York. All right, so we are moving to the co-main event, a great world title fight with Devon Alexander against Shawn Porter. Devon Alexander, without any question, one of the big names in the sport of boxing, a former IBF Junior Welterweight and WBC Super Lightweight World Champion, a record of 25-1 with 14 KO’s. Has wins over Lucas Matthysse, Marcos Maidana, Juan Urango, Junior Witter and on and on. That’s why it makes him the star and the big name he is.
And with Shawn Porter we have one of the United States’ best amateur boxers with that time, a top Welterweight fighter, scored earlier this year a dominant 10-round decision over previously unbeaten Phil Lo Greco. And to set the record straight this past September when he pounded out a clear-cut 10-round decision in the rematch with Julio Diaz, certainly a young fighter, a hungry fighter, a fighter who is ready to become world champion and when the opportunity presented itself to fight against Devon Alexander he was immediately on board.

This is the kind of opportunity young emerging stars are waiting for and Shawn Porter is going to be coming on December the 7 to the Barclays Center, not to pick up the paycheck – that, too – but to pick up a world title. And I know he’s always exciting. He’s going to be well-prepared. It’s a pleasure now for me to introduce to you, Shawn Porter. Do you want to make some opening comments?

S. Porter
No, just want to let you guys know that camp is going good, I’m working hard, studying Devon every day and when I’m not studying him I’m in the gym. So, doing what a professional athlete is supposed to do, stay on top of my grind, day and night, and I’ll be ready on December 7th.

R. Schaefer
Great. Thank you, Shawn. I’m going to introduce to you now Devon Alexander. Devon Alexander, as I said, former IBF Junior Welterweight and WBC Super Lightweight World Champion. He moved up in 2012 to the Welterweight division and was crowned the IBF Welterweight World Champion by defeating Randall Bailey right there at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

So, he’s going to come back to the scene and he is going to want to make his next world title defense. He earlier this year made the first title defense against Lee Purdy in a match that only went seven rounds after he was being stopped, after Alexander stopped Purdy by way of technical knockout and so now here he is making his next world title defense from the Barclays Center. Please welcome Devon Alexander.

D. Alexander
Hello, you guys, the media and everyone who are on the phone. This is an awesome fight. We know with Shawn Porter what I’m going to do. We know he’s going to be ready, but it’s not going to be enough. Yeah, training camp is going good. I’m in tremendous shape and will be ready to go 12 full rounds. If less, that’s great, too. But I’m training to go the 12 full rounds and Shawn Porter better be ready December 7 because nobody is beating me, nobody. So, be ready.

Q
Hey, a question for you. You know, earlier this year you were supposed to fight; Kell Brook was considered a pretty big fight for both of you guys. He dropped out with the injury, you ended up fighting a replacement, Lee Purdy. And for this fight in December everybody thought, Richard said many times, both sides seemed to be into it, that you were supposed to fight Amir Khan, that would have been a pretty big fight.

For whatever reason he decided not to fight you and now you’re fighting Shawn Porter, who – and no disrespect to Shawn – is not as big of a name at this point in boxing as Khan was and I’m wondering from your point of view, after the disappointment of the Brook fight dropping out and then Khan deciding not to fight you, are you feeling a little let down by the way your schedule has gone this year?

D. Alexander
Well, I mean I just let my team handle that. Of course, I want the big names, I want the big wins so I can the notoriety that I want. Like you said, Kell Brook fell through and the Amir Khan fight fell through, which both would have been great wins for me. But everything happens for a reason.

I’m just a fighter. If the fighters don’t want to get in the ring with me, what can I do? The only thing I can do is trust in my team to give me the best opponent, the best things that I need at the time. So, maybe it’s not meant for me to fight a U.K. fighter because every time I’m scared to fight one of them if something happens.

You know, I leave it up to my team. And if Shawn Porter is going to the next victim, that’s going to be it. So, hey, what can I do?

Q
Well, you did fight Lee Purdy, who is from the U.K., so I’m not sure that theory holds up. But my question to continue on that topic is, with regard to Brook, he had a legitimate injury, obviously, with the stress fracture so there was an understandable reason why he couldn’t fight you in July, or I forget what month it was, but he didn’t fight you because of the injury.
But Amir Khan doesn’t have an injury, so what are your thoughts about Amir kind of doing the dance with you to negotiate and saying that he was going to fight you and all this other stuff and then back out?

D. Alexander
You know, you have to be a true champion and a true fighter. I’m an old school fighter and I’ll fight anybody. If something happens, I just I can’t call it. There are a lot of rumors out there about why Khan pulled it out or why this, why that. But I can’t speak on that. I wanted to fight because I know that fight would have given another rise that I needed. I’m one of the best welterweights in the division and it didn’t happen.

So, who knows what he’s thinking, what his team is doing, I don’t know. I think that based on if I was the best risk, that I was too much right now for him or whatever. I don’t know, but I was ready to fight him in December, but he pulled it out so it didn’t happen that way.

Q
So, now you have Shawn in front of you, who is an undefeated young fighter. Just even based on his opening remarks, he seems hungry. I’ve watched him a long time and I know he’s probably really up for this challenge that you present to him. Have you seen him fight before and what do you think about his potential to be a champion someday?

D. Alexander
Yeah, I saw him fight before. I know Shawn from the amateurs and I fought him when I was little and I beat him and I don’t see any difference in December 7th. Might as well keep the thing rolling. But, I know Shawn. He’s a good fighter, a good kid. But his skills are limited. I mean, you can’t beat me if you don’t remember that. You have to be something special and I’m going to be ready December 7th whatever he brings, whatever. You know, him and his dad’s plan, it’s not going to work because my coach, he’s a master strategist. He broke Shawn Porter down from the feet to the head, so it doesn’t matter. So, we’ll be ready.

Q
When did you fight him as an amateur, Devon?

D. Alexander
At the Ohio State Fair.

Q
And did you remember the fight? How long ago was that?

D. Alexander
Man, that’s when I was eight or nine.

Q
Oh, you were a little kid.

D. Alexander
Yeah, I was little.

Q
You actually remember the fight? I mean you had a lot of amateur fights.

D. Alexander
Yeah, yeah, I remember the fight. I remember the fight. That was one of my bigger tournaments that I went to when I first started, so that’s one of the ones that stuck with me that I remember because it was one of the very first ones that my coach took me to.

Q
Did you win a decision in the fight?

Q
And there were some rides there, some roller coasters and I was excited to be there, so I was a kid, so you know I was happy.

Q
Did you win a decision?

D. Alexander
Yeah.

Q
All right, thank you for that, Devon. Hey, Shawn, do you remember that fight that he’s talking about? You’re even younger I think than Devon is?

S. Porter
Yeah, I remember going three one-minute rounds throwing punches at each other, I remember that.

Q
So, you’re saying not much of a fight then, not a real fight.

S. Porter
No, man it’s not much difference between then and now, but we’re grown men now and, like you said, I’m hungry and I’m up for the challenge so December 7th, but we’ll see December 7th.

Q
So, one other question for you then. Where I understand where Devon is coming from and the disappointment maybe that Khan decided not to take that challenge because he wanted to fight the bigger name. On the opposite end of that, you’ve got to be thrilled that Amir Khan didn’t take the fight because now you get a shot at a world title. Can you talk about your enthusiasm for seeing what happened with Khan rejecting the fight and you getting the opportunity to get what’s the biggest fight of your career by far?

Q
Like you said, just a lot of enthusiasm. After that fight watching to see who is going to make what moves and what belts are going to be fought for and all that kind of stuff, when I saw that Amir Khan was talking about fighting Devon I kind said, okay, well maybe we’ll get one of those two after that fight.

And when Amir stepped down it was like, okay, it’s got to be me. And so you’re waiting by the phone, waiting on it to be you and then finally it’s you. So, just a lot of excitement built up inside my body and I can’t wait to let it out. I’m going to be ready. I’m going to be ready mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally, all the way. I’m a well rounded fighter. I’ve got way more to bring to the ring than Devon thinks and I’m going to show him that on December 7th.

Q
Hey, you spent a number of years, I don’t know how long in terms of fights maybe you can tell me, as a sparring partner for Manny Pacquiao. Obviously, he’s a southpaw. Can you tell me how many fights that was and what you gained from that experience heading into this fight against Devon who is a southpaw?

S. Porter
I trained with Manny for Miguel Cotto and then also again for Shane Mosley, so I’ve got a lot of rounds under my belt with Manny Pacquiao and a lot of experience, but I think more than anything it just makes me comfortable again fighting a southpaw with some quick hands and some quick feet.

It’s nothing that I haven’t seen before, nothing that I’ve never been in the ring with, so I think December 7th, I’ll be bringing a little bit more to the ring than Devon will in terms of experience against fighters, against the fight style that I’m up against. Manny Pacquiao is arguably one of the best of our time right now and I’ve gone toe-to-toe with him, I backed him up, I made him really fight me.

So, a lot of experience in the gym and around the world fighting, so this is an opportunity that Richard Schaefer spoke on that you can’t help to rise to the occasion and I’m excited about it and I will be ready for it.

Q
First of all, you’ve had some pretty solid performances at 147 pounds. You’ve said that the reason for some of your questions in the fights you’ve had during the latter part of your 140 pound career were because of weight loss. You came real close to having a really signature performance against Maidana and I know your criticism of yourself was that had you had that fight again you would stop him.

Could this be the signature fight that you’re looking for against a solid opponent that you can look spectacular? If so, what aspects of your game do you think will be accentuated against Shawn Porter?

D. Alexander
Well, as you guys can see, every fight I’m getting better and better. When I made my move to 147, each fight I got better and better and better. I’m learning something from every day. You don’t see just one style in Devon Alexander. You just see me standing there or you just see me box or you can see me do most new things. So, that’s what people are now realizing.

But this fight is going to be one of my signature fights. Sean Porter is going to come to fight. Of course he is, he’s supposed. That’s what he’s supposed to do. But it’s not going to be enough. I believe in my skills. You’ve got to believe in yourself, believe in your skills. You know, as far as sparring with Pacquiao. I’m not a sparring partner. I don’t go around sparring with people. I don’t have that mentality. When you go around sparring other fighters, you know get that sparring mentality, right. You know, I need to take off, I need to let him beat me; I don’t have that. I’m not a sparring partner.

You know, you can have all the sprint and sparring and this and that. But this is fighting. When you get in the ring it’s about skill. So, I’m getting better and better. He’s going to see it December 7th. What I’m going to, you know, I’m getting better. You guys will say, wow, he is getting better and better each fight. So, you’ve got to see it.

Q
Okay, Devon, my last question to you is how is your left hand, the one you injured against Purdy and how is the, obviously, you wanted to get in the ring earlier, how has the time off helped you?

D. Alexander
Yeah, the left hand is good. I’ve been going to therapy for about a month and a half and I’ve been throwing my left hand like a rocket this year. You guys will see more of that come December 7th. Like I said, and I’m ready to rock.

Q
What did you say about you’re going to throw it like what?

D. Alexander
Like a rocket.

Q
Thanks for taking the time. The question is for Shawn. Shawn, Devon called your skills limited. I’m wondering how you take that, do you take offense to it and also I do have to think that Devon is the best guy that you’ve ever fought, right? I mean, this is at least one step up from anyone that you’ve ever fought before, is he not?

S. Porter
Well, he’s the world champion so he’s got to be the best up to this point. As far as he calling my skills limited, that gives me confidence that he doesn’t know what he’s up against. That gives me confidence that he won’t be ready for this fight. If he hasn’t seen anything yet that I can’t beat him with, he will see it December 7th, that’s for sure.

Q
And sort of technically how do you see that fight unfolding? Kind of give me a game plan, but what sort of fight do you see happening, a distance fight, a trading or slick boxing? What kind of a fight are we going to see?

S. Porter
He’s a good boxer, I’m not going to try to box him early in the fight. He’s quick, I’ve got to match his quickness. I’ve got to match his speed and I’m more powerful than him, so I think you’ll see me rough him up and show that I’m a powerful, better boxer than that.

Q
And, Devon, what do you think of that game plan from Shawn? He says he’s more powerful than you, he thinks he can rough you up.

D. Alexander
That’s what a lot of people say until they get in the ring. That’s what Maidana said, that’s what Urango said, that’s what a lot of fighters that I fought. I’ve heard that before. I’ve heard the same song, this and that. I say his power is limited. You saw what happened. People better not underestimate my power, because it’s there.

But you’ll see. Like I said, his game plan is his game plan, but that doesn’t mean that’s the right game plan.

Q
And for fans who haven’t seen maybe too much of Shawn Porter, can you give me an assessment, a scouting report of what he brings to the table, strengths and weaknesses? I said for fans that especially haven’t seen much of Shawn Porter, can you give me a scouting report, what he brings to the table, his strength and his weakness?

D. Alexander
He brings toughness. He’s going to be tough. He’s going to be game. He’s not just going to lay down. And he’s going to be in shape and he’s going to come prepared. He’s got some skills. Like I said, this is boxing. He’s been boxing since he’s an amateur, so, he’s got to have some type of skills. He’s in this for a reason and you can’t take him lightly. I’m going into this fight like I’d fight Floyd Mayweather and that’s what I’m going to do.

Q
Hi, Devon. The question I have for you is that you became a champion at the age of 22 and a lot of people kind of forget that you’re only 26 years old right now. Do you think right now that you’ve only matured as a fighter?

D. Alexander
I guess you hit the nail right on the coffin, I definitely have. I feel a lot of things that I used to do that I could have been doing, but I’m doing them now. My confidence level is up. I’m highly motivated. I’m focused, I’m zoned in. That’s why I say nobody can beat me. I’m at a point in my career that I’m at the peak of my career. I’m at the prime and I’m fully focused, I’m zoned in and that’s why I say nobody can beat me. When I’m zoned in and focused and prepared nobody can beat me and that’s where I’m at right now.

Q
Okay. My next question now is for Shawn Porter. Shawn, given the fact that you avenged your only blemish against Julio Diaz in your last fight, does that give you extra confidence going into this fight?

S. Porter
There’s a lot of confidence coming up for that fight. I think every fighter, we go to the gym every day to improve and learn and get better and I think in that fight, I’m able to take a look at that fight and see where I’ve improved and gotten better and that more than anything gives me confidence, knowing that I can do all of what I did in that fight against Diaz and more than that against Devon to beat him. So, a lot of confidence built up inside of me right now and around my camp as well.

Q
Richard, the question I have for you is this fight is at welterweight. Are you ideally looking to match the winner of this fight with the winner of Malignaggi/Judah?

R. Schaefer
Well, you know the welterweight division as to super welterweight, junior middleweight as well are very loaded divisions. I think the 147, the welterweight, is probably the most loaded of any division in the sport, so there are a lot of opportunities and possibilities there. Certainly the winner of that fight is one of the possibilities, but there are so many other names here at 147, which could be put in, so opponents for the winner of that fight.

Q
Hey, Devon, hey, Shawn. Shawn, you talked a little bit about how you wanted to be a welterweight champion. Can you tell us a little bit about how this opportunity falls in line with your goals?

S. Porter
This is great. It’s a wonderful opportunity. It’s funny because sometimes I may just walk past this door and see my reflection in that window and just think to myself, oh, that’s what a world champion looks like. So, it’s like everything that I’ve ever wanted, everything I’ve been working for, literally it’s coming to pass now and it’s a wonderful feeling.

I know that it’s a great opportunity that I actually get in the ring and do everything that I’m talking about doing, but the best part about it is I believe that I can and I’m excited to get in there and do it and perform at the Barclays Center, which is just an unbelievable venue and just a lot of excitement. And, like you said, becoming a world champion, that’s number one goal right now.

I’m actually the other day thinking to myself, man, I’ve got to come up with some new goals now because this awesome goal is about to be accomplished and I’m just very excited about it.

Q
Okay. And then finally, Devon is a dangerous fighter. He’s a world champ, but you talked earlier about how you’ve been studying him on film. Do you look back at the Bradley fight, in particular, and think how your aggressive style and your improved defense can force him to quit again?

S. Porter
You know what, I’m going to do whatever it takes to win this fight and if that’s making him quit, if that’s making him sit down and not get up, if that’s knocking him down and him not getting up, if that’s taking this fight 12 rounds and winning the decision, I’m prepared. I will be prepared to do whatever it takes to go home with that IBF title. And I’m just too hell bent on winning that fight and having that title not to have it. I’m looking forward to nothing after the fight; everything is this fight and that’s it.

And you take a look at the Bradley fight and you look at what he did and I know that I’m a little sharper than Bradley was in that fight and I can get to Devon’s body a little bit better than Bradley did and I can get to his head a little bit better than Bradley did and I may do some things a little bit better than Bradley did, you know, if it comes to Devon quitting, which the kid is from St. Louis. I’m not expecting him to quit at all.

I’m expecting him to come 100 percent with his best and, like he said, in his zone. And I think this will make for a great fight. You see two fighters, two young fighters in the zone fighting for one goal and that’s that world championship belt. He’s trying to keep it, I’m trying to take it. It’s going to be an exciting night December 7th and I’m ready to do whatever it takes to win that fight.

Q
I said you’re definitely not saying kids from St. Louis are as tough as kids from Cleveland, right?

S. Porter
Not at all, man. We do what we have to do as fighters so I think from that aspect it’s just a mutual respect. I know where he’s from. I know what he’s about and I’m pretty sure he knows the same. If not, he knows that I’ve been around this game long enough to know that I’ve got to come 100 percent on December 7th or I can’t win the fight. So, there’s no questions that won’t be answered before we get to that ring December 7th. You’ll see some fireworks December 7th for sure.

Kenneth Porter (Shawn’s Father/Trainer)

SAN ANTONIO (Oct. 18, 2013) – SHOWTIME Sports® will present a world championship doubleheader on Saturday, Nov. 30, as Devon Alexander “The Great” defends his IBF Welterweight World Championship against Shawn “Showtime” Porter in a 12-round bout at Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio, Texas. In the co-main event, also scheduled for 12-rounds, the WBC Super Bantamweight Championship is on the line as Leo “Teremoto” Santa Cruz defends his title against Cesar Seda.

In a preliminary bout junior welterweight contender Ricardo “Dinamita” Alvarez will face an opponent to be named in a 10-round matchup.

“I’ve heard great things about the fans in Texas and I’m looking forward to defending my title in San Antonio,” said Alexander. “I promise I won’t disappoint the fight fans and they’re going to see a show on November 30.”

“It’s been a long road to get here and ever since I first stepped into the gym, I wanted to become a world champion,” said Porter. “Now my chance is here and I’m ready to step into that ring and take the title from Alexander.”

“I’m looking forward to getting back in the ring and making my debut in Texas against Cesar Seda,” said Santa Cruz. “Seda is a quality fighter and a top contender, but I’m not ready to give up my belt to him or anyone.”

“I admire Santa Cruz for his talent and his accomplishments,” said Seda. “But styles make fights and I have the style to beat him and bring the world championship back to Puerto Rico,”

“The fans in San Antonio are among the best in the sport and when they come out to see Devon Alexander defend his title against Shawn Porter, they’re going to be in for a treat, as this is a great stylistic matchup that will produce compelling action from start to finish,” said Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “And when you add a championship fight between an all-action champion in Leo Santa Cruz and challenger Cesar Seda this may end up being one of the best nights of boxing we’ve seen in 2013.”

“It’s an honor and pleasure to bring SHOWTIME back to the greatest boxing fans in the world here in San Antonio,” said Mike Battah, President of Leija*Battah Promotions. “Alexander is facing a young, hungry challenger in Porter so this fight will definitely be one of the most exciting fights of the year. Santa Cruz vs Seda is a battle of the countries, Mexico vs. Puerto Rico battling it out will round out the night as a great night of boxing.”

Alexander vs. Porter, a 12-round fight for Alexander’s IBF Welterweight World Championship, will take place Saturday, Nov. 30, 2013 at Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio, Texas. The event is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, Leija*Battah Promotions and The Great Promotions and supported by Golden Boy Promotions’ sponsors Corona and AT&T. The fight will air live on SHOWTIME and will be available in Spanish via secondary audio programming (SAP).

Tickets priced at $175, $150, $45, $25 and $15, plus applicable taxes, fees and services charges, go on sale on Monday, Oct. 21 at 10 a.m.CT and are available for purchase at the AT&T Center box office (walk up sales only), or through Leija*Battah Promotions by calling (210) 979-3302 or emailing m@leijabattahpromo.com or online at www.ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster locations, by calling (800) 745-3000.

Twenty-six-year-old southpaw Devon Alexander “The Great” (25-1, 14 KO’s) has done his native St. Louis proud, soaring to the top of two weight classes throughout the course of his professional career. A gifted boxer with top-notch punching accuracy and defense, Alexander first wore championship gold after his 2009 technical knockout of Junior Witter earned him the WBC Junior Welterweight title. Alexander unified the belts in his next fight with a stoppage of Juan Urango and defended them against Andriy Kotelnik before suffering the lone loss of his career against Timothy Bradley in 2011. Alexander got right back into the title picture though, defeating Lucas Matthysse five months later and after a move to welterweight, a win over Marcos Maidana earned him a title fight against Randall Bailey last October at Barclays Center. There, he defeated Bailey over 12-rounds to become a two-division champion. In his most recent bout, on May 18, 2013, Alexander stopped Lee Purdy in seven rounds.

A longtime amateur standout who was an alternate for the 2008 U.S. Olympic team, Shawn “Showtime” Porter (22-0-1, 14 KO’s) found out quickly that his action-packed style was better suited for the professional game and he has the unbeaten record to prove it. A victor over the likes of Hector Munoz, Alfonso Gomez and Phil Lo Greco, this NABF and NABO champion excited fight fans with his recent two-fight series against former world titlist Julio Diaz. After a draw in their first meeting, Porter pounded out a clear-cut 10-round decision in their September rematch, opening the door for the 25-year-old from Akron, Ohio to challenge for his first world championship.

Boxing’s breakout star Leo “Teremoto” Santa Cruz (25-0-1, 15 KO’s) has already won world championships in two weight classes, despite being just 25-years-old. A native of Huetamo, Mexico now living in Los Angeles, Santa Cruz’s fan-friendly attack in the ring has garnered him followers from around the world. After his 2013 knockouts of Alexander Munoz and Victor Terrazas, the latter victory earning him the WBC Super Bantamweight Championship, he shows no signs of slowing down in his quest for boxing greatness.

San Juan, Puerto Rico southpaw Cesar Seda (25-1, 17 KO’s) first made his name in the fight game with a successful run at 115 pounds. He won the WBA Fedecaribe and NABO titles before losing for the only time in his career against WBO Champion Omar Narvaez in April of 2011. Since that bout, the 27-year-old Seda has gone up in weight and won five bouts straight, two by knockout, earning him a fight with Santa Cruz on Nov. 30.

After a fifth-round technical knockout over Humberto Martinez on Oct., WBC Continental Americas Super Lightweight Champion Ricardo “Dinamita” Alvarez (22-2-3, 14 KO’s) is experiencing a four-fight hot stretch that he hopes will propel him into a world title fight. Currently ranked in the Top 20 by the WBC, the 31-year-old brother of former world champions Canelo and Rigoberto Alvarez, hopes to add a third crown to the family trophy case in 2014.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com or www.sports.sho.com, follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.twitter.com/leijabattahpr,
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http://www.facebook.com/CaneloPromotion and www.facebook.com/SHOBoxing.

IBF Welterweight champion Devin Alexander will defend his crown against Shawn Porter on November 30th in San Antonio according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

In the co-feature Super Bantamweight titlist Leo Santa Cruz will fight Cesar Seda.

“I am saying [Alexander-Khan] is not happening and I’m going to be exploring some other opportunities for Amir,” said Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer. “That’s all I am prepared to say and I have nothing to say about Floyd Mayweather.

“But Amir wouldn’t have gone to training camp if it wouldn’t have been to get ready for Devon Alexander. There is no question he was planning on fighting Devon and we were planning on the fight. Now Team Khan and me are exploring some other opportunities. Whether they happen or not, I don’t know.”

“Devon is a pro and when he realized the Khan fight was not going to happen, he was OK. He is the kind of fighter who fights anyone. We have some of the other 147 pounders who were busy with other fights over the next two months, so we can see the winner of Alexander-Porter fighting the winner of some of the other fights.”

“Shawn Porter wanted an opportunity for a big fight and here it is. Let’s see what he can do,” Schaefer said. “This is his chance. I believe in giving fighters opportunities. He has a chance at a world title and I’m sure he will make the best out of it. I think he deserves a shot. I try to give our guys an opportunities to fight for a world title if I can. I can only give him them an opportunity. It’s up to them to capture the moment and show the world what they can do.

Team Khan would like to dispel recent reports that Amir Khan has pulled out of a potential match-up against Devon Alexander on December 7th, taking up a fight against Floyd Mayweather in May of next year instead.

Contrary to this story, Amir Khan is currently in training camp in San Francisco with the aim of fighting again in December against Alexander once an agreement can be reached.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, former two-division world champion Amir Khan will now compete as a Welterweight and will look to face IBF champion Devin Alexander later this year.

“I think I’ll be a lot more comfortable at 147,” Khan told ESPN.com. “I’ve been struggling to make the weight. I’ve been at 140 for a long time (since mid-2009). So I’ll be looking to fight at 147.”

“I’ll be a lot stronger at 147, a lot more confident,” Khan said. “Look at guys like (lightweight titlist) Adrien Broner and (Robert) Guerrero. They moved up two weight classes and fought for world titles and you see their confidence. You can do a lot more in training. You can build your strength and not always be worried about the weight. I think I’ll have a lot more power.”

“There is a possibility that the Khan fight might be in Dubai,” said Golden Boy Promotions Rich Schaefer, regardless of who Khan might fight in December. “But the fight is not done and I am working on different things. We will not know about Dubai until sometime in August.

“If your goal is to fight Floyd at some point, obviously, the action is at 147 and you might as well go up and introduce yourself in that weight class, where he could actually be stronger at the higher weight,” Schaefer said. “Amir feels that will be the case with him. He won’t have to worry about making weight so much and he can focus on training. He is excited to move up to 147. He realizes there are tremendous opportunities.”

“(Golden Boy matchmaker) Robert (Diaz) saw at the weigh-in that he was dry and asked if he had a problem making the weight,” Schaefer said. “He was at 149, 148 (in the days leading up to the fight) and to get down, those last few pounds usually come off easy. But this time he had more of a difficult time getting them off. Robert noticed that and felt like he didn’t look like he usually does. He’s been at 140 since 2007, so obviously it’s time for him to move up.

“Nobody says those rematches can’t happen at 147,” Schaefer said. “Those are great fights and it won’t matter if they are at 140 or 147. People will still want to see them.”

“Part of my punch resistance is due to my weight,” Khan said. “Sometimes you need that extra little bit (of weight) to take that punch. If you’re not making weight properly, you’re not going to take the punches as well. (Trainer) Virgil (Hunter) has seen me spar at 147. I talked to Virgil about moving up and he said, ‘Who you looking to fight?’ I said, ‘Alexander.’ He said, ‘That’s a good fight.'”

“When we are young the dream is to be world champion and now the dream is to fight and beat Floyd Mayweather,” Khan said. “Once you beat Floyd Mayweather you become pound-for-pound and that’s what everyone aims for. But you have to be in that weight division to be noticed. Everywhere I’ve been going people ask me when I’m fighting Floyd. Maybe I got knocked out or didn’t perform well in some fights, but my style would be exciting to watch against him.

“He has five fights left. Five more opponents. Who brings him money, excitement, recognition and global recognition? I’ve been in the U.K., the European, American and Middle Eastern markets. He’ll make a lot of money with Canelo Alvarez, but I can’t think of any other boxer with as big of a following or pull that I have that he can make a fight with.”

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, IBF Welterweight champion Devon Alexander suffered a broken left hand during his 7th round stoppage over Lee Purdy this past Saturday in Atlantic City.

“He hit Purdy on top of the head in the first round, and that’s when it happened,” said Alexander’s manager/trainer Kevin Cunningham. “Purdy dipped his head down, and Devon hit him right on top of the head. He knew it was broken. We came home and went straight from the airport to the emergency room and had X-rays, and they showed the break.”

“He’s going to see one of the top guys who works with the Cardinals baseball players on Wednesday,” Cunningham said of the St. Louis MLB team. “I think Devon will be ready to fight in late September or October, any time around that time.”

When Alexander (25-1, 14 KOs), 26, does return, there’s a good chance his next defense will take place Dec. 7 against England’s Amir Khan, the former unified junior welterweight titleholder who was ringside to scout Alexander and also to watch his younger brother, Haroon Khan, get a first-round knockout victory on the undercard in his second professional fight.

Cunningham said he likes the possible fight with Khan.

“I think it’s a really intriguing fight,” Cunningham said, adding he knew Golden Boy chief executive Richard Schaefer was also interested in making the fight. He said that he would sit down with Alexander adviser Al Haymon and “see what direction we want to go in. But we have no problem with that fight.”

“We have no problem fighting Amir Khan next,” Cunningham said. “Everyone wants the shot against Floyd Mayweather, but if we have to deal with Amir Khan first, no problem. Amir Khan can be next. If Amir Khan thinks he’s going to use Devon Alexander to get to Floyd Mayweather, well, he’s never gonna see Floyd.

Follow all the action LIVE from ringside at Historic Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City as Lamont Peterson and Lucas Matthysse battle in a potentially explosive fight of Jr. Welterweight belt holders. In the opening bout that will begin at 9:15 pm eastern / 6:15 pac, IBF Welterweight champion Devon Alexander will fight Lee Purdy in a non-title bout

12 Rounds–Jr. Welterweights—Lamont Peterson (31-1-1, 16 KOs) vs Lucas Matthysse (33-2, 31 KO’s)

Round 1 Counter left from Matthysse..Body head combo…10-9 Matthysse

Round 2 Matthysse missing on some shots..Combination from Matthysse..Straght right drives Peterson to ropes..HUGE LEFTLEFT AND DOWN GOES MATTHYSSE AND DOWN GOES PETERSON…20-17 Matthysse

Round 3 Uppercut from Peterson..Huge combo from Matthysse..HUGE LEFT AND DOWN GOES MATTHYSSE…BIG LEFT HOOK FIGHT OVER

12 Rounds–Welterweights–Devon Alexander (24-1, 13 KO’s) vs Lee Purdy (20-3-1, 13 KO’s)

Round 1 Alexander places a left to the body..hard right to the body..straight left/body combo..Purdy not throwing any punches…now he worksthe body..Purdy sneaks in a right..2 hard right hooks…Devon landing power shots..2 hard uppercuts at the end of the round 10-9 Alexander

Round 2 2 hard straight lefts..body…two hard right hooks to the end at the end of the round…20-18 Alexander

Round 3 Purdy fighting in the pocket but ALexander quicker and stronger..Purdy sneaks in a rght but not much affect,.30-27 Alexander

Round 4 ALexander outclassing as he lands some hard shots to the head…Left from Purdy...40-36

Round 5 Alexander lands a hook/uppercut combo..Purdy sneaks in a right…50-45 Alexander

Round 6 Alexander splits the guard with a uppercut..Right hook..Purdy’s nose is bleeding…60-54 Alexander

Round 7 Alexander pounding away….THE FIGHT IS STOPPED IN THE CORNER

ATLANTIC CITY–In a fight between two reigning beltholders, Lucas Matthysse made a bold statement by wrecking IBF Jr. Welterweight champion Lamont Peterson in round three of their twelve round fight at Boardwalk Hall

Matthysse dropped Peterson with a vicious left hook in round two. Peterson fought back and landed some shots but Matthysse’s power Made a huge impact as he dumped Peterson in span of seconds from two huge left hooks and referee Steve Smoger stopped the fight at 2:14.

Matthysse who was looking a potential September 7th bout with Danny Garcia now with this performance could vault to the head of the line to fight pound for pound king Floyd Mayweather.

Matthysse of Argentina is now 34-2 with 32 knockouts. Peterson of Washington, DC is now 31-2-1.

After the fight, Matthysse spoke through a translator, “The first round I was trying to find out what I was bringing to the fight. After the second round I started connecting with more force. I had two and a half months of preparation for this fight and that was the difference.”

Feeling confident, Matthysse boasted, “Now I know I am the best at 140 pounds because no one has ever dominated Peterson the way I did tonight.”

When asked by SHOWTIME reporter Jim Gray if he would like to fight Unified Super Lightweight World Champion Danny Garcia, who was in attendance at Boardwalk Hall, Matthysse responded, “Golden Boy and Al Haymon will get me that fight. I’m ready for that fight. I want to fight him.”

Gray also spoke with Peterson right after the fight and asked how he felt following the three knockdowns. Peterson said, “I feel good. There is nothing physically wrong with me right now. Of course I am upset that I lost, but so far I feel good.”

On his performance, “I think I got a little lazy with the jab. I started relaxing a little bit…I guess he hit me with a good shot. He did a good job. I recovered from that first knockdown and I was okay for a while and then, eventually, he hit me again and he hurt me again. I still thought I could have fought through it but the ref did the right thing. I guess tonight he was (the better fighter). He won the fight fair and square tonight. He’s a good fighter.”

In round one, Alexander looked to be dominant as he landed some hard body shots to start the round and then some scraping lefts and uppercuts to close the stanza. Alexander continued to outclass the visitor while standing in the pocket and landing some great shots. Purdy was game and landed a few left hooks on the inside. The accumulation of blows began to show in round six as blood came down from the nostrils of Purdy.

Alexander continued using Purdy for target practice in round seven to the point that fight was stopped in the corner following that frame.

Alexander, 146.7 lbs of St. Louis is now 25-1 with 14 knockouts. Purdy, 147.8 lbs of Colchester, UK is now 20-4-1.

The fight was to be contested for Alexander’s IBF Welterweight title but Purdy weighed in one pound over the limit. He could only lose one-quarter of a pound and was fined ten percent of his reported $150,000 purse

Alexander admitted that he wasn’t able to fight to the best of his ability due to an injury. “I hurt my left hand in the first round actually. I hit him on top of the head. I hurt my hand, but I had to get that out of my mind. I had to fight to win. I wanted to impress tonight. My left hand was on point in camp. When I hurt my biceps, that strengthened my left hand so it would have been popping real hard, but I hurt it. I had to set it up softly. I wanted to use my hook and my upper cut but I couldn’t.”

He continued, “There are going to be a lot of critics saying Purdy wasn’t all that anyway, but he’s a good fighter. Over in the U.K. he beat some good guys and I think he was very suitable. He came to fight and he gave me a good fight. I got the win. I got the technical knockout.”

Haroon needed just fifty-seven seconds to dispatch of Vicente Medellin in a scheduled four round Bantamweight bout.

Khan dropped Medellin twice and the fight was stopped.

Khan, 116 1/2 lbs of Bolton, Englans is 2-0 with 1 knockout, Medellin, 115 lbs of Riverside, CA is 0-6.

In a battle of undefeated Welterweights, Shawn Porter had a relatively easy time with Phil Lo Greco as pounded out a unanimous decision.

In round one, Porter tried to back up Lo Greco with some solid body work. In round two, Porter landed a hard combination that backed up Lo Greco which led to two hard uppercuts on the ropes. Porter came out and in round four and landed some hard combinations. Later in the round, Porter ripped Lo Greco with a hard one-two combination. Porter then rocked Lo Greco with hard left hook in the fifth.

Porter continued to dominate and score a dubious knockdown with what looked like a left hook. In the tenth, Porter scored a more emphatic knockdown when he dropped Porter with a left hook. After that, Lo Greco did well to hold on to last the distance.

Porter, 150 lbs of Las Vegas won by scores of 100-88 on two cards and 99-89 and is now 21-1-1. Lo Greco, 150 lbs of Toronto is now 25-1.

Thomas Williams Jr. scored an eight round unanimous decision over veteran Otis Griffin in Light Heavyweight bout.

Williams boxed well over the first few rounds. He then opened up and hurt Griffin on the ropes in the fourth. Williams landed some of his best power shots in the seventh and eighth and had Griffin reeling several times but was not able to come close to the stoppage.

Williams, 175 lbs of Washington, won by scores of 8-72, 79-73 and 79-73 and is now 14-0. Griffin, 175 lbs of Sacramento is now 24-13-2.

2012 Olympic Bronze medal winner Anthony Ogogo pounded out a six round unanimous decision over Edgar Perez in a Middleweight bout

In round two, Ogogo started landing the power punches at range. Ogogo continued to use his range and mix up his punches over the next several rounds. Ogogo was never tested and boxed his way to the decision via scores at 60-54; 60-54 and 60-53 for Ogogo.

Ogogo, 159 lbs of East Anglia, UK is 2-0. Perez, 159 lbs of Arecibo, PR is now 5-5.

Cesar Seda banged out an eight round unanimous decision over Miguel Tamayo in a Bantamweight bout.

Seda, 117 1/2 lbs of Juana Diaz, PR won by scores of 80-70, 80-72 and 79-73 and is now 25-1. Tamayao, 117 1/2 lbs of Ciudad, MX is now 13-6-2.

Former world title challenger Anthony Peterson scored a stoppage over Dominic Salcido after round two of their scheduled ten round Lightweight bout

Peterson came out landing hard power punches in round one. In round two he scored with a vicious body shot that led to a hard barrage in the corner. Peterson continued to land with pummeling shots to the head. After the round, the fight was stopped after Salcido was deemed to have a broken nose.

Peterson, 136 1/2 lbs of Washington, D.C. is now 32-1 with 21 knockouts. Salcido, 136 1/2 lbs of Rialto, CA is now 18-5.

Three-time U.S Olympian Rau’She Warren scored a fourth round stoppage over Angel Carvajal in a scheduled four round Bantamweight bout.

Warren dropped Carvajal in round’s two and four and the bout was stopped at 2:05 of the final round.

Warren, 118 lbs of Cincinnati, OH is now 4-0 with 2 knockouts. Caravjal, 116 lbs of Chicago, IL is now 2-2.

It took two rounds and alot of vicious shots but Robert Easter Jr. scored a second round stoppage over Eduardo Guillen in a scheduled four round Light bout.

Easter landed a many hard lefts and rights that would have put most men down in the first round as Guillen was bouncing and flopping all over the ring from those shots. In round two, Easter landed a cruching left hook that looked like it almost spun Gullien’s head around before he dropped to the canvas. he was able to get up but that was not a good thing for him as another booming left hook sent him to the canvas and the fight was stopped at 1:30 of round two.

Easter, 133 1/2 lbs of Toledo, OH is now 4-0 with all wins coming early. Guillen, 132 lbs of Brownsville, TX is now 0-3.

2012 U.S. Olympian Jamel Herring opened the show with a one round beatdown over Victor Galindo in a scheduled four round Light weight bout.

Herring dropped Galindo with a hard riht to the body. Galidno continued only to absorb massive shots and finally went to his knee form another body shot. Galindo’s corner then stopped the fight at 2:01 of round one.

Herring, 134 lbs of Coram, NY is now 3-0 with 2 knockouts. Galindo, 134 1/2 lbs of San Juan, PR is 1-2

The fighters for tomorrow night’s SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast from Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey stepped on the scales today at Caesars Atlantic City for the Official Weigh-in. Main event fighters Lamont Peterson and Lucas Matthysse made the catch-weight limit of 141 pounds with Peterson weighing in at 141 lbs. and Matthysse tipping the scale at 140 lbs. IBF Welterweight World Champion Devon Alexander made the welterweight limit of 147 lbs., but his opponent, Lee Purdy, was unable to make the weight after two attempts, coming in at 147.8 lbs. As a result Purdy will not be eligible to win the world championship title in tomorrow night’s fight.

The telecast will air live on SHOWTIME at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) immediately following ALL ACCESS: MAYWEATHER vs. GUERRERO Epilogue. Preliminary fights will air live on SHOWTIME EXTREME® at 7:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

Attached is the entire bout sheet with the official weights, and the weigh-in photos.

ABOUT “PETERSON VS. MATTHYSSE”:

Peterson vs. Matthysse, a 12-round 141 pound catch-weight fight, will take place Saturday, May 18 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The event is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, sponsored by Caesars Atlantic City, Corona and AT&T and will be televised live on SHOWTIME® at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) immediately following ALL ACCESS: MAYWEATHER vs. GUERRERO Epilogue. In the co-main event, IBF Welterweight World Champion Devon Alexander defends his title against IBF number four rated welterweight contender Lee Purdy. SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® is available in Spanish on secondary audio programming (SAP). Preliminary fights will air live on SHOWTIME EXTREME® at 7:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

Tickets priced at $250, $125, $75, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes and service charges, are available for purchase at the Boardwalk Hall box office, by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 736-1420 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

LUCAS MATTHYSSE, WBC Interim Super Lightweight World Champion

“[On arriving to the United States later than planned] I don’t think it’s going to have any affect on the fight because I’ve been training so hard. I’m done training, but I’m still going to move a little bit to keep the weight off. Basically everything is the same other than not coming to the United States on Monday.

“Peterson is a good fighter and a good boxer. He knows how to deal with things when he’s in danger.

“I think I can beat Peterson with my power. I know how to get in the best punches.

“[On why he thinks he’ll win Saturday night] It’s a combination of my will to win and my experience. I’ve fought some guys with pretty good names.

“When they told me that I was coming here to fight, I came here with a mentality to win. I didn’t come here thinking that it’s going to be a robbery. Yes, I’ve had those experiences, but I’m not going to get robbed this time.

“I learned early in my career that I have a good punch and have worked very hard to maintain that.

“Winning this fight will open a lot of doors for me and my career. This might be the most important fight of my career. I want big matchups and this is definitely one of them.”

LEE PURDY, Number Four Rated IBF Welterweight Contender

“I was surprised to get this shot in the first place. My manager told me that I was ranked number four so we realized it was coming soon, but we didn’t know it was going to be this soon.

“I trained as hard as I could when I found out [that I got the fight].

“[On taking this fight] It wasn’t about money or anything. I love to fight and that’s why I’m here.

“I watched quite a few of Alexander’s fights. He didn’t really impress me.

“I broke my arm when I started my amateur career [at age 11 or 12]. I started training again when I was 17 and then I turned pro when I was 18.

“I’ve got a style that people like to watch. I have power and that’s entertaining for people.

“I think I’ll have 20 or 30 people [family and friends] coming out to support me. I think I’ll have a few fans coming out to support me too. I don’t know how many exactly, but they’ll be here.

“I can’t see myself doing anything else but fighting. It’s what I love to do.”

ANTHONY OGOGO, 2012 British Olympic Bronze Medalist

“I’ve always loved sports. I came across boxing when I was 12-years-old and I fell in love with it. I fell in love with the intensity and passion of it. I knew that whether I was going to be any good or not that this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life, and it turned out pretty well.

“I walked into the boxing gym when I was 12. I sparred that very first day and I’ve never turned back.

“I had about 150-160 amateur fights and it culminated with me winning a Bronze Medal in the 2012 Olympic Games. My mom was very ill at the time; six weeks before the Olympics she suffered a really serious injury. She’s doing great now, but I initially pulled out of the Games. Then three weeks before, my mom and sisters pulled me aside and kind of guilt-tripped me into going, and I did. Somehow I managed to juggle it all.

“I thought I deserved to win the gold medal and I was good enough to win the gold, but with everything else going on, I’m quite proud of my achievements to go in there and still come out successful.

“[On the crowds at the Olympic Games in London] That was phenomenal. That was one of the reasons I wanted to turn professional because I’ve never had that. Ten thousand people [cheering] at the Excel Arena; it made hairs on the back of my neck stand up, and it still does. I didn’t want to go back and be an amateur and box in front of 100 people. I wanted to experience those big exciting nights all of the time.”

# # #

Peterson vs. Matthysse, a 12-round 141 pound catch-weight fight, will take place Saturday, May 18 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The event is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, sponsored by Caesars Atlantic City, Corona and AT&T and will be televised live on SHOWTIME® at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) immediately following ALL ACCESS: MAYWEATHER vs. GUERRERO Epilogue. In the co-main event, IBF Welterweight World Champion Devon Alexander defends his title against IBF number four rated welterweight contender Lee Purdy. SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® is available in Spanish on secondary audio programming (SAP). Preliminary fights will air live on SHOWTIME EXTREME® at 7:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

Tickets priced at $250, $125, $75, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes and service charges, are available for purchase at the Boardwalk Hall box office, by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 736-1420 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

NEW YORK (May 15, 2013) – All five of the fighters in attendance at Wednesday’s press conference at Lucille’s Bar & Grill (located inside B.B. King’s Blues Club) in New York City were confident and ready for fight night as they discussed their upcoming bouts taking place this Saturday, May 18 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J live on SHOWTIME® (9:00 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).

In the main event IBF Junior Welterweight Champion Lamont Peterson (31-1-1, 16 KO’s), of Washington, D.C., faces power-punching WBC Interim Super Lightweight Champion Lucas Matthysse (33-2, 31 KO’s), of Trelew, Argentina, in a 12-round bout at a catch-weight of 141 pounds. In the co-featured attraction on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING®, Devon Alexander (24-1, 13 KO’s), of St. Louis, will defend his IBF Welterweight Championship against number four rated IBF welterweight contender Lee Purdy (20-3-1, 13 KO’s), of Colchester, England.

Fights on SHOWTIME EXTREME®, airing beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET/PT, will include a scheduled 10-round bout between promising, world-ranked, unbeaten welterweights Shawn Porter (20-1, 14 KO’s), of Akron, Ohio, and Phil Lo Greco (25-0, 14 KO’s), of Toronto, Canada, and a six-round middleweight bout between highly regarded 2012 British Olympic Bronze Medalist Anthony Ogogo (1-0, 1 KO), of Lowestoft, England, who’ll be making his United States debut against Puerto Rico’s Edgar Perez (5-4, 3 KO’s). Haroon Khan (1-0), Amir Khan’s brother, of Bolton, England, will make his United States debut against Vicente Medellin of Riverside, CA in a four round bantamweight bout which, time permitting, will also air on SHOWTIME EXTREME®.

In non-televised undercard action, Anthony Peterson (31-1, 20 KO’s), Lamont’s younger brother and also from Washington, D.C., will face slick veteran Dominic Salcido (18-4, 9 KO’s) of Rialto, CA

See below for what the Peterson brothers, Alexander, Purdy, Ogogo, Golden Boy Promotions COO David Itskowitch and SHOWTIME Sports EVP and General Manager Stephen Espinoza said Wednesday.

LAMONT PETERSON, IBF Junior Welterweight World Champion

“I’m looking forward to a great fight this weekend.

“This is a great card. I want to thank Golden Boy Promotions for signing me. This is our first fight and I think we’re going to do great things together.

“If you haven’t gotten your tickets yet, you need to. I’m hoping there’s a monitor for me in my locker room to watch the whole card. There are a lot of my friends fighting Saturday night and of course my brother.

“You’ve got Anthony Ogogo, Khan’s brother Harry, the Cincinnati boys and D.C.-native Thomas Williams. I’m excited to see everyone on the card and I encourage everyone to go get tickets.”

DEVON ALEXANDER, IBF Welterweight World Champion

“‘Finally’ is the key word here. My fight with Kell Brook was postponed three times. I was supposed to fight him many times, but now I’m fighting Lee Purdy who’s a very suitable opponent for me.

“I’m ready. It doesn’t matter what Lee Purdy is going to bring Saturday night. He’s in the wrong place at the wrong time. I’m ready to fight. I’ve been ready to fight.

“This fight will lead to bigger and better things with SHOWTIME.”

LEE PURDY, Number Four Rated IBF Welterweight Contender

“I’m a big underdog in a lot of peoples’ eyes. I’m here to fight and put on a good show for the fans.

“Fans are paying their hard earned money for entertainment and they don’t want to see fighters holding for 12 rounds.

“This is a fight that I’ve wanted. I’m coming to bring the upset.”

ANTHONY PETERSON, Lightweight Contender

“I’m excited about my fight, but I’m more excited about my brother’s. He gets to eliminate this so called ‘Boogey Man.’ I know that’s what’s going to happen Saturday night.

“My brother is a solid guy all around, inside and outside of the ring, so that’s going to make a big difference on Saturday night.

“My brother is going to take out his [Matthysse’s] power, and it’s going to be a big problem.

“Matthysse only knows how to go one way, and that’s forward. He doesn’t know how to work the inside and Lamont does, so that’s going to be the difference in the fight.”

ANTHONY OGOGO, 2012 British Olympic Bronze Medalist

“I’m really thrilled. This is why I wanted to sign-up with Golden Boy Promotions, to fight in places like Boardwalk Hall.

“I’m an ambitious young man and I want to get to the top of world boxing. I know that’s a few years down the road, but right now I need to take these opportunities as they come, learn and keep getting better and better.

“I’m looking forward to the future.”

DAVID ITSKOWITCH, COO of Golden Boy Promotions

“This main event is probably one of the best fights that can be made in a very talent rich weigh class.

“Lucas Matthysse is probably one of the most feared fighters on the planet and I think that’s one of the reasons Lamont Peterson wanted to fight him.

“Devon Alexander is a great fighter. That’s all that needs to be said because it is the truth.”

STEPHEN ESPINOZA, EVP & General Manager of SHOWTIME Sports

“During the past few weeks SHOWTIME has been showcasing the best fighters in the world in the 140, 147 and 154 pound weight divisions.

“We have been bringing fans not just competitive and exciting fights, but competitive and exciting fights from the biggest names and most skilled fighters in the sport. That is something that, right now, fans are only getting on SHOWTIME. This weekend is no exception.

“Lamont Peterson versus Lucas Matthysse promises to be one of the hardest hitting fights of the year.”

# # #

Peterson vs. Matthysse, a 12-round 141 pound catch-weight fight, will take place Saturday, May 18 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The event is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, sponsored by Caesars Atlantic City, Corona and AT&T and will be televised live on SHOWTIME® at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) immediately following ALL ACCESS: MAYWEATHER vs. GUERRERO Epilogue. In the co-main event, IBF Welterweight World Champion Devon Alexander defends his title against IBF number four rated welterweight contender Lee Purdy. SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® is available in Spanish on secondary audio programming (SAP). Preliminary fights will air live on SHOWTIME EXTREME® at 7:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

Tickets priced at $250, $125, $75, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes and service charges, are available for purchase at the Boardwalk Hall box office, by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 736-1420 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

Kelly Swanson
Thanks, everybody, for joining us. We are so excited, this Saturday, May 18 at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City for Lamont Peterson vs. Lucas Matthysse and Devon Alexander vs. Lee Purdy. And we’re really excited to have this conference call today. We have all four fighters available and we are going to start with Mr. Purdy and Mr. Alexander.

Before we get into their comments, I’m going to turn the call over to David Itskowitch, Chief Operating Officer of Golden Boy Promotions, to give us a little information about the fight.

David Itskowitch
Thank you, Kelly. As Kelly said, our main event, Lamont Peterson vs. Lucas Matthysse, which is a 12-round 141 pound welterweight fight, and our co-main event, Devon Alexander vs. Lee Purdy, 12-round IBF Welterweight World Championship fight for Mr. Alexander’s title, is Saturday May 18 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, sponsored by Caesars Atlantic City, Corona, and AT&T.

We will be televising live on Showtime Championship Boxing beginning at 9:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific, meaning we’re delayed on the West Coast. Preliminary fights will air on Showtime Extreme at 7:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific, delayed on the West Coast. And the fights will actually air immediately following All-Access Mayweather vs. Guerrero epilogue; which will start at 9:00 p.m. The event will be available using second audio programming in Spanish.

We still have tickets available starting at just $25. Ringsides are $250. We urge everybody on the East Coast, head to Atlantic City, available through the Boardwalk Hall Box Office and through Ticketmaster. Again, this is really, really, really a great show. The main event is one of the best fights that can be made around the 140 and 147 pound weight classes and then of course we’ve got a great world title fight with Devon Alexander and Lee Purdy.

A few notes about Fight Week-our final press conference will be Wednesday the 15th in New York City at Lucille’s Bar and Grill, which is inside BB King’s Blues Club in midtown Manhattan. Lunch begins at 12:30 p.m. and the press conference begins at 1:00 p.m.. And in Atlantic City on Thursday we have fighter roundtables beginning at 1:00 p.m. at Caesar’s Atlantic City in the Apollo and Zeus rooms and Lamont Peterson, Lucas Matthysse, Devon Alexander, Lee Purdy, Anthony Ogogo and Haroon Khan will all be available there.

Then we have our weigh-in, which will be open to the public, and it will in the lobby of Caesars Atlantic City beginning at 3:30 p.m. on Friday. We urge everybody to come out. We usually have a pretty good turn out in the lobby of Caesar’s for our weigh-ins there. And then of course fight night is Saturday the 18at Boardwalk Hall. Doors open at 3:30 p.m. and our first fight also begins at 3:30 p.m.

Now I’ll introduce the fighters to say a few words. Before I get to Lee Purdy, I just wanted to acknowledge Eddie Hearn, the Managing Director of Matchroom Boxing, who we’ve been working with on several of our shows of late, working with his fighters and it’s been great working with them.

One of those fighters is Lee Purdy, who has amazed British boxing fans by sailing to the top of the welterweight division despite having no amateur career. He can get into that, but from what I understand he did not have a single amateur fight yet he has risen to be the number four-rated IBF Welterweight Contender.

He’s been a pro since 2006. He brings in a knockout streak into his first world title fight having finished off four consecutive opponents, including Cosme Rivera, who he defeated in March. He stepped up to take this fight after countryman Kell Brook was injured and was unable to participate and he’s looking to make his mark in the United States by upsetting Alexander on Saturday. He has a record of 23-1 (13 KO’s) from Colchester, England, Lee Purdy. Lee?

Lee Purdy
I’m excited for the fight. I’m ready. It’s about late notice but I’m in good shape and I’ll be dangerous for 12 rounds.

Itskowitch
Thank you. Now to say a few words, a young man from St. Louis, Missouri, the former IBF Junior Welterweight and WBC Super Lightweight World Champion, owns wins over Lucas Matthysse, Marcos Maidana, Juan Urango and Junior Witter. In 2012, he moved up to Welterweight and captured the IBF Welterweight World Championship by defeating Randall Bailey in October at Barclay Center.

On May 18 he finally makes the first defense of his new crown after several postponements due to injuries between him and Kell Brook. There were a couple of postponements and then finally Kell Brook fell out of the fight. But we’re ready to go on the 18 in Atlantic City. With a record of 24-1 (13 KO’s) Devon Alexander “The Great.” Devon?

Devon Alexander
Thanks, Dave. ‘Finally’ is the word. I’m finally going to get in the ring after about six months of going back and forth. I’m ready to rock and roll. I’m fast. I’m feeling strong. It doesn’t matter who I fight on the 18, Lee Purdy is a suitable opponent. I know he’s going to come to fight but it’s not going to matter because I’ll be ready for anybody May 18.

I want to thank Golden Boy Promotions, my team and everybody else for staying on it, staying on it and continuing to get the right opponent. You guys got the opponent and now I’m ready to rock and roll.

Itskowitch
Thank you, Devon. I guess now we can turn things over to the media for Q&A.

Q
This is a question, this is a little off the beaten path for Devon. That is in 2004 you were going for a spot on the Olympic team. A guy that you’re familiar with, Rock Allen, got it. I’m sure you’re probably aware that a couple of years ago he had that serious car accident and hasn’t fought since and apparently never will fight again.

Your thoughts on that and have you guys had any contact with him over the last eight or nine years? Are you a little disappointed maybe that there’s no possibility probably that either one of you will ever fight him as a professional?

Alexander
Rock Allen, I did hear about the accident. I had sent my condolences and a few interviews I did after the accident, after I heard the accident had happened. It is terrible that it did happen and that goes to show you how life can take a turn for the worst or the better. For his case, I think it did for the worst.

He beat me in the Olympic trial finals in 2004 when I was going up to try to go the Olympics. Of course I wanted to get that defeat back. I was anxious to get a gold medal but I lost to Rock Allen 16-16, and they went to the scoring and he threw one more punch than me and got a decision.

I always wanted to get that back but I’ve moved on from that and now this is a professional game. I have no attachments to that. I’m world champion now. As far me fighting him, I’ve been passed that.

Q
Okay, just a follow up question, this is for Lee Purdy. There are a few fighters, that are in the Hall of Fame, Dwight Muhammad Qawi, is one, that didn’t have any professional bouts. How much of a disadvantage was it, obviously you’ve overcome it, to go at the professional boxing with no aperture background?

Purdy
I did actually have amateur background. I only had the six when I was 11 years old but it doesn’t make much difference. I’ve put in the hard work over the last few years to get where I am today.

Q
Devon, I wanted to ask you about-like you mentioned in your opening remarks about sort of just the general ups and downs of having your fight with Kell Brooks scheduled and postponed I believe three times. Once because of an injury that you suffered with your bicep and then two times because of injuries that Kell had. And I just wanted to get your take or just your thoughts about just sort of the emotional roller coaster of thinking you’re going to fight and the fight gets cancelled because of your own injury, and then, his situation comes up.

How do you go back and forth from being in a hard camp to like maybe just easing up a little bit? I know how you and Kevin worked together to get to the point now where you have to change everything up and now you’re focused on a new opponent, Lee Purdy, who is a whole different kind of fighter than Kell Brook was. What’s that been like for you over the past, I guess, about, like you said, six months or so?

Alexander
As far as me fighting Kell Brook, it was a roller coaster going back and forth. He got injured, postponed it, then I got injured and then he postponed it again. Then he got injured again then we had to do something else.

So it was a roller coaster and it was very frustrating but I’m a firm believer in it’s going to happen when it’s supposed to happen. Everything happens for a reason. No mistakes happen. No mistakes happen and in boxing, whatever happens, it’s supposed to happen and I’m a firm believer in that.

I’m fighting Lee Purdy for a reason. He must be a suitable opponent. He must be the guy I’m supposed to be fighting at this particular time. So I wanted to fight Kell Brook because they consider him one of the best at 147. I wanted to beat him but they put Lee Purdy in front of me and now I’ve got to beat him.

Q
How is your bicep?

Alexander
My bicep is good. It’s good. Right after I injured my bicep I did therapy on it. I started doing immediate therapy. When I found out it was just a little tear in my bicep, I found that it was healable with therapy and going to the therapy every other day would help it and now it’s ready to go. I’m ready to rock and roll 100%.

Q
When you switched up opponents and you changed over from Kell-and you guys have been talking a lot of smack with each other, I guess, but Kell Brook and Lee, they’re in the same promotional group. How much do you know about Lee Purdy and if you’re able to beat his stalemate do you think it kind of sends a message to Kell Brook that you’re not to be messed around with?

Alexander
I’m a student of the game. When they say I was fighting Lee Purdy, immediately me and my coach and got on it and see what had to deal with because I’m a student of the game. I don’t take anybody lightly.

With that being said, I do want to make a-I want to send a statement to everybody at 147 that I am a force to be reckoned with and that’s what you’re going to see on fight night. I’m ready for whatever. I’m versatile anyway. It didn’t matter if they switched it up to whoever. I was going to be ready for May 18th. I saw all different type of styles, punchers, boxers, sluggers, whatever you name, I’ve seen it all and I’ll be ready for whatever he brings.

Q
All right, great, thank you, Devon. I have a question for Lee. Lee, it’s good to talk to you today. When this fight came up for you can you describe-because it kind of came out of left field, can you describe what your thoughts were when you were told, “Hey, I have an opportunity now to fight Devon for one of the world titles?”

Purdy
When you lace up a pair of gloves when you’re a young boy this is what you dream of and now it’s come true.

Q
What was it like for you when you heard? I guess was it Eddie Hearn that told you about it or was it somebody else that told you about it? What was your immediate reaction?

Purdy
It was my manager and I didn’t have to think twice about fighting Devon. Obviously I saw him fought before and then I believe I can cause him some problems.

Q
Who was your manager, by the way?

Purdy
Tony Sims.

Q
Tony Sims, okay. And how did he tell you? Just call you up and say, “Hey, Lee, we have this opportunity,” or did he say, “Hey, guess what? You’re getting a title shot?” I’m trying to get an idea of idea of what that conversation is like when it sort of comes out of nowhere and you’re not training for a world title fight and all of the sudden within a few weeks you’re going to be stepping into the ring with Devon Alexander.

Purdy
He called me up and he just said, “You’ve got to fight Devon for his IBF title because Kell Brook pulled out.” And I said yes straight away.

Q
But before you knew when the fight was, where the fight was, how much money you were going to be making, anything like that?

Purdy
Yeah, before I knew anything about money, where the fight was, I just said yes straight away.

Q
So what are your thoughts then about coming to America to fight this fight on a very big TV stage, at least in this country. I assume it’s going to be televised also back to England as well. Listen, I don’t think it’s any secret to say Lee Purdy comes into this fight as an unknown fighter in the United States, certainly as an underdog in this fight. You don’t seem like you have anything to lose and you sound confident. So what are your thoughts about coming here to try to take this title back to England?

Purdy
When me and Devon step into that ring it doesn’t matter where the ring is in the world. It’s the ring at the end of the day and Devon that’s going to be in front of me. I’m in great shape and I’m ready to put a big statement out there.

Q
Devon, I want to pick up on what you said. You want to leave a statement to the rest of the 147-pound division. Your last two fights, in fact your last three fights, but in your last two fights you impressively lost very few rounds, if any. And what do you think that says about your skills, number one, and number two, do you feel like you’re ready to step it up in terms of maybe getting a knockout?

Alexander
For sure, for sure. I’m comfortable at 147. I believe in my skill. I believe in my skill and a lot of people actually don’t give me the credit that I deserve and take me lightly and take me for granted, which is cool, which is cool. I’m going to continue to beat these guys. I’m going to continue to beat whoever they put in front of me.

Sometimes you’ve got to make people respect you and that’s what I’m going to do. I just got to continue to win, continue to stay in the gym, continue to learn, continue to progress and continue to step up my game in the ring. Fight better opponents. I’m looking to fight better opponents. I never shied away from any opponent. I’m just looking for the best. After this fight I want the best but we’ve got to deal with May 18th first.

Q
Okay. When you go back and you look at the Maidana fight, you came close to stopping him. In your estimation, is that true and if so why didn’t that happen?

Alexander
Yes, actually when I went to go look back at the fight I did like, “Damn, I could’ve stopped him,” but I was just so anxious to put a hurt on him. I wasn’t relaxed enough and just wanted people to know that Devon is back. At 147 I’m better; I’m stronger and I wasn’t as calm as I needed to be for me to see the knockout.

When I went back and looked at it I was like, “Wow, I could’ve hit him with this shot. Hit him with a fasts shot,” and it could’ve ended a fight, but the Maidana fight is over. I’m constantly learning. I’m smart in the ring. So I’m going to make up for that. There’s better things to come for Devon Alexander. I assure you that.

Q
Okay, so you’re saying basically you can pick up where you left off in the Maidana fight. If that opportunity presents itself against Purdy, who is a good puncher, solid puncher; like Dave Itskowitch was saying, has four straight knockouts, do you think that you’ve learned enough from the Maidana fight to compose yourself and finish off an opponent like that?

Alexander
For sure, for sure, for sure. It’s long overdue. Lee Purdy’s coming to fight. He’s hungry. He wants my title, but he’s just in the wrong spot right now, the wrong time, the wrong time for him. I’m in another lane. He’s in another lane, but my lane is going. If he thinks he’s headed for super stardom he’s in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Q
Okay. My last question for you, when you say super stardom and bigger, better things would it be presumptuous of me to say you’re talking about Floyd Mayweather?

Alexander
Let me get past Lee Purdy first. We’ll talk about the future, but I want to focus on him first.

Q
Lee, since you accepted this fight, how much have you been able to go back and check out Devon’s last two or three fights, Matthysse, Maidana and Bailey, who are all three power punchers, and assess how he did against them given your propensity to knock guys out?

Purdy
I’ve watched him a lot. He holds a lot. I’ve come all this way to fight … he doesn’t allow the holding; it’ll be a good fight.

Q
How do you deal with a guy like him who obviously has taken advantage of situations using his boxing skills? Whether you say it’s the ref or not, how do you do what those three guys couldn’t do?

Purdy
I believe I’m stronger than the three other guys and I punch harder than then and it’s going to make for an exciting fight.

Q
Okay. So you actually think you have an advantage over the guys he’s faced?

Purdy
Yeah, mate, definitely. When he gets close to me of course he’s going to want to hold, but my strength, and I’m not going to stop punching until he lets go.

Q
Last question, I guess have you been able to talk to Kell Brook about Devon, since he’s your promotional stable mate? Have you been able to get anything from him? Do you talk to him much about what he was going to do against Devon, as far as scouting report?

Purdy
I haven’t spoke to Kell. Me and Kell have two different boxing styles. I couldn’t pick much off of Kell anyway.

Q
Hi, good afternoon, both fighters. I’d like to just wish both of you the best of luck Saturday night Atlantic City. Looking forward to seeing both of you in the ring. I just have a question for each guy. I’d like to start out with Devon.

Devon, you worked for a fight against Kell Brook for months and months and months after all the postponements that took place. Obviously Kell Brook was a bigger, higher profile fight for you than the fight you’ll have Saturday night.

So I guess my question is how do you guard yourself against a bit of a let down, given that you were expecting to be facing a little bit more of a higher profile opponent on Saturday than what you’re having? You’re also linked obviously via Twitter to a potential Floyd Mayweather fight not too long ago. So how do you guard yourself against a let down, given that this is not the fight that you were preparing for and probably not the fight you were expecting to have this Saturday?

Alexander
You don’t worry about. You don’t worry about. You have no control over what happens in boxing. Boxing, it changes every day. When you wake up you can hear something in one day; you wake up and it’s changed again. You just can’t let it bother you. You just have to continue to train, continue to do what you got to do for you and your team, getting your team together and just coming up with the best moves to make. That’s what I did.

I’m going to make the best fight we can for Saturday night and we got Lee Purdy. We have to handle business as usual. I wanted to fight Kell Brook but he was injured so we had to switch him to the side because we couldn’t worry about him no more. We had to move on because it would be going on six to seven months dealing with me and Kell. You couldn’t worry about it.

For the Floyd thing, it was just a Tweet everybody went crazy over. I was still focused on Kell Brook at the time. I wasn’t really tripping over Floyd because I had an obligation to fight Kell Brook.

As far as being let down, I’m not let down at all because I always stay positive. I’m a positive person and I believe everything happens for a reason. Everything happens on time. I’ll be ready for whoever, like I said, on May 18, and that’s Lee Purdy. So I’ll be ready for him.

Q
All right, thank you so much, Devon, and good luck to you in the fight on Saturday. Lee, I guess I have one question for you.

Lee, as a fighter who comes into this bout on Saturday, as I think some others have touched on, a relative unknown in the United States. We’ve seen this happen from time to time. A guy like yourself gets a call for a big fight, cashes it in and makes good on it and becomes the next big star in boxing.

Could you just tell us briefly, for those of us who have never had the opportunity to see Lee Purdy fight, who you are as a fighter, what type of fight you’re looking to bring on Saturday night and how you hope to impress the audience, not only here in America but back home, and bring that world title back to England?

Purdy
It’s a fight for as long as it takes. I didn’t come all this way to America to let the fans down. That’s exactly what I’m going to do. I’m going to come in to fight and I’ll find a way to win.

Q
Okay, great, thank you, Lee. And again, thank you both guys and good luck to both of you on Saturday.

Q
Devon, how the postponement affected you, because sometimes fighters, a fight gets postponed due to injury maybe once and then a new date is made, but three postponements, two to Kell Brook and then one to you, how did that affect you mentally and also in your training regimen?

Alexander
It didn’t affect me mentally at all it was just frustrating. Frustrating that you training for this guy. You’re in a gym. You’ve got sparring partners flying in. You have all this going on and he pulls out again. Thinking a definite fight’s going to go on. We’re definitely on for May 18. It’s frustrating. But like I said, at the end of the day my team got together and said we had to move on and that’s what we did.

Now our full focus is on Lee Purdy. We’re 100 percent focused. We know he’s a tough cookie. He’s coming to take my belt and we’re 100 percent prepared for him. Like I said, I’m on a different level and I’d be ready May 18 for whatever he brings.

Q
What kind of changes do you see or differences do you see in Lee Purdy and Kell Brook as fighting styles and how did you have to adapt, since you were training for Kell Brook, in your training and then all of the sudden have to change everything for Lee Purdy?

Alexander
Like I said earlier, of course you had to change the game plan up a little bit, but I have saw every style there is in boxing. I have saw it. Whether it’s speed, slugger, whether it’s boxer, boxer/puncher, whatever, I done seen it. So it wasn’t that hard to adjust to what Lee Purdy will be doing, what we saw what he’ll be doing and it was just a flick of the wrist.

I think I’m talented enough to adjust to anything, any situation, any style they put in front of me. With all that said, it wasn’t that hard. My coach said it was Lee Purdy. My coach gets right on it. Started to figure the game plan out. That weekend he came up with the game plan and we already set it in motion. We’re ready.

Q
Devon, I know you were talking about the 2004 Olympic trials and your loss at that current time. How has a loss against Tim Bradley affected you? Do you see maybe a possible rematch with him in the future? Is that something that has kind of eaten away at you and something that you want to go forth and redeem?

Alexander
That’s a fight that’s just going to just have to happen with time because at this time he was Top Rank. I was Golden Boy. So I’m really not worried about the fight with Timothy Bradley because we’re on two different roller coasters.

But if it was to happen, I would love to make it happen if it was right, if the time was right and everything, if those pieces came together for it. But as of right now, I’m just focused on moving forward and becoming one of the best boxers at 147. So we’ll just see what happens in the future.

Q
All right, best of luck on Saturday night. Lee, my question for you is since you haven’t had like an amateur background, how do you think that’s going to affect you in a fight, especially against a top-level opposition in Devon Alexander?

Purdy
The amateur style is different to the program. We’re 12 rounds and it’s not all just about skills because in the amateur it’s three rounds. We’ve got 12 rounds in and it comes more to just skill. In the prior ring you need heart, you need power and you need your ability to get through a long 12-round fight and I believe I’ve got all of that in abundance.

Q
We’ve seen a couple fighters especially that haven’t had a great amateur background and kind of turned pro at a late age, kind of like Sergio Martinez, fighters in that class. Do you consider yourself in the same class as Devon Alexander? He says he’s going two different lanes. Do you see yourself in the same lane as him or do you see yourself better or do you see yourself on the same platform?

Purdy
Of course I’m on the same platform as him. I’m in position to challenge Devon’s title and come May 18I’m going to show the world what I’m all about.

Q
Good afternoon, gentlemen. This first question is for Devon. Your last time out against Randall Bailey wasn’t the most prettiest fight to watch. The crowd kind of got a little bit upset and booed a little bit. Do you feel this time that you’ve got to do a little bit more in the ring to kind of please the crowd and maybe kind of build that buzz for the bigger fights that you’re looking to get maybe down the road?

Alexander
Of course. I think everybody in the entertainment field wants to be entertained. This is boxing. You have to be entertaining, of course. I felt that at that time, being smart, that fight was about being smart and getting the title; getting the title and getting out of the ring with the title. That’s what I did.

In this fight, you have to be smart but you can do a little bit in this fight. I’m expecting an exciting fight because Lee Purdy’s exciting. He’s going to come to fight and I’m willing to fight too, myself. So it’s going to be a good fight May 18th.

Q
And then my next question is for Lee. With this being your first time fighting here in the States, what can the U.S. fans expect to see from you in this fight and what about Devon’s style do you think that you can expose during the fight?

Purdy
America’s going to enjoy my style. I’ve come to fight for three minutes of every round. They’re going to expect me to put pressure on Devon. Of course I’m not going to sit back and let him out box me. I’m going to put my heart and soul into this fight and come out victorious.

Swanson
Okay, I think that was the last call for these guys. Do you guys want to make one last comment and then we’re going to switch it over and put Lamont and Lucas on the line. Why don’t we start with you, Lee, if you want to say any last comments. Lee?

Purdy
No, that’s good, thanks.

Swanson
Okay. Thank you so much for joining us and we’ll see you this week. Good luck at the fight. Devon, for you?

Alexander
Thanks to all the media. Thanks to everybody that had the questions for me and see you Saturday night.

Swanson
Okay, all right, so both Lamont Peterson and Lucas Matthysse are on the line. I’m going to send it back to Dave Itskowitch to make the introductions for these fighters. Dave?

Itskowitch
Thank you, Kelly. Before I introduce Lucas to say a few words, I just want to acknowledge our co-promoter who we promote Lucas with and that’s Mario Arano from Argentina. I just wanted to acknowledge him before I introduce Lucas. As I said earlier in the call, this fight is really one of the best fights that can be made in and around the 140 and 147 pound weight classes. Lucas Matthysse is one of the most feared fighters in the game today, most notably because of his crushing knockout power, but I think he’s surprised many people with his boxing ability as well.

He bounced back from two controversial split decision losses to Zab Judah and Devon Alexander, each in opponent’s hometowns to score five straight victories with all those wins coming by way of knockout. A lot of people that watched those fights believe that Lucas won both of them and should be undefeated right now.

In his last three fights, the 30 year old has torn through stiff competition defeating former three division world champion, Roberto Soto, then number one rated WBC Super Lightweight contender, Olusegun Ajose and top contender Mike Dallas Jr. He’ll be looking to stake his claim as one of the top ten best pound-for-pound fighters in the world this Saturday when he squares off against Lamont Peterson. He has a record 33-2 with 31 knockouts, from Trelew, Argentina, he’s been nicknamed by some media members “The Machine,” Lucas Matthysse.

Now I will introduce Lamont Peterson and I just want to acknowledge Barry Hunter of Headbangers Promotions, who’s also Lamont’s trainer and father figure. And I also want to acknowledge Cologne Hunter of Headbangers Promotions who’s an integral part of Lamont and his brother Anthony’s lives and has been for a very long time.

Most of you know Lamont rose from a very difficult childhood, being homeless on the streets of Washington D.C. He eventually went on to win the Unified 140 pound World Championship in front of his hometown fans in D.C., just a short ways away from where he was homeless a few years before that when he defeated Amir Khan in December of 2011

He’s currently the IBF Junior Welterweight World Champion. In his last fight he dazzled his hometown fans with an 8th round technical knockout win over former world champion Kendall Holt. We’re extremely pleased for him to be fighting under the Golden Boy Promotions banner for the first time in this fight. With only a three-month layoff, Peterson’s looking to capitalize on a quick turnaround when he faces one of the hardest punchers in the sport. He has a record of 31-1-1 with 16 KO’s, from Washington D.C., Lamont Peterson. Lamont?

Peterson
Training camp went well, it’s pretty much over. I’m anxious for the fight this weekend. I’m looking forward to it. It should be a great night of boxing, great for my career; great for the sport of boxing and everybody else that’s involved.

Q
Good afternoon, guys. The first question is for Lamont. I’m just wondering how do you see Lucas stacking up with the competition that you’ve had so far? Where do you rank him in terms of competition?

Peterson
Of course I’ll have to see this weekend, but as far as what I see on paper and on film, he’s right there with the rest of those guys, if not better. He’s a top guy. We’re fighting each other for a reason, because we’re two of the top guys that want a challenge and that’s what we’re going to do Saturday night.

Q
Do you think that he has greater punching power than perhaps some of the other guys that you’ve faced, like Holt or anybody like that?

Peterson
I’m not sure because I normally don’t worry about anybody’s punching power before the fight. I understand that it’s boxing and I’m going to get hit. So I just don’t worry about it. That’s something that’s a given. If I get hit hard or not, that really doesn’t make a difference to me. I’m willing to take any shot that anybody can give out.

Q
What did you get out of the fight against Holt? What did you learn about yourself in that particular fight?

Peterson
I really didn’t learn anything about myself that I didn’t already know. It was good to get back in the ring. It had been a while since I’d been in there and I just wanted to get in there and really get my feet wet again and that’s pretty much it-getting comfortable because I knew these big fights were going to be coming and coming fast.

Q
Lucas, do you think you have to go into this fight with the mentality that you have to get a knockout because you’ve lost so many tough decisions to top opponents of in championship caliber fights?

Matthysse
I’m not coming in with that mentality. I’ve been training a lot because i know that i am going up against a very experienced fighter.

Q
Do you think you’ll get a fair decision?

Matthysse
Yes, I’m not worried about that. I’m going to come out to do my work. I’m going to work just like I’ve been working hard for the fight and I believe the judges will give a clear decision.

Q
A couple questions first for Lucas. Lucas, can you give us an idea of when you realized you’d be able to be a fighter with great punching power? And how much confidence that gives you maybe if you’re behind in a fight where you know you can win it just with one good punch?

Matthysse
Early on in my career I found out that I had a good punch. I’ve obviously trained hard throughout my career to obtain that. And , yes, it gives me calm. It gives me a lot of confidence and I’m very calm in the fights because I know what the opponents are thinking about in order to land one punch they might get caught with one of my punches. So obviously it’s a great deal of confidence that I have because of my punch.

Q
Can you talk a little bit about kind of the pride you take in having as many knockouts as you have, is it something you wear as a badge of honor? I know you talked earlier about not approaching this fight thinking that you have to win by knockout, but what’s the pride level you take in knocking out your opponent?

Matthysse
Yes, there’s a lot of pride and there’s a lot of pride and obviously it’s one of the most important things in boxing, being able to knock someone out, something that’s very, very important to this sport. I feel a lot of pride and a lot of happiness.

Q
Lamont, we talked about your defense and how much pride you take in it. Going into a fight like this where you’re facing a guy that has potential for a one-punch knockout, is defense even that much more important for you? Will it be that much more important for you on Saturday night?

Peterson
I won’t worry about defense too much. I’ll just worry about-the only thing on defense I’ll worry about, just not getting hit clean and that’s always the case in every fight. Because at the end of the day, whether a person can punch or not, if the person can punch really hard and he hits you clean then yes, you’re going to go out. But even if the person can’t punch that hard, if he hits you clean you can go out. So I mostly concentrate on not getting hit clean and that’s what I’ll do in this fight.

Q
Lamont, again, against Holt you talked about how you were kind of measuring him up in the first couple rounds and then feeling him out and then you started, in the fourth round, taking over. Is that a strategy you think you may be employing again this time when you fight Matthysse?

Peterson
You’ve seen a lot of my fights. That’s kind of how I work or go about things. People can call me a slow spotter, but I guess that’s the case. I take my time. I figure things out and after a few rounds I start taking over.

Q
I have a question that’s a little bit of course. And that is Philadelphia’s like a one-hour drive from Atlantic City. You have a history in the amateurs with Rock Allen. You’re probably aware of the horrible automobile accident he was in a few years ago that ended his career. Have you had any contact with him over the last seven or eight years or at least since the 2004 Olympic trials? I was a little curious that both you and Devon, who were at the trials with him, being on this card as world champions. And the other thing is are you a little sad maybe that you won’t get a chance to resume your rivalry that you had with him in the amateurs as a professional?

Peterson
I haven’t been in contact with him since the amateurs. We were never one-it was kind of like a rivalry so we never really talked much. I talked to his father once or twice last year and he said that they were doing pretty good. He kind of gave me an update on him.

As far as the rivalry thing and the pros, I was looking forward to it but that’s life. You know how life goes. A lot of things that you want and that you’re expecting sometimes never happen. I just hope the best for him, for a full recovery. I heard he’s doing pretty well now. I’m sad that he’s not going to be able to continue his career because he really could fight and had a promising career, but the main thing is I’m happy that he’s alive and he’s healthy.

Q
One of the things, I think it was Dave Itskowitch that said at the beginning was that Lucas was one of these fighters that very few people really want to fight. You seem different than that, that pretty much within a couple of days after your victory against Kendall Holt or even maybe that day or the next day there was discussion that you would make this fight.

It was just a matter of working out the deal, but you and your team, Barry and everybody, seemed very anxious and interested to fight Lucas Matthysse. And I’m wondering what was it about Lucas that made you different than pretty much everybody else in the weight class that was running towards a fight with Lucas as opposed to away from a fight with Lucas?

Peterson
It was nothing about Matthysse that I saw in the ring. It was the media who said things like, “No one wants fight him.” I’m in a division, in the same division, when I hear things like that, that are not true, it kind of gets under my skin. I’m like, “I’ll fight anyone.” Not being angry or anything, it’s just the fact that I want to prove to everyone I’m the best at the weight class.

A lot of people, when you hear about the best in the weight class, they were saying his name. So of course that was the person that I wanted to fight to prove myself and to let people know that someone out here wanted to fight him.

Q
I’m also curious about this. Listen, it’s a great match up, as we’ve all talked about. This is not anything bad about it. I love this fight, but I am curious as to the reason why you both have selected to do this fight at 141 pounds when you both have belts-you have your IBF title. He has his interim title-and why it is not for either of those belts at stake? Could you talk about your take on that?

Peterson
With me I always thought that we were fighting for my belt. I wasn’t sure if we were fighting for his belt. But for the most part, that’s what I expected until a few weeks ago when it was said that it wasn’t. I guess at the end of the day I heard a few different stories. So when you hear a few different stories some of them are not correct and one might be correct.

But the main thing is you have two of the top guys fighting each other. To me, I won’t say belts don’t mean anything, but as far as where I’m trying to be in this sport and trying to be the best fighter at the weight class and possibly another weight class, those belts mean nothing-

Q
But the thing is, Lamont, you wanted-if it had been your decision solely…?

Peterson
I would’ve made 140 pounds easily and defended it, no problem, not one problem.

Q
Okay. Lucas the same question about the situation with title? My understanding is that you were the one that wanted to still have his interim title. So because the IBF, for obvious reasons, would not allow a unification between its title and an interim title you made the decision to hang onto the interim title to sort of maintain his mandatory status for the Garcia Title. Could you explain what your thought process was in making this a non-title fight?

Eric Gomez
I can answer that for you, if you’d like.

Q
I’d like to hear the answer and I’d also like to hear Lucas’ opinion.

E. Gomez
Okay. Well basically the IBF has a rule. The IBF has a rule and they do not allow or they do not recognize interim titles. So if Lucas was going to put his title in play they would not approve the fight. So that was a big obstacle for us. We all put our heads together and the best outcome would be to make the fight at 141.

Everybody knows that both guys are two of the top guys in the division. Everybody obviously recognizes that Lamont is the world champion. He won the title. It’s his title. And Lucas, he won his interim title. So because both organizations couldn’t come to an agreement, they talked amongst themselves. I understand the Mauricio from the WBC spoke to their people and then tried to work something out and they couldn’t come to an agreement so we all decided the best thing to do was to fight at 141.

Q
That with Lucas having the interim title that the idea of any interim title is to get a shot at a regular world title. That by getting this fight with Lamont he would be fighting for Lamont’s major world title and therefore the interim title wouldn’t really be necessary.

E. Gomez
Yeah, he obviously fought very hard and he paid the sanctioning fees to the WBC. So he wanted his belt in play.

Matthysse
Obviously an agreement couldn’t be reached for the title but I’m fine with it. I’m calm and I’m fine with it because everybody knows that this is an important fight. Whether there’s a title or no title involved, this is a very important fight. Two top guys fighting each other so this is an important fight, but I feel fine. I’m calm and it’s still a very important fight.

Q
Okay, and just one other thing for both guys. Lamont, your first, like Eric just said and Lucas said, a very important fight, a good fight in the weight class, two of the top guys, but having talked to Richard Schaefer from Golden Boy, he looks at this as having had Danny Garcia get his win against Zab Judah a couple of weeks ago and you two guys are going to go at it on Saturday. What he would like to do is take Garcia, who won the fight in April against Judah, and the winner of your fight on Saturday, be it yourself or Lucas, and make perhaps what could be even a bigger fight sometime in the fall, maybe September, between the winner of Saturday’s fight between you guys and Garcia to unify some of those titles. What are your thoughts about using this fight to get into that fight and then your thoughts about that match up possibly?

Peterson
I’m okay with any of those match ups. At the end of the day, those are some of the top guys in the division and to me that’s what boxing’s all about. Once you get to this level it shouldn’t be any more C class fighters. There should be top-level guys, top five. I don’t even want to say top ten. It should be the top five guys. And those are some of the names that are in the top five, in my book, so I have no problem with that lineup.

Q
So you like the idea of using this to get into a big fight with Garcia if you win Saturday?

Peterson
Yeah, yeah, I’m definitely okay with it.

Q
Lucas what are your thoughts about the winner of this fight getting a shot to unify with Danny, who’s through his half of the mythical bracket?

Matthysse
Yes, definitely, definitely, that’s what I want. I want that, if that’s the reason for this fight. I hope that everything comes out okay because yes, I would love to fight Danny Garcia.

Q
If I could just please start out with Lamont. Lamont, obviously you got the biggest win of your career when you upset Amir Khan and then you were out of the ring for an extended period of time before returning against Kendall Holt. So I guess my question for you, Lamont, is you know boxing as well as anybody does and it’s not just about winning fights. It’s also about being in the forefront of people’s minds when you’re trying to make fights and you had that extended period of time where you were out of the ring. So I guess my question is how important is it for you, on a big stage on Saturday night, to make an emphatic statement that not only is Lamont Peterson back but that he never was really gone to begin with?

Peterson
It’s very important. Every fight right now is important to me because you’re at the top level right now and every fight that you win, every fight that you’re in is a big fight and if you win that big fight you’re going to a bigger fight. I’m 29 years old now. So I’m, some people might not say this but, on the tail end of my career. I don’t plan on doing this much longer.

Everyone knows that in boxing a loss is a setback. So it’s important for me to go out and win for many different reasons. I’m still trying to bury that whole drug testing situation. People seem to forget very fast about how I performed up and to that Khan fight. And then after the Khan fight a lot of people were saying I need this and that and this and that. But people forget that I’ve already been a top fighter and I just want to get paid to go out and to prove to people that Lamont Peterson’s still a top fighter and a world champion.

Q
Just one more for you, Lamont, if you don’t mind. Obviously you haven’t stepped in the ring yet with Lucas, but everyone on the call and I’m sure yourself and your team are well aware of the reputation he brings into the ring as being a very, very strong power puncher. I know obviously you haven’t fought him yet and you’ll be better in position to answer this question on Saturday or even Sunday, but where would you rank him among the punchers you’ve faced in your career before him?

Like I said, he has that reputation as being a knockout artist, a very fearsome power puncher. So where would you rank him in terms of the punching power that you’ve seen in the past in your career and do you feel that he could present any sort of a problem for you come Saturday night with that power?

Peterson
Like you said, it’s hard to tell. I’d have to answer that question after Saturday night, but as far as from what I feel and think, he’s a strong guy and he can punch. It’s not the fact that-you have good punchers who don’t have good knockout ratios. I think the fact that he works hard and the fact that he gets a lot of knockouts, for the most part, the punching power, but a lot of times you can get power from just working, just knowing how to break someone down. I think that’s more the case with Lucas than anything.

Q
All right, thank you so much, Lamont, and again, the best of luck to you on Saturday night. I have a quick question for Lucas. It’s a little similar to the first question I had for Lamont in that Lucas, you have a reputation. You’re a big puncher. Lots of guys have seemingly gone out of their way to try and avoid fighting you for that reason. So my question for you is, given the fact that in the two losses you have in your career against Alexander and Judah, you knocked both guys down. There was a lot of discussion and debate over whether you truly deserved to lose those fights. And with your reputation of being an avoided fighter, how important is it for you to get a win on Saturday night, because if you lose it’s going to make it a little bit more difficult given your reputation to get another big fight like this? So how important is it for you Saturday night to make a statement against Lamont and establish yourself as a star in the sport that people can’t avoid?

Matthysse
Yes, it’s very important. Winning this fight on Saturday and doing it in big fashion is going to open doors. It’s going to open a lot more doors. So it’s very, very important. Probably the most important fight of my career. I’m looking for the big fights. I want the big match ups. We want the big names and it all starts Saturday.

Swanson
Okay, so that was our last question. Lucas if you want to say any last minutes comments before we let you go and then we’ll finish up with Lamont.

Matthysse
Great, thank you for the support, everybody, and it’s going to be a great fight on Saturday. Don’t miss it and we’ll see you there.

Peterson
I’m looking forward to Saturday night. I’m a boxing fan so the fight’s right there to make me excited even though I’m the one fighting. Just thanks for everybody’s ongoing support. DC will be in the house. I’m looking forward to it. I’ll see you on Saturday.

Swanson
Okay, great, thank you so much. Okay, that wraps up our call and we look forward to seeing everyone at the Fight Week activities and then again in Atlantic City this weekend. Thank you very much.
END OF CALL

Peterson vs. Matthysse, a 12-round 141 pound catch-weight fight,will take place Saturday, May 18 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The event is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, sponsored by Caesars Atlantic City, Corona and AT&T and will be televised live on SHOWTIME® at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) immediately following ALL ACCESS: MAYWEATHER vs. GUERRERO Epilogue. In the co-main event, IBF Welterweight World Champion Devon Alexander defends his title against IBF number four rated welterweight contender Lee Purdy. SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® is available in Spanish on secondary audio programming (SAP). Preliminary fights will air live on SHOWTIME EXTREME® at 7:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

Tickets priced at $250, $125, $75, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes and service charges, are available for purchase at the Boardwalk Hall box office, by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 736-1420 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

LOS ANGELES, April 30 – England’s Lee Purdy, the number four rated IBF welterweight contender, is set to face IBF Welterweight World Champion Devon Alexander in place of Kell Brook who had to withdraw from the May 18 bout against Alexander at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey after suffering a foot injury. The bout will be telecast live on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® along with Lamont Peterson vs. Lucas Matthysse as the main event.

“We look forward to Devon facing a formidable opponent in the U.K.’s Lee Purdy,” said Oscar De La Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions. “We have a great card for fans in Atlantic City and those watching at home on SHOWTIME and it will be an exciting night for everyone on May 18th.”

St. Louis’ Devon Alexander (24-1, 13 KO’s) is a master boxer who has already won world titles in two divisions despite being only 25 years old. Alexander is the former IBF and WBC world title holder at 140 pounds, with wins over Lucas Matthysse, Juan Urango and Junior Witter to his name. In 2012, “The Great” made his move to welterweight and by the time he was finished defeating former World Champions Marcos Maidana and Randall Bailey, he was crowned the IBF Welterweight World Champion.

Fighting out of Colchester, Essex, Lee “Lights Out” Purdy (20-3-1, 13 KO’s) has amazed British fans by sailing to the top of the welterweight division despite having no amateur career. A pro since 2006, the 25-year-old brings a knockout streak into his first world title fight, having finished off four consecutive opponents, including longtime contender Cosme Rivera in March.

Peterson vs. Matthysse is presented by Golden Boy Promotions, sponsored by Caesars Atlantic City, Corona and AT&T and will air live on SHOWTIME at 9:15 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) immediately following ALL ACCESS: MAYWEATHER vs. GUERRERO Epilogue which will air at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT. In the co-main event, Devon Alexander faces off against Lee Purdy for Alexander’s IBF Welterweight World Championship. SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® is available in Spanish on secondary audio programming (SAP). Preliminary fights will air live on SHOWTIME EXTREME® at 7:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

Tickets priced at $250, $125, $75, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes and service charges, are on sale now and are available for purchase at the Boardwalk Hall box office, by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 736-1420 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

MONTREAL (April 18, 2013) – Yesterday at noon, the International Boxing Federation (IBF) issued a statement about Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM)-promoted Kevin Bizier being appointed as the new mandatory challenger to IBF world welterweight champion Devon Alexander.

Alexander was scheduled to face his mandatory challenger, Kell Brook, of England, May 18 in Atlantic City on Showtime, but Brook was injured during training and had to withdraw. To ensure Bizier’s presence in Atlantic City to fight Alexander, Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaeffer also contacted the president of GYM, Yvon Michel, offering a very attractive proposition.

All members of Team Bizier – Kevin, Michel, Marc Ramsay, and Remi Bizier — met yesterday to analyze the entire situation.The unanimous conclusion of this meeting was to refuse the IBF and Golden Boy’s proposal. The current circumstances do not allow Kevin Bizier sufficient training and preparation required to participate in a fight of this magnitude against the established IBF champion. A letter was also sent this morning to the Chairman of the IBF Championships Committee, Mr. Lindsey Tucker, for this purpose.

“We believe that Kevin Bizier has the talent to become World welterweight champion this year,” Michel said. “We thank the IBF and Golden Boy for the opportunity offered but, unfortunately, we had to decline because Kevin would not have been able to offer a performance, given the current context, at the height of his talent. This is only a postponement.”

Meanwhile, Bizier is currently ranked No. 3 by the IBF and No. 6 by the World Boxing Association (WBA). He is still developing and expected to rise even higher in world rankings. His next fight will take place May 25, as planned, on the Pascal vs. Bute super event in Montreal.

About Groupe Yvon Michel Inc.:

Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) was founded in 2004. The organization’s mission is the development of high-level boxers through supportive coaching and management, especially in competition. To achieve its objectives, GYM actively recruits talent and organizes events. Since its inception eight years ago, GYM has presented 108 events, including some historic in terms of ticket sales and PPV views, like Pascal vs. Hopkins I and II. GYM has produced over 300 hours of TV for Canal Indigo, Bell TV, Shaw TV, TVA Sports, VOX, TVA, CBC, RDS and V, in Canada, as well as HBO, Showtime and ESPN in the US. A total of six different GYM boxers have fought in 16 world championship fights. Under the tutelage of GYM, Joachim Alcine captured the WBA super welterweight title in 2007 and Jean Pascal the WBC Light Heavyweight championship in 2009.

Oklahoma City, OK (April 17, 2013) – Earlier today, Kevin Cunningham, trainer of IBF welterweight titlist Devon Alexander, took a shot at contender Carson Jones.

Less than 24 hours ago, Jones, the IBF’s 7th rated contender and a former USBA champion, offered to face Alexander May 18 after his original opponent Kell Brook withdrew for a second time due to an injury. Jones, who has a deceptive record 34-9-3 with 24 KO’s since he took many fights earlier in his career as an opponent, was abruptly rejected by Cunningham.

“Hey Carson, I wish I could help you out,” Cunningham told a popular boxing website. “But we already have all our sparring partners for this camp. Maybe we’ll consider bringing you into camp for Devon’s next fight. That’s the only use we would have for a guy with 9 losses and 3 draws.”

Jones, who said he respected Cunningham as a trainer before he hurled insults in his directions, believes that he only said that to keep his fighter away from a tough bout.

“These guys claim to be tough and from the streets of St. Louis, but how tough are they?” “The truth is that boxing wise, Devon’s anything but tough. Aside from quitting against Bradley, he’s been protected by his promoters and the premium cable networks. They want to talk about my 9 losses but forget what tough really is. I lost a few controversial fights and the only time Devon’s had any controversy, he received gift decisions in hometown. Cunningham and Alexander know deep down that records are overrated and there are plenty of 25-0 guys who can’t fight a lick. I earned my way up the rankings by knocking out quality fighters when my back was against the wall and that is something they can’t dispute no matter how hard they try.”

Jones also views his close loss to the aforementioned Kell Brook as a reason of why he’s more than worthy for the title shot.

“I went into Brook’s hometown, gave him hell and lost a very close decision. From what I’ve heard, Brook offered good money to face him in England but Team Alexander was too scared. I proved that I am a real fighter time and time again by facing whoever, wherever and whenever. Can Devon do the same or are you guys into playing the matchmaking game and pretending all the people in boxing are idiots and actually believe these undefeated stiffs can fight. They call him Devon “The Great” Alexander, but he’s acting like a coward. Man up and take the challenge. I’m ready to go!”

Oklahoma City, OK (April 16, 2013) – In an age where fighters build their records up by partaking in gross mismatches, Oklahoma City based welterweight contender “Mr.” Carson Jones is a boxing rarity.

The youthful but experienced 26-year-old began his career without true direction, taking a number of early losses against world class opposition. Since March 2009, Jones has an excellent 18-2-1 record with 13 wins by knockout. Along the way, Jones, whose overall professional ledger is 34-9-3 (24 KO’s), steamrolled previously unbeaten knockout king Tyrone Brunson, 2000 Olympic Silver Medalist Ricardo Williams, welterweight contender Said Ouali and former title challenger Michael Clark.

In July 2012, Jones lost a hotly contested majority decision in the hometown of Kell Brook in one of the best fights during that calendar year. Dubbed as “Special K” due to his diverse talents, Brook dominated all 27 of his opponents up to that point. Against Jones, a bruised and bloodied Brook survived a number of rough moments and never considered a rematch.

Fast forward to 2013, where Brook found himself pitted against IBF welterweight champion Devon Alexander; or so we thought. The two were scheduled to fight on multiple occasions, with each man pulling out of the fight due to an injury. On Saturday, May 18, Brook-Alexander was finally scheduled to take place on Showtime, but Brook suffered another injury that forced him to withdraw, leaving the champion without an opponent.

“I know a lot of guys are calling out Alexander and I can’t blame them,” said Jones, the IBF’s 7th rated contender. “But how many of them have been through hell in a gasoline suit? Which one of them went overseas and got the short end of a decision against a fighter that is considered one of boxing’s next bright stars? Can anybody else out there vying for this fight claim to have faced the level of opposition I have? The answer is no.”

Jones also believes that his fan-friendly style would make for a great fight and a bout with Alexander would produce two winners; Carson Jones and the spectators.

“After Alexander’s sleep-induced fight with Randall Bailey, I think the boxing world needs an exciting fight. I do not run from my opponents. Unlike Bailey, I will cut the ring off and force him to fight my fight just like Tim Bradley did. Alexander’s known as Devon “The Great” but does his name mean anything? If he’s true to his moniker and wants to show how great he his, all Team Alexander has to do send me a contract and see me in the ring on May 18!”

Jones is currently in training with the hopes of facing Alexander or another top welterweight in the immediate future.

DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. (April 16, 2013) – World-rated welterweight Ed “The Lion” Paredes (32-3-1, 21 KOs) is ready, willing and able to replace injured Kell Brock on May 18 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, as the new challenger for International Boxing Federation (IBF) champion Devon “The Great” Alexander (24-1, 13 KOs).

Rated No. 14 in the world by the IBF, Paredes is also ranked No. 3 by the World Boxing Council (WBC) and World Boxing Association (WBA), as well as No. 12 by the World Boxing Organization (WBO).

Paredes, fighting out of Hollywood (FL), is riding a 10-fight win streak. He has won 11 of his last 12 fights with one draw, since suffering his last loss four years ago to Carlos Molina by 10-round decision. Paredes’ last fight was a victory by 10-round decision over veteran Hector Munoz last November in Sunrise, Florida.

“Acquinity Sports just crowned its first world champion, IBF super featherweight champion Argenis Mendez, and we’d love the opportunity for Ed to become our second world champion,” said promoter Henry Rivalta, Director of Boxing Operations for second-year Acquinity Sports. “Ed’s earned a world title shot and he’s ready to fight Alexander on only 30-days notice. Let’s make a deal.”

Paredes’ victims during his nine-year professional career have included, among the more notables, world champion Vivian Harris (TKO10), world title challengers Oscar Leon (KO4) and Michael Lozada (KO3), Manuel Leyva (TKO7), and previously undefeated Joey Hernandez.

Paredes is part of a growing Acquinity Sports stable of world-class fighters that also includes Mendez, two-division world champion Joan “Little Tyson” Guzman (33-1-1, 20 KOs), and including world-rated contenders such as WBA #2 featherweight Claudio “The Matrix” Marrero (14-0, 11 KOs), WBA light heavyweight Emberto “El Don” Savigne (11-1, 8 KOs), and WBA #6 bantamweight Juan Carlos Payano (12-0, 6 KOs).

Go online to www.AquinitySports.com for additional information about Parades or any of his Acquinity Sports stable-mates. Follow Acquinity Sports on Twitter @AcquinitySports, or friend is at Facebook.com/AcquinitySports.

ATLANTIC CITY, April 8 – World championship boxing returns to Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City on Saturday, May 18 with a SHOWTIME® CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING doubleheader featuring IBF Junior Welterweight World Champion Lamont Peterson facing hard-hitting WBC Interim Super Lightweight World Champion Lucas Matthysse in a 12-round welterweight bout and the rescheduled IBF Welterweight Title showdown between Two-Division World Champion Devon Alexander “The Great” and undefeated British star and number one rated IBF welterweight contender Kell “The Special One” Brook.

Peterson vs. Matthysse and Alexander vs. Brook are presented by Golden Boy Promotions, sponsored by Caesars Atlantic City, Corona and AT&T and will air live on SHOWTIME at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). Preliminary fights will air live on SHOWTIME EXTREME® at 7:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

Tickets priced at $250, $125, $75, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes and service charges, go on sale on Wednesday, April 10 at noon ET and will be available for purchase at the Boardwalk Hall box office, by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 736-1420 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

After more than a year out of the ring, Lamont Peterson (31-1-1, 16 KO’s) picked up where he left off in February, dazzling fans in his hometown of Washington, D.C. with an eighth-round technical knockout win over Kendall Holt. Coupled with his Fight of the Year win over the Unified Super Lightweight World Champion Amir Khan in December of 2011, it’s clear that Peterson has staked his claim as one of the premier 140-pound fighters in the world. All of this is even more impressive when one considers that Peterson spent part of his youth homeless on the mean streets of Washington, D.C. On May 18, the talented boxer-puncher will put that recognition on the line against one of the most feared fighters in the sport at a catch-weight of 141 pounds.

The junior welterweight who has struck the most fear into the hearts of his peers, Trelew, Argentina’s Lucas Matthysse (33-2, 31 KO’s) bounced back from two controversial split decision losses to Zab Judah and Devon Alexander, each in his opponent’s hometowns, to score five straight victories, with all of those wins coming by way of knockout. His losses to Alexander and Judah were so controversial, that many boxing insiders still consider Matthysse, who has recently been nicknamed “The Machine,” to be undefeated. In his last three bouts, the 30-year-old has torn through stiff competition, defeating former Three-Division World Champion Humberto Soto, then number one rated WBC super lightweight contender Olusegun Ajose and tough contender Mike Dallas Jr., setting the stage for the thunderous punching WBC Interim Super Lightweight World Champion with a 94% knockout ratio to stake his claim as a one of the top ten best pound for pound fighters in the world.

A technical wizard with speed and finesse in the ring, St. Louis’ Devon Alexander (24-1, 13 KO’s) is a master boxer who has already won world titles in two divisions despite being only 25 years old. Alexander is the former IBF and WBC world title holder at 140 pounds, with wins over Lucas Matthysse, Juan Urango and Junior Witter to his name. In 2012, “The Great” made his move to welterweight and by the time he was finished defeating former World Champions Marcos Maidana and Randall Bailey, he was crowned the IBF Welterweight World Champion. On May 18, he makes the first defense of his new crown after two postponements of his originally scheduled showdown with Brook.

England’s latest unbeaten sensation, the popular Kell Brook (29-0, 19 KO’s) has mowed past all opposition placed in front of him over the last eight years. After winning the British WBO intercontinental and IBF international welterweight titles, he’s ready for his close-up on the world stage. With 2012 wins over Matthew Hatton, Carson Jones and Hector Saldivia, the talented 26-year-old from Sheffield has proven he has the talent, style and determination to justify his number one rating.

For information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.twitter.com/kingpete26, www.twitter.com/DAlexandereal, www.twitter.com/SpecialKBrook, www.BoardwalkHall and www.twitter.com/SHOsports, follow the conversation using #PetersonMatthysse and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing and www.facebook.com/SHOBoxing.

IBF Welterweight champion Devin Alexander will defend his crown against mandatory contender Kell Brook on May 18th in Atlantic City according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

The bout has been postponed twice due to injuries.

I like Atlantic City. There are great boxing fans there,” Said ALexander’s manager/trainer Kevin Cunningham. “I’ve been out there working with Adrien Broner [as an assistant trainer last month] and there’s a great boxing atmosphere. I always had pretty good luck there.”

“He started back in the gym on Monday, so he’s basically at 90 percent, and so we’ll step it up a little more next week,” Cunningham said. “Within the next couple of weeks, he should be back to 100 percent and we’re expecting to do some sparring in the next couple of weeks. We’ll be ready, and Kell Brook will finally get his wish to be in the ring with Devon Alexander — but that’s about as far as that wish will go.”

The bout will be televised by Showtime and could be the co-feature to IBF Jr. Welterweight champion Lamont Peterson defending against Lucas Matthysse