Saul Alvarez defended the WBC Super Welterweight championship with an action filled fifth round stoppage over game Josesito Lopez in front of an enthusiastic crowd at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

After a good round one, Alvarez started to open up with ripping combinations to the head and body. Lopez was able to get in some decent shots, especially when Alvarez was on the ropes. Alvarez landed a thunderous left hook to the body that sent Lopez to the canvas late in the second. In round three, Alvarez continued scoring and then landed another left to the body that deposited Lopez to the canvas for a second time. That did int deter Lopez as he tried to stand toe to toe but Alvarez had more dynamite in his hands. Lopez was bleeding from his nose and mouth After Lopez landed a nice flurry, Alvarez landed a wicked five punch combination that sent Lopez to deck for a third time. Alvarez started round five with a huge body assault that had referee Joe Cortez looking closely but Lopez fired back. Lopez continued to get in some solid shots and showed a championship heart. In the last ten seconds of the round, Alvarez anded four more hard shots that forced Cortez to step in and save Lopez from further damage

Alvarez, 154 lbs of Guadalajara, MX is now 41-0-1 with thirty knockouts. Lopez, 153 lbs of Riverside, CA is now 30-5-1.

“I’m not always looking for the knockout, but this was perfect tonight,” Canelo said. “I had a big responsibility fighting for my fans around the world this weekend and I think I made them happy. I want the big fights now – (Miguel) Cotto and (Floyd) Mayweather.”

“I knew he was a tough fighter and he proved he’s a better fighter,” Lopez said. “He was smarter, stronger and patient. I felt good going in but there was a big size difference. I was hoping to land a good punch to change the momentum.”

Daniel Ponce De Leon wrestled the WBC Featherweight championship belt away from Jhonny Gonzalez when a cut over the right eye of Gonzalez via an accidental headbutt forced the bout to be stopped in round eight.

In the early going it was Gonzalez who was landing the better punches. In round three, a cut formed around the left said of Ponce De Leon’s hairline. That seemed to inspire De Leon as he started landing some good lefts’s. The two boxed evenly over the next couple rounds until De Leon landed a straight left that sent Gonzalez through the ropes and down on the canvas in round six.

The volume of De leon started taking affect in round seven as he began to back Gonzalez up with lefts and rights. A clash of heads opened up a big cut over the right eye of Gonzalez and the fight was stopped at 2:36 of round eight.

De Leon, 125 1/2 lbs of West Covina, CA won by scores of 77-74, 79-72 and 79-72 and is now 44-4. Gonzalez, 125 lbs of Mexico City, MX is now 52-8.

Former 140 lb world champion Marcos Maidana scored a eighth round stoppage over Jesus Soto Karass in a Welterweight war scheduled for ten rounds.

The fight was fought at a high rate as Maidana uncharacteristically started boxing and featuring the jab on the first round. In round two, the continued landing good shots with Maidana landing some hard left hooks. The animosity started in round three as at the end of yet another action filled round, the two sot in each other’s face and had to be seperated. Referee Kenny Bayless took a point from each man in round four as the two continued to be unsportsmanlike. Soto Karass was fueled by that as he landed some hard shots before a big left from Maidana was landed just before the bell. Soto Karass picked up where he left off in round five and yet again the two needed to be separated as Soto Karass would not let Maidana get to his corner. In round six, Soto Karass landed some huge shots and landed body shots on Maidana against the ropes. Maidana spent alot of the round against the ropes.

Maidana was docked another point in round seven but he more then made up for it as he launched a big right hand that sent Soto Karass to the deck. Maidana came out firing in round eight as he landed a some booming shots on the ropes and after a few right hands, Bayless stopped the bout at forty-three seconds of round eight.

Maidana, 147 lbs of Margarita Santa Fe, Argentina is now 32-3 with twenty-nine knockouts. Soto Karass, 147 lbs of North Hollywood, CA is now 26-8-3-1.

Leo Santa Cruz scored an impressive stoppage over former Flyweight champion to retain the IBF Bantamweight title after Morel’s corner stopped the bout after five rounds.

It was an extremely fast paced fight from the outset with with guys meeting in the center of the ring and wailing away on each other with Santa Cruz getting the better. It was evident that Santa Cruz was not only quicker but had more thump in his punches as he landed many body shots, sometimes doubling and tripling with the flank shots and then coming with hard over hand rights and uppercuts. Morel put up a valiant effort but he kept taking hard shots and his corner had seen enough and stopped the bout after the fifth frame.

Santa Cruz, 117 lbs of Rosmead, CA is now 21-0-1 with twelve knockouts. Morel, 118 lbs of Madison, WI is now 46-4.

Good looking nineteen year-old Andres Gutierrez pounded out a six round unanimous decision over Carlos Valcarcel in a Jr. Featherweight bout.

Gutierrez was more active and landed the harder punches. He featured some solid uppercuts and had Valcarcel against the ropes on several occasions.

Gutierrez, 124 lbs of Quertiaro, MX won by scores of 60-54, 59-55 and 59-56 and is now 23-0-1. Valcarcel, 123 lbs of Catano, PR is now 12-6-4.

Francisco Vargas remained undefeated with a four round unanimous decision over Alan Sanchez in a Jr. Featherweight bout.

Both guys threw a high volume of punches but Vargas threw more and landed the much harder blows.

Vargas, 131 lbs of Mexico City, MX is won by scores of 40-36, 40-36 and 39-37 and is now 13-0-1. Sanchez, 127 1/2 lbs of Houston, TX is now 3-4-1.

PASO, Texas (April 22, 2012) – Abner Mares has power, he has speed, and now he has a second world championship belt. Mares, the 26-year-old undefeated Mexican American from Hawaiian Gardens, Calif., by way of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, captured the vacant WBC Super Bantamweight World Championship with an emphatic victory over game veteran Eric Morel on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on Saturday night at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas.

In the co-feature, Anselmo Moreno, the slick and talented Panamanian world champion, cruised to victory over David de la Mora with a ninth-round technical knockout.

Mares, who recently vacated the IBF bantamweight title, brought considerable power up to 122 pounds and seemed to sacrifice none of his hand speed. Morel, 10 years Mares’ senior, is a veteran of nine world title fights and a former two-time world champion. Morel admitted coming into the fight that this could be his last shot at one of boxing’s crowns. The Puerto Rico native, now living and fighting out of Madison, Wisconsin, came to win, but Mares’ confidence and ability won the night.

Fighting aggressively for every minute of every round, Mares dominated from the early going with a damaging body attack. He moved fluidly from the body to the head, stunning Morel on several occasions.

What Morel gave up in age, he made up for in heart. Morel withstood the punishment dolled out by the younger Mares. He gave a valiant effort right through the final two rounds, making the 11th and 12th the two most exciting and competitive of the bout.

“If this is the last major fight of his career,” said Hall of Fame analyst Al Bernstein during the telecast, “and it very well could be, he has nothing to be ashamed of.”

The judges had it unanimously for Mares by scores of 120-107 and 119-109 twice. The young star improved his record to 24-0-1 (13 KO’s) and is looking for his next challenge – a fight with the super bantamweight division’s elite.

After the bout, a joyful Mares said the move up in weight was a good one for him. “I felt a lot stronger at this weight. I felt complete.

“I have to say Eric was very strong. I was surprised he withstood the pressure. He went out like a true champion. That last round was a great round for both of us.”

The modest champion continued, “I feel I still need to improve. I am still learning. Sometimes I make it brawl when I don’t have to, so there’s definitely more I can do.”

When asked if he had been 10 years younger tonight, Morel said, “The (age) doesn’t matter. He probably would have done the same thing. He’s a great fighter. He’s one of the best I’ve ever faced. I have nothing to be ashamed of. He put on a great performance. What else can I say?”

***

Classy southpaw Anselmo Moreno scored an eighth stoppage over David De La Mora to retain the WBA Bantamweight crown.

Moreno dominated the action as he dropped De La Mora in round’s two and six from body shots and De La Mora seemed disinterested as he found it almost impossible to hit Moreno in return and decided he had enough after the eighth.

Moreno is now 33-1-1 with twelve knockouts. De La Mora is now 24-2.

Unheralded Light Heavyweight Rowland Bryant scored a stunning third round stoppage over former three time world title challenger in a scheduled ten round bout.

Bryant landed some hard shots in the first round. Andrade was cut from a headbutt in round one. In round three, Bryant landed a right hand that rocked Andrade and then followed up with several consecutive ripping shots to the head and the fight was stopped at 2:19.

Bryant of Orlando, FL is now 16-1 with eleven knockouts. Andrade is now 30-5.

Luis Ramos Jr. scored a ten round unanimous decision over former world title challenger Daniel Attah in a Lightweight bout.

Ramos was more active with his combination punching where Attah landed some decent shots but they were one at a time. Ramos scored a knockdown in round three from a left to the top of the head.

Ramos won by scores of 100-89; 99-91; 99-91 and is now 22-0. Attah is now 26-10-1

Recent Golden Boy signee Francisco Vargas scored a third round stoppage over Rafael Lora in a Super Featherweight bout scheduled for six rounds.

Vargas battered Lora all over the ring in the third round until the fight was stopped at 2:27.

Vargas is 10-0-1 with eight knockouts. Lora is now 11-8.

Follow all the action LIVE as Abner Mares battles Eric Morel for the vacant WBC Super Bantamweight title. There also is a WBA Bantamweight title match between champion Anselmo Moreno & David de la Mora. The action begins at 7pm est featuring fights involving Luis Ramos Jr. & Librado Andrade

12 ROUNDS WBC SUPER BANTAMWEIGHT TITLE–ABNER MARES (23-0-1, 13 KO’S) VS ERIC MOREL (46-2, 23 KO’S)

Round 1 Morel Lands a right…Left hook from Mares..Mares starting to land more shots…10-9 Mares

Round 2 Mares lands a right that has Morel holding on…Looping right…uppercut from Morel…Upper cut and right hand from Mares..big right at the bell…20-18 Mares

Round 3 Mares lands an overhand right…Left hook…30-27 Mares

Round 4 Morel turns southpaw…Mares lands a double uppercut…Body shot..Morel lands a straight right…40-36 Mares

Round 5Mares jabbing…big right…uppercut from Morel…Double left hook and chopping right from Mares…50-45

Round 6 Mares lands a left…right…60-54

Round 7Mares working the body hard…70-63

Round 8

12 ROUNDS-WBA BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP–ANSELMO MORENO (32-1-1, 11 KO’S) VS DAVID DE LA MORA (24-1, 17 KO’S)

Round 1 Moreno lands a straight left..Good body shot drive De la Mora back to the ropes…10-9 Moreno

Round 2 Good straight left from Moreno…De La Mora running around the ring… Moreno lands a left…RIGHT TO TOP OF HEAD AND DOWN GOES DE LA MORA….Hard body shot from Moreno…20-17 Moreno

Round 3 Body shots from Moreno..Big shot that puts Moreno down but ruled a slip…30-26 Moreno

Round 4 Moreno lands a straight left and right hook…straight left..40-35 Moreno

Round 5Jab fromMoreno…50-44 Moreno

Round 6 Short uppercut and straight left to the body from Moreno…HARD STRAIGHT LEFT TO THE BODY AND DOWN GOES DE LA MORA…60-52 Moreno

Round 7 70-62

ROUND 8 Moreno lands a good left…80-71 Moreno—-FIGHT IS STOPPED…MORENO WINS BY TKO END OF 8

10 ROUNDS-LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS–LIBRADO ANDRADE (30-4, 23 KO’S) VS ROWLAND BRYANT (15-1, 10 KO’S)

ROUND 1 Bryant lands a left..left/body…solid right..body shot..good body shot…Andrade lands a upper cut…Bryant lands a uppercut…body shot..good right..10-9 Bryant…Andrade cut over left eye

Round 2 Bryant lands a right…Nice combo…Big left…Andrade lands a right..Body shot ..20-18 Bryant

Round 3Trading lefts…Guys each fall to the canvas…ruled a slip…Combination fromBryant…Hard right ROCKS ANDRADE…HE IS EATING NUMEROUS HARD SHOTS AND THE FIGHT IS STOPPED

10 ROUNDS LIGHTWEIGHTS–LUIS RAMOS JR. (21-0, 9 KO’S) VS DANIEL ATTAH (26-9-1, 9 KO’S)

ROUND 1 Ramos lands a body combination & left to the head…Counter right from Attah..More body work from Ramos..2 good rights…Attah lands a right…Good straight left/right combo..body shot..Right from Attah…10-9 Ramos Ramos outlands Attah 22 (17 body shots) to 5

Round 2 Counter right from Attah..Good combo from Ramos..trading rights…Head clash/no cuts..Ramos lands a combo on the ropes…20-18 Ramos

Round 3 Attah lands a quick right..Little SHOT INSIDE AND DOWN GOES ATTAH FROM A SHOT TO TOP OF HEAD…Right from Attah…2 good lefts from Ramos…30-26 Ramos

Round 4Good right from Ramos…Good right from Attah..double left from Ramos..Good right…Attah lands a left…40-35 Ramos

Round 5 Sharp right from Attah..Left from Ramos..50-45 Ramos

Round 6 Good right has Attah covering up…Ramos lands 2 more punches…Trading lefts..Good left from Attah…right..60-54 Ramos

Round 7Left from Attah..69-64 Ramos

Round 8 Ramos lands a nice combination…79-73 Ramos

Round 9 Chopping right from Attah…Ramos lands a nice combination..Attah lands 3 but Ramos comes back with 5…89-82 Ramos

Round 10 Good left from Attah…Right and left from Ramos…Right from Attah…Left on the ropes…6 punches from Ramos…3 more plus a good right..Attah lands a left…Good left from Attah…99-91 Ramos

LUIS RAMOS WINS BY UNANIMOUS DECISION 100-89;99-91; 99-91

LOS ANGELES, April 17 – On Saturday, April 21, fight fans around the country will get the chance to see more of boxing’s stars as Golden Boy Promotions and SHOWTIME® are excited to announce that additional bouts from the undercard of the highly anticipated world championship showdown between former World Champs Abner Mares and Eric Morel, will be televised. SHOWTIME EXTREME® will televise preliminary fights live from UTEP’s Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas featuring longtime super middleweight contender Librado Andrade against once-beaten Floridian Rowland Bryant in a 10 round battle and 2008 Mexican Olympian Francisco Vargas introduces himself to SHOWTIME viewers with an eight round junior lightweight contest against New Jersey’s Rafael Lora. Also featured (time permitting) will be unbeaten junior middleweight phenom Chris Pearson.

Barry Tompkins will call the action on SHOWTIME EXTREME from ringside with Steve Farhood serving as expert analyst.

Also, highly-regarded lightweight prospect Luis Ramos Jr. and local El Paso favorite Antonio Escalante are slated for non-televised action on the undercard.

“Mares vs. Morel: Battle on the Border” is a 12-round fight for the vacant WBC Super Bantamweight World Championship set for Saturday, April 21 at UTEP’s Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas. The co-featured fights will see Anselmo “Chemito” Moreno vs. David de la Mora in a 12-round fight for Moreno’s WBA Bantamweight Super Championship. The event is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona and AT&T. The SHOWTIME Championship Boxing doubleheader airs live at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). Just prior to the action on SHOWTIME, preliminary bouts will air live on SHOWTIME EXTREME® beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

Tickets, priced at $25, $50, $75 and $150, are available for purchase at the UTEP Ticket Office, all Ticketmaster locations or by phone at (800) 745-3000. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com. For more information, please call: (915) 747-5234.

Ultra-popular around the world for his fierce fighting style in the ring and his gentlemanly nature outside of it, Librado Andrade (30-4, 23 KO’s) has long been a top super middleweight contender, with exciting fights against Lucian Bute, Robert Stieglitz, Mikkel Kessler, Yusaf Mack and Eric Lucas to prove it. In search of his first world title, the 33-year-old from La Habra, California by way of Jesus del Monte, Guanajuato, Mexico is coming off of a third round technical knockout over Matt O’Brien for the WBC Continental Americas belt in August of 2011.

Looking to derail Andrade’s march towards a world championship is 32-year-old Florida native Rowland Bryant (15-1, 10 KO’s). A nine-year professional who knows the time is now to make his move, the hard-hitting Bryant has everything to gain with a win over the well-respected Andrade on April 21.

One of the newest additions to the Golden Boy Promotions roster, Mexico City’s Francisco Vargas (9-0-1, 7 KO’s) will battle Irvington, New Jersey’s Rafael Lora (11-7, 5 KO’s) in an eight-round junior lightweight fight. A 2008 Olympian for Mexico, the 27-year-old Vargas has knocked out his last six opponents, making him a tough hill to climb for any opponent.

Nicknamed “The Dominican Man,” 26-year-old Lora proudly represents his native Dominican Republic and with four first round knockouts on his record, one punch from him can change the direction of a fight immediately. A fearless battler who will take on all comers, Lora’s last six opponents, including World Champion Adrien Broner, had a combined 85-2 record.

A highly accomplished amateur with multiple titles and nearly 100 wins to his name, Chris “Sweet” Pearson (6-0, 3 KO’s) has started to take the professional game by storm with his incredible talent and exciting style. Just 21 years old, Pearson has scored two first round knockouts thus far in his young career and will jump right back into the ring for his third fight of 2012 in a four/six round junior middleweight fight against Phoenix’s Jose Martell (2-1-1, 2 KO’s).

23-year-old Luis Ramos Jr. (21-0, 9 KO’s) is well on his way to big things in the lightweight division as proven by his recent three-fight string of wins over Francisco Lorenzo (W8), David Rodela (KO5) and Raymundo Beltran (W10). Ramos will face an opponent to be named in a 10-round fight.

El Paso’s favorite fighting son Antonio Escalante (25-4, 17 KO’s) is 8-0 in his adopted hometown and the Juarez native has no intentions of seeing that run end on April 21. Escalante scored knockouts over Pipino Cuevas Jr. and Rynell Griffin in 2011 and the former NABO super bantamweight champion will be looking to make a statement at 130 pounds when he takes on Matamoros, Mexico’s Francisco Camacho (10-1, 3 KO’s) in an eight-round matchup.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.twitter.com/abnermares00, or visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing.

For information on SHOWTIME Sports, including exclusive behind-the-scenes video and photo galleries, complete telecast information and more, please visit http://sports.SHO.com, follow www.twitter.com/shosports, and visit www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing.

LOS ANGELES, March 15 – In 2011, former Mexican Olympian Abner Mares left his mark on the professional boxing world by winning and defending his first world championship at bantamweight against former World Champion Joseph King Kong Agbeko. Now, on Saturday, April 21, Mares will begin his quest for a world title in a second weight class as he moves up in weight to take on former World Champion Eric “Little Hands of Steel” Morel of Puerto Rico, in a 12-round bout to be contested at 120 pounds at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas which will be televised live on SHOWTIME®.

“Mares vs. Morel: Battle on the Border” is a 12-round super bantamweight fight presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona and AT&T. The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast airs live at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). Just prior to the action on SHOWTIME, preliminary bouts will air live on SHOWTIME EXTREME® beginning at 7 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

Tickets, priced at $25, $50, $75 and $150, go on sale on Saturday, March 17, at 10 a.m. MT and may be purchased at the UTEP Ticket Office, all Ticketmaster locations or by phone at (800) 745-3000. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com. For more information, please call (915) 747-5234.

Unbeaten in 24 fights, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico native Abner Mares (23-0-1, 13 KO’s) first made his name as a member of Mexico’s 2004 Olympic team, but he didn’t truly show off his amazing talent until he began fighting the top professional bantamweights in the world. Mares fought to a controversial draw with Yonnhy Perez in his first world title fight in 2010, and after decisioning Vic Darchinyan for the WBC Silver Bantamweight title later that year, he set the stage for his IBF Bantamweight World Title winning effort against Joseph King Kong Agbeko in August of 2011 to win SHOWTIME’s Bantamweight Tournament. In his most recent fight on December 3, 2011, Mares repeated his win over Agbeko, successfully defending his crown. Now it’s time for the 26-year-old Mares to seek out new challenges as he moves up to super bantamweight.

San Juan, Puerto Rico’s Eric “Little Hands of Steel” Morel (46-2, 23 KO’s) has defied the odds in recent years, showing that a fighter over 30 can not only compete with the best, but also beat the best. Now 36 years young, the longtime former Flyweight World Champion has been taking out all comers, winning 11 straight since his last defeat to Martin Castillo in 2005. Among his list of vanquished foes are Heriberto Ruiz, Luis Maldonado and Gerry Penalosa, who he defeated for the WBO Interim Bantamweight World title in 2010. On April 21, the former Two-Time World Champion will attack the unbeaten Mares with skill and experience in an effort to hand him his first professional defeat.

More information about a press conference which will take place, Tuesday, March 20 at the Don Haskins Center will be announced shortly. For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.twitter.com/abnermares00 or visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing. Знакомства

For information on SHOWTIME Sports, including exclusive behind-the-scenes video and photo galleries, complete telecast information and more, please visit http://sports.SHO.com, follow www.twitter.com/shosports, and visit www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing.

Former world champion Eric Morel stopped former world title challenger Luis Maldonado after four rounds of their scheduled ten round Jr. Featherweight bout at the Fantasy Springs Resort in Indio, CA.

Morel dropped Maldonado at the end of round one from a right hand and continued to pressure Maldonado until the bout was stopped after four rounds.

Morel, 119 lbs of San Juan, PR is now 44-2 with twenty-two knockouts. Maldonado, 119 1/2 lbs of Mexicali, MX is now 37-5-1.

Good looking twenty year old prospect Randy Caballero stopped Felix Perez in round two of a scheduled six round Super Bantamweight bout.

Caballero dropped Perez in the first from a left to the head and again dropped Perez in round two with a left to the body body and the bout was stopped at 2:42 of round two.

Caballero, 120 1/2 lbs of Cochella, CA is now 9-0 with five knockouts. Perez, 120 1/2 lbs of Carolina, PR is now 7-3.

Ramon Valadez scored a spectacular one punch knockout over Rob Diezel in round one of their scheduled six round Lightweight bout.

After a nice exchange, Diezel walked into a perfect right that knocked him down and out at 1:42 of round one.

Valadez, 131 3/4 lbs of Ontario, CA is now 7-1 with four knockouts. Diezel, 129 lbs of Seattle, WA is now 5-4.

Alfonso Blanco remained undefeated by scoring a four round unanimous decision over Ricardo Malfavon in a Jr. Middleweight bout.

Scores were 39-36 on all cards for Balnco, 153 3/4 lbs of Caracas, Venezuela and is now 4-0. Malfavon, 151 3/4 lbs of Mexico is now 1-5.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, Top Rank was the only bidder for the WBO Bantamweight title fight that will feature champion Fernando Montiel and Interim champ Eric Morel.

Top Rank’s Carl Moretti said the fight will be televised on “Top Rank Live” (Fox Sports in Espanol) and most likely take place July 17 in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Mexico.

“That is the most likely scenario,” Moretti said. “It’s not definite because the contracts have to be sent out, but that is the most likely scenario.”

Montiel, 31, of Mexico, is entitled to 80 percent of the purse offer, meaning $82,000. Puerto Rico’s Morel, 34, a former flyweight titlist, will receive 20 percent ($20,500).

If Montiel-Morel takes place July 17, welterweight Alfonso Gomez, the former world title challenger and former “Contender” star, will face an opponent to be determined in the co-feature.

SAN ANTONIO – Whoever turns out to be the better prizefighter on June 26, one thing is already certain. Puerto Rican Eric Morel is a much better pool hustler than Mexican Jorge Arce.

That much was established on Tuesday afternoon at Dave & Buster’s restaurant where participants in Top Rank’s “La Furia de México 15” gathered for a rescheduled press conference in the northern part of the city. Morel and Arce posed for pictures, answered questions and expressed lots of mutual fondness both before and after their impromptu pool match, as part of the promotion for their co-main-event fight at the Alamodome in June.

The two rivals confessed to being good friends outside the ring and admiring one another’s accomplishments. Both assured local fans and members of the press, however, they would not fight that way when facing one another for the WBO’s interim bantamweight title.

“Very hittable,” is how Morel described Arce’s appearance in recent fights. He also called Arce a “great fighter who’s very, very tough.”

For his part, Arce emphasized Morel’s background as a Puerto Rican, saying, “All know that when a Mexican and a Puerto Rican fight, it is always a battle.”

Arce, who goes by the nickname “El Travieso” (Naughty One) also spoke of the recent birth of his son, Nazareth. Asked about the name, Arce explained, “It was a promise I made to God that if he gave me a son, I would name him after the birthplace of His son.”

More interesting still was Arce’s explanation for his poor showing against Vic Darchinyan last year in Anaheim, Calif. Arce held up the back of his right hand, which sports a noticeable bump at the attachment of his thumb, and explained, “I have to have my hand wrapped extra tight, with extra wraps of tape, or it hurts when I punch. The week before (the fight with Darchinyan), all those things happened in California with (Antonio) Margarito and the wrapping of his hands. So, before my fight, they’re all standing over me, as a Mexican fighter, and saying ‘no, no, no’ about the extra tape. . . . It hurt every time I hit Darchinyan.”

Whatever happens against Morel next month, Arce, one of prizefighting’s most colorful personalities, is certain to have a colorful explanation.

RAUL MARTINEZ & GABRIEL ELIZONDO
Also taking the stage at Tuesday’s press conference were local bantamweight standouts Raul Martinez and Gabriel Elizondo. Much like Arce and Morel before them, Martinez and Elizondo spoke of their close friendship, with Elizondo saying, “(Martinez) is a good friend of mine. We have been friends for a very long time.”

Martinez took the podium and agreed. He then thanked his team and assured the gathering he would be ready for a “very difficult fight.”

He had better be. Very often when two longtime friends make a match together, the fighting is clean but savage, with the lesser man giving more than expected and the better man having to transcend previous performances.

LATIN FURY 15
The Top Rank pay-per-view event will feature Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. vs. John Duddy as its headline fight and is expected to be the most successful event of the “Latin Fury” brand. The card takes place at Alamodome on June 26.