Follow all the action as Sergey Kovalev defends the IBF/WBA/WBO Light Heavyweight championships against fellow undefeated Andre Ward.  The action kicks off at 9 PM ET / 6 PM PT / 5 AM Sunday in Russia.  The action kicks off with a 3 fight undercard featuring Curtis Stevens taking on James De La Rosa in a middleweight bout; Isaac Chilemba fighting Oleksandr Gvozdyk in a light heavyweight bout and Maurice Hooker taking on former world champion Darleys Perez in a junior welterweight bout

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Round 1 Quick right from Ward and left to body…Hard jab drives Ward back…Hard right..Jab

Round 2 Jab from Ward…Left from Kovalev and another..right..Hard right..HUGE RIGHT AND DOWN GOES WARD,.Big right from

Round 3 Good jab from Ward..quick left,,,

Round 4 Kovalev lands a jab

Round 5 Good body shot from Ward,,Hook from Kovalev..Good jab from Ward..body shots in the clinch..Jab from Kovalv..Good right from Ward and jab,,

Round 6 Jab to body from Ward…Good right from Kovalev..Another right..Right..Body shot from Ward and another..

Round 7 Jab from Ward..hard jab ..another good jab…Kovalev lands a left..Right from Ward

Round 8 Good hook from Ward..Kovalev lands a jab..Right hand from ward..body from Ward

Round 9  Combo from Kovalev..Right from Ward,,,Hard right to body..Hard right..Straight right..Hard right from Kovalev..Combination from Kovalev…Hard right from Ward,

Round 10 Kovalev lands a hard counter..Hard right from Ward…Right from Kovalev..Hard right..Left from Ward..Kovalev belleding from nose…Hard right.

Round 11 Solid left hook from Ward..2 rights from Kovalev..Body and head from Ward..Kovalev lands a left..Good jab from Ward..

Round 12 Good left hook from Ward..Good hook from Kovalev..Body shot from Ward..Good body shot from Kovalev,..Jab..

114-113 on all cards…..FOR….WARD

PUNCHES:  Kovalev     Ward

Round 1 Right from Perez and left from Hooker…Left hook from Perez

Round 2 Good left from Hooker..Good right from Perez

Round 3 Hard right wobbles Hooker..

Round 4 Perez lands a right to the head

Round 5

Round 6 Looping right from Perez..

Round 7 Body shot from Perez…

Round 8 2 rights from Perez

Round 9 Good right from Perez…Left hook from Hooker..Left from Perez

Round 10 Hard right from Hooker…Left hook to the body..Good jab from Perez..2 shots from Perez..Right Hand.

97-93 PEREZ; 97-93 HOOKER…95-95 DRAW

PUNCHES:  Hooker 104-485    Perez 146-413

Round 1

Round 2 Body shot from Gvozdyk

Round 3 3 punch combo from Gvozdyk…quick left hook and another

Round 4 Quick left hook by Gvozdyk..Gvozdyl unloads a big combination on the ropes..Chilemba bleeding from the nose..Left hook from Chilemba..Good right hand to the body..Good right over the top..Gvozdyk lands a perfect uppercut..2 good body shots from Chilemba..

Round 5 Good right from Chilemba..uppercut..Good bidy shot..Gvozdyk lands a left to the head..

Round 6 Good left from Gvozdyk…Jab..left…Hard right to thehead..

Round 7 Gvozdyk pressuring

R0und 8 Right shakes Gvozdyk up..Hard right to head and body..CHILEMBA CANT CONTINUE AFTER THE ROUND IS COMPLETE

Round 1 Big lefts hurts De La Rosa..Right…Working in the corner..LEFT AND DOWN GOES DE LA ROSA…

Round 2 De La Rosa cut over left eye..Hard combination on the ropes By Stevens..De La Rosa pumping jab..

Round 3 Stevens landing hard body shots..Great exchange..Big left hook and hard right from Stevens..Big left hook..Good uppercut from De la Rosa..Left hook from Stevens..Hard left to body from De la Rosa..

Round 4 De La Rosa landing jabs in the corner…Body shot from Stevens…

Round 5 Stevens lands a body shot…De La Rosa lands some jabs a right

Round 6 Hard right from De La Rosa..

Round 7 Good Straight right from Stevens…

Round 8 1 POINT DEDUCTED FROM STEVENS FOR A LOW BLOW…Counter right from Stevens.

Round 9 Stevens has a hurt left hand…Right to body from Stevens

Round 10 Good right from Stevens..Right over the top…right to the body…

Punches:  Stevens  148-457   De La Rosa 123-672

98-90; 96-92 TWICE FOR CURTIS STEVENS

LAS VEGAS — Andre Ward delivered. He got stung by punches early. He was down early, on all fours and only canvas looking back up into his dazed eye. But he got up. He adjusted. And, in the end, he did what he has done for just about as long as anybody can recall.

Ward-Kovalev undercard finally ends with a dull draw

A forgettable undercard finally came to an end with a result that summed up everything that came before it.

Gvozdyk punishes Chilemba for a TKO victory

Ukrainian light-heavyweight Oleksandr Gvozdyk calls himself The Nail. It’s an appropriate nickname. At least, it was on HBO’s pay-per-view undercard before the Sergey Kovalev-Andre Ward main event.

Stevens retains minor middleweight title with a unanimous decision

Curtis Stevens retained his role as a fringe middleweight contender with a 96-92, 98-90, 96-92 decision over James De La Rosa for a minor 160-pound title in the first pay-per-view bout on a card featuring Kovalev and Ward Saturday.

Claressa Shields wins pro debut

There’s more than Olympic gold in Claressa Shields’ possession. There some pro power, too. Shields, a two-time gold medalist from Flint, Mich. used it repeatedly in a head-rocking debut for a unanimous decision over Franchon Crews, a Baltimore super-middleweight who also was making her debut on the Kovalev-Ward undercard.

A sparse crowd booed. Only Tyler McCreary cheered. The Toledo featherweight had good reason to. McCreary (12-0, 6 KOs) won a controversial majority decision over Vincent Jennings (5-3-1, 4 KOs) of Grand Rapids, Mich., in a dreary eight-rounder in the fourth bout on the pay-per-view card featuring Kovalev-Ward

Toledo junior-welterweight Sonny Frederickson (15-0, 9 KOs) employed quicker hands and superior reach to score a unanimous decision over Gabriel Duluc (11-2, 2 KOs), a Boston fighter who was left with nasty over his left eye midway through an eight-rounder on the non-televised portion of the Kovalev-Ward card.

Rock rock solid in winning one-sided decision

Philadelphia heavyweight Darmani Rock stayed unbeaten (6-0, 4 KOs) with a one-sided decision — a four-round shutout on all three scorecards — over Brice Ritani-Coe of San Pedro, Calif., (4-5-1, 3 KOs) in the last bout before HBO’s pay-per-view telecast of the Kovalev-Ward card.

Russian middleweight scores Kovalev-like stoppage

Russian middleweight Bakhraim Murtazaliev (7-0, 5 KOs) came into the ring wearing trunks with Sergey Kovalev’s last name on the belt line. It didn’t take long for the Robert Garcia-trained Murtazaliev to do what the guy with the familiar name does in the second bout on Kovalev-Ward card. He crushed Bortirsher Obidov (6-1-1, 2 KOs), knocking down the Uzbekistan fighter three times in the second for a stoppage at 2:52 of the round.

First Bell: Kovalev-Ward card underway with middleweights in opening bout
In an empty NHL arena seven hours before the main event, a couple of unknown middleweights opened a card that would end later Saturday night with Sergey Kovalev and Andre Ward.

Meiirim Nursulatnov and Henry Beckford stayed upright. Nobody got iced. But heavy-handed Nursulatnov (1-0) of Kazakhstan emerged with an easy victory in his pro debut, winning a unanimous decision with a shutout on all three scorecards over Beckford (5-5, 1 KO) of Hempstead, N.Y

Las Vegas, Nevada: On November 19, Curtis “Cerebral Assassin” Stevens (28-5, 21 KOs) will attempt to defend his WBA Continental Americas Middleweight Title against James “The King” De La Rosa (23-4, 13 KOs) in a 10-round bout which kicks off the Kovalev-Ward “Pound For Pound” HBO Pay-Per-View telecast live from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. Below is the scouting report for this exciting match-up:

Category
Curtis “The Cerebral Assassin” Stevens
“King” James De La Rosa
Age
31
28
Record
28-5 (21 KOs)
23-4 (13 KOs)
Strength
Curtis is a power-puncher that can end the fight with any punch he throws. He has plenty of experience and has fought better opposition than his opponent.
James has quick hands and is fast on his feet. He is a brave fighter who has never turned down a fight. He also has faced a number of current and former ranked opposition in his young career.
Weakness
Stevens has been somewhat inactive, his recent victory in May of this year was his first time in a boxing ring since 2014. He also has a tendency to not let his hands go, which could be costly when fighting De La Rosa who is in a must-win situation.
Similar to his opponent, James has been somewhat inactive with only one fight since 2014. He also has a suspect chin; he’s been stopped once in his career. He will have to tighten up his defense when facing a heavy-handed puncher in Curtis Stevens.
Experience
He is a young, but seasoned veteran. Curtis has been on the biggest stage of them all when he came up short in a title bout against GGG and he also holds a TKO come-from-behind win over current top-rated contender Tureano Johnson.
Other than his recent inactivity, James was an active fighter for the majority of his career. He earned a clear-cut decision win over former title-contender Alfredo Angulo in his most recent win.
Power
Curtis has knockout power in both hands; if he connects clean with any punch it can be a game-changer at any time.
King James is more of a technical boxer who relies more on his speed than power.
Speed
Curtis turns it up a notch when he smells blood. He shows off his quick hands and savage-like combinations.
James is naturally lighter in weight and will be sure to use his quick feet and fast hands to attempt to take Stevens out of his rhythm.
Endurance
Stevens is a young veteran who has proven his endurance; he has gone 10 rounds on four separate occasions and 12 rounds twice.
De La Rosa has proven that he can go the distance without an issue. He has gone a full 10 rounds on six different occasions.
Accuracy
If Curtis can work his way to the inside, then he may be able to utilize some accurate bodywork.
King is an accurate fighter with a sharp jab and solid left hook. If he can keep his composure and put his punches together, his accuracy can become a problem for anyone.
Defense
Curtis’s best defense has been his offense. He often finds himself in situations in which his opponents are running from him rather than running towards him.
James is quick on his feet and moves around well. He will need to double-up on his jab, as he has done in the past, in order to keep his opponent from breaking through his guard.
Chin
Although Curtis has been stopped in his career, he has a solid chin. He has been knocked down from some big shots by big punchers and has gotten back to his feet.
His chin has been an issue throughout the past couple of years. He has been stopped once in his career and has been knocked down multiple times.
Style
Curtis is a no-nonsense, in-your-face power-puncher who is always looking to end the night early rather than to drag it out.
King James is a slick boxer who gets very busy with his jab. Although he is not a heavy puncher, he is a brave fighter who likes to engage.
Intangibles
Curtis is a fighter who, at one time, was written-off by critics of the sport. However, he continues to rise to the occasion and beat the odds. After a lengthy layoff, Curtis returned with a bang this past May when he defeated previously undefeated prospect Patrick Teixeira with a brutal second round TKO. He is willing to take on any top-rated middleweight but none are willing to accept his challenge. So he decided he would rather be in the ring than on the sideline waiting for someone to step up.
At one point in time King James was a highly regarded prospect. He experienced some minor bumps in the road but is eager to get his name back in the mix. After two consecutive losses to highly regarded prospect Hugo Centeno Jr and Jason Quigley, James would not even consider a tune-up fight. He believes in his abilities and has chosen an opponent who many other top middleweights are avoiding. He understands the challenge of facing a seasoned veteran and big puncher like Stevens, but he is focused on the possibilities that lie ahead if he wins.
Crowd Support
Curtis is a fan-friendly fighter and does his best to provide fans with the knockouts they love to see.
De La Rosa has fought in Las Vegas on four separate occasions, including his recent bout.
The Match-up
1. Will Curtis look past this fight and look to bigger fights on the horizon?
2. Will James be able to pull the upset like he did with Angulo?
3. Will Curtis be able to cut off the ring and not fall into fighting Delarosa’s fight?
4. Will Delarosa be able to handle Curtis’ power?

According to Main Events’ matchmaker and 2015 NABF Matchmaker of the Year Jolene Mizzone, “Curtis Stevens could be looking ahead at the bigger fights with the likes of Canelo Alvarez, David Lemieux, Billy Joe Sanders, to name a few and de la Rosa is looking to come in and put a stop to those big plans. When a fighter like de la Rosa doesn’t hesitate to accept a fight I wonder, ‘What does he know that I don’t know?!’ Curtis needs to make sure he doesn’t fall into the trap of looking past de la Rosa.”

Kovalev vs. Ward “Pound For Pound”, a 12-round mega-fight for the WBO/IBF/WBA light heavyweight title at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, is presented by Main Events, Roc Nation Sports, Krusher Promotions and Andre Ward Promotions and is sponsored by the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, Corona Extra, Monster Products, JetLux and Zappos. The championship event will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. Tickets are available on axs.com and the T-Mobile Arena box office.
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Oxnard, California: As knockout artist Curtis “The Cerebral Assassin” Stevens (28-5, 21 KOs) prepares to face James “The King” De La Rosa (23-4, 13 KOs) on the live HBO Pay-Per-View undercard of Kovalev-Ward “Pound For Pound” he once again has teamed up with world-renowned trainer, John David Jackson.

Stevens, 31 of Brownsville, Brooklyn, New York is known for his one-punch knockout power. For years he climbed through the ranks of the middleweight division with ease. Then after a couple of setbacks he reassessed his entire strategy. For his most recent bout against Patrick Teixeira on the Canelo-Khan HBO Pay-Per-View undercard he worked with former two-division world champion John David Jackson. Stevens stopped Teixeira in the second round to secure the upset victory and the WBC Continental Americas Middleweight Title. The victory over Teixeira catapulted Curtis back into the rankings of all four major sanctioning bodies. On Nov. 19 Stevens and Jackson will team up again this time to face 28-year old Mexico native James “The King” De La Rosa on the Kovalev-Ward “Pound For Pound” HBO Pay-Per-View undercard.

Making fights for Stevens has not come easy for Main Events’ matchmaker and 2015 NABF Matchmaker of the Year Jolene Mizzone who said, “Curtis is always mentioned with the top-ten fighters in the middleweight division but when it comes to actually making a fight with him, no one will ever sign on the dotted line! A lot of fighters talk a big game when it comes to a fight with Stevens but De La Rosa was the only one who stepped up and took the fight. Kudos to De La Rosa for accepting.”

When asked what makes fighters so scared to face him, Stevens said, “I think people are afraid that I am with John now. I believe they don’t want to get hit. They know I hit hard and they know now I am more focused than ever. Me and John are like peanut butter and jelly. John tells me to be more relaxed and that the knockout will come. I take every fight seriously. There are no easy fights. I just have to go in there and do what I do. Once again I can showcase my talent. I just need to go in there and do what I do – check in and check out.

In his first fight with Jackson, Stevens demonstrated great power in both hands. Jackson explained, “Most people when they look at Curtis all they see is a tremendous left hook but he has a tremendous right hand also. I wanted him to start using that right and in his last fight he knocked the kid out with his right hand. He showed the fans that night that he has power in both hands. He is a two-handed fighter with a two-handed attack. Most people look at him as a left-hook artist but they need to realize he has a right hand and he can use both of them. I was happy with what he did against Teixeira. He was working on it every day in camp and come fight night he let his hands go. Curtis is a very intelligent fighter.”

Kovalev vs. Ward “Pound For Pound”, a 12-round mega-fight for the WBO/IBF/WBA light heavyweight title at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, is presented by Main Events, Roc Nation Sports, Krusher Promotions and Andre Ward Promotions and is sponsored by the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, Corona Extra, Monster Products, JetLux and Zappos. The championship event will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. Tickets are available on axs.com and the T-Mobile Arena box office.

Fans can catch the freeview telecast beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT on the Pay-Per-View events channel prior to the official telecast, and to be announced cable, satellite, and telco channels. The freeview will also be available through live streaming on HBO Boxing’s YouTube channel.
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Las Vegas, NV: The Kovalev vs. Ward “Pound for Pound” HBO Pay-Per-View telecast on November 19 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. will now include the 10-round middleweight showdown between Curtis “The Cerebral Assassin” Stevens (28-5, 21 KOs) and James “The King” De La Rosa (23-4, 13 KOs).
Stevens fought earlier this year on the Canelo-Khan HBO Pay-Per-View telecast and scored a spectacular second-round upset knockout of then-undefeated Brazilian Patrick Teixeira. When asked about the upgrade to the televised card Curtis replied, “I know it is Kovalev-Ward but now it is Kovalev-Ward-Stevens. Time to show out!”

De La Rosa was in a similar situation when he defeated former title contender Alfredo Angulo on the undercard of Mayweather-Maidana. He said, “Déjà vu all over again. The same thing happened when I fought Angulo. I am happy to fight on the PPV telecast. I need this win so I’ll leave it all in the ring come November 19.”

Main Events’ CEO Kathy Duva added, “After we announced Curtis would be fighting on the untelevised portion of the Kovalev-Ward PPV card, we heard from a lot of fans asking that the fight be moved to TV so they could see Curtis. What the fans want, the fans get!”

Stevens, 31, of Brownsville, Brooklyn returned to the ring this past May 7 and stopped previously undefeated Brazilian prospect Patrick Teixeira in the second round on the HBO Pay-Per-View® undercard of Canelo-Khan. The victory over Teixeira catapulted Stevens back into the ranking of all four sanctioning bodies, including Top 10 ratings in both the IBF and WBC. He is hoping to continue that momentum and secure another shot at the middleweight title.

De La Rosa, 28, is originally from Mexico but now resides in San Benito, Texas. His most recent win was a unanimous decision upset over former title contender Alfredo Angulo on the undercard of Mayweather-Maidana. De La Rosa has suffered two back-to-back losses since his win over Angulo but both have come at the hands of two previously undefeated prospects in Hugo Centeno Jr. and Jason Quigley. Commonly, fighters in his position would prefer a tune-up to get back on a winning track but, in this case, De La Rosa opted out of that easy route and decided to test himself against another former title contender in Stevens.

Kovalev vs. Ward “Pound For Pound”, a 12-round mega-fight for the WBO/IBF/WBA Light Heavyweight World Titles, takes place Saturday, Nov. 19, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. The event will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. “Pound for Pound” is presented by Main Events, Roc Nation Sports, Krusher Promotions and Andre Ward Promotions and is sponsored by MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, Rosneft and Corona Extra. Tickets are on sale now at AXS.com and the T-Mobile Arena Box Office.

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA (October 6, 2016): Curtis “Cerebral Assassin” Stevens (28-5, 21 KOs) returns to the ring and the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on the Kovalev-Ward “Pound For Pound” non-televised undercard to face James “The King” De La Rosa (23-4, 13 KOs) in a ten-round middleweight showdown.

Stevens, 31, of Brownsville, Brooklyn returned to the ring on May 7 of this year and stopped previously undefeated Brazilian prospect Patrick Teixeira in the second round on the HBO Pay-Per-View® undercard of Canelo-Khan. The victory over Teixeira catapulted Stevens back into the ranking of all four sanctioning bodies, including top ten ratings in both the IBF and WBC. He is hoping to continue that momentum and secure another shot at the middleweight title.

De La Rosa, 28, is originally from Mexico but now resides in San Benito, Texas. His most recent win was a unanimous decision upset over former title contender Alfredo Angulo on the undercard of Mayweather-Maidana. De La Rosa has suffered two back-to-back losses since his win over Angulo but both have come at the hands of two previously undefeated prospects in Hugo Centeno Jr. and Jason Quigley. Commonly, fighters in his position would prefer a tune-up to get back on a winning track but, in this case, De La Rosa opted out of that easy route and decided to test himself against another former title contender in Stevens.

According to Stevens, “I’m happy someone is willing to fight me. Bless the Gods. Now, it’s time to turn it up a notch and get ready to check in and check out. The Bully is back!”

This will be Stevens’s second fight working with world-renowned trainer and former world champion John David Jackson. Jackson added, “Curtis Stevens is happy to be stepping back in the ring on November 19 against De La Rosa. He is eager to show the world that he deserves another chance to win the middleweight world title.”

“It’s always good to fight on a big stage,” said De La Rosa. “As always, I’m coming to fight and put on a show. I know I have a tough fighter in front of me in Curtis Stevens. With his style and my style, we’ll warm the fans up for Kovalev-Ward. Thanks to Main Events and AC Sports Management, LLC for putting this together.”

De La Rosa’s manager Adrian Clark added, “This is a must win situation for James and I know that he has the potential to pull off an upset. Curtis Stevens is a very dangerous opposition but again, I believe that JDLR can spoil things and leave Vegas with a ‘W’. It is great to finally work with Main Events again. It has been too long!”

Main Events’ matchmaker and 2015 NABF Matchmaker of the Year Jolene Mizzone had this to say about the match-up: “Kudos to both guys for taking this fight. Curtis Stevens could have waited around for someone to finally accept his challenge, but he wants to keep busy and challenge himself at the same time. James could have looked for that every popular “tune-up” fight but instead opted for a much tougher competitor in Stevens. It’s a breath of fresh air when I get to work with boxers who want to fight!”

*Note: This morning (October 6, 2016) Curtis Stevens and his fiancée welcomed their son King Stevens at 10:12 am. King weighed in 4 lbs 12oz. Mother and baby are both doing well.

Kovalev vs. Ward takes place Saturday, Nov. 19, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. “Pound for Pound” is presented by Main Events, Roc Nation Sports, Krusher Promotions and Andre Ward Promotions and sponsored by MGM Grand Hotel & Casino.

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LAS VEGAS – Canelo Alvarez had none of the speed. None of the footwork. But he had one punch. It was enough and now he has it all.

Canelo’s power was summed up Saturday night in one mighty strike that sent Amir Khan bouncing off the canvas like a flat board off a concrete floor midway through a bout that re-asserted the Mexican’s ability to dictate what’s next. Who’s next.

As a statement, it was as definitive as it was dramatic. It showed just how quickly Canelo (47-1-1, 33 KOs) can turn things, everything and anything, in his favor. For weeks, there was a debate about a 155-pound catch weight for a bout that was his first defense of the WBC’s 160-pound title.

Five pounds here, five pounds there. The power is heavy on any scale. It landed, lightning bolt-like, just when it looked as if a major upset was brewing. Khan’s hand speed and agile feet were giving Canelo fits throughout the first five rounds. In the second round, a knot appeared on Canelo’s right cheek bone. But it was there long enough to become a critical target for Khan’s long and accurate jab.

“I was getting in the ring with a big guy,’’ said Khan, who was taken to a nearby emergency room for observation after the bout. “Unfortunately, I didn’t make it to the end.’’

In one momentary lapse, Khan (31-4, 19 KOs) ducked and Canelo threw a right hand counter that landed like a bomb on a chin that has long been a target. At 2:37 of the sixth round, it was over in knockout in an HBO pay-per-view bout, the first at the new T-Mobile Arena.

The crowd went wild. For a few scary moments, Khan never heard the roar. He was out. The back of his head had bounced off the canvas at least once. A crowd of Nevada officials and corner men surrounded him like paramedics. They waved a white towel in what looked to be desperate attempt at getting him to regain consciousness. It looked like an accident scene.

All the while, Canelo paraded from one side of the ring to the other, celebrating his victory. He waved at Gennady Golovkin, who was in a ringside seat.

“i invited him into the ring,’’ Canelo said. “Like we say in Mexico: ‘We don’t f— around.’

“I don’t fear anyone. We don’t come to play in this sport. I fear no one in this sport.’’

When asked if he would fight GGG this year in a title defense mandated by the WBC, Canelo said he was ready.

“Right now,’’ he said. “Right now, I’ll put on the gloves.’’

That didn’t happen, of course. And there’s still doubt about whether it will happen later this year. Canelo has all the leverage, which means he could continue to demand a 155-pound catch-weight, even at the risk of having the WBC title stripped from his thick waist.

“Gennady, Gennady where are you?’’ Canelo promoter Oscar De La Hoya said from the ring after the bout. “We want to talk to you, talk to and your representatives tomorrow.’’

According to the WBC, Canelo has 15 days to negotiate a deal with GGG.

“I am old school,’’ Golovkin said before opening bell. “Middleweight is 160. I respect the sport of boxing.”

But Canelo holds the upper hand at the negotiating table, especially if the pay-per-view audience is anywhere near the one million mark.

For now, all of boxing’s respect and its perks are on Canelo’s side of the table. That’s power, too.
Attachments area

David Lemieux says it’s a beginning.

Frankie Gomez finally passed a test that will allow him to graduate from prospect to contender.

Curtis Stevens changed his nickname.

Diego De La Hoya has more than a legend’s last name. He has some speed and sting in his hands too.

Jason Quigley waved an Irish flag. Danced to Irish music.

Rashidi Ellis walked out of T-Mobile Arena the way he walked in.

It was a double debut.

LAS VEGAS (May 5, 2016) Fighters on the undercard of Canelo vs. Khan hosted a final press conference today at MGM Grand Hotel and Casino ahead of Saturday’s bouts. Co-main event fighters David Lemieux (34-3, 31 KOs) and Glen “Jersey Boy” Tapia (23-2, 15 KOs) were joined by Mauricio “El Maestro” Herrera (22-5, 7 KOs), Frankie “Pitbull” Gomez (20-0, 13 KOs), Patrick Teixeira (26-0, 22 KOs), and Curtis Stevens (27-5, 20 KOs), all of whom will fight on the HBO Pay-Per-View broadcast. They were also joined by preliminary undercard fighters Diego De La Hoya (14-0, 8 KOs), Rocco Santomauro (13-0, 1 KO), Jason “El Animal” Quigley (10-0, 9 KOs), “King” James De La Rosa (23-3, 13 KOs), Lamont Roach, Jr. (10-0, 3 KOs), Rashidi Ellis (14-0, 11 KOs), and David Mijares, who will make his professional debut on Saturday at the new T-Mobile Arena.

Below is what the fighters had to say at today’s undercard final press conference:

ERIC GOMEZ, Senior Vice President for Golden Boy Promotions:

“We have put together a fantastic undercard bursting with talent. From the opening bout to the main event, each of these undercard fights are sure to bring the action and excitement to T-Mobile Arena leading up to the main event.

“Thank you to our broadcast partner, HBO – the best network for boxing. HBO will broadcast three of the undercard fights on Saturday evening including the co-main event between David Lemieux and Glen ‘Jersey Boy’ Tapia; the welterweight showdown between Mauricio “El Maestro” Herrera and Frankie ‘Pitbull’ Gomez; and a 10-round matchup for the vacant WBC De Las Americas Middleweight Title between Brazil’s Patrick Teixeira and Brooklyn bomber Curtis ‘Cerebral Assassin’ Stevens.

“To get fight fans ready for the final four bouts of the evening, the Canelo vs. Khan preliminary undercard will present two action-packed battles starring two of the game’s top rising stars, streaming live on HBO Boxing YouTube Page. In a 10-round super bantamweight bout, Mexicali’s Diego De La Hoya will put his perfect record on the line against Shane Mosley’s Rocco Santomauro of Duarte, California, putting back life into the De La Hoya vs. Mosley rivalry.

“Plus, Donegal, Ireland’s Jason ‘El Animal’ Quigley will try to keep his impressive professional run going when he takes on Benito, Texas’ seasoned fighter ‘King’ James De La Rosa in a 10-round middleweight bout.”

BERNARD HOPKINS, Future Hall of Famer and Golden Boy Promotions Business Partner:

“I am excited to be a part of this. Undercard boxers have an opportunity to get into it. Two of the biggest months in boxing are May and September. The middleweight class is my baby and in the conversation and that makes me happy. I’m looking for better fights to come. Enjoy, sit back and write what you write, but pay attention.”

DAVID LEMIEUX, Former IBF Middleweight World Champion:

“It’s great to be here back on the big stage and preform in from of the world again and make a good mark in Vegas. I am extremely excited to perform well. I am ready and very excited to give the fans a great show and they will not be disappointed at the end of the night. Thank you to Golden Boy. I try not to leave anything behind in the gym. We’ll see how Tapia comes with on his end, and I’m excited to see the Canelo – Khan fight.”

GLEN “JERSEY BOY” TAPIA, Middleweight Contender:

“To tell you the truth, I know most of you guys have me losing this fight but I know what I can bring to the table. I learned from all my losses and I can’t wait to show you guys what I can do. And when we look back, we can show you how wrong you were.”

MARVIN SOMODIO, Trainer for Glen Tapia:

“This fight is going to be very tough, Lemieux is ready. Tapia is ready too though. We had a very great camp under Freddie Roach.”

MAURICIO “EL MAESTRO” HERRERA, Former WBA Interim Super Light Weight World Champion:

“I never dreamed of getting this far and I am hoping to stay at this level. I’ve fought six to seven undefeated guys and I gave them hell. Fighting an undefeated fighter is nothing new. I’m a dream killer. Bring me any prospects and lets see if they are the real deal.”

FRANKIE “PITBULL” GOMEZ, Undefeated Welterweight Contender:

“I’m really excited to be apart of this event. I know my opponent is strong, but I am ready to do my best. This is my second opportunity, and I will take advantage of it.”

PATRICK TEIXEIRA, Undefeated Middleweight Prospect:

“I’m really excited to be a part of this event. I know my opponent is strong, but I am ready to do my best. I want to take the future world title back to Brazil.”

CURITS STEVENS, Former World Title Challenger:

“I am physically ready, in great shape, and mentally prepared. Momma said to knock you out.”

JOHN DAVID JACKSON, Trainer for Curtis Stevens:

“People in the sports world have been talking, ‘Is Curtis ready? What makes this opponent great? This is the first fight. He has more experience in the ring.”

DIEGO DE LA HOYA, WBC Youth World Super Bantamweight Champion:

“If he wants to fight I will leave my life in the ring like a war. Like every great Mexican.”

ROCCO SANTOMAURO, Undefeated Super Bantamweight Prospect:

“I want to thank Golden Boy and give a huge thank you Diego De La Hoya. I am here to win. Not a lot of prospects want to take on other undefeated prospects, and we are here to put on a show.”

SHANE MOSLEY, Trainer for Rocco Santomauro:

“I’m excited and it’s like I’m fighting. This will be a great fight on the undercard on Saturday night.”

JASON “EL ANIMAL” QUIGLEY, Middleweight Prospect:

“I’d just to like to take a chance to thank everyone. A lot of Irish fans came out, and I know what I am capable of. I have sparred over 160 rounds. Not only this for this fight, but for every fight, I come at 110 percent. This is why I came from Ireland. Come Saturday night, I’m ready to take care of business.”

JAMES DE LA ROSA, Middleweight Contender:

“I’d like to thank everyone. I want to thank the man upstairs. I hope Quigley’s ready ’cause I’m ready and I’ve trained hard to leave my mark.”

LAMONT ROACH, JR, Undefeated Super Featherweight Prospect:

“Happy Cinco de Mayo! Thank you to everyone for putting me in this position. This is my second Pay-Per-View card. Bernard Hopkins told me to take full advantage of it and obviously I did. I appreciate everything and I am excited.”

RASHIDI ELLIS, Undefeated Super Welterweight Prospect:

“My birthday is fight night. Thank you Golden Boy Promotions. I had the best sparring training, and I am ready to go and ready to give on a show.”

DAVID MIJARES, Super Lightweight Prospect:

“Man, this is something else and I am very fortunate to be treated like this. I want to thank Golden Boy Promotions for the fight and for being on the undercard of these amazing fighters. I can’t wait to get in there and get my job done.”

Canelo vs. Khan, a 12-round fight for Canelo’s WBC, Ring Magazine and Lineal Middleweight World Championships, is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Canelo Promotions and sponsored by “Cerveza Tecate, Born Bold,” O’Reilly Auto Parts, Casa Mexico Tequila, DOOM® — Fight Like Hell on May 13, and HANDS OF STONE: The True Story of Roberto Duran, in theaters this August. David Lemieux vs. Glen Tapia is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Eye of the Tiger Management and Patrick Teixeira vs. Curtis Stevens is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Main Events. The mega-event will take place Saturday, May 7 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

Tickets priced at $1,500, $1,000, $800, $600, $400, $250 and $150, not including applicable service charges and taxes, with a total ticket limit of 12 per person (a limit of 10 per person at the $1,500, $1,000, $800, $600 and $400 price levels and a limit of two [2] per person at the $250 and $150 price level) are on sale now. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849). Tickets also will be available for purchase at www.t-mobilearena.com or www.axs.com.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com or www.hbo.com/boxing, follow us on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @canelo, @amirkingkhan, @OscarDeLaHoya and @HBOboxing, become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing or www.Facebook.com/HBOboxing, join us on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing, @canelo, @amirkingkhan, @OscarDeLaHoya and @HBOboxing, and follow the conversation using #CaneloKhan.

MONTREAL (March 11) – Fighters David Lemieux (34-3, 31 KOs) and James de la Rosa (23-3, 13 KOs) weighed in at 165.6 pounds and 162 pounds respectively today at their official weigh-in from the Casino de Montreal. Lemieux, who came in 2.6 pounds overweight from the contracted weight of 163 pounds, had Canadian co-promoter and manager, Camille Estephan, negotiate with De La Rosa’s camp to try to reach an agreement.

“Despite offering De La Rosa an increase on his purse, De La Rosa has refused to fight due to the weight issue,” said Camille Estephan, President of Eye of the Tiger Management. “He really did not feel comfortable fighting at weight higher than originally agreed. We did make an offer to local undefeated fighter as an alternative opponent however; the fight was not approved by the commission.”

The middleweight event would have marked David Lemieux’s return to the ring after a sell-out event at The Mecca of Boxing, Madison Square Garden, in New York, on October 17, 2015, when he faced unified middleweight world champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin.
The rest of the card will continue as scheduled with Steven “Bang Bang” Butler (14-0-1, 11 KOs) taking on Sladjan “The Tiger” Janjanin (13-0, 11 KOs) in a 10-round now main event for the vacant IBF Youth Super Welterweight Title and Schiller “Batman” Hyppolite (19-1, 13 KOs) facing Darnell “Deezol” Boon (23-22, 12 KOs) to broadcast live in the U.S. by FOX Deportes and will be available in English via live stream by Ring TV, both starting at 10:00 p.m. ET/ 7:00 p.m. PT.
The March 12 event featuring Steven Butler vs. Sladjan Jananin is presented by Eye of the Tiger Management in association with Golden Boy Promotions. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. E.T. and the first fight begins at 7:00 p.m. E.T. The event will be broadcast in HD for $59.99 and $54.99 in SD on Indigo and all pay-per-view channels across Canada starting at 9:00 p.m. E.T. and the undercard will be televised by TVA Sports starting at 7:00 p.m. E.T. The U.S. broadcast is presented by FOX Deportes and via live stream by Ring TV starting at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT.

MONTREAL (March 10, 2016) – Former IBF Middleweight World Champion David Lemieux (34-3, 31 KOs) and his opponent San Benito, Texas’ “King” James De La Rosa (23-3, 13 KOs) hosted a final press conference, yesterday, ahead of their 10-round middleweight showdown on March 12 at Montreal’s Olympia Theatre.

The exciting middleweight battle is set to broadcast live in the U.S. by FOX Deportes and will be available in English via live stream by Ring TV, both starting at 7:00 p.m. PT/ 10:00 p.m. ET. Below are what the fighters had to say about their upcoming bout:

DAVID LEMIEUX, Former IBF Middleweight World Champion:
“I’m just coming back from a big fight, but I’ve moved on. I am ready to step into the ring to win.

“I’m glad to be back home with all the fans who have supported me throughout my career. People who see this fight will get their money’s worth, it’s going to be an exciting fight.”

JAMES DE LA ROSA, Middleweight Contender:

“I am here to fight. I had a great training camp and feel confident that on fight night I will be the best.”

CAMILLE ESTEPHAN, President of Eye of the Tiger Management:

“We have done our work in and out of the ring and we are happy to announce that everything is set in motion for a wonderful gala this Saturday at the Olympia.

“We also look forward to watch our young and fierce future champions on the undercard take on some serious opponents and of course happy to have David with his home fans.”

Tickets for the event are on sale now starting at $59 CAN and $349 CAN for ringside and available at www.admission.com. For further information, visit www.eottm.com and www.goldenboypromotions.com or follow on Twitter @Lemieuxboxing, @KingJamesDLR, @EOTMVD and @GoldenBoyBoxing.

David Lemieux vs. James de la Rosa is a 10-round fight presented by Eye of the Tiger Management in association with Golden Boy Promotions. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. E.T. and the first fight begins at 7:00 p.m. E.T. The event will be broadcast in HD for $59.99 and $54.99 in SD on Indigo and all pay-per-view channels across Canada starting at 9:00 p.m. E.T. and the undercard will be televised by TVA Sports starting at 7:00 p.m. E.T. The U.S. broadcast is presented by FOX Deportes and via live stream by Ring TV starting at 7:00 p.m. PT/10:00 p.m. ET.

MONTREAL (March 8, 2016) – Montreal’s biggest boxing star, former IBF Middleweight World Champion David Lemieux (34-3, 31 KOs) will make his grand return to the ring against San Benito, Texas’ “King” James De La Rosa (23-3, 13 KOs) on March 12 at Montreal’s Olympia Theatre. The exciting middleweight battle will be broadcast live in the U.S. by FOX Deportes and will be available in English via live stream by Ring TV, both starting at 7:00 p.m. PT/ 10:00 p.m. ET. The Ring TV live stream is available on RingTVLive.com, YipTV.com and the Ring TV channel via Amazon Fire, Roku and FilmOn.com.

The undercard for the highly anticipated main event features some of Montreal’s brightest stars. Opening the FOX Deportes broadcast, Schiller “Batman” Hyppolite (19-1, 13 KOs) will face Darnell “Deezol” Boon (23-22, 12 KOs) in a 10-round battle and Steven “Bang Bang” Butler (14-0-1, 11 KOs) will take on Sladjan “The Tiger” Janjanin (13-0, 11 KOs) in a 10-round co-main event match-up for the vacant IBF Youth Super Welterweight Title.

“David Lemieux is a power house fighter with star quality, and U.S. audiences will get to see him in the ring again for the first time in 2016 on Fox Deportes March 12,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “His skill and speed will surely be a tough match for ‘King’ James De La Rosa, making for an entertaining fight for the fans.”

“This Saturday, March 12 we offer you a night to be proud of,” said Camille Estephan, President of Eye of the Tiger Management. “If you are a fan of boxing you will fall in love with the sport and if you are already in love with the sport well, you’ll enjoy it 100 times more. An intimate, incredible nearby unparalleled experience! Be there, truly an experience not to be missed.”

Tickets for the event are on sale now starting at $59 CAN and $349 CAN for ringside and available at www.admission.com. For further information, visit www.eottm.com and www.goldenboypromotions.com or follow on Twitter @Lemieuxboxing, @KingJamesDLR, @EOTMVD and @GoldenBoyBoxing.

David Lemieux vs. James de la Rosa is a 12-round fight presented by Eye of the Tiger Management in association with Golden Boy Promotions. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. E.T. and the first fight begins at 7:00 p.m. E.T. The event will be broadcast in HD for $59.99 and $54.99 in SD on Indigo and all pay-per-view channels across Canada starting at 9:00 p.m. E.T. and the undercard will be televised by TVA Sports starting at 7:00 p.m. E.T. The U.S. broadcast is presented by FOX Deportes and via live stream by Ring TV starting at 7:00 p.m. PT/10:00 p.m. ET.

MONTREAL (Jan. 19, 2016) – After a sell-out at The Mecca of Boxing, Madison Square Garden, in New York, on October 17, 2015, Eye of the Tiger Management and Golden Boy Promotions is proud to announce, that former IBF Middleweight Champion, David Lemieux (34-3, 31 KOs) will keep his promise to return to his hometown, Montreal, Quebec, Canada for his first fight of 2016. On March 12, hometown fans, will witness, Lemieux’s grand return against San Benito, Texas’ “King” James de la Rosa (23-3, 13 KOs) in an exciting battle at Montreal’s Olympia Theatre , live on Indigo and all pay-per-view channels across Canada starting at 9:00 p.m. ET.

“I am happy to be fighting in my hometown,” said David Lemieux. “I’m very hungry to get back in the ring and I am ready to climb my way back to the top of the middleweight division. I know de la Rosa is a serious threat and I can promise all my hometown fans that I will be ready to give them all a great show on March 12.”

“A new trainer and a new strength and conditioning coach, have created a new James de la Rosa,” said James de la Rosa. “I have no problem going to his hometown to show him and everyone else, that he isn’t what he is hyped up to be. I’m going to Montreal to win.”

“The goal is to offer our devoted fans a major gala and a memorable evening,” said Camille Estephan, President of Eye of the Tiger Management. “We owe our success to our loyal supporters and when David promised to box in Montreal he created a hope, by honoring it, and now fans will witness the grand return of their champion.James De La Rosa is a serious opponent whom we cannot take lightly and I know David will be ready for him on March 12.”

“David Lemieux is one of the great champions of the middleweight division and we can’t wait to see him back in action,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “Golden Boy Promotions is behind David 100 percent and fighting against James De La Rosa will be a big test for him and his first step on his journey to once again becoming a world champion.”

“James is always game for big opportunities, he has never met a fight he didn’t like,’ said Adrian Clark, President and CEO of AC Sports Management, LLC and manager to James de la Rosa. “There will be fireworks in Montreal on March 12 and after the smoke settles, James de la Rosa will stand victorious.”

Tickets for the event are on sale now starting at $59 CAN and $349 CAN for ringside and available at www.admission.com. For further information, please visit us at www.eottm.com and www.goldenboypromotions.com or Follow us on Twitter @Lemieuxboxing, @KingJamesDLR, @EOTMVD and @GoldenBoyBoxing.

David Lemieux vs. James de la Rosa, is a 12-round fight presented by Eye of the Tiger Management in association with Golden Boy Promotions. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. E.T. and the first fight begins at 7:00 p.m. E.T. The event will be broadcast in HD for $59.99 and $54.99 in SD on Indigo and all pay-per-view channels across Canada starting at 9:00 p.m. E.T. and the undercard will be televised by TVA Sports starting at 7:00 p.m. E.T.

Currently ranked as one of the top middleweight fighters by the WBC and IBF, former IBF World Middleweight Champion David Lemieux is making his grand return to the ring on March 12 after a sell-out crowd at The Mecca of Boxing, Madison Square Garden in New York, when he faced Gennady Golovkin for the Unified Middleweight World Championship on October 17. Before his face off against Golovkin, Lemieux was coming off of his ninth consecutive victory over Hassan N’Dam and seventh consecutive knockout against Gabriel “King” Rosado last December. The 27-year-old Lemieux was victorious in dominant fashion capturing the vacant IBF Middleweight Title against Hassan N’Dam on June 20 in his hometown of Montreal, Canada. Dropping N’Dam four times, the hard-hitting Canadian won a wide, 12-round unanimous decision. Lemieux made his HBO and United States debut in headline fashion with a fantastic performance stopping top contender Gabriel Rosado in the tenth round on December 6 in Brooklyn, New York.

“King” James De la Rosa is the fighting pride of Harlingen, Texas, boasting a record of 23 wins, against 3 losses, with 13 wins coming by way of knockout. De la Rosa has been boxing since he was five years old and became a professional boxer at the age of 17. De la Rosa holds key victories over Abel Perry, Tim Coleman and Tyrone Brunson. De la Rosa’s biggest victory came on Sept.12, 2014, against the Mexican legend, Alfredo “El Perro” Angulo on the Showtime pay-per-view telecast of Mayweather-Maidana II. “King” took 2015 off to a great start with new trainer James Johnson and All-American track & field strength and conditioning coach, Hickel Woolery.

HBO Boxing presents a sizzling night of ring action when HBO BOXING AFTER DARK: DAVID LEMIEUX VS. GABRIEL ROSADO, HUGO CENTENO JR. VS. JAMES DE LA ROSA AND THOMAS DULORME VS. HANK LUNDY is seen SATURDAY, DEC. 6 at 10:00 p.m. (live ET/tape-delayed PT) from Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, exclusively on HBO. The HBO Sports team will be ringside for the event, which will be available in HDTV, closed-captioned for the hearing-impaired and presented in Spanish on HBO Latino.

Other HBO playdates: Dec. 7 (9:30 a.m.) and 8 (12:45 a.m.)

HBO2 playdate: Dec. 9 (11:45 p.m.)

In the main event, engaging David Lemieux (32-2, 30 KOs) of Montreal brings his hard-hitting reputation to HBO for the first time. This 12-round, 160-pound middleweight fight has all the earmarks of a brawl, as he meets Philadelphia’s hard-nosed Gabriel Rosado (21-8, 13 KOs).

In the middle bout, the highly-regarded Hugo Centeno Jr. (21-0, 11 KOs), from the boxing hotbed of Oxnard, Cal., meets James De La Rosa (23-2, 13 KOs) of Harlingen, Tex., in a middleweight clash scheduled for ten rounds. De La Rosa is coming off the biggest victory of his career over Alfredo Angulo.

The opening bout is an intriguing 140-pound junior welterweight showdown featuring Puerto Rico’s Thomas Dulorme (21-1, 14 KOs) and Philadelphia’s Hank Lundy (25-3-1, 12 KOs). The scheduled ten-round fight is Dulorme’s fourth bout in New York.

The telecast marks HBO’s third trip to Barclays Center, which is quickly becoming a hot spot in the fight game.

Follow HBO boxing news at hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/hboboxing and on Twitter at twitter.com/hboboxing.

All HBO boxing events are presented in HDTV. HBO viewers must have access to the HBO HDTV channel to watch HBO programming in high definition.

The executive producer of HBO BOXING AFTER DARK is Rick Bernstein; producer, Dave Harmon; director, Johnathan Evans.

® HBO BOXING AFTER DARK is a registered service mark of Home Box Office, Inc.

BROOKLYN (October 29) – Golden Boy Promotions returns to its East Coast home – Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY on Saturday, December 6 with a special HBO Boxing After Dark tripleheader. In the 12-round main event, rising Canadian star David Lemieux will defend his NABF Middleweight Title against the no nonsense Philadelphian warrior “King” Gabriel Rosado. Plus, unbeaten Californian Hugo “The Boss” Centeno Jr. takes on his toughest challenge yet in the form of Texas’ James “The King” De La Rosa. Rounding out the televised card is a pair of junior welterweight sluggers as Thomas “El Frances” Dulorme takes on “Hammerin” Hank Lundy in junior welterweight action.

In non-televised action, two hot prospects out of New York City, Eddie “E-Boy” Gomez and Zachary “Zungry” Ochoa, will enter the ring in separate bouts to entertain the hometown fans and continue their rise to the top of the boxing world.

Tickets priced at $150, $80, $50, $25 and $15, plus applicable taxes and service charges are on sale now and are available for purchase at www.barclayscenter.com, www.ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations, by calling 800-745-3000 and at the American Express Box Office starting on Thursday, Oct. 30 at noon. For group tickets, please call 800-GROUP-BK.

“I’m really looking forward to this fight,” said Lemieux. “My training camp has already started and I am in great shape. I want to take this opportunity to prove that I represent a real threat to the middleweight division. Gabriel Rosado is a tough fighter and he has fought a lot of talented boxers and has established his credibility. This will be a good test for me and I’m working really hard to deliver an amazing performance.”

“A fight like me against David Lemieux is what HBO is all about, and the type of fight the boxing world craves,” said Rosado. “I’m both excited and motivated to fight again on the East Coast. I’m from Philly and I know my fans will be in Brooklyn to represent [Philadelphia] alongside my New York fans. Records can be deceiving and I believe David Lemieux will learn that first hand, and I’m hungry to get back in the mix with the best in the middleweight division.”

“I’m really excited about this great opportunity, I will take complete advantage of it and showcase my talent,” said Centeno Jr. “I want to thank Golden Boy and HBO for this opportunity.”

“Here I am again on the big stage this time against Hugo Centeno Jr. on HBO,” said De La Rosa. “I’m dedicating this fight to my mentor Emanuel Augustus who I’d been sparring against since I was 14 years old. People know he came to put on a show and I’m coming to do the same December 6 in Brooklyn.”

“I’m very grateful to my promoter Gary Shaw for getting me this fight with Hank Lundy,” said Dulorme. “I’m really looking forward to putting on a great show for all of the fans watching on HBO. This is a great opportunity for me to showcase my talent against a very good opponent. I know a victory against Lundy will open up many doors for my career. I’m coming to win and win convincingly for my fans back home in Puerto Rico.”

“This is what we’ve been waiting for – to fight on a big stage – HBO,” said Lundy. “This is a great opportunity to show the world ‘Hammerin’ Hank is the best-kept secret in the 140-pound weight class. On December 6, I’m coming to New York to put on a hell of a show. As a Philadelphia kid, everyone knows that I’ve fought hard. Nothing comes easy. The fans know I’m going to bring it.

“The winners of these two fights will find themselves positioned for huge match-ups in their next bouts, while the losers will experience a major setback,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Founder and President of Golden Boy Promotions. “With so much on the line, fans are in for a huge show to close out the 2014 boxing season at Barclays Center.”

“I’m extremely happy for David to get this opportunity on the big stage in the U.S. against a very well respected Gabriel Rosado,” said Camille Estephan of Eye of the Tiger Management. “We are not looking past this fight nonetheless, we believe David is capable of competing with the cream of the crop in his division. We couldn’t be happier with David’s preparation so far for this fight. We want to seize this opportunity and we will.”

“Dulorme has looked sensational since moving down to 140 pounds,” said Gary Shaw, Dulorme’s promoter. “Right now he’s riding a five-fight winning streak and momentum is on his side. Lundy is a good fighter, but I believe Dulorme is on another level. I want to thank Ken Hershman, Peter Nelson and everyone at HBO for all of their supports in making this fight a reality. Also I’m glad to be working with Cameron Dunkin again. This is going to be a great fight for the fans, one they deserve.”

“We want to thank HBO, Golden Boy Promotions and Gary Shaw Productions for this opportunity. We’re very excited to fight at the beautiful Barclays Center in Brooklyn,” said Jimmy Burchfield Sr., CES Boxing President and CEO. “Hank is a throwback fighter. He fights in the center of the ring and brings the fight to his opponent. This is why he gets the highest ratings when he fights worldwide and on national television. This is a fight we’ve wanted for a long time. We know Thomas Dulorme is a worthy opponent, but these are the kind of fights that bring out the best in ‘Hammerin’ Hank.”

“I am excited to welcome new boxing talent to Barclays Center,” said Brett Yormark, CEO of Barclays Center. “We expect a great fight from Lemieux and Rosado, which the boxing fans of Brooklyn have come to expect at Barclays Center. We are also delighted that Zachary Ochoa and Eddie Gomez are returning to the center of boxing on the East Coast.”

“The commitment to boxing from the people at Barclays Center is gratifying and we are delighted to return to Brooklyn for an action packed night of tough fights on our late night boxing franchise,” said Peter Nelson, vice president, programming, HBO Sports. “Fight fans will get their money’s worth from three stellar matchups and we know that David, Gabriel, Hugo, James, Thomas and Hank will be prepared to seize the night.”

Canada’s latest hope for world championship honors, 25-year-old Montreal native David Lemieux (32-2, 30 KOs) has all of the tools to become an international superstar, and his first HBO headliner against Rosado will certainly prove if he’s ready for primetime. Currently ranked second in the world at 160 pounds by the WBC, fifth by the IBF and eighth by the WBO, Lemieux is coming off of a blistering third-round knockout over Fernando Guerrero in May and many believe a win over Rosado will be his ticket to a title shot.

One of the most respected and popular middleweights in the world, Philadelphia’s “King” Gabriel Rosado (21-8, 13 KOs) is a fearless warrior who lives up to his claim to be willing to fight anyone, anytime at any place. A knockout victor over the likes of Jesus Soto Karass, Sechew Powell and Charles Whittaker, Rosado has also shared the ring with world champions Gennady Golovkin and Peter Quillin. Eager to get another opportunity to challenge for a world title, the 28-year-old Rosado will enter the ring with a vengeance December 6.

Ready to make his move on the middleweight elite, Oxnard’s Hugo “The Boss” Centeno Jr. (21-0, 11 KOs) has long been one of boxing’s top prospects, but since the 23-year-old put together wins over Ayi Bruce, Keandre Leatherwood, Angel Osuna and Gerardo Ibarra, he has made himself known as a legitimate contender. On December 6, he will introduce himself to the world on the HBO airwaves.

A native of Harlingen, Texas, 26-year-old James “The King” De La Rosa (23-2, 13 KOs) fought under the radar for much of his nearly decade-long career, even though he defeated Tim Coleman, Tyrone Brunson and James Webb. But in September, De La Rosa broke out on the world stage with his dominant 10-round decision win over Alfredo Angulo in Las Vegas, setting up another big fight in December against the unbeaten Centeno Jr.

Fighting in New York for the fourth time, Puerto Rico’s Thomas Dulorme (21-1, 14 KOs) is currently on a five-fight winning streak in which he’s dispatched Francisco Figueroa and outpointed previously unbeaten Karim Mayfield, putting him among the top contenders at 140 pounds. Currently ranked second in the world by the WBA, fourth by the WBC and IBF and fifth by the WBO, the 24-year-old Dulorme is taking on a risky test in Lundy, but with a win, he will move a step closer to a title shot.

Bouncing back in style after a 2013 decision loss to Viktor Postol, 30-year-old Philadelphia native Hank Lundy (25-3-1, 12 KOs) has barely lost a round since defeating Olusegun Ajose, Angelo Santana and Gerardo Cuevas in successive fights, showing that despite his previous success at 135 pounds, his true home is now in the junior welterweight division, where he is ranked sixth in the world by the IBF heading into this pivotal showdown with Dulorme on December 6.

Hailing from the Bronx, Eddie Gomez (16-1, 10 KOs) has done a lot in a short time thus far as a professional, following up a stellar amateur career with dominant victories over a high level of competition. Now, he looks to avenge the first loss of his career, an upset defeat in June at the hands of Francisco Santana. Gomez had been hot before the loss as the skilled boxer-puncher had defeated Luis Hernandez, Steve Upsher Chambers and Daquan Arnett previously. Next he will face an opponent to be named on December 6.

Proudly representing his borough of Brooklyn will be junior welterweight prospect Zachary Ochoa (8-0, 4 KOs). Appearing at Barclays Center for the fourth time, the 22-year-old Ochoa has shown style and savvy throughout his young career and in his next test, against an opponent to be determined he will look to keep his hometown fans happy.

Lemieux vs. Rosado is a 12 round NABF middleweight bout which is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Eye Of The Tiger Management and sponsored by Corona Extra, AT&T and Mexico – Live It To Believe It!. Dulorme vs. Lundy is a 10-round junior welterweight bout promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, Gary Shaw Productions and CES Boxing. The HBO Boxing After Dark telecast begins at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

For more information go to www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.eottm.com, www.hbo.com/boxing or www.barclayscenter.com Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.twitter.com/EOTMVD www.twitter.com/hboboxing, www.twitter.com/KingGabRosado, www.twitter.com/lemieuxboxing, www.twitter.com/HugoBoss805, www.twitter.com/KingJamesLDR, www.twitter.com/Swanson_comm or www.twitter.com/BarclaysCenter. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.facebook.com/EyeoftheTigerManagement, www.facebook.com/hboboxing and www.facebook.com/BarclaysCenter.

LAS VEGAS — Floyd Mayweather Jr. kept alive his pursuit of an unbeaten legacy. Kept his fingers, too.

In a rematch full of some unusual twists and Marcos Maidana’s mouth full of more than a mouthpiece, the result Saturday night at the MGM Grand was predictable.

Mayweather (47-0, 26 KOs) shook off some heavy punches from the wild-swinging Maidana (35-5, 31 KOs) in the early rounds, began to exert control midway through the fourth round and landed with precision throughout the rest of the fight for a 116-111, 115-112, 116-111 decision. On the 15 Rounds card, it was 115-113 for Mayweather.

Only a knockout eluded Mayweather in the rematch of his majority decision over Maidana in May. A KO was his goal, he said several times before opening bell.

“I give myself a C, C-minus,” Mayweather said after the fourth fight in a Showtime deal for a possible six fights and a potential $250 million.

A chance at a stoppage for an A might have been eliminated in the eighth round. That’s when Mayweather said Maidana bit him on his gloved left hand.

No, Maidana said. How could he bite anybody with a plastic guard on his teeth? Video of the mount appeared to
inclusive. But Mayweather walked over toward the press section, leaned over the ropes and yelled that Maidana bit him.

“After the eighth round, my fingers were numb,” Mayweather said. “I couldn’t use my left hand.”

His right was more than enough against Maidana, who appeared to grow increasingly wild with each round. In the 10th, Maidana was penalized a point for pushing Mayweather onto the canvas. It almost looked as if Maidana was about to walk over Myyweather like a fallen pedestrian about to get trampled. In the 11th, Mayweather was warned for a low blow. Maidana was given time to recover. Mayweather impatiently waved at him, urging to continue the fight. It was as if Mayweather wanted to finish the business at hand and move on to the next fight.

When it was time to address what was next, he was asked the inevitable. He was asked about Manny Pacquiao. When isn’t he? Pacquiao-Mayweather has been the subject of futile talks and rumors for years. It won’t die. The surprise was that Mayweather kept it alive this time around. He usually dismisses it.

“Manny Pacquiao, if that fight presents itself, let’s make it happen,” he said.

There wasn’t much doubt and Leo Santa Cruz made sure of it with a devastating one-punch demolition of Manuel Roman that strengthened his claim on being one of the world’s best junior-featherweights.

“I want to fight Guillermo Rigondeaux,” Santa Cruz said of the Cuban who is considered to be No. 1 in the competitive weight class.

Roman (17-3-3, 6 KOs) was just an impressive work out for Santa Cruz, who stayed unbeaten (28-0-1, 16 KOs) and retained the WBC version of the 122-pound title. In the second round, Santa Cruz grazed Roman, his former sparring partner and a 50-to-1 underdog at the sports book, with a jab. He followed with a straight right that landed on the soft tissue behind a Roman ear. Roman collapsed. As he tried to get up, referee Robert Byrd ended it at 5 seconds of the round.

It wouldn’t be a fight card without a wild card. It came in Mickey Bey’s split decision over Miguel Vazquez for the IBF’s lightweight title. It was deadly dull, which means it could have been a draw. After the boos, the first two scores were announced. A draw sounded likely. Judge Julie Lederman had it 115-113 for the Mayweather-promoted Bey (21-1-1, 10 KOs) of Cleveland. Adalaide Byrd scored it 115-113 for Vazquez (34-4, 13 KOs) of Mexico. But it was Robert Hoyle who dealt the wild card, 119-109 for Bey, who bloodied Vazquez early, yet was never dominant enough to win by a double-digit margin.

James De La Rosa of San Benito, Tex., celebrated with a back-flip. When he landed, he stumbled. But he didn’t fall. Nothing could knock De La Rosa (23-2, 13 KOs) off his feet. Alfredo Angulo (224, 18 KOs), of Mexicali, tried in a furious finish to a 10-round middleweight bout in the first pay-pr-view fight on the Floyd-Mayweather Jr.-Marcos Maidana card. Angulo landed a couple of wicked left hooks and followed with successive rights, but De La Rosa survived to win a unanimous decision over a bloodied Angulo, who lost the first eight rounds, suffered a knockdown in the second and was penalized one point in the seventh for a low blow.

In a foul-fest, Mexican junior-welterweight Humberto Soto suffered two low-blows and was penalized for throwing one of his own, yet survived to win by unanimous decision over John Molina Jr. of Covina, Ca., in a Showtime telecast before the first pay-per-view fight.

Molina (27-5, 22 KOs), who appeared to throw punches after the bell in the early rounds, was penalized for low-blows in the sixth and seventh. Soto (65-8, 35 KOs) retaliated and it cost him a one-point penalty in the tenth. In the end, however Soto was the stronger fighter and a 95-92, 96-91, 95-92 winner on the cards.

Las Vegas cruiserweight Andrew Tabiti, who promises to take the snoozer out of cruiser, continued to display power and promise, pushing his record to 8-0, all by stoppage, with a sixth-round TKO of Caleb Grummet (3-2, 3 KOs) of Lake Odessa, Mich. Tabiti dominated Grummet for five-plus rounds before Vic Drakulich stopped it at 2:01 of the sixth.

Armando Lopes scored the undercard’s first upset, beating junior-welterweight prospect Damian Sosa of Argentina in the third bout on the card’s non-televised portion. Sosa (8-1, 6 KOs), a Robert Gracia-trained fighter, suffered a knockdown in the second round and never really recovered, losing a unanimous decision to Lopes (5-3, 1 KOs) of Nogales, Mexico.

In the second bout on the non-televised portion of the card, welterweight Fabian Maidana (3-0, 2 KO) got things warned up for brother Marcos with a first-round stoppage of Jared Teer (2-3), an Illinois fighter was knocked twice in the opening moments.

Super-middleweight Kevin Newman and Azamat Umarzoda opened the show two hours after high noon and about five hours before the Floyd Mayweather Jr.- Marcos Maidana Saturday at the MGM Grand. Seats were empty. But there wasn’t much to see, anyway. Newman (0-0-1), of Mayweather Promotions, and Umarzoda (0-5-2) of Tajikistan, fought to a draw through an uneventful four rounds.

Follow all the action live as Floyd Mayweather defends two Welterweight world titles plus a Jr. Middleweight world title in a rematch against former world champion Marcos Maidana. The actions off at 7 PM ET / 4 PM PT with a 4 fight undercard featuring Leo Santa Cruz defending his Super Bantamweight title against Manuel Roman. Miguel Vazquez defends his Lightweight title against Mickey Bey. Alfredo Angulo takes on James De La Rosa in a Middleweight bout and the action kicks off with a Jr. Welterweight tussle between John Molina Jr. and former world champion Humberto Soto.

12 ROUNDS WBA/WBC WELTERWEIGHT & WBC SUPER WELTERWEIGHT TITLE–FLOYD MAYWEATHER (46-0, 26 KO’S) VS MARCOS MAIDANA (35-4, 31 KO’S)

Round 1 Mayweather jabbing to the body..Maidana lands a right to the head..Mayweather lands a left..Mayweather moving all over the ring…10-9 Mayweather

Round 2 Maidana throws a 3 punch combo..Mayweather jabbing to the body..Jab from Maidana..Mayweather lands a right and a left hook..lead right..20-18 Mayweather

Round 3 Maidana coming with a combo..Mayweather lands a counter right..counter right..2 more rights..hard right..another hard counter right..Maidana lands a right..jab..Hard right from Mayweather…Maidana lands a hard right at the bell…30-27 Mayweather

Round 4 Maidana is crowding and hitting Mayweather..Right from Mayweather..right…counter right..double jab from Maidana…39-37 Mayweather

Round 5 Jab – right from Mayweather..Counter right from Mayweather..counter right from Maidana…Short left from Mayweather...49-46 Mayweather

Round 6 Counter left from Mayweather..right..59-55 Mayweather…mayweather outlanding Maidana 97-64

Round 7 Maidana lands a right to the body..Mayweather lands a right to the body…body shot..Double jab from Maidana..Mayweather lands 2 rights..69-64 Mayweather

Round 8 Mayweather counters with a right and intiates a clinch as he has been doing for a lot of the fight…Maidana lands a jab and overhand right…Good right from Maywather..Overhand right from Maidana…Good right..Mayweather lands a lead left..Mayweather is claiming he got bit on his hand…Counter left from Mayweather…79-73 Mayweather

Round 9 Counter right from Maidana…Good hook from Mayweather…Counter left hook..Maidana gets in a couple of rights..Jab and right from Mayweather..left,…89-82 Mayweather

Round 10 Right from Maidana..Combination from Mayweather..Maidana throws Mayweather down and MAIDANA IS DOCKED A POINT…Maidana chasing Mayweather in corner…counter right from Mayweather..uppercut..jab..999-90 Mayweather

Round 11 Sharp left from Mayweather…Left to the body..Mayweather lands a low blow..Mayweather lands 2 lefts (Body/head)…Good right to the head..left hook to body and a right…Maidna lands a jab…109-99 Mayweather

Round 12 Mayweather dancing around the ring..Maidana traps Mayweather in corner…118-109 Mayweather

Mayweather 166-326 Maidana 128-572

115-112….116-111….116-111 Floyd Mayweather

12 ROUNDS–WBC SUPER BANTAMWEIGHT TITLE–LEO SANTA CRUZ (27-0-1, 15 KO’S) VS MANUEL ROMAN (17-2-3, 6 KO’S)

ROUND 1 Santa Cruz lands right to the body..Left hook to the body...Santa Cruz 10-9

Round 2 BIG RIGHT AND DOWN GOES ROMAN…ROMAN GETS UP AND 8 BUT ROBERT BYRD STOPS THE FIGHT

12 ROUNDS–IBF LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE–MIGUEL VAZQUEZ (34-3, 13 KO’S) VS MICKEY BEY (20-1-1, 10 KO’S)

Round 1 Sharp left from Vazquez..jab…10-9 Vazquez

Round 2 double jab from Bey…19-19

Round 3 Counter right from Bey..stiff jab..29-28 Bey…Vazquez cut on the right side of his head

Round 4 Counter jab from Bey…Vazquez lands a jab..left..Bey landing on the inside..39-38 Bey

Round 5 Vazquez lands a chopping right//counter left from Bey…49-48 Bey

Round 6 Double jab from Bey…59-57 Bey

Round 7 69-67 Bey

Round 8 Vazquez lands a jab..left from Vazquez..right..78-77 Bey

Round 9 Bey lands a jab..Vazquez lands a left hook..87-87

Round 10 Vazquez lands a jab..97-96 Vazquez

Round 11 107-106 Vazquez

Round 12 Bey lands a left hook..Combination..116-116

Vazquez 89-404 Bey 81-394

115-113 Bey…..115-113 Vazquez….119-109 Bey….Bey the New IBF Lightweight champion

10 ROUNDS–MIDDLEWEIGHTS–ALFREDO ANGULO (22-4, 18 KO’S) VS JAMES DE LA ROSA (22-2, 13 KOS)

ROUND 1 Angulo lands a jab…Body shot…double jab from De la Rosa..Body from Angulo..jab to body..10-9 Angulo

Round 2 Overhand right from De La Rosa..Jab..BIG LEFT AND DROPS ANGULO ON THE ROPES RULED A KNOCKDOWN..19-18 De La Rosa

Round 3 De La Rosa lands a combination..straight left.right…Body, hook and uppercut from Angulo..Counter overhand right from De la Rosa..29-27 De La Rosa

Round 4 1-2 from De La Rosa…Angulo lands a body shot..left to body..left hook..left hook from De La Risa..Right to body from Angulo..left and right…38 37 De la Rosa

Round 5 Combination from De La Rosa..Angulo lands a body shot..4 punch combo from De La Rosa..ANgulo lands a left to the body..nice right..48-46 De La Rosa

Round 6 Combination from De La Rosa..Angulo bleeding around the right eye..De La Rosa lands a combination…2 rights from Angulo…58-55 De La Rosa

Round 7 De la rosa landa an uppercut..Uppercut from Angulo..straight left from de La Rosa..nice right..ANGULO DEDUCTED 1 POINT FOR A LOW BLOW..68-63 De La Rosa

Round 8 De La Rosa landing combination..Angulo lands a counter left hook and straight right..short uppercut..Good right..combination..77-73 De La Rosa

Round 9 Left hook from Angulo..De La Rosa is hurt…86-83 De La Rosa

Round 10 Right from Angulo…Right from De La Rosa..3 punch combo from Angulo..Right and left..left hook..Angulo coming on strong…De La Rosa lands a left..Angulo trying to make 1 last stand…95-93 De La Rosa

98-90, 96-92, 99-89 FOR JAMES DE LA ROSA

10 ROUNDS–JR WELTERWEIGHTS–HUMBERTO SOTO (64-8-2, 35 KO’S) VS JOHN MOLINA JR. (27-4, 22 KO’S)

Round 1 Exchanging hooks..Big right from Soto..left hook..4 punch combination…10-9 Soto

Round 2 Right from Molina…overhand right..good right..right..Molina landing the right from distance..Left hook from Soto..another left hook..Left hook from Molina…good toe to toe action..Soto lands a 1-2..Molina lands a right…19-19

Round 3 Left hook from Soto….2 rights from Molina..Right from Distance..Right from Soto..Bih exchange AFTER the bell…29-29 Molina

Round 4 Molina lands a right..right hand..right..Soto comes back with a left uppercut..Soto backing Molina up..Uppercut from Soto..Body shot..Soto goes down from a Low Blow…38-38

Round 5 Molina lands a right…jab from Molina..Jab from Soto..right….Molina lands an uppercut to the body..Left hook by Soto..Combination…48-47 Soto

Round 6 MOLINA DEDUCTED A POINT FOR A LOW BLOW…2 hooks from Soto..Right from Molina..3 punch combo from Soto..Right from Molina..Hook from Molina..Uppercut from Soto…58-55 Soto

Round 7 Right from Molina..2 right hooks from Soto..Counter right from Molina..Left from Soto..Another Low blow from Molina and Soto goes down…Soto down on canvas in pain AND ANOTHER POINT DEDUCTION..right from Molina..67-64 Soto

Round 8 Left hook from Molina..Jab to body from Soto..right from Molina…3 punch combo from Soto..Left hook from body from Molina…Right to Molina and he goes down from a Low Blow…Big exchange at end of round..77-73 Soto

Round 9 Soto lands a left hook that goes low..Right and left from Soto..Soto lands a left that Molina complains that its low..Left from Molina off the ropes..uppercuts…1-2 from Soto..87-82 Soto

Round 10 Right from Molina..Soto lands a low blow…SOTO IS NOW DEDUCTED A POINT FOR A LOW BLOW..1-2 from Soto..4 punch combo…left hook from Molina…96-91 Soto

Punch stats…Soto 245-587 Molina 181-51

96-91, 95-92 on two cards for Humberto Soto

LAS VEGAS (Sept. 8, 2014) – “MAYHEM: Mayweather vs. Maidana 2” SHOWTIME PPV undercard fighters Manuel “Suavecito” Roman, Miguel “Títere” Vázquez, Mickey “The Spirit” Bey and James De La Rosa have wrapped up their training camps and have made their way to Las Vegas to set the stage for the most anticipated rematch of the year. Expectations are high, but the Saturday, Sept. 13 undercard promises to deliver, live on SHOWTIME PPV (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT) from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

In the main event, undefeated 11-time world champion Floyd “Money” Mayweather will square off against Marcos “Chino” Maidana in a 12-round world championship bout for Mayweather’s WBA Welterweight, WBC Welterweight and WBC Super Welterweight World Titles.

In the co-feature, Leo “Terremoto” Santa Cruz will put his WBC Super Bantamweight World Title on the line against Roman. In the second pay-per-view fight of the evening, Vázquez will defend his IBF Lightweight World Championship against Bey in a 12-round bout. In the opening fight of the telecast, Alfredo “El Perro” Angulo will face De La Rosa in a 10-round middleweight bout.

Fight week has arrived, and as the fighters prepare for their bouts, Roman, Vázquez, Bey and De La Rosa answered some questions about how they’ve trained for boxing’s biggest stage.

MANUEL ROMAN

Q: We’re less than a week away from fight night. How are you feeling physically?

A: There’s a little fatigue, but after training camp I’ll be in good shape.

Q: Where did you train and who did you train with?

A: In South Gate, Calif. with my trainer Salvador Casillas.

Q: What made you decide to train there?

A: I’ve been with Salvador for a couple of years and we wanted to keep things consistent.

Q: What did you do to pass the time when you’re not at the gym?

A: I like to be with my family. I rest a lot, and we like to go to the park for walks.

Q: What motivates you most during training camp?

A: This is pay-per-view and on Floyd Mayweather’s undercard. There aren’t a lot of fighters who get this opportunity so I want to take advantage.

Q: You make a living in the toughest, most hardnosed sport there is. So what makes you truly happy?

A: Performing at my best for the fans is motivation. My family comes first though. Them being happy is most important.

Q: Did any family come along with you for training as you prepare for this fight?

A: They all live close by, but my dad is always around. He’s my biggest supporter.

Q: You’re coming off of consecutive wins. Do you think that you’re carrying some momentum heading into your fight with Leo Santa Cruz?

A: Yes, of course. I feel great coming off of those two wins and there shouldn’t be any ring rust.

Q: Santa Cruz has said that you have nothing to lose coming in to this fight and everything to gain. Do you agree with his assessment?

A: That’s actually a good way to say it. I agree with him.

Q: Are you doing anything special to prepare for Leo’s style of fighting? Do you see anything unique about his style that you’re looking to expose?

A: I’m going to need to throw a lot of counter punches, and I’ll have to have a lot of oxygen to handle all the punches (Santa Cruz) will throw.

MIGUEL VAZQUEZ

Q: We’re less than a week away from fight night. How are you feeling physically?

A: I’m feeling very good and strong. I’m prepared in every way and ready to win.

Q: Where did you train and who did you train with?

A: With with Javier Capetillo Sr. at the Ponce De Leon Boxing Gym in Montebello, Calif.

Q: What made you decide to train there?

A: It’s a great private gym that I’m familiar with.

Q: What did you do to pass the time when you’re not at the gym?

A: I tried to rest and spend time with my family. That’s what I like to do with my free time.

Q: What motivates you most during training camp?

A: The Lord helps me and takes me to victory. That’s my greatest motivation.

Q: You make a living in the toughest, most hardnosed sport there is. So what makes you truly happy?

A: Jesus Christ and the money.

Q: Did any family come along with you for training as you prepare for this fight?

A: Yes, it’s been great having my family around. They help make camp more comfortable and are very supportive.

Q: You’re coming off of 13 consecutive wins. Do you think that momentum will help you come Sept. 13?

A: Yes, the momentum is definitely going to help. I’m just very motivated to get another win and keep this going.

Q: This will be your third fight at MGM Grand. Do you believe that your previous experiences there will help you, and if so, how?

A: Yes, the experience should help. I’ve matured more too and that is going to help also. I’m mentally prepared for this fight.

Q: You’ve been getting more and more professional experience against American fighters. Do you notice any major differences between Mexican and American fighters?

A: No, I feel like all fighters are complicated and risky. I prepare for each of them the same.

Q: Are you doing anything special to prepare for Mickey’s style of fighting? Do you see anything unique about his style that you’re looking to expose?

A: I really don’t watch too much video to study guys. I trust my trainer and let him guide me as far as the strategy is concerned.

MICKEY BEY

Q: We’re less than a week away from fight night. How are you feeling physically?

A: I feel great. I was ahead of schedule. We’ve been putting in a lot of work to get to this point.

Q: Where did you train and who did you train with?

A: I’ve been preparing with Floyd Mayweather Sr. at Mayweather Boxing Club.

Q: What made you decide to train there?

A: I’ve been training there for a while, so we just wanted to continue with what’s been successful.

Q: What have you been doing to pass the time when you’re not at the gym?

A: I don’t do that much actually. I rest. I might drop by the gym to see Floyd train. Other than that I just eat, sleep and train.

Q: What motivates you most during training camp?

A: I want to become a world champion. I know I could have done it a while ago, but I’m with the right team now and I have the opportunity.

Q: You make a living in the toughest, most hardnosed sport there is. So what makes you truly happy?

A: Living up to the expectations that I set for myself.

Q: You’re coming off of consecutive wins. Do you think that you’re carrying some momentum heading into your fight with Miguel Vazquez?

A: Yes, absolutely. I’m always working on improving. I think I improve rapidly and I’ll do whatever I can to get better.

Q: You’ve fought at MGM Grand once before. Do you believe that your previous experience there will help you, and if so, how?

A: As long as there’s a ring, it doesn’t matter where it is. If there’s a ring I’m going to fight. I might enjoy fighting on the biggest stage, but the fight is going to be the same no matter where it happens.

Q: Do you think that your 10th round loss to John Molina Jr. last year was a setback for you, and did you learn any particular lessons from that defeat?

A: It wasn’t a setback because I won every round. I started playing around at the end and he got me. I only really got hit three times, and he kind of blindsided me at the end. The fight was easy though.

Q: How’s everything going with Floyd Mayweather Sr. in training? Are you doing anything new this time around in training camp?

A: We stepped things way up this time around. We’re doing old school stuff. People wonder why he’s such a good trainer. It’s because he came up around guys who worked with greats like Joe Louis and Sugar Ray Robinson. We’ve been working on some of the same things those guys practiced.

Q: Are you doing anything special to prepare for Miguel’s style of fighting? Do you see anything unique about his style that you’re looking to expose?

A: Yes, there are things I can expose. I’m not preparing any differently though. I’m good at adapting and my preparation helps me be ready for everything.

JAMES DE LA ROSA

Q: We’re less than a week away from fight night. How are you feeling physically?

A: I feel really good. This is probably the best I’ve ever felt and the closest I stayed on weight throughout camp.

Q: Where did you train and who did you train wtih?

A: I’m trained in my hometown of Harlingen, Texas with my dad.

Q: What made you decide to train there?

A: I wanted to be close to my family.

Q: What have you been doing to pass the time when you’re not at the gym?

A: I’m always at the gym. I’m always trying to stay consistent and doing something to keep myself loose.

Q: What motivates you most during training camp?

A: The opportunity that I have and the spot that I’m in right now. Sometimes it takes fighters a long time to recover from losses, but I have the opportunity to keep on going and prove that I belong.

Q: You make a living in the toughest, most hardnosed sport there is. So what makes you truly happy?

A: Being in the ring makes me happy. My kids keep me happy of course, but being at the gym and in the ring is always on my mind. I love what I do, and I love putting on a show for the people. I’ve been boxing since I was eight. So I really love everything about the sport.

Q: Did any family come along with you for training as you prepare for this fight?

A: My dad’s my head trainer so he motivates and pushes me. I’ve always asked my dad to treat me like any other fighter. So he works with me and always encourages me.

Q: After dropping two of your last four bouts, do you think your fights with Conyers and Willis were setbacks for you?

A: They were losses, but I learned a lot from both of those fights. Now I’m coming back harder than ever, and I know what I have to do to continue being successful in this sport.

Q: This will be your first fight at MGM Grand. Angulo has fought there once before earlier this year. Do you think that his familiarity having fought there previously will play to his advantage?

A: No, because when I get in the ring I feel that it’s my time to put on a show. It doesn’t matter who I’m fighting or where he’s been. Whether the crowd is rooting for him or not, he’s going to know my name by the end of the night.

Q: Are you doing anything special to prepare for Angulo’s style of fighting? Do you see anything unique about his style that you’re looking to expose?

A: I’ve seen a lot of stuff that I hope to expose. There are lots of things that he does wrong, and we’ve been working so that I can capitalize on them once we get in the ring.

# # #

“MAYHEM: Mayweather vs. Maidana 2,” a 12-round world championship bout for Mayweather’s WBA Welterweight Belt and WBC Welterweight and Super Welterweight World Titles takes place Saturday, Sept. 13 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas and is promoted by Mayweather Promotions, Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona Extra, O’Reilly Auto Parts and “The Equalizer” in theaters Sept. 26 and The Mexican Tourism Board – Mexico: Live it to Believe It!. The event will be produced and distributed live by SHOWTIME PPV® (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT) and is the fourth fight of a six-fight deal between Mayweather and Showtime Networks Inc. In the co-main event, Leo Santa Cruz defends his WBC Super Bantamweight Title against Manuel Roman in a 12-round bout and Miguel Vazquez faces Mickey Bey in a 12-round bout for the IBF Lightweight World Championship. In the pay-per-view opener, Alfredo Angulo squares against James De La Rosa in a 10-round middleweight bout (162 lbs.). The event will be also available in Spanish via secondary audio programming (SAP).

Plus, SHOWTIME will televise John Molina Jr. against experienced Humberto Soto in a 10-round junior welterweight bout during “Mayweather vs. Maidana 2: COUNTDOWN LIVE” (7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, immediately preceding the live pay per view event).

Mayweather vs. Maidana 2 will be shown on the big screen in over 500 movie theaters across the country via Fathom Events. For more information visit www.FathomEvents.com

Kelly Swanson
Thanks, everybody, for calling in. We really appreciate you taking out the time of your day to have this call. We do have a lot of fighters that will be on the phone and available for your questions, and just to give you the order we are going to start with the Alfredo Angulo vs. James De La Rosa fight, followed by the Mickey Bey vs. Miguel Vazquez fight, and end with the Leo Santa Cruz vs. Manuel Roman fight.

Now I’m going to turn it over to Leonard Ellerbe, Chief Executive Officer of Mayweather Promotions to go ahead and talk us through the fights and make the introductions.

Leonard Ellerbe
I’d like to thank everyone for joining us on the call today. Today we are on the call to announce the undercard of the Mayweather vs. Maidana rematch: “Mayhem.” Obviously in the main event we have Floyd and Maidana. Floyd will be defending his WBC and WBA titles, and also, in an unprecedented move, he’ll also be defending his WBC super welterweight title, which has only been done one time in boxing history.

To open up the undercard, we will be having three world championship bouts. In the first bout we’ll have Alfredo Angulo. He’ll be fighting James De La Rosa in a 10-round super middleweight bout, and in the next bout we’ll have the WBC lightweight championship where we’ll have Miguel Vazquez defending his title against Mickey Bey. Then in the co-main event we have Leo Santa Cruz defending his WBC super bantamweight championship, and he’ll be fighting Manuel Roman.

This event will be promoted by Mayweather Promotions along with Golden Boy Promotions. Our sponsors are O’Reilly Auto Parts, Corona and “The Equalizer.” “MAYHEM: Mayweather vs. Maidana 2” will be shown live in over 500 movie theaters nationwide. Before we get into the introduction of the fighters I’d like to turn it over to our partner, co-promoter, and Senior Vice President of Golden Boy Promotions, Eric Gomez.

Eric Gomez
Thank you, Leonard. Obviously we’re very excited about this undercard. We feel that we have a little bit of everything. We’ve got a strong Mexican support in the undercard, and these fights are can’t-miss. These are going to be very exciting fights and we’re going to start off the festivities with a great matchup, a dangerous fight between James De La Rosa and Alfredo Angulo.

James De La Rosa, with a record of 22-2, 13 KOs, he’s out of San Benito, Texas. He’s coming off a great win August 2, a TKO win. He has wins over Tyrone Brunson, Lenin Arroyo, and Tim Coleman, and this is probably the biggest opportunity of his career, and he obviously wants to take advantage of it.

So if I can have James De La Rosa please say a few words to the media and introduce yourself, James?

James De La Rosa
Hello. I’m doing well. I’m James De La Rosa, 22-2 with 13 KOs and looking to come out and put on a show out there in Vegas, and of course come out with a win.

E. Gomez
Great. Thank you very much, James. Now, obviously everybody knows “El Perro,” Alfredo Angulo. He’s always in action-packed fights. He’s always giving it his all. He’s got a record of 22-4, 18 KOs. He’s living in Los Angeles now and is originally from Mexicali, Mexico. Alfredo knows that this is a very important fight because if he’s going to be considered for future world title fights fighting the elite fighters in boxing he’s got to get past James De La Rosa.

This is a very dangerous fight for him but obviously a little bit-something a little bit different for Alfredo Angulo. He’s debuting as a middleweight. This fight will be fought at the middleweight division. So, Alfredo, if you could please say a few words and introduce yourself,

Alfredo Angulo
Hi. Good morning, everybody, and thank you so much for the call. This is Alfredo Angulo, and I’m ready for the questions.

Q
Alfredo, what is bringing on this move to 160 pounds and did the weight cut affect you greatly in the Canelo Alvarez fight?

A. Angulo
I think this is a good fight for my weight. I’ve been getting my weight and my body ready for the next weight class. I cut a lot of weight before the last fight and I think my body will be better at middleweight.

Q
Eric, is it any added pressure when you’re making these undercards because fight fans are holding these undercards to the standard of Lucas Matthysse and Danny Garcia type fights that you made?

E. Gomez
Well, I think that we’re a little bit of victims of ourselves. We are always competing against ourselves because we’ve had such great undercards, but that’s just part of doing a Mayweather fight. Mayweather insists he wants to have good fights, important fights, so I think that with this undercard here you have two world title fights. You have a very exciting fight and Alfredo Angulo’s fight.

I think that we’re going to continue to do that. We’re going to continue to do that. I know that that’s one of the things that Oscar also is very much interested in, making sure that the entire card from top to bottom is stacked and we’re making good fights, and I know that from working in the past with Floyd and his team with Leonard that they expect the same thing.

So they want action-packed fights. They want to do title fights, and it’s very important for the consumer to have a stacked show from top to bottom, and we’re going to continue to do that.

Q
Alfredo, have you already started training camp, and are you planning to get there early so that those mistakes don’t occur again in this new fight moving forward at a new division?

A. Angulo
Yes, definitely. I’ve come up early to the camp, and I’m working on a lot of things that are going to put me in top form by September.

Q
James, how do you get yourself prepared for this fight mentally because of the stage that you’re going to be on?

J. De La Rosa
I know it’s not any other fight, this is a big stage for me. Basically I’ve got to be in my zone, and I’ve got to block everything out and do what I’ve got to do and do what I do best on that stage to get that win and just train hard. That’s what I’m doing. I’ve been training hard and getting ready for it. I just can’t let the crowd distract me or anything like that. I’ve got to focus on myself.

Q
Alfredo, why the change in division, and what was it that you learned with your fights with Canelo Alvarez and Erislandy Lara?

A. Angulo
Well, basically I’ve been saying it all along I was going to stay at 154 up until my body said otherwise. It’s not a struggle. I can still make 154 but not comfortably, so that’s why the jump to 160. You know, I think I’m going to feel more comfortable. I’m going to be the “Perro” that you all know.

As far as the Lara fight, I learned a lot. It was a great experience. I showed the people that gave me no chance, that Perro is always going to be here and give great fights. Honestly, in the Canelo fight I can’t tell you I learned anything because I wasn’t there. It wasn’t me. It wasn’t the one you all know, and I didn’t feel the strength and I wasn’t able to put on the performance that I would’ve wanted.

Q
Alfredo, what do you know about your opponent James De La Rosa besides the record that obviously is very good. But what can we expect in that fight with him?

A. Angulo
You know, in all honesty I don’t really look into too much of my opponents besides obviously their record. I don’t know really too much about James as far as what style he can bring. What I do know is that all my opponents when they are going to face me, they train extra hard. They give it that extra training because they know that it’s not going to be an easy night once they step into that ring with me.

Q
Alfredo, do you still think you’ll have the same power at 160 as you did as a junior middleweight?

A. Angulo
I don’t know. Honestly I think you’ll know come Sept.13 if I have the same or even more going into the new division. We’ll let you guys decide.

K. Swanson
Okay, thank you very much. Okay, that is the last question for Alfredo and James. Both of you, thank you very much for joining us. Good luck continuing to train, and we look forward to seeing you fight on Sept. 13.

Mickey Bey is on the line, and we’re waiting for Vazquez to call in. Leonard, if you would like to come back on and join us and talk a little bit about this fight and introduce Mickey.

L. Ellerbe
Next up I’d like to introduce one of our top fighters and rising stars. He has a terrific record of 20-1-1 and fighting out of Cleveland, Ohio. Mickey’s put together an exceptional professional career, obviously with only one loss coming last July, and it was a loss that he learned a lot from personally. He made a grave mistake at the end of the fight, and it was a valuable lesson that was learned, and I think that coming into the world championship fight this is something that he’s always dreamed of, to become world champion, and come Sept. 13 he’ll get that opportunity. He’ll be facing a tough Miguel Vazquez for the IBF lightweight world championship. So without further ado, I’d like to introduce Mickey Bey.

Mickey Bey
Training camp is going great, and I want to thank my team for making this happen. I’m really excited for the opportunity on September 13.

Q
How far are you away from the mistake that cost you the win against John Molina, and in what way has that motivated you to be a better fighter?

M. Bey
I got past it probably the day after, because it wasn’t like a thing where I had to go back and get better. One thing about it, I’m a humble guy, so I feel like I was kind of showboating to the crowd and I was looking out at the crowd and stuff, against a big puncher and that’s a mistake. So I was mad that that happened, but other than that I won every round, and I took his best shots the whole fight, and that’s a big puncher.

So I got over it the day after, but yes, I was disappointed because I don’t really-I don’t think anybody can beat me as far as if I didn’t do that I would still be undefeated. I love putting on great performances for the fans, but that’s not in my character to have went that far looking outside the ring and all of that type stuff.

Q
Floyd was at ringside for the Molina fight. Did he have any advice or counsel for you after the fight? Was he tough on you? What were his words for you afterward?

M. Bey
No, he wasn’t tough, but he definitely gave me some great advice. After he fought Canelo we watched the fight together, and we went over some things, and he told me that was just a mistake. He said it’s boxing, and anything can happen, so it’s not over until it’s over.

Q
Can you characterize Miguel Vazquez style? And also, do you think you’re fighting the guy that everyone considers to be the best in the division, and does that motivate you even more to get a win?

M. Bey
Oh, yes. It does. Yes, I think he is because people might not credit his style, but at the end of the day he’s been the champion for years, so you’ve got to give him credit. People can say he fights this way and that way, but he’s been the champion for years, so I think it’s going to be a great fight.

You got to give us both credit because, number one, a lot of fighters they might cherry pick or wait for a title. Me, I’m getting in and I want to prove that I’m the best by fighting the guy that’s the best in the division as far as being the champion for so long.

Q
Mickey, how do you prepare for a guy who will do anything to win a fight whether it be stink it out or do anything to take away your best weapon?

M. Bey
Well, I’ll tell you I’ve got way more tools than him. He’s just got the bigger name of course because he’s been the champion, but I think this is going to be a fight where he’s going to be trying to get around my puzzles. I can do it all, and nobody saw my best but you’re going to be your best when you fight on this level.

He fought at this level, so my trainer knows even though we’re expecting an even better Vazquez. But he’s going to have more of a puzzle because nobody really fully knows all the things that I can do.

Q
What do you think is the key to what makes him so difficult?

M. Bey
I think the guys in this game today, a lot of them fight the same pretty much. They don’t really know how to box. A lot of guys can’t beat good boxers. They just like the rock ’em sock ’em robot type style, and whatever happens, happens. A lot of guys just swing for the fences and they just fight with their eyes closed.

Vazquez is a crafty fighter, so I don’t think the guys that he was fighting had the ability and the speed and everything to keep up with him.

Q
Mickey, why did you take this fight?

M. Bey
I’m a beast at the end of the day. If Godzilla came or something came down from Mars I’ll fight it and come in 100% confident. He’s a good fighter. This is what boxing is about. It’s about wanting to prove that you’re the best, and to me it’s just that I want to fight the best and to prove that I’m the best.

Q
Now, both of you are boxers are you willing to change your style for this fight and become the aggressor because he plays the outside so much?

M. Bey
I’m just going to go accordingly really. I’ve got a great trainer, Floyd Mayweather Sr. and he taught me well, so I’m going to just pretty much act accordingly. You never know. I don’t really look at previous fights because any fight can go different, so I’m just going to act accordingly. It could be a boxing match. It could be a street fight. I just come out on top whatever it is.

Q
Is there pressure to not only get the win but also look good and stellar on the Mayweather undercard because of the fact that all of the people will be watching?

M. Bey
Really you’ve just got to do your job. All of you all know this cat’s style, so at the end of the day beating him is good enough. Of course I want to look good, but this dude is a legitimate fighter and a legitimate champion, so I can’t get too caught up into thinking how I look even though I’m sure I’ll look great. But getting the win, that’s the key.

Q
You were talking about a couple of different fight dates. Was it difficult for you in training camp to manage all of that not really knowing exactly what date you were going to be fighting?

M. Bey
Not really. I just pretty much I just go with the flow, man. I just stay calm, relax, and just do my job. I’ve got a great team, so I’m confident in them, and they’re confident in me. I just go accordingly pretty much.

Q
Can you just kind of talk about what this fight means to you? You’re fighting on Floyd’s card and all that. What exactly does this opportunity mean for you?

M. Bey
It’s huge for me to get to this point after so long. I know talentwise I could’ve been champion many years ago, but I just think that it shows if you stay dedicated and stick to your craft everybody’s got a different story. Some people get it fast. Some people get it later. But if you quit or you lose confidence you never get the shot to see what you can do, so I’m just mentally tough, strong, and dedicated, and that’s why I’m glad that everything paid off and I got to this point.

Q
Assuming everything goes well and you do end up winning the title, do you think that makes up for the blemish with John Molina, or is that something that you would still want to go back and take care of?

M. Bey
Either way. I think everybody saw it, so they know. We wanted to get it done right after. He didn’t want the fight, so at the end of the day everybody saw it. They know, okay, why did this guy goof off?. In the last round why did this guy goof off and throw the fight away? I wasn’t really hit and stuff like that, but it was one of those fights where it was just a bad mistake on my end.

It wasn’t anything that he did. I can’t take credit away from him. He got the win that night, but everybody knows it was because I just started goofing off at the end, and that’s something that normally I wouldn’t have done. But I hope the fans enjoyed it, because they will never see that again.

K. Swanson
Okay Leonard could you please introduce Mr. Vazquez? Mickey, if you want to stay on the line I do believe that was your last question, but if you’d like to stay on the line in case some come up. I understand if you have to train, but stand by. Let’s hear from Mr. Vazquez.

L. Ellerbe
Next up I’d like to introduce the current IBF lightweight champion. He’s currently on an impressive 13-fight win streak that goes all the way back to 2008. He won his lightweight world title in 2010. He’s a respected veteran, always come to fight, and come Sept. 13 he’ll be looking to make himself a household name when he puts his title on the line against Mickey Bey.

So without further ado, I’d like to introduce the current IBF lightweight world champion out of Guadalajara, Mexico with a record of 34-3 with 13 KOs, Miguel Vazquez.

Miguel Vazquez
It’s a great honor, and I’m very happy to be here with you guys on this call, and I’m looking forward to it.

Q
What does it mean to you to make your debut with another promoter and to be on this significant card, a Mayweather card?

M. Vazquez
It’s a great honor to be with a new manager like Al Haymon, and obviously another great honor to be on such a great card like it is to be on the Mayweather undercard, and I’m coming very well prepared to come and defend my title.

Q
Now that you’re with a new company, now that you’re on such a big card do you have any plans to change up your style or continue on doing what you do best?

M. Vazquez
No, this is my style. My style is the style that took me to become a world champion, and I don’t plan to make any drastic changes to my style. This is why I’ve maintained and been victorious. I may modify a little bit more aggressive attack, but again, this is the style that’s kept me here.

Q
What can you tell us about Mickey Bey? Obviously it’s the big fight of his life, and what do you expect in this fight?

M. Vazquez
We know Mickey Bey is a very good fighter, very talented fighter, fast, difficult. But I know I’m very well prepared mentally, physically, spiritually. I know that I’m blessed. God blessed me, and we’re prepared. We’re prepared, and we’re going to come out with the hand raised first, God willing.

Q
Miguel, could you sort of take us through the evolution of your style and how it came to be at this point in your career?

M. Vazquez
I’ll say it started off with my father, that he started teaching me the craft, and from there on I learned from the Cubans the art of boxing, to hit and not be hit, and now currently with my current trainer I’ve learned and picked up new things. It’s a style that’s got me there. I go in there, hit, don’t be hit, and I’m blessed by God.

Q
Miguel, it was somewhat of a surprise to see you signing with Al Haymon. How important is that for you at this point in your career?

M. Vazquez
No, besides an honor it was a blessing to have signed with such an important figure in boxing like Mr. Al Haymon, and obviously the dreams of having the biggest fights have now become reality, and now come fight night I have to do everything to come out victorious so I don’t let him down.

K. Swanson
Okay, now we have both Leo Santa Cruz and Manuel Roman on the call. We’ll turn it over to Eric Gomez.

E. Gomez
Yes, here we are. Great. Thank you. Okay, so obviously the co-main event pits one of the most exciting fighters in boxing, Leo Santa Cruz, defending his world title against Manuel Roman out of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico with a record of 17-2. He’s a hard-hitting fighter. He’s only 26 years old.

This is a great opportunity, the biggest fight of his career. He’s an underdog in this fight, but he’s going to give it his all, so I would like to introduce to you Manuel Roman to say a few words. Manuel?

Manuel Roman
Hi, everybody. I just want to thank God for the opportunity, and I want to thank everybody that’s listening right now. I hope everybody tunes in on Sept. 13, it will be a great night of boxing.

E. Gomez
Great. Thank you very much, Manuel. Now, one of the most exciting fighters in boxing, he’s undefeated, super bantamweight WBC world champion. He’s probably one of the most exciting fighters. This guy throws so many punches it’s hard to count, but he’s coming off so many good, impressive wins.

This is going to be a big stage for him fighting on the Mayweather card, and I would like for him to say a few words -Leo Santa Cruz.

Leo Santa Cruz
Yes, good afternoon to everyone. I just want to say that I’m very happy and excited to be on this big undercard. It’s a dream come true to be on the Mayweather undercard and to be the co-main event. For me it’s what I’ve dreamed since I was really small, and now I have to thank God, thank my manager, Al Haymon, Golden Boy, my team, and I invite you guys to come Sept. 13.

Me and Roman, we’ve known each other since amateurs. He’s a great fighter. I know a lot of people know him, but he’s a great fighter, and he’s going to come out and give me a great fight, and we’re going to give a great fight for all the fans.

Q
Do you feel that being in the co-main event before a Mayweather-Maidana fight you need to be spectacular in order to get the fight that you’ve been calling for against (Guillermo) Rigondeaux or any other fights?

L. Santa Cruz
I think that before I was knocking out people and everything, but I was never really used to fighting fighters that box a little bit more. But we weren’t used to those kinds of styles running and boxing, but now we been training in the gym. We have been fighting fighters that move a lot and chasing them, so I think we’re getting used to them, so I think we’re going to start doing what we were doing before, and of course I think that I need to look spectacular because I’m the co-main event, and that millions of people are going to be watching me.

So I’ve got to go out there and give my best, and that’s what I’m training for, and hopefully I’m going to be at 100% and go out there and give the fans what I always do, war, and go out there and throw a lot of punches so the fans can go happy.

Q
Is the fact there are so many Mexicans on the card and it’s on Independence Day weekend a motivator for you?

L. Santa Cruz
A great motivation-all my fans there are always a motivation, even the Mexicans for all the fans all over the world they give me motivation too because I have great fans. I have Mexicans, Chinese, from the UK, Colombia, Puerto Rico, everywhere, so that’s a great blessing for me, and really I always think about the fans because thanks to them I’m here and they’re always saying nice things about me and everywhere. That’s why I go out there to give them my best, and I always try my best, and hopefully we do it.

Q
Eric, can you address the style differences between Seda and Mijares when he fought them and what he said just now about wanting to look spectacular on Sept. 13?

E. Gomez
I mean, I think that if you look at the opposition that he’s faced, he’s faced really top-notch opposition. He’s fought some of the toughest guys in boxing. He hasn’t had it easy ever since he won the IBF title. I think that he’s popular because of his style, the amount of punches he throws. Obviously we put him in with Seda. He was a slick counterpuncher, a southpaw. Mijares was similar. He was similar, but I think the thing with Leo is that he wants to go to war. He wants to give the fans what they want to see. He wants to stand there toe to toe, throw a lot of punches.

But a lot of times when he starts landing those punches his opposition they change their tactics, and they change, and they start moving around and running because if they stay right in front of him they can probably get knocked out or it’s going to be a long night. They’re going to have to eat a lot of punches.

So I think that he’s one of the most exciting fighters. The amount of punches that he throws every round are incredivke and he’s just going to keep getting better.

Q
You’re going to be on a stage that you’ve never been on before as the co-main. All these eyes are going to be watching. What’s that pressure like?

L. Santa Cruz
Yeah, there’s a big, big pressure on top of me because I’m the co-main event, and to be on this big undercard is a dream come true. This is what I always dreamed, and I’m training 100% and giving my all. We trained really hard with the 12 rounds already sparring with my friend Daniel Garcia.

We’re doing 12 rounds over there, and we’re leaving it all in the ring. So on Sept. 13 we go out there and give it war because that’s what the fans want, and to be on a big undercard like this and a million people watching we got to leave it all right there.

Q
Now, we’re used to seeing you fight three, four times a year, and in 2014 you’ve only fought once. Any particular reason for the layoff, and is that something that you’re going to be giving us now, just two fights a year, or do you want to go back to your old schedule, four and more?

L. Santa Cruz
If it was up to me, I would like to fight three or four times a year, but I think the whole team decided that I needed a little rest maybe, and they are the ones that take care of me, so I respect what they say, and if they think fighting like this is better I respect them, and I’m just doing whatever they want.

But hopefully next year we fight three or four times because we like to stay busy. We’re always staying in the gym. We’re ready, and we’re asking for more fights in the future.

Q
I’d just like to know why you would like to fight Guillermo Rigondeaux, being as though you know that he’s a slick counterpuncher and basically undefeated.

L. Santa Cruz
No, of course. I thought he was running away from me, and then I heard that he’s saying that I’m scared, and some people are saying that I’m scared. So I want to prove that I’m not scared of fighting nobody. I’m here to fight the best, and if he’s the best why not fight him?

Like I say, he does have a hard style, very difficult and everything, but hopefully everything goes well on Sept. 13, and hopefully next year we get to fight that war. We know that it will be a great fight and a hard fight for me, but no matter if we lose, we win.

But we want to give the fans what they want because that’s what the fans want, and if they want it I’m here for them to fight for them and we’re going to try our best to make that fight happen.

Q
You said that you’ve been fighting fighters that move around a lot and that you’ve been chasing them. Is this in preparation for Rigondeaux or no? Is this just so you’re trying to broaden your range?

L. Santa Cruz
Yes because I know Rigondeaux, he’s going to be a future opponent, and we’ve been fighting boxers because we want to be ready so that whenever we fight Rigondeaux we’re ready to go out there and fight boxers that move a lot. We know that that fight is going to happen sooner or later, but we want to be able change styles because I want to know how to fight every kind of style from people that stay there, that bang and that move or fighters like me who want to move too. So I think we’re going to work on any style so that when we go out there we’re ready for anything.

Q
Manuel, are you inspired by all the other upsets you’ve seen so far this year?

M. Roman
Of course I’m inspired. It’s a big card. I’ve never been in the stakes like this, and I thank Leo for the opportunity and all his team, and it’s a great inspiration for me. It means the world to me right now.

Q
What do you say to the detractors that might say this fight isn’t worthy of being a co-main event for Mayweather vs. Maidana 2?

L. Santa Cruz
Yeah, they can say on paper it might be-you guys might say this and that and other things, but I’ve known Roman since amateurs, he was a really good in amateur, and I sparred with him two or three years ago, and we used to work really good in the gym. We used to go to war in the gym and the sparring and everything.

So other people that don’t know him but he’s a great fighter. He has great punches, great technique. He’s good at everything, so I think he’s going to give it his all just like me like me, I never underestimate nobody. I always train 100% because those are the fights that are harder. They’re the ones that are hungrier.

Manuel is going to come out here and he’s going to get a war, so I think we’re both 100% ready, and we’re going to go out there and give a great, great fight.

Q
So after this, considering if you’re successful, will you push for more crowd-pleasing fights or more difficult challenges? Are you interested in fighting anyone else besides him?

L. Santa Cruz
Yes, of course I am. Hopefully everything goes good and we do well in September. We want to look for harder fights, for the stronger ones, again Carl Frampton, Scott Craig and other fighters at 122. All of those, they’re great fights, but we’re going to push it, and we’re going to try to get those fighters to get in the ring.

Q
Manuel, are there certain things that you know from training with Leo in the past that you might be focusing on and try to take advantage of when you guys fight?

M. Roman
As far as I know, Leo is a warrior. He’s a warrior, and that’s what we’re getting ready for, war. So that’s why we’re training so hard too, and this is a big opportunity, and like he said we know each other, and we know it’s going to be a great match, so we’re ready for that.

Q
Leo, how is training going for this fight?

L. Santa Cruz
Training is going great. We’ve been doing 10 rounds, and today we did 12 rounds of sparring. The training camp, the sparring, the miles, everything is going great, strength, conditioning all great. Everything is going great, so we’ve been training really hard. We’ve been leaving it all in the ring and in the camp, so I think it’s going great, and we’re ready for Sept. 13 already.

Q
Carl Frampton was saying that his team and your team were talking, and it was looking good. What happened? Why did that breakdown?

L. Santa Cruz
The truth is I don’t know. I never heard about those talks. I was just training, and I was always in the camp training getting ready for the fight. I never knew the camps were talking or anything. They never told me about a possible fight with him, but like I said, if it was up to me I’d say yes to that fight. I’m here to fight the best, and Carl is one of the fighters I want to fight.

LAS VEGAS (August 14, 2014) – In keeping with Mexican Independence Day tradition, Mayweather Promotions has assembled a stellar undercard featuring some of this era’s most exciting boxers to co-feature on “MAYHEM: Mayweather vs. Maidana 2” on Saturday,September 13 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena live on SHOWTIME PPV.

Featured on the four-fight pay-per-view telecast, fan favorite Leo “Terremoto”
Santa Cruz will put his WBC Super Bantamweight World Championship on the line in a 12-round championship bout against Mexican contender Manuel “Suavecito” Roman, plus Tijuana-Baja’s pride Miguel “Títere” Vazquez defends his IBF Lightweight World Championship against Mayweather Promotions’ rising star Mickey “The Spirit” Bey. In the opening bout on pay per view, Alfredo “El Perro” Angulo returns to the ring against James De La Rosa in a 10-round bout.

Rounding out a sensational night of televised fights, SHOWTIME will present a live 10-round Jr. welterweight bout between John Molina Jr. and Humberto “La Zorrita”
Soto on “COUNTDOWN LIVE” (SHO, 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT) immediately preceding the SHOWTIME PPV telecast.

“This is my second time fighting on a Floyd Mayweather pay-per-view undercard and I know that there is no bigger stage than this,” said Santa Cruz. “Manuel Roman is a tough customer. I know he’s going to come prepared and try to take my title. He has nothing to lose and everything to gain, but I plan on leaving the ring with my hand raised.”

“Leo Santa Cruz is one of the top guys not only in the super bantamweight division, but in all of boxing,” said Roman. “I’ve never been intimidated in the ring before and I don’t plan on starting on September 13. Santa Cruz better be ready because I know I will be.”

“I’m looking forward to fighting at MGM Grand again and on this amazing Floyd Mayweather card,” said Vazquez. “It’s time to get to business and get in the best shape ever so I’m ready to put on a show. I respect Mickey Bey, but I plan on winning convincingly to show that I’m one of the best in the lightweight division.

“I want to thank God for helping me persevere through the tough times and helping me overcome obstacles in my life,” said Bey. “I also want to thank my team for believing in me and helping me get to this opportunity. I plan on seizing the moment and becoming a world champion on September 13.”

“I’ve been anxious to get back in the ring ever since the end of the Canelo fight,” said Angulo. “I’m ready to get back on the winning track and this is a great opportunity for me to do that in front of the world on Mexican Independence Day weekend. This fight could not be more critical for my future in this sport and I want to put on a great show for the fans.”

“This is a tremendous opportunity for me to make my name on a huge stage against a fellow Mexican-warrior in Alfredo Angulo,” said De La Rosa. “On September 13 I’m going to teach an old dog some new tricks.”

“Floyd always wants to ensure the paying fans get their monies worth by delivering a strong night of boxing action through compelling televised undercard bouts,” said Leonard Ellerbe, CEO Mayweather Promotions. “This fight night will be no different from the rest as Leo Santa Cruz and Miguel Vazquez will defend their world titles valiantly, electrifying Mickey Bey will seek to win that title from Vazquez and fan favorite Alfredo Angulo will look to revitalize his career in what will amount to a sensational night of boxing.”

“From top to bottom, the September 13th fight card is going to get fans out of their seats whether they are among the thousands in attendance at MGM Grand or hundreds of thousands watching from home,” said Oscar De La Hoya, president and founder of Golden Boy Promotions. “Golden Boy is proud to promote the most crowd-pleasing fighters in the sport and with Marcos Maidana, Leo Santa Cruz and Alfredo Angulo, all in action under the same roof, it’s sure to be a night that no one will forget.”

One of the most successful and exciting fighters in the sport, Leo Santa Cruz (27-0-1, 15 KOs) is on the cusp of superstardom. Widely recognized as one of the highest volume punchers in the game, the 25-year-old, two-division world champion who fights out of Los Angeles by way of Huetamo, Michoacan de Ocampo, Mexico will be making his third defense of the WBC 122-pound title he won last August. His exciting work rate and significant power have made Santa Cruz a mainstay on SHOWTIME as he prepares for his second consecutive PPV bout after defeating Cristian Mijares in March on the “TOE TO TOE: Canelo Alvarez vs. Alfredo Angulo” PPV card.

Tijuana-Baja, Mexico native fighting out of Paramount, Calif., Manuel Roman (17-2, 6 KOs) is ready for the spotlight. The hard-hitting 26-year-old is coming off of a two-fight winning streak. An underdog ready to upset bantamweight favorite on the biggest stage of his career could pull off the upset of the year.

A respected veteran and the current IBF Lightweight World Champion, Miguel Vazquez (34-3, 13 KOs) looks to make himself a household name on September 13 when he puts his title on the line against Mickey Bey. The 27-year-old from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico is riding an impressive 13-fight win streak dating all the way back to a 2008 loss against Canelo Alvarez. Vazquez won his lightweight world title in 2010 against Ji-Hoon Kim and has gone on to defeat undefeated fighters Leonardo Zappavigna, Mercito Gesta and, most recently, Denis Shafikov this past Feb. 22.

His opponent, Mickey Bey (20-1-1, 10 KOs) is one of the top rising stars in the Mayweather Promotions’ stable. The 31-year-old from Cleveland, Ohio was an amateur standout who defeated Brandon Rios at the 2004 Olympic Trials but was forced to miss the Olympics because of a bout with pneumonia. Since then, Bey has put together an exceptional professional career, with only one loss at the hands of John Molina Jr. last July, and has risen to contender status in the lightweight division. The winner of his last two fights, including a dominating decision victory against Alan Herrera in his last fight, Bey is ready to fight on the biggest stage of his career.

Despite losing his last two fights, Alfredo Angulo (22-4, 18 KOs) remains a popular and extremely dangerous fighter, who is no doubt looking to take out his recent frustrations on his next opponent. The 31-year-old from Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico always produces exciting fights, as evidenced by knockouts of Gabriel Rosado, Joel Julio and Joachim Alcine, as well as his classic 2011 showdown with James Kirkland. Angulo’s last two defeats came at the hands of the top fighters in the 154-pound division in Canelo Alvarez and Erislandy Lara. Both fighters controversially stopped Angulo in the 10th round, but on Sept. 13 it is Angulo who plans on inflicting pain and walking out victorious.

Angulo’s opponent, James De La Rosa (22-2, 13 KOs) is looking to make his name in the sport with an explosive win on September 13. The 26-year-old Mexican fighting out of San Benito, Texas is fresh off of an August 2 technical knockout victory over Fabian Reyes. This win adds to a list of solid triumphs that includes Tyrone Brunson, Lenin Arroyo and Tim Coleman. Now he looks for his biggest victory and to be able to say he has arrived as one of the sport’s elite.

The two fighters kicking off the night on Mayweather vs. Maidana 2: COUNTDOWN LIVE are sure to make sparks fly in the ring as both look to rise in their divisional rankings. John Molina Jr. (27-4, 22 KOs) from Covina, Calif., is looking to bounce back from his loss to Lucas Matthysse in a fight that immediately jumped to the top of the Fight of the Year list. The 31-year-old owns an impressive knockout victory over Mickey Bey that proved you can never count the powerful puncher out of a fight.

Humberto Soto (64-8-2, 35 KOs) is riding a six-fight winning streak since a 2012 loss to Matthysse. A former titlist in three divisions, the 34-year-old from Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico looks to stay hot and earn himself another shot at a world title with a big televised victory on Sept. 13.

# # #

“MAYHEM: Mayweather vs. Maidana 2,” a 12-round world championship bout for Mayweather’s 147-pound world titles takes place Saturday, Sept. 13 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas and is promoted by Mayweather Promotions, Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona Extra, O’Reilly Auto Parts and “The Equalizer” in theaters September 26. The event will be produced and distributed live by SHOWTIME PPV® and is the fourth fight of a six-fight deal between Mayweather and Showtime Networks Inc.

Tickets for the live event are on sale now and are priced at $1,600, $1,200, $850, $600 and $350, not including applicable service charges and taxes. Tickets are limited to eight (8) per person with a limit of four (4) at the $350 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.

For more information visit www.mayhemfight.com, www.mayweatherpromotions.com, www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.sports.sho.com, and www.mgmgrand.com and follow on Twitter at @floydmayweather, @chinomaidana, @mayweatherpromo, @goldenboyboxing, @ShoSports and @Swanson_Comm, follow the conversation using #Mayhem and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FloydMayweather, www.facebook.com/chinomaidanaoficial, www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions, www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing and www.facebook.com/SHOBoxing.