You know the cliché. It’s trotted out after nearly every controversial decision. Yeah-yeah, reasonable people can disagree. Trouble is, that’s all they ever seem to do in boxing.

As the business approaches a potential fiscal cliff of its own making on Sept. 15, however, there’s an opportunity for reasonable minds to actually work in behalf of the customers who just seem to be in the way of promoters hell-bent on destroying each other with dueling cards — the Golden Boy-promoted Canelo Alvarez-Josesito Lopez at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand and Top Rank’s Julio Cesar-Chavez Jr.-Sergio Martinez just a fast-break away at Thomas & Mack Center.

Here’s a way out of the conflict: The Grand Garden Arena at the MGM Grand is available Friday night, Sept. 14.

How hard would it be to re-schedule Alvarez-Lopez from Sept. 15 to Sept. 14 as a way to kick off a weekend celebration of Mexican Independence on Sunday, Sept. 16? First, Canelo-Lopez on Friday. Then, Chavez- Martinez on Saturday. Finally, Mana, a concert featuring the popular Mexican rock band scheduled for Sunday at the Grand Garden Arena.

The weekend-long fiesta sounds simple enough. Perhaps too simple. It hasn’t been suggested, at least not by the reasonable people who only know how to disagree. The topic dominated conversation before and after Danny Garcia’s stunning fourth-round stoppage of Amir Khan last Saturday at Mandalay Bay. From bar-tenders to serious fans, it was the same question: How come nobody is talking about making that move?

Above-all, it’s a win-win for fans, regardless of whether they prefer Canelo or Chavez Jr. They’ll have a chance to see each fight live, rather than being forced to pick one instead of the other. For the respective television networks, it’s a chance at attracting the biggest possible audience. Showtime will carry Canelo-Lopez. HBO plans a pay-per-view telecast of Chavez Jr.-Martinez for the middleweight title. If on the same night, each figures to lose some of its audience.

Then, there’s the MGM Grand and Wynn-Las Vegas, which will be the hotel site for news conferences and other pre-fight events in its role as a sponsor of Chavez-Martinez. All customers can’t be at both places at the same time.

There has been a suggestion that maybe one main event can be scheduled a few hours before the other. To wit: On Sept. 15, schedule Canelo-Lopez for 5:30 p.m. and Chavez Jr.-Martinez for 8:15 p.m. But that is fraught with potential headaches. Logistically, there might be an impossible crush to get a cab and rush hour-like traffic on the short road from one parking lot to the other. There’s also talk that Televisa, the Mexican network aligned to Canelo, wants the fight only at night instead of late-afternoon or early evening.

Even if that one doesn’t work, there’s still a way out of the dilemma. But so far a possible solution has been ignored and reason set aside for a winner-take-all confrontation that Golden Boy and Top Rank are promoting more than any fight and at any cost, even to themselves.

LOS ANGELES (July 11, 2012) – Mexican Independence Day weekend will come alive in one-of-a-kind fashion on Saturday, September 15 when “Knockout Kings” featuring undefeated Mexican sensation Canelo Alvarez taking on boxing’s breakout star and upset-minded Josesito Lopez for Canelo’s World Boxing Council (WBC) Super Welterweight World Championship, takes place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, live on SHOWTIME. Fans can expect fireworks all night long with the unparalleled quadruple-header, which also features WBC Featherweight World Champion Jhonny Gonzalez defending his title against former World Champion Daniel Ponce De Leon.

“Knockout Kings,” a tremendous evening of pure Mexican power and pride, is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and Canelo Promotions in association with Goossen Tutor Promotions and Thompson Boxing Promotions and sponsored by Corona, DeWalt Tools and AT&T. The quadruple-header will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. and will be televised live on SHOWTIME. Additional co-featured fights will be announced soon.

SHOWTIME Sports will also produce a new edition of its ALL ACESS sports documentary series. ALL ACCESS: Canelo vs. Lopez will premiere on SHOWTIME, with multiple replays on additional SHOWTIME and CBS platforms. The exhibition schedule will be announced shortly.

“We know the exceptional talent we have in Mexican superstar Canelo, and certainly Josesito Lopez deserves the opportunity to face him after his stunning upset victory over Victor Ortiz on June 23,” said Oscar de la Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions. “It is going to be another prideful Mexican Independence Day weekend for Mexican and Mexican-American fans having their most celebrated fighter, Canelo, fighting that night along with Jhonny Gonzalez and Daniel Ponce De Leon, who are going to deliver their own electrifying championship battle.”

“It is a great pleasure for Golden Boy Promotions to be working with MGM Resorts International and SHOWTIME Sports on this exciting night of boxing,” said Richard Schaefer, CEO, Golden Boy Promotions. “To be able to showcase top-caliber boxing talent in Canelo, Josesito Lopez, Jhonny Gonzalez and Ponce De Leon on the same show packs a lot of power and pride into a tremendous evening for attendees and viewers watching at home. It’s also a special gift for Mexican and Mexican American fans who have supported the sport for so long to have Canelo appear once again on Mexican Independence Day weekend. If there is anyone who deserves a shot at Canelo, it’s Josesito because he showed that heart and will can determine the outcome of any fight. I’ve never seen a fighter show that.”

“SHOWTIME has fully committed to promoting this tremendous night of boxing as if it were a pay-per-view, but instead is offering this quadruple-header to all boxing fans across the country,” continued Schaefer. “We are very pleased that CBS will also be committed to promoting this event on various platforms.”

“We are excited to be able to offer SHOWTIME subscribers a chance to see boxing’s newest star, Canelo Alvarez, in what promises to be a dramatic fight,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports. “Canelo’s talent and charisma has re-energized boxing and drawn legions of casual fans to the sport. Josesito Lopez may not be as well-known as Canelo, but he has already shown that it would be a mistake for any opponent to overlook Josesito Lopez. Many counted him out in his last fight against Victor Ortiz, but he stunned the SHOWTIME audience and boxing fans worldwide with his gutsy performance and earned his shot at Canelo. This match-up, and this entire card as a whole, promises to be non-stop action and we are proud to deliver explosive fights to our viewers.”

Richard Sturm, president of sports and entertainment for MGM Resorts International, said, “We look forward to celebrating Mexican Independence Day weekend with one of the most exciting events of the summer. There is no doubt that Golden Boy Promotions will deliver a fight that has a major impact on boxing fans worldwide.”

Already a phenom in his home country of Mexico, Canelo turned professional at the age of 15 and has amassed a record of 40-0-1, with 29 knockouts. Since 2008, he has knocked out 14 of 18 opponents and is coming off of a dominant unanimous decision win over future Hall of Famer and former Three-Division World Champion Sugar Shane Mosley in May. Now, the 21-year-old considered to be one of boxing’s fastest-rising stars will make his SHOWTIME debut on Mexico’s biggest holiday weekend of the year, Mexican Independence Day weekend. Canelo will look to continue his meteoric rise to international superstardom as he follows in the footsteps of De La Hoya, his childhood idol and current promoter.

“I am happy to be fighting Josesito Lopez on Mexican Independence Day weekend and to give all of our fans a tremendous battle,” said Canelo. “I was ringside for his fight against Victor Ortiz and saw the talent he possesses. It will be very competitive, but nothing can take away my desire to be the best in the sport. I am also excited to be fighting for the Mexican people and Mexican American fans on Mexican Independence Day weekend. I look forward to showing so many people who will be watching me across the United States that I love being a champion. I want them to think of me as one of the greatest fighters ever.”

In June, Lopez emerged from relative obscurity and scored the biggest win of his career over the heavily favored Ortiz in the main event of a SHOWTIME Championship Boxing. Lopez shocked the boxing world by stopping Ortiz, one of today’s most popular and talented fighters. Lopez (30-4, 18 KO’s) of Riverside, Calif., has the opportunity to recreate his “Rocky moment” on Sept. 15, when he challenges for his first world title against a man that many believe to be boxing’s next superstar.

“I am so happy to have the chance to continue my career fighting another great champion in Canelo Alvarez especially on such a big weekend like Mexican Independence Day,” said Lopez. “I know they put me in the ring with Victor Ortiz to have me beat and now they are doing the same thing with Canelo. I was a big underdog with Ortiz and now I’m a bigger underdog with Canelo, but I’m up for the challenge.”

Also featured on the SHOWTIME telecast will be reigning Mexico City’s Jhonny Gonzalez (52-7, 45 KO’s) who once ruled the bantamweight division with his iron fists, winning two world titles and defeating the likes of Fernando Montiel, Irene Pacheco and recently inducted Hall of Famer Mark “Too Sharp” Johnson. Reinventing himself at featherweight, where he has gone 12-0 with 11 knockouts, he won the WBC 126-pound title by stopping Hozumi Hasegawa in the fourth round in April 2011. Four title defenses, including an April 2012 decision over Elio Rojas, have followed, and on September 15, the 30-year old will seek a fifth successful defense against De Leon.

“This is a fight I have been wanting for a long time and now to have the opportunity to do it for my Mexican people is so great,” said Gonzalez. “That is a big weekend for everyone and I am going to show the world why I am still the best in the division.”

Power puncher Daniel Ponce De Leon (43-4, 35 KO’s) has long been one of boxing’s most dependable warriors. Former WBO Junior Featherweight World Champion De Leon defended his crown six times during his 2005-08 reign. After losing the title to Juan Manuel Lopez in 2008, he began the next chapter of his career, winning nine of his next 11 fights following that defeat. In 2012, wins over Omar Estrella (KO6) and Eduardo Lazcano (W10) at featherweight have put him in line for a shot at 126-pound gold, but to get it, he will have to beat countryman Gonzalez on the 15th of September.

“Gonzalez is a very good fighter, but I have the experience and ability to beat him and take his title from him,” said De Leon. “The Mexican fans will all be watching and there is going to be tremendous pressure on all of us to win our bouts and look great doing it. I will become the new champion that night and my career will move up to a new level.”

Tickets priced at $400, $300, $150, $50 and $25, not including applicable service charges and taxes, go on sale Saturday, July 14 at Noon PT. Ticket sales are limited to ten (10) per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, Former welterweight champion Victor Ortiz had surgery to fix a broken jaw that he suffered in his surprising ninth round loss to Josesito Lopez on Saturday night in Los Angeles.

During a visit with Ortiz on Monday morning, Ortiz manager Rolando Arellano said Ortiz wrote down on a piece of paper “exercise the rematch clause” because he wants to face Lopez (30-4, 18 KOs) again, as is his contractual right, even though Ortiz likely won’t fight for the rest of this year.

“Victor broke the jaw in the fifth round. He felt a weird sensation because he couldn’t close his mouth all the way,” Arellano said. “So he was holding his glove underneath his jaw to keep it closed because it was hanging open. Victor fought four or five rounds with a broken jaw and every time he would throw punches, he would take his glove away from his jaw and it would just drop. He said every time he got hit on it, it felt like someone was slicing open his body it hurt so much. He didn’t know what was going on.”

Arellano said Ortiz eventually began to gag on “thick blood in his mouth. The doctors said it was extremely dangerous because he had internal bleeding, which they said they could tell by the thickness of the blood. This was a lot more serious than anyone anticipated at first when we just thought he had a broken jaw.”

“Of course, we want the rematch, just like Victor wrote down for me, but I just want to make sure this young man is OK,” Arellano said. “It was an exciting fight and we were winning but it was just one of those things that happen in boxing. It’s always unpredictable.

“Victor was down because the injury happened, but this is part of the sport. We know that we live by the sword and die by the sword, and we can’t stand here and cry about it. You lick your wounds and move forward.”

In what was on paper a formality before a September 15th Pay Per View showdown with Saul Alvarez, Victor Ortiz was supposed to walk through late replacement and blown up Jr. Welterweight Josesito Lopez.

But one problem, Lopez did not receive the memo as the upstart from Riverside, California pulled off a shocking stoppage victory after round nine of their twelve round Welterweight bout at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Lopez, who fought through a shut right eye, took the bout on short notice after a failed drug test to Andre Berto.

The fight was a terrific back and forth brawl that saw many ebbs and flows and drama throughout the fight.

The action started early for which Lopez through wide and looping shots that crunched off the face of Ortiz. Ortiz landed some hard lefts and drove Lopez back to the ropes and even tried roughhouse tactics. In round five, Ortiz landed a hard left hand to the back of the head of Lopez that was an illegal blow and Lopez took several minutes to get himself together.

The action continued at a furious pace as both landed tremendous shots and the fight seemed to be close heading down the stretch.

Towards the end of round nine, Lopez landed a wide left hand that slammed off the side of the face of Ortiz. Ortiz sat in his stool and announced to referee Jack Reiss that he could not continue due to a possible broken jaw.

With those action, Ortiz loses a potential seven figure pay day with the WBC Super Welterweight champion Alvarez and Lopez great performance announces him as a player in the 140 & 147 pound divisions.

Lopez, 144 1/2 lbs of Riverside, CA is now 30-4 with eighteen knockouts. Ortiz, 146 1/2 lbs of Ventura, CA is now 29-4-2.

All Lucas Matthysse needed was one big right hand and he landed it just before the end of round five and he stopped former world champion Humberto Soto after round five of their scheduled ten round Jr. Welterweight bout.

It was Soto who boxed well over the first two rounds as he used some quick combinations. Matthysse started getting his power shots going, particularly to the body in round three. Soto rebounded to get back to boxing in round three. Matthysse started revving up the heavy artillery at the end of round as started landing power shots to the head and body. Matthysse landed a heavy right hand that sent Soto stumbling back to the ropes. Soto’s momentum off the ropes pushed him right into a huge right and dropped Soto for the first time in his career just seconds before the bell rang to signify the end of the round. When Soto got to his corner, the team waved off the fight at end of round five.

Matthysse of Argentina is now 31-2 with twenty nine knockouts. Soto of Los Mochis, MX is now 58-8-2.

Good looking Jr. Middleweight prospect Jermell Charlo scored an impressive fifth round stoppage over Denis Douglin in a scheduled ten round bout.

Charlo looked good over the first couple of rounds as he landed right hands by mixing them up between leads and working behind the hab. Douglin had a good round three as he found success working the body. That was short lived as Charlo got back to the right hand in round four and landed a booming right that sent Douglin flat on his back in round five. Douglin got to his feet but stumbled and referee Wayne Hedgepath stopped the bout at 1:12 of round round five.

Charlo, 153 3/4 lbs of Houston, TX is now 18-0 with nine knockouts. Douglin, 154 lbs of Marlboro, NJ is now 14-2.

Good looking Lightweight prospect Omar Figueroa made short work of Alain Hernandez by scoring a first rouns stoppage in a bout scheduled for eight rounds.

Figueroa jumped all over the smaller Hernandez and landed some hard shots. Figueroa then worked the body that pushed Hernandez back to the ropes. An ensuing flurry forced referee Jose Cobian to stop the bout just ninety-four seconds into the contest.

Figueroa, 137 lbs of Weslaco, TX is now 18-0-1 with fifteen knockouts. Hernandez, 137 lbs is now 18-11-1.

Follow all the action LIVE as it happens as former Welterweight champion Victor Ortiz takes on Josesito Lopez. The card will have a four fight undercard beginning at 7pm ET / 4 PM PT featuring Former world champion Humberto Soto battling Lucas Matthysse in an important Jr. Welterweight affair. A pair of Jr. Middleweight prospects will square off as undefeated Jermall Charlo takes on Denis Douglin. There will also be an appearance by undefeated Lightweight Omar Figueroa.

12 Rounds–Welterweights–Victor Ortiz (29-3-2, 22 KO’s) vs Josesito Lopez (29-4, 17 KO’s)

Round 1: Ortiz good body shot…Lopez lands a combination…Righthand..Double left from Ortiz…Lopez lands a left…10-9 Lopez

Round 2 Ortiz lands a jab,,,Lopez lands 2 lefts to the body…Ortiz lands a left and right that hurts Lopez…Hard left..Hard shots from both guys…Hard right from Lopez…2 lefts to the body..right hand…Ortiz lands a straight left….19-19

Round 3 Straight left from Ortiz..Lopez lands a hard right..and left and another right…looping right…29-28 Lopez

Round 4 Ortiz lands a combination…Left hook from Lopez…Ortiz lands at the bell 38-38

Round 5 Lopez lands a right and left/body…Ortiz lands a uppercut…Ortiz hits Lopez in back of head…Left from Lopez..left hook..good right..48-47 Lopez

Round 6 Lopez landing nice combinations…Ortiz answers with a left..Uppercut..Good combination..57-57

Round 7 Lopez lands an overhand right…Counter from Ortiz..Lopez lands a uppercut…Ortiz gets in a straight left..They are warring on the ropes..3 big shots from Lopez..67-66 Lopez

Round 8 Uppercut from Lopez..another uppercut lands..left hook..short right and a body shot…Ortiz lands a right hook…77-75 Lopez

Round 9 Nice left from Ortiz…Straight left..Left hook from Lopez…right…great exchange..Lopez chasing Ortiz at the end of the round…87-85 Lopez

Round 10

10 round Jr. Welterweights–Humberto Soto (58-7-2, 34 KO’s) vs Lucas Matthysse (30-2, 28 KO’s)

Round 1 Soto busier…good combination…Matthysse left hook…10-9 Soto

Round 2 Soto lands an uppercut…Landing combinations..Right backs up Matthysse..Leads right from Matthysse..20-18 Soto

Round 3 Matthysse lands a body shot…Hard right to the chin..Uppercut/Left hook..Straight right..Soto fighting back…Nice left hook…Right /Left …Soto lands a 3 punch combination…29-28 Soto

Round 4 Soto lands a left to the body…Matthysse lands an uppercut..Soto lands a jab…Matthysse lands a left…right from Soto..Right makes Soto stumble..Soto lands a jab that backs Matthysse up…39-37 Soto

Round 5 Soto lands a combination…Matthysse lands a right..Uppercut and hook to the body..Hard left hook..Left hook..leooping right,…BIG RIGHT AND DOWN GOES SOTO JUST BEFORE THE END OF THE ROUND...47-47 SOTO’S CORNER STOPS THE FIGHT

Round 6

10 Rounds–Jr. Middleweights–Jermell Charlo (17-0, 8 KO’s) vs Denis Douglin (14-1, 8 KO’s)

Round 1: Charlo lands a right and a jab….Douglin lands a left..Combination from Charlo..Double Jab/Right Hand..Nice combination (Jab/Right Hand)…10-9 Charlo

Round 2 Charlo reaches with the right…Good right…Good right behind a double jab..Good right wobbles Douglin…20-18 Charlo

Round 3 Douglin works the body..Another body shot..Left..left to the body…29-28 Charlo

Round 4 Right from Charlo..Good right…Left/Right..3 punch combination..39-37 Charlo

Round 5HUGE RIGHT AND DOWN GOES DOUGLIN..HE GETS TO HIS FEET…STMBLES AND THE FIGHT IS OVER

8 Rounds–Lightweights–Omar Figueroa (17-0-1, 14 KO’s) vs Alain Hernandez (18-10-2, 10 KO’s)

Round 1 Figueroa lands a combination…Nice left from Hernadez…Good right from Figueroa..Good body shot..Another body shot…Figueroa LANDS A COMBINATION AND REFEREE JOSE COBIAN STOPS THE FIGHT

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LOS ANGELES (June 19, 2012) – Former Three-Time World Champion Humberto “Zorrita” Soto will seek to join rare company among active fighters with 60 wins as he pursues his 60th professional victory when he faces the always-dangerous and hard-hitting Lucas Matthysse in a battle of world-ranked super lightweights in the co-featured fight on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on Saturday, June 23 live on SHOWTIME® (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) from STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, Calif.

Soto (59-7-2, 34 KO’s), of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico, will battle Matthysse for the vacant WBC Continental Americas super lightweight title and look to extend his current 15-fight winning streak. He’ll also look to push himself higher in the world ratings where he is already rated number two by the World Boxing Council (WBC), number three by the World Boxing Association (WBA) and number seven by the World Boxing Organization (WBO).

Matthysse (30-2, 28 KO’s), whose concussive power led him to scored nine knockdowns in a fight against former World Champion DeMarcus Corley, has won his last two fights and will be making his fifth start in the United States on Saturday night. Matthysse’s only losses came via controversial split decisions to former World Champions Devon Alexander and Zab Judah in a pair of fights that many ringside observers felt Matthysse won. A native of Trelew, Argentina, Matthysse is rated number four in the world by the WBC, number six by the WBA and number eleven by the WBO.

Soto and Matthysse’s 12-round fight will immediately precede what should be an exciting 12-round main event between former World Champion, Kansas native Victor Ortiz (29-3-2, 22 KO’s) who now resides in Ventura, Calif., and contender Josesito Lopez (29-4, 17 KO’s) of Riverside, Calif.

Tickets priced at $250, $150, $100 and $50 are available online at www.staplescenter.com, www.ticketmaster.com, via Ticketmaster charge-by-phone lines at (800)745-3000 or at STAPLES Center box office.

If triumphant, Soto at 32 years old, will join a handful of active fighters with 60 or more wins, including James Toney, Jorge Arce, Jose Luis Castillo, Luis Ramon “Yori Boy” Campos and Pongsaklek Wonjongkam.

“Winning 60 fights would be great, but winning another world title is what I really want,” said Soto who turned professional at 17 years old in September of 1997. “I’ve always worked very hard in training trying to learn different things. I’ve always been very dedicated in the gym. Matthysse is a great fighter with a very respectful power punch. I’m going to fight a very intelligent fight. I’m going to follow my corner’s directions and go in there and outbox him and be the smarter fighter.”

A terrific counter-puncher with good overall skills and movement, the crowd-pleasing 5-foot-7 ½-inch Soto has fought excellent opposition throughout his career, including former World Champions David Diaz, Jesus Chavez, Joan Guzman, Jorge Solis and Kevin Kelley.

Soto captured the WBC super featherweight title in December 2008 and the WBC Lightweight World crown in March 2010. He made three successful defenses of the 130-pound belt and successfully retained the 135-pound crown on four occasions.

One of his most memorable title defenses came in a close, unanimous 12-round decision win over the brave and determined Urbano Antillon in a spectacular, fast-paced, give-and-take slugfest on Dec. 4, 2010 in Anaheim, Calif.

“I thought I won more clearly than the judges had it (115-112, 114-113 twice), but without a doubt it was the toughest fight of my career,” Soto said. “There were a lot of rough tactics from him (Antillon threw Soto to the canvas three times), but I expected that which is why I never became frustrated by it.”

Four of Soto’s defeats and both of his draws came during his first three years as a professional. Soto’s last loss came via a controversial fourth-round disqualification in June 2008. He is coming off of a unanimous 10-round decision over Claudinei Lacerda last April 7 in Cancun, Mexico.

Matthysse, a solid amateur before turning professional in June 2004, will look to turn what Soto hopes will be a boxing match into a brawl. The Argentine, who is well known for his thudding power, would be undefeated if only he’d received the benefit of the doubt in two very controversial and questionable points losses to Judah and Alexander (in which he knocked both of them down) in what amounted to home games for them.

The younger brother of retired former welterweight world title challenger Walter Matthysse, Lucas is comingoff of two knockout wins in his native Argentina. In his lone outing this year, he scored a dominant sixth-round technical knockout win over Angel Martinez on Feb. 10. Prior to that, on Dec. 9 the 5-foot-9, 29-year-old knocked out Sergio Priotti in the fourth round.

Before that, Matthysse fought three left-handed former world champions in a row – Judah on Nov. 6, 2010, Corley on Jan. 21, 2011 and Alexander on June 25, 2011.

A two-fisted slugger who tends to start slowly, Matthysse spotted Alexander an early lead but rallied to drop him with a right hand in the fourth. He rocked Alexander in the seventh, eighth and tenth rounds, but it wasn’t enough as he lost by one point on one of the scorecards (95-94), by three on another (96-93) while winning by three (96-93) on the third card.

“I was robbed,” Matthysse said. “I gave it my all and it was a tough fight, but I thought I won. He’s lucky he won the fight.”

The aggressive-minded Matthysse obliterated Corley in a fight in Argentina, flooring him twice in the fifth round, once in the sixth, three times in the seventh and three times in the eighth. The referee finally halted the slaughter at 2:00 of the eighth.

Against Judah, Matthysse also overcame an early deficit before coming on strong in the late rounds, registering a knockdown in the tenth round and dominating the 11th and 12th stanzas. However, he came up on the wrong end of a split decision by the scores of 114-113 twice and 113-114.

“In Argentina, I win this fight,” Matthysse said. “Around the world, I win this fight, but he got the home decision. Zab never hurt me. I fought my fight and pressured him the whole time and I closed the championship rounds. I clearly won.”

Regarding his upcoming assignment against Soto, Matthysse, a tattoo artist in his spare time outside the ring, said, “It’s very simple, I need to go to war. I need to put a lot of pressure on him and I need to work hard and win every round. That’s the gameplan – go to war. I’m going to leave it all in the ring.”

“Ortiz vs. Lopez,” a 12-round fight for the vacant WBC Silver Welterweight Championship taking place Saturday, June 23, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, Calif., is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Goossen Tutor Promotions and Thompson Boxing Promotions and sponsored by Corona, DeWalt Tools and AT&T. The co-feature will see former Three-Division World Champion Humberto “Zorrita” Soto battle Argentinean knockout artist Lucas Matthysse in a 12-round fight for the vacant WBC Continental Americas Super Lightweight title which is presented in association with Baja Boxing Promotions and Arano Box Promotions. The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING doubleheader begins live at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) with preliminary fights airing on SHOWTIME EXTREME at 7:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.goossentutor.com, www.thompsonboxing.com, www.staplescenter.com, http://Sports.SHO.com, follow us on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @VICIOUSOrtiz, @josesitolopez, @goossentutor,@thompsonboxing,@SHOsports, @STAPLESCenterLA; or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing,www.facebook.com/goossentutor, www.facebook.com/ThompsonBoxing or www.facebook.com/ShoBoxing.

NEW YORK (June 19, 2012) – Before this Saturday’s welterweight clash featuring Victor Ortiz vs. Josesito Lopez, SHOWTIME Sports® will pay tribute to Johnny Tapia with a short-form piece airing on SHOWTIME® at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

Following Tapia’s nine appearances on SHOWTIME, the premium network’s archives contained multiple hours of intimate footage featuring New Mexico’s favorite fighter, some of which never before seen. In memory of the three-division champion’s captivating life journey, the tribute will chronicle Tapia’s exhilarating – as well as heartbreaking – underdog tale that endeared him to boxing fans worldwide.

For information on SHOWTIME Sports, including exclusive behind-the-scenes video and photo galleries, complete telecast information and more, visit the website at http://sports.SHO.com.

About Showtime Networks Inc.:

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME 2™, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILY ZONE® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD™, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ HD, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ ON DEMAND, and the network’s authentication service SHOWTIME ANYTIME®. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution, which offers Smithsonian Channel™. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®.

Josesito Lopez will step in to face Victor Ortiz on June 23rd in Los Angeles after Andre Berto tested positive for a banned substance according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

“(Golden Boy) offered the fight to us on Friday afternoon. I got a call from (Goossen Tutor Promotions matchmaker) Tom Brown saying we got the offer and I said, ‘We’ll take it,'” Lopez’ trainer/manager Henry Ramirez said. “We’re excited. We’re ecstatic. Our job is to get the biggest fight out there for Josesito that we can for the best money we can get, and this is that fight.”

“We’ve explored a variety of potential opponents, and so far Lopez seems to be the best available opponent that will take the fight on short notice,” Showtime Sports general manager Stephen Espinoza told ESPN.com. “He is a strong, tough and experienced fighter, and he’s looked particularly good in his last few fights. I like this matchup, and I hope a deal can be worked out.”

Junior welterweight Humberto Soto (58-7-2, 34 KOs) and Lucas Matthysse (30-2, 28 KOs) will still meet in the Showtime co-featured bout, but Riverside, Calif., heavyweight contender Cristobal Arreola (35-2, 30 KOs), who is also trained by Ramirez, will be added to the card to make it into a televised tripleheader. The fight figures to be Arreola’s final bout before an anticipated heavyweight championship shot against Wladimir Klitschko in November.

“Pending approval of the opponent, the Arreola bout would be added to undercard on the Showtime broadcast,” Espinoza said

“My guy has been in the gym, so all we have to do is just change the date of the fight by one day and change our sparring partners,” said Ramirez, noting that Lopez was preparing for the right-handed Holt and now will be facing a left-hander in Ortiz.

“Holt pulls out on us and then this drops in our lap, so we’re excited,” Ramirez said. “The kid (Lopez) will make probably four or five times his biggest purse (which was $35,000) for this fight with Ortiz and a lot more than he would have gotten to fight Holt. So we are in a no-lose situation here because it’s a great opportunity, it’s a good payday and it’s a fight we believe that we can win.

“Lopez puts pressure on his opponents and we know Ortiz doesn’t like pressure and we also know he doesn’t have the biggest heart in the world. We’ve seen him quit before” in a sixth-round knockout loss to Marcos Maidana in a 2009 interim junior welterweight title bout.

Follow all the action as Victor Ortiz defends the WBC Welterweight championship and gets future Hall of Famer Floyd Mayweather. The “Star Power” Undercard will begin at 7pm eastern and will have two more world title fights as living legend Erik Morales takes on Pablo Cesar Cano for the WBC Super Lightweight title and young sensation Saul Alvarez takes on Alfonso Gomez for the WBC Super Welterweight title.

12 ROUNDS–WBC WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP–VICTOR ORTIZ (29-2-2, 22 KO’S) VS FLOYD MAYWEATHER (41-0, 25 KO’S)

Round 1 Mayweather lands a body shot…Straight right…Ortiz lands a body shot…Ortiz gets in a left…10-9 Mayweather

Round 2 Ortiz lands a left…right hook.,.right to the body…Good right from Mayweather..Mayweather lands 2 rights…Ortiz trying to muscle mayweather on the ropes..19-19

Round 3 Mayweather landing good right hands…Ortiz lands a good left…29-28 Mayweather

Round 4 Mayweather coming out winging hard shots…Big hook…Ortiz lands a good flurry on the ropes…Huge flurry…Ortiz jumos in a and headbutts Mayweather and is docked a point…...ORTIZ IS TOUCHING GLOVES…AND MAYWEATHER DRILLS HIM WITH A LEFT AND RIGHT AND DROPS ORTIZ AND HE CANT GET UP AND THE FIGHT IS OVER

12 ROUNDS–WBC SUPER WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP–SAUL ALVAREZ (37-0-1, 27 KO’S) VS ALFONSO GOMEZ (23-4-2, 12 KO’S)
Round 1 RIGHT TO THE TOP OF THE HEAD AND DOWN GOES GOMEZ 10-8 Alvarez

Round 2Alvarez coming forward…20-17 Alvarez

Round 3 Alvarez being aggressive…Gomez landing lefts…right..Right 29-27 Alvarez

Round 4 Alvarez right…Good uppercut…39-36 Alvarez

Round 5 Alvarez starting to land power shots...49-45 Alvarez

Round 6 ALVAREZ LANDS A HUGE BODY PUNCH THAT WAS FOLLOWED UP BY A BARRAGE AND THE FIGHT IS STOPPED

WINNER and still champion SAUL ALVAREZ

12 ROUNDS WBC SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP–ERIK MORALES (51-7, 35 KO’S) VS PABLO CESAR CANO (22-0-1, 17 KO’S)
Round 1 Cano landing and moving…10-9 Cano

Round 2 Cano landing hard rights…20-18 Cano

Round 3 Good right cross from Morales…29-28 Cano

Round 4 Cano lands a good right…Blood from Cano’s left eye…good right from Morales…38-38

Round 5 Straight right from Cano..Right over top …Hammering him on the ropes…Morales lands a right…48-47 Cano

Round 6 Hard right from Morales…Multi punch combination from Cano…Left hooks from Morales…Good left hook..57-57

Round 7 Morales bleeding from left eye…67-66 Cano

Round 8 Morales coming forward despite the blood…76-76

Round 9 Right from Morales…Good left from cano…Morales answers..86-85 Morales

Round 10 Morales lands a big shot…Cano hurt and very bloody…Doctor checking on Cano…Hard right from Morales...96-94 Morales

Round 11 CANO’S CORNER STOPS THE FIGHT—WINNER BY TKO END OF 10–ERIK MORALES

10 ROUNDS WELTERWEIGHTS–JESSE VARGAS (16-0, 9 KO’S) VS JOSESITO LOPEZ (29-3, 17 KO’S)
Round 1 Vargas lands a left…10-9 Vargas

Round 2 Vargas lands a good jab…20-18 Vargas

Round 3 Lopez backing up Vargas up with hooks and body shots…Vargas lands a jab…Lopez lands a solid uppercut…29-28 Vargas
Jab
Round 4 Lopez coming forward…38-38

Round 5 Vargas combination…48-47 Vargas

Round 6 Lopez lands 2 lefts to the body..Vargas looking tires…Lopez cut around the right eye…57-57

Round 7 Lopez lands a solid left hook and right hand…67-66 Lopez

Round8:…Vargas lands a hard low blow…Vargas deducted a point…Lopez lands a hard right…Lopez lands a big right…Good left hook…77-74 Lopez

Round 9: 87-84 Lopez

Round 10 Vargas being very active…Hard left hook stuns Vargas…96-94 Lopez

95-94 Lopez; 96-93 Vargas; 95-94 Vargas

10 ROUNDS WELTERWEIGHTS–SAID OUALI (28-3, 20 KO’S) VS CARSON JONES (31-8-2, 21 KO’S)
Round 1 Ouali lands a body shot…Jones lands a left hook to the body..Body shot…Short right hook from Ouali..left..Body…Ouali lands an uppercut…10-9 Jones

Round 2 Jones lands a hard uppercut..Ouali lands a big combination that hurts Jones…19-19

Round 3 good round for Ouali 29-28 Ouali

Round 4: Hard combination hurts Ouali…Ouali coming back with bidy shots…SHORT LEFT HOOK AND DOWN GOES OUALI…Big uppercut..uppercuts…38-37 Jones

Round 5 Jones landing some hard body shots…48-46 Jones

Round 6 Hard right from Jones…Nice combination…Uppercut…2 good rights…Ouali bleeding from the right eye..58-55 Jones

Round 7 Jones landing some hard shots…Ouali’s eye getting worse…68-64 Jones

Round 8 FIGHT STOPPED BEFORE THE ROUND BEGINS…WINNER…CARSON JONES

6 ROUNDS SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS–ADONIS STEVENSON (14-1, 11 KO’S) DION SAVAGE (11-1, 6 KO’S)
Round 1: Stevenson lands a big SHOT AND THE FIGHT IS OVER ….TIME 1:57

LOS ANGELES (August 3)…The “STAR POWER: Mayweather vs. Ortiz” pay-per-view telecast is now complete with four star-studded fights from two sites all taking place Saturday, September 17 from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and STAPLES Center in Los Angeles. Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions announced today that Erik Morales vs. Lucas Matthysse and Jessie Vargas vs. Josesito Lopez have been added to the mega-event, which is being produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View®.

The out-of-this-world night of boxing will kick-off with a super lightweight bout featuring undefeated rising star Vargas in his HBO Pay-Per-View debut against hard-hitting Lopez, followed by the first of the night’s three world title fights as Mexican boxing legend Morales will face power punching Argentine Matthysse for the WBC Super Lightweight World Championship. The pay-per-view telecast will then go live to STAPLES Center in Los Angeles with Mexican boxing phenom Canelo Alvarez taking on Alfonso Gomez for the WBC Super Welterweight World Championship, followed by the main event welterweight championship mega-fight, Floyd Mayweather vs. Victor Ortiz, live from Las Vegas.

Fans in attendance at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas will be able to see the Alvarez vs. Gomez fight live, while those in attendance at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles will see Mayweather vs. Ortiz and Morales vs. Matthysse live. Following the showing of Mayweather vs. Ortiz at STAPLES Center, fans in attendance will see two special post-fight concerts performed by Los Tucanes de Tijuana and El Gran Silencio.

“The addition of Morales vs. Matthysse and Vargas vs. Lopez to the September 17 fight card makes ‘STAR POWER’ without a doubt the biggest night of boxing in 2011,” said Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions. “Mayweather Promotions is very excited about Jessie Vargas’ pay-per-view debut on such a huge event to really get his name out there and show the world what he can do.”

“Now that we have a complete pay-per-view card, the stage is set for the world to witness a real supernova of boxing,” said Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “Three title fights in one night is something that we are very proud to bring to boxing fans around the world. Each of these championship fights could stand alone as their own main event and fans will be able to experience them all in one night. Adding undefeated Jessie Vargas in his pay-per-view debut and the legendary Erik Morales, who is fighting to make history as the first Mexican boxing warrior to win world titles in four weight classes, really strengthens the entire ‘STAR POWER’ event.”

Tickets for Mayweather vs. Ortiz, Morales vs. Matthysse and Vargas vs. Lopez at the MGM Grand Garden Arena are priced at $1,250, $1,000, $600, $300 and $150, not including applicable service charges. Ticket sales are limited to twelve (12) per person at the $1,250, $1,000, $600 and $300 price levels with a ticket limit of two (2) per person at the $150 price level. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

STAPLES Center tickets for Alvarez vs. Gomez are priced at $300, $150, $75, and $50, are on sale now and available for purchase online at ticketmaster.com, via Ticketmaster charge-by-phone lines at (800)745-3000. Tickets are also available at STAPLES Center box office.

A three-division world champion and future Hall of Famer, Erik “El Terrible” Morales (51-7, 35 KO’s) ruled the boxing landscape for years, thrilling fans with his classic battles against Manny Pacquiao, Marco Antonio Barrera, Paulie Ayala, Wayne McCullough and In-Jin Chi. But when he returned from a nearly three year layoff in 2010, many wondered if the Tijuana native still had what it took to compete with the elite. Those questions were answered loud and clear with a three fight winning streak in 2010 and a Fight of the Year candidate in April of 2011, when he went to war for 12 rounds with Marcos Maidana before losing a razor-thin majority decision. Now, the 34-year old warrior is back in the ring and back in Las Vegas to face the concussive punching Matthysse as he vies to become the only Mexican fighter in history to win world titles in four weight divisions.

“This fight is the chance of a lifetime,” said Morales. “I have waited for this moment my entire career. To have the opportunity to win world titles in four weight divisions on Mexican Independence Day and on a night like this is a dream come true. I am going to train harder than ever to make the Mexican people proud and to be victorious on September 17.”

One of boxing’s hardest punchers, Lucas Matthysse (28-2, 26 KO’s) of Trelew, Argentina has made former World Champions Zab “Super” Judah and Devon Alexander see stars in his last two fights, knocking each of them down, only to lose both fights by controversial split decisions. The 28-year-old’s new role as the people’s champion is a good one for the crowd-pleasing standout, who has been delivering stellar performances from the time he turned professional in 2004. A former WBO Latino and WBO Intercontinental champion who counts “Vicious” Vivian Harris, DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Corley and Rogelio Castaneda Jr. among his vanquished foes, Matthysse, who has won 93 percent of his fights by way of knockout, is amped up and ready to trade blows with one of the sport’s modern greats, Erik Morales, on September 17.

“I cannot wait to get in the ring and fight Erik Morales,” said Matthysse. “I will do anything and everything I can to walk away from this fight as a world champion. I will work harder because I don’t want to pass up this magnificent opportunity.”

Jessie Vargas (16-0, 9 KO’s), who grew up in Los Angeles, now resides in Las Vegas and trains at the Mayweather Boxing Club with recently hired trainer Robert Alcazar, is coming off of an impressive second-round knockout win over veteran Walter Estrada on July 8. His extraordinary performance set off a national buzz among boxing writers and fans that the young prospect is on the fast track to boxing greatness. Appearing in the opening bout in his pay-per-view debut, Vargas has the chance of a lifetime to make his name and talent known around the world against a stiff test in Josesito Lopez.

“Floyd Mayweather and Mayweather Promotions have given me an amazing opportunity to fight on the biggest night in boxing this year,” said Vargas. “On September 17, I know I will be ready to show the world that all of my hard work and preparation has led to this opportunity. I am so excited to be a part of this event and I look forward to beating Lopez and keeping my undefeated record.”

Riverside, California’s Josesito Lopez (29-3, 17 KO’s) may only be 27-years-old, but he’s old school when it comes to his approach to the sport of boxing. This attitude has led him to nearly 30 pro wins, with his only losses coming via narrow decisions. Currently riding a seven-fight winning streak, Lopez showed off his veteran savvy in his most recent victory in January, when he tarnished hot prospect Mike Dallas Jr.’s perfect record by scoring a seventh round knockout.

“I am very excited to be a part of this event and to show the world that I am a force to be reckoned with in the ring,” said Lopez. “I haven’t lost a fight in over three years and I don’t plan on losing this one. Jessie Vargas might be undefeated now, but he won’t be after September 17.”

“STAR POWER” is a mega-event taking place on Saturday, Sept. 17 from two world-class cities with three world titles at stake. Floyd Mayweather and Victor Ortiz will face off in a 12-round fight for Ortiz’s WBC Welterweight World Title from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. Canelo Alvarez and Alfonso Gomez will do battle in a 12-round fight for Alvarez’s WBC Super Welterweight World Title from STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, Calif. Also live in Las Vegas, will be Erik Morales vs. Lucas Matthysse in a 12 round fight for the vacant WBC Super Lightweight World Title and an opening fight featuring undefeated rising star Jessie Vargas against top contender Josesito Lopez. The mega event is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, DeWALT Tools and AT&T. Alvarez vs. Gomez is presented in association with Canelo Promotions and Morales vs. Matthysse is presented in association with Box Latino Promotions and Arano Box Promotions.”STAR POWER: Mayweather vs. Ortiz” will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

For more information, visit www.floydmayweather.com, www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.mgmgrand.com and www.staplescenter.com; follow on Twitter at @floydmayweather, @mayweatherpromo, @goldenboyboxing, @VICIOUSOrtiz, @terrible100, @Jessie_Vargas, @JosesitoLopez, @mgmgrand; or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FloydMayweather, www.facebook.com/Mayweatherpromotions, www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing. Follow HBO Boxing newsat www.hbo.com/boxing,Facebook at www.facebook.com/hboboxing and on Twitter @hboboxing. Follow STAPLES Center on Facebook at www.facebook.com/staplescenter and on Twitter @STAPLESCenterLA.

The “STAR POWER” pay-per-view telecast, which begins at 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT, will be produced and distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View and will be available to more than 92 million pay-per-view homes. The telecast will be available in HD-TV for those viewers who can receive HD. HBO Pay-Per-View®, a division of Home Box Office, Inc., is the leading supplier of event programming to the pay-per-view industry. For Mayweather vs. Ortiz fight week updates, log on to www.hbo.com.

HBO®’s Emmy® Award-winning all-access series “24/7” premieres an all-new edition when “24/7 Mayweather/Ortiz” debuts Saturday, Aug. 27 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT. The four-part series will air for three consecutive Saturday nights before the finale airs the night before the welterweight championship showdown in Las Vegas.