LIVE VIDEO: ORTIZ – KAVALIAUSKAS PRESS CONFERENCE

Roger Gutierrez vs. Rene Alvarado III To Be Co-Main Event for Ortiz Jr. vs. Kavaliauskas

FRISCO, TEXAS (July 20, 2021): Roger “The Kid” Gutierrez (35-3-1, 20 KOs) will defend his WBA Super Featherweight World Championship against Rene “El Gemelo” Alvarado (32-9, 21 KOs) in a scheduled 12-round trilogy fight that will be the co-main event to Ortiz Jr. vs. Kavaliauskas. The event, which will also feature Felix Alvarado and several rising talents, will take place on Saturday, Aug. 14 at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas and will be streamed live on DAZN.

“The final chapter of the longstanding rivalry between Roger Gutierrez and Rene Alvarado will end on Aug. 14,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy. “The results of their first two fights were sharply different from each other, though both battles produced an equal amount of excitement. This third fight will put an end to their rivalry with even more action and place the winner on the path to unify titles in the division.”

Gutierrez is a Venezuelan world champion who had initially suffered several setbacks in his young career, including a stoppage loss to Rene Alvarado. However, Gutierrez maintained his tenacity and turned his career around by scoring an upset knockout win against Rocky Hernandez in 2019. Since then, the 26-year-old has been on an incredible streak in which he avenged his first professional loss by defeating Alvarado and becoming a world champion. Gutierrez plans to remain champion by winning decisively on Aug. 14.

“I am very excited for this trilogy fight that I am going to have with Rene Alvarado,” said Roger Gutierrez. “I know that the fight will not be easy and my opponent is tough. He beat me in the first fight, and then I took the title from him in the second bout.. It will be an exciting battle, and I know the fans will enjoy it very much. ”

Alvarado is a 32-year-old former world champion of Managua, Nicaragua who has fought the likes of Robinson “Robin Hood” Castellanos, Jayson “La Maravilla” Velez, Danis “Djingis Khan” Shafikov, Carlos “The Solution” Morales and Andrew “El Chango” Cancio, the man he beat to become a world champion. Though he lost his belt to Gutierrez in his first defense, he planas on regaining the title and initiating a long reign.

“I am happy to have the opportunity to rectify the loss I suffered against Roger Gutierrez,” said Rene Alvarado. “I made mistakes in that second fight, but I promise to correct them all on August 14 so I can deliver to Nicaragua a great victory. As always, I will train 100% and leave everything in the ring.”

Felix Alvarado (36-2, 31 KOs) of Managua, Nicaragua will defend his IBF light flyweight world title against Erick López (16-5-1, 10 KOs) of Guadalajara, Mexico in a scheduled 12-round clash.

Pablo Cesar “El Demoledor” Cano (33-7-1, 23 KOs) from Tlalnepantla, Mexico and Danielito “El Zorro” Zorrilla (15-0, 11 KOs) from Toa Baja, Puerto Rico will open DAZN’s main broadcast in a 10-round clash in the 140-pound division.

Additional bouts will be streamed live on Golden Boy’s official Facebook page.

Alex Martin (16-3, 6 KOs) of Chicago, Illinois will meet Josec Ruiz (22-4-3, 15 KOs) of Miami, Florida in a 10-round battle in the super lightweight division.

George Rincon (11-0, 7 KOs) of Dallas, Texas will return in a 10-round super lightweight fight against a soon-to-be-announced opponent.

Leonardo Baez (19-4, 10 KOs) of Mexicali, Mexico and Hector Valdez (14-0, 8 KOs) of Dallas, Texas will clash in a 10-round matchup for the NABA Super Bantamweight Title.

Alex Rincon (8-0, 6 KOs) of Dallas, Texas will participate in an eight-round super welterweight bout against Sanny Duversonne (11-3-2, 8 KOs) of Miami, Florida.

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Ortiz Jr. vs. Kavaliauskas is a 12-round fight for the WBO International Welterweight Title presented by Golden Boy The event is sponsored by Hennessy “Never Stop. Never Settle” and “BetOnline – Your Online Sportsbook Experts.” The fight will take place on Saturday, Aug. 14 at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas and will be streamed live on DAZN.

Tickets for Ortiz Jr vs. Kavaliauskas are on sale now and are priced at $250, $150, $100, $75, $50 and $35, not including applicable service charges. Tickets will be available for purchase at www.seatgeek.com.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and DAZN.com. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing and @DAZNBoxing. Become a fan on Facebook
at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoy and https://www.facebook.com/DAZN. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy and @DAZNBoxing. Follow the conversation using #OrtizKavaliauskas

About The Star
The Star is the 91-acre campus of the Dallas Cowboys World Headquarters and training facility in Frisco, Texas. Developed as a first-of-its-kind partnership between the City of Frisco, Frisco ISD and the Dallas Cowboys, The Star features Ford Center, a 12,000-seat stadium that hosts Frisco ISD football games, concerts and other events; Cowboys Fit, a 60,000 square-foot gym developed in partnership with leading fitness developer, Mark Mastrov; Cowboys Club, a members-only club where the country club meets the NFL; the Omni Frisco Hotel, a 16-floor, 300-room luxury hotel; Baylor Scott & White Sports Therapy & Research at The Star, a 300,000 square-foot center of excellence for sports medicine; Twelve Cowboys Way, a 17-story, luxury residential tower in partnership between Pro Football Hall-of-Fame Quarterback #12 Roger Staubach, and Dallas-based developer and former Dallas Cowboys center, Robert Shaw; Formation, a dynamic coworking experience offering a collaborative work environment of open workspace, dedicated desks and private offices; as well as a variety of shopping, dining and nightlife options throughout The Star District. For more information on The Star, visit www.TheStarInFrisco.com.

Vergil Ortiz Jr. To Defend WBO International Welterweight Title against Egidijus Kavaliauskas ?Saturday, Aug. 14 at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas and Streamed Live on DAZN

FRISCO, TEXAS (July 13, 2021): Welterweight knockout artist Vergil Ortiz Jr. (17-0, 17 KOs) will return against Egidijus “Mean Machine” Kavaliauskas (22-1-1, 18 KOs) in a 12-round defense of his WBO International Welterweight Title. The bout will take place on Saturday, Aug. 14 at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas and will be streamed live on DAZN.

Undercard information will be announced shortly.

“Vergil Ortiz Jr. is developing the most impressive resume for any boxer his age,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy. “Though the welterweight division is perhaps the most competitive weight class in the sport, Ortiz Jr. has been able to maintain a knockout ratio of 100% in his big tests against Antonio Orozco, Brad Solomon and Maurice Hooker. On August 14, Ortiz Jr. will look better than ever and remind everyone why he is the biggest threat at 147 pounds.”

Since debuting as a professional in 2016, Ortiz Jr. has knocked out every single challenge put in front of him. The native of Grand Prairie, Texas, who has roots in Michoacan, Mexico, has scored stoppage wins against the likes of Antonio “Relentless” Orozco, Brad “King” Solomon and Maurice “Mighty Mo” Hooker. The 23-year-old contender is anxious to fight for a world title and knows that “Mean Machine” stands in his way.

“I always said I’m here to take on the toughest challenges to prove myself,” said Vergil Ortiz Jr. “Egis is a very game, strong opponent, and a win over him would leave no doubts that I’m ready for a world title fight immediately. It won’t be easy, but that’s the point. The fans are going to enjoy this one.”

Kavaliauskas is a Lithuanian contender who has defeated the likes of David Avanesyan and Juan Carlos “Merengue” Abreu. He has also faced tough tests against “The New” Ray Robinson and Terence “Bud” Crawford, the latter of whom handed the “Mean Machine” his sole defeat. The 32-year-old will return after stopping Mikael Zweski in September 2020.

“Fans been asking for this fight, and we’re going to give it to them,” said Egidijus Kavaliauskas. “So, mark your calendar and have your popcorn ready. A war is coming.”

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Tickets for Ortiz Jr vs. Kavaliauskas will go on sale Friday, July 16 at 10:00 a.m, CDT and are priced at $250, $150, $100, $75, $50 and $35, not including applicable service charges. Tickets will be available for purchase at www.seatgeek.com.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and DAZN.com. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing and @DAZNBoxing. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoy and https://www.facebook.com/DAZN. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy and @DAZNBoxing. Follow the conversation using #OrtizKavaliauskas

Photos and videos are available for download by clicking here or copying and pasting the link: https://bit.ly/OrtizKavaliauskas into a browser. Credit must be provided to Golden Boy for any photo and/or video usage.

Y’all ain’t booing Mighty Mo no more

By Bart Barry-

Saturday in Fort Worth undefeated welterweight prospect Vergil Ortiz made an entertaining match with fellow Texan and former 140-pound titlist Maurice “Mighty Mo” Hooker on DAZN. The match ended in round 7 when Hooker broke something between his right shoulder and hand, though not his middle finger – whose resilience he later confirmed energetically. Ortiz was winning when the match ended about exactly the way its 10-1 odds anticipated.

Vergil Ortiz is ready for Terence Crawford. He is no less likely to beat Crawford in 2021 than he’ll be in 2026.

Bud’s 3 1/2 years at welterweight are an embarrassment for our beloved sport. Some of it’s Bud’s fault, probably, for pricing himself out of whatever halfassed plans his promoter planned to make for him. Much of it is Top Rank’s fault for having no viable plan for Crawford at 147 pounds, building no one for him and finding every reason to avoid PBC as a fixed strategy.

Avoiding PBC hasn’t been a bad play for Top Rank these last few years. But PBC has every other welterweight worth watching, and as one of the world’s two best prizefighters Bud Crawford deserves an opportunity to make at least one superfight in the final year or two of his prime. He now says he’s moved on from that superfight with Errol Spence, which leaves him alternately courting a semiretired senator in the Philippines and scoffing at a title defense with Ortiz. Neither option is palatable. One pays much better than the other, but Manny Pacquiao is way too savvy to fight Crawford without a tuneup or two and incentives aplenty.

Bud was back in Lone Star State to see his stablemate look game but overmatched against Ortiz on Saturday. At ringside Crawford looked softer than he has in the past. That is, his smile felt genuine and his laughter too; gone was the dark anger that followed him like a raincloud. He knows posterity will blame Spence for their non-fight, he knows Pacquiao will be more washed than him if they do fight in the fall or next winter, and he believes, incorrectly, he’s had a first-ballot career.

Just because Bud has been near the top of abstract rankings for a couple years doesn’t mean his reign has been a good one. If he’s not going to make immediate matches with Ortiz then two of PBC’s top-3 welterweights his best shot at an enduring legacy is moving to 154 pounds, where he can play cleanup with the same poor competition he’s fought at welterweight and get even more credit for it. Crawford’s unlikely to move seven pounds higher as Canelo is to return to middleweight for a rubbermatch with GGG.

Then Vergil Ortiz is the best option. Ortiz’s promoter, Golden Boy Promotions, hasn’t a choice these days but to say yes to anything anyone with money offers, and Top Rank has lots of ESPN money to use on a meaningful fight for Terence Crawford. Ortiz has a very good jab, a gaudy record and unremarkable defense. Crawford, who’s fought thrice in two years (1-0 against contenders, 2-0 against Brits), should be rusty enough for Ortiz to scare him a bit more than Egidijus Kavaliauskas did 16 months ago.

Ortiz fights in the undissuadable, gladiator-academy style all Robert Garcia’s men favor (except for Robert’s little brother, Mikey, who has too much talent to’ve chosen Robert for non-fraternal reasons). Ortiz isn’t going to learn nuance under Garcia. He’s not going to learn much defense either. Instead he’ll get instruction on walking through punches and ignoring damaged eyes and hitting the other guy hard and whatnot. His greatest attribute against Crawford will be just how awful Crawford’s competition at welterweight has been (one-legged Jose Benavidez may very well be the greatest welterweight Bud ever fights).

Even grizzled aficionados fall for the all-by-knockout tag. Fought guys you’ve never heard of? guys in the wrong weightclass? guys with multiple losses? guys coming out of retirement? Suddenly it doesn’t matter because the wins were all-by-knockout. There’s plenty of this with Ortiz. The real tell to listen for is: “But none of those guys had been stopped before in their career!” That’s when you know a circusbarker, be he promoter or flunky, is pettifogging poor competition. Maybe Matthew Macklin has lost four times, and maybe there was that unfortunate episode at a lower weightclass seven years ago, but he’s never been knocked-out like that!

Mighty Mo was having none of it Saturday night. After tasting leather aplenty and taking a knee the round before, Hooker threw a cross in the seventh and broke some part of his hand, and that was that. Or wait, no it wasn’t.

After refusing to do that b-side thing where you favorably compare the man who just beat you less conclusively at 147 pounds than the guy who unbuttoned you at 140 Hooker explained something about both his hands being broken but one of them popping. The socially distanced Texas crowd, partisan Ortiz and partisan Latino, booed Hooker, and Hooker, himself a Texan, told them what they could do with themselves. It was fantastic comical. He then turned, tossed his middle fingers in the air like smoking pistols, stepped through the ropes onto the apron, and challenged a few thousand of his critics.

Even Bud Crawford had fun with that.

Bart Barry can be reached via Twitter @bartbarry

Ortiz stops Hooker in 7!!

Vergil Ortiz Jr. remained perfect by stopping former world champion Maurice Hooker in seven entertaining rounds at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.

The two stood toe-to-toe for most of the fight Ortiz landed the harder blows as he rocked Hooker several times. Hooker was able to get in some good shots of his own and the effects of those punches showed on the swelled up face of Ortiz.

In round six, Ortiz landed a hard right that sent Hooker back to the corner and eventually down.

In round seven, it was a right to the side of the head that sent Hooker to a knee, and the fight was over at 36 seconds.

Ortiz, 147 lbs of Grand Prairie, TX is 17-0 with knockouts, Hooker, 147 lbs of Dallas, TX is 27-2-3.

Estrada Decisions Ortiz; Wins WBA Minimumweight title

Seniesa Estrada won the WBA Minimumweight Title with a 10-round unanimous decision over long reigning champ Anabel Ortiz.

In round two, Estrada put Ortiz on the deck with a big left hand.

Estrada landed 163 of 511 punches; Ortiz was 102 of 373.

Estrada, 104.4 lbs of E. Los Angeles, CA won by scores of 100-89 twice and 99-90 and is now 20-0. Ortiz, 105 lbs of Mexico City, MEX is 31-4.

Marcelino Lopez stops Jairo Lopez in five

Marcelino Lopez stopped Jairo Lopez in round five of a scheduled 10-round welterweight bout.

In round two, Marcelino dropped Jairo with a left hook. In round three, it was a right that sent Jairo to a knee. In round four, Jairo went down from what looked like a push, yet was scored a knockdown. In the same round Marcelino was cut over his left eye from an accidental headbutt. In round five, Marcelino dropped Jairo in the corner for the 10-count, and the fight was over at 1:24.

Marcelino, 140.8 lbs of Arribenos, ARG is 37-2-1 with 22 knockouts. Jairo, 139.2 lbs of Apodaca, MEX is 27-12.

Kalkreuth Blows Out Long in 1

Tristan Kalkreuth destroyed Dustin Long in round one of a scheduled six-round cruiserweight fight.

Kalkreuth landed a huge barrage of punches in the corner and finally sent Long to the canvas and the fight was stopped at 1:18.

Kalkreuth, 198 lbs of Duncanville, TX is now 8-0 with six knockouts. Long, 199.8 lbs of Johnson City, TN is now 4-2-2.

Alex Martin won a 10-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Luis Hernandez in a junior welterweight bout.

Martin, 140 lbs of Chicago, IL won by scores of 100-90 twice and 99-91 and is now 16-3. Hernandez, 139.4 lbs of Chihuahua, MEX is 21-1.

George Rincon won a eight-round unanimous decision over Luis Solis in a super lightweight bout.

Rincon, 139.2 lbs of Dallas, TX is 11-0. Solis, 139.8 lbs of Merida, MEX is 25-12-4.

Hector Valdez won a eight-round unanimous decision over Alberto Torres in a super bantamweight bout.

Valdez, 121.6 lbs of Dallas, TX is 14-0. Torres, 121.4 lbs of Sacramento, CA is 11-4-3.

LIVE VIDEO: ORTIZ JR. VS. HOOKER OFFICIAL WEIGH-IN

VERGIL ORTIZ JR. VS. MAURICE HOOKER FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES

FORT WORTH, TEXAS (March 18, 2021): Vergil Ortiz Jr. (16-0, 16 KOs) and Maurice “Mighty Mo” Hooker (27-1-3, 19 KOs) hosted a final press conference today ahead of their 12-round fight for the WBO International Welterweight Title. The action will take place this Saturday, March 20 at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas and will be streamed live exclusively on DAZN worldwide, including the U.S. and Mexico.

Below is what today’s main event participants had to say at the press conference:

VERGIL ORTIZ JR, WELTERWEIGHT CONTENDER:
“I’m very thankful to be fighting back at home again, especially after fighting in a bubble last year. It was a really cool experience. I found that I really love the fans. I enjoy the fans. So, what better place to come back and fight than in the Dallas Fort Worth area?”

“This fight is really special to me. I asked for this fight at 140 pounds. He was a good fighter then, and he is a good fighter now. I want to fight the best. The only way to be the best is to fight the best. I feel very confident. I have the confidence of my promoter and team behind me. I had a great camp, and I am ready to go.”

“We will find out on Saturday if my power and size will be too much for him. I have never been in the ring with him before, so I don’t know how he will take it. But it’s not just power with me. It’s not just my physical attributes. My best attribute is my thinking ability, and I’m going to do a lot of that on Saturday.”

“This is going to be one of the first fights in Dallas between two world class natives of the area. We are going to put a really great show. I’m really excited about it. We’ve trained really hard, and I hope you all enjoy the show.”

MAURICE HOOKER, FORMER WBO JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPION:
“This fight will mean everything to me. I’m happy to be back at home where fans at home can see me. And it’s great to give to the fans something special after all they have been going through.”

“I have been watching Vergil Ortiz for a while now. I have been supporting him since he started because he is from Dallas. His 16-0 with 16 knockouts don’t mean nothing to me until we get in the ring. I mean, it’s cute, but we will see in the ring.”

“I’m excited. My team is excited. I’ve worked hard. The fact that I’ve been called the underdog has pushed me more. I’ve prepared well for this fight. I’m going to go in the ring, do my business, and have fun with it.”

OSCAR DE LA HOYA, CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF GOLDEN BOY:
“Everyone is saying that he is the next big thing in the welterweight division. And he is. But first he has to get past Maurice Hooker, and that is no easy test. This is a real fight and a tough test for him. If he beats him, then he is going straight to the top of the division, where are lots of big fights to make. I can’t say who I want him to see next because this Saturday’s fight is a big test.”

“Hooker’s style, abilities and experience make him dangerous. He’s going to show Vergil different angles. It’s a different style than what Vergil has faced in the past. But Vergil has a great corner. He is a great fighter and has great team. They’ve studied Maurice. So that’s why I feel this will be an amazing fight.”

Ortiz Jr. vs Hooker is a 12-round fight for the WBO International Welterweight Championship presented by Golden Boy. The event is sponsored by Hennessy “Never Stop. Never Settle” and “BetOnline – Your Online Sportsbook Experts.” The fight will take place on Saturday, March 20 at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas and will be streamed live exclusively on DAZN worldwide, including the U.S. and Mexico.

Tickets for Ortiz Jr. vs. Hooker are on sale and are priced at $200, $100, $60 and $40, not including applicable service charges and taxes. Tickets will be available for purchase at www.dickiesarena.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and DAZN.com. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing and @DAZNBoxing. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoy and https://www.facebook.com/DAZN. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy and @DAZNBoxing. Follow the conversation using #OrtizHooker

Photos and videos are available for download by clicking here or copying and pasting the link: http://bit.ly/OrtizHookerinto a browser. Credit must be provided to Golden Boy for any photo and/or video usage.

LIVE VIDEO: VERGIL ORTIZ JR. VS. MAURICE HOOKER FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE

PABLO CESAR ‘EL DEMOLEDOR’ CANO TO FACE UNDEFEATED JONATHAN ‘THUNDER’ NAVARRO IN NEW CO-MAIN TO ORTIZ JR. VS. HOOKER

FORT WORTH, TEXAS (Feb. 19, 2021): Seasoned slugger Pablo Cesar “El Demoledor” Cano (33-7-1, 23 KOs) will take on rising contender Jonathan “Thunder” Navarro (17-0, 9 KOs) in a 12-round fight for the WBC Silver International Super Lightweight Title in the new co-main event to Ortiz Jr. vs Hooker. The action will take place Saturday, March 20 at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas and will be streamed live exclusively on DAZN worldwide, including the U.S. and Mexico.

Highly touted heavyweight monster Arslanbek Makhmudov was originally slated to return in the co-main event, but he will now return in April against a very big challenge. Details for Makhmudov’s return will be announced in the coming weeks.

“This co-main is a Golden Boy special — two guys who can crack, don’t take a step backwards and are always going for the knockout,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy. “With both guys having been off for more than a year due to Covid-19, each is hungry for a win and to position themselves in the mix at the top of the super lightweight division.”

Cano is a 31-year-old contender from Tlalnepantla, Mexico, who is coming off wins against
Jorge “El Niño de Oro” Linares and Roberto “Massa” Ortiz. This young veteran of about 15 years has also defeated the likes of Ashley Theophane, Mauricio “El Maestro” Herrera and Ruslan Madiev, and he has participated in great battles against “Sugar” Shane Mosley, Paul “The Magic Man” Malignaggi and Erik “El Terrible” Morales. Cano will inch closer to a world title shot if can beat Navarro.

“I am very happy to be returning on such an important card on March 20” said Pablo Cesar Cano. “I am delighted for the chance to be active once again, especially because of all that has happened due to the pandemic. I am motivated, and I have a positive mentality. I’m going to make sure I train very hard to be at optimum shape on fight night.”

Navarro is a 24-year-old rising contender who scored his biggest win yet in 2018 when he beat then-undefeated prospect Damon Allen Jr. via technical knockout. Since then, he has scored two impressive wins, though he has been inactive since October 2019. Navarro plans to return to the ring and make a big statement in order to put himself in line for a world title shot.

“I am very excited for this fight,” said Jonathan Navarro. “You’re not going to want to miss it. This fight will be a big step up for me, and it will bring me closer to becoming a world champion. We are working very hard back at camp and making sure we are prepared for Cano. I’m coming to make a statement in the 140-pound division. I will let everyone know that I’m coming for a belt very soon!”

As announced previously, the Ortiz vs. Hooker undercard will be stacked from top to bottom with highly competitive matchups.

Anabel “Avispa” Ortiz (31-3, 4 KOs) of Mexico City, Mexico and former flyweight champion Seniesa “Superbad” Estrada (19-0, 8 KOs) of East Los Angeles, California will meet in an epic 10-round fight for Ortiz’s WBA Minimumweight World Title.

Luis “Matador” Hernandez (21-0, 19 KOs) of Chihuahua, Mexico will participate in a 10-round super lightweight battle against Alex Martin (15-3, 6 KOs) of Chicago, Illinois.

George Rincon (10-0, 7 KOs) of Dallas, Texas will return in an eight-round super lightweight fight against Alex Martin(15-3, 6 KOs) of Merida, Mexico.

Hector Valdez (13-0, 8 KOs) of Dallas, Texas will face Alberto Torres (11-3-3, 4 KOs) of Sacramento, California in an eight-round super bantamweight battle.

Oscar Acevedo (7-0) of Garden City, Kansas and James “Crunch Time” Willkins (9-1-0, 6 KOs) of Staten Island, New York will meet in an eight-round super featherweight bout between two Golden Boy prospects.

Tristan Kalkreuth (7-0, 6 KOs) of Duncanville, Texas will return against a soon-to-be-announced opponent in a six-round fight in the cruiserweight division.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and DAZN.com. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing and @DAZNBoxing. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoy and https://www.facebook.com/DAZN. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy and @DAZNBoxing. Follow the conversation using #OrtizHooker

HOMETOWN THROWDOWN: VERGIL ORTIZ JR. AND MAURICE ‘MIGHTY MO’ HOOKER TO FIGHT IN HUGE MATCHUP BETWEEN DALLAS, TEXAS NATIVES

DALLAS, TEXAS (Jan. 27, 2021): A hometown battle between two Dallas, Texas natives will take place on March 20 as Vergil Ortiz Jr. (16-0, 16 KOs) and former world champion Maurice “Mighty Mo” Hooker (27-1-3, 19 KOs) clash in a 12-round fight for the vacant WBO International Welterweight Title. The bout will headline a card that includes the Unites States debut of heavyweight monster Arslanbek “Lion” Makhmudov and a world title clash between Anabel “Avispa” Ortiz and Seniesa “Superbad” Estrada.

Information regarding the venue will be announced shortly as it is pending commission approval. The fights will be streamed live exclusively on DAZN worldwide, including the U.S., Mexico and Russia.

“On his rapid ascent from prospect to contender, Vergil has absolutely blown away everyone we have put in front of him, including a former world champion,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy. “But with a win over Maurice Hooker, just one fight removed from a significant title reign, on March 20, Vergil can stamp his ticket to a world championship fight.”

Since debuting as a professional in 2016, Ortiz Jr. has knocked out every single person who has stepped into the ring with him. The native of Grand Prairie, Texas, who has roots in Michoacan, Mexico, has scored stoppage wins against the likes of Mauricio “El Maestro” Herrera, Antonio “Relentless” Orozco, Brad “King” Solomon and Samuel Vargas. The 22-year-old contender has been wanting to fight Hooker for some time, and he’s eager to demonstrate his abilities against a former world champion.

“First and foremost, I’m really grateful to be fighting back at home again,” said Vergil Ortiz Jr. “Not only that, but I’ll be fighting another Dallas native in Maurice Hooker. I’ve known Hooker since back in the amateur days. I know we’re going to give the fans back at home a fight to remember.”

Hooker is a 31-year-old former world champion who traveled to United Kingdom to defeat Terry “Turbo” Flanagan and capture the 140-pound WBO title. Then, Hooker scored big wins against undefeated contenders Mikkel “Slikk Mikk”LesPierre and Alex “El Cholo” Saucedo before suffering his first loss in an epic unification fight against Jose Carlos Ramirez. Now at welterweight, Hooker plans to derail Ortiz’s meteoric rise by putting an end to their long-standing rivalry.

“I’ve never been one to shy away from a fight,” said Maurice Hooker. “The decision to fight Ortiz was an easy one as it allows me to prove to the world something that I already know—that I’m one of the best welterweights in the world. I have a new team around me who has taken my game to a whole new level, and I feel amazing at this weight class. I can’t wait to put on a show for all the fans on March 20. Dallas, get ready!”

In the co-main event, Arslanbek “Lion” Makhmudov (11-0, 11 KOs) will make his highly anticipated United States debut in a 10-round defense of his NABF heavyweight title in a bout presented by Golden Boy and Eye of the Tiger Management. The 31-year-old Russian is on the fast track to a world title, and he already has his eyes set on the biggest names of the division.

Two-division champion Anabel “Avispa” Ortiz (31-3, 4 KOs) of Mexico City, Mexico and former flyweight champion Seniesa “Superbad” Estrada (19-0, 8 KOs) of East Los Angeles, California will meet in an epic 10-round fight for Ortiz’s WBA Minimumweight World Title. Ortiz is eager to make a statement in her United States debut, while Estrada looks to accomplish her dream of becoming a world champion in more than one division.

Luis “Matador” Hernandez (21-0, 19 KOs) of Chihuahua, Mexico will participate in a 10-round super lightweight battle against Alex Martin (15-3, 6 KOs) of Chicago, Illinois.

George Rincon (10-0, 7 KOs) of Dallas, Texas will return in an eight-round super lightweight fight against a soon-to-be-announced opponent.

Hector Valdez (13-0, 8 KOs) of Dallas, Texas will face Alberto Torres (11-3-3, 4 KOs) of Sacramento, California in an eight-round super bantamweight battle.

Ortiz Jr. vs Hooker is a 12-round fight for the WBO International Welterweight Championship presented by Golden Boy. The event is sponsored by Hennessy “Never Stop. Never Settle” and “BetOnline – Your Online Sportsbook Experts.” The fight will take place on Saturday, March 20 in Dallas, Texas and will be streamed live exclusively on DAZN worldwide, including the U.S., Mexico and Russia.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and DAZN.com. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing and @DAZNBoxing. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoy and https://www.facebook.com/DAZN. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy and @DAZNBoxing. Follow the conversation using #OrtizHooker.

MTK GLOBAL AND RICK MIRIGIAN SIGN UNDEFEATED VERGIL ORTIZ JR

Knockout king Ortiz Jr (16-0, 16 KOs) becomes the first new signing following the partnership between MTK, as advisors, and Mirigian as manager, which will see the two parties working together with Ortiz Jr over the next five years in a manager and advisor role.

Ortiz is ranked number two with the WBO and number five with the WBC and has won all 16 of his fights by knockout, including wins over the likes of Samuel Vargas, Brad Solomon, Antonio Orozco and Mauricio Herrera.

It sees MTK Global continue their expansion into the US, after signing world champions Jamel Herring and JoJo Diaz, and rising stars Lorenzo Simpson and Jonathan Lopez earlier in the year.

Speaking on the announcement, Vergil Ortiz Jr said: “I’m very excited to sign with MTK as an advisement group with manager Rick Mirigan, who also happens to be the manager of my favourite boxer Jose Ramirez. I’ve heard great things about Rick and MTK and I’m looking forward to the future.”

MTK Global CEO Bob Yalen said: “We are proud to be partnering with Rick Mirigian to work with the incredible Vergil Ortiz Jr.

“Rick is one of the leading boxing figures in the US, and what he’s managed to achieve in the sport shows that he’s guaranteed to be a valued strategic partner for MTK Global.

“Ortiz has had a sensational career so far and he’s destined to become a world champion, so we’re extremely excited to now be working with this superstar.”

Manager Rick Mirigian said: “There are plans for Ortiz to be the face of the 147 pound and a superstar in the near future. We want to build Ortiz outside of the ring and bring in landmark endorsement deals, and look to help put on major fights around him at Cowboy Stadium.

“I’m blessed and grateful to him and his team for giving me the chance to help guide this next chapter of his career, I will give them my all.”

Further news on the ground-breaking partnership with Mirigian will be announced in the coming days.

Self-organization: Vergil, Samuel and Sergio

By Bart Barry –

Friday DAZN returned to boxing broadcasting with a good mainevent from Indio, Calif., in which undefeated Texas welterweight Vergil Ortiz manhandled Colombian veteran Samuel Vargas in an empty casino ballroom. Ortiz threw every punch correctly and concussively and wore Vargas away till the end of round 7 brought a merciful technical stoppage.

Too early to say with Ortiz. He does everything right and well and says the right things, too, but questions galore remain about his handlers, his promoter and his trainer, and their aptitude for developing a young prospect like Ortiz. There’s a pink flag in there, as it were, about his weight, as well.

Ortiz turned pro four years ago as a junior welterweight and began campaigning round 147 a year ago without first winning a world title at his born-on weight. Much as Golden Boy Promotions needs promising prospects and many as the world titles are in the world it’s a touch concerning Ortiz outgrew junior welter before his promoter got him a title shot. And while many prospects have been funneled to Robert Garcia’s Oxnard these last 10 years, since Garcia steered Brandon Rios to an unlikely championship and nearly got Antonio Margarito blinded by Manny Pacquiao, there are a few questions about Garcia’s versatility as a trainer and teacher.

Samuel Vargas was an interesting choice of opponent for Friday’s match and DAZN’s return to boxing. Vargas is a welterweight ratings board unto himself. How you did against Vargas sets your status: Errol Spence (KO 4), Danny Garcia (KO 7, 2:17), Ortiz (KO 7, 2:58), Amir Khan (UD 12), Luis Collazo (SD 10): Collazo gets decisioned by Khan who gets stiffened by Ortiz who gets decisioned narrowly by Garcia who gets decisioned widely by Spence. Would that all things were so symmetrical.

Vargas showed more than merely heart in Indio. He showed veteran savvy when hurt; once he realized he couldn’t attrite Ortiz he retreated to the ropes and boxed pretty effectively, taking away Ortiz’s firstchoice weaponry and stinging him with accurate if anemic counters; he made Ortiz make decisions Ortiz had yet to make in his prizefighting career but will have to make whenever his promoter tries to make real money with him.

Vargas was a low-intermediate challenge for Ortiz but unfortunately the best sort of test Ortiz will see before being the b-side against bigger promoters’ titlists. PBC owns every welterweight a-side but one, and Ortiz sure ain’t ready for Bud Crawford. Thus the pink flag allusion above. There’s no substitute for the experience of a 12-round title fight, for exhausting oneself in 36 minutes of combat with a man who expects to beat you – either because it’s his belt and you’re the usurper, or because the title is vacant and he resents your quick ascent – but Ortiz isn’t going to have any of those at welterweight, and it’s unfortunate he didn’t have any at 140 first. You have to get seven deep in The Ring’s current 147-pound ratings before you consider making Ortiz a favorite, and even then it’s not much of a consideration.

Who, then, will Ortiz perfect his craft against in the weird silence of a pandemic? Don’t answer that. Let’s treat that weird silence instead.

There was an interesting moment in between one of the rounds of Ortiz-Vargas on Friday. DAZN showed an instant replay without commentary, ostensibly to allow viewers to hear the concussiveness of Ortiz’s punches, but what you heard nearly as much were DAZN’s commentators yelling about the punches in realtime. I don’t think I’ve ever heard commentators so clearly in an instant replay. Then there was veteran referee Jack Reiss’s trip to Ortiz’s corner to explain his reason for admonishing Ortiz to stop spinning Vargas a round after DAZN’s Sergio Mora talked loudly about how much he disagreed with his own misinterpretation of Reiss’s officiousness.

Lots of strange new ingredients, there. The referee hearing so clearly what was being broadcasted about his performance, the twoman commentary crew – seated 20 feet apart and invariably yelling to one another without realizing it – seeing the referee influenced by its commentary, the fighters’ conversations with one another and the referee being casually audible, and the absence of thousands of their fellow men communicating in yells and whispers and cheers and beer orders reducing the number of words the twoman crew spoke during the action. It was a more intimate spectacle, a purist’s view, but nothing to attract casual fans, who delight in celebrity and sadism much more than craft or tactical nuance.

Variables affecting variables at variable rates – the quintessence of selforganization. The promoters and networks, who play a centralizing role, surely don’t enjoy all these new variables (except for Bob Arum who’s old enough to find it amusing), but the fighters don’t seem to mind it too much. They’d rather have what initial adrenaline a crowd supplies, but their ability to summon adrenaline from nearly any source is why they’re professional fighters; so long as paychecks clear and bank accounts stabilize prizefighters mightn’t mind the intimacy of their new arrangement.

Viewers are certainly privy to more than we were before. Again, the cameras and commentators and promoters and commissioners and pressrow media, all, were existentially invested in having a monopoly on the information given aficionados. In most cases these monopolies were naturally erected; Max and Jim and Larry were able to tell you things you didn’t know because they had a truckful of guys with headsets hearing all the things you couldn’t hear, and their commentary was essential in marketing to you a product intended to grow subscribers – just like Sergio’s commentary and Tim and Dre’s commentary and Paulie and Al’s commentary.

But as subscribers go wanting and advertisers go with them, we draw closer to a day, perhaps, when aficionados can have all we’ve ever wanted: a commentary-free audio track. For an educated viewer, after all, there’s never been anything so poetic as the sounds of punches, in their sundry rhythms and rhymes, and how blissful might it be to listen finally without impediment?

Bart Barry can be reached via Twitter @bartbarry

VIDEO: Ortiz – Vargas Post fight Press Conference

Ortiz stops Vargas in 7

Vergil Ortiz Jr. kept his perfect knockout record intact as he stopped Samuel Vargas in round seven of their scheduled 10-round welterweight bout at The Fantasy Springs Resort in Indio, California.

In round two, Vargas started to bleed over his right eye.

Ortiz continued to land more power punches with each round. The fight became an onslaught for Ortiz as he started pounding away at Vargas in round six. In round seven, it was target practice for Ortiz as he was all over Vargas he landed booming flurries until referee Jack Reiss stopped the bout at 2:58.

Ortiz, 147 lbs of Grand Prairie, TX is 15-0 with 15 knockouts. Vargas, 146.6 lbs of Bogota, COL is 31-6-2.

“I didn’t really notice fighting with no fans. I’m so focused on the fight. With or without fans is how we spar, so didn’t make a difference.

“I hit him to the body a lot. I don’t know how he didn’t go down. He was hurt the entire time – I asked him. I knew it was time to take him out. If it went to eight rounds he would have been hurt worse. When I take rounds off like that I try to get used to timing, and miss some shots.

“I would like to fight Danny Garcia or Keith Thurman. They’re good opponents I can beat. I want to take risks. I’m not here to take easy fights. I’m in the hardest division in boxing, so when I win a title it will mean a lot more.

“Against a guy like that a solid B+. He brought it out of me, hardest opponent to date. My hands took a beating punching him the whole time, so when they’re healed I’ll be back.”

Shane Mosley Jr. won an eight-round unanimous decision over Jeremy Ramos in a middleweight fight.

Mosley outlanded Ramos 209-104.

Mosley, 159.4 lbs of Pomona, CA won by scores of 80-72 twice and 79-73 and is now 16-3. Ramos, 160 lbs of Colorado Springs, CO is 11-9.

“This was a great experience. This was my first fight as a Golden Boy fighter. I’m glad I got the win and got to knock some dust off of me. It was different due to the circumstances. Ultimately, it’s still a fight. He came to win. I think it was a good performance from me, but I still have to add some more things to my game, like adding more punches to the body.”

Seniesa Estrada destroyed Miranda Adkins in seven seconds of their light flyweight bout.

Estrada jumped out of her corner and landed six booming punches to the head that knocked Adkins down and out.

Estrada, 107.8 lbs of East Los Angeles is 19-0 with eight knockouts. Adkins, 106.8 lbs of Topkea, KS is 5-1.

“It was the outcome I expected,” said Seniesa Estrada. “I give her respect for stepping into the ring with me while having a 5-0 record. If it weren’t for her, I probably wouldn’t have had an opponent tonight, so I thank her. Hopefully next time I can fight someone who is a world champion.”

“I give Adkins so much credit because she stood up and took the fight. Due to the COVID situation we tried to get current champions, former champions, and Miranda was the only one who stepped in to take the fight. I had more experience than her in the professionals and amateurs, so I let my punches go and couldn’t stop. I knew the outcome would be a knockout for sure, but didn’t know how long it would take. God Bless Adkins and hope Adkins is okay.

“I want all the champions, I’m ready for it! At 105 lbs., 108lbs., or 112 lbs. I want Anabel Ortiz who has the WBA title at 105 lbs., and Yesenia Gomez who has the WBC title at 108 lbs. I want a world champion fight. Marlen Esparza, l will give her the rematch. Let’s go!”

Hector Valdez remained perfect with eight-round unanimous decision over Josue Morales in a super bantamweight bout.

Valdez outlanded Morales 140-89.

Valdez, 121.6 lbs of Dallas, TX won by scores of 80-72 twice and 79-73 and is now 13-0. Morales, 120.6 lbs of Houston, TX is 11-12-4.

“I felt I had an OK performance,” said Hector Valdez. “I give myself a 7 out of 10. I was calm, which is good. But now I need to work on being calm and being active with my punches. Now I’m going to go back to the gym, and I hope to come back soon on another Golden Boy card.”

Evan Sanchez remained undefeated by winning a six-round unanimous decision over Issouf Kinda in a welterweight fight.

In round four, Sanchez dropped Kinda with a right hook to the top of the head.

Sanchez outlanded Kinda 43-34.

Sanchez, 147 lbs of Parlier, CA won by scores of 60-53, 59-54 and 58-55 and is now 8-0. Kinda, 144.6 lbs of Bronx, NY is 18-5.

“I felt a little rusty in there,” said Evan Sanchez. “But I’m honored to be opening up for Golden Boy. I know a lot of people were watching. I hope to get a two-week break and come back very soon.”

ROBERT GARCIA TO TAKE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE OF NOT ATTENDING VERGIL ORTIZ JR. VS. SAMUEL VARGAS

INDIO, CALIF. (July 24, 2020): As a precautionary measure, renowned trainer Robert Garcia will not work the corner for Vergil Ortiz Jr. (15-0, 15 KOs) tonight in his bout against Samuel Vargas (31-5-2, 14 KOs) at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino and live on DAZN. In his place, Vergil Ortiz Sr. will fulfill the role of chief second.

“In my initial exam at Fantasy Springs, I tested positive for COVID-19,” said Robert Garcia. “But in my second test in Tustin, Calif., the results were negative. But, as a precaution, Golden Boy and I were informed by the CSAC that I cannot attend the event due to their regulations and based off my first test results.”

“We prepared very well for this fight against Vargas,” Garcia continued. “Basically, we had two training camps to get ready, so I know that that Ortiz Jr. will look great tonight. We have to make sure that this event is as safe as possible, so that means decisions like this have to be made. Either way, RGBA will be getting another win tonight, and pretty soon we’ll have a new world champion.”

“I commend the decision made by CSAC,” said Eric Gomez, President of Golden Boy. “We all have a responsibility to ensure that this event is safe for every single person involved. Robert Garcia has had an enormous impact in developing Vergil, so we are confident that this young star will take everything he worked on his camp and apply it in the ring. Tonight will be a memorable night for the sport as we demonstrate that good, competitive fights can be made during these difficult times if they are just done right.”

Ortiz Jr. vs. Vargas is a 12-round fight for the WBA Gold Welterweight Title presented by Golden Boy. The event is sponsored by Hennessy “Never Stop. Never Settle” and “BetOnline – Your Online Sportsbook Experts.” The event will take place Friday, July 24 at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino and will be streamed live exclusively on DAZN.

For more information, visit www.GoldenBoyPromotions.com and www.DAZN.com.
Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing and @DAZN_USA. Become a fan on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing/ and
https://www.facebook.com/DAZNUSA/. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy and @DAZN_USA. Follow the conversation using #OrtizVargas.

Photos and videos are available for download by clicking here or copying and pasting the link http://bit.ly/OrtizVargas into a browser. Credit must be provided to Golden Boy for any photo and/or video usage.

LIVE VIDEO: Ortiz Jr vs Vargas Weigh-In

https://www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyFN/videos/566127864068891/

GOLDEN BOY, DAZN AND FANTASY SPRINGS RESORT CASINO TO HOST CALIFORNIA’S BIG BOXING RETURN!

INDIO, CALIF. (June 29, 2020) – Golden Boy, DAZN and Fantasy Springs Resort Casino are proud to announce the return of world-class professional boxing in Southern California! In the main event of this long-awaited comeback, Vergil Ortiz Jr. (15-0, 15 KOs) will defend his WBA Gold Welterweight Title against Samuel Vargas (31-5-2, 14 KOs) in a 12-round bout.

The action takes place on Friday, July 24 at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif. and will be streamed live on DAZN. The event will be closed to the public and media as we enter the first phase of our responsible return to regular boxing action.

“Preparing our comeback hasn’t been easy, but we know that we have a responsibility to our fighters and our fans to stage high-level boxing events as soon as we possibly can,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy. “This card demonstrates our commitment to presenting competitive fights despite current circumstances as the future of boxing, Vergil Ortiz Jr., will step into the ring with Samuel Vargas as was initially planned back in March.”

“And to add to that, lightweight contender Hector Tanajara Jr. is taking a big step up in competition against a veteran southpaw in Mercito Gesta,” De La Hoya continued. “Times may be tough, but our fighters are tougher, so I want to thank them for accepting these challenges during this time. I also want to thank the CSAC, Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, DAZN and everyone involved as we work together to make this a success.”

Since debuting as a professional in 2016, Ortiz Jr. has knocked out every opponent in sight. The native of Grand Prairie, Texas, who has roots in Michoacan, Mexico, will participate in his first fight of the year after a spectacular 2019 in which he stopped the likes of Mauricio “El Maestro” Herrera, Antonio “Relentless” Orozco and Brad “King” Solomon. The 22-year-old contender is a bit surprised because his 2020 debut will take place as late in the year as July, but he is nevertheless prepared for the challenge.

“I’m very thankful and excited to be headlining the first Golden Boy event after the quarantine,” said Vergil Ortiz. “I’m happy that it’s still with the same opponent, so basically we’re picking up where we left off. It’s going to be a tough fight, and it’ll be a great way to kick off the year for me.”

Vargas is recognized as one of the toughest challenges in any division. The 31-year-old native of Bogota, Colombia has faced a who’s who of welterweight boxers, including Amir “King” Khan, Luis Collazo, Danny “Swift” Garcia and Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr. Despite the uncertainty facing the world today, Vargas is totally confident that he will beat Ortiz Jr.

“I’m happy to be back to work training in Las Vegas,” said Samuel Vargas. “I think that everything happens for a reason. I think this time off benefited me. I’m ready to upset the world. I believe I can come out with a win. The world is in a weird place right now. The show will be different. There will be no fans. But I have no doubt that I am going to win.”

In the co-main event, Hector “El Finito” Tanajara Jr. (19-0, 5 KOs) will take a step up in opposition as he takes on two-time world title challenger Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta (32-3-3, 17 KOs) of Cebu, Philippines in a 10-round defense of the USNBC Lightweight Title.

“I’m ready for the best of the division,” said Hector Tanajara Jr. “I want to be a world champion, and the only way to do that is to beat tough fighters like Mercito Gesta, who has challenged for a world title and is a southpaw with a lot of experience. Also, I’m very thankful to be fighting during this time. Boxing is slowly coming back, and I’m proud to be featured on the first Golden Boy card after the big hiatus.”

“I am so excited to fight on July 24 against a talented, young, and very technical boxer in Hector Tanajara Jr,” said Mercito Gesta. “During the pandemic, I was doing conditioning training virtually with my team in San Diego, but now I am in Los Angeles training with Coach Marvin Somodio and my dad at the Wild Card Boxing gym. Even though the fight will be different this time because there will be no audience, friends or family, I’m well prepared and will put on a great show against Tanajara Jr. I hope everyone watches this card around the world, especially in my hometown of Mandaue City, Cebu, Philippines as Golden Boy boxing is back! Salamat, Mabuhay!”

Shane Mosley Jr. (15-3, 9 KOs) of Pomona, Calif. will make his debut under the Golden Boy banner in an eight-round middleweight bout against veteran Jeremy Ramos (11-8, 2 KOs) of Colorado Springs, Colorado.

World champion Seniesa “Superbad” Estrada (18-0, 7 KOs) of East Los Angeles, Calif. will return to the 108-pound division against a soon-to-be-announced opponent.

Hector Valdez (12-0, 8 KOs), the newly signed super bantamweight prospect of Dallas, Texas, will participate in a six-round fight.

Hard-hitting welterweight prospect Evan Sanchez (7-0, 6 KOs) of Parlier, Calif will open the night of action in a six-round fight.

Ortiz vs. Vargas is a 12-round fight for the WBA Gold Welterweight Title presented by Golden Boy. The event is sponsored by Hennessy “Never Stop. Never Settle.” The event will take place Friday, July 24 at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino and will be streamed live exclusively on DAZN.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and
DAZN.com. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing and @DAZN_USA. Become a fan on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing/ and
https://www.facebook.com/DAZNUSA/. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy and @DAZN_USA. Follow the conversation using #OrtizVargas.

VERGIL ORTIZ JR. VS. SAMUEL VARGAS LOS ANGELES KICKOFF PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES

LOS ANGELES (Feb. 25, 2020): Vergil Ortiz Jr. (15-0, 15 KOs) and Samuel Vargas (31-5-2, 14 KOs) hosted a press conference today ahead of their 12-round fight for the WBA Gold Welterweight Title. Undercard fighters from the event also participated in the presser. The fight will take place on Saturday, Mar. 28, 2020 at the “Fabulous” Forum in Inglewood, Calif. and will be streamed live exclusively on DAZN.

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

VERGIL ORTIZ JR., WBA Gold Welterweight Champion:
“I’m thankful to have one of the best promotors in the world. We’re a big family, and I’m very proud to be a part of Golden Boy Promotions. I train for every fight like I’m training for a world title. I don’t think I’m the most talented fighter in the room, but I do know that I work the hardest in the game right now.”

SAMUEL VARGAS, Welterweight Contender:
“I’m open to fighting everyone. I’ve fought a lot of talented boxers have had great experience throughout the years. I’m confident and I’m ready. I’ve been training very well, and I’m excited for this fight. A huge shout out to my fans in Canada and Columbia who will be watching and supporting me.”

AZAT HOVHANNISYAN, Super Bantamweight Contender:
“I’m as ready for any champion. I’m in the best shape and have the best trainer. I can’t wait to show everyone a wonderful fight on March 28.”

SENIESA ESTRADA, WBC Silver Light Flyweight Champion:
“This is going to be my fifth time at the Forum, but this time it’s going to be very different. The last four times that I fought at this venue. I didn’t have promoter. I wasn’t making any money and I wanted to give up on my dreams. I honestly didn’t think I could make it as a boxer. This time coming back to the Forum, I’m at the best place in my career right now, physically, mentally and emotionally. I’m ready for a great fight.”

ERIC GOMEZ, President of Golden Boy:
“There’s a lot of great boxing history at the forum. A lot of famous world champions have fought at this venue, including Oscar De La Hoya, who made his debut back in 1992. This is a great card and all these fights are going to be exciting, especially Vergil Ortiz Jr., who is no longer a prospect but now a contender. He has captivated the world of boxing, and I hope for him to win a world title this year. Vergil has proved himself in the ring, but make no mistake Samuel Vargas is a dangerous fighter. Vergil needs to be able to beat a fighter like Vargas. This is a big test for Vergil. Vargas is going to challenge him, but this is what he needs to go through to win a world title.

Ortiz Jr. vs. Vargas is a 12-round fight for the WBA Gold Welterweight Title presented by Golden Boy. The event is sponsored by Hennessy “Never Stop. Never Settle.” The event will take place Saturday, March 28 at the “Fabulous” Forum in Inglewood, Calif. and will be streamed live exclusively on DAZN.

Tickets for Ortiz Jr. vs. Vargas are on sale now and are priced at $10, $25, $50 and $100. Prices do not include applicable facility fees and service charges. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets will also be available for purchase at www.fabulousforum.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and DAZN.com. Follow on Twitter
@GoldenBoyBoxing and @DAZN_USA. Become a fan on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing/ and https://www.facebook.com/DAZNUSA/.
Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy and @DAZN_USA. Follow the conversation using #OrtizJrVargas.

LIVE VIDEO: VERGIL ORTIZ JR. VS SAMUEL VARGAS LOS ANGELES PRESS CONFERENCE

VERGIL ORTIZ JR. TO HEADLINE STACKED CARD OF BOXING ACTION IN DEFENSE OF WBA GOLD WELTERWEIGHT TITLE AGAINST SAMUEL VARGAS

LOS ANGELES (Feb. 15, 2020): The most dominant rising force in the welterweight division returns to the ring as Vergil Ortiz Jr. (15-0, 15 KOs) defends his WBA Gold Welterweight Title against Samuel Vargas (31-5-2, 14 KOs) in a 12-round main event. Ortiz Jr. will headline a stacked card in his adoptive home of Southern California that will also feature Pablo Cesar “El Demoledor” Cano, Azat “Crazy A” Hovhannisyan, Rashidi “Speedy” Ellis, Seniesa “Superbad” Estrada and more! The event will take place Saturday, March 28 at the “Fabulous” Forum in Inglewood, Calif. and will be streamed live exclusively on DAZN.

Ticket information for the event will be announced shortly.

“When people think of the future of the welterweight division, one name stands out, and that’s Vergil Ortiz Jr.,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO at Golden Boy. “Simply put, this kid is special. His talent, speed and power set him apart from any other fighter who is moving up the 147-pound rankings. Don’t miss another spectacular knockout performance at the Forum or live on DAZN!”

Since debuting as a professional in 2016, Ortiz Jr. has knocked out every opponent in sight. The native of Grand Prairie, Texas, who has roots in Michoacan, Mexico, will participate in his first fight of the year after stopping Mauricio “El Maestro” Herrera, Antonio “Relentless” Orozco and Brad “King” Solomon in a spectacular 2019. The 21-year-old knockout artist plans to do the same in 2020, but Vargas stands in his way.

“I’m excited to be returning against Samuel Vargas,” said Vergil Ortiz Jr. “He’s a tough fighter with a lot of experience, so I know that my talent and skills are going to be put to a tough test. I’m also happy to be fighting in Los Angeles at such a historic venue where many legends in the sport have fought. I love this city, and I love the people here, so I’m going to work very hard to perform to the best of my abilities on March 28.”

Vargas is recognized as one of the toughest challenges in any division. The 30-year-old native of Bogota, Colombia has faced a who’s who of welterweight boxers, including Amir “King” Khan, Luis Collazo, Danny “Swift” Garcia and Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr. Vargas plans to engage Ortiz Jr. in a war, something he has yet to encounter.

“Throughout my career, I have always taken the challenges that other fighters in the division don’t want, and that’s exactly what I’m doing again,” said Samuel Vargas. “Vergil Ortiz Jr. is one of the brightest young stars in boxing, but he hasn’t had to go through a war yet. I’ve shown that I’m willing to go through hell in that ring, so if Ortiz is everything he’s hyped up to be, he better be on point March 28 because I know I will.”

In the co-main event, Pablo Cesar “El Demoledor” Cano (33-7-1, 23 KOs) will put his WBC International Silver Super Lightweight Title on the line against Michael “The Artist” Perez (25-3-2, 11 KOs) of Newark, N.J. in a 12-round fight.

Azat “Crazy A” Hovhannisyan (18-3, 15 KOs) will fight for the vacant WBA Interim Super Bantamweight Championship against Jose Sanmartin (30-5-1, 20 KOs) of Barranquilla, Colombia in 12-round clash.

Welterweight contender Rashidi “Speedy” Ellis (22-0, 14 KOs) of Lynn, Mass. will defend his WBA Continental Americas Welterweight Title against Sergio Ortega (21-2, 15 KOs) of Mexicali, Mexico in a 10-rounder.

Seniesa “Superbad” Estrada (18-0, 7 KOs) of East Los Angeles, Calif. will make the first defense of her WBA Interim Flyweight Title in a 10-round battle.

Christopher Pearson (17-2, 12 KOs) of Tortwood, Ohio will participate in a 10-round middleweight bout.

Raul “Cougar” Curiel (8-0, 6 KOs) of Tampico, Mexico will face Steve “Manos de Oro” Villalobos (8-0, 6 KOs) of Mount Vernon, Wash. in a 10-round welterweight clash between two young prospects.

Irish prospect Aaron “Silencer” McKenna (10-0, 6 KOs) will return in an eight-round super welterweight clash.

Chris “Milly” Ousley (12-0, 9 KOs) of Chicago will open the night in an eight-round middleweight battle against Jarvis Williams (8-2-1, 5 KOs) of St. Louis.

Ortiz vs. Vargas is a 12-round fight for the WBA Gold Welterweight Title presented by Golden Boy. The event is sponsored by Hennessy “Never Stop. Never Settle.” The event will take place Saturday, March 28 at the “Fabulous” Forum in Inglewood, Calif. and will be streamed live exclusively on DAZN.

Ortiz stops Solomon in 5

Vergil Ortiz Jr. kept up that pace of being one of if not the top prospect in boxing as he stopped Brad Solomon in round five of a scheduled 10-round welterweight bout at the Fantasy Springs Resort in Indio, California.

In round four, Ortiz dropped Solomon with a hard jab. In round five, Ortiz landed a hard jab that up a flurry of punches that put Solomon down for a 2nd time. Ortiz finished off Solomon with a hard right and left that made Solomon take a knee and the fight was stopped at 2:22.

Ortiz, 147 lbs of Grand Prairie, TX is 15-0 with 15 knockouts. Solomon, 146.8 lbs of Douglasville, GA is 28-2.

“I have to give him [Solomon] some credit,” said Vergil Ortiz Jr. “He’s difficult to figure out and made me use my brain. I tried to take my time, and not rush things. I had to utilize my jab, figure out the right time to throw a punch. I think I tripped with him with my foot, so I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt. He came to fight.”

“I shouldn’t be chasing on the ropes like that. He let his guard now. Luckily, I did throw the right punch and hurt him. I knew he would be a tough cookie to break. Luckily, I have a good team behind me and all my smarts. I felt I was very patient, and needed to pick it up, can’t lay low. I did a good job. I would say high B or A on this one.”

Former world champion Alberto Machado moved up in weight and stopped Luis Porozo in round two of a scheduled 10-round lightweight bout.

In round two, Machado dropped Porozo with a left to the body. Seconds later, it was the same punch that sent Porozo to the canvas. Machado ended it with….you guessed, another left to the body that sent Porozo down for the 10-count at 2:59.

Machado, 135 lbs of San Juan, PR is 22-2 with 18 knockouts. Porozo, 134 lbs of Santo Domingo, ECU is 14-2.

On the 3rd knockdown: “It’s a shot we were working on in camp,” Alberto Machado.”He was a fighter that would open up, so we worked on that in camp, going to the body. They told me to put my hands up, be more passive with my offense, throw my jab more, and as you could see he had a chaotic style. Thank god we got the victory we were looking for.”

“No because I actually was trying to land to the head, but saw the opportunity to the body, so took advantage of it. I was landing that good hand. I only had ten seconds till the end of the round, so wanted to end on a good note, and threw my hands, and got the win.”

On his performance: “I think I did well, made good adjustments. He’s a good fighter, I know the style he has. I think I did well because of the adjustments I made. I’m happy I ended the year on a positive note with the victory. I’ve been through very difficult situations that all of us boxers go through, some changes in camp, and in my weight. I’m ready for this division and the big challenge. I’m ready for another big fight against a former world champion, Mexico vs Puerto Rico, come on Francisco Vargas, let’s do it.”

Bektemir Melikuziev won a 10-round unanimous decision over Vaughn Alexander in a super middleweight bout.

In round seven, Melikuziev was cut around the left eye from a headbutt.

Melikuziev, 167.4 lbs of Indio, CA won by scores of 100-90 on all cards, and is now 4-0. Alexander, 166.4 lbs of St. Louis is 15-4.

Melikuziev out-landed Alexander 253-34.

Joel Diaz (trainer) on behalf of Bektemir: “I’m happy that he went rounds and was able to get in the ring with a veteran and break him down.”

Alexis Rocha stopped tough Roberto Valenzuela after round five of their scheduled 10-round welterweight bout.

Rocha had a few anxious moments in round two, but was able to get through and dominate the next several rounds that forced Valenzuela to bow out of the fight.

Rocha, 146.6 lbs of Santa Ana, CA is 15-0 with 10 knockouts. Valenzuela, 146.8 lbs of Sonora. MX is 17-2.

“He caught me in the second round,” said Alexis Rocha.”I got lazy. It’s my fault. I started letting my hands go after the third, and then I kept hurting him. It was important that I finished the fight. It’s a learning experience.”

Luis Feliciano remained undefeated with a 10-round unanimous decision over Herbert Acevedo in a junior welterweight bout.

In round three, Feliciano sent Acevedo to deck with a right hand. Feliciano was cut around the left eye.

Feliciano, 140 lbs of Milwaukee won by scores of 100-89, 99-90, and 97-92 and is now 14-0. Acevedo, 139.2 lbs of Los Angeles is 16-3-1

“I give props to Herbert Acevedo,” said Luis Feliciano.”He’s a tough and rugged fighter. I thought he was out when I dropped him in the third round. I tried to get the finish, but he weathered the storm. I’m happy to finish year with a win, and we are on to the next.”

Eric Bazinyan stopped Saul Roman in round three of a scheduled eight-round super middleweight bout.

In round two, Roman was cut over his left eye from an accidental headbutt. In round three, Bazinyan landed a perfect right that sent Roman down and out at 46 seconds.

Bazinyan, 167.2 lbs of Quebec, CAN is 24-0 with 18 knockouts. Roman, 164.8 lbs of Tijuana, MX is 45-14.

“I learned from fighting a veteran, someone with almost 60 fight,” said Erik Bazinyan.”I tried to show my skills and fight my fight. The timing was right, so I got him out of there.

LIVE FIGHTS: Vergil Ortiz vs. Brad Solomon Undercard Livestream

VERGIL ORTIZ JR. RIVERSIDE, CALIF. MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES

RIVERSIDE, CALIF. (Dec. 3, 2019): Vergil Ortiz Jr. (14-0, 14 KOs), WBA Gold Welterweight Champion, hosted a media workout yesterday at Robert Garcia Boxing Academy in Riverside, Calif. ahead of his 12-round fight against Brad “King” Solomon
(28-1, 9 KOs). The fight will take place Friday, Dec. 13 at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif. and will be streamed live as part of fight season on DAZN.

Joshua Franco (15-1-2, 7 KOs) and Hector Tanajara Jr. (18-0, 5 KOs) also participated in the workout as they prepare to return on the undercard of Munguia vs O’Sullivan on Jan. 11 at the Alamodome in San Antonio and also live on DAZN.

Below is what today’s participants had to say at the workout:

VERGIL ORTIZ JR., WBA Gold Welterweight Champion:
“I feel like I’ve really shown that I belong in the top dogs. I feel like people are starting to recognize me a lot more, this was my breakout year and I’m going to break out even more next year. What I know about Brad Solomon, he’s a very experienced fighter, he has double the wins that I have. He’s crafty, he definitely brings something different to the table than my past fighters you know, he’s not going to stay in the ring, he’s going to want to make me miss, going to want to stick a move. We haven’t seen me fight someone like that in the professionals yet so everyone’s going to see how I do against a fighter like that. I’m ready to show people that I can fight any way, if I need to adjust then I can adjust. I haven’t had to make those adjustments yet. Some people say that I don’t move my head a lot, but I move my head a lot, especially in sparring. The thing is I haven’t needed to yet, I haven’t needed to do a lot of things in my fights yet because they’ve ended so early. There’s going to be a time when I’m going to need to use everything I have and that’s probably going to be one of my greatest fights. My work ethic comes from my dad pushing me this entire time. He’s really pushed me to not be satisfied with anything that I do, there’s always room for improvement, you can always work harder. A lot of my success has come from my dad.”

JOSHUA FRANCO, WBA International and NABF Bantamweight Champion:
“I came to that decision [to change weight] because of the past times that I’ve fought at 115lbs, I feel like I’m stronger at that weight, I feel like I have more power at that weight. I want to get a world title at 115lb right now, I’ll make the weight good with a good diet, and after that I’ll move right back up to 118lb and get a title right there. I’m really excited to finally fight in my hometown. I haven’t fought there since I was an amateur, so everybody back home is excited to see me. I’m excited myself to put on a great show for my fans and all my family so it’s going to be great.”

HECTOR TANAJARA JR., WBC USNBC Lightweight Champion:
“I’m ready to take on the next level, I already have 18 fights, it went by fast, but I feel like I’m ready for that next step and for whatever comes in 2020. Training here we’re all like a family. We all push each other. I always say sparring is tougher than the fights, that’s what makes the fights easy. We push each other in here we see one person going hard and it makes us go harder. If we see one person doing a little more, it makes us do a little more, it’s like a family affair. We all push each other naturally. I’m so excited to fight in the Alamodome, it’s my hometown. It’s the first time fighting back home since I’ve been pro. I’m really excited and motivated because now my family and friends, they don’t have excuses because it’s right there in the city so it’s going to be a good turnout and I’m just motivated. At this stage of my career, I feel like everything is coming together little by little. I’m going on five years of being pro and I feel like I’m becoming a complete fighter. In these next couple fights it’ll show, everything’s going to come together, and people are going to be real surprised.”

ROBERT GARCIA, Trainer of Ortiz Jr., Franco and Tanajara Jr.:
“Vergil is only 21 so he’s a very young fighter but at 21 he already has the strength, the mentality, the experience of a 27-year-old. He’s focused on one thing and that’s to become a world champion and to beat anybody in front of him. He’s one of the, if not the hardest working fighter I have in my gym, including all the world champions. He works his ass off. That’s one thing that he was raised to do, since he was a kid with his dad, his dad prepared him for one thing and that’s to be great in boxing. Little by little, he’s been growing and now he’s a professional, now he’s ready for any top fighter in the division. It was something his dad brought since they were kids to where they’re at now. We don’t want to rush him, we want to go fight by fight, especially right now at welterweight, we have to understand that a lot of the champions are fighting for other promotions and the fights are going to be very hard to negotiate. We’re not looking for any type of fight right now, we’re going fight by fight. if the right fight for a title comes maybe at a different weight division maybe we would consider it, but it would have to be the right fight against the right champion. At welterweight I don’t see any champion fighting Vergil in 2020. There’s no rush. The fans still haven’t seen the best of Vergil Ortiz.”

Ortiz Jr. vs. Solomon is a 12-round fight for the WBA Gold Welterweight Title presented by Golden Boy. The event is sponsored by Tecate, “THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING,”
and Hennessy “Never Stop. Never Settle.” The event will take place Friday, Dec. 13 at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif. and will be streamed live on DAZN.

Tickets for the event are on sale and are priced at $25, $35 and $45. Tickets will be available at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino box office, by calling 1-800-827-2946, or by purchasing online at www.FantasySpringsResort.com

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and DAZN.com. Follow on
Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing and @DAZN_USA. Become a fan on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/GoldenBoy and https://www.facebook.com/DAZNUSA/. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy and @DAZN_USA. Follow the conversation using #OrtizSolomon.

Photos and videos are available for download by clicking here or copying and pasting the link http://bit.ly/OrtizSolomon into a browser. Credit must be provided to Golden Boy for any photo and/or video usage.

KNOCKOUT ARTIST VERGIL ORTIZ JR. TO DEFEND WBA GOLD WELTERWEIGHT TITLE AGAINST BRAD ‘KING’ SOLOMON

INDIO, CALIF. (Nov. 22, 2019): Vergil Ortiz Jr.(14-0, 14 KOs) will look to end the 2019 year with another spectacular knockout win when he defends his WBA Gold Welterweight Title against Brad “King” Solomon (28-1, 9 KOs) in a 12-round fight. The event will take place Friday, Dec. 13 at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif. and will be streamed live as part of fight season on DAZN.

“We’re absolutely proud of what Vergil Ortiz Jr. has been able to accomplish in his young career,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy. “That’s why we’re ending the year with him in an exciting main event fight on DAZN. The 147-pound division is one of the most competitive and popular divisions in boxing, so another knockout win will put this young talent on the path to very big fights in 2020.”

Since debuting as a professional in 2016, Ortiz Jr. knocked out every opponent in sight. The native of Grand Prairie, Texas, who has roots in Michoacan, Mexico, will return after passing the toughest test of his career with flying colors: a sixth-round stoppage victory against former world title challenger Antonio “Relentless” Orozco earlier this year. This young man is excited to return to Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, the place where he made his professional debut over three years ago.

“Fantasy Springs has a special place in my heart,” said Vergil Ortiz Jr.”I made my pro debut there in July 2016. Knowing I’m headlining there is motivating me to show my fans out there how much I have improved over the years. I’m also happy because an event like this shows that I’m on the right path. Everything is going as it should be. I’ve seen Brad Solomon’s record. I’ve seen that he’s beaten Adrian Granados and Ray Robinson, so you have to be pretty skilled to beat people like them. I don’t know how this fight ends, but you can all expect a great fight.”

Solomon is a 36-year-old contender of Lafayette, Lousiana who was a standout amateur boxer before debuting as a professional in 2008. Aside from winning several Golden Gloves titles, Solomon also possess an amateur win over Javier Molina. As a professional, he as defeated tough fighters such as Freddy “The Rail” Hernandez and Adrian “El Tigre” Granados. Solomon will look to put is career back on track to a world title if he can get past Ortiz Jr.

“Vergil Ortiz Jr. is a great young prospect,” said Brad Solomon. “It’s going to be a good matchup. I’ve been out of the ring for about a year, so I have to come back and beat this young fighter. I have to show everyone in the welterweight division that I’m still here.”

Also, Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins, Golden Boy Business Partner and Hall of Famer, will be the special VIP guest for this event. Hopkins will be in attendance for this event to meet fans, sign autographs and take pictures inside the Fantasy Springs Special Events Center. The meet-and-greet is open to the public with the purchase of a ticket to the event.

In the co-main event, Alberto “Explosivo” Machado (21-2, 17 KOs) of San Juan, Puerto Rico will make his highly anticipated return in a 10-round fight. Machado will officially make his debut at 135 pounds after losing his WBA Super Featherweight World Title against Andrew “El Chango” Cancio. Machado will look to make a campaign for a world title in this new division.

Erik Bazinyan (23-0, 17 KOs) of Quebec, Canada will defend his NABA Super Middleweight World Title in a 10-round clash. Bazinyan is inching closer to a world title with each battle, and he’ll look to maintain his top contender status with an impressive win to close out the year. Opponents for Machado and Bazinyan will be announced shortly.

Golden Boy is also proud to announce two high-level matchups that are sure to produce fistic fireworks.

Alexis “Lex” Rocha (14-0, 9 KOs) of Santa Ana, Calif. will defend his WBC Continental Americas Welterweight Title in a 10-round bout against Michael “The Artist” Perez (25-3-1, 11 KOs) of Newark, N.J.

Luis Feliciano (13-0, 8 KOs) of Milwaukee, Wis. will defend his NABF Super Lightweight Title against Herbert “Ace” Acevedo (16-2-1, 6 KOs) of Garden City, Kansas in a 10-round fight.

Genaro “El Conde” Gamez (9-1, 6 KOs) of San Diego, Calif. will open the night in an eight-round lightweight clash.

Ortiz vs. Solomon is a 12-round fight for the WBA Gold Welterweight Title presented by Golden Boy. The event is sponsored by Tecate, “THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING,” and Hennessy “Never Stop. Never Settle.” The event will take place Friday, Dec. 13 at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif. and will be streamed live on DAZN.

Tickets for the event go on sale Friday, Nov. 22 at 10:00 a.m. PT are priced at $25, $35 and $45. Tickets will be available at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino box office, by calling 1-800-827-2946, or by purchasing online at www.fantasyspringsresort.com.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and DAZN.com.
Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing and @DAZN_USA. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoy and https://www.facebook.com/DAZNUSA/. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy and @DAZN_USA. Follow the conversation using #OrtizSolomon

Photos and videos are available for download by clicking here or copying and pasting
the link http://bit.ly/OrtizSolomon into a browser. Credit must be provided to Golden Boy for any photo and/or video usage.

VERGIL ORTIZ JR. VS. ANTONIO OROZCO FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES

GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS (Aug. 8, 2019): Vergil Ortiz Jr. (13-0, 13 KOs) and Antonio “Relentless” Orozco (28-1, 17 KOs) hosted their final press conference today at The Theatre at Grand Prairie in Texas ahead of their 12-round fight for the WBA Gold Welterweight Title. They were joined by many of the undercard fights for this event. The fights will take place on Saturday, Aug. 10 at The Theatre at Grand Prairie in Texas and will be streamed live on DAZN.

Below is what today’s participants had to say at the press conference:

VERGIL ORTIZ JR., Welterweight Contender:

“I want to thank Golden Boy and Eric Gomez; he was the first guy to discover me when I was an amateur and gave me this opportunity, and I’m just really grateful for it. I think everything has been said already I’m not here to mess around. Golden Boy has given me some tough fights and I have passed them with flying colors, even though I’m color blind. Orozco is a very tough opponent, I’m not taking him lightly at all. He deserves all the respect in the world, especially on that ring. It’s sink or swim…good thing I’m a good swimmer. I’m just looking forward to seeing those familiar faces in the audience. Best of luck to Orozco. This isn’t personal, we are here to support our families.”

ANTONIO OROZCO, Welterweight Contender:

“First of all, I want to thank God for giving me the opportunity to be here. Texas is a big state and I know you guys are going to come strong, like that heat that’s outside. We know the tremendous fighter that Vergil Ortiz is, and everyone knows my style of fighting. This is going to be a fight you don’t want to miss. It’s a great opportunity, putting us both towards that world title shot again, and I’m looking for to that victory on Saturday.”

JOSHUA FRANCO, NABF & WBA International Bantamweight Champion:

“Thank you everyone for coming out today. Thank you, Golden Boy and God, for this opportunity to fight once again. I hope everyone makes it to see a very explosive card. I think I won the first one, I won the second one, and this time is even going to be worse for him.”

OSCAR NEGRETE, Bantamweight Contender:

“As you all saw, I fought two exciting fights in the past, those two fights were very good fights, emotional fights, where I felt like I won, and most people have told me that I won. I’m here to prove that I won and show that I am the true champion. This time I have prepared like never before, even better than the first two fights, and I hope Joshua Franco is prepared and I hope that this time, he comes to fight and not to run.”

MARCELINO LOPEZ, Super Lightweight Contender:

“I’m happy to be part of this event. It’s a great opportunity to be on this card. I’m prepared for what I came for, and I’m ready to show it on the ring. Anything I could say right now is irrelevant if I don’t show it on the ring. To be fighting alongside my ex-stablemate, Vergil Ortiz Jr., is great and I’m here to put on a great show and I’m proud to represent Argentina on Saturday.”

HECTOR TANAJARA JR., WBC USNBC Lightweight Champion:

“I want to thank Golden Boy, DAZN, everyone for coming out. I want to thank my team for getting me ready; without them I wouldn’t be where I am today. I’m ready for Saturday and to put up a great show.”

TRAVELL MAZION, Super Welterweight Prospect:

“I’m originally from Austin, Texas so it feels pretty good to actually be here, to be fighting in front of my old fight friends from the amateurs. Alex, George, Hector, we were always in the same locker room, getting ready for the fights together, it feels really awesome. I want to take this moment to dedicate this fight to the victims of El Paso and Dayton, I definitely want to dedicate my fight to them.”

ALEX RINCON, Super Welterweight Prospect:

“I just want to thank Golden Boy and DAZN for having us here today. Thanks to everyone here who came to support all the fighters. It’s going to be a great, great show for all the fighters here on the card. As my brother said, we grew up with a lot of these fighters as amateurs, seeing each other in the tournaments, seeing each other on the bout list, but it’s going to be an even greater feeling being in the locker room, warming up next to each other and seeing each other rack up those wins. It feels great to be home. A great, great show is going to be put on Saturday night. Get your earplugs ready because the team Rincon brothers are going to bring a lot of noise on Saturday.”

GEORGE RINCON, Super Lightweight Prospect:

“To be on this stacked card with all these great fighters that I grew up with in the amateurs, it’s a great blessing to be here fighting on the same card. Vergil being the main event and a great fight, all these guys, and of course my brother, fighting with him on the same card is always a great experience, especially here at home. We’re always pushing each other to be greater every time. I’m excited to perform on Saturday night. Training camp went well, weight is good, and I feel great. We have a game plan for the fight and hopefully it won’t take too long to take my opponent down.”

TRISTAN KALKREUTH, Cruiserweight Prospect:

“Without the environment I grew up in with my family, I would be going in a different direction than where I am today. We finished training camp with a bang, we’ve been preparing for this fight with Ronnie, we’ve been working on staying tighter, working my jab more, step back and counter. It’s crazy because me and Vergil, we came from the same high school, so it’s awesome. I used to watch Vergil when he was an amateur TKO’ing people in Golden Gloves. I looked up to him at one point, and it’s just awesome seeing where he is today and for me to be able to fight on the undercard.”

ERIC GOMEZ, President of Golden Boy:

“We are committed to bring these types of events and happy to be back in the great state of Texas. I want to take our sponsors Tecate and Henessy who are very instrumental in helping us put these types of events together. This is a very nice arena and is great for boxing. I think the fans and media are going to enjoy the setting because is an intimate setting. You all are going to be right in front of the action. Everyone here at the Theater at Grand Prairie has treated us well. This is the beginning of a long relationship and I think the fans are going to love it on Saturday.”

Ortiz vs. Orozco is a 12-round fight for the WBA Gold Welterweight Title presented by Golden Boy. The event is sponsored by Tecate, “THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING,” and Hennessy “Never Stop. Never Settle.” The event will take place on Saturday, Aug. 10 at The Theatre at Grand Prairie in Texas and will be streamed live on DAZN.

Tickets for Ortiz vs. Orozco are on sale and are priced at $125, $75, $50, and $30, plus applicable taxes, fees, and service charges. Tickets can be purchased at goldenboytickets.com, AXS.com, by phone at 888-9AXS-TIX (888-929-7849), and at The Theatre at Grand Prairie Box Office (Monday -Saturday 11:00 am CT – 3:00 pm CT or 972-854-5076).

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and DAZN.com. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing and @DAZN_USA. Become a fan on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing and https://www.facebook.com/DAZNUSA/. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy and @DAZN_USA. Follow the conversation using #OrtizOrozco.

Photos and videos are available for download by clicking here or copying and pasting the link: http://bit.ly/OrtizOrozco into a browser. Credit must be provided to Golden Boy for any photo and/or video usage.

VERGIL ORTIZ JR. VS. ANTONIO OROZCO MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES

GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS (August 7, 2019): Vergil Ortiz Jr. (13-0, 13 KOs) and Antonio “Relentless” Orozco (28-1, 17 KOs) hosted a media workout today at the Irving Police Athletic League in Irving, Texas ahead of their 12-round battle. Their battle will take place on Saturday, Aug. 10 at The Theatre at Grand Prairie in Texas and will be streamed live on DAZN.

Fighters from the undercard, including Joshua Franco (15-1-1, 7 KOs), Oscar Negrete
(18-2-1, 7 KOs), Hector Tanajara (17-0, 5 KOs), Travell Mazion (14-0, 12 KOs), Alex Rincon (6-0, 5 KOs), Marcelino Lopez (35-2-1, 7 KOs), George Rincon (7-0, 4 KOs) and Tristan Kalkrueth, also participated in the workout.

Below is what today’s participants had to say:

VERGIL ORTIZ JR., Welterweight Contender:

“This is going to be an explosive and very entertaining fight. This is my people and I don’t want them wasting their money on an average fight. This isn’t going to be an average fight, this is going to be a fight where two Mexicans warriors are going to go at it until the very end and give it all we got. I have a lot of respect for Orozco; he only has one loss and he is definitely still in his prime with 31-years-old. He is a great fighter.”

ANTONIO OROZCO, Welterweight Contender:

“We are looking for a fight to get people talking once again. This is the type of solid fights I like, and I don’t want to disappoint the fans. I want to win and I’m going to push myself to win. Vergil Ortiz has made a name for himself, he is a tremendous fighter, he has built a reputation and I’m here to prove that I still have it. This is going to be a great fight.”

JOSHUA FRANCO, NABF & WBA International Bantamweight Champion:

“I had a good training camp, I’m feeling really strong for the fight, so expect something big. I’m expecting a tough fight for as long as it lasts, and I feel like I’m going to knock him out this time.”

OSCAR NEGRETE, Bantamweight Contender:

“I feel very happy and anxious; I already want to hear the bell ringing. I’ve been preparing really hard and I’m happy to be given the opportunity to fight for what is mine. God put me here, and this is the opportunity to get my titles back, which is what I’m going to do this Saturday.”

HECTOR TANAJARA JR., WBC USNBC Lightweight Champion:

“I have a tough opponent, he has fought some tough boxers in the past, so I’m expecting a good fight on Saturday. I’ve been training really hard and the outcome has been great, so I’m looking to put up a good show for Texas and get the win.”

TRAVELL MAZION, Super Welterweight Prospect:

“It’s a natural thing for me to always be working out, so I feel amazing. The fight is going to be like another day in the gym and I’m going to perfect my craft in the ring and show everyone what I’m about. I expect to be given a tough fight.”

ALEX RINCON, Super Welterweight Prospect:

“I feel great and I’m 110% ready for the fight. Me and my brother are going to put a great show at home. We are going for the win and the knockout.”

MARCELINO LOPEZ, Super Lightweight Prospect:

“I’m very happy to be part of a Golden Boy event once again. I’m prepared to put up a good fight, so I’m ready to show all my preparation on the ring. I feel in great shape, as I just fought recently on June. I’m happy to be back in the ring so soon and I’m taking advantage of this opportunity.”

GEORGE RINCON, Super Lightweight Prospect:

“Training camp went well, weight is good, and I feel great. It’s exciting to be on the same card as my brother, especially here at home. I’m excited to be performing my talent in front of my family and friends. We have a game plan for the fight and hopefully it won’t take too long to take my opponent down.”

TRISTAN KALKREUTH, Cruiserweight Prospect:

“I’m going to use my athleticism for this fight, and hopefully a knockout will come. Me and my opponent have families to take care of and support, so this fight is for them.”

For more information,visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and DAZN.com. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing and @DAZN_USA. Become a fan on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing and https://www.facebook.com/DAZNUSA/. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy and @DAZN_USA. Follow the conversation using #OrtizOrozco.

ANTONIO ‘RELENTLESS’ OROZCO DISCUSSES THE IMPORTANCE OF EXPERIENCE AS HE PREPARES TO INVADE ENEMY TERRITORY AGAINST YOUNG CONTENDER VERGIL ORTIZ JR

LOS ANGELES, CALIF. (July 31, 2019): Former world title challenger Antonio “Relentless” Orozco (28-1, 17 KOs) of San Diego, Calif. discussed the importance of experience as he prepares to invade enemy territory in his 12-round fight against hometown hero Vergil Ortiz Jr. (13-0, 13 KOs) for the WBA Gold Welterweight Title. The event, which features a stacked undercard, will take place on Saturday, Aug. 10 at The Theatre at Grand Prairie in Texas and will be streamed live on DAZN.

Below is Orozco had to say at a recent visit to the Maywood Boxing Club in Southern California, where he spent many days sparring during camp:

ANTONIO OROZCO, Former World Title Challenger:

“When the fight was presented, I thought it would be one hell of a fight because of the type of fighter that I am, and the type of fighter Vergil Ortiz is. This is a fight that pretty much sells itself. Going to a fighter’s hometown is a situation that I’ve been in before when I fought for a world title. I went in there determined to win. For this particular fight, I have the same determination, but I’m looking for a different outcome. I just want to win; I need a big win.”

“Because he is young, you can see that Vergil is a fighter that wants to put on a show. That’s a big danger in any fight, and it’s something you have to look out for. Vergil is just that type of fighter, very exciting, aggressive. We have to be ready for that. I know that he’s never been past the fourth or fifth round but can’t just rely on that. We have to make our fight. These are just statistics, facts that are put out there. Once we’re up in the ring, the scenarios can change.”

“From my defeat last year, I learned to be patient. Sometimes it won’t be an all-out brawl. We’re learning how to control the pace. This is a fight where we’re looking to control the distance and take it into the later rounds. Every fight is a learning experience, not just in my loss to Jose Ramirez, but from previous fights as well. There’s always something to learn, but obviously staying composed is very important.”

“On August 10, I’ll come with a lot of experience, but I’m just not counting on that. This is boxing, and anything can happen. Every fighter has his flaws and every fighter has his strengths. So, we’re just going to have to stay really focused on what corrections we may have to do during the fight. That’s how we’re going to approach the fight.”

“For this fight, I’ll be fighting in a new weight division. I think there’s a lot more opportunities at 147 pounds. We’re going to work for a victory, and we’re going to sit down and see what our options are after. With a big fight, plenty of doors can open, especially since it’s against a fighter of this caliber.”

“Going into somebody’s backyard is no easy task. We just have to be prepared to the best of our abilities and expect a very strong fighter that night. After the Ramirez fight, I think found out exactly what I’m about. I faced a champion like Ramirez, and I pushed myself until finished the fight. I think that speaks a lot about myself. We’re going to bring that same passion on August 10.”

“Come August 10, the fans can expect an explosive fight. Like I mentioned before this fight sold itself. The styles that myself and Ortiz have will give the fans what they want, which is fireworks.”

For more information,visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and DAZN.com. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing and @DAZN_USA. Become a fan on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing and https://www.facebook.com/DAZNUSA/. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy and @DAZN_USA. Follow the conversation using #OrtizOrozco.

VERGIL ORTIZ JR., HECTOR ‘EL FINITO’ TANAJARA JR., AND JOSHUA ‘THE PROFESSOR’ FRANCO DISCUSS TRAINING CAMP UNDER ROBERT GARCIA

RIVERSIDE, CALIF. (July 23, 2019): Vergil Ortiz Jr. (13-0, 13 KOs), Hector “El Finito” Tanajara Jr. (17-0, 5 KOs) and Joshua “The Professor” Franco (15-1-1, 7 KOs) discussed training camp under renowned trainer Robert Garcia ahead of their respective fights. All three fighters will return on the Ortiz vs. Orozco card, which takes place Saturday, Aug. 10 at The Theatre at Grand Prairie in Texas and will be streamed live on DAZN.

Ortiz will headline in his hometown for the first time against Antonio “Relentless” Orozco (28-1, 17 KOs) of San Diego, Calif., while Franco will defend his NABF and WBA International Bantamweight Titles in a trilogy fight against Oscar “El Jaguar” Negrete (18-2-1, 7 KOs) of Tierralta, Colombia. Tanajara will put his WBC USNBC Lightweight Title on the line against Ezequiel Aviles (16-3-3, 6 KOs) of Ensenada, Mexico.

Below is what all three fighters had to say during a recent camp visit, along with some insight from renowned trainer Robert Garcia.

VERGIL ORTIZ JR., Welterweight Contender:

“I’m fighting for my hometown. I’m fighting for all the little kids that think they can’t make it because it’s a small town. Not many people make it out of Grand Prairie. I hope to set a good example for them. I felt all the love when I visited. I felt the atmosphere, and it was electric. We got a lot of people to show up to the press conference, so I know there’s going to be a lot of people who show to the fight.”

“I’m really excited to be fighting in the main event. I’ve only done that once before. For me being the main event is a test for me to show how many people want to see me and how excited they’re going to be to watch me fight. But I have a lot of people telling me they want to go and that they already bought tickets and even want some shirts.”

“Fighting alongside my childhood friends is really cool. I never thought that we would be on the same card fighting together. We’re all fighting for a title that night. I’m fighting for the WBA Gold [Welterweight Title], and Joshua [Franco] will defend his belts in the trilogy fight against Negrete. Tanajara is fighting for the belt he won in Tijuana. It’s great to see how far we’ve come.”

“Antonio Orozco believes that this fight will put him back on the map. He feels a win will make people believe in him again. Honestly, he only lost one time; I don’t see why they wouldn’t believe in him. This fight will definitely make his meter go up. People will start looking at him if he gets the win. That’s going to make him very dangerous. He’s hungry. But I’m coming up too. I want to be a world champion too. I have my dreams that I want to achieve. This fight is going to help me get there a lot faster than these other fights, so I’m very glad he took this fight. It’s a very good opportunity for both of us.”

“This is Orozco’s first fight in the welterweight division. He was having a hard time making weight at 140. We’re going to see how his power holds up and see what he can take because seven pounds is a big jump. Orozco’s body is going to be bigger. It’s a whole new story, and we’re going to find out on August 10.”

“On August 10, you can expect the same Vergil Ortiz you see in every other fight. I’m going to be at my absolute best. I’m not taking Antonio Orozco lightly at all. I’m not going to be looking for the knockout, but I’m not going to count it out either. I’m going to let it come by itself. That’s when you look the best.”

JOSHUA FRANCO, NABF & WBA International Bantamweight Champion:

“It’s very special fighting back in Texas, back in the Dallas area. With Vergil, Hector and everybody from Texas, it’s going to be a great show. I gained a lot of experience in my first two fights against Oscar Negrete. I won a lot of rounds against him, and he’s a top contender. I gained a lot of experience and a lot of confidence.”

“To me, Negrete did the same thing in the second fight. He put pressure, and he tried to throw a lot of punches. He tried to be more aggressive, but to me it was the same thing. I feel like that’s the only thing he knows how to do. Negrete didn’t really do anything to surprise me. What he did the first fight, he did the second fight.”

“For this third fight, you can expect the same fighter I always am. I’ll be smart, explosive, and I’ll be throwing a lot of combinations. I feel like I’m going to be stronger than the last two fights. The only thing that’s different is that it’s going to be in Texas. That’s going to give me more motivation. I’m always training hard like always. After this I want to go on to bigger things. I want to fight for a world title.”

HECTOR TANAJARA JR., WBC USNBC Lightweight Champion:

“It’s very special sharing this night with guys I grew up with. I know these guys since the amateurs. I saw when Joshua first walked into the gym, and I knew Vergil since we were young. I also knew the Rincon brothers [Alex and George]. We all came up together, so it feels good to be together on the same card to give fans an exciting night of boxing.”

“It doesn’t add pressure to see my stablemates getting knockouts. I’m already 17 fights deep. I just have to stick to my game plan and what my coaches tell me. That’s what works. My last fight was in Tijuana, and it was very special fighting in Mexico. I’ve always wanted to fight there, and I like the crowd. Mexican fans are always the best. They just want to see people go at it. I’m glad I was able to get a belt that night too, so it was very special for me.”

“It doesn’t bother me that I haven’t had a knockout since 2018. I know I have power. But trying to make 130 pounds was draining me a little bit. At 135 pounds, I feel much stronger. Even though I’ve been fighting better opposition, I’ve still been hurting them in there, and I feel that a lot of my knockouts are yet to come.”

“For this camp we’ve been working on all my little mistakes. I’m being busier with my jab. I’m working on putting smart pressure. I’m working on doing all the things needed to get the victory and to get try to get the guy out of there. On August 10, my fans can expect an exciting fight. I’m motivated more than ever because it’s in Texas, my hometown, and a lot of family and friends who usually can’t go are going to be there. I’m very excited, and I hope to put on a great show.”

ROBERT GARCIA, 2012 Trainer of the Year:

“It’s going to be a great event. It’s going to be awesome that we’re going to Vergil Ortiz’s hometown in Grand Prairie. I’m sure he’s very excited, along with his fans, his family, and his friends. We also have two kids from San Antonio that are going to bring a lot of friends and family.”

“We are going to be very busy, but I have a lot of help. With Vergil, his father Vergil Sr. and co-trainer Hector Beltran are always on top of Vergil and make sure he works hard. With Hector Tanajara, we have my son, Robert Garcia Jr. and Jose “Chepe” Contreras. With, Joshua Franco we have same thing. For both guys, their fathers are very involved. Hector Tanajara Sr. and Jessie Rodriguez [father of Franco] are involved and work the corner for their sons, so it won’t be as hard as it sounds that night.”

“This has been our fourth training camp with Vergil. It’s unbelievable to see him develop so fast. You hardly see that. You only see that with an Olympic Gold medalist like Oscar De La Hoya, who won his first world title in his 12th fight, or with Olympians like Fernando Vargas, who was 14-0 when he became a world champion. Vergil is one of those kids. He didn’t go to the Olympics, so he didn’t get the same recognition as the Olympians did, but he’s close to becoming a world champion.”

“Here in my gym, whoever you spar and whatever weight division you’re at, it’s going to be tough. You’re going to have to work hard to be able to compete. I have nothing but world class fighters. For example, Vergil is sparring fighters that are 160, 168. I don’t want to say dominating them because they’re also my fighters, but he’s able to compete with them and give them all they can handle, so that tells you what he is. He spars with Jose Ramirez, a world champion right now. He spars with Mikey Garcia, who is pound for pound one of the best fighters in the world, and he’s able to compete well against them.”

For more information,visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and DAZN.com. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing and @DAZN_USA. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing and https://www.facebook.com/DAZNUSA/. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy and @DAZN_USA. Follow the conversation using #OrtizOrozco.

VERGIL ORTIZ JR. AND ANTONIO ‘RELENTLESS’ OROZCO LOS ANGELES MEDIA ROUNDTABLE QUOTES

LOS ANGELES (July 2, 2019): Rising knockout artist Vergil Ortiz Jr. (13-0, 13 KOs) and former world title challenger Antonio “Relentless” Orozco (28-1, 17 KOs) hosted a Los Angeles media roundtable at El Cholo Restaurant today to discuss their upcoming fight for the WBA Gold Welterweight Title. The fight will take place on Saturday, Aug. 10 at The Theatre at Grand Prairie in Texas and will be streamed live on DAZN.

Below is what today’s participants had to say at the roundtable:

VERGIL ORTIZ JR., Welterweight Contender:

“This will be an action-packed fight. There is no way that this fight will be boring. We are two warriors of Mexican descent. It’s going to be an explosive fight. There will never be a dull moment in the ring. My opponent Antonio Orozco has a good record and he’s tough I’ve seen him fight before. He’s definitely a tough guy, a very explosive puncher and very strong. But so am I. It’s going to be a real good fight.”

“If I were to describe myself, it would be that I adjust. I use my head more than my muscles. There’s a lot of fighters who go in just throwing bombs, and it doesn’t look good. If you want to look good, you have to use your brain. You have to place your punches right, and that’s who I am.”

“It means a lot to fight in Grand Prairie. I’ve never fought in my hometown before. I fought in the Cowboys stadium, but that’s not the same as my hometown.”

“I believe that Antonio can handle my power because he’s coming up from 140 to 147, just like I did. We’ve never seen him fight at 147, so he might get bigger. When you’re bigger, you can handle more power than when you were smaller. This guy has been in the ring with some tough opponents, and I don’t see a reason he couldn’t handle my power. I feel like this very well might go the distance, and honestly I hope it does. I really need the experience because I’m getting close to that world title shot. I’m not looking too ahead, but if this title shot happens, then I need all the experience I can get.”

ANTONIO OROZCO, Welterweight Contender:

“It’s exciting. It’s going to give a lot to talk about. It’s going to be a fight that’s going to bring everything to the table. It’s been a great year for boxing, and it’s about to get better. “

“Vergil Ortiz is a tremendous fighter. Obviously he likes to fight. He likes to get in there and make himself known.”

“This fight is very big. This fight can open the door to bigger opportunities, perhaps another world title shot. It’s a very important fight, and I’m looking forward for whatever comes next.”

“I expect him to come. I expect him to come with everything that he has. I’ve seen his fights. That’s the way he likes to come in. He’s a heated fighter and we’re expecting that from Vergil.”

“It is a dangerous fight. Every fight is dangerous, and every fight can be your last one. Let’s not jump to conclusions. Let’s see what happens.”

For more information,visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and DAZN.com. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing and @DAZN_USA. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing and https://www.facebook.com/DAZNUSA/. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy and @DAZN_USA. Follow the conversation using #OrtizOrozco.

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VERGIL ORTIZ JR. TEXAS PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES

GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS (June 27, 2019): Rising knockout artist Vergil Ortiz Jr. (13-0,
13 KOs) hosted a press conference at The Epic Theater of The Epic Recreation Center in
his hometown of Grand Prairie, Texas to speak about his upcoming 10-round welterweight fight against former world title challenger Antonio “Relentless” Orozco (28-1, 17 KOs).
The event will take place on Saturday, Aug. 10 at The Theatre at Grand Prairie in Texas and
will be streamed live on DAZN.

Below is what today’s participants had to say at the press conference:

VERGIL ORTIZ JR., Welterweight Contender:

“I want to acknowledge a great police officer who passed away in earlier in this month. I want to send my condolences to his family. I want to thank Golden Boy. I want to thank all of my friends for agreeing to be on this card. I want to thank my dad and Robert Garcia for training me hard. I want to thank Hector Beltran as well. I want to thank Hector as well for carrying me on Fortnite. This fight is going to be explosive. I can’t express the magnitude of this event and how awesome it is. It’s going to be great fight. I’m proud and excited to be fighting in Grand Prairie.”

ROBERT GARCIA, Trainer of Vergil Ortiz Jr.:

“Texas is like home to us. We always get nothing but support from all of you guys. I’m very excited to be back with your local hero and future star. He is great kid inside and outside out of the ring. When it comes to boxing in the ring, this kid is something special. He’ll be someone this city will be proud of for many years to come. The future for this kid is unbelievable, and this is the start of it. I’m sure one day he’ll be fighting in the big stadiums in the Dallas area.”

ALEX RINCON, Super Welterweight Prospect:

“I’m really excited to put on a show back home. We all have a lot of fans. We really want to show Golden Boy why Texas is the place when it comes to boxing. Thank you to Golden Boy and DAZN.”

GEORGE RINCON, Super Lightweight Prospect:

“I’m really excited to be on this card with fighters I grew up with. I’m really looking forward to August 10. A big shout out to Lamont Roach Sr., who is my manager, and the NoXcuse Boxing Gym. I’m really excited to showcase my skills on this card.”

TRISTAN KALKREUTH, Light Heavyweight Prospect:

“I want to thank Golden Boy, my team, Ronnie Shields and my manager. I also want to tell kids to stay dedicated to what you are doing. I’m 17 years old, and I’m signed to Golden Boy. I’ve been boxing for 8 years. It’s all about working and dedication.”

ROBERT GASPARRI, Chief Operating Officer of Golden Boy:

“We are happy to be returning to this great state of Texas for yet another exciting night of boxing action. Antonio Orozco could not make it today. But he has promised to ruin Vergil Ortiz’s homecoming party and derail his plans to become world champion.

But I spoke to people out here. They think otherwise. In fact, they have a saying out here.
They say, “Don’t Mess With Texas!” We expect an explosive fight between two of the best and most talented fighters from the Golden Boy stable.”

Ortiz vs. Orozco is a 10-round welterweight fight presented by Golden Boy. The event is sponsored by Tecate, “THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING,” and Hennessy “Never Stop. Never Settle.” The event will take place on Saturday, Aug. 10 at The Theatre at Grand Prairie in Texas and will be streamed live on DAZN.

For more information,visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and DAZN.com. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing and @DAZN_USA. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing and https://www.facebook.com/DAZNUSA/. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy and @DAZN_USA. Follow the conversation using #OrtizOrozco.

LIVE VIDEO: Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs Antonio Orozco – Grand Prairie Texas Press Conference

VERGIL ORTIZ JR. TO FACE ANTONIO ‘RELENTLESS’ OROZCO IN A HOMETOWN BATTLE IN GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS

GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS (June 26, 2019): Rising knockout artist Vergil Ortiz Jr. (13-0, 13 KOs) will return to his hometown of Grand Prairie, Texas to face former world title challenger Antonio “Relentless” Orozco (28-1, 17 KOs) in a 10-round main event in the welterweight division. The card will be utterly stacked with Golden Boy prospects and contenders, most of whom are from the Lone Star State.The event will take place on Saturday, Aug. 10 at The Theatre at Grand Prairie in Texas and will be streamed live on DAZN.

“In his fight against Mauricio Herrera, Vergil Ortiz Jr. went from being the very best prospect in boxing to a serious contender in just three rounds,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy. “Ortiz has dynamite in both hands as shown by the way he easily handled Herrera, who had never been stopped before in his career. On the other hand, Antonio Orozco has the capabilities to ruin Ortiz’s homecoming party as he is one of the best contenders to come out of the 140-pound division. Fans can expect a crazy fight for as long as it lasts, so don’t miss it either in person or live on DAZN. We’ll also be presenting a full card of our prospects and contenders from the Texas area, so it will be a complete night of action!”

Since debuting as a professional in 2016, Ortiz Jr. has never heard the final bell of a fight, and it doesn’t look like he’ll be hearing it anytime soon. Ortiz Jr., who has his roots in Michoacan, Mexico, will return after a stunning third-round knockout victory against Mauricio “El Maestro” Herrera in the co-main event of Canelo vs. Jacobs. Ortiz Jr. is excited to headline in his hometown for the very first time against a very tough challenge in Orozco.

“This will mean a lot to me,” said Ortiz Jr. “This is my first time fighting in my hometown, so this is very special to me. I know Antonio Orozco. Since I had about three professional fights, I kind of knew that we’d be facing each other at some point. He definitely is a tough fighter. He only has one loss, which was against Jose Carlos Ramirez, a world champion. It will be a tough fight. They don’t call him ‘Relentless’ for nothing. The fans are going to win in this fight. I have a lot of supporters in Texas, especially in my hometown, and they have been wanting to watch me fight. I know there will be a lot of people talking about it, so I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s a full house.”

Orozco is a 31-year-old contender who has defeated the likes of KeAndre “The Truth”
Gibson, Humberto “La Zorrita” Soto and Emanuel “Tranzformer” Taylor. The native of San Diego, Calif. participated in his first world title opportunity against WBC Super Lightweight Champion Jose Carlos Ramirez in September 2018. Though unsuccessful, Orozco demonstrated his toughness, and he promises to return to title contention if successful against Ortiz Jr.

“My manager called me and offered me this fight,” said Orozco. “As soon as I heard the name, I didn’t hesitate. This is a big opportunity to showcase my skills and my Mexican style. Honestly, I’m ready to derail the dreams of Vergil Ortiz Jr. On August 10, I will remind everyone why I deserve another shot at the title.”

Hector “El Finito” Tanajara (17-0, 5 KOs) of San Antonio, Texas will defend his USNBC Lightweight Title in a 10-round clash.

Joshua “The Professor” Franco (15-1-1, 7 KOs), the unified NABF and WBA International Bantamweight Champion of San Antonio, Texas, will defend his titles in a 10-round fight.

Alex Rincon (6-0, 5 KOs), the hard-hitting southpaw of Dallas, Texas, will fight in a six-round battle.

Travell “Black Magic” Mazion (14-0, 12 KOs) of Austin, Texas will participate in an eight-round super welterweight clash.

George Rincon (6-0, 3 KOs) of Dallas, Texas will return in a six-round super lightweight battle.

Newly-signed Golden Boy prospect Tristan Kalkreuth of Duncanville, Texas will make his professional debut in a four-round light heavyweight fight.

Opponents for this card will be announced shortly.

Tickets for Ortiz vs. Orozco go on sale Thursday, June 27 at 10:00 a.m. PT / 12:00 p.m. CT. Tickets are priced at $125, $75, $50, and $30, plus applicable taxes, fees, and service charges. Tickets can be purchased at goldenboytickets.com, AXS.com, by phone at 888-9AXS-TIX (888-929-7849), and at The Theatre at Grand Prairie Box Office (Monday -Saturday 11:00 am CT – 3:00 pm CT or 972-854-5076).

For more information,visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and DAZN.com. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing and @DAZN_USA. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing and https://www.facebook.com/DAZNUSA/. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy and @DAZN_USA. Follow the conversation using #OrtizOrozco.

Canelo tightens monopoly on middleweight crown with decision over Jacobs

LAS VEGAS — It’s all about business. Canelo’s business, which these days is beginning to look a little bit like a monopoly of the middleweight division and perhaps a lot more.

The Canelo biz continued to roll on, almost as if it had been scripted Saturday night in a unanimous decision over Daniel Jacobs at T-Mobile Arena for four pieces of the 160-pound tile. Jacobs was supposed to pose a real threat. He possessed all of the things that have troubled Canelo Alvarez in the past.

But Alvarez (52-1-2, 35 KOs) is never exactly the same fighter he was in the past. He evolves. He learns. He wins. Jacobs’ quick feet, long jab and switch-hitting versality were all there. But never long enough to upset Canelo or his ceaseless march through and over any perceived difficulty.

Good businessmen are supposed to solve problems. Canelo has. And does. His is a career that unfolds almost like process. Jacobs’ had his moments — in the sixth round, again in the seventh and in the ninth. But they were never more than just that: Passing moments and none ever sustained over 12 rounds.

Canelo won on all three cards – 116-112 on one and 115-113 on two. Dispute the margins. But not the victory. In the early going, Canelo flashed some slick, newfound head movement that troubled Jacobs, who had said that the Mexican struggled against moving targets. In the early going, however, Canelo flipped that one. He was the moving target.

In the middle rounds, he drew Jacobs (35-3, 29 KOs) into the center of the ring, real estate that was supposed to complement Jacob’s skillset. But. But a toe-to-toe exchange in the middle of that contested canvas allowed Canelo to exert his superior power. It left Jacobs wary at a moment when he needed to be bold. His defeat was imminent.

“It was just what we thought,,’’ Canelo said in his matter-of-fact tone. “We knew he was going to be a difficult fighter but, thank God, we did things the right way, what we were going to do. It was just what we thought because of the style of fight that he brings. But we just did our job.”

Canelo created just enough doubt in Jacobs to keep the likable Brooklyn fighter down on the cards and unable to do enough for a scorecard victory, especially in a city known to favor the Mexican on the Cinco de Mayo weekend.

It definitely took me a couple rounds to get my wits about me, to figure out his rhythm, because he’s a pop shotter,’’ said Jacobs, who was subject to a $1-million fine for being 3.6 pounds heavier than the contracted 170 pounds in a morning weigh-in. “He was a fast guy, very slippery. It was a great contest today, I look forward to the future. I feel like I gave enough tonight to get the victory, so I’ll have to go back to the tapes to see exactly what happened.”

Jacob’s quote might be the first in which a rival fighter has called Canelo fast and slippery. It is sure sign of the way he continues to evolve.

For now, the questions is: What’s next? Gennady Golovkin was in Vegas and at ringside after announcing that he hired trainer Johnathon Banks, who succeeds Abel Sanchez. GGG is 0-1-1 against Canelo, both bouts controversial and both at T-Mobile.

The next date for Canelo to fight is in mid-September. Like Canelo, GGG has a contract with DAZN, the streaming service that was expected to pay Canelo between $30 and $35 million for his victory over Jacobs.

“One of the reasons Gennady chose the Zone (DAZN) was that it was the cleanest path to a third fight,’’ GGG promoter and manager Tom Loeffler said Saturday before opening bell.

Canelo did say no to that possibility after his decision over Jacobs.

“I’m just looking for the biggest challenge. That’s all I want,” said Canelo, who went on to say there was no lingering anger at GGG that might prevent the third step in a trilogy. “No, for me, it’s over. But if the people want another fight, we’ll do it again, and I’ll beat him again.”

Again, that’s business, the Canelo way.

Golden Boy Promotions executive Eric Gomez called Vergil Ortiz Jr. “boxing’s best prospect” at a news conference. Hard to argue with that one. At least, it was Saturday night when Ortiz’ power did what nobody ever has: Knock out welterweight Mauricio Herrera.

Ortiz (13-0, 13 KOs), of Dallas, delivered rights that echoed throughout T-Mobile Arena. Herrera (24-9, 7 KOs), a journeyman from Riverside, Calif., was on the canvas in the final moments of the second round. He was finished early in the third after a beautiful right from Ortiz connected like bat to a ball. It was a home run.

Jo Jo Diaz wins stoppage, calls out Tevin Farmer

A new look doesn’t make for a new fighter. But a new weight class might.

At least, that’s what Jo Jo Diaz Jr can hope after a super-featherweight stoppage of Nicaraguan Freddy Fonseca (26-3-1, 17 KOs).

“126 (featherweight was just way too hard for me,” said Diaz (29-1, 15 KOs) whose lime-dyed hair made him look like like a big snow-cone.

The hair was funny. But his punches weren’t. A succession of them in the seventh round forced Fonseca’s corner to throw in the towel.

“Where are you Tevin?” Diaz said of Tevin Farmer, who stepped in front of Diaz at a Thursday news conference and initiated a widely-seen exchange of trash talk.

Lamont Roach wins unanimous decision over Oquendo

Lamont Roach took punches and gave up points early. But he took control of the tempo and his future late, scoring a unanimous decision over experienced Puerto Rican Jonathon Oquendo in a victory that could be a stepping stone toward a major super-featherweight title.

Roach (19-01, 7 KOs), of Washington D.C., overcame a punishing body blow in the opening moments of the first live-streamed fight on DAZN’s Canelo-Jacobs card. He got help from a 1-point penalty assessed Oquendo (30-6, 19 KOs) in the eighth for a head-butt and then capitalized in the ninth with a succession of head-rocking combos.

There was no escape from power and aggressiveness. Not this time. Sadam Ali had no where to run, no place to hide, from an incoming Anthony Young (21-2, 8 KOs), an Atlantic City welterweight who trapped the favored Ali (27-3, 4 KOs) along the ropes and finished the Brooklyn fighter with a succession of unblocked punches late in the third round of the final fight before DAZN-streamed portion of the Canelo-Jacobs card.

Ryder rolls to third-round stoppage for interim belt

It was an interim title. Aren’t they all? But John Ryder looked as if he might become a long-term champion.

Ryder (28-4, 16 KOs), a super-middleweight from London, did everything he had to and then some, walking through and over an over-matched Australian, Bilal Akkawy (20-1-1, 16 KOs) for an overwhelming third-round stoppage and the WBA’s interim version of the 168-pound belt in the third bout on the Canelo-Jacobs card.

Russian featherweight Avagyan rolls to one-sided scorecard victory

Russian featherweight Aram Avagyan (9-0-1, 4 KOs) scored a second-round knockdown, scored with jabs, scored with combinations and scored with everything else he threw. Over 10 rounds, all of that scoring added up on cards that left Francisco Esparza (9-1-1, 3 KOs) of Las Vegas with a loss by unanimous decision. Esparza displayed resilience, climbing to his feet in the second with energy, but not much else in a futile attempt to slow down Avagyan in rhe second bout on the Canelo-Jacobs card..

First Bell: Super-middleweight prospect Alex Espino opens show with a one-sided decision

Only echoes filled the arena. That might have been a good thing. Nobody saw the opening fight on a card featured by Canelo Alvarez and Daniel Jacobs for the middleweight title Saturday at T-Mobile Arena.

Las Vegas super-middleweight Alexis Espino (2-0, 1 KOs), a Robert Garcia-trained prospect, opened the show with a four-round unanimous decision over Billy Wagner (1-1) of Great Falls, Mont. Wagner was left bloodied in a fight that began without him having any chance.

FOLLOW CANELO – JACOBS LIVE

Follow all the action as Canelo Alvarez and Daniel Jacobs meet in a middleweight unification bout. The action starts at 9 PM ET from the T-Mobile Arena with Lamont Roach Jr. taking on Jonathan Oquendo; Joseph Diaz Jr. battling Freddy Fonseca; Vergil Ortiz Jr. fights Mauricio Herrera.

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12-ROUNDS–IBF/WBA/WBC/ MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE–CANELO ALVAREZ (51-1-2, 35 KOS) VS DANIEL JACOBS (35-2, 29 KOS)
ROUND	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	TOTAL
ALVAREZ	10	10	9	10	10	10	9	9	10	9	10	10	116
JACOBS	9	9	10	9	9	9	10	10	9	10	9	9	112

Round 1: Canelo has a sleeve on his left knee..Hard right by Canelo..Jab from Jacobs to the body..

Round 2 Good jab from Canelo..Jab to the body..Jab..Hook to the body..Jacobs lands a body shot..Body by Canelo..

Round 3 Right to body from Canelo..Combination from Jacobs…Body work..

Round 4 Both warned for hitting back of the head..Hard jab from Canelo..Counter right

Round 5 Counter hook to body from Canelo…Double jab..Canelo outlanding Jacobs 60-43

Round 6 Jab from Canelo..Good right..

Round 7 Canelo trying to up his punch rate..Combination from Jacobs..Hook to body from Alvarez…Hook from Jacobs

Round 8 Uppercut and body shot from JacobsBody..Combination to body..Right from Alvarez..Straight right..Body shot..Good body shot from Jacobs

Round 9 Body shot from Canelo…Body..3 punch combination..Big left from Jacobs..

Round 10 Left from Jacobs..Hard right from Canelo..Left hook..Good right from Jacobs..Right to body and head…Canelo fighting off the ropes..Good body shots from Jacobs..

Round 11 Right from Canelo…Body work from Jacobs..Body shot and right from Alvarez..

Round 12 Jacobs falls after missing a left hook…Good uppercut from Jacobs..Hook and 3 punch combo from Canelo..3 more from Jacobs..Left from Canelo..Uppercut..Body..

Canelo landed 188-466 Jacobs was 131 – 649

115-113 twice and 116-112 for CANELO ALVAREZ

10-Rounds-Welterweights–Vergil Ortiz Jr. (12-0, 12 KOs) vs Mauricio Herrera (24-8, 7 KOs)
ROUND	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	TOTAL
Ortiz	9	10											19
Herrera	10	8											18

Round 1 Herrera trying to jab

Round 2 Right from Ortiz..Jab..Counter right..Hard right rocks Herrera,,,Hes hurt..RIGHT AND DOWN GOES HERRERA AT THE BELL

Round 3 Wicked left hook from Herrera…HUGE RIGHT AND DOWN GOES HERRERA…FIGHT OVER

12-Rounds–Super Featherweights–Joseph Diaz Jr. (28-1, 14 KOs) vs Freddy Fonseca (26-2-1, 17 KOs)
ROUND	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	TOTAL
Diaz	10	10	10	10	10	10							60
Fonseca	9	9	9	9	9	8							53

Round 1 Good left from Diaz. Jab..2 Body shots..Straight left

Round 2 Left from Diaz…

Round 3 Left to body from Diaz…Combination and uppercut..2 lefts..Right hook to body..

Round 4 Diaz boxing well

Round 5 Left from Diaz…Right and left..Right hook

Round 6 Hard 3 punch combination…Hard body shot…Uppercut..Left…..COMBINATION AND DOWN GOES FONSECA

Round 7 Jab from Fonseca…Diaz POUNDING AWAY AND FONSECA’S CORNER THROWS IN THE TOWEL

10-Rounds–Super Feathweights–Lamont Roach Jr. (18-0-1, 7 KOs) vs Jonathan Oquendo (30-5, 19 KOs)
ROUND	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	TOTAL
Roach	9	10	10	9	10	10	10	10	10	9			97
Oquendo	10	9	9	10	9	10	9	8	9	10			93

Round 1 Roach lands a left hook..Body work…Right from Oquendo…Hard Hook..Blood from nose of Roach

Round 2 Oquendo lands a right..Lead right from Roach..Combination..Right..

Round 3 Right from Oquendo…Body shot..Right from Roach..Right..Good body shot..

Round 4 Good body shot hurts Roach..Right from Roach

Round 5 Left to body from Oquendo..Body shot from Roach..Left..Blood from nose of Roach

Round 6

Round 7 Right from Oquendo..Right from Roach..uppercut

Round 8 OQUENDO DOCKED A POINT FOR A HEADBUTT…Good jab from Oquendo..Hook from Roach..Exchanging body shots..Hooks from Roach

Round 9 Counter right from Roach…Another..Hard hook shook Oquendo..Right..

Round 10 Oquendo lands a body shot..Good right..Left and right from Roach…Good right from Oquendo

97-92 TWICE AND 96-93 FOR LAMONT ROACH JR.

CANELO VS. JACOBS UNDERCARD PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES,

LAS VEGAS (May 1, 2019): The undercard of the spectacular Canelo vs. Jacobs card hosted a press conference featuring Vergil Ortiz Jr. (12-0, 12 KOs), Mauricio “El Maestro” Herrera (24-8, 7 KOs), Joseph “JoJo” Diaz Jr. (28-1, 14 KOs), Freddy Fonseca(26-1-1, 17 KOs), Lamont Roach Jr. (18-0-1, 7 KOs), and Jonathan “Polvo” Oquendo (30-5, 19 KOs).The event will take place Saturday, May 4, 2019 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and will be streamed live exclusively on DAZN.

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

Vergil Ortiz Jr., Super Lightweight Prospect:

“I trained really hard for this fight. I was training hard before I knew I was fighting Mauricio Herrera. I was sparring 10 rounders in February. I’m more than ready for this fight. Mauricio has never been stopped. I’ve stopped everybody. I’m more than ready to go into this fight. I’m prepared. Mauricio has been in there with Danny Garcia and Jose Benavidez, who I do believe he beat, and in my eyes he is a world champion. We all know who won. But those guys weren’t me. He didn’t fight me, he didn’t fight Vergil Ortiz. We’re going to see how the fight plays out May 4th.

“About my dad. I really wouldn’t be here without him. He didn’t have the best childhood growing up and he made sure he did everything in his power that I did. I don’t think his dad was there for him when he grew up but he made sure he was there for me. My mom wasn’t there. He played both parts. That’s something you don’t see all the time. Usually it’s the mom who stays with the kid. My dad is the one who stayed with me, was there for me. Thank you dad, I love you.”

“On a more serious note, I can’t wait to eat tacos after this fight. I’m hungry. Other than that, hopefully after this fight, I get a world title shot soon. There’s a couple fights out there. Like, Maurice Hooker, we’re both with DAZN. So, Eddie, make the fight with Maurice Hooker happen please? We’re both from Dallas, we’re both on DAZN, I grew up watching Maurice Hooker on Golden Gloves, he knows me as well. In a couple years, I’ll take on Errol Spence too. I don’t mean that like I’m going to go through everybody. I just believe in my ability.”

Shouting out to Miguel Cotto in the crowd: “I want to thank Cotto. He was one of my favorite fighters growing up, my dad based my style off of Cotto. I don’t know if he knew that.”

Mauricio Herrera, Former Interim WBA Super Featherweight Champion:

“This fight is really motivating. As many of you know my career has gone through ups and downs. In 2014 when I had fought Danny and felt I’d been robbed and then had the chance to win a WBA interim title which I won, and then later that same year, I got robbed again. That really left me in a bad place. I didn’t care for boxing and I was unmotivated. A lot of the fights you see where they’re close and I look bad in, it’s because I’m unmotivated in those fights. I’m slowly getting my motivation back.”

“This kid Ortiz has 12 wins and 12 knockouts, undefeated. On Saturday I’m really motivated. I do want to bring my career back. I trained really hard. You’re going to see I’m not an old lion. And if I’m an old lion, I’m a hungry lion. Come Saturday, you’re going to see a great show. Don’t tune me out. Saturday, you’ll see the Maestro comeback.”

Joseph Diaz Jr., Super Featherweight Contender:

“I’m going to go out there and showcase that I’m the next superstar in boxing. Freddy, I appreciate you coming down from Nicaragua but come Saturday night you ain’t gonna get that victory bro. You’re going to go home sad with a couple black eyes. I’m very, very focused. I’ve been training my ass off. 2018, I dealt with a lot of adversity. My dream is to become a world champion, and 2018 really hurt my heart. I was really at rock bottom. Just being focused and having good family supporting me through the rough times, it really meant a lot to me, it made me more motivated, it made me more into a savage and into a beast. I’ve been training my ass off and I’m very determined to turn into a champion by the end of the year. Come May 4th, I’m going to show you that I’m the real deal.”

“Everybody says I have a sno-cone head now but it’s all good.”

Freddy Fonseca, Super Featherweight Contender:

“I know the challenge I have in front of me, I know that JoJo is the favorite, but we’re coming in the best conditions to ensure victory for Nicaragua. I’m very happy for this opportunity because it’s my opportunity to show that I will be a world champion by beating JoJo Diaz.”

Eric Gomez, President of Golden Boy:

On Vergil Ortiz Jr.: “Vergil Ortiz is a top prospect in boxing. I’ve said it before. There’s other good prospects out there but the skills this kid has, I haven’t seen in a long time and I’ve been promoting boxing for 20 years. He’s incredible, he can do it all. This is a tough test. This a real test for him. I was a little worried when Robert Diaz came into my office and said Mauricio will fight him. I was worried but I believe in his abilities. In order to beat Mauricio Herrera and to prove he’s a tough prospect moving into a contender status, he’s going to have to be victorious. This is the biggest test of his career. Where else, a better place, than the T-Mobile Arena here in Vegas. We’ll see if he’s ready to shine or not.”

On Mauricio Herrera: “Mauricio Herrera is a tough, tough veteran. He’s fought everyone in this sport. He gave Danny Garcia life and death in Puerto Rico. He’s been doing that for a long time. You name it, he’s fought the who’s who in boxing. He’s here to prove he can still compete at a very high level. He’s fighting a tough, tough prospect that’s coming up. He’s faced every kind of style, every kind of fighter in different positions, world champions, prospects, contenders. He’s ready to put on a show on Saturday.

On JoJo Diaz Jr.: “He’s ready to fight for a title, but he’s gotta get past Saturday’s test. There are a few options for him if he gets past this test, and we feel that for the next fight, he should be able to fight for the title. There are a few champions there lurking around.”

Lamont Roach Jr., WBO International Super Featherweight Champion:

“The time is now for those who haven’t seen me. This is the type of opponent that we’ve been waiting for, for a long time. This is where we are going to capitalize and show that we are ready for a world title in the 130-pound division. This is not the first time I’ve faced a veteran and probably not the last time. We trained our asses off in camp, we had good sparring, good strength and conditioning camp, trained mentally, and I’m just ready to be a world titlist and it starts with Saturday night.”

Jonathan Oquendo, NABO Super Featherweight Champion:

“This will be a unification fight because I have the NABO Super Featherweight belt while Lamont Roach has the WBO International Super Featherweight belt. The whole world knows all the hard wok I put in for this Saturday. We know the quality of fighter that he is, we know the capabilities he has. But I like challenge. He likes to fight, I like to fight, and we’re going to make sure we have a great battle and a victory for Puerto Rico.”

Hector Soto, Vice President of Miguel Cotto Promotions:

“This Saturday, we’re going to have a big fight between Jonathan Oquendo and Lamont Roach. This will be a unification fight between international titles because Jonathan Oquendo is the proud owner of the NABO Super Featherweight belt, and after that, he’ll be looking for a world title. He has done all the necessary preparation to ensure triumph and a victory for all of Puerto Rico.”

John Ryder, Interim WBA Super Middleweight Contender:

“With Lemieux, it was a big upset but we got a great replacement in Bilal Akkawy. I think we’re all in for a real treat come Saturday night.”

Bilal Akkawy, Super Middleweight Contender:

“This is a big opportunity. It’s an opportunity for me to prove myself. It’s a world title fight so there’s no way I would turn down a fight like that. I’m going to make the most out of the opportunity come Saturday.”

Eddie Hearn, Managing Director of Matchroom Sport:

“This is a big fight for the mandatory position of Callum Smith. It’s a huge opportunity for John Ryder. He’s turned his career in extraordinary fashion. We know what a tough fight this is. We knew David Lemieux was a tough fight but we know Bilal Akkawy comes in as a young man, extremely hungry, very dangerous, and this is going to be a very explosive fight.”

Sadam Ali, Welterweight Contender:

“I’m excited for this fight. It’s on a big card. 26-1 underdog? That’s crazy! I’m excited, ready for any opponent, any style that comes to me. I understand it’s a big opportunity for him, he’s been waiting for a moment like this, I know he’s coming strong, but I’m excited to go out there and shine. I’m ready to go.”

Anthony Young, Welterweight Contender:

“As a person, all I can ask for is opportunity. Getting the opportunity to fight a former world champion in Sadam Ali, who defeated a legend. They got me 26-1 underdog, so if you’re looking to win some money, put it on me. Sadam is Muslim, I’m muslim, that’s my brother, but Saturday, one of us has got to go, and it ain’t gonna be me.”

Joseph Markowski, Executive Vice President of DAZN North America:

“Saturday night is not just important because we’re unifying titles in the middleweight division. When you put on events of this magnitude, you know you will have a significant audience and a perfect opportunity to introduce future headliners to sports fans. At DAZN, we’re invested in the sport of boxing – not just its biggest names. And while we put great emphasis and resource into fights like May 4, we put on more than 100 fight nights a year and know how important it is to build the next generation.”

“We are committed to these boxers, making sure we broadcast their bouts so fans can witness their talents as they ascend to becoming main event fighters.”

Canelo vs. Jacobs is a 12-round fight for the WBC, WBA, Lineal, Ring Magazine and IBF Middleweight World Titles presented by Golden Boy in association with Matchroom Boxing. Ortiz vs. Herrera is a 10-round welterweight fight presented by Golden Boy. The event is sponsored by Tecate, “THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING” and Hennessy “Never Stop. Never Settle.” The event will take place Saturday, May 4, 2019 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and will be streamed live exclusively on DAZN.

Tickets for Canelo vs. Jacobs are on sale now and are priced at $2,505, $1,505, $1,205, $805, $605, $405, $305 and $200, not including applicable service charges and taxes. There will be a limit of 10 per person at the $2,505, $1,505, $1,205, $805, $605, $405, $305 and $200 price levels. 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,
http://www.matchroomboxing.com, and DAZN.com. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing, @Canelo, @DanielJacobsTKO, @MatchRoomBoxing, and @DAZN_USA. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing,
www.facebook.com/SaulCaneloAlvarez, www.facebook.com/MatchroomBoxing
and https://www.facebook.com/DAZNUSA/. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy, @Canelo, @DanielJacobsTKO, @MatchroomBoxing and @DAZN_USA. Follow the conversation using #CaneloJacobs.

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