GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS MAKES SHOBOX DEBUT FRIDAY, APRIL 2, LIVE ON SHOWTIME®

March 8, 2010 by GFL · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Boxing News 

UNBEATEN ERISLANDY LARA FACES DANNY PEREZ
IN MAIN EVENT; CARLOS VELASQUEZ IN CO-FEATURE AT

THE HARD ROCK HOTEL AND CASINO IN LAS VEGAS

Live on SHOWTME at 11 p.m. ET/PT, Tickets on Sale NOW!

LOS ANGELES – (March 8, 2010) – For years, SHOWTIMEhas featured boxing’s top prospects and future World Champions on its hit series ShoBox: The New Generation giving boxing fans a glimpse of the World Champions of tomorrow today. On Friday, April 2, live on SHOWTIME, Golden Boy Promotions is proud to present its first event on the series.

Undefeated Cuban junior middleweight rising star Erislandy Lara puts his perfect record on the line against the always-dangerous Danny Perez in a 10-round main event and Puerto Rican featherweight standout Carlos Velasquez returns to dazzle fans in the co-feature on what promises to be a night to remember at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

“We’re proud to present our first ShoBox event and we promise that fans will see the quality of fights they’re accustomed to on the series,” said Oscar de la Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions. “Danny Perez will be Erislandy Lara’s toughest test to date and a fight I’m really looking forward to. I’m also excited to see Carlos Velasquez back in the ring and if he can be impressive on April 2 on ShoBox, the sky’s the limit for him.”

The doubleheader will headline an exciting night of professional boxing presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Cerveza Tecate which will air live on SHOWTIME at 11 p.m., ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

Tickets, priced at $100, $60 and $30, plus a limited number of $125 VIP and $25 standing room tickets, are on sale now and may be purchased at the Hard Rock Hotel Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, online at www.Ticketmaster.com or by phone at 800-745-3000.

Also competing on April 2 will be a host of Golden Boy Promotions’ undefeated rising stars, including Puerto Rico’s Hector Sanchez (18-0, 8 KO’s), 2008 U.S. Olympic Heavyweight Bronze medalist Deontay Wilder (8-0, 8 KO’s) and New Jersey’s Mike Perez (6-0-1, 3 KO’s).

Southpaw sensation Lara (10-0, 6 KO’s) has followed up a stellar amateur career in Cuba with the makings of a world championship run in the professional ranks. Unbeaten in 10 bouts, the 26-year-old native of Guantanamo went 7-0 with 4 knockouts in 2009, and in 2010 he’s picked up where he left off, halting veteran contender Grady Brewer in 10 rounds on Jan. 29 at The Joint. On April 2, he returns to the site of his greatest pro victory to date and hopes to make it two in a row against Perez.

Carlsbad, California’s Perez (34-6, 17 KO’s) knows all the tricks of the trade when it comes to the sweet science. The owner of five regional titles over the course of his career, Perez has faced the likes of Antonio Margarito, Jose Luis Zertuche, Grady Brewer, David Lopez and Eric Mitchell, and is looking forward to taking Lara into deep waters this April.

A member of the 2004 Puerto Rican Olympic team, Velasquez (11-0, 9 KO’s) has been tearing through the pro ranks with a mix of speed and power that has boxing insiders taking notice. The highly regarded 25-year-old Velasquez, who trains out of Las Vegas, owns wins over a series of seasoned veterans and will be put to the test once again as he looks to further cement his status of future star against an opponent to be determined.

Opponents for Sanchez, Wilder and Perez and additional undercard bouts will be announced shortly.

For more information visit www.goldenboypromotions.com or follow Golden Boy on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxing.

About ShoBox: The New Generation
Since its inception in July 2001, the critically acclaimed SHOWTIME boxing series, ShoBox: The New Generation has featured young talent matched tough. The ShoBox philosophy is to televise exciting, crowd-pleasing and competitive matches while providing a proving ground for willing prospects determined to fight for a world title. The growing list of fighters who have appeared on ShoBox and advanced to garner world titles includes: Leonard Dorin, Scott Harrison, Juan Diaz, Jeff Lacy, Ricky Hatton, Joan Guzman, Juan Urango, David Diaz, Robert Guerrero, Kelly Pavlik, Paul Malignaggi, Kendall Holt, Timothy Bradley, Bernard Dunne, Yonnhy Perez, Yuri Foreman and Andre Ward.

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

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WEIGHTS FROM LAS VEGAS

January 28, 2010 by GFL · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Boxing News 

USNBC SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT TITLE – 10 ROUNDS
Eloy PEREZ vs.                                                David RODELA
Salinas, CA                                                                                                                Oxnard, CA
15-0-2 (4 KO’s)                                                                                                         14-1-3 (6 KO’s)
Weight: 129.5 lbs.                                                                                                     Weight: 130 lbs.

JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHTS – 6 ROUNDS
Carlos MOLINA vs.                                                 Tyler ZIOLOWSKI
Norwalk, CA                                                                                                              St. Joseph, MO
9-0 (5 KO’s)                                                                                                              12-10 (6 KO’s)
Weight: 137 lbs.                                                                                                       Weight: 138 lbs.

FEATHERWEIGHTS – 4/6 ROUNDS
Ronny RIOS vs.                                                Willshaun BOXLEY
Santa Ana, CA                                                                                                           Coons Rapids, MN
8-0 (4 KO’s)                                                                                                              5-3 (3 KO’s)
Weight: 127 lbs.                                                                                                       Weight: 126 lbs.

MAIN EVENT – WBA & IBA LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT TITLES – 12 ROUNDS
Beibut SHUMENOV vs.                                                 Gabriel CAMPILLO
Las Vegas, NV                                                                                                          Madrid, SPA
8-1 (6 KO’s)                                                                                                             19-2 (5 KO’s)
Weight: 174.5 lbs.                                                                                                   Weight: 175 lbs.

TV SWING BOUT – WELTERWEIGHTS – 4 ROUNDS
Jessie VARGAS vs.                                                Rickey KINNEY
Las Vegas, NV                                                                                                          Baton Rouge, LA
7-0 (3 KO’s)                                                                                                             3-1 (2 KO’S)
Weight: 144 lbs.                                                                                                       Weight: 144 lbs.

OPENING TV FIGHT – JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHTS – 10 ROUNDS
Erislandy LARA vs.                                               Grady BREWER
Guantanamo, CUB                                                                                                    Lawton, OK
9-0 (5 KO’s)                                                                                                             26-11 (15 KO’s)
Weight: 154.5 lbs.                                                                                                   Weight: 154.4 lbs.

JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHTS – 4 ROUNDS
Ravshan HUDAYNAZAROV vs.                                                              Shadrack KIPRUTO
Las Vegas, NV                                                                                                          Eldoret, KEN
9-0 (7 KO’s)                                                                                                             10-12 (7 KO’s)
Weight: 152 lbs.                                                                                                       Weight: 153.5 lbs.

CRUISERWEIGHTS – 6 ROUNDS
Gayrat AHMEDOV vs.                                                Harley KILFIAN
Las Vegas, NV                                                                                                          Eau Claire, WI
12-0-1 (8 KO’s)                                                                                                        8-3 (7 KO’s)
Weight: 176 lbs.                                                                                                       Weight: 177 lbs.

About “Campillo vs. Shumenov II”: Presented by KZ Event Productions and Golden Boy Promotions, with Campillo vs. Shumenov presented in association with Sampson Boxing LLC. The bout will be televised live on Fox Sports Net (FSN) and its regional sports network affiliates beginning at 11 pm ET / 8 pm PT (check local listings). Doors will open at 6 pm and the first bell rings at 7 pm.

Tickets for this action-packed night of boxing, are priced at $150, $125, $100, $50 and $40 (general admission standing room tickets), and go on sale this Saturday morning, January 9, at 12pm PT. Tickets may be purchased at the Hard Rock Hotel Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, online at www.Ticketmaster.com or by calling 800-745-3000.

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MPILLO VS. SHUMENOV II OFFICIAL WEIGH-IN THURSDAY, JANUARY 28 AT 5:00 P.M. PT WASTED SPACE CLUB AT THE HARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!

January 27, 2010 by GFL · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Boxing News 

WHO: Gabriel Campillo vs. Beibut Shumenov

Erislandy Lara vs. Grady Brewer

Eloy Perez vs. David Rodela

Carlos Molina vs. Tyler Ziolowski

Gayrat Ahmedov vs. Harley Kilfian

Ravshan Hudaynazarov vs. Scout Ball

Ronny Rios vs. Wilshaun Boxley

Jessie Vargas vs. TBA

WHAT: Official WEIGH-IN for Friday, January 29Campillo vs. Shumenov II Light

Heavyweight World Championship boutat The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nev.

WHEN: Thursday, January 28

4:00 pm – Media Arrival

5:00 pm – Main Event On Scale

WHERE: Wasted Space Club at The Hard Rock Hotel &Casino

4455 Paradise Road Las Vegas, NV 89169

FACT: Campillo vs. Shumenov II is presented by KZ Event Productions and Golden Boy

Promotions, with Campillo vs. Shumenov presented in association with Sampson Boxing LLC. The bout will be televised live along with Erislandy Lara vs. Grady Brewer on Fox Sports Net (FSN) and its regional sports network affiliates beginning at 11 pm ET / 8 pm PT (check local listings). Doors will open at 6 pm and the first bell rings at 7 pm.

TICKETS: Tickets for this action-packed night of boxing are priced at $150, $125, $100, $50 and

$40 (general admission standing room tickets) and may be purchased at the Hard Rock Hotel Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, online at www.Ticketmaster.com or by calling 800-745-3000.

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RISING UNDFEATED STAR ERISLANDY LARA FACES HIS FIRST “CONTENDER” AGAINST GRADY BREWER ON JANUARY 29

January 13, 2010 by GFL · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Boxing News 

LARA VS. BREWER TO AIR IN CO-FEATURED BOUT ON FOX SPORTS NET
AT THE HARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO IN LAS VEGAS

LOS ANGELES, January 13 – Former Cuban amateur star Erislandy Lara has made his mark in the professional ranks with the same speed and impact that his blistering combinations make on his opponents, and after just nine fights, he appears to be ready to graduate to the next level. On Friday, January 29, the undefeated rising star will be featured in a 10-round junior middleweight bout that will push Lara to the limit as he takes on 154-pound standout and the winner of the second season of “The Contender,” Grady Brewer. Lara vs. Brewer will be the opening bout of the Fox Sports Net telecast headlined by Campillo vs. Shumenov II from The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Former amateur star Erislandy Lara (9-0, 5 KO’s) has made a seamless transition to the professional ranks since defecting from Cuba in 2008, and in just nine professional fights has dazzled boxing insiders and fans alike with his speed, power and poise. Fresh off of a near-shutout win over veteran Luciano Perez in his first 10-round fight last December, Lara will up the ante once again when he takes on seasoned contender Grady Brewer in a ten round junior middleweight bout.

“This is a big opportunity for me and I’m happy to be fighting a quality opponent like Grady Brewer,” said Lara. “I know he’s going to come ready to fight, but so am I, and I want to make a statement by giving the fans my best performance yet.”

The story of Lawton, Oklahoma’s Grady Brewer (26-11, 15 KO’s) is the classic tale of a fighter who came up the hard way, but in 2006, Brewer finally got his chance to shine as a competitor on the hit reality series “The Contender.” By the end of that year he scored three victories and defeated former World Champion Steve Forbes to take home the series crown. Since then, Brewer has put together four more wins, three by knockout and is eager to pin the first loss on Lara’s record on January 29.

“There’s no denying Lara’s talent, but he’s not ready for me or this fight,” said Brewer. “I’ve paid my dues the hard way and now it’s time for me to make my move. This ain’t the amateurs and I’m going to let Lara know that on January 29.”

“Fight Night With De La Hoya and Hopkins: Campillo vs. Shumenov II” features the 12-round Light Heavyweight World Championship rematch between Spain’s Gabriel Campillo defending his WBA crown against Las Vegas resident Beibut Shumenov. The evening of boxing will be presented by KZ Event Productions and Golden Boy Promotions, with Campillo vs. Shumenov presented in association with Sampson Boxing LLC. The bout will be televised live on Fox Sports Net (FSN) and its regional sports network affiliates beginning at 11 pm ET / 8 pm PT (check local listings). Doors will open at 6 pm and the first bell rings at 7 pm.

Tickets for this action-packed night of boxing, which will be hosted by and attended by future Hall of Famers Oscar de la Hoya and Bernard Hopkins, are priced at $150, $125, $100, $50 and $40 (general admission standing room tickets). Tickets may be purchased at the Hard Rock Hotel Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, online at www.Ticketmaster.com or by calling 800-745-3000.

For more information, visit www.kzeventproductions.com or www.goldenboypromotions.com or follow Golden Boy on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxing.

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Arizona’s tough laws bump Lara off Tucson card

June 26, 2009 by GFL · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Boxing News 
By Norm Frauenheim
    TUCSON – Prospect Erislandy Lara is the latest and most prominent example of how tough it is to do business in Arizona, where the process for a boxing license has been complicated by new immigration laws.
    Lara, a former world amateur champion from Cuba, was dropped from a Golden Boy Promotions card featuring middleweight prospect Daniel Jacobs (16-0, 14 KOs) against George Walton (20-3, 12 KOs) Friday night at Desert Diamond Casino because he was not able to acquire a work visa in time to get a license. Arizona is the only state in the U.S. that requires fighters to get the visa, a so-called P-1, which became mandatory about 18 months ago.
   Luis DeCubas Jr., Lara’s manager, said an attorney was hired several weeks ago in an attempt to get the visa. However, Lara learned Wednesday after he arrived in Tucson from Miami, Fla., that the paperwork would not be done in time for the junior middleweight (6-0, 4 KOs) to appear in an ESPN2-televised bout against Willie Lee (16-5, 11 KOs) of Biloxi, Miss.
     “I’m calmer about it than expected,’’ Lara said in Spanish that was interpreted by DeCubas. “I was looking forward to this. I prepared and trained to fight as I always do.  But I cannot let it get me down. I did my job.’’
   John Montano of the Arizona State Boxing Commission said between 10 and 15 boxers without U.S. citizenship have not been able to fight in Arizona since a work visa was mandated by the state legislature. Golden Boy vice president Eric Gomez told 15rounds.com last November that it was more difficult to put together a card in Arizona than in any other state because of the visa. A few years ago, boxers from nearby Mexico could get an Arizona license with a touri st visa, which is relatively easy to acquire.
   “It’s sad because there is a big Latin community and big boxing community here,’’ Golden Boy matchmaker Robert Garcia said. “I think anybody who has seen Lara so far can only be impressed.  …He is a leading candidate to become a world champion in a short period of time.
    “Like I said, it is sad. But it is the law and we have to go by it.  A lot of fighters, a lot of trainers, lots of management are not used to it because they fight all over the U.S. without this regulation. Unfortunately, we were led by the attorney, who said it would be fine, that we would have it. We went with that. Maybe, this will teach us. But it is just unfortunate. I’m very sorry to the fans, to the casino and to the television network that they will not get chance to see him this time.’’
   There was some speculation that Lara’s history slowed down the process. Lara and teammate Guillermo Rigondeaux left the Cuban team in July, 2007 during the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro.
    He and Rigondeaux were arrested. Lara, a native of Guantanomo, went back to Cuba only to later escape by a speed boat. He then turned pro, first in Turkey and then in Germany, before signing with Golden Boy Promotions, which displayed his evident potential with a one-sided over Chris Gray on the undercard of Manny Pacquiao’s stoppage of Ricky Hatton in Las Vegas on May 2.
   With Golden Boy’s backing, the cost — $1,500 to $2,000 – for a work visa was not considered a problem for Lara.  But the time-consuming process – one month to six weeks – might have been.
   Time and money, however, are issues that are already damaging Arizona, once a lively boxing market, according to the state’s trainers and matchmakers.  Roger Woods of Tucson said the mandatory work visa has restricted, if not eliminated, the pool of opponents from Mexico who would regularl y appear on Arizona cards. Most don’t have the time or the money to get one.
   “For boxing to survive, you need those guys,’’ Woods said.
   A longtime Phoenix trainer, Ricky Ricardo, said kids in his Madison Gym with roots in Mexico leave when they decide to turn pro.
   “They’ll go to New Mexico or California or Nevada, someplace where they don’t have to go through this,’’ Ricardo said.
   Fear of immigration raids by Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, whose jurisdiction includes Phoenix, is a factor, said Ricardo, who will be in a Desert Diamond corner for junior-featherweight Robert Guillen (4-2-2) against Isaac Hidalgo (4-4).
   “It’s very, very sad, but Sheriff Joe is going to continue doing what he’s doing,’’ Ricardo s aid. “He’s making headlines everywhere. It’s the law. But it’s very strict and it’s a black eye for so many of us. I’ve got these young kids who come up to me and say: ‘I can’t fight here.’
    “Hey, that’s scary.’’
Notes, quotes, oddservations
·         Jacobs, who was 161 ½ pounds at the Thursday’s weigh-in, I scheduled for his first 10 rounder against Walton, who tipped the scale at 161 ¾. “It means I’m stepping up in class, said Jacobs, who won an eight-round decision over Michael Walker in his last outing  on the Pacquiao-Hatton undercard. “It’s a step up. …I know I have the skills for the top guys in the world. But I need the experience. Hopefully, I’ll be ready for 12 rounds in my next fight or after a couple of more 10 rounders. But I’ll definitely be ready.’’
·         Heavyweight Deontay Wilder (5-0, 5 KOs), of Tuscaloosa, Ala., will fight his sixth pro bout since he won bronze, America’s only boxing medal, at the Beijing Olympics last August. Wilder, who faces Kelsey Arnold (1-2-2) of Lexington, Tenn., had only 35 amateur bouts, unlike most of experienced Olympic teammates. But only he won a medal. That might have been a good thing. In-fight tore apart the American team amid reports of repeated feuds with the American coaching staff. “Looking back, I’m kind of glad I didn’t know that much about amateur boxing,’’ Wilder said. “So many of the guys had so much experience. But I couldn’t say ‘I know, I know, I know.’ I was new to everything. I had to listen and learn.’’
·          Golden Boy President Oscar De La Hoya is expected to be at ringside for the Desert Diamond card, which is scheduled for 10 bouts.

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LARA AND WILDER LEAD PARADE OF UNDEFEATED PROSPECTS ON FRIDAY CARD AT THE DESERT DIAMOND CASINO IN TUCSON

June 24, 2009 by GFL · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Boxing News 

LOS ANGELES, June 23 – Rising stars Erislandy Lara and Deontay Wilder, along with top prospects Seth Mitchell, Hylon Williams, Jermell Charlo, and Keith Thurman, will look to keep their unbeaten records intact this Friday night when they step into the ring at the Desert Diamond Casino in Tucson, Arizona as part of a stacked undercard to the ESPN “Friday Night Fights” main event between Daniel Jacobs and George Walton.

 

In the televised co-feature, Guantanamo, Cuba’s Erislandy Lara takes on Gulfport, Mississippi’s Willie Lee in a junior middleweight eight rounder, and opening the ESPN portion of the show is a heavyweight four rounder between Tuscaloosa, Alabama’s Deontay Wilder and Lexington, Tennessee’s Kelsey Arnold.

 

The main event will see knockout specialist Daniel “The Golden Child” Jacobs making his fourth appearance of 2009 when he battles fellow New Yorker George Walton in a middleweight bout scheduled for 10 rounds.
  
Jacobs vs. Walton, a 10-round middleweight bout that headlines an explosive night of world-class professional boxing, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Cerveza Tecate and Quaker State.  The ESPN “Friday Night Fights” live telecast, beginning at 10pm ET / 7pm PT, will be broadcast on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and ESPN360.com.
 
Tickets, priced at $25 to $120 in advance, are on sale now and are available by calling 1-800-745-3000 or by visiting the Desert Diamond Casino Box Office.  Tickets may also be obtained online at www.ticketmaster.com.
 
Seen by many observers as the most talented prospect to emerge from Cuba since Joel Casamayor, 26-year-old southpaw Erislandy Lara (6-0, 4 KO’s) has been on the fast track since turning pro in July of 2008.  After compiling an amateur record of 350-17, Lara has gone unbeaten in six professional bouts, including a fourth-round stoppage of 37-fight veteran Edwin Vazquez just a few weeks ago on May 22nd.  Lara is wise beyond his years in the ring and the combination of his physical gifts and his amateur pedigree makes him one of the most dangerous prospects in the world.  Lara will see action in an eight-round junior middleweight fight against veteran southpaw Willie Lee (16-5, 11 KO’s), who is currently on a two-fight winning streak.

 
The only medal winner from the 2008 United States Olympic Boxing team, Bronze Medalist Deontay Wilder (5-0, 5 KO’s) has been terrorizing opponents in the professional game since returning from Beijing.  After entering the punch for pay ranks in November of 2008 with a two round stoppage of Ethan Cox, Wilder has made even shorter work of his foes, with four straight first-round knockout wins.  He looks for win number six on June 26th in a four-round heavyweight contest against Lexington, Kentucky’s Kelsey Arnold (1-2-2).

 

Heavyweight sensation Seth “Mayhem” Mitchell (11-0-1, 7 KO’s) is fresh off a six-round shutout over 41-fight veteran Andrew Greeley in April and seeks his fourth win of the year on Friday when he battles Las Vegas’ Alvaro Morales (3-5-5).  The six-round bout will be a rematch of Mitchell’s and Morales’ March 22, 2008 bout which ended in a draw.

 

Also in action this Friday night will be Houston’s finest, junior lightweight Hylon Williams (9-0, 3 KO’s) and junior middleweight Jermell Charlo (7-0, 3 KO’s).  The 18-year-old Williams, who will be making his fourth appearance at the Desert Diamond Casino, faces Hesperia, California’s Kadaphi Proctor (4-3-1) in a six-round bout.  ”Ironman” Charlo, who has barely lost a round in his seven-fight pro career, battles Federico Flores (6-2, 2 KO’s) of Mission, Texas in a six-round junior middleweight contest.

 

Clearwater, Florida standout and former amateur star Keith “One-Time” Thurman (8-0, 8 KO’s) has the boxing world buzzing and with good reason considering that none of his eight professional wins have gone past the first round.  This exciting welterweight prospect will compete in a bout scheduled for six rounds against an opponent to be announced.


Also appearing on the already stacked undercard will be Tucson junior featherweight favorites Annette Agredano (3-0) and Isaac Hidalgo (4-4, 1 KO), who will face Jessica Sanchez (0-0-1) of Albuquerque, New Mexico and Robert Guillen (4-2-2) of Glendale, Arizona, respectively.  Agredano first got the attention of the sporting world as a star soccer player for Tucson High School and the University of Pittsburgh; but after graduating and earning a Master’s Degree in social work, she returned to athletic life as a boxer.  She is currently unbeaten as she pursues a world championship.  Agredano and Sanchez will battle in a four-round bout as Hidalgo and Guillen square off in a six-round fight as they battle for Arizona bragging rights in the junior featherweight division.

  
For more information, please visit www.goldenboypromotions.com.

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HUMBERTO SOTO, JAMES KIRKLAND, MATT KOROBOV and ERISLANDY LARA HEADLINE PACQUIAO-HATTON PAY-PER-VIEW UNDERCARD

April 17, 2009 by GFL · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Boxing News 
LAS VEGAS, NEV. (April 17, 2009) – A world championship battle between north and south will highlight the May 2 pay-per-view undercard for Manny Pacquiao vs. Ricky Hatton: “The Battle of East and West.”  World Boxing Council (WBC) Super Featherweight Champion HUMBERTO SOTO of Mexico will defend his title against Canadian contender BENOIT GAUDET.  The pay-per-view broadcast will also feature undefeated top-rated junior middleweight contender JAMES KIRKLAND, risking his rating and record when he takes on MIKE WALKER, former two-time world amateur champion and Russian Olympian MATT KOROBOV facing RODRIGO AGUIAR and former world amateur champion, Cuban southpaw ERISLANDY LARACHRIS GRAY.  Combined, these eight gladiators have a combined record of 135-20-4 (84 KOs), an 85% winning percentage.

Humberto Soto (47-7-2, 30 KOs), from Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico, is making his second title defense since capturing the vacant title last December, winning a dominating 12-round unanimous decision over Francisco Lorenzo.  Soto successfully defended the title on March 28, stopping Antonio Davis in the fourth round.  Benoit Gaudet (20-1, 7 KOs), from Drummondville, Quebec, Canada, is riding a two-year, 11-bout winning streak.  He has held the North America Boxing Association (NABA) super featherweight title since July 2008 when he defeated Jhohnny Antequera via a 12-round unanimous decision.  He’s currently world-rated No. 9 by the WBC       against

One of the most electrifying contenders in boxing, James Kirkland (25-0, 22 KOs) of Austin, TX has only gone the distance once in his last 17 fights.  Even more impressive is the fact that he has only gone past the fourth round twice during his entire professional career.  He returns to the ring fresh from his sixth-round knockout of former world title challenger Joel Julio on March 7.  Kirkland’s impressive performances have catapulted him up the world rankings where he is rated No. 1 by the World Boxing Association (WBA) and the World Boxing Organization (WBO) at junior middleweight.  He’ll be taking on Mike Walker (19-1-2, 12 KOs), from Chicago, who returns to the ring after defeating two-time world title challenger Antwun Echols on October 3, 2008.  They’ll be fighting in a 10-round middleweight bout.

Matt Korobov (4-0, 4 KOs), a native of Orotukan, Russia, trains in Florida under the watchful eye of two-time Trainer of the Year Dan Birmingham.  The tall, very skilled middleweight is known for his excellent combinations and power.  In his last fight, he stopped Cory Jones in the fourth round of their February 21 fight at Madison Square Garden.  Facing Korobov will be Rodrigo Aguilar (5-4, 3 KOs), who hails from Las Vegas and is known for his rugged style.  They’ll be fighting in a four-round middleweight bout.

Considered to be one of the finest prospects to come out of Cuba’s famed amateur boxing system, Erislandy Lara (4-0, 3 KOs) captured a World Amateur Championship in 2005 and was expected to capture a gold medal at the 2008 Olympics before he defected from Cuba in a quest to fight professionally.  Now living in Germany, Lara has won his last three bouts by knockout, the most recent coming against previously undefeated Keith Gross in February.  On May 2, he’ll be fighting the far more experienced Chris Gray (11-7, 1 KO), who has won five of his last six bouts, in a four-round junior middleweight bout.

Pacquiao vs. Hatton “The Battle of East and West,” presented by Rockstar Energy Drink and promoted by Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions, in association with MP Promotions and Hatton Promotions, is a 12-round bout for Hatton’s IBO and Ring Magazine World Junior Welterweight titles.  The fight is also sponsored by Cerveza Tecate and Southwest Airlines.  Remaining tickets, priced at $1,000, $750, $500, $300 and $150, can be purchased through Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com.  Tickets are also available online at www.mgmgrand.com.

The Pacquiao vs. Hatton pay-per-view telecast, beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, has a suggested retail price of $49.95, will be produced and distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View and will be available to more than 71 million pay-per-view homes.  The telecast will be available in HD-TV for those viewers who can receive HD.  HBO Pay-Per-View is the leading supplier of event programming to the pay-per-view industry.  For Pacquiao vs. Hatton fight week updates, log on to www.hbo.com.

HBO Sports’ all-access reality series “PACQUIAO/HATTON 24/7,” will premiere episode No. 2 in HD, Saturday, April 18 at 10.00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO. Episode No. 1 is available on HBO ON DEMAND.

Please visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.toprank.com or www.rickyhitmanhatton.com for upcoming announcements.

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