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By: William Holmes
The following is the Boxing Insider notebook for the week of August 18th to August 25th, covering the comings and goings in the sport of boxing that you might have missed.
Mosley vs Mayorga is on.
Just In: TMZ Reports Shane Mosley has defeated Don King in court and his fight with Ricardo Mayorga will go on as scheduled on Saturday.
Miguel Cotto and Canelo Alvarez LA Press Conf Quotes:
MIGUEL COTTO: WBC, Ring Magazine and Lineal Middleweight World Champion:
“I don’t really care what the critics say. I am prepared to give Canelo a fight on November 21st and that’s all that matters.
“I’m not here asking for any sympathy. I know who I am and I’m here to be Miguel Cotto on November 21st and give the fans a good fight.
“I have my eye on my career and this is the best fight for my career right now, so I’m ready to do what needs to be done to be on top.”
CANELO ALVAREZ: Former WBC & WBA Super Welterweight World Champion:
“I want this to be an historic fight. I’m honored to be fighting a true warrior.
“It’s an honor and I’m going to prepare very well because I want to win this fight.
“There’s a great history between Mexico and Puerto Rico and this is going to be an historic fight, another one for the storybooks. I have a lot of pride to be fighting for my country. It’s going to be a great fight.
“I’m a disciplined fighter and a disciplined person and I think with that kind of drive I’ll be able to achieve a lot.
“I don’t like to predict knockouts, but I’m going to be ready for this fight. I will be well prepared.
“I’m a stronger, more mature fighter. For me, the time is right for this.”
Tickets for Cotto vs. Alvarez on Sale
Tickets for the upcoming Miguel Cotto vs. Canelo Alvarez PPV bout go on sale on Tuesday, August 25th at 10:00 AM PT. This PPV will take place on Saturday, November 21st at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada and will be presented live by HBO Pay Per View.
Tickets will be priced at $2000, $1750, $1250, $650, $350, and $150 and can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com or mandalaybay.com.
The bout between Cotto and Canelo will be a 12 round fight for Cotto’s WBC and Ring Magazine Middleweight World Championship.
Mayweather vs. Berto to be Broadcast Live in Select US Movie Theatres
The upcoming High Stakes: Mayweather vs. Berto Pay Per View will be broadcast live in select US movie theatres on Saturday, September 12th from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas at 8:00pm ET. It will be presented live by Fathom Events and Mayweather Promotions, as a win for Mayweather (48-0) will bring his undefeated record to equal the late great heavyweight world champion Rocky Marciano (49-0).
Tickets for Mayweather vs. Berto can be purchased online by visiting www.fathomevents.com or at participating theater box offices. For a complete list of theater locations visit the FathomEvents website.
The co-main event will showcase a WBO Junior Lightweight World Title fight between Roman “Rocky” Martinez (29-2-2) and Orlando “Siri” Salido (42-13-2) as well as a WBC Super Middleweight World Championship bout between Badou Jack (19-1-1) and George Groves (21-2). The televised opener will be between Jhonny Gonzalez (58-9) and Jonathan Oquendo (25-4).
Tickets for Terence Crawford vs. Dierry Jean on sale
Terence Crawford will return to his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska at the CenturyLink Center on Saturday, October 24th to defend his WBO Junior Welterweight world title against No. 2 contender Dierry Jean. This bout will be televised live on HBO.
Tickets are on sale and are priced at $27, $52, $77, and $127 and can be purchased by phone at (800) 745-3000 or online at ticketmaster.com
“I will be totally prepared for whatever Dierry Jean brings to the ring,” said Crawford. “I love this big event as it is not often Omaha fans get to attend a prize fight
live on HBO.”
“I just can’t wait! I want this. I’m hungry,” said Jean. “Crawford is the HBO darling who is supposed to be the next big thing but I will hurt him. Mark my words! I will be crowned world champion on October 24th.”
“Terence is well on his way to topping his breakout year in 2014 where he won three career-best world championship victories en route to earning Fighter of the Year accolades,” said Todd duBoef, president of Top Rank. “Now that Terence is a two-division world champion he will be bringing that momentum on October 24 when he returns home to the great fans of Omaha and to HBO, defending his newly-won junior welterweight world title against the Canadian cold front known as Dierry Jean, who has iced seven of his last ten opponents.”
Deontay Wilder to Defend Title on Primetime NBC Against Johann Duhaupas
Heavyweight world champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder (34-0) will make his second defense of his title when he faces France’s Johann “Reptile” Duhaupas (32-2) in primetime on Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on NBC on Saturday, September 26th from Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama.
Televised coverage will begin at 8:30 p.m. ET with undefeated Omar “Panterita” Figueroa (25-0-1) returning to the ring to face former world champion Antonio DeMarco (31-5-1) in 12 rounds of super lightweight action.
This will be the first heavyweight world championship fight in primetime on NBC since May 20th, 1985, when Larry Holmes defended his title against Carl Williams in Reno, Nevada.
“Fighting at home last time exceeded my expectations and coming back again is a blessing upon my life,” said Wilder. “I’m looking forward to bringing more boxing to Alabama and introducing the entire state to this great sport.”
“I know my opponent has great size and that’s what we’re looking for in opponents. He has a great record and he’s never been knocked out…until he faces me,” added Wilder. I know Duhaupas is tough and he comes to fight and that’s exactly what we need.”
“I am very happy to be challenging Deontay Wilder for the heavyweight world title,” said Duhaupas. “This is a huge opportunity and I will make the most of it on September 26. Deontay is a good boxer, but I have the heart of a lion and the mental fortitude to handle anything in the ring.”
Jason Sosa Returns to Philadelphia for First Annual Puerto Rican Boxing Classic
Hard-hitting junior lightweight contender Jason Sosa, fresh off his one round knockout over former world title challenger Jerry Belmontes, gets back into action Friday, October 2nd when he headlines the Puerto Rican Boxing Classic at the 2300 Arena in South Philadelphia.
Sosa, 27, of Camden, NJ registered his 12th consecutive knockout on August 14th when ehe stopped Belmontes in Bayaman, Puerto Rico.
Though he only had three amateur fights—and lost two of them—Sosa has developed into a major attraction in the Philadelphia and South Jersey area. In other fights this year, he knocked out Bergman Aguilar, of Costa Rica, at the 2300 Arena; Herbert Quartey, of Ghana, in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, and Santiago Bustos, of Spain, in Madison Square Garden.
Sosa will be looking to continue his K0 streak when he headlines the Puerto Rican Boxing Classic.
The seven-bout fight card figures to attract a sold-out crowd.
Among fighters looking to display their talents on the Oct. 2 card are local Puerto Rican fighters from Philadelphia and New Jersey. Many of them bring a loyal following to their fights.
Already committed to the show are lightweight Victor Vasquez (19-9-1, 9 9K0s) and junior welterweight David Gonzales (5-0-2, 1K0), both of Philadelphia. Also set is junior middleweight Ismael “Tito” Garcia (8-0-1, 4 K0s), of Vineland, NJ and stablemate super bantamweight Edgar Cortes.
In addition, invitations to attend and sign autographs will be sent to outstanding Puerto Rican fighters up and down the East Coast.
Marcus Browne and Huge Centeno Added to Upcoming PBC on NBC Card for September 12th
Undefeated light heavyweight Marcus Browne (15-0) will take on Gabriel Campillo (25-7-1) while undefeated middleweight Huge Centeno (22-0) will battle Lukas Maciec (22-2-1) as part of the featured undercard bouts on Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on NBC event on Saturday, September 12th at the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, CT.
The September 12th card is headlined by Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin (31-0-1) taking in Michael Zerafa (17-1) and super welterweight world champion Cornelius “K-9” Bundrage (34-5) defending against undefeated Jermall Charlo (21-0) in the co-main event.
Fernando Guerrero and Caleb Truax Set to Meet on PBC on Bounce TV
Middleweight Fernando Guerrero (27-3) and Caleb Truax (25-2-2) will collide in a 10 round main event as Premier Boxing Champions-The Next Round returns to Bounce TV with live streaming on Bounce TV.com on Friday, September 18th at 9:00 p.m. (ET).
The co-main event will be between undefeated welterweight prospect Jamal James (17-0) and Juan Carlos Abreu (17-1), while the opening bout will pit rising star Erickson Lubin (11-0) against Mexico’s Orlando Lara (31-5-3).
This card will take place at Full Sail Live on the campus of Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida.
Sammy Vasquez to Return to Hometown to Take on Jose Lopez for PBC on Fox Sports 1
Sgt. Sammy Vasquez (19-0) will enter the ring in his backyard at the California University of Pennsylvania Convocation Center in California, PA to face Jose Lopez (25-3) in a ten round welterweight bout on the September 15th edition of FS1’s Toe-to-Toe Tuesdays.
This fight is the second installment of Premier Boxing Champions’ FOX Sports 1 series and is set to bring another exciting world-class fight to weekday television. The co-main event on September 15 will see a 10-round light heavyweight clash between Thomas Williams (18-1, 12 KOs) and Umberto Savigne (12-2, 9 KOs).
“The best feeling in boxing is fighting back in your hometown,” said Vasquez. “To be on FOX Sports 1 and to be headlining in my hometown, there isn’t anything better. I’m truly blessed to have this opportunity.”
“I’m very excited for this opportunity,” said Lopez. “I know I will be the underdog and the fans will start out rooting for Vasquez, but I will show them I have the heart of a champion. It will be a great fight for all the fans watching.”
