Paulie Malignaggi: I WILL Be Fighting In Abu Dhabi, Against Either Chaves or Soto

With the news breaking, that the negotiations between promoter Johnny Eames’ Showtime Sports Events (SSE) promotional outfit and WBA Interim Welterweight Champion Diego Chaves’ camp have been terminated, it seemed inevitable that the proposed title clash between the Argentinian and WBA Welterweight King, Brooklyn, New York’s Paulie ‘Magic Man’ Malignaggi would no longer take place in Abu Dhabi, UAE in May. (Photo By; Keisha Morrisey)

However, following various transatlantic phone calls over the past thirty six hours, between SSE’s Managing Director, Gianluca Di Caro, and Paulie Malignaggi’s lawyer, Steven Bash, the mouthwatering clash, between the WBA’s top ranked Welterweight pairing remains a possibility for the Gulf state's inaugural World Championship event.

The deal clincher came after Gianluca Di Caro agreed to SSE continuing their pursuit of Chaves, by participating in the March 11^th WBA ordered purse bids.

In return Paulie Malignaggi agreed that should their quest be unsuccessful, that he would be just as happy to fight four weight World Champion, Tijuana, Mexico’s Humberto Soto in an equally mouthwatering WBF/WBA unification battle on May 18th.

On his arrival in Las Vegas, where on Saturday evening he will be color commentating on WBA Lightweight World Champion Richard ‘El Tigre’ Abril’s first defense of his Crown against Sharif ‘The Lion’ Bogere at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Paulie Malignaggi stated.

“The opportunity to fight in Abu Dhabi excites me. 

I am a fighter always searching for new challenges and goals and winning the WBF welterweight title along with defending my WBA welterweight title in a historic place like Abu Dhabi would be a huge feather in my hat. 

I feel like boxing could have a new city to hold mega fights and events and if by me fighting there I could be a part of that, well that is just the kind of situation I look for and it motivates me to strive to continue to be the best. 

Whether the opportunity comes from Showtime Sports Events winning the purse bid or from possibly an opponent change to Humberto Soto it still remains an exciting situation for me as both of those guys are warriors and would be worthy opponents.”

Paulie ‘Magic Man’ Malignaggi, against either Diego Chaves or Humberto Soto, for the WBF and WBA World Welterweight Championships, will headline a World Class evening of professional boxing at the Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on May 18^th.

Co-headlining sees IBF Flyweight World Champion, South Africa’s Moruti ‘Babyface’ Mthalane competing against Filipino super star Sonny Boy Jaro for the vacant WBF Flyweight title.

Supporting the exciting double header sees at least two further World Championship bouts, including WBF Light Welterweight Champion Zolani Marali defending his coveted Crown against mandatory challenger, WBF Interim title holder, Tijuana, Mexico’s Antonio ‘Cañitas’ Lozada Jr.

At least one further World Boxing Federation (WBF) World Championship bout is expected to announced shortly.

The final Championship bout of the night features former British and IBO World Champion Colin Lynes battling it out with Poland’s EBU-EU Champion Rafal Jackiewicz for the vacant WBF Inter-Continental Welterweight title, as well as earn the right to challenge the winner of Malignaggi – Chaves or Soto for the World title later in the year.

Supporting the sensational feature Championship bouts will see four future World Champions in action - two time Lithuanian National Amateur Heavyweight Champion Paulius Kasiulevicius, exciting Turkish Light Heavyweight Onder Ozgu, Albanian Middleweight Festim Lama and sensational London, UK based Saudi Light Welterweight Zouhair Siddiq, a highly exciting young prospect who was not only selected for the Beijing Olympics (unable to compete due to injury) but also won the prestigious London ABAs.

♔EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess♔, See you at the Fights and Thank You for your time. EL Boxing Empress Online @ Twitter http://www.twitter.com/Keishamorrisey ©®™ 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 All photos other than specified by "EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess" Keisha Morrisey, for ♔Empire Morrisey Photo-Studios♔, KCKMT for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and ★Starlite★ Boxing's Sweetscience Magnews-Online Publication all rights reserved.

Ortiz, Lopez, Soto, Matthysse SHOWTIME Conference Call Highlights‏

Former World Champion “Vicious” Victor Ortiz, former NABF Super Lightweight Champion Josesito Lopez, former Three-Division World Champion Humberto Soto and top-rated super lightweight contender Lucas Matthysse participated in an international media conference call on Wednesday to discuss their participation in the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING event on Saturday, June 23, to be broadcast live on SHOWTIME® (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) fromSTAPLES Center in Los Angeles.

“Ortiz vs. Lopez,” a 12-round fight for the vacant WBC Silver Welterweight Championship taking place Saturday, June 23, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, Calif., is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Goossen Tutor Promotions and Thompson Boxing Promotions and sponsored by Corona, DeWalt Tools and AT&T. The co-feature will see former Three-Division World Champion Humberto “Zorrita” Soto battle Argentinean knockout artist Lucas Matthysse in a 12-round fight for the vacant WBC Continental Americas Super Lightweight title which is presented in association with Baja Boxing Promotions and Arano Box Promotions. Opening the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING tripleheader at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) will be top rated heavyweight contender Chris Arreola facing Mike Mollo in a 10-round fight.

VICTOR ORTIZ:

“I just want to say that I don’t disrespect anyone. I’m fighting Josesito Lopez on June 23, who I’ve been training for and ignoring everyone else possible. There’s a dangerous fighter in front of me who is on the same path as I was a year ago before I fought (Andre) Berto, but the difference here is I’m too hungry to let my chance go. As far as I’m concerned I’m ready for June 23. If he wants to go to war, we’ll go to war. If he wants to box, then we’ll box. It doesn’t really matter. I’m there to take what is rightfully mine. At the end of the day, I know Josesito is ready to go and so am I, so that makes two of us.”

Did you have to adjust much in your training when it was announced you would be fighting Lopez and not Berto?

“Lopez is a good fighter. He and Berto go hand-in-hand. They’re both great fighters. I can’t think lightly of either of them.”

Is there any pressure on you going back to STAPLES Center, the site of your loss to Marcos Maidana?

“No, not at all. Right now the main focus is on Josesito Lopez because he’s no walk in the park. As far as Maidana goes, he owes me a thank you or a rematch because I gave him his name.”

JOSESITO LOPEZ:

“I’m really excited about this fight. I’ve been training really hard.’’

Did you think you won your last fight against Jessie Vargas?

“I do think I won that fight and nine out of 10 people who saw it thought I won. Unfortunately, the judges didn’t’ see it that way, but hey, that’s the way it goes. Our job as fighters is just to bring everything we can and hope for the best and hope that they see it the correct way.

“My only motivation right now is just June 23 and Victor Ortiz. I don’t even think one hour past June 23. That’s the only thing that drives me right now. I don’t care about any other dates or times right now. There’s nothing else that matters to me.”

HUMBERTO SOTO:

“There is no doubt Lucas is a strong opponent and a strong fighter. He comes forward and always looks for a fight. The difference in this fight is the experience. I have a lot of experience, and that’s what’s going to lead me to victory.

“Matthysse is a good fighter. He’s going to stay in there and he’s a smart fighter. We’re going to go toe-to-toe.”

LUCAS MATTHYSSE:

“We are here in Argentina finishing preparations and putting the final touches on. We are just very excited, happy and ready to go.”

Do you think Soto will stand and fight in front of you instead of backing up as you perceived was the case in your only losses to southpaws Zab Judah and Devon Alexander?

“Yes, those were both very difficult fights to have to adjust to them and change the way I fight. I know I won both those fights. Deep in my heart, I know it. It did hurt me, but we’ve got to come back stronger and I know we are ready for bigger and better things. With Humberto, we all know he’s going to come to fight. He wants to come to battle and that makes me very happy because we are ready to give him a war.”

♔EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess♔, See you at the Fights and Thank You for your time.EL Boxing Empress Online @ Twitter http://www.twitter.com/Keishamorrisey ©®™ 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 All photos other than specified by "EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess" Keisha Morrisey, for ♔Empire Morrisey Photo-Studios♔, KCKMT for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and ★Starlite★ Boxing's Sweetscience Magnews-Online Publication all rights reserved.

Showtime Boxing - June 23: Victor Ortiz vs. Josesito Lopez, Soto vs. Matthysse, Chris Arreola

Showtime Boxing - June 23: Victor Ortiz vs. Josesito Lopez, Soto vs. Matthysse, Chris Arreola

Victor Ortiz, Josesito Lopez, Humberto Soto, Lucas Matthysse, and Chris Arreola guarantee an action-packed night of boxing. This summer’s fight night to remember begins at 9PM on June 23rd. Only on SHOWTIME.

♔EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess♔, See you at the Fights and Thank You for your time.EL Boxing Empress Online @ Twitter http://www.twitter.com/Keishamorrisey ©®™ 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 All photos other than specified by "EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess" Keisha Morrisey, for ♔Empire Morrisey Photo-Studios♔, KCKMT for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and ★Starlite★ Boxing's Sweetscience Magnews-Online Publication all rights reserved.

The Return of Antonio Tarver, Abner Mares vs. Eric Morel, STRIKEFORCE World Grand Prix Final Victor Ortiz vs. Andre Berto II

SHOWTIME^® SPORTS SPRINGS FORWARD

WITH HEAVY-HITTING BOXING & MMA SCHEDULE

On Friday, March 16, ShoBox: The New Generation returns with a doubleheader from Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif. In the 10-round main event, unbeaten lightweight Omar Figueroa (14-0, 11 KOs), of Weslaco, Texas, meets Ramon Ayala (23-2, 11 KOs), of Mexico. Super bantamweights Randy Caballero (13-0, 7 KOs), of Coachella, Calif., and Jose Luis Araiza (29-5, 20 KOs), of Mexico, will mix it up in the 10-round co-feature.

On the Friday, March 23 edition of ShoBox, unbeaten sensation Diego Magdaleno (21-0, 7 KOs), of Las Vegas, returns in a 10-round super featherweight bout against an opponent to be named. In the co-feature, undefeated junior welterweight prospects Yordenis Ugas (11-0, 5 KOs), of Cuba, and Johnny Garcia (11-0, 8 KOs), of Holland, Mich., will square off in an eight-rounder from Casino Del Sol in Tucson, Ariz.

Then, on Saturday, April 21, on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING (9 p.m. ET/PT), former bantamweight world champ Abner Mares (23-0-1, 13 KOs), of Hawaiian Gardens, Calif. by way of Guadalajara, Mexico, will make his super bantamweight debut against former flyweight kingpin Eric Morel(46-2, 23 KOs), of Madison, Wisc., by way of San Juan, Puerto Rico, in a 12-round bout. The telecast will also include a 12-round WBA Bantamweight Super Championship fight between champ Anselmo Moreno (31-2-1, 11 Kos) of Panama City, Panama, against Tijuana’s David De La Mora (24-1, 17 KOs). Plus, preliminary bouts will be televised live on SHOWTIME EXTREME.

STRIKEFORCE mixed martial arts returns to the network on Saturday, May 19, with the championship fight in the STRIKEFORCE World Grand Prix – Heavyweight Tournament. The final will match Josh Barnett (36-5), of Seattle, Wash., against Daniel Cormier (9-0), of San Jose, Calif. A full card, complete with preliminary fights on SHOWTIME EXTREME, will be announced by STRIKEFORCE in the coming weeks.

The following Saturday, May 26, former undisputed light heavyweight champ Antonio Tarver (29-6, 26 KOs), of Tampa, Fla., will face a top cruiserweight prospect he critiqued while serving as expert analyst on ShoBox, Lateef Kayode (18-0, 14 KOs), of Los Angeles, in the 12-round main event.

SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING will wrap up its spring schedule the way it started it – with a sensational and highly anticipated rematch between two of boxing’s most talented and exciting fighters. Victor Ortiz (29-3-2, 22 KOs), of Ventura, Calif., will try to rebound from his loss to pound-for-pound champ Floyd Mayweather while Andre Berto (28-1, 22 KOs), of Winter Haven, Fla., will look to avenge the only loss of his career when the two square off in a 12-round welterweight bout on Saturday, June 23. In the co-feature, veterans Humberto Soto (54-7-1, 34 KOs), of Los Mochis, Mexico, and Lucas Matthysse (30-2, 28 KOs), of Trelew, Argentina, will square off in a junior welterweight bout. Plus, additional preliminary fights will air live on SHOWTIME EXTREME.

(ANDRE BERTO, VICTOR ORTIZ AND ANTONIO TARVER PHOTOS BY; Keisha Morrisey)

♔EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess♔, See you at the Fights and Thank You for your time.EL Boxing Empress Online @ Twitter http://www.twitter.com/Keishamorrisey ©®™ 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 All photos other than specified by "EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess" Keisha Morrisey, for ♔Empire Morrisey Photo-Studios♔, KCKMT for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and ★Starlite★ Boxing's Sweetscience Magnews-Online Publication all rights reserved.

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

LAS VEGAS, NEV.- 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 LARA against CHRIS GRAY. Combined, these eight gladiators have a combined record of 135-20-4 (84 KOs), an 85% winning percentage.See you at the Fights.
Thanks for your time.

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©®™2007, 2008 All photos by "EL Boxing Empress" Keisha Morrisey- Empire Morrisey Photo-Studios, Khris Kirkpatrick Morrisey for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and Starlite Boxing's Sweetscience Magnews-Online Publication all rights reserved