BELIEVE IT OR NOT! BERNARD "THE EXECUTIONER" HOPKINS TO FACE FORMER WORLD CHAMPION "BAD" CHAD DAWSON ON OCTOBER 15‏

BELIEVE IT OR NOT! BERNARD "THE EXECUTIONER" HOPKINS TO FACE FORMER WORLD CHAMPION "BAD" CHAD DAWSON ON OCTOBER 15‏

believeitornot, THE OLDEST CHAMPION IN BOXING HISTORY BERNARD "THE EXECUTIONER" HOPKINS TO FACE

FORMER WORLD CHAMPION "BAD" CHAD DAWSON ON OCTOBER 15 IN "believeitornot: HOPKINS VS. DAWSON"

THE WBC AND RING MAGAZINE LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHT WILL TAKE PLACE AT STAPLES CENTER IN LOS ANGELES AND WILL BE PRESENTED LIVE BY HBO PAY-PER-VIEW®
STACKED PAY-PER-VIEW TELEVISED FIGHT CARD TO INCLUDE

ANTONIO DEMARCO VS. JORGE LINARES LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD TITLE FIGHT AND KENDALL HOLT VS. DANNY GARCIA JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHT ELIMINATION BOUT

It is hard to believe what WBC and Ring Magazine Light Heavyweight World Champion Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins has achieved during his 23-year long professional career. He was the middleweight champion for ten years, notched a record 20 successful title defenses of that crown and at 46-years-old, has become the oldest fighter in boxing history to win a world title. It's also hard to believe that a young lion like former World Champion "Bad" Chad Dawson, who has wanted a shot at Hopkins for years, will finally get his opportunity to stop Hopkins from continuing his record-breaking journey. "believeitornot : Hopkins vs. Dawson" takes place on Saturday, October 15 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, Calif. and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/ 6:00 p.m. PT.

In addition to this championship main event showdown, the televised pay-per-view undercard will also feature Antonio DeMarco vs. Jorge Linares in a 12-round fight for the vacant WBC Lightweight World Title and Kendall Holt vs. Danny Garcia in 12-round bout for the vacant NABO Junior Welterweight Title which will also be an eliminator for the number one rating by the WBC and the number two rating by the IBF

"believeitornot": Hopkins vs. Dawson" is a 12-round bout for Hopkins' WBC and Ring Magazine Light Heavyweight World Championship Titles. The event is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Gary Shaw Productions and sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, AT&T and Ripley's Believe It or Not, a new sponsor to the fight game who forged a relationship with Hopkins earlier this year when they made a wax figure of the future Hall of Famer, which will be unveiled during fight week in Los Angeles and displayed at a Ripley's Odditorium in the future. DeMarco vs. Linares is presented in association with Teiken Promotions.

"Chad Dawson has earned the right to challenge me for my titles and I know he's been looking for this fight for a long time," said Hopkins, who will be defending the WBC and Ring Magazine Light Heavyweight Championships he captured from Jean Pascal on May 21. "But you've got to be careful what you wish for because, believe it or not, I will be prepared once again to beat father time and show the world what I can do. Jean Pascal underestimated me and Chad Dawson better not do the same. He is going to walk away empty-handed on October 15 and I will make history once again."

"Bernard has had a great career, but his believe it or not run as boxing's oldest champion is over now," said former World Champion Chad Dawson. "A strange series of events led to him getting my title, but this was all a temporary side story. I am the true light heavyweight champion of the world and on October 15, I will put the world back where it should be and reclaim my belt."

"The story of Bernard Hopkins is perhaps the most amazing story in boxing and he keeps adding chapters with each great performance," said Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. "He is coming off of a historic victory over Jean Pascal and while most fighters would have rested or come back in an easy fight, Bernard insisted on facing a dangerous challenger in Chad Dawson and I have no doubt that he will amaze the sports world once again and remain the oldest world champion in history. On top of an incredible main event, fight fans will see two explosive matches in the opening fights as Jorge Linares takes on Antonio DeMarco and undefeated star Danny Garcia faces Kendall Holt. This lineup is a night of boxing you will not want to miss as the card is stacked with talent from top to bottom."

Said Gary Shaw, President and CEO of Gary Shaw Productions: "As a boxing fan, I almost hate to see Bernard's run at the top of the division come to an end, but sadly, that's what is about to happen. Chad Dawson is the rightful champion in this division and, like all good fairy tales, Bernard's is about to conclude. On the undercard we have two sensational match-ups for our fighters and I look forward to watching Kendall Holt and Antonio DeMarco emerge victorious."

"Not only does he refuse to rest on his laurels, but at age 46 Bernard Hopkins is taking on one of the best light heavyweights in the world in Chad Dawson," said Mark Taffet of HBO Pay-Per-View. "We look forward to this matchup and the next chapter in Hopkins' history on October 15."

A future Hall of Famer, Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins (52-5-2, 32 KO's) has shocked the world by accomplishing more after 40 years old than most athletes do in their entire careers. A proud native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Hopkins rebounded from a seemingly dead end struggle with life in the streets and a stint in prison to become an inspirational figure who has proven that hard work and determination will allow you to overcome any odds. After coming up the hard way in the ring, Hopkins won the IBF Middleweight World Title against Segundo Mercado in April of 1995 and he wouldn't surrender the belt for 10 years, defending the title a record 20 times against the likes of John David Jackson, Glen Johnson, Simon Brown, Antwun Echols, Keith Holmes, Felix Trinidad, William Joppy, Oscar de la Hoya and Howard Eastman. Following the controversial loss of his title to Jermain Taylor in 2005, Hopkins reinvented himself as a light heavyweight at the age of 41, shocking Antonio Tarver with a unanimous decision victory in 2006, but he wasn't done yet as he went on to defeat Winky Wright, Kelly Pavlik and avenge a previous loss to Roy Jones Jr., with the only blemishes on his record being a narrow split decision loss to Joe Calzaghe and a controversial draw with Jean Pascal. Even after all of those accomplishments, the best was yet to come, as the 46-year-old Hopkins decisioned Pascal in their rematch in May of this year, earning him the WBC and Ring Magazine Light Heavyweight World Titles and true boxing immortality.

At just 29 years old, New Haven, Connecticut's "Bad" Chad Dawson (30-1, 17 KO's) has been considered one of the top fighters in the sport for years and despite his impressive 7-1 record in world title fights, he knows that everything is riding on his October 15 showdown with "The Executioner." The son of a former boxer, Dawson was a stellar amateur, posting a 67-13 record that included an under-19 National Championship. He turned professional in 2001 and fluctuated from middleweight to light heavyweight in his early years, winning a WBC Youth title at 160 pounds in 2003 that he defended three times. In 2005, he defeated Ian Gardner for the vacant NABO middleweight title, but in 2006 he decided that light heavyweight would be his home, and he quickly made his mark with a 12 round win over Eric Harding that earned him the NABF light heavyweight crown. In his next fight, on February 3, 2007, Dawson won his first world championship, decisioning 31-0 Tomasz Adamek. Over his next six fights, Dawson established himself as one of boxing's best as he scored two wins each over Antonio Tarver and Glen Johnson and while he lost his belt to Jean Pascal via decision in August of 2010, a clear-cut win over Adrian Diaconu in May put him right back in line for another world title and the biggest fight of his life.

Hard-hitting Mexican standout Antonio DeMarco (25-2-1, 18 KO's) has been a favorite among fight fans ever since his exciting win over Nick Casal in 2007 and he continues to impress with his power and tenacious style. The former WBC Interim Lightweight World Champion and 25-year-old Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico native has notched knockout wins over Kid Diamond, Jose Alfaro and Daniel Attah. After suffering his only defeat in the last five years, a 2010 loss to the late Edwin Valero, DeMarco has learned his lesson and is well-prepared to regain his title and re-cement his place among the lightweight elite.

"I've been waiting for the opportunity to get the WBC title back for over a year and I'm very excited that it's finally here," said DeMarco. "Linares is a great fighter and a two-time champion, but that's what I want. I don't want an easy fight to win the title, I want to beat the best to know that I'm the best, and that's what I'm going to prove in October."

Nicknamed "El Nino de Oro" ("The Golden Boy"), Venezuela's Jorge Linares (31-1, 20 KO's) is one of the most accomplished 25-year-old fighters you will ever find, already having compiled two world championships in two weight divisions. In 2007, Linares won the WBC Featherweight World Title with a tenth round technical knockout over Mexican great Oscar "Chololo" Larios, then a little over a year later, he added the WBA Super Featherweight World Title with a fifth round stoppage of Whyber Garcia. After losing his belt in 2009, the exciting sharpshooter began his assault on the lightweight division, defeating top contender Rocky Juarez and former World Champion Jesus "El Matador" Chavez along the way. Now, he has moved his training camp to Hollywood to train with the legendary Freddie Roach at Wild Card Boxing Club and will be more than ready for his shot at a third divisional championship against DeMarco.

"I am looking forward to the opportunity to fight DeMarco for the WBC World Championship," said Linares. "I am preparing for this fight with my new trainer, Freddie Roach and his team. It has been great camp and I will be 100% prepared to win the fight on October 15."

A talented boxer who enters the ring with a compelling mix of speed and power, Kendall "Rated R" Holt (27-4, 15 KO's) is believed by many to just be hitting his prime at the age of 30. A former WBO Junior Welterweight World Champion, the Paterson, New Jersey native owns wins over David Diaz, Isaac Hlatshwayo and Ricardo Torres, and his highlight reel of knockout victories is one of the best in the sport. Fresh off of knockout wins over Lenin Arroyo and Julio Diaz, Holt is looking forward to his showdown with Garcia as he looks to climb back into the world title picture.

"I've watched Garcia on the way up and he's a talented kid, but I'm a man in this game and I'm ready to show it on October 15," said Holt. "This is Jersey vs. Philly and I know he'll be coming hard, but I'll be coming harder. He may be younger, but I'm hungrier."

Twenty-three year-old Danny "Swift" Garcia (21-0, 14 KO's) eagerly took up the challenge to earn his place among the revered Philadelphia warriors of the past when he turned professional in 2007, and he hasn't disappointed yet. He has sailed to a perfect professional record while putting himself in position to move into title contention. A winner of four of his past five fights by knockout, Garcia has already defeated top competition like Ashley Theophane, Mike Arnaoutis and former World Champion Nate "Galaxxy Warrior" Campbell, and nothing would make him happier than adding Holt to his list of vanquished foes.

"I have been waiting since I was 10-years-old to fight on HBO Pay-Per-View, now I have my shot and I'm excited," said Garcia. "This is my time to shine and I'm not going to let anyone take this opportunity away from me."

♔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.

CANELO ALVAREZ VS. ALFONSO GOMEZ SET FOR SEPT. 17 AT STAPLES CENTER AS PART OF "STAR POWER: MAYWEATHER VS. ORTIZ" TWO-SITE PPV MEGA-EVENT‏

"STAR POWER: MAYWEATHER VS. ORTIZ" GETS BIGGER, BETTER AND BRIGHTER AS CANELO ALVAREZ VS. ALFONSO GOMEZ IS ADDED TO CREATE TWO-SITE, STAR-STUDDED SEPTEMBER 17 BOXING EXTRAVAGANZA PRESENTED LIVE BY HBO PAY-PER-VIEW® STAPLES CENTER IN LOS ANGELES TO CO-HOST PAY-PER-VIEW MEGA EVENT WITH MGM GRAND GARDEN ARENA IN LAS VEGAS LOS TUCANES DE TIJUANA AND EL GRAN SILENCIO SET FOR LIVE PERFORMANCES FOR THE CROWD AT STAPLES CENTER

"STAR POWER: Mayweather vs. Ortiz" just got propelled into another galaxy, as it was announced today that rising Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez will defend his WBC super welterweight championship against Alfonso Gomez on the televised undercard of the September 17 pay-per-view extravaganza featuring the WBC welterweight world championship mega-fight between Floyd Mayweather and Victor Ortiz.

Making this announcement more significant and unique is the fact that Alvarez and Gomez will face each other at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, while Mayweather and Ortiz will battle at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, creating a mega-event from two world-class cities.

Fans in attendance at each arena will be able to see the fight live from the other arena, making this a first-time split-site boxing experience taking place on Mexican Independence Day boxing weekend.

Both bouts will be will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

Following the showing of Mayweather vs. Ortiz at STAPLES Center, fans in attendance will see two special post-fight concerts performed by Los Tucanes de Tijuana and El Gran Silencio.

"'STAR POWER' is living up to its name as a mega-event with the addition of Canelo Alvarez vs. Alfonso Gomez," said Leonard Ellerbe, CEO Mayweather Promotions. "To have this event emanate from two separate locations like STAPLES Center and MGM Grand Garden Arena is a testament to the size and magnitude of the event and what it will deliver to the fans in the arenas and those watching at home on pay-per-view. Floyd is absolutely thrilled that Alvarez vs. Gomez will be a part of this show from Los Angeles."

"This is a historic and unprecedented night for boxing and Golden Boy Promotions as we showcase the extraordinary talents of Mayweather, Ortiz, Alvarez and Gomez from two iconic and world-renowned venues in STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, the capitol of sports and entertainment and MGM Grand in Las Vegas, truly the boxing mega-center of the world," said Richard Schaefer, CEO Golden Boy Promotions. "This show is now even more loaded with stars, and to have Alvarez vs. Gomez join the magnificent boxing match-up of the year between Floyd Mayweather and Victor Ortiz is exactly why we named the fight 'STAR POWER,' which is expected to set attendance and viewership records in one night."

"September 17 at STAPLES Center will be a night to remember for boxing fans in Los Angeles as it will mark the first time the arena will host a boxing match, a pay-per-view viewing and a post-fight concert all on the same day," Lee Zeidman, STAPLES Center General Manager. "We are looking forward to what will no doubt be an incredible action-packed night of boxing and live entertainment."

"The MGM Resorts family is very excited to welcome the return of Floyd Mayweather to the MGM Grand on September 17," said Richard Sturm, president of Sports & Entertainment for MGM Resorts International. "This championship event marks Mayweather's first fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in more than 15 months and continues our tradition as the leader in the sports and entertainment industry."

"With the anticipation and star power of Mayweather-Ortiz from MGM Grand in Las Vegas, the addition of Alvarez vs. Gomez live from STAPLES Center in Los Angeles and the celebration of Mexican Independence Day, viewers are in for a fantastic night of boxing on September 17," said Mark Taffet of HBO Pay-Per-View.

Already Mexico's brightest young star, 21-year-old Canelo Alvarez (37-0-1, 27 KO's) of Guadalajara is quickly becoming an international sensation with fans around the world taking noting of his power and prowess in the ring and his charm and charisma outside of the ring. Following wins over former World Champions Carlos Baldomir and Lovemore N'Dou in 2010, Alvarez kicked off 2011 with a March victory over Matthew Hatton that earned him the WBC Super Welterweight World Championship. Three months later, Alvarez returned to Guadalajara for a homecoming title defense and victory over Ryan Rhodes that captivated a nation. With his American fan base growing at a meteoric pace, Alvarez will hold court in the City of Angels as he defends his title from STAPLES Center and fights for the Mexican people against ultra-tough Alfonso Gomez.

"I'm happy to come back to fight in Los Angeles at STAPLES Center for another Mexican Independence Day weekend," said Alvarez. "Alfonso Gomez is a good fighter and also from Guadalajara, Mexico. I hope the fight will be explosive because that is what the fans will be looking for between two Mexican warriors like us, but I feel confident I am going to win the fight."

A fan favorite who was present in American living rooms every week when he competed on "The Contender" reality show, Alfonso Gomez (23-4-2, 12 KO's) has proven that he has what it takes to battle it out with the elite in the years since his stint on national television. The owner of wins over Arturo Gatti, Ben Tackie, and Jesse Brinkley, the 30-year old Los Angeles resident (who originally hails from Guadalajara) has also faced current WBA Super Welterweight World Champion Miguel Cotto and Peter Manfredo Jr., but he is currently showing the best form of his 10-year career thanks to a five-fight winning streak that includes victories over Jesus Soto Karass and Jose Luis Castillo. Now, he prepares for his second world title shot as he takes on Canelo Alvarez on September 17.

"Canelo's popularity is great for him and for boxing," said Gomez. "I know Canelo's team thinks I'm just another notch on his belt, but it's not the first time a popular fighter made the same mistake. I've fought and beaten much better competition and I'm coming to win the world title. Canelo and I come from the same place and we are both Mexican warriors. I heard there's another fight happening in Las Vegas on September 17, but as far as I'm concerned, the best fight on that day will be at STAPLES Center. I can think of no better way to celebrate Mexican Independence Day weekend...Viva Mexico!"

"STAR POWER: Mayweather vs. Ortiz" is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions, and sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, DeWALT Tools and AT&T. The 12-round mega-fight, which will be contested for Ortiz's WBC Welterweight World Championship, will take place Saturday, Sept. 17 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nev.

"STAR POWER LOS ANGELES: Alvarez vs. Gomez" is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions in association with Canelo Promotions, and sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, DeWALT Tools and AT&T. The 12-roundfight, which will be contested for Alvarez's WBC Super Welterweight World Championship, will take place Saturday, Sept. 17 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, Calif.

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

♔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.