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Sunday, April 14, 2013

CANELO ALVAREZ AND AUSTIN TROUT MEDIA CONFERENCE CALL TRANSCRIPT




Canelo vs. Trout a 12-round Super Welterweight World Championship Unification fight for Canelo's WBC title, Trout's WBA title and the vacant Ring Magazine title, is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, Canelo Promotions and Leija & Battah Promotions and sponsored by Corona and AT&T.  The co-main event will be a 10-round fight between undefeated prospects Omar Figueroa Jr. of Weslaco, Texas and Abner Cotto of Caguas, Puerto Rico for the vacant WBC Silver Lightweight Championship which is presented in association with Miguel Cotto Promotions.  The fights will air live on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT with Canelo vs. Trout being presented in association with Greg Cohen Promotions.  SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING? is available in Spanish on secondary audio programming (SAP).  Preliminary fights will air on SHOWTIME EXTREME at 8 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

Oscar De La Hoya  

Yes, we are a little over a week away and things are moving extremely well.  Ticket sales have been unbelievably selling like hotcakes.  We are well over 35,000 tickets.

We expect an incredible walk up, not only the day of the fight but all that week.  As you know, when Julio Cesar Chavez fought Pernell Whitaker the walk up on that day alone was unbelievable.  So we're expecting a lot of people from across the border to come over and support their very own Saul "Canelo" Alvarez.

This bout is a unification fight.  It's a 12-round fight for the WBC and WBA and also the vacant Ring Magazine Super Welterweight World Championship.  We're happy to announce the culminating event will be the up and coming fighter from Texas, Omar Figueroa Jr. vs. Abner Cotto, which will be a ten-rounder for the vacant WBC Silver Lightweight Title.

As you know, this event is taking place at the Alamodome promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and Canelo Promotions.  And I also want to thank Leija & Battah Promotions, who have been doing an incredible, incredible job.  I'm also happy to announce that Miguel Cotto also is helping us promote this event with Omar Figueroa and Abner Cotto.

This event is being sponsored by Corona and AT&T.  Thank you very much.  And as always, thank you very much to Showtime Championship Boxing.  This event will be beginning at 10:00 p.m. Eastern/7:00 p.m. Pacific and the preliminary bouts will air on Showtime Extreme at 8:00 p.m. Eastern.

So April 20th fights will begin at 4:30 p.m. live there at the Alamodome.  The doors will open at 3:30 p.m.

And so let me introduce to you, he hails out of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.  He is the WBC Super Welterweight World Champion.  He has been a pro since 2005 and he started professionally at the age of 15.  Right now at the age of 22 he's obviously Mexico's champion and current boxing super star.  Let me introduce to you the champion at 154 pounds, Saul "Canelo" Alvarez.  Saul?

Canelo                    

I'm very happy.  The time is near.  I like the response that all the fans and the media have given me.  I'm very, very motivated and willing/ready to give my best once I step into that ring come Saturday the 20th.

Q

Very good.  Hey, I just wanted to ask you, do you think that a victory in this fight against Trout makes it a no-brainer that your next fight should be against Floyd Mayweather Jr.?


And also on that, what does it mean to you to be considered, like Oscar said, Mexico's champion and boxing super star in the country now?  Do you think that you really have elevated to that spot?  Thank you very much.

Canelo                                

To answer your question, right now my focus is 100% only on Austin Trout and that's all I'm thinking of.  After the fight, we'll sit down, discuss what's next, but right now I'm focused only on Austin Trout and, God willing, winning this fight.

Your second question, it's an honor.  I'm very, very honored to hear someone like Oscar mention me in those words.  I love it.  It does thrill me but I'd rather the people say it and me continue to do my job inside the ring.

Q

Canelo, going into this fight when the deal was being done I guess there were people that were in your camp that weren't really high on the fight but that you continued to press for it because it was that you personally wanted to sort of prove a lot of the critics wrong and because you hadn't really fought any top fighters to take on one of the elite fighters in the division.


Can you talk about your mindset, as far as demanding that fight and maybe going against what some of your advisors and people close to you thought about the match up?

Canelo

The team, after the fight with Cotto we had decided that's the fight we wanted.  And yes, we sat down and talked to our promoter, Golden Boy, made the decision that was who we wanted.  They got to work and that's where we're at now and we're all happy that we're all in agreement.

Q

But am I wrong that there were people, at least initially that were not-I mean they were going to do what Canelo ultimately wanted them to do, but that they weren't really pressing the issue?  They thought maybe there could be a different fight or a better fight but that you insisted on this fight?

Canelo                                

Oh yeah, it was brought up that there are other fights and let's take other avenues but I wanted this fight and that's why we're here on this call today and with the fight coming up on the 20th.

Q

I mean obviously you've been a champion now for a while.  You fought some good fighters and that sort of thing and been active, but do you view this as your best opponent and also sort of like I guess maybe your moment of truth to sort of prove to anybody that might doubt your abilities that you are for real because you're taking on one of the best fighters out there coming off the win against Cotto?

Canelo

There's always going to be critics but criticism is also constructive and in this particular case it's always your next fight that they're going to criticize or talk about and that's your toughest fight.  This particular fight, yes, the one in turn, it is the toughest and we'll silence the critics after.

Q                  

Oscar, let me ask you a quick question.  Listen, you were a guy, when you were boxing, pretty much took on everybody that was there, especially as a welterweight and above, every top name, all the guys that people maybe rated ahead of you.

I'm curious from your perspective.  What do you think it says about the competitive nature and just the attitude of Canelo to just basically say to everybody around him, "Listen, I don't want to hear about any other names.  I want the guy I think's the next best guy in the weight class.  I want to fight Austin Trout."  What does it say about Canelo as a fighter that he would just demand this caliber of a fight?

Oscar De La Hoya

It speaks volumes of such a young man.  At the age of 22 already wanting to fight the very best.  Austin Trout is a very dangerous opponent.  Just like every other opponent, yes it's dangerous, but Austin Trout is an undefeated fighter, WBA champion.

You're right.  People were worried, were concerned but one of those people wasn't me.  I know Canelo's abilities.  I know his style.  I know that he loves fighting southpaws.  But it speaks volumes.

At the age of 22 years old, if you compare Saul's career to anybody else's, anybody else who's elite, they would never take this chance or this type of fight ever, including myself, including a Floyd Mayweather, including anybody.  This is a test that he wanted and we're obviously hoping for the best.



Q

What did you see in Austin Trout's style and what do you think his strengths and weakness are?



Canelo

We had Cotto in mind.  We wanted to fight Miguel Angel Cotto but obviously when he beat him we saw a fight that we wanted to do.  Austin Trout's undefeated.  He's a world champion, very difficult style, strong southpaw, but this also gave me the motivation to go on and fight one of the best and we consider him as one of the best out there.

Q      

My question to Canelo and Oscar, you did fight a lot of guys.  You fought the best guys and you lost some tough fights, Mosley, Trinidad, and I understand there's a rematch clause for this fight.  Can you discuss the notion of a rematch clause and from Canelo's standpoint, from your guy's standpoint, what that means?

Oscar De La Hoya

Well obviously, yes, if you want to be the best you have to fight the best and I had the privilege of fighting the very best, which obviously a lot of people appreciated.  This is no different.  Canelo, at the young age of 22, is already going to fight the best.

The rematch clause is obviously-whatever happens in the fight, if it's a great fight then let's do it again.  Why not?  That's the way we see it.  Canelo winning or Austin winning, it being a draw, if it's going to be a great fight then why not do it again?

Canelo

It's something you respect and it depends on the outcome of the fight, but yes, like Oscar mentioned, if it's a great fight and the fans want to see it then yes we consider it, definitely.

Q

Okay.  Also, Oscar, you've made a lot of comparisons between this fight and the Chavez/Whitaker fight.  Can you discuss the element of that fight?  You have a great Mexican warrior against a boxer who's also a southpaw and also the location.  And also you could have Canelo address the notion of being compared to that night and the two double fights and the meaning it has to his country?


Oscar De La Hoya  

Absolutely.  I've compared this event to a lot of past fights that took place.  For instance, when I fought Fernando Vargas the importance to me as a fighter to convince people that I was the real deal.  When I fought Ike Quartey those types of fights convinced people that I could fight.

Even when Chavez fought Pernell Whitaker the magnitude of event in San Antonio was like no other.  It put boxing on the map in San Antonio.  So all of those three fights that I just mentioned, Canelo right now is in that same position.  He's going to put boxing back on the map in San Antonio with the event.  I mean we're well over 35,000 tickets sold.


And this fight is the defining fight for Canelo Alvarez.  This fight, if everything goes well, him winning this fight will take him over the top and will get the respect from the critics who don't believe.  So it's a very important fight, but it's a fight that the people are going to enjoy and I think both fighters are going to really, really fight their hearts out come April 20th.


Canelo

I'm very honored.  I'm very proud to be even included and compared into those comparisons and making history, fighting in a historic place.  That's what motivates me even more and to be fighting in front of so many Mexicans.  I'm very happy.

Q

So you embrace this opportunity and do you think that it will bring out the best in you, a tough opponent and a large supportive atmosphere and the history of one of the greatest champions in Mexican history?

Canelo

Yes of course.  Yes, I'm very honored.  I'm very proud.  That's what we've been training for very hard because we want to show that we belong here.  We're ready for this and because it's a big responsibility and we want to make everybody proud.

Q

Oscar, this questions for you.  Have you given Canelo much advice and if so what.


Oscar De La Hoya  

Absolutely.  There are times where I-we can see him in the gym or at press conferences or talk to him over the phone or even send text messages, just little things.  It's amazing how Saul is so mature for his age.  He's got his head on his shoulders.

He's well advanced in terms of his abilities inside the ring.  He is just a seasoned veteran at the age of 22.  He's thinking like a veteran champion and that is just incredible to just talk to him.  When I'm giving him advice he already knows.  He already knows.

It kind of I feel, yes, like I do want to take him under my wing and I do want to guide him and wish the best for him but he already knows everything there is to know.  I can give him little tips in here that are going to work inside the ring or outside the ring but he's just such an intelligent and, like I said, seasoned veteran inside and outside the ring so it really is an honor to work with him.

Q

Yes, they say that if you wait long enough what goes around eventually comes around.  Nearly 20 years ago in September of 1993 there was fight before a huge crowd at the Alamodome between a great Mexican champion in Julio Cesar Chavez and a slick African American southpaw in Pernell Whitaker.

I wanted to ask Canelo how familiar he is with that fight and what possible similarities or dissimilarities does he see between what's going to happen in this fight and what happened in that fight?

Canelo

Yes, it is a very similar fight.  I watched it on video several times and Austin Trout, like Pernell Whitaker, is a southpaw, slick, difficult fighter.  He's very difficult but that's what we're training hard for.  We're training hard for that and come the 20th, the night of the fight, we're going to make it where it's not so difficult for us.

Q

It seems like most people are seeing this as a puncher against a boxer.  Do you feel that perhaps your boxing skills are unappreciated, at least here in the United States?  And while I know you respect Austin's boxing ability, what's your level of respect for his punching power?

Canelo

Many people focus just on my power but they don't see that I'm very fast and know how to move in the ring as well.  So that's something that, yeah, they'll see.

And Trout is a strong fighter.  He showed it.  He showed it with Cotto and he is a very strong fighter but that's what makes me very happy, motivated, working hard and I'll show it all come fight night.

Q

You are undefeated.  Trout is undefeated.  What is going to be the key to victory?

Canelo

The key is not to get desperate, not to get wild.  Take round per round, win round per round and see what comes up and counter that during the fight.

Q

I have a two-part question for Canelo.  Just one, how motivating is it for you to fight Trout knowing that he beat your brother, Rigoberto, a couple years ago and if Austin Trout was even on your radar at the time of that fight?

Canelo

Yes, definitely, it's a blood revenge that I'm looking at.  I'm very motivated for it.  I was there at the fight when he beat Rigoberto, my brother.  And I felt such an inability to do something but now it's here and I'm very motivated and that is a big factor.

Q

The question is for both Oscar and Canelo. In the future, is there still a possibility of a fight against Victor Ortiz?

Oscar De La Hoya

Look, the focus right now is on Austin Trout and after that we'll decide but Canelo said to fight the best in the world.

Q

Okay, Canelo, this fight was originally scheduled for Cinco de Mayo weekend but moved back to April 20th due to a falling out with Floyd Mayweather.  Are you at all disappointed that you're not fighting on Cinco de Mayo weekend?

Canelo

No, on the contrary I'm very happy to be fighting on April 20th.  Look at the response that the people have had, the press has had.  Even though it's been a short time to put it together I'm very excited, very happy about it.

Q

How do you envision this fight with Austin Trout?  And coming out victorious, are you interested in a fight with Miguel Angel Cotto?



Canelo

We all know Austin Trout's undefeated, tough.  It's a very difficult fight but that's what we're training for, preparing for, to come out victorious.  Right now my focus is just on Austin Trout.  But like I said, after the fight we'll sit down and we want the best fights and yes, of course, Miguel Angel Cotto is a great fighter.

Canelo

Thank you everybody.  I'm very happy for all the support that I've received and I'll be waiting for everybody in San Antonio on the 20th.  Thank you all.

Oscar De La Hoya  

Thank you very much, Kelly.  I greatly appreciate it.  He is the WBA Super Welterweight World Champion.  As we all know, he captured the world title by defeating Rigoberto Alvarez, who is Canelo's brother, on February 5th, one day after my birthday in Guadalajara, Mexico.

He did beat a very tough and in his prime Miguel Cotto to defend his world title in a very impressive fashion in hostile territory out at Miguel Cotto's second home at the Garden in New York.  He's no stranger to going to people's backyards and winning fights inside that squared circle.

He is fighting for the Unified World Title on April 20th.  With a record, an impressive record I may add, of 26-0 and 14 knockouts, out of Las Cruces, New Mexico, Austin Trout.

Austin Trout

Thank you all for being here.  I'm very excited about this coming fight April 20th.  I've said this many times before, this is a fight that should happen, two undefeated fighters, to undefeated champions in their prime and put it all on the line.

I'm praying that after this win it'll put me in a position to be your superstar like we want to be.  But first things first is we have to get through this beast called Canelo.  So I'm very happy to be here and shoot away.  I'm an open book.

Q

Hey, when you and Louie look at Canelo do you see a one-trick pony, a guy that's strong but a fairly uncomplicated fighter or do you see skills and suddenly they're really going to challenge your skills.


Trout

No, no, he definitely has skills that are going to challenge my skills.  He's fast.  He's strong.  He has good reflexes.  He's explosive.  As far as the style goes, we've been fighting his style our whole life.  We don't think his style's necessarily going to give us problems but the skills that he brings within that style are going to be a bit of a problem.

Q

Canelo said earlier that he feels like his boxing skills are under appreciated.  By the same token, do you feel like maybe your punching power is underestimated?

Trout

I definitely do. In every fight I've been in I've marked up everybody I've fought.  They've been reluctant to come in and I've fought in super middleweights and middleweights and I've hurt them and even dropped them.  So I think my punching power is very underestimated.

Q

Hey, I just wanted to ask you, I mean when you talked about that skill within his style, obviously it's his punching power.  How do you know that over the course of 12 rounds that you can stand up to the power that you're going to see from Canelo?

And obviously the other factor is sort of the home arena advantage that he will probably have in Antonio.  Is that something that's going to affect you or not?  Thank you.

Trout

It's never affected me before and I don't plan on it affecting me again.  The crowd can't do anything but cheer for him.  They can't even give him water.  They can't breathe for him.  They can't punch for him.  So I'm not worried about the crowd.

And about surviving his power for 12 rounds, you know, we've been in with stronger guys for 12 rounds and we banged out stronger guys for 12 rounds.  I'm not saying I'm not worried about it.  Of course that's why we're training and we're having such a hard camp to make sure that we're prepared for that, but I don't see it being a major factor, especially if we execute our game plan.

Q

Hey, the comparisons have been made to the Chavez/Whitaker fight and I think it's a good comparison, a great Mexican champion against a good African American southpaw.  Have you watched that fight, because Canelo says he has, and do buy into the history and the comparisons between this fight and that one?

Trout

I do see a very similar comparison.  First of all, let's just say "Sweet Pea" is my favorite fighters.  But the thing of it between me and "Sweet Pea" is that I could punch a bit.  There are things I saw that he did in the fight that he could've done to make it a lot less close that he could've done to pull away from Chavez.

The best way to not let history repeat itself is knowing your history.  So yes, I've definitely watched the fight.  We'll make our adjustments because Chavez Sr. is not Canelo and I'm not Sweet Pea.  But there are very similar comparisons.



Q

Okay.  My second question is you fought in hostile territory before most impressively, I guess, in your last fight against Cotto.  Put us in the ring with you that night in how you were able to shut out the crowd.  I mean you said you were going to do that and do you anticipate being able to do that again?

Trout

One thing I was saying is that if they're going against me my goal is to set them up, not give them anything to cheer for and that's the same mind set we're going into this fight.  If they've don't have anything to cheer for then they won't be able to cheer.

I know in the beginning, of course, while they're excited they're going to cheer for everything he does.  If he sneezes my way they'll go and get excited for it, but eventually as the fight goes on you'll see the crowd getting quieter and quieter or even switch to my side like they've done before.

Q

My question is on the Whitaker/Chavez theme the real comparison I think you obviously would like to avoid is the outcome.  Whitaker, by most accounts, won that fight pretty handily, yet he was given a draw.

Are you worried about getting a fair shake?  The crowd's going to be very pro Alvarez.  Does that worry you about getting a fair shake in this fight?

Trout

It does a bit.  We know Texas is a WBC country, but I can't focus, I can't use any energy to dwell on things I can't control.  All I can do is just focus on what I can control and that's what I have to do in the ring.

We don't want to go out of the game plan.  We don't want to break character to force something that's not there.  So we're going to just stick to our guns and make sure that we do our absolute best and if it goes to the judges then it's really in God's hands.  If the judges want to jerk me, that's between them and God and I have to ask for that later.

Q

One other question, I think I read something about something you do in the Las Cruces area called "Club KO" or something like that.  Are you actively involved in that and going to schools in that area?

Trout

Yes, we definitely are.  Club KO is just a little club I put together where I go and try to KO some things that are problems in school.  One of them is bullying.  Another one is peer pressure.  And we just try to give them some kinds of tools that they can use to get out of a bad situation that they're in and by doing that we end up knocking out these problems.

Q

Now when you fought Miguel late last year and you got the win that was sort of what everybody would view as your defining fight.  You took on one of the biggest names and one of the best fighters in the weight class.  To those who weren't that familiar with Austin Trout you proved yourself and probably made a lot of fans with that fight.

I'm wondering, Canelo is in a similar situation and he's got a lot of the fans but a lot of fans want to see him prove himself against one of the elite fighters in the 154 pound weight class.  I'm wondering what you think it says about him that he went and demanded to fight you, which not a lot of guys demand to fight Austin Trout?  What was your reaction to knowing that this was the one and only fight that he really wanted?

Trout

I have much respect for Canelo for demanding this fight.  Some people don't want to fight Austin Trout, but when his people didn't want him to fight me then he made his demands known and as a hungry true champion should he called out for the best.  So there's much respect to him for that and for putting his foot down and making that happen.

And I just thank the fans as well because I think it was the outcry from the fans that put the pressure to make him make those demands.

Q

Okay.  And also one of the things that he mentioned in his portion of this call was talking about one of his great motivations for making that demand, really wanting to fight you, besides unifying the titles and have a big fight against another champion was his desire and motivation for revenge because you had defeated his older brother when you won your title.  So I wanted to know your take on trying to now go 2-0 against family, Alvarez, Canelo certainly regarded as the better of the two?

And also if you could talk about what you mentioned to me on Twitter a little while ago about your thoughts about the rematch clause being one way action for him but not for you?  Thank you, Austin.  Good luck in the fight.

Trout

Thank you.  It's all motivation.  It really has nothing to do with him or his brother.  But with the legacy he's considered one of the best so we want to fight the best.  He also has that WBC belt and one of my goals is to be the undisputed champion.

And I've had this goal since I was a young boy.  So it's a lifelong work that I've been putting in to make this goal happen.  That is more motivation, in my opinion, than a two-year old revenge policy that he's going for.

We beat his brother two years ago and now it's so important now?  I'm not buying it because if that was the case he'd be trying to fight Mundine and Rubio and some other guys that beat his brother.  I'm not the only one.

But it's all motivation.  To be 2-0 against the Alvarezes will be great, but more importantly, to beat somebody who's considered the best and to take that WBC belt, those are my motivations and I think those are imperative for my legacy.

Q

And what about the rematch clause stuff?

Trout

Yeah, the rematch clause is only one way.  When I win the clause could be in effect, but if he wins they go about their business.  It shows to me a lack of confidence in their fighter.  My team believes in me 100% against anybody.

And I know, as you know, De La Hoya and Richard Schaefer tried to not make this fight happen at every turn.  When they changed the fight from Vegas to San Antonio there was talk of Angulo being their pony, but that's when Canelo put his foot down, like a champ, and said, "No, I want Trout."


They tried hard not to make a fight, but I wonder how they must feel for him knowing that your team doesn't have the utmost confidence in you.  I don't know that feeling.  My team believes in me.

Q

It's been well documented that there have been plans for the two of you to fight on the under card of Floyd Mayweather vs. Robert Guerrero on May 4th but Canelo ended up not taking the fight on that day and he's said multiple times that he wants to be Floyd's next opponent.

Does this desire of his to fight Mayweather down the road strike you as a bit of a sign of disrespect, like he's looking through you and towards his next possible opponent?

Trout

I don't necessarily think its disrespect.  If he is overlooking me that's better for me because regardless if he wants to fight, whoever he wants to fight later, he still has to deal with me on April 20th.  I look at it as an advantage if they are looking over me, which they definitely shouldn't.

He's been doing this a lot and things just haven't been going his way.  So I like the trend that he's setting with this whole overlooking people.

Q

Canelo has approached superstar status in the world of boxing and while he has certainly put together an impressive resume, fans, even with victories against Miguel Cotto, have been a little bit slower to come around in support of you.  Do you feel uncomfortable being perceived by some as a B-side of some of these big fights that you're being put on?

Trout

No, no, I don't feel uncomfortable as being the B-side.  I mean I'm more comfortable as the A-side but it doesn't bother me because really the B-side is a matter of state of mind.  I don't feel like I'm on the B-side, no matter what people say.

And I'm coming to win.  I'm not coming for a paycheck.  If you look at the pay you'll see that that's clearly right, that I'm not coming for just a paycheck.  I'm coming for the win.  I'm coming for the respect.  That's what I'm fighting for, to get the respect in this game that I feel like I deserve.

Q

Hey, Austin, it seems like a lot of fighters are apprehensive about going on the road to fight someone like say Canelo in front of 35,000 fans.  You seem to take great pride in it.

So until you are able to establish yourself as a hometown attraction do you feel like this is going to be your legacy, like you're going to be boxing's next road warrior, if not already?

Trout

Definitely.  I feel like the fighter that just fights at home and claims to be a world champion is not representing the world correctly.  Even after the fact where I feel like I've established myself, as a hometown attraction I still wouldn't mind traveling and extending my belts around the world.

The greats did it. Ali did it.  He fought all over the place.  Plus I like to travel and I like to see other people in their cultures.  It's not a problem for me at all.

Q

You brought up the great champions like Ali.  Do you feel like you're helping put the world back in world champion, because a lot of guys, they got comfortable just fighting at home, fighting in the U.S.?  You're ready to become the globetrotter?

Trout

Definitely.  I would love to bring it back to the golden age where the best fought the best, where we could have these wonderful trilogies or things like that.  And again, traveling around the world to defend a world title-we're trying to represent the world as a champion.

Q

Austin, talk a little bit about that just.  You know El Paso.  It's a boxing town.  You're just right next door to us but you also have the Hispanic culture that might go for Canelo.

How big is this fight?  I mean do you see it just being-it's an elite fight.  You two are elite fighters.  You guys are going at it for one night.  And you know, one of you guys are going to come out on top.

Trout

I think it's just huge for boxing.  This is the type of fight that could bring back boxing to the golden age where Leonard's, Duran's and the Hagler's all fought each other.  I think that me and Canelo are leading by example on what a world champion should do and how they should fight.

And as far as El Paso goes, I know me being born in El Paso, raised in Las Cruces, New Mexico, I'm sure we've got a great division going there because the Mexican blood is thick.  I'm just glad that I could be a part of this type of event.

Q

Austin, I wanted to ask you a little bit, obviously boxers have great confidence, very, very confident individuals, but after your win against Cotto was that just bumped up a couple more notches and you felt like, "Hey, I could take on anybody?"

Trout

To be honest, I knew I could win.  I had to prove it to everybody, same thing here.  So my confidence...all I ask for is a chance to prove my work and what a great way with an undefeated champion like Canelo Alvarez.

Q

I wanted to ask you, do you think your fight in New York, fighting in front of Puerto Rican fans is going to help you for this fight down in San Antonio with the Mexican fans?  And also, do you think you're going to help start a new tradition seeing that it's Fiesta weekend down there and there are probably going to be a lot of people out there, probably over 40,000, you think so?

Trout

I hope we can start a tradition and not just with San Antonio but just with a fight like these going forward.  Like I said, there are fights that should happen.  If you have a belt, then your next move should be to get another belt, to unify divisions.

I definitely feel like the Garden experience is going to help me prepare for this fight.  The fight in the Garden was hostile but it wasn't as big.  So it's a step up from the fight in the Garden.  But nonetheless, like I said, God puts me on the path to prepare me for things like this and I feel like everything I've been through is working for helping me become on a stage like this.

Q

Okay, you're making this a family affair by taking on Canelo.  How do you feel knowing that you could win another world title by defeating another member of the same family?

Trout            

It's all pretty much a coincidence, to be honest.  His brother had a belt.  He has a belt.  It's not like I'm gunning for the Alvarez family.  I'm not trying to be the Alvarez destroyer or anything like that.  But if another one of the brothers does catch a belt, well then he'd be on my hit list too, you know what I mean?

Q

Okay, and the most famous fighter to come out of New Mexico was the late Johnny Tapia.  Did you grow up watching Tapia and admiring him?  Did you by any chance get to meet him coming up?

Trout

I got to meet him, definitely.  I did watch him growing up and actually Johnny Tapia, when I saw him on TV, as a world champion, he showed me that I didn't have to go to Philly or to these other places where I thought you had to be to be a good pro in order to make it as a world champion.  I could stay in Cruces.  Him and Louie Burke and Danny Romero, they all paved the way for me to be able to stay in New Mexico and perfect my craft.

Trout            

No, this is going to be a great event.  I'm expecting nothing less but the best from Canelo.  We know what we brings to the table and I'm more than happy to match him in intensity and fierce.  Expect fireworks.  This is going to be a good fight.

 ♔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.

Haroon Khan follows in Amir’s pro footsteps: April 27 will be great for Khan brothers!


Talented prospect Haroon Khan will take his first bow in the professional ranks against 20-year-old Bulgarian Stefan Slavchev (3-7, 1ko) at Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield on April 27. The 2010 Commonwealth Games bronze medalist follows in the footsteps of his illustrious older brother, Amir, and turn professional with his first fight taking place on the undercard of the ‘Khan vs. Diaz: The Return of the King’ bill.

The Return of the King: Khan vs. Diaz is a 12 round 113 pound catch-weight bout presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Khan Promotions and sponsored by JD Sport and Maxi Muscle.

♔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.

Tyson Fury vs. Steve Cunningham April 20 at The Theater at MSG




Explosive 6’9” former Irish Heavyweight Champion Tyson Fury, (20-0, 14 KO’s) will make his New York City debut on April 20th when he takes on former cruiserweight World Champion Steve “USS” Cunningham (25-5, 12 KO’s) in The Theater at Madison Square Garden.
 
 
This is the IBF Heavyweight Eliminator fight for the #2 position. The winner will become the mandatory challenger for Heavyweight King Wladimir Klitschko.


♔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 Boxing Standard: Efficiency is the Least Admired Skill in Boxing

The Boxing Standard: Efficiency is the Least Admired Skill in Boxing

♔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.

Melson to meet Lowry April 27 at Barclays Center!‏

 Captain Boyd “Rainmaker” Melson will take a step up in competition when he challenges battle-tested Troy “TNT” Lowry in a six round junior middleweight contest Saturday, April 27 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY.
 
One of New York’s most popular fighters, Melson fought to a controversial draw last October in the first bout ever at the Barclays Center. Following his bout in October, Melson, 10-1-1 (4 KO’s), took a much-needed break from boxing after fighting seven times in a twelve month period. Ironically, Melson’s return was initially slated for February, but the entire card was postponed when main event participant Danny Garcia suffered an injury.
 
“Everybody was telling me that I was killing myself by fighting too often and I didn’t listen,” said Melson, who works full-time for Johnson & Johnson, is an Army Reserve Officer and occasionally teaches fitness courses at Equinox. "I had no idea I had competed 7 times in a 12 month period until it was shared with me after the fact. I did need this rest, but I did not need to rest 6 months. I was ready to come back February 9th for the original scheduled date and I am again ready. I also do not regret fighting as often as I did, even with my last performance being subpar largely do to being burned out. I needed to keep generating money and awareness for this clinical trial to cure Chronic Spinal Cord Injuries, and all of those fights in total, when matched 2:1 by Johnson&Johnson along with being complimented by public donations, resulted in tens of thousands of dollars generated and donated to help fund this clinical trial. With this rest, I feel rejuvenated and better than ever physically.”
 
One of boxing’s ultimate veterans, Lowry is 28-12 with 17 wins by knockout. The Minneapolis, MN native shared the squared circle with a number of top fighters including future hall of famer Hector Camacho, Vanes Martirosyan, Andy Lee, Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin, Yuri Foreman and Pawel Wolak. Lowry also owns victories over former interim junior middleweight titlist Santiago Samaniego and unbeaten knockout artist Travis Loveless, who was 20-0 with 17 KO’s before meeting Lowry.
 
“Troy is a classic tough veteran in the sport of professional boxing,” stated Melson. “He has far more experience than anybody I’ve ever fought and this is the kind of test I need. I told my team that I wanted to fight a solid veteran with experience against A-level opposition, and they found a man with 40 professional fights against current contenders and former world champions for me to challenge. Lowry is the exact kind of opponent I was looking for, and I’ve got to look spectacular on the 27th.”  

♔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.

Jean to Face Pendarvis May 10 in Oklahoma‏

Promoters Camille Estephan, of Eye of the Tiger, and Greg Cohen, of Greg Cohen Promotions, are proud to announce they will be teaming up in association with Pitbull Promotions to present the Friday, May 10, broadcast of SHOBOX: The Next Generation emanating from the Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Oklahoma.

In the night’s televised main event, Montreal, Quebec, Canada’s undefeated IBF#3-ranked Dierry “Dougy Style” Jean (24-0, 16 KOs) will take on Los Angeles’ IBF #7-rated southpaw Cleotis “Mookie” Pendarvis (17-3-2, 6 KOs) in a 12-round IBF eliminator for the mandatory #1 spot at 140 lbs.

The two warriors will also be vying for the right to face the winner of the upcoming Lamont Peterson vs. Lucas Matthysse world title fight on May 18 in Atlantic City.

In his most recent fight, NABF champion Jean stopped Mexican Juan Jesus Rivera in the second round last February in Gatineau, Québec. Pendarvis was last seen beating long-time top contender Michael Clark by five-round technical decision last December in Los Angeles.

In the televised co-feature, undefeated Newark, New Jersey, middleweight John “Apollo Kidd” Thompson (11-0, 4 KOs) will face Georgia via Nassau, Bahamas’ also undefeated Taureano Johnson (14-0, 10 KOs) in an eight-rounder between up-and-coming prospects.

“I could not be happier to be working with Camille, one of the most intelligent professional people I’ve ever encountered in the boxing world,” said Greg Cohen. “It’s a delight to work with him and Dierry, who I believe will be boxing’s next superstar. I’m very grateful to be part of this team.”


♔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.

Dave Murphy’s Thunderdrome Promotions Presents ‘Thunder and Lightning’ DEAN ‘IRISH LIGHTNING’ BYRNE Vs. JAY ‘IOW ASSASSIN’ MORRIS International Masters Welterweight Championship 27th April 2013 @ York Hall, London

Byrne Sends Message To Morris - I’ve Never Lost A Title Fight, I’m Not Starting Now!
 
 
On Saturday, 27th April at York Hall in Bethnal Green, London, former Australian Light Welterweight Champion, Dean ‘Irish Lightning’ Byrne, is set to challenge for his first domestic title, when he faces Jay ‘IOW Assassin’ Morris for the vacant International Masters Welterweight crown on the Dave Murphy promoted ‘Thunder & Lightning’ event.
 
Globe trotting Byrne started his pro career in Australia, where he won the New South Wales State Light Welter title on just his fourth outing, before going on to secure the Australian title, with a convincing points win over Chris McCullen, on his next fight.
 
The chirpy Irishman successfully defended the Aussie crown, with an equally impressive points win over Brad Crookey, before setting sail in an attempt to conquer America.
 
Linking up with none other than Freddie Roach, Byrne racked up an impressive 12-0 record before returning home to the Emerald Isles and adding two further impressive wins to his record, stopping Konstantins Sakara in four and a shut out points win over Sergejs Volodins.
 
In 2011 Byrne crossed the Irish Sea intent on making his mark on the British scene. With a tidy points win over Michael Frontin on the 21st October, Byrne looked on target to conquer a fourth country.
 
Promoter Frank Warren must have thought so also, as a few days later after Frankie Gavin pulled out of his fight against Frank Haroche Horta, the astute Mr. Warren offered Byrne the fight.
 
So just one week later, on the 28th October, Byrne was back in action, however his willingness to fight on such short notice blew up in his face, as he retired at the end of the eighth round.
 
 
Frank Warren showed his appreciation by offering Byrne the opportunity to fight on the historic April 2012 show, that heralded the return of professional boxing to the Royal Albert Hall, against unbeaten prospect Terry Holmes.
 
Unfortunately for Byrne, after eight all action rounds referee Robert Williams gave the nod to Holmes by a close 77-75 points margin.
 
It would be five months before Byrne would be back in action, but when he was he was clearly determined to get his career back on track, as he completely dominated Kevin McCauley to take a shut out points win.
 
Byrne rounded out the year with a barnstorming battle with America’s Carson Jones, the chirpy Irishman seemed well in control of the proceedings and looked set to add another high profile scalp to his belt, however the man that counts, referee Ian John-Lewis see it differently, scoring the bout a draw.
 
Which brings us nicely up to date and Byrne’s impending International Masters clash, against Jay Morris at York Hall in London on Saturday 27th April.
 
Earlier Byrne spoke briefly about both the Carson Jones fight as well as the impending 27th April date with Morris,
 
“Yeah, I’m really looking forward to getting back in the ring, it’s been a while, four months since my last performance against Carson Jones.
 
That was a great fight, everyone tells me they thought I won it, I did too but can’t complain about the result, these things happen, I look at it as a draw is better than nothing.
 
It’s true, I threw more punches than him, landed more than he did and I made him miss often. I made him pay in the last round, so really thought I was going to get the decision, but in this boxing game you never know until the verdict is read.
 
Yeah, well so it goes, now I’m focusing on the 27th, Jay Morris is a hard battler, his record may not be the greatest but he always comes to fight. He’s already been the British Masters Champion so you know he can deliver.
 
I’ll box clever, fight the way I did against Carson Jones but step the tempo up a bit more and make sure I get the decision.
 
It’s been a while since I fought for a title, have never lost a title fight and don’t intend to lose this one, I want this so much, it will be my first title here in the UK.”
 
Dean ‘Irish Lightning’ Byrne versus Jay ‘IOW Assassin’ Morris International Masters Welterweight Championship clash headlines Dave Murphy’s Thunderdrome Promotions ‘Thunder & Lightning’ event at York Hall, Bethnal Green in London on the 27th April 2013.

♔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 Life and Career of Mike Tyson


Born June 30th, 1966 in Brooklyn, New York, Mike Tyson became boxing's youngest heavyweight champion at the age of twenty years old. He had a troubled youth, but managed to find success by participating in the combat sport and winning many of his bouts through knockout victories. Throughout the years, he developed an aggressive and ferocious fighting style. He also became known for his controversial actions both while boxing and in his personal life. In this video, WatchMojo.com takes a look at the life and career of former American boxer, Mike Tyson.
♔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.

Matthew Macklin set for World Middleweight title tilt against Gennady Golovkin in US‏

 ‏WORLD MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP BOUT: GENNADY "GGG" GOLOVKIN VS. MATTHEW "MACK THE KNIFE" MACKLIN - SATURDAY, JUNE 29, 2013 at FOXWOODS RESORT CASINO - Live on HBO®

Foxwoods ® Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut, will play host to the highly anticipated World Middleweight Championship bout between WBA (World Boxing Association) / IBO (International Boxing Organization) Champion GENNADY "GGG" GOLOVKIN and top-rated contender and former world title challenger MATTHEW "MACK THE KNIFE" MACKLIN on Saturday, June 29, 2013 in the beautiful, state of the art MGM Grand Theater. The world title bout will be televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark®, beginning at 9:45 PM ET/PT.
The Golovkin-Macklin World Championship Bout is promoted by
K2 Promotions and DiBella Entertainment, in association with Foxwoods Resort Casino.
"I'm excited to return to the United States and once again fight on HBO. Matthew Macklin is a skilled, strong fighter and I look forward to the challenge of defending my titles on June 29th," said Golovkin. "I have seen a few of his fights and am very conscious of how tough of a battle this is."
"Golovkin hasn't put a foot wrong yet as a pro. He's destroyed pretty much everyone and, as a consequence, he's probably the most hyped fighter in the sport right now," said Macklin. "People have made him out to be this monster, but he bleeds red just like everyone else and, for the first time in his career, he's going to be stepping into the ring against a big, strong, proper world-class middleweight.
"When you compare my last three opponents to Golovkin's last three opponents, it's clear who the proven entity is, going into this fight. I got robbed against Felix Sturm in Germany, it was nip-and-tuck between me and Sergio Martinez until I got caught in the eleventh, and last time out, I blew away Joachim Alcine inside a round, a former world champ who was coming off a career-best win."
"Gennady is excited to return to the ring so quickly to defend his titles against a proven, top-rated middleweight in Matthew Macklin. Gennady was ringside for Macklin's fight against Sergio Martinez last March and saw firsthand how dangerous he is, as he dropped Sergio in the seventh round," said Tom Loeffler, Managing Director of K2 Promotions. "GGG has become one of the most talked-about fighters in boxing. This fight with Macklin will be a very hot ticket. We're thankful to HBO for featuring Gennady again and also to the Foxwoods Resort Casino for hosting this event."
"Golovkin-Macklin is one of the very best fights that can be made in the middleweight division and all of boxing," said Macklin's promoter, Lou DiBella. "It figures to be a barnburner and we are thrilled that Matthew is getting another deserved opportunity at a world title."     
"This is a fight fan's fight," said Kery Davis, Senior Vice President, HBO Sports.  "We are thrilled that both fighters accepted the challenge and we are looking forward to a terrific night of boxing on HBO."
"Foxwoods Resort Casino is proud to be teaming up with DiBella Entertainment and K2 Promotions to bring a stellar championship match to Connecticut; proving once again that Foxwoods is the premier venue for professional boxing on the East Coast," said Scott Butera, Foxwoods' president and CEO. "The Golovkin-Macklin fight will be one for the record books."
Known for his heavy hands and brutal knockouts and sporting a perfect record of 26-0-0 with 23 knockouts, Golovkin has quickly become the most talked-about fighter in the sport. His 88% knockout ratio ranks highest among active world champions.
Based in Stuttgart, Germany, and training under the watchful eye of Abel Sanchez in Big Bear, California, Golovkin dramatically burst onto the U.S. boxing scene this past SEPTEMBER 1 with a sensational performance, dropping WBA #3-ranked challenger Grzegorz Proksa three times en route to a fifth-round stoppage in Verona, New York. He followed that up with a dominating seventh-round stoppage of Gabriel Rosado on JANUARY 19 at Madison Square Garden, "The Mecca of Boxing". Both world title defenses were televised on HBO.
Most recently, Golovkin stayed undefeated with a devastating third-round knockout of former world title challenger Nobuhiro Ishida on MARCH 30, in Monte Carlo, Monaco, his 13th consecutive victory by knockout and eighth title defense.
Irish middleweight contender Matthew "Mack the Knife" Macklin, 29-4 (20 KOs), is an intelligent boxer-puncher, who has shown that he is not afraid to engage or press the action when necessary. He is currently ranked #3 by the WBC, #11 by the WBA, and #14 by the IBF.
In his first stateside appearance since a pair of 2005 victories, Macklin challenged middleweight champion Sergio "Maravillia" Martinez at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Saint Patrick's Day, March 17, 2012. Although he came up short, Macklin gave the champion all he could handle for 11 rounds, even scoring a knockdown in the seventh frame, in front of thousands of fans at the Garden and those watching on HBO.
Returning to the ring six months later, Macklin faced former junior middleweight champion Joachim Alcine in Las Vegas, destroying him inside one round, making an emphatic statement that he belongs among the best middleweights in the world.

♔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.

OVER 3,000 ADDITIONAL SEATS ADDED FOR CANELO ALVAREZ VS. AUSTIN "NO DOUBT" TROUT

DUE TO HIGH DEMAND, OVER 3,000 ADDITIONAL SEATS ADDED FOR
CANELO ALVAREZ VS. AUSTIN "NO DOUBT" TROUT TAKING PLACE
SATURDAY, APRIL 20 AT THE ALAMODOME IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS
AND TELEVISED LIVE ON SHOWTIME®

Even with approximately 33,000 tickets already purchased for the WBA, WBC and Ring Magazine Super Welterweight World Championship Unification bout between WBC Super Welterweight World Champion Canelo Alvarez and WBA Super Welterweight Champion Austin "No Doubt" Trout on Saturday, April 20 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, tickets are still in extremely high demand.  As a result, two bleacher packages will be added to the existing set-up allowing for additional seating for over 3,000 people.  Newly created seating will be available for purchase at the Alamodome box office on Monday, April 15 at noon CT.

"We are thrilled that the fans have responded in such an incredible fashion to this amazing match-up," said Golden Boy Promotions President Oscar De La Hoya.  "There is no doubt the Alamodome is going to be electric on April 20.  I for one can't wait to be there and it's clear that tens of thousands of fans can't wait either."
 Canelo vs. Trout, a 12-round Super Welterweight World Championship Unification fight for Canelo's WBC title, Trout's WBA title and the vacant Ring Magazine title, is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, Canelo Promotions and Leija & Battah Promotions and sponsored by Corona and AT&T.  The co-main event will be a 10-round fight between undefeated prospects Omar Figueroa Jr. of Weslaco, Texas and Abner Cotto of Caguas, Puerto Rico for the vacant WBC Silver Lightweight Championship which is presented in association with Miguel Cotto Promotions.  The fights will air live on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT with Canelo vs. Trout being presented in association with Greg Cohen Promotions.  SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® is available in Spanish on secondary audio programming (SAP).  Preliminary fights will air on SHOWTIME EXTREME at 8 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

♔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.

Quotes & Photos From Yesterday's Daniel Ponce de Leon, Abner Mares & Leon Santa Cruz Los Angeles Media Workout‏

WBC Featherweight World Champion Daniel Ponce de Leon, Two-Division World Champion Abner Mares and former IBF Bantamweight World Champion Leo Santa Cruz participated in a media workout Thursday in Los Angeles in preparation for their upcoming bouts on the"MAY DAY: Mayweather vs. Guerrero" pay-per-view mega-event on Saturday, May 4 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. which will be produced and distributed live by SHOWTIME PPV.
A 2000 Olympian, Cuauhtemoc, Chihuahua, Mexico's Daniel Ponce de Leon (44-4, 35 KO's) will make the first defense of his WBC Featherweight World Championship against Two-Division World Champion Mares.  Ponce de Leon, who won the title in 2012 with a victory over then-champion Jhonny Gonzalez, has won world titles in the junior featherweight and featherweight divisions while establishing himself as one of boxing's most popular knockout artists.  He made six consecutive defenses of his 122-pound title and has knocked out almost 75 percent of his opponents.
The undefeated Mares (25-0-1, 13 KO's) is one of the newest members of boxing's pound-for-pound best list.  The 2004 Mexican Olympian who lives in Hawaiian Gardens, Calif. dominated the bantamweight division with four consecutive world title wins over the best boxers in the weight class.  In 2012, Mares moved up to 122 pounds and won the vacant WBC Super Bantamweight belt in his first fight in the division against Eric Morelin April.  He retained the title against Anselmo Moreno in November.  Mares will challenge Ponce de Leon at 126 pounds for a chance at a world title in a third division.
Santa Cruz (23-0-1, 13 KO's) was one of boxing's most active world champions in 2012.  After winning the IBF Bantamweight World Championship in June, the Los Angeles resident by way of Huetamo, Mexico, defended the title three times with two knockouts and a commanding unanimous decision.  After wiping out the bantamweight division, the undefeated Santa Cruz relinquished his title to move up to 122 pounds.  On May 4, Santa Cruz will face veteran Alexander Munoz in a 10-round junior featherweight bout for the vacant USBA Junior Featherweight Championship.
Here's what the fighters and Golden Boy Promotions President Oscar De La Hoya had to say on Thursday:
DANIEL PONCE DE LEON:
"Great fight.  Two Mexican warriors.  We're expecting a great fight on May 4.
"We know each other.  We've been training in the same gym and that's why I'm expecting a great fight, because we've known each other for so many years.
"It doesn't matter, if it's a decision or if it's a knockout. Obviously, a knockout would be best.  That's what I'm working for.  If the fight goes all 12 rounds, I'm going to win.  I feel that I'm going to win the fight.
"I was WBO champion at 122 pounds and I kept it for so many years.  Now I have this one, the WBC at 126 pounds, and I don't expect to let it go in my next fight.  I expect to keep it for a long, long time.
"I'm used to [fighting] on those [Mexican holiday] dates.  Last year, I fought May 4.  Now I'm coming back on the same date.  I can feel the energy is there.  It was a very special moment for Mexico because it was at war at that time, and now I'm going to have another war against Abner Mares on that same day.  I'm going to be celebrating my victory with my friends and everybody, and also with SHOWTIME.
"I have only one style - go forward, so I'm going to throw punches down and up, head and everywhere once the bell rings until the fight ends.
"I think the advantage is with me.  I was very solid at 122 and now I've been fighting at 126 for many years, so I don't think he'll have that advantage because he's jumping from one division to another division.  When he feels my power, he won't know what's going on.  I'm going to throw as many punches as I can against him.
"I've had some good, difficult fights, so I don't see this one as the most difficult [of my career].  I've had so many great wars, so this one won't be the most difficult.  It's going to be a very interesting fight.  I think I am very solid at 126 and I know for a fact that it's difficult when you jump divisions.  It's difficult to get power.  You have to establish it with some fights in order to get it.  I've fought 130-pound fighters, 145-pound fighters, so I know that power.  It's kind of difficult for Abner because he doesn't know that power.
"I'm not thinking about who's stronger.  I know Mares.  He's coming.  He's jumping divisions and I don't want to think that he's weak.  I want to be focused on me.
"If he wants to get into a brawl, we're going to do it.  If he wants to run around, wants to box, then we're going to fight him.  I have my plan and I want to stick with my plan.  I don't care what he brings or what he doesn't bring.  I'm going to be there.  I have the experience and, like I said, if he wants to exchange, I'm happy just waiting for him.
"Mayweather is a very solid fighter, a very skillful fighter.  However, in boxing, anything can happen.  Robert Guerrero might give fans a surprise.  I hope Guerrero wins, but you never know because Mayweather is such a good fighter."
ABNER MARES:
"It's going be a great fight - a fight that a lot of fans are looking forward to.  It's going to be a difficult fight being that I'm stepping up to a different weight class, a weight class that I'm not familiar with.  At the same time, I'm excited to capture my third world title.  I plan to steal the show May 4.
"I know a lot about my opponent.  I've known this guy for many years.  We kind of grew up in the boxing industry, since we were amateurs.  He's a good guy, a good friend, but he's got a style that I'm kind of unfamiliar with.  I sparred with him before, but I haven't trained or sparred with him in the past three years.  I know he's changed, but I've changed too and it's going to be a whole different fight.
(On his friendship with de Leon) "I've forgotten him already.  He's not my friend at all right now.  He's my opponent.  I see him like that.  Once I step in the ring, it's just win, win, win, man.  I'm going try to tear him up and win this fight because it's a big fight for me.  It's going to put me in a great position.
"I have to be straight-forward.  He'll be my friend after the fight but now he's just my opponent.  He's trying to take away my undefeated record and I can't let that happen.
(On his manager Frank Espinoza who also manages Ponce de Leon) "He's not stepping into my training camp.  I don't know if he's going to Ponce's training camp, but he's not coming into my training camp.  We stay in touch, but when it comes to the fight, he's not going to be in the dressing room.  He's just going to be like any other fan.  He's going to go there and just enjoy the fight.
"It's really important to get a knockout and just get a win, no matter what.  It's going to be my third world title.  I could become one of the youngest Mexican fighters to become a three-time world champion in three different weight classes, so I'm excited.
"Anyone can knock out anybody.  I have power.  It's not like I have three knockouts.  I've got 13 knockouts and if you go back to my last fight, I knocked down Moreno.  I've always hurt guys or knocked them down. Going into a different weight class, who knows, with that extra weight, it might give me an extra heavy punch.  I do plan on making a statement.  If it comes by knockout, so be it.  I'm ready.  I've been working on my power punches.
"Being a Mexican, I'm from Guadalajara, Jalisco, I can't wait to be in a good fight.  Cinco de Mayo, a lot of Mexican flags, a lot of Mexican people, and I'm going to make it my night.
(On fighting on SHOWTIME PPV) "Man, it's everything.  I think it's any fighter's dream coming up now, to fight on the undercard of Floyd Mayweather.  We know he brings great people, a great number of fans and I can't wait.  With that said, I'm more excited to steal the show and make it my night. Not Mayweather's night, my night.  I know I'm going to win and I know it's going to put me on a whole different level because millions of people are going to be watching.  I'm going to be showcasing my talent."
LEO SANTA CRUZ:
"He's going come and try and knock me out.  He's an explosive fighter.  He likes to knock out people and I think I heard that he said that he's going to come out and knock me out.  We're ready.  We're training for everything.  We've been practicing in the gym how to move and not to stay there to get hit by his jabs.
"He said that his experience is going to beat me, but I don't think so.  A lot of fighters have said that and nobody has done it.  
"It's not important to get a knockout.  I want to get the win and please the people.  I want to give fans a good show.  That's what I want to do -- please the fans.  We've been training really hard in the gym and if the knockout comes, it comes.  We've been practicing with going for body shots and to the head, too.
"I just know that he's a very strong fighter.  He comes forward.  He throws his punches, but we're working in the gym on that and my dad (Jose) is teaching me not to stay there for when he throws his uppercut.  We've been studying his punches and we think we're going in good shape.  He's explosive.  He could finish a fight with one punch, but we've really prepared for him.  We're not going to stay there and take his punches.  We're going to box him.  We're going to be right there pressuring and pressuring.  If he's not hurting me, we're going to be inside.
"Yeah, my body feels a little fresher.  I wanted to fight earlier, but I've always been in the gym.  Since my last fight, I took a month off and that was the longest I have ever taken off , but I didn't feel very good.  I wanted to go back to the gym and start training.
"I'm very excited because I want to give fans a good show.  That's why I've been training really hard.  Hopefully they like how I fight and they come out and enjoy the show.
"What you guys can expect from me is a war.  I'm going to give all I got.  I'm going to go out there and work my butt off for the fans, for all the Mexicans, all the people that are watching.  They're going to be pleased.  That's what I'm here for, to give fans what they want, and I think I'm going to give them what they want.
 "As a Mexican, it's a great, great, great day to fight near Cinco de Mayo because it's a day of Mexicans.  It's even more motivation for me to go out there, try my best and give it all I've got.  I can't let the people down. 
"I learned a lot from him [brother, Antonio, a former world champion], from the mistakes and from the good things.  You learn from everything.  He works with me in my corner.  He tells me what punches to throw.  He comes to the gym when he can.  
"I think people already kind of know me more.  The more active I can be, the better for me.  That's why I like to fight a lot.
"I'm done with 118.  I'm going to 122 and will see how it goes there.  If everything goes well, and I win a world title, I'll probably move to 126.
"I feel stronger, and people have said I look stronger at 122."
OSCAR DE LA HOYA:
"We're just making fights happen and putting boxing back on the map.  We have exciting projects coming up.  We have exciting fights coming up.  We're working closely with SHOWTIME and making sure that we just bring the best fights possible.
"The fourth of May is a celebration of a Cinco de Mayo weekend.  A lot of Mexicans and Mexican Americans are going to be celebrating that weekend.  Everybody is going to be celebrating in Vegas that weekend.
(On Leo Santa Cruz) "When (Golden Boy Matchmaker Eric) Gomez brought him to my attention, I thought he was good.  I thought he was a fighter who was going to go far, but he's exceeded everybody's expectations.  This guy is not only going to go far, but he's going to accomplish many great things in the sport of boxing.  He's a very disciplined, exciting fighter.  Now in speaking to his father, he's telling me that he's just looking incredible.  A lot of energy.  He's motivated.  He's going to be quite a champion for many years to come.
"For the viewing audience, we want to give them exciting fights, and you can't go wrong with Leo Santa Cruz because he's a very, very exciting fighter to watch and he gets the job done.
(On Ponce de Leon-Mares fight): "They're very professional.  They both respect each other.  You don't have the trash-talking.  You don't have the back and forth bickering with one another.  It's all about getting in there and fighting.  Abner Mares knows he's in a tough fight.  Ponce de Leon knows he's in a tough fight.  It's two L.A. kids that are going to bring back those memories of the Olympic Auditorium when we used to watch those Tuesday night fights every single week.  You would see a war, and that's what we're going to have with Abner Mares and Ponce de Leon.  It's all business and they know that.  They know that they're going to come out of the fight cut and bruised, and maybe knocked down a few times.  They knew that right from the start, right from when they signed the contracts.  They know they're going to get beat up, but they respect that and that's the beauty of it.
"May 4, obviously, topping it all off with Mayweather-Guerrero, it's going to be historic.  I believe it's going to be a very tough, rugged fight for Mayweather.  I'm going to predict that it's probably going to be the toughest fight for Mayweather.  Not because he's diminished in his skills.  He's still obviously a great fighter.  He has the talent and the skills, but he's 36 years old.  Remember that.  He's facing a young guy who's going to be in his face.  Mayweather is going to come out to fight.  He has said it all along.  He's going to walk him down with his style.  He's not going to run from him.  I think it's going to be a very tough, physical fight for both guys.
"It's always a privilege, it's always an honor, to promote an event on Cinco de Mayo weekend, especially when you have Mayweather and Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero.  Then you talk about Abner Mares against Ponce de Leon.  You have Leo Santa Cruz on the card.  It's going to be a spectacular night for boxing and for SHOWTIME.
"The great thing about this fight card is that I'm looking forward to all the fights.  That's now the trend, that's now the motto within Golden Boy Promotions, is you have to make great fights.  You have to make competitive fights.  You have to make fights where there is no loser.  If you fight hard and you lose a decision in a great fight, you're going to come back for one more.  You're going to come back for another day.  You're going to make an impression on everybody and people are going to demand you.  So just fight hard.  This is what this card is all about - fighting hard and giving the fans a great fight.  This (card) is going to be action, action, action!  It's going to be exciting.  It's going to be incredible.
"Boxing is in a revival and it obviously starts with April 20 (in San Antonio) and then moves on past May 4, but May 4 everybody's excited about."
"MAY DAY: Mayweather vs. Guerrero," a 12-round fight for Mayweather's WBC Welterweight World Championship and the vacant Ring Magazine Welterweight World Championship, is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona, O'Reilly Auto Parts, AT&T, Star Trek Into Darkness and Valvoline.  The mega-event will take place Saturday, May 4 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live by SHOWTIME PPV® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.  The event can be heard in Spanish using secondary audio programming (SAP).  Also featured will be WBC Featherweight World Champion Daniel Ponce de Leon taking on Two-Division World Champion Abner Mares in a 12-round fight for Ponce de Leon's WBC Featherweight World Championship, former IBF Bantamweight World Champion Leo Santa Cruz facing veteran Alexander Munoz in a 10-round fight for the vacant USBA Junior Featherweight Championship and rising star J'Leon Love squaring off against recent world title challenger Gabriel Rosado in a 10-round middleweight battle for the vacant NABF Middleweight Championship.
 ♔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.

A raucous good time was had by all attending a great night of fights Friday inside the Treasure Island ballroom in Las Vegas at our Don King Productions-promoted fight card telecast live on SHOWTIME (ShoBox)

Post-Fight Ring Quotes

Photos by:Tom Casino/SHOWTIME

Baha Mamadjonov: “One week notice and I win by that kind of knockout.  The first couple of rounds he (Angelo Santana) was difficult to figure out but once I did I just got more aggressive.  The hard work paid off.  I came to the United States to be a champion.  I want to win a world title and this was the first step.  I’m just starting.  It’s going to be one belt at a time. 
“Santana hits really hard and I respect him but I could see he was getting tired in the sixth round after I hit him with a body shot.”
Angelo Santana: “The referee stopped the fight.  I tell you I was still in it.  I landed two big left hands earlier in the round.   We were in a good fight and it should have continued.  Nothing against Baha, he’s a good fighter, but I want a rematch.
“The last knockdown came on a slip.  I slipped after throwing a punch.”
Amir Imam: “I had to figure him (Jeremy Bryan) out in the first round.  I doubled up my jab in the second round and hit him with the big right that starched him.  Some would say I took too big of a bite but I was composed, relaxed and knew what I had to do.
“Line ‘em up and I’ll knock them down.”
Jeremy Bryan: I don’t really feel like talking because I still feel a little woozy.  I expected so much more.  I trained so hard.  This is very disappointing. 
“I had a lot going on.  This was my first big fight on TV since 2004.  I had a good fan base that came in for the fight.  I think I got a little over-anxious and it cost me but I am a warrior. I’ve come back before and I’ll come back again.
Marcus Oliveira: “Coyne came to fight but I figured him out in the sixth round when I realized I could stand right in front of him and only I could hurt him.
“I made sure to work up and down.  When I went to the body, I noticed he would drop his right hand so I’d unload a left.
“I dropped him the first time with two right hands and a left hook.  The same flurry ended the fight moments later on the other side of the ring.”
Ryan Coyne: “I could have finished but he (Marcus Oliveira) has a great left hook. I felt good until I got caught with that headbutt.  I was hanging in there.  It was a good fight. He is a helluva fighter.
“I thought it was nip and tuck. After I caught the headbutt, it was very difficult to move forward. It impacted my stamina and I couldn’t see. I still can’t see. But I give him all the credit. He’s a great fighter.
Marcus Willis: “I was fighting for Don King and I wanted to show him I have what it takes.  I knew he (James de la Rosa) thought he was a bigger puncher, but I knew I was the better fighter.
“I don’t like to play for the crowd although I like it when they’re happy like this.  I fight for god, my team and myself, and I’ve got a lot more to show everyone.” 
James de la Rosa: “I felt good.  I needed these rounds.  I got a little careless in the seventh round and he (Marcus Willis) caught me with a good shot. 
“I’m not a judge but I thought I did enough to win tonight.  If I wasn’t coming forward, there would have been no fight. I’ll be back from this one for sure.”

♔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.