TUREANO JOHNSON: A THROWBACK FIGHTER IN THE MAKING

October 9, 2012 - In pure throwback style, undefeated middleweight prospect, Tureano Johnson (13-0, 10 KOs), recorded two knockouts in four days when he traveled to the Dominican Republic and defeated Jonalis Reyes on September 29th, followed by a third round stoppage of Jose Morla on October 2nd.

Promoted by Gary Shaw Productions, Johnson who hails from the Bahamas is on the fast track up the middleweight rankings.  Known for having power in both hands, Johnson seeks a meaningful fight next time out.

"Right now I'm feeling really strong and all my punches are accurate," said Johnson. "I'm going to continue to work hard in the gym and see what the big boss Gary Shaw has lined up for me.  I know GSP is working hard to get me right back in the ring.  I feel I'm ready to step up the competition."

"Tureano is an incredible fighter with a great work ethic," Shaw said. "That's all you can ask for when you sign a blue-chip prospect like Johnson.  The fact the he went to the Dominican Republic and won two fights in four days by knockout lets me know I have a great fighter on my team.  I'm working hard to get him on a bigger stage next time he steps in the ring."

In the amateurs, Johnson represented the Bahamas in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, and is considered the best fighter to ever come out of his native land. 

JOSE "SNIPER" PEDRAZA EMBRACES NEW OPPONENT ON SHOBOX THIS FRIDAY

October 9, 2012 - Puerto Rico's undefeated super-featherweight prospect, Jose "Sniper" Pedraza (10-0, 6 KOs), is embracing his new opponent, Tevin Farmer (7-3-1, 1 KO) as former challenger, Allan Benitez (7-1-1, 1 KO) had to pull out of their scheduled bout due to an elbow injury.  Pedraza vs. Farmer will headline an 8-round bout on ShoBox "The New Generation" at the Ameristar Casino in Saint Charles, Missouri, this Friday October 12, 2012.

"I'm happy that I'll be fighting this Friday on ShoBox as new opponent was found in Farmer," said Pedraza. "The fact that Farmer is a southpaw is something that I must embrace and prepare for.  I understand that this happens in boxing and my team and I are fully equipped to take on the challenge.  My goal hasn't changed, I'm coming to win and win impressively this Friday."

"Pedraza is the type of fighter that will take on any challenge," stated promoter Gary Shaw, who promotes Pedraza with DiBella Entertainment and Universal Promotions. "Puerto Rico is loaded with young talent and Pedraza is one of the best fighters to come from the island.  A new opponent was found, and I'm happy to say that his incredible talent will be on display when he fights on ShoBox this Friday.  

ERISLANDY LARA AND HIS TEAM ARE GEARING UP FOR MARTIROSYAN SHOWDOWN NOV 10TH

October 9, 2012 - Golden Boy Promotions super-welterweight contender, Erislandy Lara (17-1-1, 11 KOs) ranked No. 1 in the WBC, and his team are preparing for war as they get ready for their upcoming title elimination bout against WBC No. 2 rated, Vanes Martirosyan (30-0, 20 KOs).

Team Lara is training in Houston, Texas, where his trainer Ronnie Shields is putting together a superb game plan to face the undefeated Top Rank fighter. 

 

"Lara is looking sharp right now and he's going to make a statement when he steps in the ring with Vanes," said Shields, who has trained Martirosyan in the past and knows him very well. "Although I think Vanes is a good fighter, Lara is on another level.  We are working hard and it will show on fight night"

After defeating Freddy Hernandez (30-3, 20 KOs) and Ronald Hearns (26-3, 20 KOs) in his last two fights, Lara feels his relationship with Shields is growing stronger every day. 

 

"I have a ton of respect for my team because they give me all the right advice to be successful," stated Lara. "The trust we have for one another makes for a great partnership.  They know how bad I wanted this fight.  Martirosyan doesn't know what he's got himself into and I will punish him on fight night."

"My strength and conditioning coach, Edward "Jack" Jackson, has got me in tip top shape and Ronnie Shields with assistant coach Hylon Williams Sr. are doing their part as well to make sure I'm 100% ready for this fight.  I'm happy with my team and together we are unstoppable." 

 

Erislandy and Vanes are fighting each other on a Top Rank card who won the purse bid to promote the fight, which takes place at the Wynn Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada on November 10, 2012.  This will be the first time in two years that these two heated rivals will have their fighters facing off against one another.  The fight will be televised by HBO. 

"Lara is in top physical and mental form for this fight.  He is the best Jr. Middleweight in the world and he'll keep proving it fight by fight," said manager Luis DeCubas Jr. "We will make a statement on HBO November 10th!"

Champion vs. Champion: Abner Mares versus Anselmo Moreno

WBC SUPER BANTAMWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION ABNER MARES

TO DEFEND HIS TITLE AGAINST WBA BANTAMWEIGHT SUPER WORLD CHAMPION ANSELMO MORENO ON NOVEMBER 10 AT

STAPLES CENTER IN LOS ANGELES

 

SHOWTIME^® TELEVISED EVENT WILL ALSO FEATURE

IBF BANTAMWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION LEO SANTA CRUZ &

THE RETURN OF ALFREDO “EL PERRO” ANGULO

AGAINST RAUL CASAREZ

LOS ANGELES, October 2 - Sporting a combined record of 57-1-2 with 25 knockouts with three world championships in two weight classes, WBC Super Bantamweight World Champion Abner Mares and former WBA Bantamweight Super Champion Anselmo “Chemito” Moreno prove that great fighters come in small packages.  On Saturday, November 10 the fight true boxing fans have been waiting for is here, as Mares looks to defend his crown against a hungry Moreno who is stepping up in weight class in the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING main event at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, Calif.

 

Also featured will be IBF Bantamweight World Champion Leo “Terremoto” Santa Cruz defending his title against opponent to be determined in a 12-round bout as well as Alfredo “El Perro” Angulo and Raul Casarez squaring off in a 12-round junior middleweight battle.

 

“I feel faster and stronger at 122 pounds and now that I’m used to this weight class, I’m going to be more dangerous than ever for anyone who steps in the ring with me,” said Mares.  “I love this fight with Moreno .  I’ve got a lot of respect for him, but I know I’ll get the win on November 10 with the help of my hometown fans in Los Angeles .”

 

“I’d like to thank Mares for taking this fight as this is the type of moment every fighter waits for and dreams about,” said Moreno .  “I’m ready to show the world what I can do.  I promise my fans that I will put on a great show like always and leave the ring with the belt.”

 

 “You always hear boxers saying that they want to fight the best competition,” said Golden Boy Promotions President Oscar De La Hoya.  “Mares and Moreno are not just talking the talk, they are walking the walk.  These two are the best of the best and to see them in the ring together on November 10 is going to be a special night for the sport.  We are continuing our promise to put on the best fight cards top to bottom and with Mares-Moreno, bantamweight champ Leo Santa Cruz defending his title and the highly anticipated return of Alfredo Angulo in a brawl against Raul Casarez, fans will be on their feet cheering all night long.”

 

“ STAPLES Center is incredibly excited to host this much anticipated fight between Mares and Moreno ,” Lee Zeidman, STAPLES Center General Manager.  “ Los Angeles is home to true boxing fans and this fight will definitely be one they will not want to miss.”

 

“This fall, with world-class championship fights from marquee venues around the country, we have assembled perhaps the strongest SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING run in our 25 year history,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports. “With upcoming fights at the Barclay’s Center and Madison Square Garden , this telecast from STAPLES Center solidifies the network’s commitment to premiere boxing.  Abner Mares has come of age on this network as he has consistently challenged himself against the toughest men in his division.  November 10 will be no different, as Abner takes on one of the most skilled fighters in boxing, the current bantamweight world champion, Anselmo Moreno. I expect an explosive fight to cap off yet another big night of fights on SHOWTIME.”

           

            “I’m looking forward to defending my title in front of my hometown fans,” said Santa Cruz .  “It’s always very motivating to have my friends and family support me and I’m excited for November 10.”

 

“It’s very exciting to have my comeback fight in my second home of Los Angeles ,” said Angulo.  “I have been working really hard to give the fans a good show like they are used to because I am here thanks to their support.  ‘El Perro’ is back!”

 

“This is the opportunity I have been looking for and I will train hard to make the best of it,” said Casarez.

 

Mares vs. Moreno is a 12-round battle for Mares’ WBC Super Bantamweight World Championship promoted by Golden Boy Promotions taking place on November 10 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles .  The event is sponsored by Corona and AT&T and will be televised live on SHOWTIME.

 

Tickets priced at $200, $100, $50 and $25, not including applicable service charges and taxes, are on sale now and available for purchase at all Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com, by phone at (800) 745-3000 or at the STAPLES Center Box Office.

 

A representative of the 2004 Mexican Olympic team, Guadalajara native Abner Mares (24-0-1, 13 KO’s) now makes his home in the Los Angeles area in Hawaiian Gardens, where he has become one of the most popular fighters to emerge from the area in years.  That’s no surprise given his affable personality, willingness to take on all comers and warrior-like style in the ring, but most important to his fans is the character he’s shown in navigating the ups and downs of life in the fight game.  In 2010, he began to make his move on the big-time boxing scene with a hard-fought and controversial draw against Yonnhy Perez and an exciting win over Vic Darchniyan.  However, it was his win over Joseph “King Kong” Agbeko for the IBF Bantamweight World Title in August of 2011 that made him a champion and catapulted him into the spotlight.  After a successful defense against Agbeko in their December 2011 rematch, the 26-year-old Mares won his second divisional world title in April with a 12-round victory over former Two-Time World Champion Eric “Little Hands Of Steel” Morel that earned him the WBC Super Bantamweight World Championship belt.  He now looks to defend against another tough customer in Moreno .

 

Fighting out of Panama City, Panama, 27-year-old Anselmo “Chemito” Moreno (33-1-1, 12 KO’s) had been one of boxing’s best kept secrets for years, but the man with the amazing 27-fight winning streak is unknown no longer thanks to his remarkable skill set and willingness to fight anyone.  A professional since 2003, Moreno won the WBA Bantamweight World Championship title in May of 2008 with a 12-round decision win over Volodymyr Sydorenko.  After that, eight successful defenses followed before Moreno made his United States debut with another defense of his crown, this one a lopsided 12 round unanimous decision win over former World Champion Vic Darchinyan.  Firmly established as one of the best young champions in boxing, Moreno stopped David De La Mora in nine rounds on April 21, 2012.  Now he will step up in weight to challenge Mares in one of the biggest fights of 2012.

 

Coming off of a career-defining win over Eric Morel on September 15 in which he handed the former world champion his first ever knockout loss, IBF Bantamweight World Champion Leo Santa Cruz (21-0-1, 12 KO’s) of Lincoln Heights, Calif. will jump right back into the ring on November 10 eager to keep the momentum going.  Just 24 years old, “Teremoto” went from prospect to champion in 2012, when he stopped veteran Alejandro Hernandez in January and then won his first world title in June with a dominant win over Vusi Malinga.  Now with the fifth round stoppage over Morel under his belt, the sky’s the limit for this young Mexican-American phenom.

 

A devastating puncher with a pressure-filled style that has broken down many of the junior middleweight division’s top contenders, Alfredo Angulo’s (20-2, 17 KO’s) only goal left is to win world championship gold.  Originally from   Mexicali , Baja California , Mexico , but now fighting out of Los Angeles, Calif. , the 30-year-old contender has been chomping at the bit to return to the ring for the first time since his candidate for “Fight of the Year” war with James Kirkland in 2011.  With the immigration issues that kept him out of the ring since that fight cleared up, he is ready to return and prepared to show that he still has the exciting form that saw him finish Joachim Alcine, Gabriel Rosado, Harry Joe Yorgey and Joel Julio.

 

Nicknamed “El Tigre” for his ferocious attacking style in the ring, Edinburg, Texas’ Raul Casarez (19-2, 9 KO’s) is unbeaten since 2006, and on November 10 he has the opportunity he has been waiting his entire career for, to fight on SHOWTIME against a highly-rated contender.  For the 25-year-old, a win over Angulo will not only extend his 11-fight unbeaten streak, which includes a March win over J.C. Candelo, but it will place him among the top contenders in the division and put him on the fast track to a world title shot.

 

Vic Darchinyan Roars Back Into World Title Contention

October 1, 2012 - This past Saturday, former three division world champion, Vic "Raging Bull" Darchinyan (38-5-1, 27 KOs), resurrected his career with a dominating victory against previous unbeaten Puerto Rican contender, Luis Orlando Del Valle (16-1, 11 KOs).  With the gutty win, Darchinyan roars back into world title contention as he captured the vacant NABF title in the super bantamweight division. 

After becoming a world champion in multiple divisions, Darchinyan's win against Del Valle was his first at the super bantamweight division.  Many opportunities arise with the victory.

"I felt very strong coming into this fight and I was in great shape." said Darchinyan. "I'm going to campaign at super bantamweight moving forward and I believe I still have the power to keep my opponents honest."

Darchinyan felt that coming into this fight as the underdog, was a slap in the face.

"I could not believe that I was the underdog coming into this fight." continued Darchinyan, "I was thinking, what has this kid done to be the favorite against a fighter who's won eight world championships.  It really surprised me that I wasn't the main event and that the fight was only a 10-rounder.  All this inspired me to prove everyone wrong and dominate this fight.  Now I'm calling out all champions....LET'S GO!

Darchinyan's promoter, Gary Shaw, feels Vic has a lot of fight left in him and believes he should be next in line to fight all champions in every sanctioning organization. 

  

"Look for Darchinyan to be in a big fight next time he steps in the ring because he showed everyone he can still fight at the elite level," stated Gary Shaw. "In his astonishing career, he's faced the best challenges that have come his way and his win against a very talented young fighter in Del Valle, is proof he can fight at the championship level."

"Darchinyan and his thrilling style is responsible for bringing the little guys back to TV and in the limelight.  I believe when Vic hangs up the gloves he will be a first ballot Hall of Famer."

Shobox : Romero-Esquivias, Morales-Arellano Weights and Final Quotes

JONATHAN ROMERO & EFRAIN ESQUIVIAS 

ROMAN MORALES & JONATHAN ARELLANO

 

Friday, Sept. 21, LIVE on SHOWTIME® At 11 p.m. ET/PT

From Chumash Casino Resort, Santa Ynez, Calif. <> SANTA YNEZ, Calif. (Sept. 20, 2012) - The four confident, determined and motivated super bantamweights competing on an excellent doubleheader on ShoBox: The New Generation tomorrow/Friday, Sept. 21, live on SHOWTIME® (11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) made weight Thursday at Chumash Casino Resort.

Combined, the ShoBox fighters are 62-1-1, but each will be facing his toughest opponent to date on Friday night.

In what should be an exciting 10-round main event between boxers with contrasting styles, unbeaten, world-ranked Jonathan Romero (21-0, 12 KOs) of Cali, Colombia, faces Efrain Esquivias Jr. (16-1, 9 KOs), of Gardena, Calif., for the No. 2 ranking in the IBF.

A terrific ShoBox co-feature will match Roman Morales (12-0, 6 KOs), of San Ardo, Calif., and Jonathan Arellano (13-0-1, 3 KOs), of Ontario, Calif., in an eight-round match for the WBC Latino Championship..
Tickets for the Gary Shaw Productions event, priced at $35, $45, $55, $70 and $85, are on sale at Chumash Resort Casino Box office or online at www.startickets.com.

Barry Tompkins will call the blow-by-blow action on ShoBox with Steve Farhood serving as expert analyst. Gordon Hall is the executive producer of ShoBox with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.

WEIGHTS: Romero and Esquivias each weighed 122 pounds, but Esquivias had to shed two pounds to do it. Morales and Arellano also tipped the scale at 122.

What the fighters said Thursday:

JONATHAN ROMERO

"It's exciting to be back on SHOWTIME and I just love the attention and exposure it brings to me.

"I expect Esquivias to come forward from the start and try and get right in my face, so I am prepared to do whatever it takes. Whether it means I have to box and move around or slug in the middle of the ring, I'm ready. I hurt my left thumb in my last fight, but it is 100 percent now.

"I feel I am mentally stronger than when I fought Chris Avalos (Romero won a split decision last Dec. 2 on ShoBox), and look to put on a better show this time.

"Esquivias is a good fighter. I've watched a lot of tape and know he is very aggressive and will be coming to fight his fight. But his style is good for me and I will adjust to whatever he is trying to do.

"This is an important fight with a top ranking on the line. I hope if I win I can fight for the world title in my next fight. I know I feel I'm ready.''

EFRAIN ESQUIVIAS

"This fight is for No. 2 in the IBF, so it is very important. I'm looking to win, make a good impression and fight for the title.

"I've seen Romero's fights. I'm not sure he likes to get pressured. But for sure I'm going to make him go backwards.

"I've trained hard and have worked especially hard getting off to a fast start. I know I'm a slow starter. I'm expecting to start fast and set a good pace. I like to be a crowd-pleaser and entertain the fans.

"Even though I thought I won my fight against Chris Avalos (he lost a majority decision last June 23), I didn't get discouraged when the decision didn't go my way. In fact, it made me become more motivated and work even harder.

"I plan to bring it against Romero. That's my style. I think I showed in my last fight (against Avalos) that I belonged. Now I need to show that I can win.''

ROMAN MORALES

"I've done it twice so I feel much more comfortable going eight rounds. I think I did a good job in my last fight on ShoBox (he won a unanimous decision over the Roger Mayweather-trained Alexis Santiago) and listened to my corner OK. When I needed to get my second wind, I did and kept pushing forward.

"I think this is the toughest fight I've had. I know Arellano is quick and moves a lot and is going to box. I just have to be smart, keep my hands up and try and cut him off. If I get him against the ropes, I'll go to the body. But I think jabbing a lot more is the most important key for me heading into the fight.

"I just hope to win so that when I get a few more fights and get some more experience, I'll be ready for a 10-round fight against a top-10 guy fight. I've been winning decisions, but that is good. I just want to win. There is no pressure to try for a knockout. If it comes, it comes ...

"I've had some good sparring with Nonito Donaire. I think we've helped each other.''

JONATHAN ARELLANO

"This is my first fight on ShoBox but I feel I've been preparing for it since I was a kid. So, naturally, I am very excited but at the same time I'm not overwhelmed. I've always felt that if I worked hard these kind of opportunities would come.

"This is going to be a great fight. I'm looking forward to fighting someone who is really going to try and push me. I feel I I have good movement and speed, but my trainer, Henry Ramirez, has been trying to get more to stay in the pocket and throw more.

"I work very hard. I'm looking at this great opportunity for me to prove myself.''

ESPN's First Take: Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez IV