CANELO ALVAREZ, TRAINER CHEPO REYNOSO & PROMOTER OSCAR DE LA HOYA LOS ANGELES WORKOUT QUOTES

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Wednesday, Aug. 29, From TSB-44, Santa Monica , California

 

Canelo Defends WBC Super Welterweight Title Against Josesito Lopez

In Main Event Of “Knockout Kings” On Mexican Independence Day Weekend,

Sat., Sept. 15, From MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Live On SHOWTIME ^®

 

LOS ANGELES (Aug. 29, 2012) –- Incredibly popular Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez participated in a spirited open media workout Wednesday at TSB-44 in Santa Monica, Calif. as he prepares to defend his WBC Super Welterweight World Championship against upset-minded breakout star Josesito Lopez in the main event of “Knockout Kings’’ on Mexican Independence Day weekend, Saturday, Sept. 15, live on SHOWTIME ^® (9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT, delayed on the West Coast) from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. 

 

In front of a jam-packed gym working with trainer Chepo Reynoso and co-trainer Eddy Reynoso, the undefeated champion hit the heavy bags, performed calisthenic exercises, shadowboxed and sparred for five rounds during an intense one-hour workout. 

 

Here’s what Canelo, his trainer, and Oscar De La Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions, said Wednesday:

 

CANELO ALVAREZ

“Every fight there’s more and more pressure and more and more attention on me.  The way I deal with it is to take it one fight at a time.  Keep training and trying to get bigger every day.  I want to learn and I’m still learning. 

 

“I don’t want to say I’m the best, but I am a world champion and I want to fight the best.  I’d love to fight guys like Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto, but first I have to get past Josesito. 

 

“This is going to be a tough fight and a great fight for the fans.  Josesito has a great chin.  I feel I’ll have to work him little by little and throw my best combinations to hurt him. 

 

“He’s my opponent and he’s definitely earned the opportunity for this fight.  He’s durable, he’s dangerous and he’s coming to win.  He’s coming to win and to take my belt. 

 

“I’m not even thinking of the $100,000 knockout bonus.  I just want to win convincingly for all my fans.  I’m dedicating this fight to them. 

 

“My sole focus is on Sept. 15.  Fighting on Mexican Independence Day weekend is a very big responsibility for me. 

 

“Working in Santa Monica at this gym has been great.  Everything has gone perfectly.  I’ve had good sparring and I’ve been working with guys that are similar in size and style to Josesito.

 

“I’m relaxed and I feel no pressure.  It’s different for me now than it used to be.  I don’t have as much private time to myself; people know me and recognize me, but I fight for the people, my fans.  

 

“I’m looking for a big win so that fans can celebrate happily and properly on Mexican Independence Day weekend.  This is a very important date.  I hope the fans come out and support us.  This is a big night and I’m really looking forward to the fight.”

 

 

CHEPO REYNOSO

“This is a very important fight against a very durable and determined opponent.  People don’t believe in Lopez, but they didn’t believe in him before he fought Victor Ortiz either. 

 

“There are no weak opponents.  We know that Josesito is capable of causing damage.  That’s why we have had 10 weeks of preparation for this fight.  We don’t want the same thing to happen to Canelo that happened to Ortiz. 

 

“This has been a great camp from start to finish.  There haven’t been any problems.  Canelo is very focused.  He has tunnel vision.”

 

OSCAR DE LA HOYA

“This is an amazing card, one that easily could have been on pay-per-view.  The fact SHOWTIME stepped up to the plate is great for the sport and great for the fans.  We are all very excited about it. 

 

“The millions of fans watching live on SHOWTIME will see a great night of non-stop action and knockouts.  The $100,000 bonus we’re giving to the top knockout winner only gives more motivation to all the fighters.  Actually, this bonus is so enticing I’m thinking about maybe coming back. 

 

“You know Jhonny Gonzalez is thinking the bonus the way he fights.  Ponce De Leon, Canelo, it’s hard to pick who’s going to be the eventual winner.  Every fighter on this card possesses tremendous punching power and they can all lay down the hammer and it will be “goodnight” for their opponents when they do. 

 

“Every fight from top to bottom is going to be exciting.  I expect them all to end by knockout.  They’re all amazing matchups – the matchmaking was crucial to this card and I feel we did a great job.

 

“Fans are in for a real treat – a night of great action and knockouts.  The fighters are motivated and ready to fight.”

 

“Knockout Kings,” headlined by Canelo Alvarez defending his WBC Super Welterweight World Championship against breakout star Josesito Lopez, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Canelo Promotions in association with Goossen Tutor Promotions and Thompson Boxing Promotions and sponsored by Corona , DeWalt Tools and AT&T.  In the co-featured attractions, WBC Featherweight World Champion Jhonny Gonzalez defends his crown against former World Champion Daniel Ponce De Leon in fight presented in association with Promociones Del Pueblo, former World Champion Marcos Maidana faces perennial contender Jesus Soto Karass in a fight presented in association with Universum Box-Promotion and Leo Santa Cruz defends his IBF Bantamweight World Championship against former Two-Time World Champion Eric Morel.  The Saturday, Sept. 15 quadruple-header, packed with Mexican pride and power, will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be televised live on SHOWTIME Saturday, Sept. 15 at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

 

Tickets priced at $400, $300, $150, $50 and $25, not including applicable service charges and taxes, are on sale now and available for purchase.  Ticket sales are limited to 10 per person.  To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000.  Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

 

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.goossentutor.com, www.thomsonboxing.com, www.mgmgrand.com, http://Sports.SHO.com, follow us on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @GoossenTutor, @ThompsonBoxing, @CaneloOficial, @JosesitoLopez, @DanielPoncedel1, @ChinoMaidana, @MGMGrand; @SHOsports, follow the conversation using #CaneloLopez or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, or www.facebook.com/ShoBoxing.

SHOWTIME SPORTS® MOVES AHEAD WITH DOUBLEHEADER ON JUNE 23 AFTER INJURY FORCES CHRIS ARREOLA TO WITHDRAW FROM FIGHT WITH MIKE MOLLO

NEW YORK (June 15, 2012) – An injury has forced heavyweight Chris Arreola to withdraw from his scheduled June 23 fight against Mike Mollo, which  was slated to open the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIPBOXING telecast on SHOWTIME®.  The premium network will move ahead with a doubleheader featuring two 12-round fights.

In the main event, former World Champion “Vicious” Victor Ortiz (29-3-2, 22 KO's), of Ventura , Calif. , will face Josesito Lopez (29-4, 17 KO's), of Riverside , Calif. , for the WBC Silver Welterweight Championship.  The co-feature will match world-ranked fighters, former Three-Time World Champion Humberto “Zorrita” Soto (59-7-2, 34 KO’s), of Los Mochis , Mexico , and hard-hitting Lucas Matthysse (30-2, 28 KO’s), of Chubut , Argentina , in a battle for the WBC Continental Americas super lightweight title.

The doubleheader emanating from STAPLES Center in Los Angeles , Calif. will air live on SHOWTIME at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).  It will be preceded by preliminary bouts airing live on SHOWTIME Extreme at 7 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).  In the main match-up on SHOWTIME Extreme, Jermell Charlo (17-0, 8 KO’s), of Houston , risks his perfect record against Denis Douglin (14-1, 8 KO’s) of Marlboro, N.J., in a 10-round junior middleweight bout.  Also featured on the SHOWTIME Extreme telecast will be an eight-round super lightweight clash between undefeated Omar Figueroa (17-01, 14 KO’s), of Weslaco, Tex., and veteran Alain Hernandez (18-10-2, 10 KO’s) of Tijuana, Mexico.

Tickets priced at $250, $150, $100 and $50 are available online at www.staplescenter.com,www.ticketmaster.com, via Ticketmaster charge-by-phone lines at (800)745-3000 or at STAPLES Center box office.

MATTINGLY CALLS IN THE BIG GUN: JOSESITO LOPEZ TO THROW THE FIRST PITCH SUNDAY AT DODGER STADIUM

Los Angeles (June 15) - Former NABF Lightweight Champion Josesito Lopez will be spending a special Father's Day this Sunday at Dodger Stadium as he kicks off the official fight week for "Ortiz vs. Lopez" on Saturday, June 23 at STAPLES Center.  Lopez will be giving his best impression of Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw when he takes the mound before Sundays game.  Just prior to that, he will be signing autographs with fans at the "Viva Los Dodgers" event in lot 6 of the Dodger Stadium parking lot. 

Lopez lives and trains in Riverside, Calif., and is a big fan of the home town teams in Southern California. "I'm a huge baseball fan," said Lopez.  "It's a great honor to be throwing out the first pitch in front of the great fans of Los Angeles.  The success the Dodgers are having this year under their new ownership with Magic Johnson is amazing."  

"Ortiz vs. Lopez" is a 12-round fight main event for the vacant WBC Silver Welterweight Championship between Victor Ortiz and Josesito Lopez on a SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING tripleheader. 

 The June 23 event it being promoted by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Goossen Tutor Promotions and Thompson Boxing Promotions and sponsored by Corona, DeWalt Tools and AT&T.  

Tickets priced at $250, $150, $100 and $50 are available online at www.staplescenter.com, www.ticketmaster.com, via Ticketmaster charge-by-phone lines at (800)745-3000 or at STAPLES Center box office.

VICTOR ORTIZ, JOSESITO LOPEZ, HUMBERTO SOTO & LUCAS MATTHYSSE MEDIA CONFERENCE CALL HIGHLIGHTS

NEW YORK (June 13, 2012) -- Former World Champion “Vicious” Victor Ortiz, former NABF Super Lightweight Champion Josesito Lopez, former Three-Division World Champion Humberto Soto and top-rated super lightweight contender Lucas Matthysse participated in an international media conference call on Wednesday to discuss their participation in the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING event on Saturday, June 23, to be broadcast live on SHOWTIME® (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) from STAPLES Center in Los Angeles.

 

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

 

Tickets priced at $250, $150, $100 and $50 are available online at www.staplescenter.com, www.ticketmaster.com, via Ticketmaster charge-by-phone lines at (800)745-3000 or at STAPLES Center box office.

 

The first installment of ALL ACCESS: Victor Ortiz, will premiere tonight at 10 p.m. PT on SHOWTIME in place of the previously announced FIGHT CAMP 360° series on the event.  Following the premiere, ALL ACCESS: Victor Ortiz will re-air multiple times on CBS Sports Network, SHOWTIME and SHOWTIME EXTREME®, and will be available anytime on SHOWTIME ON DEMAND®.  

 

Here is what the fighters had to say on Wednesday:

 

VICTOR ORTIZ:

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

 

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

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

 

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

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

 

JOSESITO LOPEZ:

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

 

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

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

 

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

 

HUMBERTO SOTO:

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

 

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

 

LUCAS MATTHYSSE:

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

 

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

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

Goossen Tutor Promotions: Ortiz, Lopez, Arreola Video Interview Highlights