Former international amateur champion Roman Morales successfully moved past the toughest challenge of his young pro career, stopping veteran Jaime Villa in the fourth round at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California this Friday night.

Morales (4-0, 3 KOs) of San Ardo, California was tested in the early rounds as Villa (8-9-2, 3 KOs) of Midland, Texas fought in the same aggressive style that made his brother Tomas a fan favorite in their home state for many years. Aiding the journeyman’s early success was Morales’ trademark slow start.

“The only problem I have with Roman, is that he starts off slow,” admits his manager Repo Ric. “But that’s what Floyd Mayweather does. He starts off slow, but gets settled and goes out and does his thing. So Roman started off slow and this kid [he’s fighting] has twenty fights, so he is very experienced and he is very aggressive.”

Just as he did in France to win the gold medal at the Four Nations Tournament in his last competition as an amateur, Morales recovered from his slow start and turned the fight in his favor. “I talked to him before the fourth round, and went through the ropes, and Roman became a whole different person,” says Repo. “I guess he had warmed up.”

Warmed up, Morales implemented his trainer Rodolfo Tapia’s instructions and began to wear down the gritty Texan. “I just told him to keep working,” says Tapia. “Combinations and more jabs. But he started to land stomach punches. In the third round [Villa] got wobbled a little bit, and I told Roman, ‘Don’t stop, keep working.’ And what happened was a good, good body shot to the liver and he didn’t get up. He stayed down there.”

Though it did not make it out of four frames, the bout with Villa was Morales’ first scheduled six-rounder. By design his team has moved him to the six-round distance due to his proneness at getting behind early in fights. Some young fighters may have trouble adjusting to the longer distance, but Morales’ manager does not see that being a problem for his young charge.

“This why he’s fighting six rounds instead of four rounds already, because he is a slow starter,” says Repo. “That and the fact he should be able to go six. He spars Eloy Perez and Rico Ramos. So he should be able to go six. This one didn’t go six, he was very successful and the butterflies are out of my stomach.”

The win puts Morales in pretty good company. Most of Villa’s losses have come to solid prospects and eventual contenders. Only three of Villa’s eight kayo defeats came earlier than Morales’ stoppage Friday. Former world champion Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. stopped him in three and world ranked super featherweight contender Luis Cruz got to him in the first round three years ago.

Morales will take a break from the ring as a cut he suffered, which required two-and-a-half stitches, will need roughly 35 days to heal before he can begin sparring again. Morales however did not get much of a break over the weekend, as he arrived home around 1 a.m. Saturday morning and was a guest of honor at an amateur boxing show hosted by the Rock Boxing Gym in Salinas, California that afternoon.

Morales is expected to go for win number five at the beginning of August.

Photo by Miguel Salazar

Fresh after winning the WBC Middleweight title last week, Julio Cesar Chavez will make his first defense in September according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

“It’s very important that he go right back into action because he’s the kind of kid that doesn’t understand discipline when he’s not training,” Top Rank promoter Bob Arum told ESPN.com.
.

“When he’s training he’s all right. We’ve got to get him back in the gym as soon as possible.

“We talked to Freddie (Roach) and went over everything and the date that works for us is Sept. 24, and that’s what we’ve asked HBO for,” said Arum, adding that the fall bout likely would take place in Houston or San Antonio. “That’s right before Freddie leaves for the Philippines to train Manny. He doesn’t think the kid would go to train with them in the Philippines. It’s tough enough to get him to train at the Wild Card (in Hollywood, Calif.). I’ve talked to HBO and they are considering it.”

“If they have a good rating, you have to keep the momentum going,” Arum said.

Arum said there are three opponents under consideration for Chavez’s next fight: European champion Darren Barker of England, former “Contender” participant Peter Manfredo Jr. of Providence, R.I., and Marco Antonio Rubio, Chavez’s Mexican countryman.

“I think we’ll try to do Chavez against (junior middleweight titlist) Miguel Cotto next spring in a big pay-per-view, but in the meantime we’re looking at those guys for Chavez in the fall,” Arum said.

“He’s a guy who should be fighting four or five times a year,” Arum said. “Because of Freddie’s situation, Chavez will fight in September. If not on that date, Sept. 24, around that date. HBO is not the only game on the block. Given his ratings, if HBO didn’t want it, or couldn’t do it, we could go to Showtime or do it ourselves.”

Gary Shaw Productions’ rising prospect Roman Morales moves into the next stage of his budding professional career tonight as he takes on Jaime Villa in his first career scheduled six-round bout at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California. Their bout takes place on the untelevised portion of Showtime’s Shobox: The New Generation tripleheader.

Morales (3-0, 2 KOs) of San Ardo, California notched his third pro victory just three weeks ago with a first-round knockout over Santiago Alonso at the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa in Cabazon, California.

Morales took the fight with Alonso on very short notice after his fight scheduled for the week before was canceled at the last minute. The canceled fight was to have taken place at the same Chumash Casino where Morales will fight tonight, which is a little over a two hour drive from Morales’ home in San Ardo. Many of Morales’ family and friends who had hoped to see him fight in Santa Ynez could not make the trip down to Cabazon in May, and the whole situation was very disappointing for the young prospect, which affected his showing.

“He had sold 200 tickets, he had his daddy fly in from Texas and he had people from the Colorado amateur camp flying in to see him,” explains Morales’ manager Repo Ric. “They were all at the hotel by the time the fight was officially canceled. So he went into the ring [in May] very depressed and it was a mental situation he went into the ring with and he carried it all the way with him. But every time he swung, he took the kid out. The kid went down twice.”

While it was not his best showing, Morales still did what he was supposed to against Alonso, and that was win. “He worked the body well, exactly like I told him,” recalls his trainer Rodolfo Tapia. “He knocked him out at the end of the first round, so that was good. He was not the type of opponent where we need to be very careful, because he had only one fight and I don’t think he was in his weight class. He was too short, but I told Roman, ‘Think he is a champion and just be careful, because an easy fight can become difficult.’”

Tonight Morales will have some of his supportive fan base on hand as he takes on a veteran from a fighting family in Jaime Villa (8-8-2, 3 KOs) of Midland, Texas, whose most notable fighting brother is former contender Tomas Villa. Though Villa sports a less than threatening record, the vast majority of his losses came against prospects that eventually turned into contenders, and in one case, a world champion, Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. Should Morales outdo his prospect predecessors, it would make the statement that the San Ardo native is on his way to achieving the same success.

Morales weighed in at 125 Thursday, while Villa scaled 126-pounds.

Tickets for the event, promoted by Gary Shaw Productions, are available online at StarTickets.com.

Photo by Miguel Salazar

Dan Rafael of espn.com is reporting that a high stakes Jr. Welterweight bout between former two division champion Robert Guerrero and Marcos Maidana is in the works for San Jose, California on August 27.

“I have a very good feeling, but it’s not done yet,” said Golden Boy Promotions Richard Schaefer. “I don’t have it signed yet, but if I can get it done it is absolutely as good of a fight as you can make. It’s good to be a boxing fan.

“It’s a big opportunity for Robert and another big fight for Maidana. A win here can really establish Robert in the 140-pound division. He’s a big guy and can definitely move up to 147 as well. A win over Maidana makes him a factor in that 140-pound division, which we all know is one of the best in boxing. The winner could potentially fight the winner of Amir Khan and Zab Judah.”

LOS ANGELES, June 8 – Already home to a roster of the best boxers in the world, Golden Boy Promotions is proud to announce the latest addition to its team, former Welterweight World Champion Luis Collazo, who today signed an exclusive promotional agreement with the Los Angeles based boxing promoter.

“Luis Collazo has been a well-kept secret for too long,” said Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer. “He’s a talented former world champion who has fought some of boxing’s best and is eager to regain his crown. We will make sure he gets every opportunity to shine in the coming years.”

“I’m honored to be a part of the best team in boxing and now I finally have a chance to show the world what I can do in the ring,” said Collazo. “I’m hungrier and better than ever and I’m not gonna stop until I’m back on top of the welterweight division.”

A proud native of Brooklyn, New York, Collazo (31-4, 16 KO’s) is a talented southpaw who, at 30, is reaching his prime as a boxer. A longtime amateur standout, Collazo turned professional in 2000, and by 2005, he was a World Champion after defeating Jose Antonio Rivera for the WBA Welterweight World Title. Since that bout, Collazo has won five of eight bouts, with close decision losses to former World Champions Ricky Hatton and Andre Berto during that span being among the most controversial in recent years, as many observers believe that Collazo had done more than enough to win both. Following nearly two years off from the ring, Collazo returned in April of 2011 with a third round technical knockout over Franklin Gonzalez and now he’s ready for bigger and better things with the Golden Boy Promotions team behind him.

A date and opponent for Collazo’s Golden Boy Promotions debut will be announced shortly. For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com; follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.twitter.com/imLuisCollazo or visit us on Facebook at Golden Boy Facebook Page.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, the May 7 bout that saw Manny Pacquiao score a lackluster unanimous decision over Shane Mosley was a box office success as the bout drew an estimated 1.3 million Pay Per View buys.

This was Pacquiao’s best showing on Pay Per View

“We know we have a little over 1.3 million,” said promoter Bob Arum said. “What we don’t have are some of the smaller cable systems. What I’m saying is I know we go to the bank counting a little over a 1.3 million. I know we’ll go up from there. How much up, I have no experience in this. This was all done for us in the past by HBO, which had experience, charts and all kinds of data from past fights to compare the fight to. Showtime can’t do it because they haven’t done this in so long. They don’t have the database that you need, but I’m feeling very, very happy because I know I’ve done at least 1.3 million.

“How far over we are remains to be seen, and I have no way to make a prediction. Obviously, on the outstanding systems we did something. So that will determine how much above 1.3 million. But I don’t think we have enough outstanding numbers to say we will be over 1.4 million, so I think we will wind up somewhere between 1.3 and 1.4 million.”

Which network will be awarded the rights to Pacquiao-Marquez III has not been determined, Arum said.

“We’re on the clock and we’re discussing it with of them now, how we’re going to do it and which network we’re going to do it with,” he said.

“We worked out how we would do that first negotiation and everybody is happy with the procedure,” Arum said. “But we are also discussing it with HBO.”

“I’ve got more than a whole month to get that done, so we’re not going to agonize,” Arum said.

– Friday, June 10, 2011 8:00pm ET featuring Cage Fury Fighting Championships – Beach Brawl at the Resorts Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, NJ. Headlining the event will be Renzo Gracie prospect, John Cholish taking on a battle-tested veteran in Mikhail Malyutin for the CFFC lightweight title. Cholish, who currently holds two other titles, is currently riding a six fight win streak which includes a submission victory over Ultimate Fighter veteran Marc Stevens in Strikeforce last year. Malyutin also holds a title and is coming off of two impressive wins over UFC and Pride veterans, Chris Liguori and Luiz Azeredo respectively. The co-main event will feature Bellator and Strikeforce veteran Igor Gracie taking on Quinton McCottrell in a welterweight showdown. From the famed Gracie family, Igor comes into this bout with a record of 3-2, but has two submission victories in a row. His last victory came on the undercard of Strikeforce’s Fedor vs. Silva where he submitted John Salgado with an arm triangle choke. McCottrell, a veteran of ten MMA contests has won all but one of his fights by KO or submission. Set to return to the cage are CFFC veterans Nah-Shon Burrell, Kyle Cerminara, Stephen Perez, Trevor Suter, and Ariel Sepulveda

– Friday, June 10, 2011 11:00pm ET featuring Ultimate Reno Combat 25 presents Undisputed at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada. The 13-fight attraction is headlined by a bantamweight title fight in the women’s division. In the main event, Tay Stratford (8-1) of Reno Academy of Combat battles Autumn Richardson (3-2) from Team Quest. Stratford has torn through Nevada’s fight scene and it’s fitting that with so much on the line, a tough, game competitor like Richardson, who comes from one of the greatest camps in the world, steps into the cage to fight for the belt in this evenly matched championship bout. Stratford, who also holds a championship with the Las Vegas-based Tuff-N-Uff fight promotion, has had finishes in 6 of her 8 wins and looks to add another title to her collection. Richardson also has experience in championship fights, but came up a little short in her last bout. Nothing can erase that loss faster than a victory against Stratford with an Ultimate Reno Combat title belt at stake. Both women will look to push the pace and impose their will in what should be a fun, exciting fight for the fans. The co-main event features Sasha Montgomery (3-0) versus Brandon Morris (3-2) in a welterweight contest. The undefeated Montgomery has fought all three times for Ultimate Reno Combat so his familiarity with the organization will be key when he steps into the cage and looks to utilize his Gracie-learned submission game to get Morris to tapout. Morris is coming off of a two-fight win streak of his own and is the more battle tested of the two competitors and will look to rough up Montgomery and use his cage experience to take Montgomery into deep water and eventually overwhelm him and finish the fight.

– Saturday, June 11, 2011 7:30pm ET featuring Gruesome MMA presents Gruesome MMA 4 at Belfry High School in Pikeville, Kentucky. This 17-bout mega card features a main event with UFC veteran and former WEC World Lightweight Champion, Jamie Varner (17-6-1). Varner faces contender Jeremy Carper (3-3) in a headline bout that is sure to gain national attention. Once regarded as one of the best 155 lb fighters in the world, Varner is coming off of a first round victory at XFO 39 in May and looks to keep his momentum moving forward. For Varner, he only has one thing in mind and that’s getting back to the UFC. Standing in his way is Jeremy Carper. For Carper, this fight could be a career changing event if he is able to pull off the huge upset. Carper’s 3 wins have all been stoppages, either submission or TKO so he has the skill set to pull off the surprise victory. For Carper he is going to have to throw everything, including the kitchen sink, at the former world champion and maybe, just maybe, shock the world. No matter how this fight ends, one thing is for certain; get your popcorn and your drinks before the fight starts, because this will be a barnburner! In the co-main event, Cornelius Godfrey (1-0) takes on the debuting Kevin Miles (0-0). Both fighters have extensive amateur records, Godfrey (12-2) and Miles (4-1) so don’t let the records fool you. This professional bout will be hotly contested and anything can and probably will happen. Godfrey is coming off of a first round submission win in his first pro fight and, as an amateur fighter, held championships with two organizations. Miles, known for his slick submissions, steps up his game and will go hold for hold with Godfrey on the mat. Expect a grappling clinic from these two. The undercard is highlighted by a title fight in the heavyweight amateur division as undefeated Matt Baccus (7-0) fights Josh Walker (4-2). Baccus, already a champion in another organization, looks to add to his collection of belts with a win over Walker. Walker is coming off of a first round victory at Gruesome MMA 3 and will look to pick up where he left off. Both heavyweights are agile big men and this is sure to be one of the fights of the night.

GFL now offers full access to over 5,000 fights for the low monthly price of $9.99 at www.GFL.tv

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If Combat Sports is your game…Go Fight-Every Night with GFL Combat Sports Network

Join us at: www.GFL.tv or for press inquiries contact press@gfl.tv

This show will be on Sunday afternoon and not Saturday evening!

The show is open to any registered amateur boxer. This includes Juniors, Seniors and Master boxers.

If you wish to compete, please contact New York’s number one matchmaker Angela Querol at 718 797 2872 or gleasons75@aol.com.

The weigh in will begin at 2:00PM and the first bout will begin at 4:00PM.

All our bouts are pre-matched. They are sanctioned by USABoxingMetro. All boxers must have their boxing book with them in order to participate.

The ticket price is $20 per person. Children 6 and under are not charged. All gym members and registered amateurs with their books in hand pay $15 per person.

This show will be shown live and free of cost on: www.gofightlive.tv . The blow by blow for these fights will be done by our very own Champion Sonya Lamonakis.

NEWARK, New Jersey (June 8, 2011) On June 10 the Roseland Ballroom will be the headquarters for Boricua boxing pride as Gary Shaw Productions (“GSP”) and DiBella Entertainment (“DBE”) proudly present Boricua Invasion I. Boricua Invasion I will air live on ESPN2 Friday Night Fights. In a featured bout, undefeated, Newark New Jersey welterweight southpaw Alex “The Brick City Bullet” Perez, 13-0, 7 KOs will take on durable veteran, Manuel Guzman, 7-11-2, 3 KO’s.

Perez trains full time, both himself and the youth of Newark, New Jersey at the Aspira gym. He works hard day in and out and is motivated by his family, but he also takes pride in setting an example for the kids who come from the same streets he came from. “I am a big example to them because I came off the streets myself, I have come a long way and I am focused.”

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“The kids I train look up to me, so I always make sure I set the right example. I always tell them not to listen to anybody about what they can or can not be. Everyone told me I wouldn’t amount to anything and I am proving them wrong every day.”

Perez has been working in the gyms for many years and has worked with many outreach programs in Newark. “I have been visiting the schools in Newark for career days and talking to the kids every chance I get. People in Newark know me from before and they see how hard I have worked to get to where I am now. They know I am a warrior and I am determined to reach the top.”

“I know I still have a lot of hard work ahead of me, but I am determined to keep outworking everyone until I get where I want to be. I am always telling the kids to follow their dreams and keep moving forward. I have met a lot of obstacles in my life and some have delayed my career, but none could stop me… I have stayed focused and kept my fail in God and in myself.”

“I am glad I have had the opportunity to stay active in 2010 and plan to stay very busy in 2011. I want to thank my manager/trainer, Jose Rosario, lawyer/trainer, Danny Serratelli and my promoter Lou DiBella. I also want to thank my family and team the rest of my team. I am ready to rumble on friday and can’t wait for the fight.”

Tickets for Boricua Invasion I on Friday, June 10 are priced at $175, $125, $75, $45 and are available through Ticketmaster.com, charge-by-phone, or at any Ticketmaster outlet.

In what was one of the more inevitable things that was to happen in boxing happened on Tuesday as former Lightweight champion Juan Diaz retired from boxing to pursue a law degree according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

Two weeks after signing a contract to fight David Torres and announcing that he would end a one-year layoff, the former unified lightweight titlist withdrew from the fight Tuesday, telling promoter Leon Margules of Warriors Boxing.

Diaz, a graduate of the University of Houston Downtown, had recently been accepted to the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Law School. He has talked for years about someday going to law school, but the lure of the ring seemed like it was too much.

“I have the acceptance letter from law school and I look at it every day and question myself every day if I am making the right decision,” Diaz told ESPN.com two weeks ago when he announced his comeback fight. “I put it to the side and say law school can wait. What I really want is to become champion again, so I’ve been emailing back and forth with the university to see if I can work something out where they will let me defer for a year because I don’t think I want to go yet.”

Willie Savannah, Diaz’s manager, faxed a hand-written letter to Margules telling him of Diaz’s decision.

“He had trained 4-5 days per week for months in anticipation of once again becoming a world champion,” Savannah wrote. “He made this decision last Friday and I support it 100 percent. I hope that Warriors and ESPN will understand.

“Diaz does not have a history of pulling out of fights like a lot of boxers do. I apologize for the inconvenience this will cause all parties.”

“It’s been awhile and I am very excited and very pumped about being back in the ring,” Diaz said. “Last time I fought was July 31 last year, so it’s going to be a year. So I’m looking forward to fighting again and showing people what I still have.”

Former world champion Genaro Hernandez passed away today in California at the age of forty-five after a battle of cancer in Mission Veijo, California according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

“I think that the best fight he had was when he went to France and won the world title,” Rudy Hernandez, Genaro’s brother, said a few hours after Hernandez’s death. “He was looking to land and it was just a matter of time until he would catch him and knock him out. I was his brother, his trainer, his adviser, his manager, his friend.”

Hernandez (38-2-1, 17 KOs) defended the title eight times — including five times at the Great Western Forum — but then got the shot he had always wanted, a showdown against East Los Angeles rival Oscar De La Hoya. Hernandez moved up in weight and challenged De La Hoya for his lightweight belt outdoors at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas in 1995.

“He was a lovely man, and he was really a credit to the sport of boxing,” said Top Rank’s Bob Arum, who promoted the Nelson fight and many of Hernandez’s late-career bouts, and also quietly covered many of Hernandez’s medical expenses during his battle against cancer.

“I remember one instance (the Nelson fight) where he was fouled, and he knew he could win if he stayed down,” Arum said. “He insisted on continuing. He didn’t want to win the fight that way. He was a brave guy, a great guy.”

“As a commentator, he was everything you could ask for,” Arum said. “He had such a good understanding of what was going on inside the ring. He was just a great person. Eventually the cancer got him, but he did really well in his fight against cancer. He lasted for a long time and did everything he could to beat cancer. He showed a lot of heart.”

“We last worked together last December doing (Soto-Antillon), and he was still exhilarated by what he was watching,” said broadcaster Rich Marotta, who called many of Hernandez’s fights before partnering with him when he became a television analyst after he retired from the ring. “We will all miss him very much.”

“I had the good fortune to call many of Genaro’s fights, from early in his career when he was appearing in prelims at the Irvine Ballroom to his days as a world champion at the Forum to his biggest fight against Oscar De La Hoya at Caesars,” Marotta said. “He was the same guy through all of that, friendly, accessible to all and simply one of the finest athletes I’ve ever had the pleasure of dealing with. He was still the same guy, with the same accommodating demeanor, in the years following his boxing career as a ringside commentator.”

“He pretty much ended up playing it safe sometimes. He wanted to demonstrate his skills,” Rudy Hernandez said. “He fought as hard as he had to. He made things look a lot easier than they were. But he was a very, very dedicated fighter. Never once did he ever go into a fight not being 100 percent in shape. He was so dedicated, even when he wasn’t fighting or scheduled to fight, he remained in the gym. He fought Azumah Nelson on a Saturday, and on Tuesday he was back in the gym working out.”

Hernandez is survived by his wife, Liliana; their two children, 19-year-old Amanda and 11-year-old Steven; three brothers; two sisters; and his father, Joe Rudy Hernandez. His mother died in 2004. Rudy Hernandez said funeral arrangements were pending.

Philadelphia, PA – In preparation for his June 25 fight, undefeated welterweight Mike Jones is taking a risky, possibly ill-advised, tuneup on short notice when he faces off against the always dangerous and also undefeated Phillie Phanatic during the 5th inning of the Phillies-Dodgers game on June 8 at Citizens Bank Park.

“I haven’t been able to get the top names like (Manny) Pacquiao, (Floyd) Mayweather and (Andre) Berto in the ring with me, so I jumped at the opportunity to fight the Phanatic,” said Jones (24-0, 18 KOs), who also will fight Raul Munoz at the South Philly Arena (7 West Ritner St.).

“I will have my hands full with the Phanatic since he’s big, has a furry good defense, packs a big wallop and, under the terms of our hard-fought-out agreement, will be allowed to use his lethally long tongue. Plus, he’ll have the advantage of fighting in front of a sell-out crowd of over 45,000 fans of his at Citizens Bank Park. An incredible crowd for two top-notch undefeated pugilists. He’s tough and entertaining but when all is said and done, he’s one cool dude.”

The Phanatic had no decipherable comments when asked about his fight with Jones, but was last seen in heavy last-minute training and on-field taunting sessions.

People who attend the Jones-Phanatic showdown have the benefit of watching the Phillies-Dodgers game that night.

# # #

If Mike Jones survives his June 8 clash with the Phillie Phanatic, he will fight Raul Munoz on Saturday evening, June 25, at the South Philly Arena, 7 West Ritner Street. The scheduled 10-round contest, which is being promoted by Top Rank, Inc., Peltz Boxing Promotions, Inc., and Joe Hand Promotions, will be televised live by Fox Sports Net at 10 pm EST. The first of six additional bouts begins at 8 pm.

Tickets priced at $50 and $75 are on sale at the offices of Peltz Boxing Promotions (215-765-0922). They also ca be purchased online at www.peltzboxing.com.

Las Vegas, NV (June 7)…The wait is over and once again Floyd “Money” Mayweather delivers as the undefeated six-time world champion announced today via his Twitter account @floydmayweather that he will return to the ring on Saturday, September 17, to face the hard-hitting and explosive current WBC Welterweight World Champion “Vicious” Victor Ortiz in what is now the biggest international boxing event of 2011.

The announcement of the fight, which will take place on Mexican Independence Day weekend, widely considered boxing’s biggest weekend, sends shock waves across the sports pages as there is no denying that the younger, stronger and current champion Ortiz poses an extremely credible threat to Mayweather, who returns to the ring after a 16-month hiatus. It is a highly competitive and very dangerous match-up that will give fans a chance to see the sport’s biggest star against the sport’s newest star in one ring on one very special night of boxing action.

“I am ready to return to the ring and give my fans a fantastic night of boxing by fighting the best out there and for me, that is Victor Ortiz,” said Mayweather. “He is the current champion and an extremely talented fighter who showed amazing skills, and heart, in his last performance against Andre Berto. At this stage of my career, these are the challenges I look for, a young, strong, rising star looking to make his mark in boxing by beating me. Like the rest of my opponents, he is going to try to prove that he can beat me. I commend him for accepting the fight, but on September 17, Ortiz is just going to be another casualty, the 42nd one who tried and failed. Trust me, I will be ready.”

“I respect Mayweather because he has been a champion for many years and I know he will be ready, but so will I,” said Ortiz. “I’m a strong fighter and I have worked really hard to silence my critics. I’m a world champion for a reason and I am not going to let go of my title any time soon. This is going to be a great fight, but I will remain a world champion for many years to come.”

Floyd Mayweather (41-0, 25 KO’s) remains boxing’s biggest attraction, wowing crowds and generating record pay-per-view numbers each time he steps into the ring. In his last ring appearance on May 1, 2010, Mayweather dismantled Sugar Shane Mosley in a lopsided unanimous decision victory. Mayweather is no stranger to fighting on Mexican Independence Day weekend either, as prior to his sensational win over Mosley, he took on Mexican boxing star Juan Manuel Marquez on September 19, 2009, beating his opponent in spectacular fashion. During his extraordinary career, he has amassed wins over world champions such as Diego Corrales, Jose Luis Castillo, Arturo Gatti, Zab Judah, Oscar de la Hoya and Ricky Hatton.

Victor Ortiz (29-2-2, 22 KO’s) is on fire. He is riding a six-fight undefeated streak including his sensational win over Andre Berto on April 16 of this year. The hard-punching southpaw proved himself throughout their 12-round battle when he survived a knock down in the sixth round and came back to drop Berto at the end of the sixth round in one of the most exciting fights in boxing this year. Ortiz, who was already known as one of the most powerful young fighters in the sport but was questioned in the past for his desire, showed the world that his heart matches his hands of steel when faced with the best in boxing.

“When Floyd fights, everyone stops to watch and this is an exciting time for boxing as it always is when Floyd steps into the ring,” said Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions. “There is no better showman than Floyd and he backs up his legacy with amazing, one-of-a-kind skills. Victor Ortiz has shown us that he is a great fighter too and for the two of them to meet makes for a gigantic night for fans all over the world. It’s always a thrill to see Floyd fight and it’s even better when he faces the best out there such as a true champion like Ortiz. This is going to be a fight to remember. Sports fans have a lot to look forward to on September 17.”

“There is no doubt that September 17 will again be this year’s biggest night of boxing worldwide,” said Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “When Floyd Mayweather fights, it is an event which brings fight fans, sports fans and the general public together to see this truly gifted athlete perform. Every year Floyd sets the bar and standard for most pay-per-view buys and this year will be no different. In Victor Ortiz, he is facing a young, strong and highly motivated world champion who knows that a win over the pound for pound champion will catapult him into superstardom. The stage is set and I can’t wait for the showdown of the year.”

Mayweather vs. Ortiz is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions. A nationwide press tour is being planned for the week of June 20 with additional details about it and the fight to be announced shortly.

Baltimore, MD (June 4, 2011) – Although the National Football League is amidst a well publicized lockout, Jake Smith’s Baltimore Boxing Promotions’ “Fed Hill Fight Fest” will bring hard hitting action directly outside of Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium Saturday, June 18.

Individual tickets to “Fed Hill Fight Fest” are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Reserved tables are available for $350 and VIP tables are priced at $500. All tickets can be purchased by calling Chris at 443-848-6059.

The card will feature a number of pro-style amateur bouts with world rated fighters, female boxers and a heavyweight bout in the senior division. Assisting in the fighters’ corners for select bouts will be world renowned trainer Kevin Rooney and legendary warrior Vinny Paz. Several of the Baltimore Ravens players are also going to be on hand for the festival-like atmosphere, which will have catered food from a number of local restaurants.

“It’s not every day that the opportunity comes up to do a show in this kind of environment,” said Smith, who trains a number of the fighters at Baltimore Boxing and Fitness. “My company’s been doing shows for a number of years and this is by far the most excited I’ve ever been about promoting a card. June 18th will be a night to remember!”

Gates open at 2 pm and the opening bout is scheduled for 4. The bouts will be contested in section N of the parking lot directly outside of M&T Bank.

A percentage of the proceeds will go to Ronald “Dink” Wilburn, a close friend of Smith who is currently battling Lymphoma.

For more information, go to Baltimoreboxing.com

Las Vegas, NV- Middleweight contender Ishe Smith is a free agent once again this week following a split from promoter of two years Lou Dibella, and Dibella entertainment. Smith and Dibella mutually parted ways following a seven month inactive streak for Smith.

“I’d like to thank Lou for granting me the opportunity to seek out a new promotional contract. I’m excited to explore the field in free agency, and as always just want to get back into the ring.” Smith noted in regards to the situation.

Smith has stated that he is open to fighting at either 154 or 160 lbs. should the right opportunity arise, and feels he is able to compete with the world’s elite at either weight class. The Las Vegas native has also expressed hope that his free agency stint might allow him the opportunity to realize his dream of fighting in the United Kingdom.

“I’d love to fight overseas, it’s always been something I’ve been interested in and they have a number of guys over there that would make for interesting fights. Martin Murray and Darren Barker are two fights that may make sense in the near future.” Smith stated.

Smith had a strong 2010, giving the undefeated Fernando Guerreo all he could handle in a disputed decision loss, and stopping Alexander Quiroz in November. Smith appeared on national television twice in his stint with Dibella, once in the Guerrero fight which was showcased on ShoBox and featured as one of the network’s top fights of the year, the other being an HBO meeting with Daniel Jacobs in the summer of 2009.

The four fighters who’ll compete on SHOWTIME® tomorrow/Saturday (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) made weight Friday.

In Atlantic City, WBC super middleweight champion Carl “The Cobra” Froch tipped the scale at 167 1/2 pounds while former world titleholder Glen “The Road Warrior” Johnson weighed 166 1/2 pounds.

Froch (27-1, 20 KOs) will defend against Johnson (51-14-2, 35 KOs) in an eagerly awaited Super Six World Boxing Classic Semifinal from Adrian Phillips Ballroom at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall.

The Froch-Johnson 12-rounder will be preceded on the telecast by a scheduled
10-round bout from Denmark between ex-world champion Mikkel Kessler
(43-2, 32 KOs) and world-ranked Mehdi Bouadla (23-3, 11 KOs) that will be
shown on same-day delay.

Friday in Denmark, Kessler weighed in at 166.4 pounds. Bouadla weighed 166.

New York, NY (June 2, 2011) – US Army Captain and undefeated junior middleweight Boyd “Rainmaker” Melson will battle durable South Carolinian Kelvin Kibler in a special four round attraction bout on the “Boricua Invasion I” card Friday, June 10 at the Roseland Ballroom in his native New York City.

On May 19, Melson, 3-0 (1 KO), destroyed Hector Rivera in 44 seconds, opening the door for a quicker than expected return to the squared circle.

It is a blessing to be able to compete again a few weeks later,” said Melson, a West Point graduate. “We had our best camp heading into our last fight in comparison to our camps for our previous two fights, and this good fortune allowed us to pick right back up where we left off without any interruption. My bond with Coach Joey Gamache is growing more and more special with each moment that we are training together. I am forever thankful for the energy and knowledge he brings to the gym each and every day.”

Melson, whose popularity continues to rise in the Big Apple, will once again donate his earnings to “Justadollarplease”, a Non-Profit organization set up through the Rutgers University Foundation to raise funds for America’s first spinal cord injury trial using umbilical cord stem cells.

“I am stopping by Rutgers today to donate my purse from my last fight. It’s good to know that I’ll have another donation to make by the end of next week.”

In association with “Justadollarplease”, Melson recently started Team Fight to Walk, whose mission is to raise awareness within the boxing community about the importance of stem cell research for spinal cord injuries. Team Fight to Walk is comprised of Melson, IBF cruiserweight champion Steve “USS” Cunningham, title contender DeAndre “The Bull” Latimore, and prospects Sid “The Messenger” El Harrak, Denis “Da Momma’s Boy” Douglin, Vinny “The Lion” O’Brien and Delen “Sniper” Parsley.

Tickets to “Boricua Invasion”, which is taking place two days before the Puerto Rican Day Parade and is headlined by Puerto Rico’s top young talents, are available at ticketmaster.com.

The Roseland Ballroom is located at 239 West 52nd Street.

For more information on “Justadollarplease” and Team Fight to Walk, go to www.justadollarplease.org and www.teamfighttowalk.com.

Dan Rafael of espn.com is reporting that all action star Michael Katsidis will take on Graham Earl in a rematch of one of the most brutal bout of the last five years.

The fight will take place in August in Katsidis homeland of Australia.

When they fought in 2007, Katsidis stopped Earl in five rounds to claim an interim Lightweight title in about that was non stop action from the onset.

“Earl has been chasing this since we walked out of the ring four years ago,” Brendon Smith, Katsidis’ manager and trainer, said. “He has shown up at press conferences and even tried to enter our training camp in Thailand in the lead-up to the Juan Manuel Marquez title fight to issue a challenge. We did promise him the rematch, and now his wish has been granted. What an amazing fight it will be for Australia.”

Said Katsidis: “Graham is one tough man. It will definitely be a war and I love a war. When we met in ‘07, we exchanged a lot of punches, he went down, I went down. It will be on again. From the day we embraced each other and agreed for a rematch, he has chased me and now I will honor my commitment to Graham Earl, and give him the rematch he has been seeking.”

“Ever since our last fight together I was promised a rematch and the chance to get my revenge,” Earl said.

“Obviously, I understand that there were obligations from that fight and he had the opportunities to move on. He got the win that night. He put me down a few times, then I put him down. We were having a war in the fourth and fifth (rounds) and I believe I won those two rounds, and the fight was in the balance at that stage. If the fight had continued I believe I would have won.

“Last time it was in my own backyard, this time it looks like it may be in his. I love the challenge and will do the job properly and get the result. … Most fights these days are not great at all. People are paying good money and not getting the fights they deserve. (The rematch) will give fans the kind of fight they want and deserve.”

Exciting super featherweight Guy Robb continued his unbeaten run with a victory over the rugged and experienced Noe Lopez Jr. at the Reno Events Center in Reno, Nevada this past Friday night and already has his ring return scheduled for June 24th at the Fairfield Sports Center in Fairfield, California.

Robb (4-0, 1 KO) of Sacramento, California put his colorful style and lightning-quick hand speed on full display over the course of four-rounds en route to the shutout decision over Lopez (7-8, 4 KOs) of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico. All three judges handed in cards that read 40-36 for Robb. The only negative for Robb was that the ESPN2 audience did not get the chance to get a peak at the burgeoning prospect, as his bout came on after the main event had ended.

Lopez marked a considerable step-up from Robb’s recent opposition, and was a southpaw, which Robb’s manager Repo Ric did not come to realize until after he signed the fight. “I thought I made the wrong move by getting him a southpaw, which I didn’t know he was a southpaw until the very last minute,” admitted Repo. “So I thought I made the wrong move by not getting him enough ring experience against southpaws. He had fought one as an amateur, but he was an amateur three years ago. But I was really impressed with how he handled him and I am going to take him to the next level.”

Though he has been the superior technical boxer in every fight of his pro career, Robb has shown a predilection for mixing it up at times. For this reason, Robb’s manager draws comparison to one of Sacramento’s fighting legends. “His trainer is Ray Woods and Ray Woods is Diego Corrales’ daddy,” explains Repo. “And I am looking at another Diego Corrales, and not because his trainer is Corrales’ daddy, but it is the fact that the kid has heart. You can’t give a kid heart. The kid likes to brawl, and you can’t make a kid brawl. That’s what Diego Corrales was all about. It’s not that Ray Woods is making Guy fight like Diego Corrales, because no he is not. It’s just that I am looking at another Diego Corrales, and it just so happens that it is his daddy training Guy Robb.”

Robb credits his trainer for his adaptable fighting style, which was impressively varied and flashy on Friday night. “My trainer, Ray Woods, is the best,” proclaims Robb. “He teaches me all kinds of angles and combinations. I really know how to mix it up, it is just a matter of whether I go out and do it or not. In that fight it just came out, but we worked on all those things. I work with the man, my trainer is the man.”

Friday’s bout marked a move down from lightweight to super featherweight, which has a 130-pound limit. Robb weighed in two pounds under at 128, and his manager and trainer see him campaigning at the 126-pound featherweight division in the near future. “He’s down to 128, and eventually he’ll be down to 126,” says Repo. “He has power, and he needs to go down to where his power is really at.”

Power was definitely on Robb’s mind in Reno, as he fought for the first time on a show promoted by Goossen Tutor Promotions. “I really wanted to make an impression on the Goossens and take him out, but I tried a little too hard and it didn’t happen,” said Robb. “But that is all a part of learning. You just have to just let the knockouts happen.”

Even without the knockout, Robb’s manager believes the impression was made on the Goossen team. “I got feedback from their news media person and one of their main workers,” explains Repo. “I haven’t talked to the Goossens yet, but three different people came up to me and said they called the Goossens, and these are the people that look at fighters for the Goossens. They know I am a hard worker and they figure I will bring them hard workers, so they will give me a chance. If they take a chance on Guy Robb, they are taking a good chance, because they do see the potential in Guy Robb.”

“The Gosssens’ shows – the whole experience is grand,” says Robb. “You feel important and it makes you want to do your part and help them deliver a great show. So I just went out there and tried to do that and hopefully succeeded.”

Next up for Robb is a return to Fairfield, California, just a short drive from his Sacramento home, on June 24th. Robb has fought there twice before, and quickly become a favorite of the crowd and the local promoters. “They want him on the 24th because he is a crowd-pleaser, he’s a hell of a fighter and he brings a crowd,” says Repo.

The Fairfield Sports Center has quickly become Robb’s home venue, and he looks forward to putting on another show for his local fans. “It is always the best to be a part of the Fairfield shows, because Fairfield has some great fighters,” says Robb. Paco, Don Chargin and Golden Boy, they do a terrific job putting on those shows. The Fairfield Sports Center gets packed with energy and it is always a pleasure to be a part of it.”

No opponent has been signed yet for Robb, but he vows to be ready for whoever they bring. “I always train hard, no matter what,” says Robb. “Whoever I fight, I am always training like I am fighting a monster or a giant. If I find out about the opponent, I’ll find out, but either way I will be training hard.”

Monsters and giants sign up, Robb is ready.

Tickets for the event, promoted by Don Chargin Productions, Paco Presents and Jorge Marron Productions, are available at Paco’s Mexican Restaurant in Woodland (530-669-7946), the J.L Tepito Boxing Club in Fairfield (707- 384-8420), Baldo’s Mexican Food in Fairfied (707-426-6130) and La Charrita Mexican Market in Fairfield (707-434-8344).

Photos by Stephanie Trapp

– Friday, June 3, 2011 7:30pm ET featuring Professional Boxing Fight Night Round 3 at the Harrah’s, Chester, PA. It will be an All Philly Battle as popular Victor Vasquez battles Gustavo Dailey in a six round Lightweight bout that is a rematch of a bout that took place on January 15th, 2010.In their first bout, Vasquez scored a fifth round stoppage over Dailey, the question that will be asked, will it be a repeat or revenge. Vasquez of Philadelphia has built up one of the biggest fan bases in Philadelphia due to his exciting style which always has him in the fight of the night whenever he steps into the ring. Vasquez has a record of 12-5-1 with six knockouts and has been in some memorable fights in his young career. In his last bout, Vasquez waged a terrific back and forth war with Osnel Charles before dropping a six round majority decision as part as ROUND 1 at Harrah’s in Chester. He holds victories over undefeated Thomas McCuiston (1-0); Tyric Robinson (9-4-1) as well as an exciting six round split decision over Bryne Green (5-3) on October 8th in Philadelphia. Dailey of Philadelphia has a record of 4-11 with one knockout. Despite the pedestrian record, Dailey has fought and beat some top competition. Dailey’s crowning moment to date was a six round split decision over Tyrell Samuel (12-2). Samuel took the rematch and a third fight by decisions. Dailey has been in the ring with Eddie Hyland (10-1); Brandon Bennett (3-0); two fights with Anthony Flores. Dailey is coming off a fourth round stoppage defeat to Tyrone Luckey (2-0) on February 26th in Atlantic City. Ferrante of Northeast Philadelphia won his first nine bouts which included wins over Anthony Pietrantonio (6-1) and he won the WBF United States title with an eight round majority decision over Billy Bailey.

– Saturday, June 4, 2011 7:00pm ET featuring Absolute Action MMA 14, at the Rupp Arena-Heritage Hall, Lexington, KY. In the main event, Ewa Johnson (3-1) battles Sarah Cook (2-2) for the women’s 145 lb amateur AAMMA title. Johnson makes her return to the cage after a year-long layoff and looks to pick up right where she left by scoring another victory, this time for the championship. Cook is looking to regroup and regain her momentum after suffering a tough loss in her last fight. Both women have their backs against the wall with something to prove with the winner being crowned champion. In the co-main event, veteran James Ballinger will be making his professional debut after amassing a 11-8 record on the amateur circuit. He battles Zachery Sanders (1-1) in a matchup of rising stars in the Bluegrass State. In other action, Ryan Debelak (3-1) takes on Troy Blevins, Jr. (5-3). Debelak is a formidable striker with all of his wins coming by strikes and will look to connect with his patented heavy hands again. Blevins, Jr. already holds a win over Debelak and will look to use his mental edge and cage experience to once again come out on top. Light heavyweights Brandon Stewart (6-1) and Kelly Pennigton (3-0) also square off. The undefeated Pennington hasn’t had a fight go into the second round and all 6 of Stewart’s victories have also come in Round 1. Don’t blink when these two bulls lock horns because it could be a quick and decisive victory for one of them.

– Saturday, June 4, 2011 7:00pm ET featuring American MMA Fight League presents MMA FIGHT NIGHT, at the Newtown Athletic Club in Newtown, Pennsylvania. An 11-bout card features a mixture of rising prospects and polished veterans including Strikeforce and M-1 Global veteran Kevin “K-Rod” Roddy (11-13-1) taking on Aguileno Brandao (9-6) in one of the top attractions of the night. Roddy looks to return to his winning ways, but in order to do that he will have to defeat the grappling wizard Brandao who has submission victories in 8 of his 9 wins. Roddy and Brandao have contrasting styles making for a very combustible fight. In other action, Fight Factory alum, Steve McCabe (4-10) battles Doug “The Killer” Miller (1-2). McCabe fights out of the same gym as Bellator Lightweight Champion, Eddie Alvarez, and looks to bring the same explosiveness to “The Killer”. Miller trains out of the AMA Fight Club which is also home to a pair of other Millers, Jim and Dan of the UFC.

– Saturday, June 4, 2011 9:00pm ET featuring Tapia vs. Pastrana, at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Albuquerque, NM. Former five-time world champion, Johnny “Mi Vida Loca” Tapia takes on former Flyweight world champion Mauricio Pastrana. Tapia, who has been one of boxing’s most talked about fighters for the past twenty years (for a myriad reasons) is winding down and wants to thrill his hometown fans in New Mexico one more time before he calls it a day. Tapia has an astonishing record of 58-5-2 with thirty knockouts and captured the WBO Super Flyweight title with an eleventh round knockout over Henry Martinez in 1994. He defended that title ten times before adding the IBF Super Flyweight title when he took a twelve round unanimous decision over cross-town rival Danny Romero in one of the mist anticipated grudge matches of the 1990’s. After two more defenses, he claimed the WBA Bantamweight title with twelve round majority decision over Nana Konadu. Tapia then went on to win the WBO Bantamweight belt with a twelve round unanimous decision over Jorge Julio. Tapia won his final belt by scoring a twelve round majority decision to win the IBF Featherweight title over Manuel Medina. He has won his last three bouts which include fourth round stoppage over Jorge Alonso this past September 24th Pastrana has a record of 35-15-2 with twenty three big knockouts. On January 18th, 1997, Pastrana won the IBF Light Flyweight title with a split decision over former U.S. Olympic star Michael Carbajal. Hector Munoz (18-4-1, 11 KO’s) takes on Jorge Reyes (21-29-3, 17 KO’s) in a Welterweight bout. Undefeated Welterweight, Vincent Mirabal (8-0, 1 KO) battles Eric Bradford (0-6) in a Welterweight bout Josh Torres (5-1-1, 3 KO’s) takes on Janks Trotter (4-0-1, 4 KO’s) in a Welterweight bout.

– Saturday, June 4, 2011 10:30pm ET featuring Rumble in the Cage presents RITC 43 at the Taber Ice Arena in Taber, Alberta, Canada. The jam-packed card features a bevy of top fighters from around Canada. Headlining the event is a lightweight battle between Jordan Knippelberg (5-1) and Spencer Rohovie (9-6). Knippelberg is riding a 4-fight winning streak and looks to make it 5 in a row as he fights the veteran Rohovie who has more than twice the cage experience. The crafty Rohovie needs a win after dropping his most recent bout and with all 15 of his fights never making it out of the first round, don’t blink as Rohovie look’s to use his reckless and wild fighting style to defeat Knippelberg any way he can. In other lightweight action, CJ Bagg (3-1) takes on Peter Neufeld (3-3). Both men are still new to the sport and looking to use the other as a stepping stone in this match. Bagg and Neufeld are coming into this fight both sporting winning streaks and look to continue that momentum at the other’s expense. Also slated for action are Brandt Dewsberry (4-1-1), Jared “J-Rod” Kilkenny (8-7), Brendan “Hacksaw” Blacquier (1-0), Sean “Mercenary” Merkl (1-3), Mike Neufeld (3-2) and Ian Odland (0-1).

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LOS ANGELES (June 1, 2011) – Rafael “Chocho” Guzman is the new opponent for undefeated No. 1 featherweight contender Mikey Garcia in the co-main event of “The Son Also Rises: Sebastian Zbik vs. Julio César Chávez, Jr. World Middleweight Championship,” this Saturday at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles. The 10-round featherweight rumble will open the two-bout HBO Boxing After Dark broadcast at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast.)

Guzman (28-2, 20 KOs), of Guadalajara, México, will be making his U.S. debut when he faces Garcia. A former WBC FECARBOX super featherweight and lightweight champion, Guzman enters this fight having won 10 of his previous 11 bouts. His last three victories have been by knockout. Garcia’s original opponent, Miguel Beltrán Jr., was diagnosed with a fractured left hand and was forced to withdraw from the card. Garcia (25-0, 21 KOs), hails from Oxnard, Calif.

****************************************

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Zanfer Promotions, Universum Media Network, TECATE and STAPLES Center, “The Son Also Rises: Zbik vs. Chávez, Jr. World Middleweight Championship” takes place This Saturday! June 4, at STAPLES Center, and marks the first fight Chávez Jr. has fought in Los Angeles in six years. HBO will televise the fight live, beginning at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast.)

Remaining tickets, priced at $100, $75 and $50, can be purchased online at www.staplescenter.com, via Ticketmaster charge-by-phone lines at (800) 745-3000, or at the STAPLES Center box office.

The world championship event will be highlighted by a celebration of the boxing career of Julio César Chávez, who will be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame the following week.

Philadelphia, PA— If Bernard Hopkins set the standard, Mike Jones would like to carry on the tradition.

Jones, the undefeated and top-ranked welterweight who boxes Raul Munoz, of Mexico, on June 25 at the South Philly Arena, has followed the same strict regimen of ring preparation as fellow-Philadelphian Hopkins, the multi-division world champion who recently became, at age 46, the oldest man to win a major boxing title.

‘I talk to Bernard when he comes to the (Joe Hand) gym,” said Jones. “He always gives me something (advice) I can use inside the ring and outside the ring. He’s a real wise dude.”

Like Hopkins, Jones is known for always being in top shape. Nutrition, along with exercise and a healthy mental outlook, forms the core of that foundation.

“Eating properly is about your well-being,” Jones said, who will be fighting in Philadelphia for the 13th time, but for the first time in more than two years. “It’s all about a better lifestyle. It’s just like repetition in the gym. You keep practicing something; it becomes second-nature to you; it becomes easy.”

“The same thing with eating habits. My dad has diabetes and lost his mobility and he can’t walk around. My dad’s situation has put my diet into perspective. It’s good for my profession and my life.”

Jones has two young daughters and he teaches them to eat properly and to drink water—no sodas, no sugary juices.

The 28-year-old Jones is coming off a big win Feb. 19 in Las Vegas where he out-pointed Jesus Soto-Karass, of Mexico, for the second time. He is currently rated No. 1 in the world at 147 pounds behind WBO champion Manny Pacquiao, as well as No. 2 by the WBA, No. 3 by the IBF, No. 5 by the WBC.

The Jones-Munoz fight is part of the Top Rank Live! series which will be promoted by Top Rank, Inc., and Peltz Boxing Promotions, Inc. It will be televised live by Fox Sports Net beginning at 10 pm EST. The first of six additional bouts begins at 8pm.

Tickets priced at $50 and $75 are on sale at the offices of Peltz Boxing Promotions (215-765-0922) and through Ticketmaster (800-745-3000). They also can be purchased online at www.peltzboxing.com and www.ticketmaster.com.

# # #

Mike Jones vs. Raul Munoz, co-promoted by Top Rank, Inc., and Peltz Boxing Promotions, Inc., takes place Saturday, June 25, at the South Philly Arena, 7 West Ritner Street. The scheduled 10-round contest will be televised live by Fox Sports Net at 10 pm EST as part of the Top Rank Live! series.

LOS ANGELES (May 31, 2011) — Manny Pacquiao has settled his defamation lawsuit against Richard Schaefer and Oscar de la Hoya on confidential terms. In connection with the dismissal, Mr. Schaefer and Mr. De la Hoya made the following statement:

“Richard Schaefer and Oscar de la Hoya, on behalf of themselves and Golden Boy Promotions, wish to make it crystal clear that we never intended to claim that Manny Pacquiao has used or is using any performance enhancing drugs, and further state that we do not have any evidence whatsoever of such use.

“Manny Pacquiao is one of the greatest fighters of all time, and we apologize if anyone construed our prior remarks as in any way claiming or even suggesting that Manny uses or has used performance enhancing drugs.”

Photo By Chris Farina / Top Rank

Dan Rafael of espn.com is reporting that WBA 140 lb champion Amir Khan will take on IBF beltholder Zab Judah in a unification bout that will take place July 23rd in Las Vegas.

Richard Schaefer, Khan’s promoter of Golden Boy Promotions offered the fight to resurgent former three-division champion Erik Morales, who works with Golden Boy, but he rejected the fight. That left Judah, a big name and owner of a world title, as the obvious choice. “We’ve agreed on the terms and the contracts are being drawn,” said Judah’s promoter Kathy Duva

“I told Zab I’d rather just get the promotion going and get him in the gym and we’ll make money at the site in Las Vegas if we promote it well,” Duva said. “Zab agreed. At some point you stop quibbling over a couple of points. Zab will make money when he beats this guy. That’s where the upside is. They each have a world title, but the thing Khan has that Zab doesn’t is a multi-fight agreement with HBO. That’s where his strength comes from. And when Zab beats him, HBO will be seeking out Zab Judah for a multi-fight contract. He’ll be the man at that point.”

“I got what I wanted, so I am happy. Now it’s time to go work,” said Judah, who was on his way to the gym for a training session. “I’ve been praying on this fight. My goal is to be undisputed champion at two weights. I did it at 147 and I’m gonna do it at 140 starting with Amir Khan. I’m gonna work hard. I’m very experienced, so whichever way he brings the fight I can deal with it and take it from him.

“I know Amir wanted the Bradley fight, but who wouldn’t? Bradley can’t break an egg. A fight with ‘Super’ Judah is not a fight Amir wanted. Don’t let him lie to you.”

“Zab’s a good fighter. He’s strong, he’s fit. All the stuff on Twitter is fun, but we’re both professionals. It’s just spicing things up,” Khan told ESPN.com a couple of days before the deal was agreed to. “He was undisputed champion at 147 and now he’s a champion at 140. … If Bradley don’t want me, I’m happy to take Judah on and beat him.”

“You see Bradley and Morales turning down this fight with Khan and, at some point, you just say, ‘OK, thank you.’ Zab is very excited to get the fight. So is Whitaker,” Duva said. “This leads Zab to a very nice position in the fall where he’s got major fights and nothing but major fights when he wins. We’re all very excited about it. We believed since he came back to junior welterweight that he could beat everyone in the division. He’s already taken out Matthysse and Mabuza and now it’s Khan.”

Said Judah, “My trainer, Pernell Whitaker, will have a great game plan for this fight. I knew this fight was coming and I’ve been preparing myself. I have already been training. I wish we could do a press conference tomorrow so I could take off my shirt and show everybody how ready I am already.”

“Freddie Roach against Pernell Whitaker, that’s a helluva trainer matchup,” Duva said. “It will be really interesting to watch them go head to head and try to outdo the other guy’s game plan.”

Golden Boy and Main Events will share the undercard and Duva said she intends to put welterweight contender Joel “Love Child” Julio (37-4, 31 KOs) on the card in one of her company’s fights. Julio scored a lopsided decision win against Anges Adjaho on ESPN2’s “Friday Night Fights” on May 20.

“Our plan is to put him on the card,” she said. “We’re looking for somebody interesting for him to fight. Maybe we can match him with one of Golden Boy’s fighters.”