ANDRADE AND JACOBS MAKE THEIR PICKS FOR CANELO-GGG 2


(NEW YORK, September 12) Demetrius Andrade and Daniel Jacobs are both targeting the winner of the rematch between Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin in Las Vegas this weekend – and they broke off from their training camps for two huge World title bouts to pick their winner.

Andrade (25-0 16KOs) is gunning for two-weight World glory when he challenges England’s WBO Middleweight king Billy Joe Saunders (26-0 12KOs) at the TD Garden in Boston on October 20, live on DAZN – and the Rhode Island star wants the Kazakh beast to beat the Mexican hero – whom he had strong words for!

ANDRADE VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EjxO2-2sHM

Jacobs (34-2 29KOs) can become a two-time Middleweight king when he faces unbeaten Ukrainian ace Sergiy Derevyanchenko (12-0 10KOs) for the vacant IBF strap at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York on October 27, live on HBO – and the Brooklyn ace is backing GGG to land the win, but wants the Mexican to win to set up his own rematch with Golovkin after he was edged out at the Garden by GGG in March 2017.

JACOBS VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_mWGNVyB_Q

Andrade’s clash with Saunders tops a huge night of action in Boston with two more World title fights on the bill as Tevin Farmer (26-4-1 5KOs) is straight back in action to defend his IBF Super-Featherweight title against Belfast’s James Tennyson (22-2 18KOs) and Irish sensation Katie Taylor (10-0 5KOs) puts her IBF and WBA World Lightweight titles on the line against Puerto Rican star Cindy Serrano (27-5-3 10KOs).

There’s a tasty IBF World Featherweight title eliminator between Briton Kid Galahad (24-0 15KOs) and Rhode Island’s Toka Kahn Cleary (25-1 17KOs), Framingham’s Danny O’Connor (30-3 11KOs) faces England’s Tommy Coyle (24-4 12KOs) in an all-action clash, former World Super-Bantamweight king Scott Quigg (34-2-2 25KOs) resumes his journey to Featherweight honors on the bill, local favorites Niall Kennedy (11-0-1 7KOs) and Mark DeLuca (21-1 13KOs) are in action and Kazakhstan’s Olympic gold medal hero Daniyar Yeleussinov (3-0 1KO) tastes his fourth action in the paid ranks.

Tickets for October 20 are on sale now from www.TDGarden.com

Jacobs’ clash with Derevyanchenko tops a World title double-header on HBO as unbeaten Puerto Rican Alberto Machado (20-0 16KOs) makes the second defense of his WBA World Super-Featherweight title against Cleveland’s Yuandale Evans (20-1 14KOs) – and a third World strap on the bill as Heather Hardy (21-0 4KOs) and Shelley Vincent (23-1 1KO) meet in a rematch of their 2016 fight of the year battle – this time with the vacant WBO Featherweight belt on the line.

Tickets for October 27 are on sale now from www.Ticketmaster.com




Video: Canelo – Golovkin undercard press conference

https://www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing/videos/297631860831895/




Heralded Prospect Brian Ceballo in action this Saturday night on the Canelo – GGG card in Las Vegas


NEW YORK (September 13, 2018)-Undefeated welterweight Brian Ceballo will be back in action on the biggest card of 2018 when he takes on David Thomas in a scheduled six-round bout at The T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The bout will be part of the highly anticipated card that will be headlined by the Middleweight World Title rematch between Canelo Alvarez and Gannady Golovkin.

The Ceballo – Thomas bout is scheduled to be streamed live on Facebook.

The 24 year-old Ceballo of New York knows that this is a big opportunity when a lot of exposure to be showcased on this card.

“I’m very excited to be a part of a show of this this magnitude!,” said Ceballo. “I admire both of these fighters, and it’s a dream to be fighting on their undercard. I’m in the best shape of my life,” and the people who will be there will get to see the future of the welterweight of division.”

Ceballo’s co-manager, Tim VanNewhouse has high aspirations for Ceballo, and is looking forward to his fighter’s performance on the big stage.

“Brian’s has had a great start to his professional career. Adding him to the biggest show of the year is proof to that. Most prospects don’t get showcased on these platforms unless they are ready. I’m confident he’s going to impress, and continue to move up in the ranks.”

Ceballo is managed by Split-T Management and promoted by 360 Promotions.




“GENNADY KNOCKING OUT CANELO WILL BE A PUBLIC SERVICE TO BOXING AND THE MEXICAN BEEF INDUSTRY!” – Abel Sanchez


LAS VEGAS, NEV. (September 13, 2018) – T-Minus two days and counting until undefeated World Middleweight Champion and boxing’s superhero GENNADY “GGG” GOLOVKIN makes his 21st and division record-breaking title defense. It’s taken nearly one year but Golovkin will finally get the rematch he and the world have craved, against former two-division world champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. And what a long strange trip it’s been to get here.

“Triple G vs. Triple C is finally here,” declared Abel Sanchez, Golovkin’s trainer. “Canelo Con Carne is finally going to face the music from the man he has avoided most, Gennady Golovkin. All those months of excuses, the aiding and abetting and the enabling by Canelo’s team, will finally come to an end on Saturday night. Gennady is boxing’s longest-reigning world champion (since 2010) but I don’t think he has really been appreciated until he stood up for the sport of boxing and boxing fans after Canelo flunked two random drug tests in February. Instead of being upfront and honest about it, Canelo and his team trotted out an old wheeze about the Mexican beef industry. Instead of apologizing to Gennady, Canelo and his team continued to dress themselves in clothes made of entitlement and arrogance. No, Saturday night’s rematch isn’t about revenge, it’s about respect. It’s about Gennady defending the heritage of a great sport and the honor of that sport’s great fans. It’s about fairness, where two athletes compete on an even playing field, adhering to the rules and shining a light when others try to circumvent their own regulations. Sunshine is a great disinfectant.”

“Gennady has trained hard for this fight. He has had a different edge in this training camp and has trained with a purpose,” continued Sanchez. “To win a fight you have to try to win the fight. You win a fight by doing damage to your opponent and making it a battle. Does Gennady want to knock out Canelo on Saturday night? You betcha and it will be a public service to the sport and the Mexican beef industry he has selfishly maligned.”

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

“24/7 Canelo/GGG 2” is streaming on HBO GO and HBO NOW.

Canelo’s fifth “24/7” appearance and Golovkin’s third,

“24/7 CANELO/GGG 2” is the latest installment

of the acclaimed franchise that began in 2007.

Canelo vs. GGG 2 is a 12-round fight for the middleweight championship of the world presented by Golden Boy Promotions and GGG Promotions. The event is sponsored by Tecate, “THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING,” Hennessy, “Never Stop, Never Settle,” Fred Loya Insurance, Interjet, Venom, and Fathom Events. The event will take place Saturday, Sept. 15 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, ;;;

www.caneloggg.com ;;;and www.hbo.com/boxing; ;;;follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing, @Canelo, @gggboxing, @OscarDeLaHoya, @hboboxing and @TomLoeffler1; become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing,

www.facebook.com/gggboxing, and www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing; follow on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing, @Canelo, @gggboxing, @HBOboxing and @OscarDeLaHoya; and follow the conversation using #CaneloGGG2.

Photos and videos are available for download by clicking here or copying

and pasting the link http://bit.ly/CaneloGGG2 into a browser. Credit must be provided to Golden Boy Promotions for any photo and/or video usage.




GGG, Canelo skip the ritual stare down and look forward to only opening bell

By Norm Frauenheim

LAS VEGAS – They were in the same room for the first time in months. They sat at the same long table, separated by a pulpit that on this day was missing a bully. They could hear each other. But they didn’t look at each other. Not once.

Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin avoided eye contact on an occasion usually set aside for the first of at least two ritual stare downs staged for cameras and often measured as an early sign of who might have an edge in the hostility that awaits. To blink or look away first is said to be symptomatic of intimidation.

But Alvarez and Golovkin weren’t giving away much of anything Wednesday throughout a formal news conference at MGM Grand’s KA Theatre. Golovkin entered first. Then, Canelo. But they stayed on their side of the room, one predator seemingly wary of the other just days before their middleweight rematch Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena in an HBO pay-per-view bout. In the end, there was no stare down, a rare departure from a story line as old as worn canvas and sagging ropes.

Depending on the source, there was no stare down Wednesday – and there might be one Friday at the weigh-in — because Canelo is still angry at insults hurled at him from a GGG corner led by trainer Abel Sanchez, who mocked him for a positive drug test in February and his safety-first style in a controversial draw last year.

There’s all kind of garden-variety psychology about who Sanchez is trying to provoke and why. There’s one theory that he wants to enrage Canelo enough to lure him into firefight of an exchange in the early rounds. But there’s no real sign that Canelo will take the bait

“I’m a fighter who thinks in the ring,’’ Canelo said without any edge in his voice during media round table before the formal news conference. “I know I can win fighting in any style.’’

Sanchez, however, argues that the fans expected more aggressiveness from Canelo last September. There were scattered boos a year ago because Canelo didn’t fight in the so-called Mexican-style. Since then, there have been signs of ambivalence among some of Canelo’s Mexican fans. There’s one way to win back their undivided loyalty, says Sanchez, and that’s to fight with the go-for-broke aggressiveness that has identified so many of Mexico’s greatest fighters.

But Canelo has own answer for that one.

“Anyone can support who they want, but authentic Mexicans will support the Mexican,’’ said Canelo, who is confident he will still be the favorite against the reigning champion, GGG, a Kazakh.

Yet, on the betting board late Wednesday GGG was a slight favorite at about 9-5 odds. There are still unanswered questions about how Canelo will react to a controversial suspension for clenbuterol, a steroid he says he ingested from eating tainted Mexican beef. Not everybody believes him, hence there are inevitable questions about a Canelo who appears to be slimmer than he was last September. Canelo addressed that one by suggesting that a slimmer body is quicker one.

“Speed is always important, especially when you are in there against a slow fighter like Golovkin,’’ Canelo said in what could be viewed as a comment intended to defy Sanchez’ attempt to lure him into a brawl.

All of it has made the rematch a guessing game between a couple of corners that evidently don’t like each other. At the news conference, Canelo, trainer Eddy Reynoso and manager Chepo Reynoso sat stone faced when GGG and Sanchez were introduced. The crowd applauded; they didn’t.

“Much has been said,’’ Chepo Reynoso said. “But in the ring, the truth will come out.’’

Only then, perhaps, Canelo and GGG can look safely into each other eyes.




CANELO VS. GGG 2 FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES


LAS VEGAS (Sept. 12, 2018) Lineal Middleweight World Champion Canelo Alvarez (49-1-2, 34 KOs) and WBC/WBA/IBO Middleweight Champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin (38-0-1, 34 KOs) shared a stage at the MGM Grand Resort and Casino for the first time since February earlier this year for the final press conference ahead of their highly anticipated rematch on Sept. 15 at a now sold-out T-Mobile Arena, that will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at the special time of 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT.

Below is what the fighters and their teams had to say at today’s final press conference:

CANELO ALVAREZ, LINEAL MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION:
“Thank you everyone for being here. I’m ready and prepared to be in the ring soon Sept. 15. If you have known m throughout my career you know I don’t like to talk I like to show it in the ring. Thank you to my fans and this fight is for Mexico.”

GENNADY “GGG” GOLOVKIN, WBC/WBA/IBO MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION:
“September 15 is a huge date. This is the biggest day for boxing fans. I’m very happy. I feel healthy. Thank you to God who gave me the biggest chance to be here. Thank you to the teams. Thank you to all the fans.”

ERIC GOMEZ, PRESIDENT OF GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS:
“We are now just three short days away from seeing something for a second time that unfortunately rarely happens in our sport – the two best guys in a division facing each other in the primes of their career.And this time, there is real bad blood between these two guys. Canelo has personally told me he wants to knock GGG out. GGG hasn’t been shy about expressing his thoughts about Canelo.

“And, this has just come in: Tickets for Canelo vs. GGG 2 are officially SOLD OUT. So, the only way now to catch this historic rematch in Las Vegas is by watching the closed circuit telecast at MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, The Mirage or Luxor.”

TOM LOEFFLER OF GGG PROMOTIONS:
“What a long and winding road we took to get here today for this historic rematch. Luckily for the fans and the sport of boxing with one concession we were able to get this fight done. You have to give both these fighters credit. A lot of people were demanding to see this rematch and here we are. This transcends the sport of boxing and sports in general. It has become an international event, broadcast in 160 countries. It’s like the World Cup with its international fan base. If GGG is successful, he’s up against the legendary Bernard Hopkin’s historic middleweight title defense record.”

EDDY REYNOSO, HEAD TRAINER FOR CANELO ALVAREZ:
“The date is here, we have made a great preparation to show it in the ring. Thank you to all the media here today.”

JOSE “CHEPO” REYNOSO, MANAGER AND CO-TRAINER OF CANELO ALVAREZ:
“Much has been said outside the ring but the truth will arrive this Saturday. Words aren’t needed and we expect a great fight. When you remember great fights, you will remember Canelo vs. GGG 2. We hope that in the ring it exceeds what was said outside of the ring.”

ABEL SANCHEZ, TRAINER TO GENNADY GOLOVKIN:
“Thank you to Canelo and GGG teams for making this fight a reality. In order to take his belt, you’re gonna have to fight him. Lets hop we get the kind of fight the other side has promised on Sept. 15.”

BERNARD HOPKINS,
FUTURE HALL OF FAMER AND GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS PARTNER:
“For Canelo and GGG to be on the stage at this time in middleweight history, they get to take it to the next level. I wish one guy to be the winner and that’s Canelo. Come Sept 15 I think a lot of people will be surprised for how this fight will turn out.”

TONY WALKER, VICE PRESIDENT OF PROGRAMMING, HBO PAY-PER-VIEW:
“This is undoubtedly the biggest boxing match of the year. Everyone involved would not stop until the fight was made. This is a mega fight in every sense of the word. Since the fight a year ago, it stayed in the public consciousness and was water cooler talk. Everyone continued to talk about it because it is the biggest to happen in the sport.”

BOB BENNETT, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF NEVADA STATE ATHLETIC COMMISSION:
“Thank you to Golden Boy Promotions and GGG promotions for bringing this fight to the Fight Capital of the World. Without the fighters, we wouldn’t be here today.”

MAURICIO SULAIMAN, PRESIDENT OF THE WORLD BOXING COUNCIL:
“This fight represents the best fight of the year and the century. These camps understand the need to give the fans the best fight and to do it again after the bell rang last year on Sept 16. I’m very proud of our champion Gennady Golovkin who has been a great representative of the sport and I’m very proud of Canelo who has also always been a great representative of the sport. I am sure Chepo, Eddy and Abel have prepared their fighters to give the best fight on Saturday.”

CANELO VS. GGG 2 UNDERCARD WORKOUT PHOTOS AND VIDEOS

(ABOVE: Jaime Munguia poses for photos at today’s undercard workout ahead of a stacked card of
action on Sept. 15 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas)

Click HERE for Photos and Videos
Photo Credit: Tom Hogan-Hogan Photos/Golden Boy Promotions
Video Credit: Golden Boy Promotions

Following the final press conference, Canelo vs. GGG 2 undercard fighters including
Mexican middleweight star Jaime Munguia (30-0, 25 KOs), rugged Canadian contender Brandon “Bad Boy” Cook (20-1, 13 KOs), former IBF Middleweight World Champion David Lemieux (39-4, 33 KOs), Irish warrior Gary “Spike” O’Sullivan (28-2, 20 KOs), former four-division world champion Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez (46-2, 38 KOs), and experienced Mexican warrior Moises “Moi” Fuentes (25-5-1, 14 KOs) staged an open workout for fans in the lobby of the MGM Resort and Casino.

# # #

Canelo vs. GGG 2 is a 12-round fight for the middleweight championship of the world presented by Golden Boy Promotions and GGG Promotions. Munguia vs. Cook is a 12-round battle for the WBO Junior Middleweight World Title presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Zanfer Promotions. Lemieux vs. O’Sullivan is a 12-round a WBA World Title Eliminator presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Eye of The Tiger Management in association with Murphy’s Boxing. Gonzalez vs. Fuentes is a 10-round super flyweight fight presented by Golden Boy Promotions and GGG Promotions in association with Teiken Promotions and Zanfer Promotions. The event is sponsored by Tecate, “THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING,” Hennessy, “Never Stop, Never Settle,” O’Reilly Auto Parts, Fred Loya Insurance, Interjet, Venom, and Fathom Events. The event will take place Saturday, Sept. 15 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at a special time of 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT.

“24/7 Canelo/GGG 2” is streaming on HBO GO & HBO NOW. Canelo’s fifth “24/7” appearance and Golovkin’s third, “24/7 CANELO/GGG 2” is the latest installment of the acclaimed franchise that began in 2007.

Tickets for the closed circuit telecast of Canelo vs. GGG 2 are still available at MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, The Mirage and Luxor are priced at $100, not including applicable fees. Seating is general admission at MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay and The Mirage while Luxor will have assigned seats. Tickets may be purchased at any MGM Resorts International Box Office, by phone with a major credit card at (800) 745-3000 or online at http://www.ticketmaster.com/canelovsggg2.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com,
www.caneloggg.com and www.hbo.com/boxing. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing, @Canelo, @gggboxing, @OscarDeLaHoya, @hboboxing and @TomLoeffler1. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.facebook.com/gggboxing, and www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing, @Canelo, @gggboxing, @HBOboxing and @OscarDeLaHoya; and follow the conversation using #CaneloGGG2.

Photos and videos are available for download by clicking here or copying
and pasting the link http://bit.ly/CaneloGGG2 into a browser. Credit must be provided to Golden Boy Promotions for any photo and/or video usage.




MSG NETWORKS TO AIR SAUL “CANELO” ALVAREZ VS. GENNADY “GGG” GOLOVKIN I


MSG Networks will bring fight fans a replay of the controversial Saul “Canelo” Alvarez / Gennady “GGG” Golovkin bout that took place on September 16, 2017 as a preview to the blockbuster rematch in Las Vegas this Saturday night. MSG Networks will telecast a FIGHT SPORTS special with Golden Boy Promotions CEO, Oscar De La Hoya providing round-by-round commentary of the controversial first battle that ended in a split draw. Golovkin has fought and won 5 times at Madison Square Garden during his undefeated career.

Saul “Canelo” Alvarez v. Gennady “GGG” Golovkin I

MSG

Wednesday, September 12 10:00 pm

Thursday, September 13 9:00 pm

Friday, September 14 10:00 pm

MSG Plus

Wednesday, September 12 8:00 pm

Friday, September 14 8:00 pm




VIDEO: CANELO – GOLOVKIN UNDERCARD WORKOUT

https://www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing/videos/2133949446821760/




LIVE VIDEO: CANELO – GGG FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE




CANELO VS. GGG 2 GRAND ARRIVALS QUOTES,


LAS VEGAS (Sept. 11, 2018) – Lineal Middleweight World Champion Canelo Alvarez (49-1-2, 34 KOs) and WBC/WBA/IBO Middleweight Champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin (38-0-1, 34 KOs) made their grand arrivals today at the MGM Grand Resort and Casino in Las Vegas ahead of their highly anticipated rematch on Sept. 15 at T-Mobile Arena, produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at the special time of 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT.

They were joined by breakout Mexican star Jaime Munguia (30-0, 25 KOs), who will make the second defense of his WBO Junior Middleweight World Title against rugged Canadian contender Brandon “Bad Boy” Cook (20-1, 13 KOs) in a 12-round battle.Former IBF Middleweight World Champion David Lemieux (39-4, 33 KOs) of Montreal, Canada and Irish warrior Gary “Spike” O’Sullivan (28-2, 20 KOs) of Cork, Ireland will go head-to-head in a 12-round middleweight battle that has Fight of the Year candidate written all over it.Former pound-for-pound king and former four-division world champion Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez (46-2, 38 KOs) of Managua, Nicaragua will make his highly anticipated return against experienced Mexican warrior Moises “Moi” Fuentes (25-5-1, 14 KOs) in a 10-round super flyweight battle that will open the HBO Pay-Per-View telecast.

Below is what the fighters had to say at today’s grand arrivals:

CANELO ALVAREZ, LINEAL MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION:
“I’m bothered by all the stupid things they’ve been saying. I don’t know which one to laugh about or get angry about at this point. But their statements are all excuses for the loss they will take this Saturday. I have been using all of these statements as motivation for my fight on Saturday. I know that it can be dangerous to go in the ring with a hot head, but I have experience. I know how to use this anger in the ring intelligently. I’m happy for all the support the fans give me, and I will give them a great fight this Saturday.”

GENNADY “GGG” GOLOVKIN, WBC/WBA/IBO MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION:
“Mexican Independence Day is a huge day for boxing and boxing fans. I am a professional. I am not nervous but I am very excited to be able to defend my titles on a major Mexican national holiday for the third consecutive time. My Mexican fans like true fighters and true heroes. This may be a rematch but it is a different story, a better story, a bigger story. This fight is the biggest level for me, 100%. I am healthy and strong. I had my best training camp. I have the fight I want against the fighter I want and on the biggest stage. Why shouldn’t I be happy? If Canelo gives me a chance and fights like he claims he will, I will knock him out. It is time for the Big Drama Show.”

JAIME MUNGUIA, WBO JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION:
“I’m very happy for the support that I’m getting from the fans. I feel they are drawn to me because of my style of fighting and because they know I like to give a great show to the fans. Right now, it’s just about maintaining weight and preparing for the weigh-in. I know Cook is tough and difficult fighter, but you’re going to see a more relaxed and concentrated Jaime Munguia this Saturday.”

BRANDON “BAD BOY” COOK, JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHT CONTENDER:
“It’s a dream come true for me. Two fights had gotten cancelled. This is a huge opportunity for my team. I didn’t come here to get paid, I came here to fight. Munguia’s tough. I was running this morning, and I saw him running, so I know he’s preparing well. This is one of the toughest challenges of my life. I can’t thank Golden Boy enough. This is it, and I can’t wait.I know he’s ready, I’m ready. I’m going to be his toughest opponent to date.”

DAVID LEMIEUX, FORMER MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION
“I’m excited for Saturday night. I promise you some fireworks. I hope everyone enjoys the show. He has a big mouth. He likes to talk garbage on social media. He’s not the best kind of guy. I’m going to knock him out and make a lot of people happy. I’m at 100% right now. You’re going to see David Lemieux who is at his best this Saturday.”

GARY “SPIKE” O’SULLIVAN, MIDDLEWEIGHT CONTENDER
“It means a great deal for me. It took me eight years to get here. I’m more ready than I’ve ever been before. He’s going to be cooked. He’s very one dimensional. He does the same thing over and over again. He says the same stuff over and over again. I’m going to teach him a lesson on Saturday night. I’m a very hard worker, I’ve been a hard worker my whole life. I fight like a Mexican.Watch out David, you’re getting knocked out.”

ROMAN “CHOCOLATITO” GONZALEZ, FORMER FOUR-DIVISION WORLD CHAMPION
“I thank God for this opportunity. This is exactly what I have been praying for. I’m ready to make my comeback against this tough opponent. I will show the world I can still be a world champion.”

Canelo vs. GGG 2 is a 12-round fight for the middleweight championship of the world presented by Golden Boy Promotions and GGG Promotions. Munguia vs. Cook is a 12-round battle for the WBO Junior Middleweight World Title presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Zanfer Promotions. Lemieux vs. O’Sullivan is a 12-round a WBA World Title Eliminator presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Eye of The Tiger Management in association with Murphy’s Boxing. Gonzalez vs. Fuentes is a 10-round super flyweight fight presented by Golden Boy Promotions and GGG Promotions in association with Teiken Promotions and Zanfer Promotions. The event is sponsored by Tecate, “THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING,” Hennessy, “Never Stop, Never Settle,” O’Reilly Auto Parts, Fred Loya Insurance, Interjet, Venom, and Fathom Events. The event will take place Saturday, Sept. 15 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at a special time of 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT.

“24/7 Canelo/GGG 2” is streaming on HBO GO & HBO NOW. Canelo’s fifth “24/7” appearance and Golovkin’s third, “24/7 CANELO/GGG 2” is the latest installment of the acclaimed franchise that began in 2007.

Limited tickets for Canelo vs. GGG 2 are still available, and are priced at
$5,000, $2,500, $2,000, $1,500, $800, $700, and $500 not including applicable service charges and taxes. There will be a limit of eight (8) per person at the $5,000, $2,500, $2,000, $1,500, $800, $700 and $500 price levels. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849). Tickets are also available for purchase at www.t-mobilearena.com or www.axs.com.

Tickets are on sale for the closed circuit telecast of Canelo vs. GGG 2 at MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, The Mirage and Luxor are priced at $100, not including applicable fees. Seating is general admission at MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay and The Mirage while Luxor will have assigned seats. Tickets may be purchased at any MGM Resorts International Box Office, by phone with a major credit card at (800) 745-3000 or online at http://www.ticketmaster.com/canelovsggg2.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com,
www.caneloggg.com and www.hbo.com/boxing. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing, @Canelo, @gggboxing, @OscarDeLaHoya, @hboboxing and @TomLoeffler1. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.facebook.com/gggboxing, and www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing, @Canelo, @gggboxing, @HBOboxing and @OscarDeLaHoya; and follow the conversation using #CaneloGGG2.

Photos and videos are available for download by clicking here or copying
and pasting the link http://bit.ly/CaneloGGG2 into a browser. Credit must be provided to Golden Boy Promotions for any photo and/or video usage.




VIDEO: Canelo vs GGG 2 Grand Arrivals LIVE

https://www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing/videos/300821657371725/




ABEL SANCHEZ AND GENNADY GOLOVKIN WORKING ON RERELEASING A CLASSIC!

LAS VEGAS, NEV. (September 10, 2018) — Fight Week is here. Finally. Undefeated WBC/WBA/IBO Middleweight World Champion Gennady “GGG” Golvkin will be looking to break a record everyone believed would remain untouched — the record he shares with the legendary Bernard Hopkins. On Saturday, Golovkin will attempt to make the 21st consecutive defense of the middleweight crown he has held since 2010, in a rematch against Lineal Middleweight World Champion Canelo Alvarez. How fitting that Golovkin will be going for the record-breaker against Alvarez inasmuch as the co-promoters of Alvarez, Hopkins and Oscar De La Hoya, will have front row seats to see it. Making it even more memorable, the Golovkin-Alvarez rematch will take place in the same city and on nearly the same date as the De La Hoya – Hopkins Middleweight World Championship fight which took place, on September 18, 2004.

“That was a defining fight for both Bernard and Oscar because of the way they fought and the way Bernard won. They both dared to be great,” said Abel Sanchez. “I reviewed the tape of that fight early in training camp and I saw how Bernard stopped Oscar dead in his tracks with a picture-perfect liver shot. I normally don’t like to give away our game plan but I don’t mind sharing this part of it, Gennady has trained and is prepared to do the same thing to Canelo. We have freshened it up and even gave it a name, The Ginger Snap. Personally, I think it would be poetic justice to break the record using the same type of punch that Bernard used on Oscar to unify the middleweight titles

“Saturday’s fight will define Gennady and Canelo. We are going to see if Canelo is coming to fight or coming to run, to survive, in hopes of receiving another gift from the judges,” continued Sanchez. “Gennady is ready to take the wind out of Canelo’s sails with that punch to the liver. Gennady doesn’t just fight Mexican Style, he fights like a Philadelphia fighter of old. Don’t be surprised if Gennady end things using a punch that is a throwback to those days — a classic liver shot — to puncture the Canelo myth once and for all. Bernard was the first fighter to stop Oscar and Gennady is looking to be the first one to stop Canelo.”

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“24/7 Canelo/GGG 2” is streaming on HBO GO and HBO NOW.

Canelo’s fifth “24/7” appearance and Golovkin’s third,

“24/7 CANELO/GGG 2” is the latest installment

of the acclaimed franchise that began in 2007.

Canelo vs. GGG 2 is a 12-round fight for the middleweight championship of the world presented by Golden Boy Promotions and GGG Promotions. The event is sponsored by Tecate, “THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING,” Hennessy, “Never Stop, Never Settle,” Fred Loya Insurance, Interjet, Venom, and Fathom Events. The event will take place Saturday, Sept. 15 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET / 5 :00 p.m. PT.

Remaining tickets for Canelo vs. GGG 2 are priced at $5,000, $2,500, $2,000, $1,500, $800, $700, $500 and $300, not including applicable service charges and taxes. There will be a limit of eight (8) per person at the $5,000, $2,500, $2,000, $1,500, $800 and $700 price levels with a limit of two (2) per person at the $500 and $300 price levels. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849). Tickets also will be available for purchase at www.t-mobilearena.com or www.axs.com.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, ;;;

www.caneloggg.com ;;;and www.hbo.com/boxing; ;;;follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing, @Canelo, @gggboxing, @OscarDeLaHoya, @hboboxing and @TomLoeffler1; become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing,

www.facebook.com/gggboxing, and www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing; follow on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing, @Canelo, @gggboxing, @HBOboxing and @OscarDeLaHoya; and follow the conversation using #CaneloGGG2.

Photos and videos are available for download by clicking here or copying

and pasting the link http://bit.ly/CaneloGGG2 into a browser. Credit must be provided to Golden Boy Promotions for any photo and/or video usage.




Video: “Countdown to Canelo vs. GGG 2”




GGG-Canelo: An opening bell is about to silence all the talk

By Norm Frauenheim-

GOLOVKIN- BROOK WEIGH IN
INDIGO 2,LONDON
PIC;LAWRENCE LUSTIG
WBC,IBF AND IBO MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE
GENNADY GOLOVKIN V KELL BROOK
WEIGH IN FOR THEIR FIGHT AT LONDONS 02 ARENA ON SATURDAY(9 SEPT)

Hard to believe, but Gennady Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez were once friendly rivals, a business alliance brought together by the chance at big money and genuine legacy. There was even talk of a trilogy. But a year later, nobody is talking about a third time.

For now, twice looks as if it is more than enough for two dangerous men who these days have only a craft and contempt in common.

From late winter, throughout spring and through most of summer, their Sept. 15 rematch at Las Vegas T-Mobile Arena has been preceded by talk that says they don’t even want to be in the same ballroom, much less on the same stage, any more.

They will have to be – or at least they are scheduled to be – next week in a news conference Wednesday at the MGM Grand and weigh-in next Friday at T-Mobile that are suddenly a lot more interesting than the usual dates on a Fight Week’s traditional calendar. On the stage, at the podium and on the scale, there will be heightened attention – perhaps anticipation – at how the middleweights react when they see each other and maybe look each other in the eye.

This is no ordinary fight, because of all of the circumstances, reasons and insults that have been reported and repeated over the many months since Canelo’s positive test last February for clenbuterol resulted in a suspension and postponement of a bout, initially scheduled for May 5, that by now might have been long forgotten. The subsequent controversy and evident tension might make the September date memorable, even historical. It’s hard to predict, other than to say it won’t include too many of the traditional niceties.

In an almost deadpan tone, Golovkin, who has grown weary of all the talk, summed it up best this week in a conference call. First, GGG said he wanted to “punish” Canelo, “to size him down and to put him and his team in their place.”

Then, he said he didn’t know how it would end.

But, GGG said, “nobody is going to congratulate anybody, that’s for sure.’’

That might be the only thing on which he and Canelo agree. Both middleweights promise a victory decisive enough to end any reason for a third fight.

“It’s definitely more personal now,’’ Canelo said a couple of weeks ago “I really don’t like him. It’s personal, and I take it that way. It will make me train harder and give it the extra push to knock him out.’’

Translation: They’re sick of each other.

Yet, money, circumstances, time and more money – did we say money? – can change everything all over again. GGG and Canelo might forget their mutual contempt, especially if the September sequel’s HBO pay-per-view telecast goes the same way as last year’s bout, which ended in a controversial draw. Despite all of the hostility from both camps, neither fighter is a Mike Tyson-like hot head. Both are poised and smart, especially at opening bell. Incautious rhetoric won’t necessarily lead to reckless aggression.

“No, he’s not angry,’’ GGG trainer Abel Sanchez said during this week’s call when asked if anger had changed Golovkin’s approach. “He’s not angry. He’s got a purpose in the gym and he’s got a purpose for what he wants to do inside the ring.

“Canelo has done some things that Gennady feels he needs to pay for and he’ll do that. In the gym, it’s just another day of training. He’s the same guy that he was before. He trains hard. Just his mentality to this fight seems to be very, very focused on trying to punish Canelo — as he was when he fought Curtis Stevens.’’

But the Stevens fight in 2013 came and went in the matter of a few weeks. The GGG-Canelo hostilities have lasted as long as an NFL season.

“The reason it’s going on is because they keep accusing us of insulting them, and all we’re doing is telling the truth,’’ Sanchez said. “All we’re doing is telling you what is happening as we see it, as it’s being reported. He’s the one that tested positive, he’s the one (responsible for) the consequences for what happened on May the 5th and who we had to fight and what was done. He’s the one that created that. It wasn’t us. To continue to sweep it under the rug and to continue to not acknowledge the fact that you have screwed up is why this keeps going.’’

Don’t blink. It isn’t over yet.




GENNADY “GGG” GOLOVKIN Blog Part 4


What did you learn about yourself and Canelo in the first fight? Is that going to help you in the rematch?

“So many people show me their true face during and after the first fight with Canelo. I am talking about lots of different people. I know who I am and I know who Canelo is, and what he has become. I know what kind of people I am dealing with in this rematch, what everyone is about. I do not think about the first fight anymore. I did not lose that fight. I walked out of the ring with all my belts, still the world champion. The second fight is much bigger and more interesting. The last fight was a good experience because it was a learning experience. Now it is a different situation. I understand the situation. I now know that boxing is not just a sport. It is a business. That is one thing I learned from the first fight. So from that I learned how to deal with this rematch. I learned how to deal with Canelo and his promoter. Now we have new judges and a new referee. The world will see a new fight and different sides of that fight.

“I have worked very hard in this training camp, building myself up. It has been very exciting because I have been working on new things with Abel. Every day has been a good day. I am very happy and very strong. This will be the biggest fight for boxing. I cannot wait to give the fans a great fight, an exciting fight, a Mexican Style fight. This is a battle between the two best middleweights. To me, it is a fight about honor. This time I am fighting for a lot more than my world championship belts.

Canelo vs. GGG 2 takes place Saturday, Sept. 15 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at a special time of 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT.




CANELO VS. GGG2: HBO PAY-PER-VIEW TELEVISED UNDERCARD CONFERENCE CALL TRANSCRIPT

LOS ANGELES (SEPT. 5, 2018): THE MODERATOR: All these great fights I’m about to introduce will be live from Las Vegas T-Mobile Arena on September 15 as part of a special HBO Pay-Per-View Undercard featuring the highly-anticipated rematch between Lineal Middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez versus WBC, WBA and IBO Middleweight champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin.

In the opening fight on this great fight card, on HBO Pay-Per-View telecast is pound-for-pound, king and former division world champion, Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez from Nicaragua. He will make his highly-anticipated return against experienced Mexican warrior, Moises Fuentes in a 10-round super flyweight battle.

We also have on this great fight card former IBF middleweight world champion David Lemieux from Montreal, Canada versus Irish warrior Gary “Spike” O’Sullivan of Cork Island will go head-to-head in the 12-round middleweight slugfest.

If you think those two fights are great, we also have as the co-main event, breakout Mexican star Jaime Munguia, who will make his second defense of his WBO junior middleweight world title against rugged Canadian contender, Brandon Cook. Both fighters will also be sharing their comments on the call today.

This epic event will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at a special time at 8:00 p.m. ET, 5:00 p.m. PT. Tickets are selling fast. You can still purchase tickets online at www.tmobilearena.com or www.axs.com.

Fight fans can also watch the fight on closed-circuit locations in Vegas at the MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, mirage and the Luxor. Tickets may be purchased at any MGM Resort Resorts International box office with a major credit card, or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

At this time I would like to introduce Juan Carlos Torres of Zanfer Promotions.

JUAN CARLOS TORRES: Hey, Robert, thank you very much, and thank you to everybody here involved. We are very excited, again. Last year, we were a part of the biggest fight of the year, and here we go again. And not only that, but the undercard — of course, this is probably one of the most anticipated fights in the undercard because Chocolatito’s comeback, everyone wants to see him back; and Moises Fuentes is ready to take that challenge. He’s excited.

He also wants to prove that he’s not finished. He’s been a world champion a couple of times already, and he’s excited and very excited to be a part of this and we want to thank Golden Boy and 360 and Tom Loeffler for this amazing opportunity, and we just want to be ready. We just want to be there already.

So thank you to all of the participants in this call, and all the sponsors and everybody involved. Thank you.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you, Juan Carlos. Thank you.

Now, I’d like to hand it off to Tom Loeffler.

TOM LOEFFLER: We have a great working relationship with Mr. Honda of Teiken Promotions. We’ve done so many fights and had Roman on shows together with GGG. Chocolatito was the pioneer of the Superfly series.

We have the Superfly 3 screening this Saturday on HBO, and because of the success, because of this excitement that Chocolatito brought to the ring here in the United States, it allowed this whole series to be spun off from his success. The fight game special with Jim Lampley comes on after the Superfly series, and between Chocolatito and GGG on Sunday’s show has been a tremendous pairing.

When the Pay-Per-View starts out with Chocolatito as the first fight on the Pay-Per-View, you know what quality show this is going to be. He’s fighting Moises Fuentes as you mentioned, a very rugged Mexican warrior.

So many people are looking forward to seeing Chocolatito back in the ring. It’s been a year now and the fans can’t wait to see him, one of the most exciting, one of the most respected fighters in the sport back in the ring.

So we are excited about this show. We keep working together with Golden Boy to put this whole show together.

And at this point, I can turn it over to Carlos Blandon. Carlos is Chocolatito’s manager.

CARLOS BLANDON: Well, hello to everyone. We are really happy with Taken Promotions, Mr. Honda, with 360 Promotions, Tom, everyone in HBO; with all the sponsors that have helped this event come through, we are really happy, to Roman and us as a team, I think this is the best stage possible for Roman for his comeback, and we are very happy and thankful to God that we are given this opportunity, and we know that Roman has been training and will not give anything less than the best.

TOM LOEFFLER: Thank you, Carlos.

With that, we’d like to introduce Moises Fuentes who can say a few words, and then Roman can say a few words after Moises.

MOISES ‘MOI’ FUENTES: Thanks to Zanfer Promotions and to everybody involved for this opportunity. I have the opportunity of a lifetime to fight against a great Roman Gonzales. I’m very well prepared for this fight. I’m ready.

We feel strong and if God’s willing, we’re going to be victors that day and again, thank you to everybody.

TOM LOEFFLER: Thanks. Also acknowledging Zanfer Promotions, great friends of ours. We’ve done many fight together, and representing Moises together with Juan Carlos.

With that, someone who doesn’t need any introduction, unanimous pound-for-pound champion, and as I mentioned, everyone is looking forward to his comeback into the ring on September 15.

So with that, I want to introduce Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzales.

ROMAN ‘CHOCOLATITO’ GONZALEZ: I’m very happy and thankful to God, HBO, 360 promotions. I’m very excited to be on the card with Canelo and GGG. I believe it’s a great opportunity. I’m very excited and I’m very happy and I can’t wait to give a great fight.

Q. Roman, it’s been one year since your fight with Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, obviously a rough knockout loss. In the one year since that fight, what kind of doubts did you have about what you still had left to offer boxing as you were getting ready for your comeback? Did you have doubts about what you could still do?
ROMAN ‘CHOCOLATITO’ GONZALEZ: It was definitely a very difficult year from the loss that I suffered to Srisaket Sor Rungvisai.

I believe the wisdom to be able to overcome this situation — I believe that I’m back in the ring and I’m coming in great condition and I definitely want to win the fight, like every other boxer, and I believe that I am starting to set up my comeback.

Q. You’ve done so much and you’re going to be in the Hall of Fame someday, for sure. You’ve won titles in four weight classes and made a lot of history and been in a lot of great fights. At age 31 and in a small weight class, what do you still want to accomplish and what do you believe is left for you to do?
ROMAN ‘CHOCOLATITO’ GONZALEZ: I’m very happy because of the situation and the accolades you just mentioned, about probably being in the Hall of Fame, but I feel that I still would like to obtain a fifth world title.

Q. In a different weight class?
ROMAN ‘CHOCOLATITO’ GONZALEZ: Yes.

Q. Just out of curiosity, also, what’s the exact contract weight for this fight?
ROMAN ‘CHOCOLATITO’ GONZALEZ: 115 super flyweight.

Q. Given that you were undefeated for so many years and then you’ve had losses back-to-back to the same opponent, do you think that it was just a bad style match up for you that caused you to have the two losses in a row, or is it something else?
ROMAN ‘CHOCOLATITO’ GONZALEZ: I believe the knock out — very strong boxer and he does have a difficult style, a style that complicates boxing. When I was inside the boxing ring, I got hit and I feel he’s a really good boxer and great champion.

But at the same time, I also feel — I’m able to be back in the ring.

Q. What about the fans —
ROMAN ‘CHOCOLATITO’ GONZALEZ: I don’t give too much importance to the fans that don’t want to follow me. I give importance to the fans that do follow me. Everybody has their own opinion and their way of choosing the fighter they want. I love them all and I wish that God blesses everyone in this fight.

I’m very happy and I feel this is a great opportunity, and I’m ready to be able to overcome this tough year and be able to fight again.

Q. If September 15, do you believe this is your coming out party? Everyone is expecting you to win and to do good and come out on top. But what happens if that day, you come out on top? Is that a dream come true? Would that be a dream come true?
MOISES ‘MOI’ FUENTES: Absolutely. You know, I have a chance like everybody else. Nothing is written in boxing. I feel that I can beat Roman. It will definitely be something out of a dream, but I’m ready to fight and I hope I can beat him that Saturday.

Q. Roman, we know that you have a very important relationship in your life with God. I’m wondering, what kind of advice or conversations you might have had with God in the last year or so, as you’re looking whether to retire, whether to come back, and after your losses? What has that relationship been like, and how important has that been in guiding you?
ROMAN ‘CHOCOLATITO’ GONZALEZ: I’m so thankful to God. I believe God keeps being my guide and always will be my God and I pray to God for everything and I thank God for all the blessings I’ve got through boxing and for being healthy. I ask God to take care of me in the ring, and I believe that I will succumb to whatever God’s will is on September 15.

Q. Are you nearer the end of your career than the beginning, and do you think about your legacy, and how would you like people to remember you on the day that you retire at some time in the future? How do you want people to remember you?
ROMAN ‘CHOCOLATITO’ GONZALEZ: I believe everything that you put this God’s hand, that will come true, so I want people to see me as somebody to give them hope, a champion that will be a great fighter, made it possible, coming from nothing.

Q. How close did you actually come to retiring and is there a point where you felt you would retire and what changed your mind in terms of coming back and fighting?
ROMAN ‘CHOCOLATITO’ GONZALEZ: Very close. I really wanted to retire because I wanted to spend time with my children, which I had not been able to, due to so much determination within my career and the training and whatnot. But at the same time, I spoke to my family, and my family encouraged me, as well as myself, to be able to fight in the ring and I feel it wasn’t my time. It wasn’t my time, and now I’m ready to fight once again September 15.

Q. How much of your decision was that you didn’t want to end your career on the type of loss that you had last year?
ROMAN ‘CHOCOLATITO’ GONZALEZ: No, that has nothing to do with it. I wanted to fight. I believe I’ve received a lot of blessings for world titles, being ranked for a time as the No. 1 pound for pound, and I believe that is enough, but I was just happy to have the opportunity again.

Q. You haven’t fought in a year now. How has that rejuvenated you? How has that helped refresh your mind and your body over the past year?
ROMAN ‘CHOCOLATITO’ GONZALEZ: I feel I’ve rejuvenated a lot. It’s really helped me be able to come back.

Q. If you win, do you feel you’re in position to fight for another title? You have a lot of caché in the sport. Where do you feel you would be if you win this fight?
ROMAN ‘CHOCOLATITO’ GONZALEZ: Yes, I want to first finish this fight and then I’ll look forward to the next fight.

TOM LOEFFLER: We’ve put together one of the best shows, Pay-Per-View shows. We’ve got so many compliments on having Chocolatito on, Fuentes and Munguia, Brandon Cook, Lemieux and Spike O’Sullivan. It was a great team effort and I think this undercard is really going to complement the biggest fight and the biggest show of the year.

So we’re excited coming up, we’re just finalizing the last week here, and we’ll see everyone next week in Las Vegas.

BRANDON ‘BAD BOY’ COOK: I’m happy to be a part of this. Canelo and GGG are two of my favorite fighters to watch the last couple years, after the first fight, and just to be in the same building as them is just like a dream come true, especially fighting for a world title. It’s been everything I’ve ever asked for, and I’ve worked so hard to get to this position.

Pretty much I’m walking around trying to get a bunch of tests done because they pretty much told me yesterday that all my medical stuff isn’t good enough. We had everything already done. They told us a couple weeks ago that it was all good to go, and then all of a sudden we get a call yesterday saying I’ve got to get a full eye exam done again, a full physical done again and a full blood test done again, and I’m leaving in a couple days.

So I don’t understand why all of a sudden they just tell us now, when we sent our stuff in three or four weeks ago. That’s the only thing I’m kind of a little bit upset about right now, but whatever. It is what it is.

I just can’t wait to get there and show everybody a great fight. I know Munguia is one of the toughest guys coming up right now, and I’m up for a challenge. I can’t wait to show the world who I am. Nobody knows who I am. Some people know who I am, but they are going to know who I am after September 15.

JAIME MUNGUIA: I’m very happy to be able to participate in this big eventful of stars. I’m happy, also, that I get to participate on the show date. I’m ready. I have trained really, really hard. I need to focus a lot. I’m excited and I can’t wait, and I’m ready for Saturday, next Saturday’s fight.

Brandon Cook is a really good opponent, a really strong opponent. He has a lot of experience and is a strong and tough opposition. I need to be very careful with him because I’ve seen a couple of fights, and he looks when he’s hurt, he’s the most dangerous. I need to really focus on the fight and really be at my best on Saturday.

Q. Given the narrative and the things happening surrounding the main event of the fight, is there a different pressure on how you approach the fight in terms of your performance, so that all of that doesn’t completely overshadow the bout that you will engage in and making your presence known in boxing on such a huge platform and such a huge night, starting with Jamie.
JAIME MUNGUIA: No, I don’t have any pressure, extra pressure. I’m very relaxed. I know that I cannot have those things, pressure, because I need to do my job. That’s what I need to do. I need to focus on my job and my fast and my training, and the rest will take care of itself.

Q. Brandon, can you answer that same question?
BRANDON ‘BAD BOY’ COOK: Yeah, pretty much it’s the biggest of the year obviously, but I’m just happy to finally fight for a world title and to be on this stage is obviously amazing. I’m just going to do my thing like I always do.

The pressure; there no pressure, really. I’m not supposed to win, right. That’s what everybody is saying. I’m a 14:1 underdog right now and I’ve been underdog a couple times, so I know how it feels. Once that bell rings, I’ll going to do what I do best. I’m coming to fight.

The crowd doesn’t phase me. When I went to Montréal, from that ring, everybody was saying the craziest thing to me. I don’t care. I like to feed off that.

So it is what it is and I’m just really excited to be part of this amazing card. It’s going to be fun.

Q. So do you think that maybe this is a help to you in your approach to this fight? The focus will primarily be on the main event of the card but with such intense scrutiny focused on the main event, do you feel almost like you can move around and prepare in more peaceful circumstances than usual?
BRANDON ‘BAD BOY’ COOK: Pretty much for me, I think there will be a ton of people watching this and they will be getting ready for that main event and Jamie and me are going to give the people what they want to see. They are going to enjoy this fight and with we are going to get them wound up and ready to go for the main event. I know he can fight, and I can fight.

This stylistic match going to be a great fight and it’s just going to open a lot of doors, whoever wins, obviously. He’s the next up-and-coming kid. He’s tough. He’s strong. He’s young. But I don’t care. I’m just coming to do what I got to do, and I can’t wait to get in there. I’m ready. I had two fights fall on me this year and this whole summer I’ve been training. It’s everything I’ve ever wanted. I can’t wait to get out there and do my thing.

JAIME MUNGUIA: I learned a lot in the last fight. I learned not to get desperate, and in training camp, and what I trained in, and I’m basically with the mind-set to go in and do my job, and that’s it. There is nothing extra. There is no pressure, just do my job, what I do every day in the gym, and I always feel relaxed.

This is nothing new for me. It’s a fight between me and Brandon and nothing else. The rest of the card, it’s different. I cannot have any control over what happens in the main event or the other cards. I just need to do exactly what I’m doing in training camp, and that’s it.

Q. Jamie, 2018 has been a big year for you. It’s been a year of a lot of turbulence, and a year of a lot of news, a lot of activity. How do you feel this year is going for you?
JAIME MUNGUIA: A lot of turbulence, a lot of news and a lot of good results. I have a lot of activity, a lot of surprises, also. But of course, this year has been the biggest of my career so far. But the reality is that I cannot lose focus because everybody wants my title and everybody’s after me. I used to be the one who was hunting; now I’m the hunted one. So, I’ve got to keep focusing and I’ve got to keep working on the gym.

Q. In a few weeks, you will be fighting. How different is this challenge?
BRANDON ‘BAD BOY’ COOK: I think he’s just more of a powerful young kid — more of a better boxer. I take any fight. I don’t care who it is. They are both really good. Obviously Kell Brook had his little ankle injury going on and I never ended up getting the fight, but one door closes and another one opens.

Jamie Munguia was the prospect of the year last year, so to be fighting someone like this is amazing to me. Like I said, I’m going to do everything I can to take that title back home with me. I know it’s going to be a tough fight, but I’m ready. I’ve been training all summer, man. I can’t wait for this. This is a huge opportunity for me and my life, and that’s why I quit my job last year so I could train full-time.

This is what I want and this is why I’m here, where I am today.

Q. Brandon, what have you noticed from Munguia, particularly the last two fights that have been on HBO, it seems like he’s not hardly hit. What do you see in him?
BRANDON ‘BAD BOY’ COOK: I pretty much, what I see is when he gets somebody hurt, he tries to take their head off. His offense is pretty much his defense. He comes forward and just throws bombs, right. He’s a tough kid. He throws everything into every punch. I’m sure he says that he’s going to try to change that a little bit, but I know I’ve got to keep my hands up tight and be smart.

I think once he feels my power, he’ll probably change his style up a little bit. I watched the lie a.m. Smith fight a couple times and Smith hit him a ton of times, but Smith didn’t hit him with too many good, clean punches, but the fight before that with alley, he pretty much just rolled alley over. I think alley is too small for Munguia. Munguia looked way bigger than him.

Size makes a big differs, too. He’s going to come in close to 170 pounds and I’m going to come in close to 168-ish. He’ll be a lot taller than me, but you’ll see the difference in our body types. I’ve been training so hard this summer for this, and this opportunity just came out of nowhere. I only had five weeks’ notice but I’ve been training all summer for this.

I did three different races — I’m a dual athlete, this opportunity came up and I jumped on it. It’s going to be a tough fight obviously but I’m ready for what he wants to bring me.

Q. You feel you’re a bigger puncher than Liam Smith, right??
BRANDON ‘BAD BOY’ COOK: Growing up, any time I would hit somebody, they always drop. I’ve been in a ton of street fights. That’s what got me into boxing obviously. I know how much power I have. You don’t just develop power. You’re born with it and I was born with power.

I might not have been born with the best boxing skills but I’ve learned a lot over — I turned pro in 2011, I learned a lot about how to box now. I’ve just got to be smart, like I said, and throw my punches. I know how hard I hit, and if I can hit his square in the chin, like I did to Butler or anybody else I hit, they are going to feel it. I think, no offense to Liam, but I think I hit harder than Liam Smith.

We’re going to see what happens when it comes next Saturday night.

Q. Brandon, you mentioned you were in a lot of street fight as a kid. At what point did you start boxing at the gym?
BRANDON ‘BAD BOY’ COOK: Not till pretty much I was 19 years old. Pretty much I was fighting people all the time, knocking people out all the time. And then my coach today, one of my best friends, brought me to the gym because he used to fight. He’s like, you’ve got to try this out.

So I ended up going to the gym. First day in the gym, I called on the coach. He literally beat the crap out of me for three rounds, and I’ve never been beat up before. So I was like, whoa, this is — I had to come back. I kept coming back, coming back, and then only had three amateur fights but my fight is more of a pro style. When I first started, I kind of came forward and just tried to rip their head off pretty much.

I’ve learned a lot, now, but if it wasn’t for boxing, I wouldn’t know where I’d be. Like I was doing a lot of stupid things when I was a kid, and I’m happy where I am today.

Q. What’s your coach’s name and what is the gym you went to in Ontario?
BRANDON ‘BAD BOY’ COOK: My coach’s name is Mike Guyett and the gym I train at is Ajax Boxing Club.

Pretty much we have our own little — we go in wherever we want, do whatever we want. He has a couple fighters, but pretty much he just trains, he putts all his time into me, and he knows a ton about boxing. Nobody is going to know who he is, but he’s like a boxing-cyclopedia. Anything you ask him, he’ll know about it. I don’t understand how he knows so much about boxing. Any time there’s a fight, any time there’s reports, he reads the boxing sheets every day. He knows everything. It’s crazy.

Q. How do you spell his last name?
BRANDON “BAD BOY” COOK: G-u-y-e-t-t. And he’s pretty much the same age as me and we’ve been doing this since I’ve been 18 years old, he’s been training me.

So we just have a good connection and he learns a lot and I learn more every time I work with him. It’s been a good run, and look, we got to a world title shot, so we must have done something right.

Q. How close is the gym that you train at in relation to Toronto? Is it close?
BRANDON ‘BAD BOY’ COOK: It’s not far at all. It’s like 30 minutes. I travel all over the place for sparring because we don’t have much sparring in Ajax.

Like I go to a bunch of different gyms for rounds and just to try — especially to fight someone like this, I’ve been sparring with a lot of bigger guys, guys that are like 175, 180 pounds, just because I know how big Jamie is, and he’s big and tall, and he’s going to come in huge on fight night. We try to mimic every fight who we spar with, right. So, every fight, we try to find guys that are going to be the best suitable for who I’m going to fight.

Q. You mentioned earlier that you quit your job full-time to focus full-time on training. What did you do before you became a boxer full-time?
BRANDON ‘BAD BOY’ COOK: I installed windows my whole life pretty much. I was working ten to 12 hours a day, getting up before work, 5:00 in the morning, running, going to work all day and then going to the gym. I did that my whole career until right after the fight with Kanat Islam.

So I’ve only had two fights without a full-time job, and the last two fights, I was — finished strong and most energy I’ve ever had.

It makes a huge difference being able to actually train full-time like the rest of these people do. I ended up breaking up with my ex-two years ago, and I ended up, sold my house last year and made a good amount of money, so I pretty much pay myself to train full-time. I wouldn’t be ready for this fight if I wasn’t training full-time.

Q. You were supposed to fight Kell Brook late in July and you’ve been in training camp for a long time. How did you manage not over training by being in camp for so long and training for so long?
BRANDON ‘BAD BOY’ COOK: First I was supposed to fight Kell Brook, and three weeks before the fight, he ended up pulling out with an ankle injury and three weeks later they give me Sam, and before we get on the plane they tell us he has an eye injury from sparring.

I was just about peaked for that fight, but Eddie Hearn still let us go. Went to England for a week, had a little bit of downtime, checked out England. I still ran and did a workout but that was pretty much my week to recover and chill out.

Then I went right back, as soon as I get back, I got back into my training because I had a big race coming up and all of a sudden, we got the call for this. So really, we only had five weeks’ notice, but I was already in really good shape. So, it wasn’t for me getting ready for those races, I probably wouldn’t be in the shape I’m in right now.

But this is the best shape I’ve been in in my life. I have no excuses. The best man is going to win next Saturday night. I’m really happy with this opportunity to show everybody that there’s actually really good names coming out of Canada.

Q. You’re what would you like fans to know about you going into this fight on the 15th?
BRANDON ‘BAD BOY’ COOK: I’m like the normal guy. I do everything that I’m supposed to do. I train — one thing about me is I train hard. That’s one thing that everybody that knows me; one of the hardest trainers — I’m pretty much the hardest guy that works in the gym. I do everything I can to win fights. Obviously, I don’t have — when I first started boxing, I didn’t have the best boxing skills, but I’ve learned a lot.

Once I come there next Saturday night, and when I fight, people are going to enjoy the fight, because the style of matchup between us, too, is going to give people a lot to think about. It’s going to be obviously a tough fight for both of us.

We’re going to be getting hit a lot, but obviously I don’t want to get hit too much. I’m sure he doesn’t want to get hit too much. This is a dream come true. Any kid, man, that grew up in boxing, always wanted to fight for a world title, but to be on the GGG-Canelo undercard is just the creme of the crop. Icing on the cake.

This is everything I ever wanted. I just want to show everybody that we’ve been working really hard to get to this, and I’m not just coming in to get paid. I’m coming there to fight. I’m coming there to give people what they paid for, and that’s a good fight.

Q. Who are your role models in boxing?
BRANDON ‘BAD BOY’ COOK: To tell you the truth, the two people fighting in the main event. I’ve been watching those two since I started boxing.

But the very first — like the very best guy that I ever watched was Mike Tyson growing up. His demeanor or walking into the ring and knocking people out is just something like I’m always, wow, this guy is nuts.

I just love the way he just came in there and knocked people out just out cold just like that. People would pay top dollar just to go see that. I would even go pay to see a round. Obviously, the skill level is not as good today, but he was really small for a heavy weight. He’s always been a guy that I’ve always loved, and Mike Tyson — I don’t know, everything about him, I just like it. I love him.

You’re just going to see me, I’m going to have a big smile on my face and when that bell rings, I change my whole demeanor. I can’t wait.

Q. Do you think about the legacy of some of the other fighters from Tijuana, and how has that helped shape your career?
JAIME MUNGUIA: I had a lot of motivation because of them. As a kid, I used to watch them fight and I remember a lot of them.

When I was a kid, I wanted to be like them, and there’s been a lot of motivation because of those guys.

Q. Do you intend to stay in Tijuana for training, at least in the near future?
JAIME MUNGUIA: I’ve been training in L.A. for my last two bouts, but I don’t have any problems training in Tijuana, either.

Q. And you were part of the big public media workout at Bank of California Stadium, and you have some fans there. How did you like that experience?
JAIME MUNGUIA: I love it. The reason why is I saw everybody — the people really put their hard work and money into the sport and buy tickets, and I saw that and I loved it. Most of the people that know a lot about boxing, a lot of the people that were there gave me a lot of love, and that was even better to keep working and more motivation for the next fight.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you all for your questions. We are just going to have the fighters make their last comments.

Brandon, would you like to make a last comment?

BRANDON ‘BAD BOY’ COOK: Yeah, I just want to thank everybody for being a part of this, and you guys are going to enjoy this fight next Saturday night because we’re both coming to fight. I’m giving everybody the best show I can, and I’m just really happy for this opportunity for me and my team. We’ve come a long way and this is going to be amazing. I can’t wait to be there, in Vegas, on the biggest card of the year.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you, Brandon.
Jaime, any last comments?

JAIME MUNGUIA: I want to invite everybody, all the people to read about this and see the fight on Pay-Per-View. You’re going to have a main event that’s going to be incredible between Canelo and Golovkin, and you’re going to love the fight I’m going to bring on Saturday.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you. Wonderful. Thanks for those comments.

Okay. Everybody, that concludes Canelo versus Golovkin 2 conference call. Thank you for participating and see you at the fight on September 15.

Canelo vs. GGG 2 is a 12-round fight for the middleweight championship of the world presented by Golden Boy Promotions and GGG Promotions. Munguia vs. Cook is a 12-round battle for the WBO Junior Middleweight World Title presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Zanfer Promotions. Lemieux vs. O’Sullivan is a 12-round middleweight clash presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Eye of The Tiger Management in association with Murphy’s Boxing. Gonzalez vs. Fuentes is a 10-round super flyweight fight presented by Golden Boy Promotions and GGG Promotions in association with Teiken Promotions and Zanfer Promotions. The event is sponsored by Tecate, “THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING,” Hennessy, “Never Stop, Never Settle,” O’Reilly Auto Parts, Fred Loya Insurance, Interjet, Venom, and Fathom Events. The event will take place Saturday, Sept. 15 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at a special time of 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT.

“24/7 Canelo/GGG 2” is streaming on HBO GO and HBO NOW. Canelo’s fifth “24/7” appearance and Golovkin’s third, “24/7 CANELO/GGG 2” is the latest installment of the acclaimed franchise that began in 2007.

Limited tickets for Canelo vs. GGG 2 are still available, and are priced at
$5,000, $2,500, $2,000, $1,500, $800, $700, and $500 not including applicable service charges and taxes. There will be a limit of eight (8) per person at the $5,000, $2,500, $2,000, $1,500, $800, $700 and $500 price levels. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849). Tickets are also available for purchase at www.t-mobilearena.com or www.axs.com.

Tickets are on sale for the closed circuit telecast of Canelo vs. GGG 2 at MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, The Mirage and Luxor are priced at $100, not including applicable fees. Seating is general admission at MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay and The Mirage while Luxor will have assigned seats. Tickets may be purchased at any MGM Resorts International Box Office, by phone with a major credit card at (800) 745-3000 or online at http://www.ticketmaster.com/canelovsggg2.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com,
www.caneloggg.com and www.hbo.com/boxing. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing, @Canelo, @gggboxing, @OscarDeLaHoya, @hboboxing and @TomLoeffler1. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.facebook.com/gggboxing, and www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing, @Canelo, @gggboxing, @HBOboxing and @OscarDeLaHoya; and follow the conversation using #CaneloGGG2.

Photos and videos are available for download by clicking here or copying and pasting the link http://bit.ly/CaneloGGG2 into a browser. Credit must be provided to Golden Boy Promotions for any photo and/or video usage.




RINGTV.COM, POWERED BY CLEENG, TO STREAM HISTORIC REMATCH BETWEEN CANELO ALVAREZ AND GENNADY ‘GGG’ GOLOVKIN – LIVE ON PPV


NEW YORK (September 5, 2018): RingTV.com and Cleeng today announced a partnership to stream the most anticipated boxing showdown of the year as Lineal Middleweight World Champion Canelo Alvarez(49-1-2, 34 KOs) takes on WBC/WBA/IBO Middleweight World Champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin (38-0-1, 34 KOs) in a 12-round rematch Saturday, September 15.

Canelo vs. GGG 2, presented by Golden Boy Promotions and GGG Promotions, will air live on www.RingTV.com Pay-Per-View in the United States starting at 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT, from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The PPV broadcast will be available to watch in HD on RingTV.com & CaneloGGG.com (video promo). RingTV.com will be the online programming platform for purchasing and viewing the Pay-Per-View, with Cleeng providing all the supporting technology to drive the Sept. 15 event programming.

“Over the past several years Golden Boy Media and Entertainment has changed how fight fans experience the sport of boxing,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “We have invested heavily in making sure that boxing fans can choose how they watch their favorite fighters on the RingTV.com platform. We are delighted to deliver Canelo vs GGG 2 to fans across the globe on a world-class platform as we continue in our efforts to make boxing more and more accessible.”

“We’re excited to be a part of this historical boxing event with Golden Boy Promotions. We continue to work closely with RingTV and Golden Boy Promotions to deliver High Quality and engaging events at high traffic volume” Cleeng Inc. VP of America, Sal Romanasaid. “The Ring Magazine has been known as the ‘Bible of Boxing’ since 1922. We’re proud to be partnering with RingTV.com, which has grown Ring’s powerful influence in pro boxing to a rapidly changing, increasingly younger audience, by streaming the best available boxing events and news.”

In the co-main event, breakout Mexican star Jaime Munguia (30-0, 25 KOs) will make the second defense of his WBO Junior Middleweight World Title against rugged Canadian contender Brandon “Bad Boy” Cook (20-1, 13 KOs) in a 12-round battle. Former IBF Middleweight World Champion David Lemieux (39-4, 33 KOs) of Montreal, Canada and Irish warrior Gary “Spike” O’Sullivan (28-2, 20 KOs) of Cork, Ireland will go head-to-head in a 12-round middleweight battle that has Fight of the Year candidate written all over it. Former pound-for-pound king and former four-division world champion Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez (46-2, 38 KOs) of Managua, Nicaragua will make his highly anticipated return against experienced Mexican warrior Moises “Moi” Fuentes (25-5-1, 14 KOs) in a 10-round super flyweight battle that will open the pay-per-view.

About Ring TV:
The Ring was founded in 1922 by Nat Fleischer. The first issue, dated February 15, 1922, was 24 pages and cost 20 cents. The cover featured black and white photographs of American promoter Tex Richard and Lord Lonsdale, a British aristocrat and boxing patron. Originally located in New York City, the magazine relocated to Long Island, New York, in 1990, and then moved to suburban Pennsylvania in 1993. It is now based in Los Angeles.

There have been only eight editors-in-chief in the magazine’s history. Doug Fischer is the current editor. The Ring began awarding championship belts in 1922. The first Ring belt was awarded to heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey, the second to flyweight champion Pancho Villa. The magazine stopped giving belts to world champions in the 1990s, but began again in 2002 when it launched its new championship policy intended to reward fighters who, by satisfying rigid criteria, can justify a claim as the true and only world champion in a given weight class.

About Cleeng USA:
Cleeng offers the smartest way to sell live and on-demand video, direct to consumers. Cleeng helps sports, entertainment and media companies to protect and monetize PPV events, locally or globally. Its SVOD and Pay-Per-View solutions are used by market-leading brands like Foxtel, Sinclair Broadcast Group, Golden Boy Promotions, NHRA, France Télévisions and many more. The company has offices in New York, Amsterdam, Poland, Manilla and Sydney. Cleeng powers over 20,000+ live PPV events yearly, in over 167 different countries and processes over 30,000 transactions per minute.

cleeng.com
Twitter: @cleeng




Gennady “GGG” Golovkin Abel Sanchez and Tom Loeffler Media Conference Call Transcript Tuesday, September 4, 2018


The MODERATOR: This is Fred Sternburg, and on behalf of GGG Promotions, Golden Boy Promotions and all of our wonderful sponsors, welcome to Gennady ‘GGG’ Golovkin’s media conference call.

We are 11 days away from the Big Drama Show: The rematch everyone has been looking forward to. Gennady is in his last week of training camp at The Summit in Big Bear Lake, California, where he’s been working hard in preparation for his 21st and division record-breaking title defense.

Joining Gennady on the call today will be his trainer, Abel Sanchez and his promoter, Tom Loeffler.

One note before we start, we’d like to invite you to participate in tomorrow’s Pay-Per-View Undercard conference call featuring Jaime Munguia, Brandon, “Bad Boy” Cook, Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez and Moises “Moi” Fuentes. That call will begin at 1:00 p.m. Eastern, 10:00 a.m. Pacific, so you don’t want to miss that.

At this time, it’s my pleasure to introduce you to Tom Loeffler.

TOM LOEFFLER: Thank you, Fred. You know, we are just excited. The fight’s almost here. It’s the last week of training camp. Abel is up there in Big Bear Lake with GGG. They are finishing up their sparring this week.

We do have the Superfly 3 show this Saturday. It will be televised live HBO. Following the fights HBO will air a special edition of The Fight Game with Jim Lampley which will be all about the GGG – Canelo rematch, so everyone tune into HBO on September 8.

There’s been a lot of things said over the weekend which we can address that on this call, whether it’s the anthems or the gloves, we can touch on that briefly.

The GGG team had nothing to do with approving or disapproving Canelo’s gloves. That came directly from the Nevada Athletic State Athletic Commission.

And also, with the anthems; it was an agreement we had reached as part of the deal; that the anthems be played before the HBO Pay-Per-View telecast.

So there wasn’t any controversy, but controversy sells and we’d just like to address the issues as they come so with that, we can turn it over to start taking some questions.

Q. You must be anxious. How has camp been going and are you looking forward to next week?

GENNADY ‘GGG’ GOLOVKIN: Thank you very much. My training camp is great. I feel very good. My body, my speed, my power, everything is coming back, I feel like I am 25 years old. I needed the time, and now this is the last week [of training] for me.

Q. Gennady, are you afraid or worried that your fan base could turn on you, given some of the remarks you’ve made about Canelo building up to this fight, or are you just speaking your truth?

GENNADY ‘GGG’ GOLOVKIN: Well, first of all, I didn’t really say anything bad. I really said only one phrase and one sentence about that, and I never said anything personal, never offended him personally, and I don’t think that my fans will turn away from me because of what I said — what I had to say.

Q. You mentioned that you feel 25 years old, but I hate to tell you, you aren’t 25 years old. Do you train differently now that you’re ten years older, than you did when you were 25? Do you adapt any different techniques? And Abel, I’d like you to chime in on that, as well.

GENNADY “GGG” GOLOVKIN: I feel great and I still train hard.

ABEL SANCHEZ: To answer that question, I do train everybody similarly. They work together in the strength and conditioning, but in the sparring, obviously we modify that as a fighter gets a little bit older, just so that we don’t leave things in the gym. But he still works as hard as he’s always worked. It’s just a matter of me making the schedule so that it’s best for him.

Q. I’ve been hearing and reading a lot of the comments from Abel, and from Canelo, where Abel has said Canelo ran in the fight and Canelo said, no, that was the game plan of how he wanted to fight.

Did you think that the way that he fought you last September constituted him running in the fight? What was your opinion of the style in which he fought against you?

GENNADY ‘GGG’ GOLOVKIN: It was his fighting style earlier, not just in the September fight. Well, he was always — you know, he always has a way of running on the ring, but it was his style.

However, what happened on our last fight, he was really avoiding fighting close to me. I think that’s exactly what happened, but what he’s trying to say right now, it just proves that he’s not keeping his word. He’s trying to deceive people again, and being dishonest. But it doesn’t matter what he said. Let him say whatever he wants.

Q. This would be a record-breaking victory for you in terms of the middleweight title defense record. Could you express your perspective on what it would mean to you if you were to achieve the record of the most middleweight defenses in the history of boxing?

GENNADY ‘GGG’ GOLOVKIN: Absolutely. It’s very important for me to beat this record. Basically, it’s like two types of victory to beat Canelo and to beat the record. For me, it’s the most important goal at this point.

Q. Tom, if you could chime in on that, as far as your perspective as far as the possibility of seeing GGG take the record that he’s now tied with with Bernard Hopkins?

TOM LOEFFLER: I think when you put it in perspective, it would be a tremendous accomplishment if GGG is able to break Bernard’s record. Most people thought, you know, that was untouchable, 20 middleweight title defenses, and you know, as long as Gennady has been champion, he’s the longest-reigning champion right now in the sport of boxing [since 2010].

And regardless of what you say about both guys, this is the biggest event in the sport of boxing. They agreed to fight each other, and to be on this big of a stage, this platform, the biggest fight of boxing, and if he’s able to beat Canelo and break the record at the same time, as he said, this would be a huge accomplishment for him, all on the same night.

Q. Wondering if there’s any frustration or regret that this fight didn’t happen five years ago or six years ago when both fighters were a little bit younger. Can this still be the mega fight that everyone wants to see?

GENNADY ‘GGG’ GOLOVKIN: Quite possible. Quite possible. But not even five years ago, even two years ago, we couldn’t get them to fight us. They were avoiding the fight every way possible. If you remember, they even gave up one of the belts, the WBC belt, they gave it up, to avoid us.

ABEL SANCHEZ: As far as I’m concerned, no, there’s no regrets. I think that Canelo has grown in the last four or five years, a couple years ago when they gave up the belt, they knew they weren’t ready for this level of fight it’s happening now, and we look forward to this being one of the most memorable fights of the decade.

Q. Abel in your experience, in what age do a fighter’s skills typically decline? Are you still seeing growth and improve out of him?

ABEL SANCHEZ: I’m seeing slight growth, but I think it depends on the weight and the type of fights. You have a guy like Fernando Vargas, who was put in a lot of difficult fights early in his career, and by the time he was 26, he was finished.

And then you have guys like Bernard Hopkins fighting into his 40s and early 50s, so it depends on the kind of fight and how the fighter takes care of himself. Gennady, I haven’t seen anybody dominate him in the ring, not only in sparring but in the fights, and until then, then I can say I would judge a little age. But until that happens, it’s difficult to say he’s getting old.

Q. Where are you with the hand-stacking and the wrapping controversy, and where you guys might be with the Commission and Canelo’s side on that.

TOM LOEFFLER: We want to clarify everything ahead of time with the Nevada Commission so there are no fight week confrontations, especially no fight night confrontations, like we had last time.

We’ll say that the reason why Abel was so surprised by the wraps last time was that every other jurisdiction that GGG has fought in didn’t allow the stacking or the different layers of wrapping, and so that’s why Abel filed a protest, and it wasn’t received very well.

The inspector actually threatened to remove Abel from Canelo’s locker room because of that protest. But in the U.K., Canada and California, you know, all these different jurisdictions, and New York, where GGG’s fought, you know, they wouldn’t allow that.

So this time, we want to avoid any type of confrontations and want to get everything worked out between the GGG side, between the Canelo side and Golden Boy and Nevada Athletic Commission. Everything was amicable with the officials and we want to continue, whether it’s addressing the hand-wrapping, the gloves, any other pertinent information, weigh-in, anything like that. We just want the focus of this promotion to be on the fighters in the ring, not on any controversies outside the ring.

Q. Abel, you’re not going to change the way you wrap Gennady’s hand no matter what they say; right?

ABEL SANCHEZ: No, I don’t believe two wrongs make a right. If I take Gennady or any of my fighters to any jurisdiction where they don’t allow it, I don’t want them to have any kind of thoughts that they don’t have a cast on their hands in this particular jurisdiction, like they had in Nevada and they don’t feel as comfortable. So I want to keep it as much the same for every fight as possible.

Q. Does Gennady have an opinion or does it matter?

GENNADY ‘GGG’ GOLOVKIN: Well, as far as I’m concerned, I haven’t seen how his hands were wrapped. I was fighting him not knowing how he was wrapped. It’s not up to me. It’s not up to me to make a judgment on that.

Q. In the most recent 24/7, Chepo Reynoso said that Gennady is like a donkey, and he does the same thing over and over again. Abel, what is your response to that?

ABEL SANCHEZ: Chepo Reynoso has never had an Olympian. Chepo Reynoso has never had a Silver Medalist. Chepo Reynoso has never had 18 world champions like I have had. Chepo Reynoso talks from Canelo. So when he gets to that level, maybe he can speak in an intelligent manner. But if you look at Gennady’s record, he’s beaten a lot of the champions during his reign; a lot of champions that are champions now he beat in the amateurs. So to hear somebody talk like that is ridiculous.

Q. Gennady, what did you think of that?

GENNADY ‘GGG’ GOLOVKIN: What I want to say is I don’t want to go so low at the level of statements like that. It just shows a lack of class. It shows low class. It just shows a lack of upbringing, lack of intelligence. It just shows, again, how they behave themselves. I’m never able to say anything so low about anybody. So I just don’t want to comment about this anymore.

Q. Canelo has promised he’ll be more aggressive in this fight and fight Gennady more. Do you feel that because he said it — do you believe the emotion going into this fight, that he’ll fight more?

GENNADY ‘GGG’ GOLOVKIN: Well, it doesn’t matter what they say. We’ll see what happens on September 15 because very often what they say doesn’t correspond to what they do. So let’s wait until September 15.

Q. Abel, can you comment, as well?

ABEL SANCHEZ: We’re preparing for September 15. How he talked the first time, how he boasted, how Bernard boasted about being so great that he’s going to knock out Golovkin in the tenth round of the last fight and now what he’s saying about this fight.

I just hope that he’s true to his words. The fans are expecting the Canelo that they have seen in the past, not the Canelo they saw last year. I think that if he’s true to his word, that we’ll get the classic fight we were expecting the first time, two guys that want to win, not one guy that wants to win and the other guy that is looking to survive.

Q. Can you talk about what makes Abel a good trainer?

GENNADY ‘GGG’ GOLOVKIN: You should ask the commission which recognizes him as the best coach in the world.

Q. Compared to the fighter that you were before you started working with Abel, how have you evolved as a fighter in the years that you have spent working with him?

GENNADY ‘GGG’ GOLOVKIN: I haven’t really changed. Most importantly, I haven’t become worse. I haven’t changed for the worse.

I am is really thankful that Abel is not bringing in any illegal and banned substances into my fighting career and hasn’t taught me something which was not — which was not allowed in boxing, so I’m really thankful for him of being such a great coach.

Q. The judging, such as it was, all three judges had Canelo winning the first two rounds, and the last three, I believe, but what do you plan to do to change that in this fight?

GENNADY ‘GGG’ GOLOVKIN: Well, we will continue to implement our winning strategy in this fight, as well. As far as judges, we can’t influence the judges. We can only hope that the judges will be more fair, more adequate and more competent than the last time.

Q. Would you like to see a faster start, so to speak?

ABEL SANCHEZ: You know, Gennady is a fighter that is undefeated right now and he’s got a stain [the draw against Canelo] on his record because of some bad judging, but he has a style that he has been very successful with.

That fight is a 12-round fight, not a two-round fight or a four-round fight. So what we do at the beginning of the fight will be dictated by what Gennady sees.

It’s not a matter of being able to predict what can happen; if Canelo starts of like he did in the middle of last fight, the same way in this fight, it will be difficult to chase him down and make an impact on the judges.

But like Gennady said, hopefully the judges will be as fair as possible. I think we have a great panel of judges this time. And the fight will develop. It’s a 12-round fight, not a four-round fight.

Q. The magnitude and the kind of eyeballs that are going to be on it, how much is this a showcase of what’s going on in the sport, other than what’s happening in the heavyweight division.

TOM LOEFFLER: Both GGG and Canelo, they have tremendous fan bases. This event, just like last September, when they get together, it really transcends boxing and a World Championship fight.

It really becomes an international sporting event, almost like a World Cup soccer match where you have flags and you have the fans chanting, just a similar emotion and energy in the arena, and we expect it to be at an even higher level now, with all the controversy that happened in the scoring in the first fight, and, you know, the delay, the cancellation of the Cinco de Mayo fight, I think it’s going to hit an even higher pitch with the rematch September 15.

So again, whatever controversy there is between the two sides, you have to give them credit that they are getting into the ring. A lot of people talk about fighting each other. This is the second time that GGG and Canelo fought each other in 12 months and that’s what makes it the biggest fight in the sport of boxing this year, because their fan bases, the international level, we have GGG fans coming in from all over the world for this fight.

And I think we’re going to break the level that was set last year for ticket sales, and the Pay-Per-View is also on track to be significantly higher than last year. So I think we’ll see an even bigger event this time in September.

Q. Abel, what’s it been like for you to see the growth in Gennady’s popularity from what it was five years ago or whatever, just to see how many fans he’s made throughout the world?

ABEL SANCHEZ: Well, from the beginning, when I first started working with him eight years ago, I sensed that there was something special about this young man, and he’s proven me right, at least to me, anyway.

It’s like one of my children doing well. All my fighters in my gym are like a family to all of us, to each other, so to see one of our kids succeed in the manner that he’s succeeding, and to have had the adulation of the fans, worldwide, and especially the Latin fans for his Mexican Style of fighting and his style of entertaining. It’s an honor to be included in the same ring and in the same sentence with Gennady Golovkin.

Q. The fan bases of the respective fighters, based on my research, I know for a fact that Canelo has lost a few fans from the first fight. From the way he ran around to the dirty tests to his reaction to the dirty tests. I’m wondering, in your opinion, more than ever, is Canelo’s reputation on the line in this second fight? In other words, if he goes in there and runs around and doesn’t fight Gennady more, is he destined to lose even more of his fans than he already has?

ABEL SANCHEZ: Well, I think he has a chance to redeem himself in the eyes of a lot of fans. Just because he’s losing fans, Gennady’s gaining them and other fighters are gaining them. but as long as fans continue to watch our sport and continue to support us, Gennady will do his part, Canelo will do his part what he needs to do, and if maybe in the future, Canelo will be an afterthought if he doesn’t redeem himself in the way that the fans want him to redeem himself.

He’s got a duty in this fight, not only to himself but to his people, to prove what he was telling all of us was true, and if he does, I think that he’ll be celebrated. Win, lose or draw, he’ll be celebrated because of his approach to this fight.

Q. The result for September 15, do you see any chance to fight the match with

Canelo Alvarez, because the opinion that you have right now from Canelo — guarantee a match with him —

GENNADY ‘GGG’ GOLOVKIN: Well, what I’ve always really wanted to do, I want to punish him. I want to have a fight and punish him for all the bad things that he and his team have done, so basically to put them — to size him down and to put him and his team in their place.

Q. How important is this fight for the sport of boxing, and how important is it for Kazakhstan?

GENNADY ‘GGG’ GOLOVKIN: It is very, very important for Kazakhstan and for Kazakhstan fans, because we are champions right now. We are on the right side. We are not dirty and we will defend our honor and defend our title.

Q. Just wondering, have you ever faced or fought anybody that you have disliked so much as you seem to dislike Canelo, and if so, how does that change your training in terms of controlling your anger at him?

GENNADY ‘GGG’ GOLOVKIN: First of all, I have to say, that I always do my 100 percent, and very seriously approach any training processes, always do my best.

As far as Canelo’s team, you can see they continue to speak this nonsense and discredit themselves. So I have nothing to say about that anymore.

Q. Does it affect his training, the anger at all? Can you answer that, Abel? Do you notice a difference in his training because he’s angry at Canelo? He just said he wanted to punish him.

ABEL SANCHEZ: No, he’s not angry. He’s not angry. He’s got a purpose in the gym and he’s got a purpose for what he wants to do inside the ring.

Canelo has done some things that Gennady feels he needs to pay for and he’ll do that in the ring. In the gym, it’s just another day of training . He’s the same guy that he was before. He trains hard. Just his mentality to this fight seems to be very, very focused on trying to punish Canelo — as he was when he fought Curtis Stevens —

Q. This one just seems to have been going on and on and on, so it’s —

ABEL SANCHEZ: The reason it’s going on is because they keep accusing us of insulting them, and all we’re doing is telling the truth. All we’re doing is telling you what is happening as we see it, as it’s being reported, so he’s the one that tested positive, he’s the one that the consequences for what happened on May the 5th and who we had to fight and what was done, he’s the one that created that. It wasn’t us. And to continue to sweep it under the rug and to continue to not acknowledge the fact that you have screwed up is why this keeps going.

Q. Obviously Bernard Hopkins’ name has been mentioned because Gennady is going to try to break the record, but Bernard Hopkins played a lot of mind games with his opponent — made them fight a little crazy and maybe not to their benefit, most notably in the fight on September 29, 2001 against Felix Trinidad — could a little bit of it be something to get into their heads and maybe make them a little bit crazy, too, and so Canelo — the kind of fight that you guys want him to fight?

GENNADY ‘GGG’ GOLOVKIN: Really I don’t think right now about Bernard Hopkins. I’m thinking about my fight with Canelo, and as far as all the other association, we can talk about this after September 15.

Q. Abel, same thing. Could some of this be a strategy maybe to make the other side a little bit crazy? Apparently it’s a two-way thing, going back and forth.

ABEL SANCHEZ: You know, in this gym, and amongst us here, I think I can include Tom in this, we have a lot of respect for Bernard Hopkins, and we have a lot of respect for what he’s done and what he’s done in boxing and we have a lot of respect for breaking the record. But to break the record and use a page out of his own book would be something even better.

If it’s getting to Canelo, then I guess we’ve accomplished what everybody thinks we’re trying to do. We were not trying to do that. We were just talking about the facts.

Q. You know what’s on the line in terms of the title defense record, but what does this mean to you on a personal level, considering everything that has gone on with Canelo in the last year? What does this fight mean to you just on that personal level?

GENNADY ‘GGG’ GOLOVKIN: For me personally, although this fight happened at a later stage of my career, this is a most interesting fight. This is a most interesting fight because we have an interesting opponent because we have an interesting situation, and it’s a most important fight in my life right now, and also it’s the most important fight for boxing sport right now.

Q. Considering all the harsh words that have been said up in the lead up, when it’s all said and done, however the fight goes, if one of you guys win by knockout, will you go over there and will you shake his hand?

GENNADY ‘GGG’ GOLOVKIN: Well, nobody knows how it’s going to end, what’s going to be the result. But nobody is going to congratulate anybody, that’s for sure.

Q. Do you feel this fight is for your legacy? The title defense record, it’s an amazing achievement, but do you feel that — take that aside. Do you feel come September 15, you’re going to be fighting — you’re going to be fighting for your legacy?

GENNADY ‘GGG’ GOLOVKIN: Of course, everybody understands that. Everybody who is honest understands that’s a part of the legacy — of my legacy in boxing. Those honest people recognize it. Those who are dishonest, they try to forget about this.

Q. Abel, what improvements have you seen from Gennady leading into the fight last year and heading into the rematch next weekend?

ABEL SANCHEZ: Well, I think at this level, maturity and amount of fights; the improvements are minimal. The improvements are a lot of times more mental than they are physical, but how you approach a fight mentally, it’s just as important as the little improvements that we had.

I had a fighter back about 25 years ago, Orlin Norris fought Arthur Williams, first time he looked lackluster; and in the second bout, he knocked his opponent out in the fourth round, and the way he went into the second fight was much much better than the first one mentally.

I think when you get to this level and when you get to this stage in their careers, it’s hoping that everything goes right in the gym, hoping that there’s no controversy and hoping that everything is 100 percent in the training camp, and you go into a fight with a different mode. He goes into a fight that, as he said, he wants to punish Canelo and he has a thought in his mind what he want to do to him. We train hard and we prepare just like we did for the first one, but the mental aspect of it is the most important at this stage in my opinion.

Q. Tom, the first fight sold out rather quickly, and I was looking at the press release you sent out this morning and there’s tickets still on sale. Why do you feel the rematch hasn’t sold out yet, compared to how quickly it sold out the first time around?

TOM LOEFFLER: I think some of it had to do with a lot of fans being disappointed with the Cinco de Mayo fight being canceled. A lot of fans made flight reservations, hotel reservations, and then they were bitterly disappointed.

Naturally that wasn’t because it was Gennady’s fault, but you know, when you go through that expense, I think a lot are waiting until the final couple weeks to actually make the reservations.

As I mentioned before, this fight has a big international fan base coming in. Ultimately, we’re still on track to exceed the revenue that we did in the last fight.

You know, going back to that previous question that Abel had answered as far as Gennady’s legacy, you know, this is a huge fight for Gennady, the biggest fight in boxing this year, but there’s a lot of names in the past that we would have liked to have gotten in the ring who just simply, for whatever reason, chose not to fight Gennady, whether it was Felix Sturm, whether it was Sergio Martinez, whether it was Peter Quillin at the time; it was just the six-year anniversary of GGG’s HBO debut, September 1, 2012.

There was an article on ESPN that listed all these middleweight names, and it had Gennady having this big impact on HBO. Just look at his ratings on HBO. That’s where we’re at right now. He’s kind of have that blue-collar career: He’s willing to fight everywhere, New York, L.A., London, Monte Carlo, Panama, Kazakhstan and Ukraine, and now, he’s at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas against Canelo Alvarez in the biggest fight in boxing.

This is definitely a legacy fight for him, and you know, I think we’ll see the best fighting the best, and that’s really what the sport is all about, and that’s what Gennady’s always wanted. He’s wanted that challenge to fight the best in the division.

Q. Around how many tickets have been sold thus far?

TOM LOEFFLER: You know, I was going to go over that with Golden Boy today, to go over what is remaining. We’re just about ten days out from the fight, but there really aren’t that many that are remaining.

So between the commitments of sponsors and pre-ordered tickets, there are still some tickets available, but you know, after today, we’ll have a better answer for that, and especially going into fight week.

THE MODERATOR: With that, we’ll wrap up the call. Gennady has to get ready for his afternoon session. Thank you for joining us today.

Tom, any last comments?

TOM LOEFFLER: I think we’ve covered everything on this call. We’re all excited about the last week of training camp. GGG arrives into Las Vegas on Monday. We have the grand arrival on Tuesday at MGM Grand. We have the Superfly 3 show this Saturday at the Forum and Jim Lampley’s Fight Game special on HBO talking about GGG fighting Canelo. We’re all looking forward to September 15.

THE MODERATOR: Abel, any last comments from you?

ABEL SANCHEZ: Thank you for everybody’s participation. Thank you for the support. We’re looking forward to a great fight. We’ll see you guys on fight week, and make sure that we put on a great fight.

THE MODERATOR: Gennady, I know you’re getting ready for the Big Drama Show. Any last comments?

GENNADY ‘GGG’ GOLOVKIN: I just want to say thank you very much for everybody. I will see you September 15 in Las Vegas.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you for joining us. We’ll see you next week in Las Vegas.

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

“24/7 Canelo/GGG 2” is streaming on HBO GO and HBO NOW.

Canelo’s fifth “24/7” appearance and Golovkin’s third, “24/7 CANELO/GGG 2”

is the latest installment of the acclaimed franchise that began in 2007.

Canelo vs. GGG 2 is a 12-round fight for the middleweight championship of the world presented by Golden Boy Promotions and GGG Promotions. The event is sponsored by Tecate, “THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING,” Hennessy, “Never Stop, Never Settle,” Fred Loya Insurance, Interjet, Venom, and Fathom Events. The event will take place Saturday, Sept. 15 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET / 5 :00 p.m. PT.

Remaining tickets for Canelo vs. GGG 2 are priced at $5,000, $2,500, $2,000, $1,500, $800, $700, $500 and $300, not including applicable service charges and taxes. There will be a limit of eight (8) per person at the $5,000, $2,500, $2,000, $1,500, $800 and $700 price levels with a limit of two (2) per person at the $500 and $300 price levels. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849). Tickets also will be available for purchase at www.t-mobilearena.com or www.axs.com.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, ;;;

www.caneloggg.com ;;;and www.hbo.com/boxing; ;;;follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing, @Canelo, @gggboxing, @OscarDeLaHoya, @hboboxing and @TomLoeffler1; become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing,

www.facebook.com/gggboxing, and www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing; follow on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing, @Canelo, @gggboxing, @HBOboxing and @OscarDeLaHoya; and follow the conversation using #CaneloGGG2.

Photos and videos are available for download by clicking here or copying

and pasting the link http://bit.ly/CaneloGGG2 into a browser. Credit must be provided to Golden Boy Promotions for any photo and/or video usage.




CANELO AND GGG FEATURED IN NEW 8-BIT BOXING GAME ON EVE OF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP REMATCH!


LAS VEGAS, NEVADA (September 4 2018): Let the games begin! Lineal Middleweight World Champion Canelo Alvarez and WBC/WBA/IBO Middleweight World Champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin will be featured in an 8-bit boxing game which will launch on Tuesday, Sept. 4 — 11 days before their eagerly-awaited world championship rematch.

Golden Boy Promotions and GGG Promotions have partnered with GameCommerce, a global leader in Brand Playables, to design and create the interactive game. The game incorporates images of fighters Canelo and GGG, providing a fun 8-bit rendering representation of their rematch. Last year, on Mexican Independence Day, in front of a record crowd, Canelo and GGG fought to a controversial draw. The fighters resume their fierce and bitter rivalry on Saturday, Sept. 15 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. It will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT.

In the game, the player chooses which fighter they want to be, and can even use boxing moves like a hook, a cross, an uppercut or a block to attack or defend against the opponent. This fun and interactive boxing game will be launched on Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

“Boxing is such a visceral sport, especially with such dramatic fighters as Canelo and Golovkin. Through this engaging game, people will experience the fight in a lively way in anticipation of the realfight,” said Nagesh Pobbathi, CEO of GameCommerce.

Canelo, of Guadalajara, Mexico, is a two world title and lineal champion in the super welterweight division, and has captured the WBC, Lineal and Ring Magazine World titles in the middleweight division. After his historic showdown with Golovkin last year, Canelo promises to defeat Golovkin in exciting fashion to prove that he in the world’s best 160-pounder.

“Games are games, and they are fun to play. But I won’t be playing on Sept. 15. I will knock Golovkin out,” said Canelo.

Golovkin (38-0-1, 34 KOs), from Karaganda, Kazakhstan, is boxing’s longest-reigning world champion (since 2010). Known for his Mexican style of fighting and his explosive knockout victories, this undefeated boxing superhero will be looking to make his division record-breaking 21st consecutive title defense.

“It was fun beating up Canelo in this game. Now I cannot wait for September 15, when we will get really interactive at T-Mobile Arena,” said Golovkin.

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Canelo vs. GGG 2 is a 12-round fight for the middleweight championship of the world presented by Golden Boy Promotions and GGG Promotions. The event is sponsored by Tecate, “THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING,” Hennessy, “Never Stop, Never Settle,” O’Reilly Auto Parts, Fred Loya Insurance, Interjet, Venom, and Fathom Events.

Limited tickets are still available, and are priced at $5,000, $2,500, $2,000, $1,500, $800, $700, and $500, not including applicable service charges and taxes. There will be a limit of eight tickets per person at the $5,000, $2,500, $2,000, $1,500, $800, $700 and $500 price levels. To pay by phone with a major credit card, call 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849). Tickets are also available for purchase at www.t-mobilearena.com or www.axs.com.

Tickets for the closed circuit telecast of Canelo vs. GGG 2 at MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, The Mirage and Luxor are priced at $100, not including applicable fees. Seating is general admission at MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay and The Mirage while Luxor will have assigned seats. Tickets may be purchased at any MGM Resorts International Box Office, by phone with a major credit card at (800) 745-3000 or online at http://www.ticketmaster.com/canelovsggg2.




TEAM GGG RESPONDS TO OSCAR DE LA HOYA’S OUTLANDISH CLAIMS

LOS ANGELES (Sept. 2, 2018) — Tom Loeffler, promoter of undefeated World Middleweight Champion GENNADY “GGG” GOLOVKIN has called out the team of Canelo Alvarez and specifically, its promoter Oscar De La Hoya. On Sunday, under the headline “Oscar De La Hoya Boldly Claims Gennady Is Unpatriotic,” Niall Doran posted on the website Boxing News and Views a story based on a video interview De La Hoya had done with Villainfy Media which was posted on You Tube on Aug. 31. The story also stated that De La Hoya “…questioned his {Golovkin’s] support of his own country.”

“I have no idea what Oscar is talking about but it is not true,” said Loeffler. “The truth is Team Golovkin had requested that the national anthems of Kazakhstan, Mexico and the United States be sung before the pay-per-view telecast began so that we could proceed with the fights seamlessly and uninterrupted. HBO supported this position and has always preferred that the anthems take place before the HBO Pay-Per-View telecast begins. To suggest that Gennady is unpatriotic and has no respect for the anthems of his Kazakhstan, Mexico or the U.S., where Gennady resides in southern California, is patently false. Oscar and Canelo owe Gennady yet another apology. This is just another example of why Gennady never believes anything from Canelo’s side.”

This link will take you to De La Hoya’s interview with Villainfy Media. His statement about Gennady begins at 2:58 of this video which was posted on You Tube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p15oRiI-hwU. Below is a transcription of it.

“Look, I mean, they have to stop all this nonsense. I can tell you one thing for instance. Talk about not supporting your own country? The Golovkin people didn’t want to sing the national anthems before the fight. That’s a ritual. Having a national anthem before a championship fight is what you’re supposed to do. It makes it feel like a bigger event. Golovkin’s people didn’t want the Kazakhstan national anthem to be sang, the Mexican national anthem to be sung, the American national anthem to be sung. I mean what else are they going to demand? Jesus, are they going to cancel the fight? It’s ridiculous Just go out there and fight!”

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

“24/7 Canelo/GGG 2” is streaming on HBO GO and HBO NOW.

Canelo’s fifth “24/7” appearance and Golovkin’s third, “24/7 CANELO/GGG 2”

is the latest installment of the acclaimed franchise that began in 2007.

Canelo vs. GGG 2 is a 12-round fight for the middleweight championship of the world presented by Golden Boy Promotions and GGG Promotions. The event is sponsored by Tecate, “THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING,” Hennessy, “Never Stop, Never Settle,” Fred Loya Insurance, Interjet, Venom, and Fathom Events. The event will take place Saturday, Sept. 15 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET / 5 :00 p.m. PT.

Remaining tickets for Canelo vs. GGG 2 are priced at $5,000, $2,500, $2,000, $1,500, $800, $700, $500 and $300, not including applicable service charges and taxes. There will be a limit of eight (8) per person at the $5,000, $2,500, $2,000, $1,500, $800 and $700 price levels with a limit of two (2) per person at the $500 and $300 price levels. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849). Tickets also will be available for purchase at www.t-mobilearena.com or www.axs.com.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, ;;;

www.caneloggg.com ;;;and www.hbo.com/boxing; ;;;follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing, @Canelo, @gggboxing, @OscarDeLaHoya, @hboboxing and @TomLoeffler1; become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing,

www.facebook.com/gggboxing, and www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing; follow on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing, @Canelo, @gggboxing, @HBOboxing and @OscarDeLaHoya; and follow the conversation using #CaneloGGG2.

Photos and videos are available for download by clicking here or copying

and pasting the link http://bit.ly/CaneloGGG2 into a browser. Credit must be provided to Golden Boy Promotions for any photo and/or video usage.




Video: ESPN Deportes Debuts new This is SportsCenter Commercial Featuring Canelo Álvarez and Gennady Golovkin (GGG)




DAVID LEMIEUX VS. GARY “SPIKE” O’SULLIVAN CONFERENCE CALL TRANSCRIPT


LOS ANGELES (AUG. 29, 2018): ERIC GOMEZ: This fight will be part of the televised Pay-Per-View, as you know, for Canelo-Golovkin II and we are very excited about this fight. The former IBF middleweight championship Lemieux out of Montreal, he’s going to be fighting against the Irish Warrior, Gary “Spike” O’Sullivan, tremendous record, 28-2, 20 knockouts, from Cork, Ireland. This special fight will be live at the T-Mobile Arena on September 15, part of the undercard on the HBO Pay-Per-View where the main event will be Canelo-Golovkin.

This epic event will be produced by HBO beginning at 8:00 PM ET, 5:00 PT. We are excited to bring you both of these fighters, so you guys can ask them questions and you can talk about their fight.

As many of you know, they have gone back and forth a little bit on social media. Also, on the card, not on the call today, is the Mexican rising star Jamie Munguia defending his title against Brandon Cook, and Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez will also be fighting against Moises “Moi” Fuentes on the card.

You can still purchase tickets at the T-Mobile Arena. You can go online at WWW.T-Mobile Arena.com or WWW.AXS.COM or 1-888-9AXSTIX. Closed-circuit tickets are available, and you can buy them at the MGM or at the Mandalay Bay, the Mirage or the Luxor. Those are moving pretty well, as well.

Before we introduce you to the fighters and have them say a few words, I do want to thank our amazing supporting sponsors: The event is sponsored by Tecate, “THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING,” Hennessy, “Never Stop, Never Settle,” O’Reilly Auto Parts, Fred Loya Insurance, Interjet, Venom, and Fathom Events.

Now, I want to first introduce you to Gary “Spike” Sullivan and I’ll have him say a few words.

Can you tell us about your training, how it’s going, and looking forward to this fight?

GARY SULLIVAN: I can’t wait. I’m really excited for this fight. My first time fighting in Vegas. Excited about the whole event and my training is going really good. Got some really good sparring partners. Saunders recommended some sparring partners that he used in preparation for Lemieux, so I’ve been using those guys and feeling really good.

That’s great. Thank you very much, Gary.

Now, the former champion, David Lemieux, if you can make some opening comments, as well, please.

DAVID LEMIEUX: It’s been a long time I’ve been waiting for a big fight like this. I’m extremely ready and I’m extremely excited. I expect — that I haven’t seen in a while. I’m very prepared for this fight. It’s been a long time I’ve had a preparation like this. It’s going to be devastating.

ERIC GOMEZ: That’s great. That’s great. Thank you.

Q. A question for both Mr. Lemieux and Mr. O’Sullivan. Some see this as a make-or-break fight for both of you. Do either of you see it that way or do you simply see this as a fight that you just need to focus on exclusively and not worry about the bigger picture?
DAVID LEMIEUX: This fight is about getting back on top, so I’m preparing myself for that.

GARY SULLIVAN: Firstly, nothing personal against Mr. Lemieux. I think it’s going to be a good night for me and I’m not really concerned about Lemieux. I’m looking at the bigger picture. I’m looking at Golovkin-Canelo, ringside to watch after I beat Lemieux, and I can’t wait for those guys.

Q. I spoke to Billy Joe Saunders, a common opponent of both of you guys, and he says that he has no doubt that Spike O’Sullivan is going to win. What do you say to that?
DAVID LEMIEUX: That’s because he didn’t fight Lemieux in top shape. I’m going to be in top shape against spike. So, Saunders, I wasn’t at my top, but I will be against Sullivan.

Q. Does that mean anything to you, that a common opponent is picking you in the fight?
GARY SULLIVAN: I think he’s correct. He went no Lemieux’s backyard and beat Lemieux convincingly in Quebec, whereas I went to London and walked into his own backyard and gave him a much better fight than Lemieux did, and I’m now a much better fighter than I was then. I’m going to be the one that’s going to win the fight.

Q. I know this match right now — maybe the winner for fighting Canelo or Golovkin, what is it going to take for these guys?
ERIC GOMEZ: Obviously both fighters are top middleweights. They are definitely in the Top-10, probably five, in the middleweight division.

So the winner is going to be in a very good position to fight any of the champions, whether it’s the winner of Canelo-Golovkin or any of the other champions. You know, both guys, this is to get to the next level and to get to that championship stage. This can very well be an eliminator to become one of the top contenders for any of the champions.

Q. I know O’Sullivan is having a great moment right now, was in the mix for Golovkin and for Canelo in December, so he needs to prove that he deserves this spot, and David Lemieux — he has the experience, the best opposition right now because this fight — to win this fight.
ERIC GOMEZ: I guess, David, you can answer first. How do you feel about being in this big position on this under card, and do you feel you’ll be ready if you win the fight to fight the winner of Canelo-Golovkin?

DAVID LEMIEUX: Definitely, I’ve been waiting for an opportunity like this for a while now to get back on top and I’m very confident that I’m going to not just beat O’Sullivan but look amazing against him. I’m extremely confident and I can’t wait for fight night. Give the fans what they want to see.

ERIC GOMEZ: Same question for you, Gary.

GARY SULLIVAN: What is the question?

ERIC GOMEZ: The question was how do you feel being in this big spotlight, and if you win the fight, do you think that you would be in position to fight the winner? Do you think that qualifies you to fight the winner of Canelo-Golovkin?

GARY SULLIVAN: Who is going to get the start on September 15 — I’m ready for Golovkin or Canelo, would be fantastic display given what I just.

Q. My first question is for David. Obviously this fight is the most totally different style in terms of the matchup that you had with Saunders, but I wonder, I know that there’s been a lot of conversation that the winner of this fight could go on and challenge the winner of the main event. With a loss to Saunders that was totally one-sided, you did score a victory in your last fight in May against a journeyman opponent and you also had a fight that was cancelled — why do you think a fine over Gary O’Sullivan should put you into a title fight?
DAVID LEMIEUX: Well, you know, going back to the last few years, I’ve been working against a lot of injuries that has not been fixed and it’s been put in the past. I’m in tremendous shape and feeling great. I can use both my hands. I can use everything. I can use all my tools.

So I think Lemieux is back and about to demonstrate what I can do against O’Sullivan on the 15th. I think a lot of people are going to be surprised what I bring to the table, and it’s going to be an exciting fight. I’m not the guy I was against Saunders.

Q. When you look at a David Lemieux resumé, you see several solid fights on there, several fights you won and several you lost. When you look at Spike’s record, he has a great record, also, but not necessarily the level of opposition that you have. When you look at his record, what do you see?
THE MODERATOR: I see whatever the opposition — that he lost and also quit when the opposition was really intense against Eubank. So there’s some flaws in his abilities that I’m going to take into consideration and on fight night, I’m going to execute and I’m going to use that against him.

Q. When you look at Lemieux’s resumé, he’s been a world champion and he’s fought some of the best fighters including GGG, some other guys. What makes you think that you’re in position to take him out in this fight and move on to your goals of fighting for a world title?
GARY SULLIVAN: Well, you refer to my defeat against Eubank, I got an injury — I think — since I came up that I was going to fight him, I didn’t know a great deal about him. I watched him with Billy Joe Saunders, Toribio. He got up there, got knocked down easily.

He talks about knocking me down and putting me out cold and all that. I’ve never even been on the canvas my entire career and he’s been down numerous times. He’s been beaten by several different opponents of several different stylistics fights, like Toribio — all different styles of fighter have beaten him. I think it’s going to be a really good night for me. I’m going to shine. It’s going to be nice beating a former world champion, as well. Looks good on paper.

Q. Do you look at this match up with David as an opportunity to have sort of your coming-out party? You’ve had televised fights in America, you fought Douglas on television. This is the first real big-name opponent that you’ll be in with. Is this the Gary “Spike” O’Sullivan Coming Out Party?
GARY SULLIVAN: Yeah, I would agree with that. I think the night in Quebec was a great fight there, and Douglas — beating Lemieux — I think Lemieux is going to be an easier fight for me than Douglas, no doubt about that.

Q. If you were to win the fight, do you have a preference of the champion that you would want to fight, either GGG or Canelo, one of those two guys?
GARY SULLIVAN: I have no preference. Both great fighters and I’d like to fight either one of them.

Q. David, that same question. If you win this fight against Gary on the 15th, do you have a preference of who you would like to fight for the title? Would you like a rematch with GGG or could you like to fight Canelo? Which is the guy you fight?
DAVID LEMIEUX: I’m going to fight Canelo first and then I’m going to get my revenge versus GGG — after Gary O’Sullivan.

Q. David mentioned earlier in the call that he’s not the same fighter that he was when he fought Saunders. He said he was injured in training camp in that fight. What do you make of what he has said was the reason why he lost to Billy Joe Saunders?

GARY SULLIVAN: I think it’s just an excuse. You look at David, distant look like a guy that trains like I do, doesn’t train like he’s an athlete — gets tired in a lot of his fights. Doesn’t look like a guy that trains as hard as I do. I don’t think he’s going to win this fight.

Q. What did you think that night? Did you think it was going to be as convincing of a win for Billy? Did you think he would beat David in that way?
GARY SULLIVAN: No, I didn’t. I had a good feeling he would beat him but I didn’t think he would beat him as convincingly, Lemieux being a former wormed champion and that. I thought he was a better fighter.

Prior to that I thought he was better than that. I didn’t know a great deal about him and the more I look into him, all the fights, I’ve watched a lot of his fight, and I’m not surprised Billy Joe could beat him like that. I didn’t think it was going to be as easy as that, as it was for Saunders.

Q. Without giving away any of your game plan, what have you noticed when you’ve studied David Lemieux?

GARY SULLIVAN: I think he’s a one-trick pony. He does the same thing over and over again in all his fights, all the fights I’ve watched. He’s just does the same thing over and over and over again. So, you know what’s going to be coming.

Q. You mentioned a few minutes ago that you think the fight will be even easier for you than the Douglas fight was. Why do you feel that way?
GARY SULLIVAN: He’s more similar in size to me. He’s there to be hit and I hit hard and I’m accurate. So I think I’m going to be able to land on him with more frequency than I was on Douglas, with footwork and speed and longer irons — a tougher task against Douglas than it will be against Lemieux.

Q. Spike, I wanted to ask you about the fact that you mentioned that you’re using sparring partners like Billy Joe Saunders used when he prepared for Lemieux. Billy Joe obviously really dislikes David Lemieux a ton. Curious if he went out of his way to offer you some advice on this fight or if you reached out to him?
GARY SULLIVAN: I think Lemieux — making up excuses and coming out with that crap. I think that kind of pissed off Billy Joe — I think Lemieux pissed him off and so he wanted to diss me and getting the sparring partners to replicate Lemieux — (indiscernible. )

Q. After the Billy Joe fight, you said that you weren’t 100 percent and dealing with some injury stuff but you say for this fight you’re on your game and you’re in shape. If this fight doesn’t work out for you, what do you think that says about — I’m wondering if this fight doesn’t go your way, do you reconsider if this is something that is boxing — at this level, really what David Lemieux is capable of?
DAVID LEMIEUX: This fight is definitely going to go my way. You guys watch and see, and I’m going to make spike eat all his words. To say any excuses against Billy Joe or whatever — I’m not giving uses. I’m giving facts. But now let’s see what happens on September 15. The fight is done and let’s just walk the walks and see what’s up.

Q. This obviously is meant to be a really action-packed fight and you guys both come forward. Are you looking to steal the show from — obviously it’s the biggest fight of the year in the main event but are you looking to turn some heads just with this being an action-packed fight?
GARY SULLIVAN: There’s no doubt about that, I’m going to steal the show in spectacular fashion and I’m going to absolutely obliterate Lemieux.

David, you know, it’s nothing personal. I wish you good health with your family after the fight, man. It’s nothing personal. You’re just on my road and I got to get you out of my road to get to the bigger fight. As I say, I wish you health in the future man and I wish you a happy time with your family. I’m sorry but you’re in my way and I’m just going to have to beat you.

DAVID LEMIEUX: Won’t worry, I’m going to beat your ass. It’s not going to be no walk in the park. Don’t think it’s going to be an easy fight. I’m not coming here to lose. I’m going to come here to destroy you. You’ll see. You’ll see September 15th. Keep training hard at the gym. You’re going to need it. You’re going to need every round, you’re going to need it, trust me.

GARY SULLIVAN: Maybe I’ll bring my dogs leash to bring you for a walk then on the night.

DAVID LEMIEUX: Keep talking, you’re going to see.

Q. How do you see the main event playing out?
DAVID LEMIEUX: I think Golovkin has the edge. It’s going to be an interesting fight. Golovkin is a great fighter. Canelo is a great fighter. I thought it was very — I thought it was Golovkin’s fight in the first one, so we’ll see how they train. I think if Canelo really wants to fight, he’s got the talent to do it but I think Golovkin is not an easy fighter to beat.

GARY SULLIVAN: It’s going to be hard to call. The first fight was a very good fight and I expect this one to be a very good fight. I’m not sure who is going to win it but it’s going to be interesting to watch, though.

Q. Spike, you said that you improved a lot — you were impressive against Douglas. How specifically do you think you’ve improved?
GARY SULLIVAN: Specifically, I’m more dedicated. I’m a proper athlete these days. I’m very dedicated to my training, which I wasn’t always throughout my career. The past, I suppose two years, I’ve been very dedicated to being a proper athlete.

I think the old Spike, there’s no comparison. I see that in my weight. I make weight really easy now. I look different. My body shape is different to before and you know, it’s easier when I come to training camp now. I’m just working on my technique and boxing skills, rather than what David does, losing weight in camp. I used to do that one time, as well, myself, and it’s not so good. It’s more like Weight Watchers than training camp for a fight. That’s the difference in me right now.

Q. How much do you believe in momentum and confidence, coming off the big win over Douglas, the same day you lost to Saunders, how much will that play into the fight? How much do you beat in momentum?
GARY SULLIVAN: I believe obviously the momentum is with me. I’m a pressure fighter. I believe David’s time has come and gone. He’s had his time in the past and he’s had a few heavy losses. He’s got a number of beatings and so I think the ball is certainly in my court.

Q. David, you talked a lot about the injury against Saunders. Just how bad was your shoulder, and did you have to have surgery?
DAVID LEMIEUX: It was pretty bad. Surgery was something I looked into, but I didn’t want to be off for a full year so I tried to avoid it as much as I could and leading up to the Saunders fight, I said it’s going to be okay, it’s going to be okay, but you know, obviously it wasn’t.

So we tried different things, and finally, we tried different things and something worked and it’s been good ever since. We’re sticking with that plan and it’s been going great, so we don’t need the surgery right now. I keep training, and everything is solid. I have my left hand back, so I’m back to 100 percent and not 50 percent.

Q. What exactly was the injury?
DAVID LEMIEUX: It was a tear in the labrum.

Q. You’ve been in this position before where you’re coming off the GGG loss and you were fighting a fellow puncher in Curtis Stevens, you and got the big knock out. Do you think you can replicate that against spike?
DAVID LEMIEUX: I think Spike resembles a Curtis Stevens style, but I think he’s less of a boxer than Steven was. Maybe a little more of a puncher, Steven — I didn’t see much of his punches. Maybe he’s a bit harder of a puncher.

But I’m not really worried. I’m the hardest puncher in the ring on September 15, so I’m very confident in my abilities and everything I’m going to bring. I’m going to be in great shape. I’m concerned about absolutely nothing. All the skeptics, you know, that say, oh, is Lemieux going to come back. Well, I’m going to show you all on September 15: Lemieux is going to come back and Lemieux is going to do a lot of damage in the middleweight division.

And the weight issue is no longer an issue.

Q. The weight issue, how have you cleaned that up?
DAVID LEMIEUX: The weight issue, it’s been cleaned up. I changed a lot of things. As I fighter, I think all fighters know that it’s easy to mess up with the weight, but changed a lot. Changes have been made. I’m stronger than ever and my body is going to be much different, so you guys will see on September 15.

Q. Where do you see yourselves in the fight? Do you see yourselves as the favorite or as the underdog?
GARY SULLIVAN: I see myself as the favorite. Easily the favorite. I have to be the favorite.

DAVID LEMIEUX: I’m the favorite. There’s been — I’m the favorite in the fight. Everybody knows that, and there’s been some surveys done on the Internet and all of them point out to me. I think I know what to expect.

Lemieux is back.

GARY SULLIVAN: You’ll be on your back.

DAVID LEMIEUX: You’re going to see who is going to be on whose back.

Q. Like to say hello to David and Spike. My first question goes to Spike. There’s a lot of young fighters in this Irish boxing scene right now. Is there a young fighter that in particular is keeping an eye on and do you expect a large Irish crowd come September 15?

GARY SULLIVAN: Yeah, there’s a great core. Sean O’Kern (ph) he’s a really good fighter. I think he’s about 15-0. He’s trained at my gym in Ireland. A good fighter moved through the ranks. I think he’s the one to watch out for mostly in my opinion.

I think the Irish love Vegas. There will certainly be a good few Irish at the fight.

Q. It seems like coming off a loss, you only get stronger mentally. You have a great knockout over Curtis Stevens, a few big wins. Seems like you almost have something to prove mentally going into this fight. Is that how you feel just coming off a loss that you have something to prove to show the people that you are an elite level fighter and you’ve just caught a bad break in the Golovkin and Saunders fights?

DAVID LEMIEUX: Yeah, well, actually I have a lot to prove. The last two years haven’t been in my favor but things have changed. I’m ready to be back on top, so I’m ready to give the best of what I got, and I’m ready and I’m more ready than ever to do it against a guy like Spike O’Sullivan. Let’s give the fans a great show.

ERIC GOMEZ: Thank you very much.

Canelo vs. GGG 2 is a 12-round fight for the middleweight championship of the world presented by Golden Boy Promotions and GGG Promotions. Munguia vs. Cook is a 12-round battle for the WBO Junior Middleweight World Title presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Zanfer Promotions. Lemieux vs. O’Sullivan is a 12-round middleweight clash presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Eye of The Tiger Management in association with Murphy’s Boxing. Gonzalez vs. Fuentes is a 10-round super flyweight fight presented by Golden Boy Promotions and GGG Promotions in association with Teiken Promotions and Zanfer Promotions. The event is sponsored by Tecate, “THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING,” Hennessy, “Never Stop, Never Settle,” O’Reilly Auto Parts, Fred Loya Insurance, Interjet, Venom, and Fathom Events. The event will take place Saturday, Sept. 15 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at a special time of 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT.

“24/7 Canelo/GGG 2” is streaming on HBO GO and HBO NOW. Canelo’s fifth “24/7” appearance and Golovkin’s third, “24/7 CANELO/GGG 2” is the latest installment of the acclaimed franchise that began in 2007.

Limited tickets for Canelo vs. GGG 2 are still available, and are priced at
$5,000, $2,500, $2,000, $1,500, $800, $700, and $500 not including applicable service charges and taxes. There will be a limit of eight (8) per person at the $5,000, $2,500, $2,000, $1,500, $800, $700 and $500 price levels. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849). Tickets are also available for purchase at www.t-mobilearena.com or www.axs.com.

Tickets are on sale for the closed circuit telecast of Canelo vs. GGG 2 at MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, The Mirage and Luxor are priced at $100, not including applicable fees. Seating is general admission at MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay and The Mirage while Luxor will have assigned seats. Tickets may be purchased at any MGM Resorts International Box Office, by phone with a major credit card at (800) 745-3000 or online at http://www.ticketmaster.com/canelovsggg2.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com,
www.caneloggg.com and www.hbo.com/boxing. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing, @Canelo, @gggboxing, @OscarDeLaHoya, @hboboxing and @TomLoeffler1. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.facebook.com/gggboxing, and www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing, @Canelo, @gggboxing, @HBOboxing and @OscarDeLaHoya; and follow the conversation using #CaneloGGG2.

Photos and videos are available for download by clicking here or copying and pasting the link http://bit.ly/CaneloGGG2 into a browser. Credit must be provided to Golden Boy Promotions for any photo and/or video usage.




‘Canelo vs. GGG 2’ – Historic Rematch Between Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin -Live in Movie Theaters September 15


DENVER – August 28, 2018 – Lineal Middleweight World Champion Canelo Alvarez (49-1-2, 34 KOs) and WBC/WBA/IBO Middleweight World Champion Gennady Golovkin (37-0-1, 33 KOs) return to the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas for a highly anticipated rematch. The first fight sold out in only two weeks, and once again fans across the country will be able to get front-row seats to the 12-round, mega-fight — “Canelo vs. GGG 2” – live at their local movie theater. Fans won’t want to miss this epic match-up of two of the most explosive, heavy-handed fighters in the sport today. And they have promised they will not leave the rematch in the judges’ hands.

The live broadcast of “Canelo vs. GGG 2,” presented by Golden Boy Promotions, GGG Promotions and Fathom Events, is set for Saturday, September 15, 2018 at 8:00 p.m. ET/ 7:00 p.m. CT/ 6:00 p.m. MT/ 5:00 p.m. PT/ 4:00 p.m. AK / 3:00 p.m. HI.

Tickets for “Canelo vs. GGG 2” can be purchased online by visiting
www.FathomEvents.com or at participating theater box offices. Fans throughout the U.S. will be able to enjoy the event in more than 450 select movie theaters through Fathom’s Digital Broadcast Network (DBN). A complete list of theater locations is available on the Fathom Events website(theaters and participants are subject to change).

In the co-main event, breakout Mexican star Jaime Munguia (30-0, 25 KOs) will make the second defense of his WBO Junior Middleweight World Title against rugged Canadian contender Brandon “Bad Boy” Cook (20-1, 13 KOs) in a 12-round battle. Former IBF Middleweight World Champion David Lemieux (39-4, 33 KOs) of Montreal, Canada and Irish warrior Gary “Spike” O’Sullivan (28-2, 20 KOs) of Cork, Ireland will go head-to-head in a 12-round middleweight battle that has Fight of the Year candidate written all over it. Former pound-for-pound king and former four-division world champion Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez (46-2, 38 KOs) of Managua, Nicaragua will make his highly anticipated return against experienced Mexican warrior Moises “Moi” Fuentes (25-5-1, 14 KOs) in a 10-round super flyweight battle that will open the HBO Pay-Per-View telecast.

Canelo said, “I’m delighted to once again participate in one of the most important boxing events in history. This second fight is for the benefit and pleasure of all fans who desire to see the best fight the best. This time, [Gennady] Golovkin won’t have any excuses regarding the judges because I’m coming to knock him out.”

Golovkin said, “It feels right that the rematch returns to the scene of the crime. This time there will be no drama with a decision. I won the first fight and left the ring as world champion wearing all the belts. And I am going to win the second fight. It is going to be a record fight and a golden night for me and boxing at T-Mobile Arena.”

Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions said, “There is no better place to host the historic rematch between Canelo and Golovkin than T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Las Vegas on a fight weekend during Cinco de Mayo is electric, and I know fans will travel from around the world to be here to participate in the celebratory atmosphere. Historic boxing matches like Canelo vs. GGG 2 belong in a place like Las Vegas, which offers fans the full and rich experience they are looking for on a big fight weekend.”

“Canelo vs. Golovkin: Supremacy left the fight world clamoring for this epic rematch. We are proud to once again team up with some of the very best in the boxing business to bring this fight to cinemas nationwide,” said Ray Nutt, Fathom Events CEO. “Fight fans are in for a real treat when these warriors head back into the squared circle and we’re excited to be bringing it to their local cinemas.”

For artwork/photos related to “Canelo vs. GGG 2” visit the Fathom Events press site.

Canelo vs. GGG 2 is a 12-round fight for the middleweight championship of the world presented by Golden Boy Promotions and GGG Promotions. Munguia vs. Cook is a 12-round battle for the WBO Junior Middleweight World Title presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Zanfer Promotions. Lemieux vs. O’Sullivan is a 12-round middleweight clash presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Eye of The Tiger Management in association with Murphy’s Boxing. Gonzalez vs. Fuentes is a 10-round super flyweight fight presented by Golden Boy Promotions and GGG Promotions in association with Teiken Promotions and Zanfer Promotions. The event is sponsored by Tecate, “THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING,” Hennessy, “Never Stop, Never Settle,” O’Reilly Auto Parts, Fred Loya Insurance, Interjet, Venom, and Fathom Events. The event will take place Saturday, Sept. 15 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at a special time of 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT. Bout card subject to change without notice.
About Fathom Events
Fathom Events is the leading event cinema distributor with theater locations in all top 100 DMAs® (Designated Market Areas) and ranks as one of the largest overall theater content distributors. Owned by AMC Entertainment Inc. (NYSE: AMC), Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CNK) and Regal Entertainment Group (NYSE: RGC), Fathom Events offers a variety of unique entertainment events in movie theaters such as live performances of the Metropolitan Opera, top Broadway stage productions, major sporting events, epic concerts, the yearlong TCM Big Screen Classics series, inspirational events and popular anime franchises. Fathom Events takes audiences behind the scenes for unique extras including audience Q&As, backstage footage and interviews with cast and crew, creating the ultimate VIP experience. Fathom Events’ live Digital Broadcast Network (“DBN”) is the largest cinema broadcast network in North America, bringing live and pre-recorded events to 941 locations and 1,496 screens in 181 DMAs. The company also provides corporations a compelling national footprint for hosting employee meetings, customer rewards events and new product launches. For more information, visit www.FathomEvents.com




GGG Blog Part 3


How frustrating was it to hear the judges’ scorecards after your fight with Canelo? Did you use that as an incentive for this training camp for the rematch?

“It was terrible. It was terrible for me. It was terrible for the people. Of course it was terrible for the sport…for the sport of boxing, because statistics showed I landed more punches. The fans saw I wanted to fight and Canelo did not want to fight. The fans who watched it live saw the judges bringing crazy scorecards. When the decision was announced, everyone was saying, “Oh, come on! This is not real! This is not true!” Everybody was very mad because these people, the judges, killed the sport that night. This time, the world will be watching the fight and the judges. Judges hurt the sport of boxing that day. Maybe the judges had a bad day. This is business.

“It is a new situation for me. This is my first rematch. I’m very excited because this fight is a completely different situation for us and for the fans. They get to see a fight with a real champion, two pound for pound champions. It is new. This is the biggest fight for boxing. I’m very happy because I am fighting at the highest level, the first class for boxing.

“Training camp with Abel Sanchez is always hard and exciting because Abel works me hard and he is always teaching me new things. What I have to prove I only have to prove to myself and no one else. My incentive is my desire to be my best when I fight and to be better than I have ever been before. Canelo is my most important fight because he is my next fight. That is the only thing that makes Canelo special. There was nothing special about him in the first fight. He did not fight Mexican Style like he promised. Over the last twelve months, Canelo has showed everyone his true self.”

24/7 Canelo/GGG 2 debuts TONIGHT Tuesday, August 28

at 11:30 p.m. ET/PT on HBO.

Canelo vs. GGG 2 takes place Saturday, Sept. 15 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at a special time of 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT.




CANELO ALVAREZ AND GENNADY ‘GGG’ GOLOVKIN LOS ANGELES MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES


LOS ANGELES (Aug. 26, 2018): Lineal Middleweight World Champion Canelo Alvarez (49-1-2, 34 KOs) and WBC, WBA and IBO Middleweight Champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin (38-0-1, 34 KOs) hosted a Los Angeles media workout in front of thousands of fans at the new Banc of California Stadium ahead of their historic rematch. The fight will take place Saturday, Sept. 15 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at a special time of 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT.

Jaime Munguia (30-0, 25 KOs), who will defend his WBO Junior Middleweight World Title in the 12-round co-main event against rugged Canadian contender Brandon “Bad Boy” Cook (20-1, 13 KOs), also participated in the workout.

Here’s what the participants had to say at today’s event:

CANELO ALVAREZ, Lineal Middleweight World Champion:
“We’re getting close to the fight, and I feel good. This fight is personal because of all that’s been said, and it will be difficult to regain the respect that we once had. The statements that have been made about me have given me more motivation to train harder. I have watched the first fight several times. The error that I made was that I had opportunities to counter that I needed to have taken advantage of. I need to do that in the rematch.

Like I’ve said many times, the first fight gave me the guideline for the second fight. I know that I can do many things in the ring against him. I know that I can hurt him. I hurt him in the first fight, and I’m going to hurt him even more in the second fight. My objective is the knockout and I’ll be looking for that from the opening round.”

Golovkin knows who I am. He knows who I’m about. Let me put it even better–he still doesn’t know how much more I have left to show. I’m looking forward to showing him that on September 15. I have to win convincingly. It has to be a knockout to erase any doubts. I’m very motivated for this win. I’m confident, but not overconfident about my opponent because I know who he is, but I’m confident in my preparation.

There is no such thing as a Mexican style. There have been many fighters from Mexico with different styles. My style is mine. I’m Mexican and that’s what is important. Maybe Golovkin uses ‘Mexican Style’ to get fans, but he’s a hypocrite. If something were to happen in Mexico, he wouldn’t be there to support them.

GENNADY “GGG” GOLOVKIN, WBC/WBA/IBO Middleweight World Champion:
“Canelo, he is not a champion. He is a liar who has no respect for the sport of boxing or its fans. I want to stay world champion and bring all my belts home. I am ready to star in another Big Drama Show. I do not think about Canelo in training. I am not worried about him. I only worry about doing my job in training camp and doing my job in the ring against Canelo on September 15. In the last fight I did not feel any real power from Canelo. Just slaps. He is not the hardest puncher I have fought, but he is fast and quick. He is the most skilled fighter I have fought. He is a very good fighter.

I am happy to get at Canelo again. It is another big chance to beat him again. Of course I want to knock out Canelo. It would be nice if Canelo came to fight this time. I don’t believe what he says about how he will fight me this time. He said the same thing before our first fight. I will definitely be more aggressive in this fight.

Was I upset that Canelo failed two drug tests? Yes. But I was more upset at Canelo’s team. The excuses they gave, their attitude, and Canelo’s reaction, it showed that they have no respect for the sport or the fans. They showed their real faces. They are fakes. I do not feel anger toward him because the rematch was canceled the first time.

But I did lose all respect for him. Canelo is not the biggest name in boxing, just the biggest scandal. I feel very comfortable. It has been a great training camp. Abel has had me working on new things which I find very exciting. The cancelation of the rematch in May was a good life experience but it was not a good experience for boxing. I believe new judges and a new referee could be better for boxing and the fans.”

JAIME MUNGUÍA, WBO Junior Middleweight World Champion:
“Fighting on this card is a great opportunity, especially on a date that is so important for Mexicans. I have the obligation to give a great fight to all the fans. I know Brandon Cook is a tough opponent. He is older than me and has a lot of experience. But I think I’m stronger than him and have a reach advantage. I’m confident I’ll walk away with my hand raised.

This fight is an obligation to come in even better than last time. I need to show that I’ve gotten a lot better. I never knew that I would get so far in my career so quickly, but things happen for a reason. The Liam Smith fight gave me a lot of experience. It showed me all the errors I made that I am now working on in the gym.

A lot of fighters would love to be fighting frequently. It’s an opportunity that any fighter would desire. So I have to take advantage of that. If my body allows, I will continue be an active fighter as a world champion.”

OSCAR DE LA HOYA, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions:
“This fight is something different. This fight is personal. I’ve never seen Canelo so angry. He really wants to knock Golovkin out. As a promoter, I want to see him knock Golovkin out. This fight is every important for Mexican people. This is a Mexican date, and I’m excited we can bring fans an exciting and memorable event during Mexican Independence Day Weekend.”

TOM LOEFFLER, Promoter of Gennady “GGG” Golovkin:
“This is the biggest fight, the biggest boxing event of the year. The two best middleweights going mano a mano for all the marbles. Gennady is going for the all-time consecutive title defense record to further burnish his place as the top pound for pound fighter of his era.

Canelo vs. GGG 2 is a 12-round fight for the middleweight championship of the world presented by Golden Boy Promotions and GGG Promotions. Munguia vs. Cook is a 12-round battle for the WBO Junior Middleweight World Title presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Zanfer Promotions. Lemieux vs. O’Sullivan is a 12-round middleweight clash presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Eye of The Tiger Management in association with Murphy’s Boxing. Gonzalez vs. Fuentes is a 10-round super flyweight fight presented by Golden Boy Promotions and GGG Promotions in association with Teiken Promotions and Zanfer Promotions. The event is sponsored by Tecate, “THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING,” Hennessy, “Never Stop, Never Settle,” O’Reilly Auto Parts, Fred Loya Insurance, Interjet, Venom, and Fathom Events. The event will take place Saturday, Sept. 15 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at a special time of 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT.

“24/7 Canelo/GGG 2” premieres Tuesday, Aug. 28 at 11:30 pm (ET/PT) on HBO. Canelo’s fifth “24/7” appearance and Golovkin’s third, “24/7 CANELO/GGG 2” is the latest installment of the acclaimed franchise that began in 2007.

Limited tickets for Canelo vs. GGG 2 are still available, and are priced at $5,000, $2,500, $2,000, $1,500, $800, $700, and $500 not including applicable service charges and taxes. There will be a limit of eight (8) per person at the $5,000, $2,500, $2,000, $1,500, $800, $700 and $500 price levels. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849). Tickets are also available for purchase at www.t-mobilearena.com or www.axs.com.

Tickets are on sale for the closed circuit telecast of Canelo vs. GGG 2 at MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, The Mirage and Luxor are priced at $100, not including applicable fees. Seating is general admission at MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay and The Mirage while Luxor will have assigned seats. Tickets may be purchased at any MGM Resorts International Box Office, by phone with a major credit card at (800) 745-3000 or online at http://www.ticketmaster.com/canelovsggg2.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com,
www.caneloggg.com and www.hbo.com/boxing. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing, @Canelo, @gggboxing, @OscarDeLaHoya, @hboboxing and @TomLoeffler1. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.facebook.com/gggboxing, and www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing, @Canelo, @gggboxing, @HBOboxing and @OscarDeLaHoya; and follow the conversation using #CaneloGGG2.

Photos and videos are available for download by clicking here or copying and pasting the link http://bit.ly/CaneloGGG2 into a browser. Credit must be provided to Golden Boy Promotions for any photo and/or video usage.




VIDEO: Canelo vs GGG 2 Open Workouts

https://www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing/videos/1093093314164689/




Esteves named referee for Canelo – Golovkin 2

Benjy Esteves will be the 3rd man in the ring for the Canelo Alvarez – Gennady Golovkin rematch on Seotember 15tth in Las Vegas, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

Originally Tony Weeks was named, but Golovkin’s camp baled at that selection. Both camps agreed on Robert Byrd, but Byrd’s wife Adelaide had a controversial scorecard in the 1st bout, so the Nevada Athletic Commission settled on Esteves.

The judges for the bout will be Steve Weisfeld, Glenn Feldman and Dave Moretti.

At Wednesday’s meeting, Golovkin promoter Tom Loeffler strenuously objected to Weeks as a possible referee for the fight. The reason was because of an issue that Abel Sanchez, Golovkin’s trainer, has with Weeks stemming from his work in a December fight in Las Vegas between junior lightweight Denis Shafikov, whom Sanchez trains, and Rene Alvarado.

“Tony was giving the prefight instructions in the dressing room, and Abel was trying to clarify something,” Loeffler told ESPN following the commission meeting. “The gist of it was Abel didn’t agree with some of the instructions Tony was giving, so he didn’t feel comfortable with Tony in this fight. When Abel voiced that to me last night, I told Eric, and I made it clear to the commission that we have nothing against Weeks. If they want to assign him to a different fight on the show, no problem. It was just the [main event] Abel had a problem with.”

“Benjy is very experienced and fast in the ring,” Loeffler said. “The main objective from both sides is to focus on the fighters, not the officials. We have accomplished that going into the fight. Neither side has an issue with the officials.”

“We’re very pleased,” Golden Boy Promotions Eric Gomez told ESPN. “They are the top guys with the most experience, and that is what we want. We have no issue with Benjy whatsoever. What we want [is for] everyone to be comfortable with the officials. We don’t want any controversy with the officials, and we don’t want any excuses after the fight, and I think we achieved that today. I understand Tom’s position about Weeks. We had the list of potential referees two weeks back and then it got changed [Tuesday] night, so it was of concern.”




CANELO VS. GGG 2: TRAINER’S CONFERENCE CALL TRANSCRIPT

LOS ANGELES (AUG. 22, 2018): ROBERT GASPARRI: Thank you everyone for participating in the Canelo vs. GGG2: Trainer’s International Media Conference Call today. Live from Las Vegas at T-Mobile Arena, the September 15 action will feature the highly anticipated rematch in the middleweight division between Lineal Middleweight Champion Canelo Alvarez (49-1-2, 34 KOs) and WBC, WBA, and IBO Middleweight World Champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin (38-0-1, 34 KOs). This epic event will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at a special time of 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT.

This mega-event will be matched with a stacked undercard, featuring breakout Mexican star Jaime Munguia (30-0, 25 KOs) who will make the second defense of his WBO Junior Middleweight World Title against rugged Canadian contender Brandon “Bad Boy” Cook (20-1, 13 KOs) Also on the card, former IBF Middleweight World Champion David Lemieux (39-4, 33 KOs) of Montreal, Canada and Irish warrior Gary “Spike” O’Sullivan (28-2, 20 KOs) of Cork, Ireland will go head-to-head in a 12-round middleweight battle. Opening the HBO Pay-Per-View telecast, former pound-for-pound king and former four-division world champion Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez (46-2, 38 KOs) of Managua, Nicaragua will make his highly anticipated return against experienced Mexican warrior Moises “Moi” Fuentes (25-5-1, 14 KOs) in a 10-round super flyweight battle.

We’ll be hosting the first-ever public workout at the home of LA’s newest soccer club, LA FC, at the Bank of California Stadium in downtown Los Angeles. The event is set for this Sunday, August 26. Doors open to the public at 2:00 p.m. Fighters will start working out at 3:00 p.m. Come to this event. It’s open to the public, and it’s going to be really, really spectacular. Media must RSVP by today by 5:00 p.m.

We would like to say thank you to Tecate, “THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING,” Hennessy, “Never Stop, Never Settle,” O’Reilly Auto Parts, Fred Loya Insurance, Interjet, Venom, and Fathom Events. Without their continued support, we wouldn’t be able to pull events like this off.

Without the sponsors’ continued support, big events like this couldn’t happen. At this time I’d like to turn it over to Tom Loeffler, Gennady Golovkin’s promoter. Tom?

TOM LOEFFLER: That was a great introduction. I’m still at the Las Vegas airport after the officials have been selected, as you mentioned. This is just a tremendous — not only a tremendous main event but a tremendous undercard, all these great warriors on the same show. GGG is training very hard up in Big Bear, California, with Abel Sanchez. He doesn’t want to leave it in the judges’ hands this time. I know Canelo is predicting a knockout. Literally the gloves are off for this promotion.

Without further ado, I just want to introduce who we think is the best trainer in boxing. He’s the reason behind GGG’s Mexican style that’s gained him so many fans around the world. I want to introduce Abel Sanchez all the way from the Summit Gym in Big Bear, California.

ABEL SANCHEZ: Thank you, Tom, and thank you to everybody that’s on. I appreciate the call. We are training hard, like Tom said. Look forward to this conference call and answering a lot of questions that are needed. Thank you.

ROBERT GASPARRI: Thank you, Abel. Now I’d like to introduce the man behind the machine, Jose “Chepo” Reynoso. Chepo?

CHEPO REYNOSO: Good morning. Every day we’re getting closer to this big event, and to put everything in its place after all that’s been talked about.

ROBERT GASPARRI: Thank you, Chepo. Now I’d like to introduce you to another important cornerman who has been with Canelo’s team since the fighter was a teenager. I’d like to introduce to you Eddy Reynoso. Eddy?

EDDY REYNOSO: Good morning. Greetings to everyone.

Q. There seems to be a certain amount of personal hostility between the two camps with insults. A lot of it has to do with the two drug tests that Canelo failed. But it also seems to have filtered down to the trainers. If anger — if this anger is real, how does it translate to how the fight is fought? Sometimes I think it probably could be a good thing for a fighter, sometimes maybe not. So, I’d like to ask both participants whether this rancor between the two camps will actually have an effect on the fight.

ABEL SANCHEZ: First of all, there has been no insults from our side. I have not insulted them in no way, shape or form. What I’ve said have been facts. I may have stated an opinion as far as me saying that he ran, but everything else is a fact. He tested positive. He is not the champion, Gennady Golovkin is the champion, was the champion going in, was the champion coming out. So everything that I’ve said has been the truth. If I’m lying about what I said, then I would need to explain it, but I have not insulted anybody. They’ve been the one with the insults.

EDDY REYNOSO: Well, there’s been no insults on our side. At the end of the day, we’re not the ones who are going to be fighting, so we’re relaxed, we’re working hard, and there’s no negativity on our end, and if we received anything, we take it somewhere else.

CHEPO REYNOSO: Canelo has always been respectful with all opponents and all teams. This time has not been an exception. It’s been Abel who has heated things up with his statements regarding Canelo and that he runs, but a fighter can’t run in the ring, you run on the racetrack. In a fight you can’t run. Maybe he moved a little bit, showed some movement just to show his quality as a fighter, but I think that he moved really well, he moved necessary, and he may have put a little water in the gunpowder of Golovkin, and that’s why he wants to heat things up, because he showed his quality as a fighter. So, we’re relaxed, we know what we have to do, and we haven’t been doing any insults.

Q. Mr. Sanchez, Canelo’s, one of the most effective punches is his counter right hand and the upper cut, and I thought Gennady was backing straight up and not able to counter that very well. Do you think he can improve that in this fight, improve the counter to the upper cut and the right hand?

ABEL SANCHEZ: First of all, Canelo has got a lot more than the right-hander and upper cut. He’s an excellent fighter. But in the first fight he was able to land those, and of course we’ve reviewed the fight. We’ve gone over the fight. We hope that we can do a better job. But I’m sure Canelo is going to try to — Canelo and Chepo and Eddy are going to try to counter everything we do well. It’s a good fight between two very good fighters. Hopefully we get the fight that the fans expect. But yeah, of course we worked on that.

Q. Abel and Jose, as far as the last fight goes, how much film study has been done by you of the last fight? How many times have you seen it? And also, in planning for the fight, who was primarily responsible for the strategy? Was it the trainer, was it the fighter, or was it a mixture of both?

ABEL SANCHEZ: First of all, we’ve watched it twice, once on tape and once live. As coaches we can work on a strategy. We can work on a lot of things that we want to do in the fight, but when the fight presents itself, depending on how the opposition is fighting the fight, things can change. We can try to have A, B and C plans available. We work on everything in the gym just in case. But when the fight starts, the fighters, at least my fighters anyway, they’re going to do what they feel is best at that particular moment. We’ve worked on all the aspects, and hopefully they can implement what we worked on.

Q. My question is for Abel. I was just wondering if you’re aware of the blog post that Canelo put up on HBO.com this morning.
ABEL SANCHEZ: Actually, I am not. Tell me about it.

Q. This is Canelo saying this, obviously, so please don’t take offense. He said that you don’t know boxing, and the word dumbass was in the blog post. So, he was very critical of you saying that he did a lot of running in the first fight. Can you respond to that?

ABEL SANCHEZ: Well, I’ll go back to what I said in the previous answer. The insults have not come from our side. The insults have come from them, and it’s an obvious insult to me. They’re the ones that are lowering themselves to doing that way. Have I gotten into his head to be able to respond to me like that? There’s no reason for it, but that’s the character that I’ve been talking about, the man.

Q. Do you feel that you’ve gotten into his head at this point, the way he’s responding?

ABEL SANCHEZ: Well, I feel that he’s responding. If by responding means that he’s reading these things and it’s affecting him, my reason for saying the things that I said is because they’re facts, like I said at the beginning of another question. Tell me where I’m lying, other than my opinion about his running. Tell me where I’m lying. Did he not test positive? Did he not cancel our fight? Did he not cause an uproar with fans and with tickets and with reservations because those were consequences from what he did, not from what we did? So, there’s no reason for me to be insulting anybody. They’re the ones that are lowering themselves to that level.

Q. Earlier the commission meeting took place, and obviously Tom voiced his objection to Tony Weeks being the referee for the fight, and he explained part of that was some of the things that you were concerned about, about Tony Weeks being the referee. Can you explain why you thought he might not be the referee for the fight?

ABEL SANCHEZ: First of all, we had been told it was going to be Kenny Bayless, and we had agreed to Kenny Bayless at the beginning. When the name Tony Weeks came up, I had several other fighters with him, and I felt he didn’t do a proper job. I felt in one of the fights while he was giving the instructions, I felt how he addressed a question of mine was very irresponsible and insulting. So, I felt I had a problem with that, and there’s a lot of other great referees in this world, and I felt that he wasn’t qualified in my opinion to do this kind of fight.

Q. Which fight was it that you took issue with what he said to you?

ABEL SANCHEZ: It was the fight against Shafikov versus the young man’s name — the Shafikov fight at the Hard Rock last year.

ROBERT GASPARRI: It was Shafikov versus (Rene) Alvarado last year, last December.

Q. This goes to both camps. Maybe start with you, Abel. What was the biggest takeaway from the first fight for each of you guys regarding your opponent, whether it was something surprising or expected in that first fight?

ABEL SANCHEZ: First of all, I was surprised that he moved as much as he did. He’s fought 40-some fights in one manner and promised the fans a certain kind of fight. I think the fans expected that, and I think that’s why the fans paid for the fight. We knew that he was an excellent fighter. Other than the moving, nothing surprised us. I knew that he was going to be there. Of course, this fight I’m talking about knocking him out, but that’s just talking to not only pump up the fight but hopefully to get the kind of fight that we deserve.

EDDY REYNOSO: We didn’t really learn anything from the first fight. Nothing surprised us from that first fight. He’s the same fighter as always. He comes forward and he throws a lot of punches. What we did learn, that’s what we’ll show in that fight in the rematch in September.

CHEPO REYNOSO: Nothing really surprised us from Golovkin in the first fight. We met him in 2011 in Big Bear, and he’s a strong, well-prepared fighter that we’ve known for a long time, so there was nothing new, and if Abel feels that — if he was surprised Canelo moved a lot, that’s because he’s a complete fighter, and we’re going to show that on September 15.

Q. For Abel, after everything that’s happened, after all the tests that showed that Canelo didn’t do anything bad or negative in this fight, would you accept an apology from either Canelo or his team?

ABEL SANCHEZ: I think he’s asking me if I would apologize to them, and my answer to that is no, I would not apologize. He tested positive. Why would I apologize to somebody who tested positive? That he’s not tested positive since then, I have not said anything about it since then. The consequences have resulted for us and for the team and for boxing from his carelessness, so no, I wouldn’t apologize to him.

Q. How important is it to show that not only is Canelo a complete fighter but that he’s a clean fighter?

EDDY REYNOSO: There’s nothing to show. Canelo’s career has always been clean, and it showed that in the investigation. So there’s nothing to show. All we have to show is each fight taking it one by one, starting with Golovkin, but there’s nothing to show.

Q. Abel, I asked Canelo this last week and I want to ask you the same thing. He said that he will not — after the fight, he will not shake Gennady Golovkin’s hand. He will not apologize for the comments you and Gennady have made in the lead-up to this fight. After the fight will you go up to Canelo’s camp and shake his hand regardless of win, lose or draw and say, “good fight” and wish them congratulations and things like that?

ABEL SANCHEZ: Well, I will make an effort. That’s what I’ll tell you. Children act like he’s acting now. Of course, I will make an effort to try to do it, but if he doesn’t want it, that’s okay. That’s the child in him.

Q. I can feel the hostility in your voice, and you can see it when you hear Gennady talk. Is this the most vitriol that has come from you and Gennady in any of Gennady’s past opponents?

ABEL SANCHEZ: I would say if there is a reason, the reason would be because they’re trying to sweep it under the rug like nothing happened. We’re not idiots. The fans are not idiots. Something happened. Yes, he was cleared by the Nevada commission, but something did happen. There’s consequences from that. We’re still feeling the consequences from that. That there is a middle — that we’re mad about it, of course we’re mad about it, but we have to go on and we have to fight the 15th. But the fact of the matter is those things did happen. We cannot sweep it under the rug. He did test positive, regardless of whatever reason he seems to claim. But the fact is he did.

Q. How do you let emotions not get in the way of what needs to be done on September 15th?

ABEL SANCHEZ: Emotions will never get in the way. Emotions get in the way when the questions are asked. Once they step through the ropes, once we’re in the dressing room, all those things are not going to be asked. All those things are on the back burner. We are concentrating on the task at hand. Gennady is a professional, as Canelo is, and I’m sure when they step through the ropes, it’ll be about that fight. Those other thoughts and those other questions will not be on their mind, as they will not be on mine, either. I’ve got a job to do that night, and I’m going to do it regardless of what happened in the past. But when those questions are asked, it’s difficult to act like it never happened.

Q. For both trainers, on September 15th, will we see the very best of GGG and Canelo? Obviously at this point in their career, it’s difficult to show new things and show new parts of their plans and who they are as fighters, but will we see the very best of GGG and Canelo September 15th?

ABEL SANCHEZ: I think that great fighters bring out the best in other great fighters. I think that the fans are expecting a great fight, as they expected the first time. Golovkin will do his best to make that. Hopefully Canelo comes prepared to do the same thing.

CHEPO REYNOSO: The best of Canelo is yet to come. Obviously, this is his second fight at 160 pounds. His body is still processing. He’s still getting conditioned at this new weight. So, I maintain that the best is yet to come on September 15. You will see a better Canelo and you will see him end that very understated streak of that very basic fighter Gennady Golovkin.

Q. Some people might say that there aren’t any good fighters that are coming from Mexico, but in this very big fight, we have an important Mexican fighter on the card. How does it feel to be representing Mexico on this card, both as cornermen and in the ring?

ABEL SANCHEZ: First of all, I think there’s a lot of great coaches in Mexico other than these two that are going to be in the ring on September 15th. They just haven’t gotten the opportunity. But given the opportunity to coach the fighters that are coming up, because of these fighters in this sport, I think it’s important. The fact that we are two Mexicans leading the charges in one of the most important fights of the last couple years, I’m very proud of that. I’m very proud to be Mexican and to be representing Mexico and to be representing my fighter in this particular fight.

EDDY REYNOSO: It’s a pride for me. It’s going to be a big night for we Mexicans, and that’s why we’ve been working hard with Canelo, and it’s going to show with Mexican boxing, there’s always going to be something to talk about. It’s always special.

CHEPO REYNOSO: It’s an honor for people like us to be part of an important fight like this, coming from the bottom, bringing a kid who came into the ring boxing at only 13 years old, and now he’s fighting at the mecca of boxing in Las Vegas. So it’s an honor, and we feel very proud and it’s satisfying to be involved in such an important fight, and we’re going to show the results of all this hard work on September 15.

Q. Abel, if GGG wins this fight, he will have recorded 21 middleweight title defenses, would break the record held like Bernard Hopkins. You’ve been his coach for those fights. I’m wondering your perspective on the historical achievement he could accomplish in this fight.

ABEL SANCHEZ: Both G and I, Gennady and I, have a tremendous amount of respect for Bernard and for what he’s accomplished and what he continues to accomplish in the sport. It would be an honor to be mentioned, for my fighter to be mentioned in the same breath with Bernard Hopkins. I think it’s important to set goals and to set tables that we want to reach, and to reach this one I thought would never be possible. I thought it would never be possible for any fighter, and for me to be involved in that or that possibility is mindboggling.

Q. One thing about that potential record, there are some who look at it and say, even though GGG has been a tremendous fighter for so many years, the reality is a handful of those defenses he made at the beginning were actually of the second-tier WBA belt before he got the full title. What’s your point of view on those who say, well, even if he wins, it’s not really the record because there was another WBA champion at the same time for the first four or five of those defenses or whatever the number was?

ABEL SANCHEZ: You know what, everybody has an opinion. The one thing that I do — I can say about Golovkin’s career, he’s never had a rematch with anybody. On that record that you’re talking about, Bernard, he had rematches with Antoine Echols and Robert Allen. You can look at it in a way that those kind of counter each other, but we never fought a rematch, and not only did Golovkin break the record or is going to break the record, he did it in a fashion that Bernard didn’t. He did it with most knockouts. So I’m content with the fact that he’s going to break it.

Q. And Bernard also happened to have a no-contest in there. For Eddy and Chepo, do you have any additional — would you take additional satisfaction in a Canelo victory knowing that they had stopped GGG from breaking a big record like that?

CHEPO REYNOSO: We are working to win this fight. We’re not worried about breaking records or preventing people from breaking records. What we do want to do is make sure that we take away his undefeated record. Whatever comes for Canelo with his record, it’s going to be a result of this fight. But we just have the win on our minds.

EDDY REYNOSO: What interests us right now is the fight, just as my father said, not his record or my record. What really interests us is winning the fight and to keep forward in boxing, and we’re going to be ready to show that on the day of the fight.

Q. Abel, in assessing your fighter after 24 hard rounds with elite competition in 2017, nobody wants a scandal, but did you actually think the scandal and the result and fight with Martirosyan actually helped Golovkin, maybe warded off some attrition and everything else, gave you a chance to reevaluate things again with respect to this match with Canelo?

ABEL SANCHEZ: No, I wouldn’t say that it helped me evaluate anything. I think that the fight against Martirosyan was a fight that we wanted because this kid has been in camp. This kid has been training, and I think he deserved to at least get in the ring with somebody to vent those frustrations that he had from this Canelo fight not happening on the 5th. But the facts are that he did do 1.3 something, 1.4 on HBO, he did set a merchandising record at the event, he did set a gate record at the event. The gate record was the all-time record on StubHub. The fans wanted to see him fight. So the fact that Tom was able to put that together in three weeks, even though we were being blocked in every way, I think was a tremendous effort by Tom, and the fans treated us for that. They came out.

Q. My next question is for Eddy Reynoso. Canelo has been very vocal about wanting to knock Golovkin out from the opening round. You mentioned earlier that this is his first rematch fight. He’s still getting acclimated to 160. You’ve had a chance to review things and study things. You just now called Golovkin a very basic fighter. You seem very confident. How confident are you that Canelo is going to go out here on the 15th and knock out Gennady Golovkin?

EDDY REYNOSO: Look, we’re confident in our work. We’re having a great preparation. We have all the tools and the arguments to win a great fight and defeat him.

Q. Eddy, Chepo, what have you seen within the last year that really stood out in that last fight that you could have corrected? Obviously, there was a lot of good defense, but what were some things that you could have fixed or done better for this next fight? Is it going to be a similar fight or something different?

CHEPO REYNOSO: After seeing — I’ve seen the fight a few times, and I saw that Canelo won, and I think he showed a lot of great defense, enormous defense. He showed good waist movement, he made him miss a lot. As I said previously, he put water in his gunpowder, which means that he neutralized him. If he needs something — if he thought he needed something in that fight, maybe he needed to throw a little bit more, maybe he needed to land a few more punches to remove any doubts about the decision, and we hope that on this occasion things will be different.

EDDY REYNOSO: We did a good fight. I thought we did a good fight. We fought defensively. It was a great demonstration by Saul. Obviously, he needs to throw more punches. That’s not a secret, even though I thought we won the fight clearly. But to win it even more clearly, he would have to throw more. We’ve been analyzing the fight a lot, and we’re going to work on that and hopefully walk away with a victory and demonstrate what we’ve learned on September 15th.

Q. I have a very, very simple boxing question for you. We talked about great fights, great fights. All of the great fights I’ve seen and all the great fights anybody has seen has been because the styles come together in such a way that make it a great fight. I give you Ali-Frazier in Manila, Hearns-Leonard in Vegas, and you know the fights. I don’t have to tell you. So my question is this: Do these fighters each have a style which will make this a great fight because of the styles, or is that lacking in what becomes a good fight?

ABEL SANCHEZ: Good point. All those great fights that you mentioned, both come back because both fighters went out there to win the fight, not to survive 12 rounds. If Canelo comes out to try to win the fight, then I think we’re going to have a classic. I think that could have been the first time, but he came out to survive the first fight and didn’t really throw punches to try to win the fight. Yes, I think it’s a positive. It’s very possible if both fighters go back to what they did leading up to this fight.

CHEPO REYNOSO: Canelo went out there to fight, and he showed what he can do in there, and Saul knows what to do in there. It’s not going to be us just doing things in the ring. It’s Saul who’s going to do what’s convenient for him in the ring. He should worry about giving advice to his own fighter and we’ll give advice to our fighter because we’re not here to take advice from him.

EDDY REYNOSO: The same thing that my father said.

Q. For Canelo’s team, on September 15th it will be one year since Canelo last fought. How much does that affect him, and did he have to spar more for this fight due to the lack of ring activity?

EDDY REYNOSO: If I said that inactivity doesn’t affect a fighter, I’d be lying. In any sport, whether you play baseball or football, whatever, inactivity is going to have an effect. But we’re confident in Canelo’s youth. And he’s always working in the ring, he’s disciplined, he stays active, so inactivity won’t be a factor in this fight.

Q. For GGG’s team, the body contact was absent in the first fight from GGG. Do you guys plan on bringing that back and being more active to the body in this fight?

ABEL SANCHEZ: Well, first of all, the body attack was absent on both sides. Canelo is a very good body puncher and did not throw any body punches. Why? Because they’re at a distance. When Canelo is running away and not exchanging or not being at distance, it’s difficult to lunge and reach for somebody who’s not there.

I’m not trying to give any advice to Canelo’s team. What I’m saying is I answered — I’ll answer this question with Jerry’s question. In order to have a classic fight, both fighters have to fight the fight that they know how to fight, not a fight to survive and not a fight to do what’s best for you but best for the fans. I think that we owe the fans that.

Q. Just curious, the judges were announced today, and obviously Team Golovkin was okay with those judges, but I’m just curious, are you still remiss to let this one go to the cards? Obviously you’ll take a knockout if you can get one, but do you believe it’s imperative you need to get a knockout in order to win?

ABEL SANCHEZ: I don’t think it’s imperative. I think that the onus and the microscope is going to be on judging, and I think that we have some judges that have been — that have shown to be very fair in the past. So if we win the fight, then we’ll win it. If we lose it, then we’ll lose it. But I think that a knockout will leave no doubt. I think a knockout on either side will stand to greatness and great legacy for the winner. Of course we’re going to try to knock him out, but in order to do that, there’s got to be a willing participant on either side, a willing participant to give us the kind of classic fight where somebody gets hurt.

Q. Abel, a question quick on the last one. Given the controversy of the fight a year ago, what was the process of selecting the judges? Did they give you a number of names, or was it pretty straightforward they just assigned a judge?

ABEL SANCHEZ: Tom Loeffler is the one that deals with the direct talk with Mr. Bennett from the Nevada commission. They had a pool of judges that they got together, and they were selected based on what they’ve done in the past and based on the Canelo side and our side being in agreement with them. But the same with referees. There was a pool of them given to us, and we chose what we thought was in the best interest of the fight, of our sport. Hopefully they’ll be fair and the winner does win.

ROBERT GASPARRI: Abel, would you like to make any final comments?

ABEL SANCHEZ: Yes, I’d like to thank everybody that was on. I’d like to thank the promoters and the Canelo team for their time. I hope this fight lives up to all the talk, and we’ll see them on the 15th.

CHEPO REYNOSO: Thank you to all who participated in this conference call. The truth is in boxing, only in boxing do you have the opportunity to make things very clear, and that time there might not have been some clarity, but for this fight we’re going to put things in their place and make things clear about who is the very best at 160 pounds. Thank you very much.

EDDY REYNOSO: Thanks to all who joined. There’s nothing more to say, but just to say that we will keep working and keep moving forward in the preparation and the fight, as well, and our focus is on boxing, nothing else. We’re going to leave everything else to the side. Thank you.

Canelo vs. GGG 2 is a 12-round fight for the middleweight championship of the world presented by Golden Boy Promotions and GGG Promotions. Munguia vs. Cook is a 12-round battle for the WBO Junior Middleweight World Title presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Zanfer Promotions. Lemieux vs. O’Sullivan is a 12-round middleweight clash presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Eye of The Tiger Management in association with Murphy’s Boxing. Gonzalez vs. Fuentes is a 10-round super flyweight fight presented by Golden Boy Promotions and GGG Promotions in association with Teiken Promotions and Zanfer Promotions. The event is sponsored by Tecate, “THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING,” Hennessy, “Never Stop, Never Settle,” O’Reilly Auto Parts, Fred Loya Insurance, Interjet, Venom, and Fathom Events. The event will take place Saturday, Sept. 15 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at a special time of 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT.

“24/7 Canelo/GGG 2” premieres Tuesday, Aug. 28 at 11:30 pm (ET/PT) on HBO. Canelo’s fifth “24/7” appearance and Golovkin’s third, “24/7 CANELO/GGG 2” is the latest installment of the acclaimed franchise that began in 2007.

Limited tickets for Canelo vs. GGG 2 are still available, and are priced at
$5,000, $2,500, $2,000, $1,500, $800, $700, and $500 not including applicable service charges and taxes. There will be a limit of eight (8) per person at the $5,000, $2,500, $2,000, $1,500, $800, $700 and $500 price levels. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849). Tickets are also available for purchase at www.t-mobilearena.com or www.axs.com.

Tickets are on sale for the closed circuit telecast of Canelo vs. GGG 2 at MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, The Mirage and Luxor are priced at $100, not including applicable fees. Seating is general admission at MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay and The Mirage while Luxor will have assigned seats. Tickets may be purchased at any MGM Resorts International Box Office, by phone with a major credit card at (800) 745-3000 or online at http://www.ticketmaster.com/canelovsggg2.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com,
www.caneloggg.com and www.hbo.com/boxing. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing, @Canelo, @gggboxing, @OscarDeLaHoya, @hboboxing and @TomLoeffler1. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.facebook.com/gggboxing, and www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing, @Canelo, @gggboxing, @HBOboxing and @OscarDeLaHoya; and follow the conversation using #CaneloGGG2.

Photos and videos are available for download by clicking here or copying and pasting the link http://bit.ly/CaneloGGG2 into a browser. Credit must be provided to Golden Boy Promotions for any photo and/or video usage.




CANELO VS. GGG 2 UNDERCARD TO BE STACKED WITH WORLD CHAMPIONS AND RETURNING CONTENDERS

LOS ANGELES (August 20, 2018): Fans at T-Mobile Arena and millions watching at home will be treated to a stacked undercard featuring current world champions and returning contenders in support of the Sepember 15 fight between Lineal Middleweight World Champion Canelo Alvarez (49-1-2, 34 KOs) and WBC/WBA/IBO Middleweight World Champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin (38-0, 34 KOs). The event will take place Saturday, Sept. 15 and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at a special time of 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT.

“This historic rematch between Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin can only be supported by an equally great undercard,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “That’s why some of the best champions and contenders from all over the world will be featured on this event of international proportions, while some of our brightest prospects will have the opportunity of a lifetime on this undercard so they can one day headline events of this magnitude.”

In the co-main event, breakout Mexican star Jaime Munguia (30-0, 25 KOs) will make the second defense of his WBO Junior Middleweight World Title against rugged Canadian contender Brandon “Bad Boy” Cook (20-1, 13 KOs) in a 12-round battle.

“I’m very motivated to be in such an important card,” said Munguia. “It will be the most important boxing event of the year. For me it is an honor to be on this card supporting Canelo Alvarez, who is also Mexican, on a date that is so special for Mexico, for me and for all of the people. We will do our best to please the public. I promise to not disappoint, so don’t miss my fight and don’t miss Canelo vs. GGG 2.”

Cook said, “It’s always been a dream for me to fight for a world title. To be on the biggest fight card of the year with two of my favorite fighters is a dream come true. Jaime Munguia is an exciting, young, up-and-coming fighter. He has great punching power in both hands. I’m going to do everything possible to bring that world title back home to Canada. I can’t thank Golden Boy Promotions enough for giving me this opportunity. I have a great team behind me and we will be ready September 15. I’m coming to fight.”

Fernando Beltran, CEO of Zanfer Promotions, said, “It can’t get any bigger for boxing than a Pay-Per-View fight in Las Vegas on Mexican Independence Day. That’s where Jaime Munguia is fighting and that’s where he deserves to fight. He always shows his best on the biggest stages and during biggest moments, so be ready for a spectacular performance from Munguia”

Former IBF Middleweight World Champion David Lemieux (39-4, 33 KOs) of Montreal, Canada and Irish warrior Gary “Spike” O’Sullivan (28-2, 20 KOs) of Cork, Ireland will go head-to-head in a 12-round middleweight battle that has Fight of the Year candidate written all over it.

Lemieux said, “I’m looking forward to fighting ‘Spike’ O’Sullivan next. I have some unfinished business at 160. We’re going to take one fight at a time. Spike is an action fighter, like me. He’s a tough cookie and comes to fight. This is a fight for the fans. Come September 15, I want to steal the show.”

O’Sullivan said, “This fight is just another step towards fulfilling my ambition of becoming a world champion and providing a good life for my family! David Lemieux is just an object in my way that I fully intend smashing through! Then, I want Canelo or GGG-either one, it doesn’t matter! I’m going to war!”

Former pound-for-pound king and former four-division world champion Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez (46-2, 38 KOs) of Managua, Nicaragua will make his highly anticipated return against experienced Mexican warrior Moises “Moi” Fuentes (25-5-1, 14 KOs) in a 10-round super flyweight battle that will open the HBO Pay-Per-View telecast.

Gonzalez said, “I want to thank God for giving me the opportunity to be back in the ring. This will be my second fight in Las Vegas, and I look forward to fighting on this great show. I have been training hard in California and will give a good show for the fans. I respect Moises Fuentes, and he will be a strong challenge for me. I want to thank Mr. Honda of Teiken Promotions, along with GGG Promotions for making this possible for me to be on the biggest show in boxing. I look forward to seeing all of my fans again and promise a good performance in the ring.”

Fuentes said, “This will be a difficult fight because of Gonzalez’s style of fighting. But it won’t be impossible. In boxing, nothing is written. I still have what it takes to do it-a good record and a lot of potential. I’m confident I will win this fight and Gonzalez will be a big trampoline for me to join the highest levels of boxing.”

On the non-televised portion of the card, super lightweight knockout artist Vergil Ortiz Jr.(10-0, 10 KOs) of Dallas, Texas looks to add another stoppage victory to his record as he takes on experienced warrior Roberto “Massa” Ortiz (35-2-2, 26 KOs) of Torreon, Mexico in a scheduled 10-round 140-pound fight.

Rising welterweight prospect Alexis “Lex” Rocha (11-0, 8 KOs) of Santa Ana, Calif. will risk his undefeated record against Carlos Ortiz (10-2, 10 KOs) of Torreon, Mexico in an eight-round welterweight clash.

Undisputed WBC/WBA/IBF/WBO Champion Cecilia Braekhus (34-0, 9 KOs) of Cartagena, Colombiawill defend her titles in a 10-round welterweight fight.

Francisco Esparza (8-0-1, 3 KOs) of Las Vegas will take on a soon-to-be announced opponent in either a four or six-round featherweight fight.

Canelo vs. GGG 2 is a 12-round fight for the middleweight championship of the world presented by Golden Boy Promotions and GGG Promotions. Munguia vs. Cook is a 12-round battle for the WBO Junior Middleweight World Title presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Zanfer Promotions. Lemieux vs. O’Sullivan is a 12-round middleweight clash presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Eye of The Tiger Management in association with Murphy’s Boxing. Gonzalez vs. Fuentes is a 10-round super flyweight fight presented by Golden Boy Promotions and GGG Promotions in association with Teiken Promotions and Zanfer Promotions. The event is sponsored by Tecate,
“THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING,” Hennessy, “Never Stop, Never Settle,” O’Reilly Auto Parts, Fred Loya Insurance, Interjet, Venom, and Fathom Events. The event will take place Saturday, Sept. 15 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at a special time of 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT.

“24/7 Canelo/GGG 2” premieres Tuesday, Aug. 28 at 11:30 pm (ET/PT) on HBO. Canelo’s fifth “24/7” appearance and Golovkin’s third, “24/7 CANELO/GGG 2” is the latest installment of the acclaimed franchise that began in 2007.

Limited tickets for Canelo vs. GGG 2 are still available, and are priced at $5,000, $2,500, $2,000, $1,500, $800, $700, and $500 not including applicable service charges and taxes. There will be a limit of eight (8) per person at the $5,000, $2,500, $2,000, $1,500, $800, $700 and $500 price levels. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849). Tickets are also available for purchase at www.t-mobilearena.com or www.axs.com.

Tickets for the closed circuit telecast of Canelo vs. GGG 2 at MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, The Mirage and Luxor are priced at $100, not including applicable fees. Seating is general admission at MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay and The Mirage while Luxor will have assigned seats. Tickets may be purchased at any MGM Resorts International Box Office, by phone with a major credit card at (800) 745-3000 or online at http://www.ticketmaster.com/canelovsggg2.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com,
www.caneloggg.com and www.hbo.com/boxing; follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing, @Canelo, @gggboxing, @OscarDeLaHoya, @hboboxing and @TomLoeffler1; become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing,
www.facebook.com/gggboxing, and www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing; follow on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing, @Canelo, @gggboxing, @HBOboxing and @OscarDeLaHoya; and follow the conversation using #CaneloGGG2.

Photos and videos are available for download by clicking here or copying
and pasting the link http://bit.ly/CaneloGGG2 into a browser. Credit must be provided to Golden Boy Promotions for any photo and/or video usage.




PABLO ‘EL DEMOLEDOR’ CESAR CANO TO FACE RUSLAN MADIEV IN BATTLE BETWEEN MEXICO VS. KAZAKHSTAN IN MAIN EVENT OF GOLDEN BOY BOXING ON ESPN ON SEPT. 13 AT HARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO, LAS VEGAS


LOS ANGELES (Aug. 20, 2018): On Thursday, Sept. 13, two days before the highly anticipated rematch between Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez and Kazakh wrecking ball Gennady “GGG” Golovkin, another battle between Mexico and Kazakhstan will take place in the super lightweight division as Pablo “El Demoledor” Cesar Cano (30-7-1, 21 KOs) faces Ruslan Madiev (12-0, 5 KOs) in the 10-round main event of the Sept. 13 edition of Golden Boy Boxing on ESPN at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas. ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes will air the fights beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT. ESPN3 will live stream the fights beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m PT.

Cano is a 28-year-old puncher who has faced many names in the 140 and 147-pound division. The native of Tlalnepantla, Mexico has taken on the likes of Sugar Shane Mosley, Paulie “Magic Man” Malignaggi, Ashley Theophane, and Mauricio “El Maestro” Herrera in his career. Cano’s best victory was against Johan “El Terrible Perez, where he earned the interim WBA Super Lightweight Title. Cano is hungry to return to the top of the 140-pound rankings, but he’ll have to get past a tough fight against Madiev to do so.

“I am very happy to be back in an important main event on ESPN,” said Pablo Cesar Cano. “I’m going into this fight with hunger for the victory and a desire to vindicate myself against a good fighter like Ruslan Madiev. I have no doubts that our styles will mesh well to give a great fight.”

Madiev is a 25-year-old warrior who has maintained an impressive undefeated record since debuting in 2013. The native of Karaganda, Kazakhstan currently calls Big Bear, Calif. his home, where he trains under the experienced eye of renowned trainer Abel Sanchez. Madiev will look to become the next star to come out of Kazakhstan as he takes on a experience Mexican warrior in Cano.

“I’m very excited to fight in Las Vegas on such a massive weekend for boxing and look forward to testing myself about Pablo Cesar Cano,” said Ruslan Madiev. “I’ve been training hard in Big Bear and will be prepared for victory on September 13.”

Maricela “La Diva” Cornejo (12-2-, 5 KOs) will return in the 10-round co-main event against Franchon “Hard-Hitting Diva” Crews-Dezurn (3-1, 1 KO)in a battle for the Interim WBC Super Middleweight Title. Cornejo has been on an impressive run but will face her toughest test against a former amateur standout.

Raul “Cougar” Curiel (4-0, 3 KOs) will participate in a six-round welterweight battle against Ryan Pino (7-2, 3 KOs) of Bronx, N.Y.

Three members of the international training camp of Jose “Chepo” and Eddy Reynoso will return in separate bouts. Mexican contender Horacio “El Violento” Garcia (34-4, 25 KOs) will battle across eight rounds of action in the featherweight division. Bilal Akkawy (17-0-1, 14 KOs) of Sydney, Australia will fight in an eight-rounder in the super middleweight division. Jaba Khositashvili (3-0, 2 KOs) of Akhalkalki, Georgia will participate in a six-round super middleweight battle. These last two fighters are chief sparring partners for Canelo Alvarez.

Xu Chan (13-2, 1 KO) of Kunming, China will fight in an eight-round 126-pound battle.

Opponents for these fighters will be announced shortly.

Cano vs. Madiev is a 10-round super lightweight fight presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with 360 Promotions. The event is sponsored by Tecate, “THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING” and Hennessy, “Never Stop, Never Settle.” The fights will take place on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2018 at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas. ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes will air the fights beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT. ESPN3 will live stream the fights beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m PT.

Tickets for Cano vs. Madiev are priced at $75, $50, $25, and $10, not including applicable service charges and taxes. Tickets go on sale Monday, Aug. 20 at 10:00 a.m. PST. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000 or The Joint Box Office at (702) 693-5000. Tickets will also be available for purchase at www.goldenboytickets.com
and www.ticketmaster.com.

Special Offer: VIP Seating for the Canelo vs. GGG 2 weigh-in: Purchase a ticket Cano vs. Madiev and receive VIP seating to the Canelo vs. GGG 2 weigh-in at T-Mobile Arena on Friday, Sept 14. The Cano vs. Mediev ticket stub must be presented at the Canelo vs. GGG 2 weigh-in for VIP seating.

For more information visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, http://www.espn.com/boxing/,
and www.hardrockhotel.com. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing, @OscarDeLaHoya, @ESPN, and @ESPNBoxeo. Become a fan on Facebook
at www.Facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing and @OscarDeLaHoya. Follow the conversation using #GBPonESPN and #CanoMadiev.

Photos and videos are available to download by clicking here or copying and pasting link:http://bit.ly/CanoMadiev into a browser. Credit must be given to Golden Boy Promotions for photos and videos used.

About The Joint
The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas is a 4,255-person capacity venue that serves as a sophisticated, intimate and unparalleled entertainment destination. The Joint features seven luxury suites, a VIP studio level, state-of-the-art sound system, superior video system and a production package tailor-made for artist comfort. It has received numerous accolades including “No. 1 Hottest Club in America” award by Billboard Magazine, “Casino Of The Year – Medium Capacity” award by the Academy of Country Music, “Best Live Music Venue in Las Vegas” by MetroWize.com, “Best New Major Concert Venue” at the Pollstar Awards, “Best Live Music Venue” in AOL City’s Best awards, “Best Rock Residency Program” by Las Vegas Weekly, “Best Concert Venue” by Las Vegas Review-Journal and more. The Joint delivers unforgettable live music experiences with performances by both legendary and groundbreaking artists including Paul McCartney, the Killers, Bon Jovi, Kenny Chesney, Nine Inch Nails, The Who, Imagine Dragons, Prince, Arcade Fire, Muse, Drake and No Doubt. The venue has been home to successful residencies with Carlos Santana, Tiësto, Mötley Crüe, Guns N’ Roses, Def Leppard, KISS, Rascal Flatts and Journey. For more information visit www.thejointlasvegas.com. Follow The Joint on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the latest news and updates.