LOS ANGELES (March 26, 2014) – StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., has rapidly become known amongst boxing aficionados as the place to be to see world-class fights and fighters. On Saturday, April 26, that reputation continues to grow as Golden Boy Promotions and SHOWTIME Sports® team up for an all-action tripleheader featuring some of the top fighters in the sport today. In the 12-round main event, Florida power-puncher Keith “One Time” Thurman defends his interim WBA World Welterweight Championship against former World Lightweight titleholder Julio “The Kidd” Diaz.

In other televised bouts on SHOWTIME, Argentine knockout king Lucas “The Machine” Matthysse returns in a 10-round matchup against hard-hitting Californian John Molina and Omar “Panterita” Figueroa Jr. defends his WBC Lightweight World Championship against fellow Texan Jerry “The Corpus Christi Kid” Belmontes.

“To headline a show like this against a former world champion is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time, and that day is here,” said Thurman. “I respect Julio Diaz and I will not underestimate him. He knows that this may be his last shot, and I expect the best from him, but I’ll be the one leaving with the victory.”

“This is a big opportunity for me to face a fighter that is feared by many, but not by me,” said Diaz. “I have been in the ring with far more dangerous and experienced fighters in the past, and everyone knows that I come to fight. My previous opponents Amir Khan and Shawn Porter will tell you that. ”

“Molina is the kind of fighter I respect and always want to compete against,” said Matthysse. “He shows up to fight and we’re going to give the fans the kind of show they want to see. I don’t think it will last long, but it will be something to see while it does.”

“I’m excited to showcase myself against someone that I consider to be one of the best fighters in the world at 140 pounds,” said Molina. “I am very well prepared to come in on fight night and do what I do best, and that is to be victorious.”

“I am especially excited about this fight because I have wanted to get payback against Belmontes for longer than a decade,” said Figueroa. “I fought him in the amateurs and he always beat me because I was always shorter than him. Now I am taller, stronger and bigger than him and I am looking to beat him the way he beat me in the amateurs.”

“I beat Omar 5 times in the amateurs but it was just that, the amateurs, we were young,” said Belmontes. “We have taken different paths as professionals and finally they cross and we meet again… on April 26, he’ll be beaten… for the 6th time”.

Tickets priced at $150, $75, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes, fees and services charges, go on sale tomorrow/Thursday, March 27 at 10 a.m. PT and will be available online at AXS.com, by phone at 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849) and at StubHub Center Box Office (Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. PT to 6 p.m. PT). VIP Suites are available by calling 877-604-8777. For more information on group discounts or VIP packages, please call 877-234-8425.

A supreme knockout artist whose power continues to captivate more and more fans with each bout, Clearwater, Florida’s Keith “One Time” Thurman (22-0, 20 KOs) skyrocketed from prospect to contender to champion with three wins over Jan Zaveck, Diego Chaves and Jesus Soto Karass in 2013, earning the interim WBA Welterweight World title with the victory over Chaves. On April 26, the 25-year-old makes the second defense of his crown.

A respected veteran who has earned his stripes in the boxing world, Julio “The Kidd” Diaz (40-9-1, 29 KOs) found new life in his career with a move to the welterweight division in 2012. Since making the move, Diaz is 2-2-1, including a 10-round split draw to Shawn Porter and a hard-fought loss to world renowned Amir Khan. The 34-year-old former world lightweight champion from Coachella, Calif., would like nothing more than to win another title on April 26.

Popular Trelew, Chubut, Argentina native Lucas “The Machine” Matthysse (34-3, 32 KOs) has been knocking opponents out for nearly 10 years, becoming one of boxing’s most feared competitors in the process. The former interim WBC Junior Welterweight World Champion, Matthysse’s last 11 wins have ended before the final bell, and after a 12-round decision loss to Danny Garcia in a terrific championship bout last September, the 31-year-old is more determined than ever to take matters out of the judges’ hands.

Covina, California’s John Molina (27-3, 22 KOs) has plenty of dynamite in his fists as well, earning him a reputation as an exciting fighter ever since he turned pro in 2006. In July 2013, the 31-year-old added to his legend with a dramatic come-from-behind last-round knockout of previously unbeaten Mickey Bey, Jr. In his most recent bout last November, the hard-hitting Molina halted Jorge Pimentel in two rounds.

Seen for years as the future of boxing, the time for Omar “Panterita” Figueroa Jr. (22-0-1, 17 KOs) is now. In his last fight, an epic win over Nihito Arakawa last July, Figueroa won the WBC Lightweight World title in a Fight of the Year candidate. The 24-year-old of Weslaco, Texas, was scheduled to face Ricardo Alvarez on the March 8 Canelo vs. Angulo PPV event but sustained an injury in training that forced him to withdraw. On April 26, the fiery competitor returns to defend his crown for the first time against Jerry Belmontes.

Jerry “The Corpus Christi Kid” Belmontes (19-3, 5 KOs) proudly represents his hometown in and out of the ring, but it was his effort in the ring in March 2014 that earned him a shot at Figueroa. In that fight he won a dominant 10-round unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Australian contender Will Tomlinson. Now, more confident than ever, the 25-year-old plans on delivering another upset win on April 26.

A full undercard will be announced shortly.

Thurman vs. Diaz, a 12-round fight for Thurman’s Interim WBA Welterweight World Championship on Saturday, April 26, is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona, AT&T and Casamigos Tequila. It will take place at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., and will air as the main event of the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® telecast (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) and will be available in Spanish via secondary audio programming (SAP). In the co-feature, Argentine knockout artist Lucas Matthysse faces hard-hitting John Molina in a 10-round junior welterweight bout that is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Goossen Tutor Promotions. In the opening bout of the telecast, Omar Figueroa Jr. defends his WBC Lightweight title against fellow Texan Jerry Belmontes. Preliminary fights will air on SHOWTIME EXTREME®.

A triple header featuring three of the more exciting fighters will consummate a triple header on April 26 at the Stub Hub Center in Carson, California as Keith Thurman will defend his welterweight belt against Julio Diaz, Omar Figueroa will take on Jerry Belmontes in a Lightweight title fight while Lucas Matthysse will take on John Molina Jr. in a Jr. Welterweight bout according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

The card will be broadcast on Showtime.

“When you can see Thurman, Matthysse and Figueroa all on one night, it’s pretty exciting I think,” said Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer.

“Julio Diaz will get up for this kind of fight,” Schaefer said. “You saw how he looked in England against Amir Khan. Julio Diaz always comes to fight, and he we’ll see what happens. All of the other top 147-pounders are fighting, so Keith is going to do this fight. We’ll give Julio Diaz one last chance and see what he can make of it. But for Keith, this is about him getting back in the ring without having to wait for some of those other guys while they are getting their fights done.

“Being on air and fighting is the formula. You look at [middleweight titlist] Gennady Golovkin. He’s not fighting King Kong but he has stayed busy, and that is a key in this sport. If you stay busy, you stay relevant. If you wait for that big fight and sit out like some of these fighters have done, you become irrelevant. Keith is going to stay relevant. And one thing we all know about Julio Diaz is that this guy does not just come to pick up a paycheck. He comes to fight and he knows it’s a must-win fight.”

“Matthysse wants to see how he still feels at 140 pounds. He might move up to 147 and try to inject himself into the Mayweather sweepstakes, but he’ll fight this fight and then make that decision,” Schaefer said. “In the meantime, we were looking for an opponent who comes to fight and with Molina we found that.”

However, Figueroa reinjured his left hand a week before the fight and had to withdraw. According to Schaefer, the injury was not serious, only requiring a few weeks of rest.

“Everything is OK with his hand,” Schaefer said. “He had it checked out. He is ready to go and excited to come back.”

Belmontes, who had lost three out of four fights, is getting the title opportunity because he pulled an upset in his last fight, easily outpointing previously unbeaten contender Will Tomlinson of Australia in a 10-rounder on the Alvarez-Angulo card.

“That was a great win for Belmontes,” Schaefer said. “Tomlinson was undefeated and ranked in the organizations and Belmontes beat him. That was a big win for him, and this is his reward.”

LONDON (Jan. 22) – Lamont Peterson is adamant he has overcome his devastating knockout loss to Argentine bruiser Lucas Matthysse.

The IBF light-welterweight world champion steps back into the ring this weekend, live on BoxNation, when he goes up against the undefeated and big-hitting Dierry Jean at the DC Armory in Washington DC.

The bout will be Peterson’s first, following his crushing defeat last May when he was stopped inside three rounds by Matthysse – one which he insists he is over, despite the stunning nature of the defeat.

“Getting over the loss, that happened in one day,” said Peterson. “Who cares about the knockout? It’s part of boxing. That’s what happens. You pick yourself up and you move on. At this point, it’s in the past. Who cares? As a fighter, you have to block that out and you keep moving,” he said.

“As far as me moving on, I’m a fighter. At the end of the day, I had to focus on January 25th. I train hard, give it my all, and we go out there and we fight. It’s always going to be the same with me. Who cares about what happened in the last fight?,” Peterson declared.

Due to the fact Peterson faced Matthysse at the somewhat odd catchweight of 141 pounds, his IBF light-welterweight crown, which is up for grabs this weekend, was not on the line.

Some have called into question the fact Peterson has remained the IBF champion, though the Washington DC native appears unaffected and has called on his upcoming opponent, Jean, to back up his big talking in the ring.

“Who cares about what he thinks, what he says? At the end of the day I have to get in there and show him. So it’s not going to make me feel no type of way. He can say what he wants. It’s all his perception at this point. He has to go in there and show me,” Peterson said.

“At the end of the day the belts mean nothing. It means a lot to ya’ll, but it means nothing to me. I just love to fight. I go, I bust my ass in the gym, I go and I fight. I give it my all in the ring.

“Who cares about who’s number one, who’s number two, who’s pound for pound, who has this belt, who has that belt? I care less about that. So whether you look at me as a champion or not, it doesn’t make a difference,” he stated.

At 31, the opportunity to capture world title glory appears to have come just at the right time for the Haitian born Jean, who moved to Canada as a 10-year-old with his older brother.

Having blasted his way past 25 opponents, and scoring 17 knockouts, including an impressive stoppage in his last fight over Cleotis Pendarvis in the eliminator for a shot at Peterson’s IBF belt, Jean is sure his time has come.

“I see a better fighter [when compared with Peterson]. I’m more vicious. I can hit harder than him, and I want it more so I give everything to earn that title,” Jean said.

“This fight means everything for me. I’ve been working so hard to get there, and now I’m there. It’s to go conquer the belt. It’s a lot for me. I started at 18 years old, and now I’m 31. I think I deserve it now.

“I worked so hard from the bottom of my heart. So now it’s time to go get that belt. It’s my time now. Lamont did his time. Now it’s my time,” he declared.

Jean is also certain that he can capitalise on the vulnerability of Peterson given his last fight.

“It’s a great opportunity for me because I think in his mind he’s not 100% okay. So it’s going to be a great opportunity for me to strike him again, for me to catch him again, to remind him the nightmare he took last time,” said Jean.

In the co-featured bout, undefeated light-middleweight Jermell Charlo and the unyielding Gabriel Rosado square off in a highly anticipated 10-round fight for the WBC Continental Americas super welterweight title.

Lamont Peterson vs. Dierry Jean is live and exclusive on BoxNation (Sky Ch.437/Virgin Ch.546) this Sunday from 1.30am. To subscribe visit www.boxnation.com.

EW YORK (Sept. 17, 2013) – SHOWTIME Sports will air Floyd Mayweather’s “masterful” (Associated Press) performance against Canelo Alvarez and Danny Garcia’s “scintillating” (Wall Street Journal) victory over Lucas Matthysse this Saturday on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) as a replay of the blockbuster Sept. 14 PPV event titled “THE ONE: Mayweather vs. Canelo.”

The television premiere of “THE ONE” will be preceded and immediately followed by the SHOWTIME Sports documentary film “LT: The Life & Times”, the first ever feature length film about the incredibly dramatic life of NFL Hall of Famer and legendary linebacker Lawrence Taylor (premieres this Friday, Sept. 20 at 8p ET/PT on SHOWTIME).

The dramatic moments surrounding the historic event will be chronicled in ALL ACCESS: Mayweather vs. Canelo Epilogue premiering next Wednesday, Sept. 25 at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). The epilogue will spotlight the intensity of fight week, taking viewers inside the ropes on fight night and into the rarely seen, uncelebrated aftermath of world championship boxing.

Mayweather, the undisputed, pound-for-pound king, put on a clinic against Mexican sensation Canelo, handing the 23-year-old superstar his first loss in front of a largely pro-Canelo crowd at the sold out MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Canelo couldn’t solve the puzzle of the 36-year-old Floyd Mayweather, who showcased his signature speed and elusiveness en route to a questionable majority decision. For the night’s work, Mayweather collected a guaranteed $41.5 million and Canelo’s WBC, WBA and Ring Magazine Super Welterweight Championships.

In the event’s co-feature, Garcia knocked down feared power-puncher Matthysse for the first time in his career and retained the unified super lightweight world title in an impressive performance against his favored opponent.

Matthysse entered the fight having knocked out five of his last six opponents but his power wasn’t apparent against Garcia, who executed a solid game plan in the unanimous decision victory.

About Showtime Networks Inc.
Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME 2™, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILY ZONE® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD™, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ HD, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND®, FLIX ON DEMAND® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ ON DEMAND, and the network’s authentication service SHOWTIME ANYTIME®. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks™, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution, which offers Smithsonian Channel™. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®.

LAS VEGAS, NEV. (Sept. 14, 2013) – Floyd Mayweather truly is “THE ONE.”

The undisputed, pound-for-pound champion put on a clinic against Mexican sensation Canelo Alvarez, handing the 23-year-old superstar his first loss in the toughest test of his career Saturday on SHOWTIME PPV at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Canelo (42-1-1, 30 KO’s) fought with everything he had, but couldn’t solve the puzzle of Floyd Mayweather. Mayweather showcased his signature speed and elusiveness in front of a largely pro-Canelo crowd of 16,746 fans en route to a majority decision (114-114, 116-112, 117-111).

For the night’s work, Mayweather collected a guaranteed $41.5 million and Canelo’s WBC, WBA and Ring Magazine Super Welterweight Championships.

“It’s all about skills,” Mayweather said. “I came out tonight and showed my skills. But a true champion like Canelo can take a loss and bounce back.

“My dad had a brilliant game plan. I executed that game plan. I could have pressed it and got the late stoppage, but tonight experience played a major key. Tonight was just my night.”

After the fight, a seemingly frustrated Canelo admitted that Mayweather’s skills and style of fighting were too much to overcome.

“He’s very elusive, he’s a great fighter and that’s why I couldn’t catch him,” Canelo said. “I didn’t know how to get him. It’s as simple as that. He’s very elusive. He’s a great fighter.

“The frustration was getting in there. But simply he’s a great fighter. I didn’t want to lose. I didn’t want to leave here with a loss. But it happens and it hurts.”

After calling Mayweather’s dominating performance SHOWTIME PPV play-by-play announcer Al Bernstein had an insightful observation about young superstar, “Canelo may be the fighter of tomorrow, but he’s not quite yet the fighter of today.”

In the highly anticipated co-main event of the evening, Danny Garcia retained the unified super lightweight world title with an impressive performance against the favored Lucas Matthysse.Utilizing solid combinations and body shots, Garcia executed a solid game plan en route to a unanimous decision (115-111, 114-112, twice).

Matthysse (34-3, 32 KO’s) entered the fight having knocked out five of his last six opponents and a reputation as one of the most feared punchers on the planet. But the Argentinean knockout artist’s power wasn’t as apparent against the aggressive Garcia (27-0, 16 KO’s), who silenced his doubters and defended his WBC, WBA and Ring Magazine Super Lightweight World Titles.

Seemingly down on points, Matthysse came out with a vengeance in the eleventh to kick off the championship rounds, knocking Garcia’s mouthpiece out with a powerful straight right. But, after a brief pause to recover the mouthpiece, Garcia bounced back and floored Matthysse for the first time in his career.

“I’m the champion of the world,” said the proud Philadelphia native. “The champion of the world isn’t scared of anyone. If you can make it out Philly you can make it out of anywhere.

“The only way to slow him down was to go down to the body and throw combinations upstairs. I just let my hands go.”

Garcia landed a straight jab to Garcia’s right eye in the seventh round that completely closed the eye within 45 seconds. Garcia continued, but did so with a comprised depth perception.

“I only had one eye for half of the fight but, it’s no excuse,” Matthysse said. “He fought a great fight. He’s a great champion and we knew he wasn’t intimidated by my punching.”

In the first of three world championship bouts on the telecast, Carlos Molina dethroned defending champion Ishe Smith, capturing the IBF Junior Middleweight World Championship with a split decision victory (112-116, 116-112, 111-117).

In the opening bout of the PPV telecast, Pablo Caesar Cano (27-3-1, 20 KO’s) scored a split-decision victory (97-93, 98-92 Cano, 96-94 Theophane) over Ashley Theophane (33-6-1, 10 KO’s).

The Mayweather-Canelo and Garcia-Matthysse bouts will air in the delayed broadcast on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 9 p.m. ET / PT (delayed on the West Coast).

Brian Kenny served as host of the SHOWTIME PPV telecast with Mauro Ranallo calling the action, Al Bernstein and Paulie Malignaggi serving as expert analysts with Jim Gray and Heidi Androl reporting. The telecast was produced by David Dinkins, Jr., with Bob Dunphy directing.

ABOUT “THE ONE: MAYWEATHER VS. CANELO”:
“THE ONE: MAYWEATHER VS. CANELO,” a 12-round fight for Canelo’s WBC, WBA and Ring Magazine Super Welterweight World Championships and Mayweather’s WBA Super Welterweight Super World Championship took place Saturday, Sept. 14 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, and was promoted by Mayweather Promotions, Golden Boy Promotions and Canelo Promotions and sponsored by Corona, O’Reilly Auto Parts, AT&T, Valvoline, Mexico Tourism, Fred Loya Insurance and Nature Nutrition. In the 12-round co-featured attraction, WBC, WBA Super and Ring Magazine Super Lightweight World Champion Danny Garcia and thunderous puncher WBC Interim Super Lightweight World Champion Lucas Matthysse squared off in a fight presented in association with Swift Promotions and Arano Box Promotions. Also, Ishe Smith vs. Carlos Molina squared off in a 12-round battle for Smith’s IBF Junior Middleweight World Title which was promoted in association with Warriors Boxing. The opening bout on SHOWTIME PPV featured a 10-round welterweight showdown between Pablo Cesar Cano and Ashley Theophane. The mega-event was produced and distributed live by SHOWTIME PPV® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. The event was telecasted in Spanish using secondary audio programming (SAP).

LAS VEGAS – Floyd Mayweather Jr. did the expected. One judge didn’t.

It was brilliant. It was bizarre. It was boxing all over again.

Mayweather didn’t have to explain himself for fulfilling the promises he made in dancing around and all over Canelo Alvarez Saturday night at the MGM Grand. It was called The One. For once, the promoters got it right. Two great fighters didn’t show up. Only Mayweather did in a one sided-display of brilliance that further embellished his undisputed claim on being the best of his generation.

Canelo never had a chance. Not one.

Still, a judge gave him one. C.J. Ross scored it 114-114. Maybe, nobody should be surprised. Ross was also one of two judges who scored it for Timothy Bradley in the controversial split-decision over Manny Pacquiao on Dec. 8.

When Ross’ score was announced, there were gasps from a capacity crowd that was dominated by Canelo fans from Mexico. They also had seen what everybody other than Ross had witnessed.

Two other scorecards ensured that Mayweather had a victory by majority decision. On judge Craig Metcalfe’s card, it was 117-111. Dave Moretti scored it 116-112. On the 15 Rounds card, Mayweather scored a shutout. Outgunned and out-classed, Canelo didn’t win a round on this card.

“I can’t control the judges,’’ Mayweather (45-0, 26 KOs) said after moving in and out while landing punches with sniper-like speed and accuracy.

It was the right answer from Mayweather, who collected a record-setting guarantee of $41.5 million. Still, it didn’t explain Ross’ score. There had been plenty of talk before opening bell about a rematch. A buzz for the junior-middleweight fight was in the air for days. Money was being made. A pay-per-view record for the Showtime telecast was a real possibility. At the MGM Grand’s sports book, one of the popular bets was a draw. Odds on a draw were 10-1 on Thursday and Friday. Early Saturday, they had dropped to 8-1.

Mayweather’s dominance of the fight might have eliminated any appetite for a rematch, despite what Ross’ score might say.

Canelo (42-1-1, 30 KOs) entered the ring 13 pounds heavier than the 152 pounds he recorded at Friday’s weigh-in. He was bigger and looked it, especially in the upper body. The 165-pound Canelo out-weighed Mayweather by about 15 pounds. But that was no advantage for the young Mexican. It only meant he was a bigger target for Mayweather. A stationary one, too.

“I couldn’t connect,’’ said Canelo, who could wind up with a career-high $12 million once he gets his undisclosed share of the television money. “He was just too elusive, too smart and too experienced.’’

Canelo did not dispute the loss. He said he knew he had been beaten.

It’s strange that C.J Ross didn’t.

Danny Garcia said it was his job to take away Lucas Matthysse’s power.

Mission accomplished.

Garcia (27-0, 16 KOs) employed patience and smarts to nullify that proven power for a unanimous decision over Matthysse (34-3, 32 KOs).

Matthysse was the early aggressor. The junior-welterweight dictated the pace as he stalked Garcia, who retained the 140-pound title.

In moving forward, however, Matthysse stepped into a trap set brilliantly by Garcia. First, Matthysse walked into body shots. Then, there were repeated right hands. Not long after a head butt in the fifth round, an ugly mouse appeared below Matthysse’s right eye. It wasn’t clear whether the butt caused the bruise. From the seventh through the 11th rounds, swelling began to close the eye as he continued forward and straight into Garcia’s right.

In the 11th, Matthysse knocked out Garcia’s mouth piece with a right hand. But Garcia still took the round, knocking down Matthysse with a sucession of puches along the ropes.In the 12th, Garcia was penalized a point for a low blow,

By then, however, it wasn’t enough to take the victory away from the Philadelphia fighter.

There was only one way to score the Ishe Smith-Carlos Molina fight: Dull and duller. Molina (22-5-2, 6 KOs) won it, scoring a split decision and taking the International Boxing Federation’s version of the junior-middleweight title from Smith (25-6, 11 KOs). But there weren’t many cheers or boos about the scoring. There were only yawns for zero action in a fight that went to Molina, who prevailed with some aggression in the early rounds.

Mexican welterweight Pablo Cesar Cano (27-3-1, 20 KOs) bloodied Ashley Theopane’s nose, rocked him with a left in the third, nearly knocked him down with a right in the fifth and backed him up for eight of the 10 rounds, yet had to wait and wonder whether he won the first televised fight. Cano did, scoring a split decision. But he didn’t do enough to convince judge Richard Ocasio, whose score was the first announced on a curious card that favored Theopane (33-6-1, 10 KOs), a Mayweather-promoted fighter.

Luis Arias (7-0, 3 KOs), a super-middleweight from Milwaukee, wore Packer green-and-gold into the ring. Then, he made James Winchester (16-9, 6 KOs) of Reidsville, N.C., look like the Jacksonville Jaguars. Arias scored a shutout, winning every round in a six-round unanimous decision in the final bout before the pay-per-view telecast began. Arias was the fourth Mayweather fighter to win.

Ronald Gavril (7-0, 5 KOs) , a super-middleweight from Romania, made it 3-0 through the card’s first three fights for Mayweather Promotions with a unanimous decision over Shujaa El Amin (12-5, 6 KOs) of Flint, Mich. Gavril suffered a bloody nose early in the bout, but he was the busier fighter throughout the eight-round bout.

Chris Pearson, a Mayweather-promoted middleweight from Dayton, followed Bellows’ first-round TKO with an even quicker stoppage. In the opening seconds, Pearson (12-0, 9 KOs) threw a jab that landed like a baseball bat, leaving Joshua Williams (9-6, 5 KOs) of Westerly, R.I. with a badly bloodied nose. About a minute later, it was over. Referee Russell Mora ended it at 1:14 of the opening round.

Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s promotional company got things started with a victory.

“Easy Money,’’ was the chant from one of the few fans seated Saturday in a chilly, empty Grand Garden Arena two-and-a-half hours before Showtime’s pay-per-view telecast was scheduled to begin for the card featuring Mayweather-Canelo Alvarez at the MGM Grand.

Lanell Bellows (6-0-1, 5 KOs), a Mayweather-promoted super-middleweight, made it easy with a first-round TKO of Jordan Moore (3-1) of Logan, W.V.

Bellows put Moore onto his knees with a paralyzing body shot, a right-handed hook, 2:30 after opening bell.

It’s the biggest fight night in recent memory as Floyd “Money” Mayweather puts his 44-0 record on the line against WBC and WBA Super World Light-Middleweight Champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. Before this superfight, Danny Garcia is out to silence his critics and defend his WBC and WBA Super World Light-Welterweight titles against the powerhouse Argentine Lucas Matthysse, while Ishe Smith defends his IBF World Light-Middleweight title against Carlos Molina. Londoner Ashley Theophane provides the British interest as he faces Pablo Cesar Cano over 10 rounds on a thrilling night of live action on BoxNation!

Join us late on Saturday night (1.30am Sunday) for a truly huge night of boxing LIVE from the MGM Grand Arena, Las Vegas.

WATCH THE WEIGH-IN LIVE ON BOXNATION.COM

Website to stream weigh-in free from 10pm to midnight tonight

Tonight at 10pm on the www.boxnation.com website, we’re streaming the weigh-in LIVE as 44-0 Floyd Mayweather and 42-0 Saul “Canelo” Alvarez face off for one final time before the talking stops and the fight of the year begins!

Join us from 10pm tonight to catch the weigh-in before the main event on Saturday night!

WATCH THE OFFICIAL BOXNATION FIGHT PROMO NOW

LAS VEGAS, NEV. (Sept. 12, 2013) – Unified WBC, WBA and Ring Magazine Light Welterweight Champion Danny “Swift” Garcia and current WBC Inter-Continental Light Welterweight Champion Lucas “The Machine” Matthysse proved that there is more than one main event scheduled at MGM Grand in Las Vegas this Saturday night. The bout headlines one of the strongest undercards in boxing history and precedes the highly anticipated matchup between Floyd “Money” Mayweather and Canelo Alvarez.
Also featured on the undercard are Ishe Smith vs. Carlos Molina in a 12-Round battle for the IBF Junior Middleweight Title, and Pablo Cesar Cano vs. Ashley Theophane in a 10-Round Welterweight battle.

Here’s what the fighters, promoters and trainers had to say during the today’s press conference:

DANNY GARCIA, Unified Super Lightweight World Champion
“I had a great camp. I trained very hard. I’m prepared for this fight. Come Saturday night I’m going to put on another epic performance.

“I’m starting to feel like a young veteran.

“I’ve been counted out a lot of times, but always find a way to win.”

LUCAS MATTHYSSE, WBC Interim Super Lightweight World Champion
“Yes, I do believe I should be the favorite. I’ve been coming and getting those very important wins. Come Saturday I know I’m going to come out with the victory.

“I am very well prepared and I want to thank everybody. We are ready to go.”

ISHE SMITH, IBF Junior Middleweight World Champion
“Pray for Oscar De La Hoya and that he gets through this and comes back healthy. Oscar was a great champion and has done a lot for this sport, so please pray for him.

“Carlos is a good fighter and I’m just happy to represent Las Vegas on this big stage and put together a good fight and go out here and execute the game plan.

“To be here today, sometimes I have to step outside my body. I’m just happy to be living life and sharing my testimony with people. I’m excited about this fight.”

CARLOS MOLINA, Top Junior Middleweight Contender
“I’m ready to go. I just want to fight, I wish the fight was right now. I’m in top shape. I want to go out there and prove that I’m the best 154-pounder in the world, no matter who it is. I’m ready.

“Let’s bring up Lucas with a big applause, this Saturday he will become the next World Champion.”

PABLO CESAR CANO, Top Welterweight Contender
“I don’t like to talk, like my opponent. I like to talk with my fists. Saturday night, I’m going to talk with my fists. We’re going to put Mexico in the No. 1 spot, from top to bottom.”

ASHLEY THEOPHANE, Former British Junior Welterweight
“I want to thank the whole Mayweather staff, Floyd and Leonard for giving me this big opportunity. Working with Mayweather Promotions has been amazing. I’m from London, so I’m representing the U.K. in this big event.

“I’ve got Cano here and he’s a very good fighter. But when you look at his record and you look at mine, who has he beaten? He hasn’t beaten anybody. I can guarantee that a lot of the boxing experts and writers here don’t know the guys he’s knocked out. It’s all good to have 20 knockouts and 26 wins, but if you’re knocking out nobodies then it doesn’t mean anything.”

RICHARD SCHAEFER, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions
“As it relates to live-gate, we have a new gate record. The official number now is $20,300,150. So we broke the $20 million mark.

“This is an event within the event. Danny Garcia and Lucas Matthysse is a main event anywhere, it could be its own PPV. Clearly one of the most anticipated fights in the sport of boxing. I want to give a big thank you to Floyd Mayweather for giving his ‘OK’ to have this amazing showdown on this card. This is without any question the best one-two punch in boxing PPV.

“This is not just a co-main event; it really is top-to-bottom an absolutely fantastic card.

“We are hitting this one out of the park. This PPV is tracking and it’s tracking well, very well. We couldn’t have done it without SHOWTIME PPV, they really have stepped up. What they have done with the SHOWTIME and CBS platforms is unheard of.”

LEONARD ELLERBE, CEO of Mayweather Promotions
“This card, from top to bottom, is the best card that I’ve personally seen in a number of years. The co-main event with Garcia and Matthysse, that’s a main event within itself. It’s going to be a tremendous fight.

“Ashley did it the old-fashioned way. He paid his way to Las Vegas and said he was going to make a name for himself, make his way into Mayweather Promotions.

“He came to our gym and had been training in our gym for about a month or two. Then Ashley asked to box Floyd. From there, the rest is history. He’s 33-5 with 10 knockouts.”

STEPHEN ESPINOZA, EVP SHOWTIME Sports
“This year has been the strongest programming lineup, the best and biggest fights, and the strongest year for SHOWTIME Sports in a long, long time. It’s been a perfect lead up for this event. For boxing fans, this is Christmas in September, there’s no other way to look at this. And I can’t wait to open the presents at 6 p.m. PT on Saturday.

“This is not an undercard. Regardless of what you’ve heard or seen, this is not an undercard. Danny Garcia has headlined two SHOWTIME cards, Lucas Matthysse has headlined three SHOWTIME cards, Ishe Smith headlined a card for us in February and Pablo Cesar Cano was the co-feature last October in Barclays.

“The bottom line is this event has four main event fights. This is an event where everyone should be in their seats or in front of their TVs by 6 p.m., because all four fights will promise fireworks.”

KEITH KEISER, Nevada State Athletic Commissioner
“We are very happy to be here on Mexican Independence Day weekend at the MGM for this huge fight card on Saturday night.

“We’re very pleased to have this many great athletes up on the stage and in the ring at one time is quite impressive; more impressive than I even thought possible.”

BERNARD HOPKINS, President of Golden Boy East
“I’ve been involved in a lot of big fights, but this is huge. To see an undercard that could just as well be a main event anywhere in the world, it just makes it even better. You get a chance to see boxing at its best.

“Enjoy, because you never know when you might see great fights like this. They only come around every so many years. Thanks for representing that boxing is still alive.”

ANGEL GARCIA, Danny Garcia’s father and trainer
“People still underestimate the champ of the world.

“People still don’t give the Americans props.

“Danny had to earn his, he had to fight for his. I told him that since he was a young kid, nobody will ever give you anything.

“Danny knows how to win. Saturday night, I swear to you, I will not be back-washing my words. If I am, I will cut my head off. I’ll cut my head off, because blood is thicker than anything.”

ABOUT “THE ONE: MAYWEATHER VS. CANELO”:
“THE ONE: MAYWEATHER VS. CANELO,” a 12-round fight for Canelo’s WBC, WBA and Ring Magazine Super Welterweight World Championships and Mayweather’s WBA Super Welterweight Super World Championship taking place Saturday, Sept. 14 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, is promoted by Mayweather Promotions, Golden Boy Promotions and Canelo Promotions and sponsored by Corona, O’Reilly Auto Parts, AT&T, Valvoline, Mexico Tourism, Fred Loya Insurance and Nature Nutrition. In the 12-round co-featured attraction, WBC, WBA Super and Ring Magazine Super Lightweight World Champion Danny Garcia and thunderous puncher WBC Interim Super Lightweight World Champion Lucas Matthysse square off in a fight presented in association with Swift Promotions and Arano Box Promotions. Also, Ishe Smith vs. Carlos Molina square off in a 12-round battle for Smith’s IBF Junior Middleweight World Title which is promoted in association with Warriors Boxing. The opening bout on SHOWTIME PPV features a 10-round welterweight showdown between Pablo Cesar Cano and Ashley Theophane. The mega-event will be produced and distributed live by SHOWTIME PPV® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. The event can be heard in Spanish using secondary audio programming (SAP).

Less than 24 hours after going on sale in June, the event was sold out, but six MGM Resorts properties will host live closed circuit telecasts of “THE ONE.” Properties showcasing the event include ARIA, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, The Mirage, Monte Carlo and New York-New York. General admission tickets for the closed circuit telecasts are priced at $100, not including handling fees, and are available for purchase at each individual property’s box office outlets and also are available for purchase by phone with a major credit card at 866-799-7711. Closed circuit ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. Tickets also are available through Ticketmaster by calling (800) 745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com. “THE ONE” will also be broadcast on nearly 550 select movie theaters across the country. Tickets are available at participating theater box offices and online at www.FathomEvents.com.

Saturday boxing fans will congregate for “The One,” a pay-per-view fight card with two co-main events, Argentine junior welterweight Lucas “The Machine” Matthysse versus Philadelphian Danny “Swift” Garcia, and Floyd Mayweather versus Saul Alvarez. Since that questionable prefix “co” was put there by someone else, and since any aficionado can tell you Matthysse-Garcia is much the more interesting fight, here is its preview.

That Lucas Matthysse is unknowable is a development charming as can be, that a fighter of temperament so unsuitable to the day’s discipline of promoting twice to fight once now supplies the entertaining portion of our sport’s largest 2013 event is a hopeful turn. Matthysse is a fighter who effectively hails from parts unknown, an Argentine township, Trelew, named after a colonizing Welshman, of all incongruous things, immigrated to Patagonia 130 years ago. Patagonia’s climes are famously harsh and unknown even to most Argentines, cold temperatures and rough seas and the sort of beating wind that, wherever it occurs round the world, makes the people whose ears it cuffs notably insular.

In a June conversation, Sergio Martinez, Argentina boxing’s singularly gracious ambassador (how many active world champions give 30 minutes to a writer asking questions unconstruable, even tangentially, to themselves?), conceded he was not quite familiar with Patagonia, thinking he could have passed through years before, maybe – but what winds and harshness its climate was about, and what men of almost unmatchable physical strength it birthed! Matthysse is not charismatic like his brother Walter, four years Lucas’ senior; he is timid in a way unaware of its timidity – those who joke about his quietness get a curious glance from him, as if he were certain he misunderstood them, a man who considers being in their presence a concession enough to gregariousness: I am here answering your questions, and I believe you said I am not talkative, but that cannot be correct, because I am here, so perhaps you’ll repeat yourself?

Danny Garcia is more talkative, if less charismatic, but appears nearly quiet by contrast with his buffoonish father who, conceivably, alleviates his son’s obligatory promotional affrays by servicing every hysteria, and the more publicly the more hysterically, with an impulsive bent nuns once exorcised from third graders with rulers. What should be obscured by manufactured story lines – “We are one week from ‘The One,’ and Lucas Matthysse loves his daughter, and Angel Garcia loves his son” – were there not more compelling subjects to treat, like Saul Alvarez’s ginger coif and Floyd Mayweather’s orchidaceous rides, is this: Matthysse and Garcia, both, are prizefighters in the best sense of the term. Both have been doing it a long time, both take seriously the craft, and neither was expected by his promoter to be where he is.

Matthysse was an anonymous Argentine, in 2010, with a likely inflated record that might nevertheless by rubbed against the vessel of Zab “Super” Judah’s latest self-reinvention, Comeback VII, till it flashed a shiny Brooklyn Back in the House! at those who go for such, and when Matthysse pulled Super offscript, dropping him in round 10, American matchmakers put a “*not on my watch” beside the Argentine’s name. Danny Garcia was probably supposed to lose to Nate Campbell and Kendall Holt in 2011, he was certainly supposed to lose to Erik Morales in March 2012, and when that didn’t happen, he was granted a dream chance to present Amir Khan with the WBC’s garish green belt before that esteemed institution could complete an audit of Garcia-Morales I and uncover a contractual clause that read: “The belt will be awarded to Erik Morales on March 24, or left vacant until the belt can be awarded to Erik Morales.”

Garcia promptly proved Khan’s career was fraudulent as Morales’ comeback, a comeback to which Garcia put the lie, drilling Morales on the canvas like a screw in soft pine, before apparently pleading with his advisor Al Haymon, whom he now shares with Matthysse, to spare him the Argentine’s unrelenting cruelty. This narrative, deliciously as it complements Matthysse’s taciturnity with Garcia’s fashion sense, is all wrong because it assumes, in part, Garcia was surprised as everyone else he could drop a trio of Morales, Khan and Judah six times in 30 rounds, but Garcia was not surprised, and do believe he’ll be unsurprised, too, if he does what has proved heretofore impossible: Drop Lucas “The Machine” Matthysse. It’s not impossible, and no longer even feels impossible, when one marries two images in his mind: The force with which Garcia turned his left fist on Morales’ chin in October, and the force with which Matthysse turned his chin onto Lamont Peterson’s left fist in May.

What is most underrated about Garcia, the justifiable underdog in the meaningful match of Saturday’s card, is his sense of timing, his understanding of an opponent’s rhythm and physique. Garcia has self-belief as well and confides in his left hook to the head the way Mickey Ward fancied a left hook to the body. That sort of thing can get a lad spearchiseled by Matthysse, which may well happen anyway but shouldn’t till Garcia somehow lands his reckless/wreckful left hook and subjects Matthysse’s soul to what doubts he makes money giving others. It says here if a knockout is scored in the first two rounds it will be Garcia’s, if a knockout is scored between rounds 3 and 10 the victory will belong to Matthysse, and if Saturday’s best fight somehow makes it to round 11 there is no telling what happens in the six minutes of butchery that follow.

Bart Barry can be reached at bart.barrys.email (at) gmail.com

INDIO, Calif., Sept. 4 – With a perfect 21-0 record, Santa Ana’s Ronny Rios is on the fast track to a world featherweight title shot. On Saturday, Sept. 7, he will perform in front of his Southern California faithful at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif. in the lead undercard bout before SHOWTIME® takes to the airwaves with a memorable doubleheader featuring two top heavyweight contenders, a Mexican legend, and a rising star looking to make a name for himself.

“I always enjoy fighting at home, especially on a card like this with so many great fighters,” said Rios, who will face Mexico City’s Jose Angel “Pepe” Beranza in a 10-round featherweight bout. “But every time I’m in there, I’m looking to steal the show and this time will be no different.”

The SHOWTIME telecast features a 12-round clash of heavyweight contenders between Seth “Mayhem” Mitchell (26-1-1, 19 KO’s) and Chris “The Nightmare” Arreola (34-3, 30 KO’s) for the WBC International Heavyweight Championship and a 10-round featherweight meeting between Mexican superstar Rafael Marquez (41-8, 37 KO’s) and California prospect Efrain Esquivias (16-2-1, 9 KO’s).

Also joining Rios in undercard action will be former WBA Super Bantamweight World Champion Rico “Suavecito” Ramos and undefeated Puerto Rican prospect Carlos Velasquez, who will meet in a 10-round featherweight match.

This action-packed night is complemented by the special appearance of Interim WBC Super Lightweight World Champion Lucas “The Machine” Matthysse, who will meet and greet fans. His appearance comes just one week before his championship bout on “THE ONE: MAYWEATHER VS. CANELO” SHOWTIME PPV® undercard against Unified Super Lightweight World Champion Danny “Swift” Garcia on Sept. 14 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev.

23-year-old Ronny Rios (21-0, 10 KO’s) is one of the top prospects to emerge from Southern California in years and with 2013 wins over former world champion Rico Ramos and hard-hitting veteran Leonilo Miranda, he’s getting closer to a shot at one of the featherweight champions. Currently ranked in the top ten by the WBC and WBA, a big win on Sept. 7 is just what he needs to propel him even further up the ladder.

A respected spoiler who has ended the unbeaten runs of top prospects Juan Carlos Velasquez and Jesus Rojas over the years, Jose Angel “Pepe” Beranza (36-27-2, 28 KO’s) is a veteran’s veteran, able to do it all in the ring against all styles. A pro since 1996, the 37-year-old Beranza is sure to have some tricks up his sleeve for the undefeated Rios.

The former WBA World Super Bantamweight Champion, Pico Rivera, California’s Rico “Suavecito” Ramos (21-3, 11 KO’s) is hoping to get back on track after losing back-to-back decisions to Ronny Rios and Oscar Gonzalez in 2013. That shouldn’t be an issue for the talented 26-year-old, whose slick boxing style has drawn raves from throughout the fight world.

“This is a must-win fight for me and I will win it,” said Ramos. “Velasquez has a lot of tools, but he’s never seen a fighter like me and he hasn’t fought the level of competition I have. September 7 is the night I begin the journey to get my title back.”

Back on track after more than two years away from the sport, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico’s Carlos Velasquez (15-0, 11 KO’s) has won two straight since his return in late 2012, decisioning Roberto Bonilla and Giorgi Mtchedlishvili. On September 7, the 29-year-old’s next wish is to put another knockout on his record, and he will get that chance against Ramos.

“This is the kind of fight I really get up for and I guarantee the fans will see me at my best,” said Velasquez. “Ramos is a former world champion and you have to respect that, but I won’t respect him in the ring on September 7. I look forward to making Puerto Rico proud by becoming their next champion.”

In other undercard action, junior middleweights Angel Osuna (11-3-1, 7 KO’s) of Coachella and Juan Gonzalez (8-0, 4 KO’s) of Phoenix collide in an eight round contest, Houston welterweight prospect Justin DeLoach (3-0, 1 KO), Coachella featherweight Ryan Caballero (1-0) and LA featherweight Joet Gonzalez (4-0, 1 KO) return to action in separate four round bouts against opponents to be named and junior lightweights Ricky Lopez (9-2, 4 KO’s) of Oxnard and Pablo Batres (3-7-1) of Sonora, Mexico meet in a matchup also scheduled for four rounds.

Mitchell vs. Arreola, a 12-round fight for the WBC Silver Heavyweight Title, is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Goossen Tutor Promotions and sponsored by Corona. The doubleheader will take place on Saturday, September 7 at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino and will be televised live on SHOWTIME immediately following the ALL ACCESS: Mayweather vs. Canelo Episode 3 Premiere which begins at 10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast. Doors open at 4:00 p.m. PT and the first fight begins at 4:05 p.m. PT.

Tickets, priced at $105, $75, $55, $45, $35 are available at the Fantasy Springs Box Office, by calling (800) 827-2946 or online at www.fantasyspringsresort.com.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and www.fantasyspringsresort.com, follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.twitter.com/SethMayhem48, www.twitter.com/RicoRamos24, www.twitter.com/efrainboxing, www.twitter.com/fantasysprings and visit on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing and www.facebook.com/fantasysprings. For information on SHOWTIME, visit http://Sports.SHO.com, www.twitter.com/SHOsports and www.facebook.com/SHOBoxing.

On Sept. 14 boxing fans will congregate for “The One,” a pay-per-view fight card with a main event, Floyd “Money” Mayweather versus Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, and a co-main event, Lucas Matthysse versus Danny Garcia. Since that questionable prefix “co” was put there by someone else, and since any aficionado can tell you Matthysse-Garcia is much the more interesting fight, what do you say we save its preview for next week and treat Sept. 14’s other main event now?

There is a temptation whenever one watches Floyd Mayweather on a program he credits himself with executively producing to fixate on the banality of the spectacle, the vapidity of a guy telling you autobiographical details for the 17th time that were boring the first time, 6 1/2 years ago. But such fixation is missing the point if one wishes to understand the spectacle, forgiving, as always, any adult understandably uninterested in understanding the spectacle.

The purpose of the spectacle, and this Mayweather well comprehends, is saturation, a process television does better than its predecessor mediums, a means not unlike what immersion serious foreign-language students subject themselves to, a way of surrounding a person’s associations, and therefore thoughts, with an idea that goes to the very root of what makes a mind human: Sociability. A desire to socialize is what helped our ancestors climb out the trees in which they were cowering from all predators larger and faster and stronger, which were most, and develop an unprecedented form of communication that took them, in record time, to a place of predatory dominance so far beyond their adversaries they locked up the descendants of the creatures that feasted on them, in zoos, for their children’s amusement.

A biological drive to be round others and communicate with them, connecting in some necessary way, is the trait television preys on, flashing images that say nothing so profoundly as: “This is important because everyone is watching it because it is important enough for everyone to watch.” It’s an algorithm even a kindergartner can untwine, doing something because you are doing it, and it works and works so long as television can find its way to your retina, a gambit the ongoing unpleasantness between Time Warner Cable and CBS now cancels.

But wait, Showtime’s got round Time Warner Cable by posting its wholly unoriginal “All Access” program on the internet! Yes, well, that is helping it reach exactly zero new pay-per-viewers, because if you cared enough about “All Access: Mayweather vs. Canelo” to search for it online, your purchase of their Sept. 14 show is already accounted for; you are the 300,000th buyer, not the millionth. Which leaves the promotion with Canelomania in Mexico, real a phenomenon as anything built on television but doubtfully enough to set what records “The One’s” press tour assured.

Canelomania is evidence of television’s power in a way not even Mayweather quite understands; Alvarez is marketed continually, and has been for years, by Grupo Televisa, a media outfit whose affiliates own more than half the television stations in Mexico – for an American to understand Televisa’s power, he’d have to go back to the pre-cable days of three channels in the United States, and then combine a couple. The Televisa script says Alvarez is a midnight-clad villain but an innocent-faced hero, a fireheaded anomaly but an everyman, a taciturn corrupter of other men’s flesh but a caresser of baby’s cheeks, an urbane fashionista but a tamer of beach steeds, a man who dines in a silver microfiber suit and bathes in a ballbearing black bikini bottom – like an OkCupid profile unrestrained by plausibility. He has dated a Televisa reporter, dated Miss Mexico for Televisa, and visited on Televisa with Mexican president Enrique Peña Nieto, the husband of a Televisa actress.

Canelo Alvarez is the Mexican rendition of contemporary American marketing’s best invention: An otherwise unmarked canvas with a unique imprimatura layer – Tiger Woods in 1998, Barack Obama in 2004 – onto which young and old alike can project their own best qualities. Earl Woods, an all-American dad in the very worst sense of those words, helped market his son as a savior; before America’s leader was President Obama he was derisively called “The One” by Republican campaign operatives; and in two Saturdays Saul Alvarez fights in “The One,” a singular event that will either mark Alvarez as boxing’s savior (Mayweather sure wasn’t) or, much more likely, mark him as yet another “one” some country or ethnicity got hoodwinked into projecting its collective pride on for what 36 minutes it took Floyd Mayweather to unknit him.

Is this fight unwatchably predictable as Mayweather’s last? No, decidedly it is not; Alvarez is a legitimately larger prizefighter who throws his right cross early, like one who knows no better, and Mayweather is a man who, Shane Mosley avers, can be caught with a righthand during the five minutes it takes him to secure escape routes and seal an opponent’s every exit. If Alvarez somehow buckles Mayweather the way Mosley did, Money May will have pounced on him a creature sourly distinct from the Sugar Shane he got 40 months ago.

But if the bell rings to begin round 3 and Alvarez has yet to imperil Mayweather, well, you’ll still have the co-main for solace, but not suspense: In his lifetime of fighting both amateurs and professionals, Mayweather has seen everything about Canelo, save his fabulous redbrick hair, at least 50 times, while Canelo has seen the likes of Mayweather not once. Plan accordingly.

Bart Barry can be reached at bart.barrys.email (at) gmail.com

INDIO, CALIF. (August 30, 2013) – WBC Interim Super Lightweight World Champion Lucas “The Machine” Matthysse, a 30-year-old banger with thunder in his fists will greet fans at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif. prior to the September 7 SHOWTIME®fights featuring a 12-round clash of heavyweight contenders between Seth “Mayhem” Mitchell (26-1-1, 19 KO’s) and Chris “The Nightmare” Arreola (34-3, 30 KO’s) and a 10-round featherweight match up between Mexican superstar Rafael Marquez (41-8, 37 KO’s) and California prospect Efrain Esquivias (16-2-1, 9 KO’s).

Matthysse has a reputation for exciting fights and even more exciting finishes. More of the same is expected on Sept. 14, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev., when he faces Unified Super Lightweight World Champion Danny “Swift” Garcia for the Super Welterweight World Championship Title “THE ONE: MAYWEATHER VS. CANELO” mega fight, which will be produced and televised by SHOWTIME PPV.

The brother of former world title challenger Walter Matthysse, Lucas followed his brother into the professional boxing ranks in June of 2004, when he made his debut with a second round TKO of Leandro Almagro. Thus began a local reign of terror that saw Matthysse tear through the Argentinean boxing scene with frightening power and efficiency. His defeat of former world champion Lamont Peterson via third round TKO this past May in Atlantic City, New Jersey, set up a fight of the year on the Mayweather undercard.

Matthysse will be on hand to meet fans, sign autographs and take pictures from 6:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. PT inside the Fantasy Springs Special Events Center. The meet and greet is open to the public with the purchase of a ticket to the fights.

Mitchell vs. Arreola, a 12-round fight for the WBC Silver Heavyweight Title, is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Goossen Tutor Promotions and sponsored by Corona. The doubleheader will take place on Saturday, Sept. 7 at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino and will be televised live on SHOWTIME beginning at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). Doors open at 4 p.m. PT and the first fight begins at 4:05 p.m. PT.

Tickets, priced at $105, $75, $55, $45, $35 are available at the Fantasy Springs Box Office, by calling (800) 827-2946 or online at www.fantasyspringsresort.com.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and www.fantasyspringsresort.com, follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.twitter.com/SethMayhem48, www.twitter.com/efrainboxing and www.twitter.com/fantasysprings and visit on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing and www.facebook.com/fantasysprings. For information on SHOWTIME, visit http://Sports.SHO.com, www.twitter.com/SHOsports and www.facebook.com/SHOBoxing.

LOS ANGELES (Aug. 30 2013) – Looking strong, fit and sounding ultra confident, a relaxed Lucas “The Machine” Matthysse was in Carson, Calif., last Saturday to meet with the media in attendance at StubHub Center and conduct an interview on the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® telecast.

The hard-hitting WBC Interim Super Lightweight World Champion was headed to the California desert where he’ll spend the next week or so training before he departs to Las Vegas for his mega-confrontation with undefeated, Undisputed Super Lightweight World Champion Danny “Swift’’ Garcia (26-0, 16 KO’s) on Saturday, Sept. 14, live on SHOWTIME PPV®.

A main event on any other boxing card and a division-defining fight if ever there was one, Matthysse’s eagerly awaited match with Garcia will immediately precede the Floyd Mayweather vs. Canelo Alvarez showdown on the record-breaking “THE ONE’’ fight card from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Below are highlights of what Matthysse (34-2, 32 KO’s), who’s scored a staggering 94 percent of his wins by knockout, said during the media roundtable.

LUCAS MATTHYSSE

(Opening comments)

“Thank you for being here. I really appreciate the opportunity for this fight, and I’m going to do my best.

“I know that winning is going to open (a lot of) doors so I am taking this fight seriously. Hopefully, it (a victory) means a future fight with Floyd Mayweather. Of course I want to fight Floyd.’’

(Upcoming plans)

“I’m in California. More than anything else, I’m here to get used to the climate. I’m going to finish up my sparring here. It’s my last phase of training. I just want to get used to the difference in the climate before I go for my fight.

“Training in the desert is going to help a lot. I’m going to take a few easy days just to get acclimated. Obviously, the desert air and heat is very similar to Las Vegas.’’

(On how he’s dealing with the Garcia’s mind games)

“It doesn’t bother me. It just shows that they’re worried. That’s why they’re talking so much.’’

(On what concerns him about Danny Garcia)

“Nothing worries me. I’ve trained very hard and I’m ready for anything. (Being so) very well prepared is what gives me the confidence. I’m not only ready for 12 rounds, I’m ready for 15.”

(On whether he was angry over the length of time it took for the fight to be made)

“(There is) no animosity whatsoever. I was a little disappointed that it took so long, but I’m happy that it finally got done.’’

(On Garcia’s style)

“I feel his style suits me. He’s not a very good boxer. He’s a fighter that’s aggressive and comes forward just like I do. I like that.

“Yes, I think I can take it (his left hook). I’ve been hit before and been able to withstand it. But if Danny drops me, I’m going to get up.

“Hopefully he comes towards me, but it doesn’t really matter. I have a feeling that we’re both going to be very aggressive and, like I said, we’re going to beat each other up. It will be a great fight.’’

(Besides your awesome power, what are your other strengths?)

“I haven’t really shown my boxing, but it’s not my fault. (I can’t show it because) my opponents run from me, so I have to go after them. But I know how to box.‘’

(On the attention he’s receiving by fighting on a record-breaking event like this)

“It’s an honor to be in a fight on this big of a stage. I know there’s going to be a lot of interest. I’m just happy so many people are going to see my style of fighting.

“I’m very gracious for all the attention I am getting. I’m even starting to get used to it. I’ve felt good since the first time I came to the United States. I’ve always had a lot of support.’’

(On his newfound popularity)

“Actually, I’m a little surprised by how many people that have started to follow me. Even all the Latino people, they give me support and love and it feels great.’’

(Do your recent fast starts have anything to do with losing two controversial decisions?)

“Those two fights that I lost were (good experiences for me) and, yes, I learned from those fights. Obviously, I’ve come out a little faster now, but not just because of those fights but because I have a little different preparation.’’

(On the recent success of Argentine fighters – for one, Marcos Maidana)

“Some of us Argentine fighters are going through a good moment now. It’s an honor to be fighting in this era (with so many going well). All we do is train hard and use our heart in our training and in our fights. Actually, we’ve been going pretty well for a while now.‘’

(On the difference between the Matthysse of today and the one who debuted 10 years ago)

“I grew, mentally and physically. You learn from the fights, of course, but not only the fights. You learn from the traveling. I’ve learned so much, and I’ve gained experience. That’s the difference.’’

(On his upcoming sparring with Tim Bradley in Palm Springs)

“Obviously, he’s got very good speed and experience, and that’s going to help a lot.’’

(On why he declined a mini-press tour that would have included a stop in Philadelphia, Garcia’s hometown)

“It was going to interfere with my preparation; and that is basically the reason. My preparation is very important.’’

(On whether he would like to fight in Argentina again)

“I would love to go back someday and fight. I have a lot of people who come up and ask me when I’ll be fighting there again since it’s been awhile.’’

(On his preparedness)

“Conditioning is a key. That’s no secret. Danny will be in good condition, so will I. If you get hit, you have to be in good condition.

“All the knockouts have given me a lot of confidence, being able to finish off my fights early. But I don’t train that way. I train to box and go the rounds I’m supposed to go. I don’t look for the knockout, But if it comes, it comes.’’

(On Garcia’s weaknesses)

“There are a few but I don’t want to reveal my secrets.’’

(On what the fight with Garcia means to him)

“It’s the fight of my life … and I’m going to take advantage of it.’’

“THE ONE: MAYWEATHER VS. CANELO,” a 12-round fight for Canelo’s WBC, WBA and Ring Magazine Super Welterweight World Championships and Mayweather’s WBA Super Welterweight Super World Championship taking place Saturday, Sept. 14 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, is promoted by Mayweather Promotions, Golden Boy Promotions and Canelo Promotions and sponsored by Corona, O’Reilly Auto Parts, AT&T, Valvoline, Mexico Tourism, Fred Loya Insurance and Nature Nutrition. In the 12-round co-featured attraction, WBC, WBA Super and Ring Magazine Super Lightweight World Champion Danny Garcia and thunderous puncher WBC Interim Super Lightweight World Champion Lucas Matthysse square off in a fight presented in association with Swift Promotions and Arano Box Promotions. Also, Ishe Smith vs. Carlos Molina square off in a 12-round battle for Smith’s IBF Junior Middleweight World Title which is promoted in association with Warriors Boxing. The opening bout on SHOWTIME PPV features a 10-round welterweight showdown between Pablo Cesar Cano and Ashley Theophane. The mega-event will be produced and distributed live by SHOWTIME PPV® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. The event can be heard in Spanish using secondary audio programming (SAP).

Less than 24 hours after going on sale in June, the event was sold out, but six MGM Resorts properties will host live closed circuit telecasts of “THE ONE.” Properties showcasing the event include ARIA, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, The Mirage, Monte Carlo and New York-New York. General admission tickets for the closed circuit telecasts are priced at $100, not including handling fees, and are available for purchase at each individual property’s box office outlets and also are available for purchase by phone with a major credit card at 866-799-7711. Closed circuit ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. Tickets also are available through Ticketmaster by calling (800) 745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com. “THE ONE” will also be broadcast on nearly 550 select movie theaters across the country. Tickets are available at participating theater box offices and online at www.FathomEvents.com.

For more information, visit www.theonefight.com, www.floydmayweather.com, www.mayweatherpromotions.com,www.goldenboypromotions.com,www.sports.sho.com and www.mgmgrand.com, follow on Twitter at @FloydMayweather, ,@CaneloOficial, @DannySwift, @IsheSugarShay, @Canochampion, @AshleyTheophane, @MayweatherPromo, @GoldenBoyBoxing, @mgmgrand and @SHOSports, follow the conversation using #TheOne and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FloydMayweather, www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions, www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing and www.facebook.com/SHOBoxing.

Kelly Swanson
Thanks everybody for joining us today for “THE ONE” media conference call with the pay-per-view undercard fighters. At this point, I’m going to turn it right over to our hosts of the call; that’s both Oscar De La Hoya and Leonard Ellerbe; Oscar is President of Golden Boy Promotions and Leonard Ellerbe is CEO of Mayweather Promotions. So I’m going to turn it over to Oscar, and then he will introduce Leonard.

Oscar De La Hoya
Yes. We are one month away from the mega event, “The One: Floyd Mayweather vs. Canelo Alvarez,” which will be a 12-round fight for Canelo’s WBC and WBA and Ring Magazine Super Welterweight World title and Mayweather’s WBA Super Welterweight Super World Championship. We also have a tremendous co-main event, Danny Garcia vs. Lucas Matthysse, which obviously you all know that fight could have been a pay-per-view itself, but for the fans Mayweather decided along with Ellerbe and Golden Boy Promotions that this fight belongs on the big stage along with Floyd Mayweather and Canelo Alvarez. That will be a unification fight for the lightweight world title. Also, Mayweather promotions put on a tremendous undercard, co-main event with Ishe Smith vs. Carlos Molina. Ishe Smith is promoted by Mayweather Promotions. Also another spectacular fight with Pablo Cesar Cano, who had a tremendous fight against Sugar Shane Mosley in Cancun, Mexico a few weeks ago, is fighting against Ashley Theophane, which will be a ten-rounder in the welterweight showdown.

This event is being brought to you live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions along with Canelo Promotions. We are excited and thrilled to once again by hosting the live events throughout the MGM properties, which will host the closed circuits at ARIA, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, The Mirage, Monte Carlo and New York-New York. Also, to make sure that fans get a unique experience nationwide, for all the fans who cannot make it to Las Vegas or watch it at home on pay-per-view, NCM Fathom will be showing Mayweather-Canelo on over 400 movie theatres to get that experience with other fans. Get your popcorn, your drinks, and experience this once in a lifetime opportunity to watch a Mayweather vs. Canelo and the entire card in movie theaters.

It’s a wonderful wonder experience. I really recommend this experience to anyone who hasn’t seen a fight. We’re expecting this even to shatter all records. We have broken one record already, which is the live gates and those are obviously indications that this event will break the pay-per-view record of 2.5 million homes so it’s very exciting for boxing. It’s very exciting for all the fighters, everybody participating so let’s show the world that this is “THE ONE.” This is the one that is going to put boxing on that worldwide stage and show everyone that boxing is the best sport in the world.

So without any further ado, I would like to introduce to you the CEO of Mayweather Promotions and that is Leonard Ellerbe.

Leonard Ellerbe
I’d like to welcome everyone to the call today. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to join us. We have a tremendous event, obviously, on September 14th and it all starts, with the Mayweather vs. Canelo. We have three other undercard bouts—two of those which are world championship fights, so we’ve got a total of three world championship fights on the card. This is the biggest pay-per-view card definitely that I can recall in recent history from top to bottom.

And to start off in the first fight on the show a gentleman, he’s originally from London, England. He’s now living in Las Vegas fighting out of the Mayweather Boxing Club, a gentleman that I just recently signed last week, a guy who I would say is the definition of what a blue-collar worker is all about, a guy who didn’t have it easy. He worked his way through fighting some very, very tough fights. He owns victories over Delvin Rodriguez who is getting ready to fight Miguel Cotto. He’s beaten a number of different top guys along with DeMarcus Corley who took forward 12-rounds. He’s just a very, very tough fighter. A guy who we’re very proud to have on our stable, so without further ado, I’d like to introduce Ashley Theophane. He’s 33-5 with one draw with 10 KO’s.

Ashley Theophane
It’s a pleasure to be on “THE ONE” card. It’s the biggest boxing event in the world. It’s going to be one of the biggest ever and it’s a big achievement on that. Leonard and Floyd have put me on the card and I’m looking forward to it. And for me, obviously, I’ve got Pablo Cano. He’s fought Erik Morales. He’s fought Paulie Malignaggi. He’s fought Johan Perez, Shane Mosley. He is a very tough operator, and I’m going to be in great shape, but to me every time he steps up is when he’s lost, and to me this is another step up, and he’s going to lose again, but I respect him. And I’m saying I’m going to be 110 percent ready, and I didn’t fly over here from London, England to take a loss, that’s not even on my mind. I’m training with the best in the world. I’ve got a great training team, and we’re going to be ready for “The One” and it’s an honor to be on the show with—you’ve got Ishe Smith who is world champ. You’ve got Danny Garcia who is world champ. You’ve got Lucas Matthysse, and then you’ve got the pound-for-pound king who is Floyd Mayweather himself so it’s a great card. It’s one of the best I’ve ever seen, and it’s going to break records.

For me coming from London, England it’s a very big deal. It’s all over the news in England that I’m part of Mayweather Promotions, and I’m representing the UK and at the same time I’m representing like Mayweather Promotions, which is the face of boxing. Mayweather Promotions is taking over boxing. They’ve just had their first world champion, Ishe Smith who is the first Las Vegas born world champ. So it’s great to be part of such a great team, and I have to thank Floyd and Leonard again for this great opportunity that they believe in me and I believe in me. So it’s just all about taking it to the next level and Pablo is the—he’s the great step in the right direction so I want to thank everyone.

Q
Ashley, can you just give us some perspective on what you already did, on you know how big it is to sign with Mayweather Promotions at this point in your career, and also, how important it is at your age to reignite your career against someone like Pablo?

Theophane
Well, it’s great to be with Mayweather Promotions at any point in your career if you’re just starting out, if you’re in the middle of it, or if you’re at the end of it. I’ve been a professional for ten years now, and to me it feels like the right time. Floyd has been a professional for years, for nearly 18 years. I’ve been a professional for ten. You’ve got to have been around for a long time. I still feel that I’ve got a lot left in me, another five or six years so.
I’m not worried about the age. I’m 32-years-old. I’m going to be 33 but if you look at the guys who Pablo lost to he lost to guys who were in their 30s so experience is a very—youth is good but experience at the same time is—you can’t buy experience and that’s what I’ve got. I’m a smart fighter. I’m a strong fighter. I’ve been in with like some good like boxers. There’s Delvin Rodrigues. He’s going to fight Miguel Cotto next. You’ve got Garcia – he’s going to fight Lucas Matthysse. I’ve beaten DeMarcus Corley. He’s fought everyone in boxing. I’ve been British champ so I’ve been around the block. I’ve sparred with the very best in boxing so to me I’m at a good point in my career, and I don’t want no easy fight. This is going to be my … fight. I’m training up with Mayweather Promotions. With them behind my back the world is my oyster and Leonard and Floyd both believe in me and it’s just up to me to do it in the ring and that’s what I’m going to do.

Q
Do you still believe that you could still win a world title maybe even despite your age?

Theophane
Yes, 100 percent. You don’t have to be a world champion in your 20s. Like there’s no age where if you’re 32-years-old you can’t win a world title. Ishe Smith has shown—he won his first world title—oh, I think he was 34-years-old or 33-years-old so it doesn’t matter because everyone they get their—because they get their opportunities at different times in their careers so the age is not an issue. I still feel good. I’m 32-years-old. I haven’t been in like many hard fights because I’m a smart boxer and I have a good defense. The age it doesn’t play a role. I eat well. I don’t smoke. I don’t drink. You don’t see me out in the clubs so the age is not an issue.

Q
And have you set a time limit on when you can—how long you want to wait to do it?

Theophane
Well, I’ve been a pro for ten years. I would be—I’m happy to be a professional for another five years so I’m cool. Floyd is 36-years-old now and he’s still in great shape. If he wanted to continue to go on like Oscar did with SHOWTIME he could. If you live the life you can’t put an age restriction. You’ve got Bernard Hopkins, he’s well in to his 40s and it’s not an issue. I don’t want to be boxing when I’m 40-years-old but I’ve set a goal. I’ve had 39 fights so I’m just focused on this fight and to get a win; that’s it. That is the most important thing.

Q
Ashley, when you look at your opponent he’s had some notable fights. Do you take that into consideration knowing that you want to make it big in the states and want to win, of course, a world title and not—as you just finished saying, you may—whether you said it or not you may be patterning your career under Mayweather and you want to have a world title before it’s all over. So what are you doing in consideration to prepare for Cano?

Theophane
Well, if nothing really changes I’m always in shape so it’s just continuing to put forth the hard work in the gym to do my runs, my swimming and stuff, and it’s all about just being focused and being smart. I’m not going to really change anything up. I’ve watched him fight in the past and to me every time he stepped up he lost. He may have 20 KO’s but you have to look who is he knocking out? He’s knocking nobody out. You’ve got Erik Morales. You’ve got Paulie Malignaggi, and you’ve got Shane Mosley so every time he stepped up he lost. If you look at the guys who I beat and you look at the guys who he beat there’s no comparison, so that is what you have to go by. But with every fight you have to respect your opponent, and I respect him because all of those fights that he stepped up he gave them a very hard fight so I expect a hard fight, but I expect to win as well.

Q
Boxing takes all of your life. Mayweather said—and I’m quoting Floyd Mayweather and I think he’s absolutely right because 44 tried and 44 failed. He said that, “Boxing is a 24/7 business not a 9 to 5er.” Do you believe in that concept?

Theophane
One hundred percent and you have to see that. I’ve been a professional for ten years. I’ve never had it easy so I had to go on the road. I’ve boxed in five countries. I’ve won in five countries, but I’ve never had it easy. For me I’m used to being in the backyard and having to fight the promoters’ guy and I’m supposed to lose and I win. So for me I’m used to doing it the hard way so to finally have a team to back me and believe in me that’s only going to make me a better fighter because I know that they have my back. So for me I’m just continuing to work hard and to even work even harder. So we have a young lion who may—he may watch me and think that I’m old now and it’s his time, but he fought that against the other three guys he stepped up to and he always was a bit short. He’s going to be a bit short again because I’m in that class where he stepped up. He is going to lose. It’s just how but I’m focused and I live the life. I don’t party. I don’t drink. I don’t smoke so I don’t put no limit on what I can achieve.

Q
Ashley, Do you have a weight at which you feel most comfortable and when you’re ready to fight for a title it’s just going to matter on the best opportunity or do you have a particular weight class in mind?

Theophane
Well, all through my career I’ve boxed being the junior welterweight and welterweight division so I don’t really like to restrict myself. It’s just on the opportunity, the opponent. I want to fight the best in the world in both divisions so I make weight like good so I’m okay. The weight issue is not a problem for me.

Q
Leonard, I just wanted to ask what caught your eye about Ashley that led Mayweather Promotions to want to sign him and put him on this show?

Ellerbe
Well, Ashley’s a gentleman that I’m very familiar with. I’ve been watching him work for the last couple months. He’s a guy that once I did my research on him—obviously, I had watched him in the Danny Garcia fight a couple years ago and it was a fight that I personally thought that he got the bad end of the stick. And he’s a gentleman that like I say he has tremendous character. I think that he’s had a tough road, as he just mentioned, with going in other fighters’ backyards and getting it done the hard way. So now with us—with him being part of Mayweather Promotions I think that we’re going to go out and create these opportunities, and he just has to go out and win. And I think that he will be a guy that the world will get a chance to see him on September 14th. He’ll put on a tremendous fight, and he’s going to make a lot of noise, and he’s going to be right there in the thick of things with the Danny Garcias and Lucas Matthysses right off the bat.

Q
My question for Ashley was I just was curious how he came to wind up in Vegas training at Mayweather’s gym and how he had kind of met them and wound up with them. I heard what Leonard had said a little earlier about seeing him and doing his research, but I’m curious how and when that Ashley ended up in Las Vegas working with Floyd and the gym.

Theophane
Well, it goes back to Cotto camp when I came over to Vegas because I was in New York. That’s where I normally train and I was there for like eight weeks, and I knew that Floyd was going to fight. I just thought that I would just come over as part of my camp and just do two weeks at the Mayweather Boxing Club. I came over for two weeks. Leonard and Floyd were very nice to me. The sparring there it was great. When I left back I wished Floyd well in his fight with Miguel Cotto, and then the next time came for the Robert Guerrero fight and I had other fight which was going to come up so I said I’ll go out to Vegas again, went out to Vegas for four weeks for this time. I was sparring with great guys, and I just liked the vibe at the gym. The Mayweather Promotions team was all like just friendly with me and I just stayed there for like the whole camp, and it just went on like this from there. So I think Leonard and Floyd just heard about the work that I was putting in the gym, and then I got to spar with Floyd and it was just step-by-step, bit-by-bit just keep working, the way I’ve done my whole career just putting in the work. Floyd and Leonard listened to what others were—like said that I was a good boxer and they got my record, and then the rest is history. I signed up with Mayweather Promotions to take it to the next level now.

Q
I have one other question for you, Ashley, and Leonard made reference to it in his comments about thinking that maybe you came out on the wrong end of the stick in the very close good fight you had with Garcia a couple years ago, which is really the first time he had ever faced what people would consider yourself one of the top guys in the weight class. I’m curious to see him in this undercard fighting in the co-feature and a pretty big fight. Do you feel like with a good performance on a card in which he is also features that you could perhaps if he does okay in his fight get a rematch with him like for the title?

Theophane
You know I don’t focus on one opponent because there’s many great boxers in the welterweight and the junior welterweight division, but if a rematch happens it happens. A lot of people thought that I beat him the first time around. To me it was a close fight and they gave it to him. It happens in boxing, but the fight could happen down the line. I thought I won the first time. I’ve watched him fight and he’s big so I’m very happy that he’s gone on to be a world champ, but I don’t think that he has improved much since I watched him fight. He beat Amir Khan. He beat Erik Morales, but other than that I haven’t really seen much improvement, but you never know. It could happen in the future. I just want to fight in the division, and I’m not just going to focus on one man. It’s whoever.

Oscar De La Hoya
Now I would like to introduce to you the other participant, which will be fighting Theophane. He has a record of 26-3-1, 20 KO’s. He hales out of Mexico, Tlalnepantla, Mexico. He’s one of the top hopefuls from Mexico. We would consider him a future world champion who is fighting the best and this is no exception. Theophane is a fighter who is going to bring his a-game and Cano understands that. He’s coming off two close decision losses against Paulie Malignaggi and Shane Mosley. Obviously, we know him making his breakthrough battle against legendary Eric Morales, and so he’s always here to put on a show. He’s in tremendous shape now. He’s ready to take the world by storm September 14th so let me introduce to you Pablo Cesar Cano.

Q
Pablo, what has your preparation been for this fight with Ashley?

Pablo Cesar Cano
I understand I came off two controversial fights, but I am preparing very hard. I am 100% ready and I am not looking for a knockout. I am just looking to make a great fight, and just give the fans what they want.

Q
You are very young. Do you feel that’s an advantage?

Cano
I believe it is an advantage however there are older boxers just like Bernard Hopkins that even though he’s at an older age he’s still very strong, very fast, and I believe age is nothing but a number, and I’m going to just give 100 percent and fight a great fight.

Q
Pablo, you’ve been in with three former champions and lost close decisions. Is there any concern that after this fight you could, at an early age, slip in to opponent status or more or less sparring partner mentality?

Cano
I understand I have been in three close fights with three great champions with great names and that I have gained a lot of experience, and with that experience I’m taking that in to account with my new plans. I’m just going to fight, and gain more experience there. I just believe that I am going to give a great fight.

Swanson
We will now make the transition to our next set of fighters and will turn it over to Leonard to make the introductions. Leonard.

Ellerbe
Mayweather Promotions’ first world champion, what can I say? A gentleman that has been the epitome of what hard work and dedication is all about. He’s a guy that’s been around the sport for quite some time. He’s had his ups and downs but he’s persevered. He’s a guy that’s obviously just not even a year ago was initially—you know got the opportunity to come in, worked with Floyd to help him prepare to get ready for Cotto, and he made the most of the opportunity because he’s a guy that we’ve been familiar with for quite some time. He’s been knowing the whole Mayweather family for a number of years. A guy that we know firsthand the kind of setbacks that happened in the sport and a lot of times it’s really about the right situation that you’re in to protect your best interest and he was a guy that we took under our wing. We got him an opportunity with “K-9” Bundrage for the world title, and he definitely made the most of that opportunity and the sky is the limit. He’s a guy, like I said, who represents not only Las Vegas with being the first born Las Vegas world champion, which is a tremendous feat within itself, but he’s a very, very proud champion. He understands what being world champion is about. He has a responsibility to that, and he wants to be the best that he can be. He’s a guy, like I said, I personally admire quite a bit. Without further ado, I’d like to introduce the IBF Junior Middleweight Champion, none other than Ishe Smith.

Ishe Smith
Training is going great. I had put in eight weeks before I suffered the cut to fight July 19th and we took a couple weeks off and got right back in the gym so training has been great. It’s just a fabulous, wonderful opportunity to be fighting on this card; the biggest card of my career. You know I’m not the main event. It’s just an honor. It’s just sometimes I just can’t believe it. It’s taken me 13 years to be on a big card, but I’m truly honored. I’m truly blessed, and I wouldn’t be here without God and just without him placing the right people in my life, like Mayweather Promotions people. It’s been a great ride. It’s been a real good ride.

Ellerbe
This next gentleman has been around for quite some time himself. He’s a guy that’s finally getting his shot after quite some time. He began making a lot of noise with his definitely heavily disputed draw against Lara in 2011. He’s won four of his last five fights. He has beat former world champions like Kermit Cintron and Cory Spinks with his only loss coming with a controversial DQ against James Kirkland in March of 2012. He’s a very, very tough competitor. It took quite some time for me to make this fight happen, and we were more than happy to put this fight as a world championship fight on the biggest card ever, and we know that Carols Molina—he’s a very, very tough fighter, and he’s coming to win, and his promotional company, Warriors Boxing, they’ve been behind supporting him, and, like I say, he’s coming to lay it on the line come September 14th. So, without further ado, I’d like to introduce Carlos Molina.

Carlos Molina
I’m ready. I had a good training. I was ready July 19th. We’ve been training all summer long and the best shape of my life. I’m just entering my time in my career. I just turned 30-years-old. I’m feeling great. I’m feeling my best and I am ready for September 14th.

Q
I have a question and maybe Ishe and Carlos you can both answer this. I’ll start off with Ishe. I know you probably would have liked to have the fight when it was originally planned on July 19th after participating in your training camp and doing all the things you do to get ready for the fight, but now looking back is it almost better for you do you think that this fight was postponed and now you get to be on a much, much bigger stage than you would have otherwise been on previously?

Smith
I think so. It’s a privilege to, like I said, to be on the biggest card of my career, bigger than any contender card I ever fought on, bigger than any show boxing main event, bigger than any co-features that I’ve been on. It’s a blessing. July 19th was because I work a lot with the youth out here in Vegas. I coach various sports, and I had a lot of people coming in town and these tickets are already sold out so it’s disheartening. Now I’m not able to have the people that can’t get tickets or can’t afford these kind of priced tickets to come see me fight but they’ll be tuned in on TV watching on pay-per-view. And like I said, it’s just an honor. Mayweather Promotions made sure that I get another date at home after this so it definitely is an honor. I don’t take it for granted at all.

Q
And Carlos, how about yourself? Like you just said you were going to fight the 19th on TV but not on a big mega card like this. Do you think from the way you look at it it’s almost better to be on this level of a show than had you been on that other card on the 19th?

Molina
Yeah well I mean like to me really it doesn’t matter where it is. I just want to fight. I want to fight for the IBF belt and wherever it happens to be—this happens to be an even greater opportunity I feel, but like I said it doesn’t really matter as long as I get the title shot and get that belt. But yeah to be on a big card like this and get all that exposure that’s definitely better.

Q
Well, especially because the main event happens to be taking place in the same weight class where you guys both fight, and certainly people will look at that main event, look at the winner of the fight between you two, and it’s certainly not out of the question if the winner wants to further unify the title they would have to see you. Do you think about at as a prospect of—it may be a long shot but—landing a shot with the winner against Alvarez or Floyd?

Molina
Yes, definitely. I mean right now, first things first is, Ishe. I’m ready for that fight. The belt, without that it’s nothing else but getting that and making a statement in this fight, and then being considered to be—being on the radar for these guys. If they don’t want to give me the fight right away I’ll be really—I’ll be willing to fight anyone. Just keep winning and sooner or later you might get that.

Q
All right. I have just one other question for you, Ishe. With regard to the cut that you suffered, how bad was it and how is it now?

Smith
It was pretty bad at the time, but we have great doctors. I was able to see a doctore here in town, and we did the right things we needed to do, and it’s healed up really well. I’ve been sparring for some weeks now and everything is going perfect, everything is great.

Q
Ishe Smith, I have been following you for years before the contender series but you remind me of a very young Sugar Ray Robison and that is the truth. I’m wondering how come after the contender you seem to fall off the radar screen and I didn’t see you for years and years until now finally Golden Boy—not Golden Boy but Mayweather Promotions finally put you where you belonged a long time ago. I see the emotion broke out of you when you won the title. Has it been frustrating all these years to finally come up in to a title owner and under the biggest fight of the year card?

Smith
Well, you know I think as a man I needed to go through those things. Those things you can’t predict life. Obviously, it’s not the way I scripted it starting off and then going to the contender, but things happen and I couldn’t be happier with my life where it is right now. I have some very important people that have helped me get to where I am today, and without them I wouldn’t be where I am, and that’s why I’m always grateful to Mayweather Promotions and everything that they’ve done for me. But you know this is the biggest card. It don’t matter what happened in the past. This is probably arguably the biggest card in the last ten to fifteen years just because of the main event and the co-feature so it’s a privilege and an honor to be on this card, and, like I said, as a man I think I needed to go through those trials and tribulations to be where I am today and I’m truly blessed.

Q
Yeah this question both of you can answer. Given your past and you both had tough luck stories—and Ishe, I thought you beat Fernando Guerrero by the way—knowing what you’ve been through, each of you, and knowing who you’re fighting has been through similar situations could this, for both of you, and each of you answer, be the most difficult fight and at the same time probably bring out the best in each of you? Can each of you answer that question?

Molina
Ishe is a pretty well-rounded fighter. I feel like the harder I train—it depends on how hard I train to make the fight easier for me, so I’m not sure. I can’t say something like that until I actually get in there and go through it and do it, but I feel like it is going to bring out the best in me because there’s a championship fight that I would have. Even though I train for every fight and I can pine for the championship fight this is it right here. This is what I visualized since I started boxing and it’s right in front of me, and I’m so focused. I’m so ready. I’m ready to go. I wish the fight was closer.

Smith
Whenever you’re world champion you know you’ve got a lot of people gunning for you and coming to take what you’ve earned and what you fought hard to accomplish. And I was able to do that in Detroit, and I don’t want to fall victim to looking past Carlos. He’s a tough competitor, and I’ve trained really hard so I won’t have any hiccups and I don’t have any trip ups. This fight we’re in tremendous shape and I’m ready to go, but I think it’s going to be a good night of boxing. Everyone on the card is going to be great from top to bottom, and I’m looking forward to putting on a tremendous fight for all the Las Vegas fans and all the fans across the world who will be tuned in on pay-per-view.

Q
One more question for Ishe. Can you address Carlos’ style? Have you faced anybody with guess awkward would be the best word?

Smith
I’ve faced all kinds of styles. They said K-9 was going to be too big and strong for me and he was awkward. You don’t worry about styles; skills pay the bills, and come September 14th I’ll be ready to go and I’ll be keeping my title here at home. I don’t worry about he going to fight. I just have to listen to my coach and go out there and execute the game plan, and I feel like the one fight I didn’t do that—where I didn’t listen to him was the only fight I lost and that was Danny Jacobs. But, as you said, I thought I beat Guerrero and since I’ve been with Eddie we haven’t lost a fight at 154 pounds so I’m extremely excited to be defending my title at home. To accomplish so much in my career in such a short period of time being with Mayweather Promotions and having this wonderful opportunity to fight on the biggest state in boxing is just amazing.

Q
Ishe, first of all you’ve ended up with an opponent who is, in my mind, going to be much trickier than K-9 Bundrage. Why did you select him as an opponent? How did that come to be? This is a fight nobody saw coming, and do you see any parallels between youself and Molina? You have had similar circumstances coming up.

Smith
He’s a hard worker. You can’t really say that he’s tougher or trickier than K-9 because K-9 was a world champion. Like I said, I don’t worry about styles. I just go in there and fight my fight. I told Leonard to make this fight. I fold Leonard when I won the title that he was going to be the first guy I fought. I didn’t have to make this mandatory until November but I respect his story. I respect where he come from, and I want to give the fans what they want, and I want to fight the best. That’s just the bottom line. I want to fight the best in my division and go out on top. When I retire I want to be talked about and I want to be remembered, and I think that’s what everybody wants in this game, and I think I’ve already left a legacy by being the first Las Vegas born world champion but it’s not complete. We still writing the script and, like I said, I’m excited to be fighting on the biggest card in boxing and I can’t wait to go.

Q
You’re a titleholder now. Have you changed any in your day-to-day approach to life or has anything changed in your mind or what you do or how you approach things in general?

Smith
You know you’ve become champion it just takes your training to another level because you realize you got guys coming for you. There’s not a week that I can’t go by without somebody mentioning my name so that all comes with the territory. I haven’t changed anything. I still work very hard. I still train hard, and I’m ready to defend my title and keep my title.

Swanson
Thank you very much gentlemen. We will now move on to our co-featured fight of the evening and I would like to reintroduce Oscar De La Hoya to make the introductions.

De La Hoya
It is very exciting to be introducing what we expect is an explosion come September 14th with two great fighters, and I am saying great because you have on one hand Lucas Matthysse who has a tremendous, tremendous record, an outstanding knockout ratio, 94% of his wins come by knockout; and on the other hand you have the champion Danny Garcia who is undefeated, 26-0, 16 KO’s who keeps on proving to every single person day in and day out that he is going to be great. He is going to be taking all comers. This is a fight that, like I said before, belongs on its own pay-per-view on any given day. This is a fight that the people have been waiting for. This is a fight that when you finish watching if you do not love boxing already you will fall in love with the sport because this is what it’s all about. Putting Lucas Matthysse against Danny Garcia in that same squared ring will be a tremendous, night for every boxing fan across the globe.

Let me introduce to you first—he is rated number one at 140 pounds by the Ring Magazine, has scored a staggering 94% of his wins by knockout. He does possess the highest KO percentage of any world champion in history, and has won six fights in a row by KO including his third round KO of Lamont Peterson on May 18th. He has a record of 34-2, 32 KO’s, Trelew, Chubut, Argentina, Lucas “The Machine” Matthysse.

Lucas Matthysse
Hi. Good afternoon. I’m here at the gym trying to train. We’re sparring and I’m very happy and pleased to be on this call.

De La Hoya
Now, I’m going to introduce to you a young man who needs no introduction. He is the unified super lightweight world champion. He first won his world title in 2012 by dropping then … legendary Erik Morales for the WBC 140 pound title, and, like I said before, he keeps proving everyone who has doubt in him—he keeps proving them wrong in every fight that he’s in. He has great knockout power but at the same time he does possess the talent of a boxer/puncher. He hales out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is the unified super lightweight world champion with a record of 26-0, 16KO’s, Danny “Swift” Garcia.

Danny Garcia
Hey. What’s up, everybody? I want to say good afternoon to everybody. I hope you’re having a blessed day, and I’m very motivated for this fight. I’ve been working hard in the gym, and I’m very excited for September 14th and it’s going to be another epic showcase by me that night.

Q
Lucas, what is your plan for this fight?

Matthysse
I am training very hard. It’s a hard fight but I’m going to give the fans what they want, and I’m going to bring the win to Argentina.

Q
Lucas, Danny Garcia as an athlete and as a fighter or are you going to go in to the ring and just give it your all?”

Matthysse
I respect Danny as a fighter. He’s a great champion, but I am going to give the fight 100%.

Q
Lucas, can you talk about what it has been like for you since you’ve signed with Al Haymon? Do you have this new sense that you’re going to be able to be in big fights such as this in your future?

Matthysse
Yes the plans are to have bigger and greater fights and to continue fighting.

Q
Danny, just from some of the stuff that I’ve read and some of the way your father has reacted I get the sense that he feels you’re not being as respected as a champion as you feel you should be and he feels you should be, and, in fact, that maybe you’re not being treated as or perceived as the a-side. Most notably, he talked about Lucas’ presence on the cover of Ring Magazine. What are your thoughts? What do you have to say about that and is that true?

Garcia
You know I really don’t care what the media thinks or who they think is the best because in my heart I know I’m the best, and I hold the titles, and September 14th is going to be another day at work for me, and I’m just going to defend my title. I’m still champion and the people who don’t believe hey that’s their problem. I know in my heart I’m the best 140 pound fighter in the world, and I’m going to show it on September 14th.

Q
Last question for you, that left hook sequence—where Lucas dropped Lamont Peterson with his left hook, and obviously Peterson landed his but it didn’t have as much of an effect. You are known as the left hooker. If that sequence happens in your fight can you kind of address what might happen? Do you think he’s seen a left hook like yours?

Garcia
We’ll have to see. I’ve fought big punchers. I took big shots before, but Peterson when he threw that left hook he was more in a position that’s why he got the end of it. But I’m just going to be smart. I’m going to do what I do best, make adjustments in the fight and get the victory.

Q
Okay. My question is for Danny Garcia; Danny, do you think that for this match the winner deserves the fight with Mayweather and Canelo’s winner? Do you think you are ready for the fight with Mayweather?

Garcia
It’s a big fight but I’ve got to worry about my fight. I’m not really worried about the future right now. My future is Lucas Matthysse and I’m not looking past him, but that’s up to Golden Boy and Al Haymon and whatever they want to do. I’m just a fighter and that’s what I do is fight, so whoever they put me against that’s what I do.

Q
Why do you think that the people doesn’t believe you after the many fights, many knockouts in favor of you?

Garcia
I really don’t know because I feel like I’m before my time a lot of people still don’t understand it because I’m not supposed to be here right now. It wasn’t supposed to be my time right now. I made it my time. I took it and the people still don’t understand it but I’m just going to keep building my legacy and proving myself.

Q
My question for Lucas is he had such an easy time knocking out Lamont Peterson, I wondered did he anticipate that victory was going to be as easy as it, at least, looked on the outside of the ring, and does he think that he can do something similar and make that kind of statement against Garcia?

Matthysse
Going in to the Lamont Peterson fight was difficult at the beginning but then it became easy for me and that’s why I knocked him out. With Danny Garcia, I have prepare myself but I believe that I’m going to do my best and just give a great fight.

Q
Do you think though that the end result could be the same, an early knockout because your power at least it looks so good in his recent fights?

Matthysse
I respect Danny Garcia as a champion. I am going to give a lot of resistance, but I feel that I am confident enough to give a great fight. It is going to be a difficult fight but I’m not looking for a knockout. I am looking to have a great victory and give a great fight.

Q
I have just one other question for Lucas. Some of the comments Danny has made—although he is showing respect for Lucas it doesn’t sound like he really thinks a whole lot of his punching power. He has said that he has a built up record in Argentina where he really didn’t fight a lot of top opponents, and then when he came to the United States and fought people like Zab Judah, like Devin Alexander that—the way Danny described it was as soon as somebody hit him back he lost, and that the record and the knockout power is maybe a little overrated. How does Lucas respond to that?

Matthysse
On September 14th I’m going to prove to Danny—That’s going to be the proof that when he feels my punches if they’re strong enough or not, and that will either give him the benefit of the doubt if he is strong.”

Q
How do you think the ambiance is going to be around Las Vegas? There’s going to be a lot more Mexicans than there is Argentinians. Do you believe the Mexicans are going to be behind your back?”

Matthysse
Yes. I believe the Mexicans will be behind me; although, there will be a few Argentinians there to support me and to see a great fight.

Q
If there is a victory against Danny Garcia what element will it give you with the Argentinian public?”

Matthysse
I would be on top of the world. The Argentinians will—it would be the best fight of my life.

Q
Hey, Danny. I know that you said that your job is just—on your team is just as a fighter but the reality was this fight was on the table for a while. How soon after your win over Zab Judah did you realize that you would probably be fighting Lucas Matthysse?

Garcia
I accepted the fight when he came to me. I think it was about five, six weeks ago, five weeks, six weeks ago. As soon as the fight was gave to me I accepted it but it took them time because the negotiations; you know it’s a big fight. It’s not an easy fight to make, and as my fighter I accepted the fighter. Me and my dad we accepted the fight and the negotiations—where the fight was going to take place, the money so it was a lot of things but the fight got done. I’m happy and then I’m happy to give the fans again what they want.

Q
I guess what I was trying to get at like when you—before you even accept a card do you have like an idea of who you want to fight next? I know you’re the type, you know I fight whoever they put in front of me, but obviously I know you always want to fight the best. Did you recognize Matthysse as the best of the lot and that you would have to fight him? Not that you would have to fight him but fight him to prove that you are the best.

Garcia
Yeah no doubt it was a fight that the fans wanted and the boxing world. He’s buzzing off his last two victories; his last two knockout wins so the fight was built up. Showtime made it big. The media made it big so it was only worth it to fight with me.

Ellerbe
I want to touch on to what Danny just added on. I just think this is kind of important. A lot of times when you have big events like this and obviously this is a main event on its own, but there was a lot of criticism coming Danny’s way, unjustifiable, by members of the media and the fans because obviously those out there who thought that Danny was unafraid to take the fight. But let me go on the record with this; I know firsthand. Obviously, I have a very close working relationship with my business partner and everyone knows who that is and we at least talk ten times a day. Danny and his dad, I know firsthand, have been very, very adamant that they wanted that fight to the point where they were bugging Haymon about making the fight. What’s taking so long?

I just want to be clear that this is a fight that Danny and his dad wanted from the very beginning. It’s just a matter of the things that take time for fights to come together, and it’s just not simple little things. Obviously, when you’re talking about large amounts of revenue and other particulars that come in to play because that’s great but you know fighters at this level there’s no such thing about being scared of one another. When it comes down to it nobody is scared to make money. Danny didn’t get to this level—his father is a tremendous trainer. They didn’t get to where they’re out—Lucas didn’t get to where they’re at—two fighters being scared of one another. This is a tremendous fight and this is the fight that the fans have demanded and both guys want to fight and it’s going to be a great fight come September 14th. I just wanted to add on the fact that I know firsthand that Danny and his dad had demanded this fight to the point where they were bugging Mr. Haymon about what was taking so long in getting this fight made.

Q
Danny, I know that you were ringside for Lucas’ KO Peterson and you’re a champion. I mean we all know that you have the ability and the goods to make this happen and pull off a victory, but I’m just wondering what you’re doing psychologically to prepare yourself because he’s a scary dude.

Garcia
I’m doing the same thing I always do, just training hard, and yeah he has power but I have power too so if he’s not careful he’s going to get hurt. But I’m not going in there worrying about another man. I’m doing what I do best and just training hard, staying focused, and adapting; adapting to the fight. I’m not going in there worrying about another man’s power. I’ve got power myself so I’m just going to go in there, make adjustments and get the job done.

Q
Hey, Danny. Was the random blood testing as a result of what happened with Eric Morales or is it something that’s related to suspicions that have crept up concerning Lucas’ camp or his results in fights?

Garcia
No. That has nothing to do with Lucas Matthysse. Ever since I won the world title, ever since I bet Erik Morales the first time, Amir Khan took the test, Morales took it again, Zab Judah took the fight and now this fight. It doesn’t matter who I fight for what it’s just something I feel needs to be done if you want to be the champion. And it’s my fourth defense and it’s the fourth fighter who has took the test; it’s just something that comes with do you have to beat the champion and that’s something I ask for. I just want a clean fight and that’s it. It has nothing to do with Lucas Matthysse. It’s just what I do.

Q
Hey, Danny, this question is for you. You’ve been in lots of fights. We all know this is not going to be an easy fight. Would you say this is your hardest fight up to date?

Garcia
I could probably answer that question after the fight because the fights not here yet. I really don’t know because sometimes the hardest fights—sometimes you think the hardest fights will be the easiest fights, sometimes you think the easiest fights will be the hardest fight. You really don’t know until the fight happens, but you know at this level you know you’re going to get hit. It’s all about preparing for the fight and making adjustments, and that’s what I feel I bring to the table.

Garcia
Okay. You know I’ll thank the media for taking the time out to ask these questions, and I’m very excited about being a part of this and I’m training hard. I’m very motivated, and I can’t wait to show my fans and all the new fans that are going to be watching me September 14th what I’m about and I’m going to keep the title in Philadelphia. I’m going to do this for all my Latinos around the world. The end.

Matthysse
I just want to thank everyone for their time today. I am training really hard in Argentina and will be ready for September 14.

Ellerbe
You heard today from all six guys who are fighting on the card, and we have, like I said, a top fight card, best that I’ve seen in recent history. We’re expecting great things. We know we have great fights, and the Matthysse v. Danny Garcia, like I said, that fight is fireworks all over. You have Matthysse who is known as—he has the most feared man out there in boxing today and we know that Danny’s a great champion and that fight’s going to come down to one guy trying to impose his will and the other guy doing what he does. I think you’re going to see a tremendous, tremendous fight in that fight. I think you’ll be able to see Garcia be able to do things that many people hadn’t seen him do before, and I think that you’ll be able to see what happens when Danny backs Matthysse up. All those things will be answered in that fight and come September 14th those questions will be answered on that night. And the fight before that we have Ishe and Molina; that’s going to be another barn burner, another world championship fight. Ishe is coming to win. Carlos is coming to win. It’s going to be a great fight, and to open up the card Ashley and Cano, both guys have never ever been in a not exciting fight.

From top to bottom we have a tremendous card, and we’re just really, really truly excited. Mayweather Promotions working with Golden Boy Promotions, Richard, Oscar and their great staff and obviously my staff and Kelly’s staff we’ve all been working together to make this a great night of boxing, and we look forward to all you guys continuing to support this event, and come September 14th expect a great night.

De La Hoya
Thank you very much. Guys, we have we have exciting news coming up in the weeks leading up to the event so we will talk soon, and we will see you soon. Thank you.

END CALL

“THE ONE: MAYWEATHER VS. CANELO,” a 12-round fight for Canelo’s WBC, WBA and Ring Magazine Super Welterweight World Championships and Mayweather’s WBA Super Welterweight Super World Championship taking place Saturday, Sept. 14 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, is promoted by Mayweather Promotions, Golden Boy Promotions and Canelo Promotions and sponsored by Corona, O’Reilly Auto Parts, AT&T, Valvoline, Mexico Tourism, Fred Loya Insurance and Nature Nutrition. In the 12-round co-featured attraction, WBC, WBA Super and Ring Magazine Super Lightweight World Champion Danny Garcia and thunderous puncher WBC Interim Super Lightweight World Champion Lucas Matthysse square off in a fight presented in association with Swift Promotions and Arano Box Promotions. Also, Ishe Smith vs. Carlos Molina square off in a 12-round battle for Smith’s IBF Junior Middleweight World Title which is promoted in association with Warriors Boxing. The opening bout on SHOWTIME PPV features a 10-round welterweight showdown between Pablo Cesar Cano and Ashley Theophane. The mega-event will be produced and distributed live by SHOWTIME PPV® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. The event can be heard in Spanish using secondary audio programming (SAP).

Less than 24 hours after going on sale on June 25, the event was sold out, but six MGM Resorts properties will host live closed circuit telecasts of “THE ONE.” Properties showcasing the event include ARIA, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, The Mirage, Monte Carlo and New York-New York. General admission tickets for the closed circuit telecasts are priced at $100, not including handling fees, and are available for purchase at each individual property’s box office outlets and also are available for purchase by phone with a major credit card at 866-799-7711. Closed circuit ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. Tickets also are available through Ticketmaster by calling (800) 745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

For more information, visit www.floydmayweather.com, www.mayweatherpromotions.com, www.goldenboypromotions.com,www.sports.sho.com and www.mgmgrand.com, follow on Twitter at @FloydMayweather, @CaneloOficial, @MayweatherPromo, @DannySwift, @IsheSugarShay, @GoldenBoyBoxing, @mgmgrand and @SHOSports, follow the conversation using #TheOne and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FloydMayweather, www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions, www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing and www.facebook.com/SHOBoxing.

It didn’t take long for Angel Garcia to erupt. He’s complaining to media that his son, Philadelphia junior-welterweight Danny Garcia, isn’t getting a fair shake in coverage of his bout with Lucas Matthysse on the Sept. 14 card featuring Floyd Mayweather Jr.-versus-Canelo Alvarez at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand.

It’s hard to judge whether his apparent anger is real or just an act. There are times when Angel Garcia, his son’s trainer, seems to enjoy throwing a temper tantrum. The more profane, the better. His insults and epithets before his son’s upset of Amir Khan in July, 2012 were enough to wonder whether he’s one of those Philadelphia fans known to boo Santa Claus.

But, come on, Angel Garcia shouldn’t complain about coverage that includes Matthysse on The Ring’s current cover. Angel Garcia, another in the long line of boxing dads behaving badly, should thank the media for a gift that allows him and his son to play the underdog, a role as effective as it is familiar to them. Now that Matthysse has gotten the glossy cover-boy treatment, Angel Garcia has a convenient target and an inexhaustible source of motivation.

Here’s a hunch that The Ring’s cover will show up, pasted onto Danny Garcia’s favorite heavy bag throughout the rest of training camp. It’ll probably make a good dart board when he isn’t training. Angel Garcia might cover the walls in Danny Garcia’s sleeping quarters with Matthysse looking down on him from several angles. Dad wouldn’t want his son to wake up and not be reminded of how badly his honor has been wronged.

It’s an old enough trick to be a cliché, of course. Still, it works. Bernard Hopkins is a master at seizing upon some perceived slight and turning it into controversy that seems to energize him and pay-per-view sales. Politicians use it to demonize their opposition. College football coaches call it bulletin-board material. But it’s the same thing. Alabama is No. 1 again this season, in part because Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban is more frightened of complacency than Georgia or Florida or Texas A&M’s Johnny Football. From Hopkins to Saban, it doesn’t matter whether the enemy is real or a mere straw man. It only matters that there is always some point to prove, some score to settle, some dragon to slay.

Danny Garcia, the grown-up in his relationship with a combustible dad, seems to have an instinctive understanding of the role. He has used it to fashion an undefeated record and ownership of two acronym-sanctioned pieces of the 140-pound title. Yet, he has almost become the understudy, the B-side to Matthysse’ starring role. Garcia addressed it in a matter-of-fact tone Wednesday during a conference call that did not include his dad.

“I’ll defend my titles and I’ll still be champion,’’ Garcia said. “The people who don’t believe, that’s their problem. It’s not supposed to be my time now. But I made it my time.’’

The twice-beaten Matthysse, The Ring’s 140-pound champ, is getting most of the attention and perhaps a nod as the favorite because of a crushing third-round stoppage of Lamont Peterson in May, the Argentine’s last outing. Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer called Matthysse the next Manny Pacquiao. It made you wonder if Garcia was going to be the next Peterson.

A further complication, at least for Angel Garcia, lurked in media reports suggesting that Danny Garcia’s face was frozen in fear at the way Matthysse battered Peterson into submission. From a ringside seat, Garcia witnessed Peterson hit the canvas three times in the violent third.

During Wednesday’s conference call, Leonard Ellerbe of Mayweather Promotions dismissed the idea that Garcia has ever been frightened of Matthysse or anybody else, other than perhaps his dad.

“I know first-hand that Danny has been very, very adamant that he wanted this fight,’’ said Ellerbe, who was privy to conversations with Al Haymon, an advisor to Mayweather and Garcia. “Day-after-day, he was bugging Al Haymon to make that fight. Again, I know first-hand that they (father and son) had been demanding it.

“Besides, there’s no such thing as being scared of each other. Nobody is scared to make money.’’

But sometimes, just a little fear is powerful currency in its own right, especially if it’s a fear of losing. Matthysse was included in Wednesday’s call. But he refrained from saying a provocative word, perhaps because he knows Garcia has gained some emotional momentum in a controversy generated by a dad who has only begun to provoke.

LOS ANGELES, August 7 – The biggest boxing event of 2013 is a little over a month away and with anticipation rising, FOX Deportes will do their part to get fight fans ready for “THE ONE: Mayweather vs. Canelo” with three hours of “Golden Boy Classics” on Saturday, August 10 beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.

First up is the 2010 battle between former World Champion Zab Judah and WBC Interim Super Lightweight World Champion Lucas Matthysse. Then at 10:00 p.m., Unified Super Lightweight World Champion Danny Garcia challenges the legendary Erik Morales for his first World Championship in 2012 and in the main event at 11:00 p.m., Floyd “Money” Mayweather meets former World Champion Miguel Cotto in their epic May 2012 clash.

Dominant against anyone and everyone put in front of him for years, Floyd Mayweather’s boxing dominance was internationally recognized. But on May 5, 2012, “Money” gave the fans an even more impressive show as he stood and traded with hard-hitting Puerto Rican icon Miguel Cotto, pounding out a 12 round unanimous decision that proved Mayweather’s ability to do it all in the ring once again.

Despite his success on the way up the 140-pound ladder, no one outside of his team knew how Danny Garcia would react to facing a legend like Erik Morales in Houston, Texas on March 24, 2012. But in his first world title fight, Philadelphia’s Garcia rose to the occasion, dropping Morales in the 11th round en route to a 12-round decision win that earned him the WBC 140-pound crown.

Two Division World Champion Zab Judah had to walk through fire when he faced off with Lucas Matthysse at New Jersey’s Prudential Center on November 6, 2010. Judah rose from the canvas in the 10th round against his then-unbeaten foe to pound out a 12-round split decision. Many left the arena that night believing Matthysse was the victor, but the Argentinean banger would get his shot at glory soon enough.

###

“THE ONE: MAYWEATHER VS. CANELO,” a 12-round fight for Canelo’s WBC, WBA and Ring Magazine Super Welterweight World Championships and Mayweather’s WBA Super Welterweight Super World Championship taking place Saturday, Sept. 14 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, is promoted by Mayweather Promotions, Golden Boy Promotions and Canelo Promotions and sponsored by Corona, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Valvoline, Mexico Tourism, Fred Loya Insurance and Nature Nutrition. In the 12-round co-featured attraction, WBC, WBA Super and Ring Magazine Super Lightweight World Champion Danny Garcia and thunderous punching WBC Interim Super Lightweight World Champion Lucas Matthysse square off in a fight presented in association with Swift Promotions and Arano Box Promotions. The mega-event will be produced and distributed live by SHOWTIME PPV® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. The event can be heard in Spanish using secondary audio programming (SAP).

Less than 24 hours after going on sale on June 25, the event was sold out, but six MGM Resorts properties will host live closed circuit telecasts of “THE ONE.” Properties showcasing the event include ARIA, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, The Mirage, Monte Carlo and New York-New York. General admission tickets for the closed circuit telecasts are priced at $100, not including handling fees, and are available for purchase at each individual property’s box office outlets and also are available for purchase by phone with a major credit card at 866-799-7711. Closed circuit ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. Tickets also will be available through Ticketmaster by calling (800) 745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets for closed circuit viewing at MGM Grand, ARIA, Mandalay Bay, The Mirage, Monte Carlo and New York-New York are now on sale.

For more information visitwww.goldenboypromotions.com, www.FOXDeportes.com and follow on Twitter atwww.twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxing andwww.twitter.com/FOXDeportes and visit on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, and www.facebook.com/FOXDeportes

PHILADELPHIA (Aug. 7, 2013) – Unified Super Lightweight World Champion Danny “Swift” Garcia and his father/trainer Angel Garcia opened their Philadelphia training camp for the media on Wednesday as they prepare for their upcoming showdown against power-punching Lucas “The Machine” Matthysse.

Garcia (26-0, 20 KO’s) will defend his WBC, WBA Super and Ring Magazine Super Lightweight World Titles against WBC Interim Super Lightweight World Champion Matthysse (34-2, 32 KO’s) in the 12-round co-featured bout of “THE ONE” MAYWEATHER VS. CANELO” on Saturday, Sept. 14 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. The fight will be produced and televised live on SHOWTIME PPV®.

Also joining the Garcia family at newly opened DSG Boxing Gym was boxing legend and Golden Boy Promotions Partner Bernard Hopkins .

Here’s what the participants had to say on Wednesday:

DANNY “SWIFT” GARCIA:

“This fight is very exciting for me. We are part of the biggest night in boxing and I will be ready. I feel like I was born for this – fighting at this level on the biggest stage in boxing.

“Every fight is important to me. I am training as I always do but I have a new gym so it is nice to be able to train in privacy. What better way to invest in my future in boxing than investing in my own gym. We built in the same neighborhood where my Dad grew up. We are Philly through and through. I love having my own gym.

“As for Matthysse, he has power but I have power, too. I fought a lot of guys with power. Trust me, I plan to take away his power, make him miss and make him pay.

“If he [Matthysse] opens up early to try to get me out of there, trust me, he’s making a big mistake. He tries that and the fight’s going to be over quickly!

“I’m not going to skip anything for this fight in training. I am going to work just as hard. I know what I have to do September 14, and I plan to do it the right way, the smart way.

“To me Matthysse is just a regular fighter. He already has two losses. I don’t consider him one of the best. He doesn’t even have a world title and when he fought for one,he lost. Let’s see what happens when I show him different looks, back him up, work angles. I can fight backing up. Can he?

“I thought his fight with [Zab] Judah was a close fight. I know I can’t make this a close fight. I am going to stick to my fight plan, give him different looks and be smart. I’m definitely not going to give him something easy. He’s going to have to earn anything he gets in the ring that night. Let’s see if he knows how to earn it.

“It doesn’t matter who’s stronger. It’s who’s smarter. I always find a way to win.

“I definitely learn every time I get in the ring. I learned a lot in the Judah fight. Things changed quickly but I was happy for the experience. It taught me a lot.

“I think this fight will give me a new level of respect. I feel that after this fight I am going to show people I am one of the best 140-pounders to ever put on a pair of gloves.”

ANGEL GARCIA:

“My job is not to worry about Matthysse. I am not worried. He doesn’t put fear in me. His coach doesn’t put fear in me. His people don’t put fear in me. His country doesn’t put fear in me. Nobody puts fear in me. The only one I fear is God.

“Nobody is beating us, not right now, not tomorrow and not in the future. Believe this, on September 14, Matthysse is going to get his ass whooped.

“Danny is the most underrated champion there is and I am the most underrated trainer. But it doesn’t matter to me. As long as I know and as long as Danny knows and we’re happy, then I don’t care what the world says.

“You can love me or hate me but it doesn’t matter. I believe in me and I believe in Danny. I always tell Danny that hard work and dedication pay the bills.

“I’m not going to look to Floyd Mayweather yet because we have Matthysse first. We are going to worry about Matthysse. Floyd has Canelo, so they have got to worry about each other.

“You never underestimate. Never, never, never take the cake and eat it before you light the candles. I’m not going to worry about Floyd. He has his own thing and Danny has his own thing. We are going to worry about Matthysse and September 14.

“The fans should be glad and happy for such a stacked main and co-main event on PPV. The fans should be happy and love all four of them. They shouldn’t hate one and love the others; they should love all of them. This is about the fans. The fans will get the benefit.

“Matthysse is going to lose September 14. We aren’t coming to lose. The best man will win and it’s going to be Danny.

“In the fight, I think Matthysse will come out, try to prove a point and try to get into Danny’s head as the killer. But he’s not a killer, he has nothing. He isn’t a killer.”

BERNARD HOPKINS:

“It’s important that this fight is happening. It’s happening at the right time. That is a really, really exciting event with a massive card that is bringing a lot of attention. And then you add Danny Garcia and Matthysse and it makes it even better.

“This is a fight that I see as 50/50. I get asked all the time in fights who I think is going to win and who I think has the better chin. This is a fight that is not going to go 12 rounds. And if it does go 12 rounds, I don’t think either fighter is going to be the same in whatever he does next. That’s how important this fight is to the fans but also in the careers of the two fighters.

“There are big things after this fight and the winner will finally be the undisputed champion in that division. Right now, I think it is Danny Garcia, who has three major titles. So he is, right now, the guy to beat at that weight division.

“I think this fight boils down to who has the better strategy, the better chin and who can adapt and change strategy in the course of the race. This is the type of fight where both fighters must be on top of their game. Danny’s weaknesses must be kept to a minimum. Matthysse’s weaknesses must be kept to a minimum.”

“THE ONE: MAYWEATHER VS. CANELO,” a 12-round fight for Canelo’s WBC, WBA and Ring Magazine Super Welterweight World Championships and Mayweather’s WBA Super Welterweight Super World Championship taking place Saturday, Sept. 14 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, is promoted by Mayweather Promotions, Golden Boy Promotions and Canelo Promotions and sponsored by Corona, O’Reilly Auto Parts, AT&T, Valvoline, Mexico Tourism, Fred Loya Insurance and Nature Nutrition. In the 12-round co-featured attraction, WBC, WBA Super and Ring Magazine Super Lightweight World Champion Danny Garcia and thunderous punching WBC Interim Super Lightweight World Champion Lucas Matthysse square off in a fight presented in association with Swift Promotions and Arano Box Promotions. The mega-event will be produced and distributed live by SHOWTIME PPV® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. The event can be heard in Spanish using secondary audio programming (SAP).

Less than 24 hours after going on sale on June 25, the event was sold out, but six MGM Resorts properties will host live closed circuit telecasts of “THE ONE.” Properties showcasing the event include ARIA, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, The Mirage, Monte Carlo and New York-New York. General admission tickets for the closed circuit telecasts are priced at $100, not including handling fees, and are available for purchase at each individual property’s box office outlets and also are available for purchase by phone with a major credit card at 866-799-7711. Closed circuit ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. Tickets also will be available through Ticketmaster by calling (800) 745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

The announcement Thursday that Lucas-Matthysse and Danny Garcia will fight on the Floyd-Mayweather Jr.-Canelo Alvarez undercard on Sept. 14 is a further sign that the fractured business is moving beyond the usual chaos with a real plan.

Imagine that.

For just about as long as anybody can recall, good fights came together by happenstance, coincidence or dumb luck. But Matthysse-Garcia makes the September card at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand look like a blueprint on what the Golden Boy-Showtime alliance hopes to do in 2014. Mayweather’s contract with Showtime is worth a possible $250 million if he fights five more times. The beginning, Mayweather’s one-sided decision in May over Robert Guerrero, was just the tune-up. With Canelo, Mayweather enters the meat-and-potatoes of the deal.

He’s favored to beat Canelo. The guess here is that Canelo will lose, yet earn a shot at a rematch in a close fight on the scorecards. It’s safe to guess that Showtime is hoping for the same thing. Pay-per-view revenue, a projected record-setter, adds up to a lot of reasons for an encore. It’s a gamble, of course. One big punch can demolish any blueprint, but few expect Canelo to deliver one against the clever, ever elusive Mayweather.

The one-punch danger looms larger for Top Rank, Golden Boy’s bitter rival, in Manny Pacquiao’s comeback against Brandon Rios on Nov. 23 in Macao. Before Pacquiao was knocked out by Juan Manuel Marquez in December, Rios looked as if he might go the way of Ricky Hatton, who in 2009 was stopped by the Filipino Congressman by one of the biggest punches in the last decade.

But that was before a Marquez right landed like a wrecking ball. Now, Pacquiao, also beaten in a controversial decision in 2012 by Tim Bradley, appears vulnerable. A Pacquiao victory looks critical to Top Rank’s hope of success in China.

If Rios finishes what Bradley and Marquez started with an upset of Pacquiao, Top Rank isn’t left with many options. In Matthysse-Garcia, Golden Boy has at least one, if not a couple.

The winner figures to move to the front of the line for a shot at Mayweather, assuming he beats Canelo. Even if Canelo scores an upset, there’s a Mexican and Mexican-American audience that will follow the redhead in even greater numbers. If Pacquiao gets beat, he probably retires and – for a while – takes the Asian market with him.

From now until Sept. 14, it’s safe to say that Mayweather and Canelo won’t talk about Matthysse-Garcia in a junior-welterweight bout with Fight of the Year potential. But Matthysse-Garcia wouldn’t be on the card if that wasn’t a possibility. Canelo was supposed to have fought Austin Trout on the Mayweather-Guerrero card for the same reason.

He moved off the card and fought in San Antonio, beating Trout before a crowd of nearly 40,000. Above all, it was a statement of Canelo’s ability to be a star in his own right. He gained leverage in negotiations. In terms of Sept. 14, however, it doesn’t matter. He’s still fighting Mayweather and he would have, regardless of whether he had beaten Trout in Las Vegas, San Antonio or Guadalajara.

Meanwhile, Matthysse’ unmistakable power gives him an edge over Garcia, who has some defensive liabilities. He can get hit. Just one from Matthysse possesses fight-stopping voltage. That was seen in stunning fashion in Matthysse’s third-round stoppage of Lamont Peterson on May 18 in Atlantic City.

That’s when Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer called Matthysse the “new Manny Pacquiao.”

The old one never figured to be in the Golden Boy plan anyway.

AZ Notes
Iron Boy Promotions will stage its eighth card Saturday night at Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix. Lightweight Juan Garcia (18-3, 7 KO) is scheduled for the main event on a 14-fight card. First bell is scheduled for 6 p.m. (PST).

Richard Scahefer just announced that Danny Garcia and Lucas Matthysse will fight for the Super Lightweight championship of the world on September 14th as part of the mega Floyd Mayweather – Canelo Alvarez card.

“The one just got another One said”, said Schaefer

“These are two modern day gladitors. For all those who thought Danny was scared of Lucas. Well you know you all have egg on his face”

“This is a main event in its own”, said Maywweather Promotions CEO Promotions Leonard Ellerbe.

There will be a three city press tour in Puerto Rico, New York and Los Angeles

“This is the fight I wanted and the fight that I asked for. That is why I’m so happy this fight has been made and will be a part of this huge event,” said Danny Garcia. “I’m more confident than ever in my abilities and I’m going to show it on September 14. Matthysse is a good fighter and has a big punch, but I’m a talented fighter with what it takes to be a champion and stay that way. This is an opportunity for the world to see what I can really do in the ring.”

“I’m glad I finally get a chance to fight Danny Garcia,” said Lucas Matthysse. “This is the fight that the entire boxing world (especially my country Argentina) and I wanted. I want to thank my promoters Golden Boy Promotions and Mario Arano for making this fight possible. On September 14, I will show the world that I am the best 140 pound fighter on the planet.”

“Floyd was adamant about giving fans what they wanted to see when he chose Canelo Alvarez as his opponent for his September 14 fight,” said Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions. “We’re thrilled that Garcia vs. Matthysse has been added to the card, and that fans will be getting even more boxing at its best.”

“The compelling match-up between Garcia and Matthysse could absolutely be its own main event,” said Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “We’ve added another fight that fans have been clamoring for to an already stellar night of boxing. With the addition of this mega fight we are certain that “THE ONE” will continue to break boxing records.”

“Boxing is at its finest when the best step up to fight the best, and this is what we have with Mayweather and Canelo and now Garcia and Matthysse,” said President of Golden Boy PromotionsOscar De La Hoya. “September 14 will be one of the most memorable nights of boxing we have been treated to in a long time.”

“Garcia vs. Matthysse is a fight fan’s dream matchup,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports®. “It is a main event-quality fight by itself. To add it to what is already the biggest pay-per-view main event in years, makes the September 14 event the best PPV card in recent memory.”

Garcia (26-0, 20 KO’s) is a popular and crowd-pleasing fighter in the prime of his career. In his last start, the 25-year-old boxer-puncher registered one knockdown en route to successfully defending his 140-pound titles with a clear, hard-fought unanimous decision win over former Four-Time World Champion Judah on April 27 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. The victory over Judah continued Garcia’s streak of sensational performances against high-profile opposition that began a year earlier when he defeated the legendary Morales the first time via a unanimous decision to capture the WBC world title. The following July, Garcia shocked Khan and the boxing world with a stunning fourth-round technical knockout of the British superstar to add the WBA Super and Ring Magazine World Championships to his collection. On Oct. 20, 2012, Garcia knocked Morales out with a hellacious left hook in the fourth round of their rematch. A 2008 U.S. Olympic Team alternate, Garcia is a physically strong, durable and determined young fighter who is poised and patient in the ring who has fought current or past world champions in his last six fights: Judah, Khan, Morales twice, Kendall Holt and Nate Campbell.

The demand for Garcia vs. Matthysse began immediately after Matthysse brutally knocked out Peterson, dropping him three times, this past May 18 in Atlantic City, N.J.

Matthysse (34-2, 32 KO’s), who is rated No. 1 at 140 lbs. by The RING Magazine, has scored a staggering 94 percent of his wins by knockout, one of the highest KO percentages for a world champion in history. The 30-year-old hails from Trelew, Argentina and has won six fights in a row by knockout. In his last nine fights, he has fought five world champions defeating Peterson (TKO 3), Humberto Soto (TKO 5) and DeMarcus Corley (TKO 8) and losing extremely close, questionable 10-round split decisions against Devon Alexander and Judah in his opponents’ home towns. Many observers think he deserved to win both of those fights. Matthysse, who constantly pressures his opponents and wears them down, was also a solid amateur boxer in his native Argentina.

“THE ONE: MAYWEATHER VS. CANELO,” a 12-round fight for Canelo’s WBC, WBA and Ring Magazine Super Welterweight World Championships and Mayweather’s WBA Super Welterweight Super World Championship taking place Saturday, Sept. 14 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, is promoted by Mayweather Promotions, Golden Boy Promotions and Canelo Promotions and sponsored by Corona, O’Reilly Auto Parts and Valvoline. The Garcia vs. Matthysse fight is being promoted in association with Swift Promotions and Arano Box Promotions. The mega-event will be produced and distributed live by SHOWTIME PPV® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. The event can be heard in Spanish using secondary audio programming (SAP).

Less than 24 hours after going on sale in June, the event was sold out, but six MGM Resorts properties will host live closed circuit telecasts of “THE ONE.” Properties showcasing the event include ARIA, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, The Mirage, Monte Carlo and New York-New York. General admission tickets for the closed circuit telecasts are priced at $100, not including handling fees, and are available for purchase at each individual property’s box office outlets and also are available for purchase by phone with a major credit card at 866-799-7711. Closed circuit ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. Tickets also are available through Ticketmaster by calling (800) 745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

For more information, visit www.floydmayweather.com, www.mayweatherpromotions.com, www.goldenboypromotions.com,www.sports.sho.com and www.mgmgrand.com, follow on Twitter at @FloydMayweather, @CaneloOficial, @MayweatherPromo, @DannySwift, @MayweatherPromo, @GoldenBoyBoxing, @mgmgrand and @SHOSports, follow the conversation using #TheOne and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FloydMayweather, www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions, www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing and www.facebook.com/SHOsports.

“Yes, right,” said Argentine Lucas Matthysse in Spanish, Saturday, when asked if he next wished to fight junior welterweight champion Danny Garcia. “For that reason, I am thankful to Golden Boy and Al Haymon. They are going to get me that fight, and I know that it is going to be like that.”

Hear the difference in tone? It is not a translation trick but the firmness of a man expressing a proper understanding of power’s proper balance. Having undone Lamont Peterson in fewer than three rounds at Boardwalk Hall, Matthysse did not plead with his promoter to fulfill a contract tortured by an attorney from English to Latin and back, nor did he bend his knee in supplication to a manager or television exec. Matthysse instead gave a polite order to his American promoter, manager and network in the clear language of one genuinely empowered: Thank you in advance.

What you feel about Lucas “The Machine” Matthysse today is a thing to take measure of, perhaps record in a diary, and use as your standard to come, because what you feel is genuine enthusiasm, the euphoria of discovery, a sensation of hopefulness one gets when he realizes the world is a more original, entertaining place than previously surmised. The optimism comes from a place of promise: If this discovery happened, there was a wondrous thing out there I knew nothing about, which means there are other wondrous things out there I know nothing about, wondrous things I necessarily know nothing about knowing nothing about, and life might put them in my way, and what better reason to answer tomorrow’s alarmclock?

Everyone appears to realize the epiphany of Matthysse except Matthysse, and why would he? He is the person he expects himself to be, courteously indifferent and trancedly unbothered by what details modern fight fans think need admiring – entrance music, posse count, apparel sponsorships, purse sizes, management choices.

Ah, management choices; one of the more enchanting things about Matthysse is how he tells Jim Gray whatever he wishes after a fight because Gray works for Richard Schaefer who works for Al Haymon who works for Lucas Matthysse. For once a Haymon-managed fighter did not begin by thanking Haymon and God, reconfigurable in many fighters’ minds, but directed a man whom he pays as an employee. It is sensed, and quivers every brink-pink strand of their free-market pom-poms, while manifesting itself most deliciously in the spectacle of Schaefer arresting Gray’s microphone to whoop like an apprentice hype-man at a freestyle battle.

There is a financial component to this, of course; Matthysse understands what fellow Argentine Sergio Martinez, too, understands: He now needs his promotional team fractionally much as they need him. But there is also a cultural component one sees in other Latino phenoms like Saul “Canelo” Alvarez: They originate in lands where their country’s best athletes amassed incredible stores of celebrity and wealth in a sport, soccer (fútbol [whatever]), unbroadcasted by American networks. Alvarez visited with Mexican president Enrique Peña Nieto last month. Martinez’s last kickoff press conference was emceed by Argentine president Cristina Kirchner. To empathize with how such experiences might affect these men, an American can answer this question: After a meeting with Barack Obama, how seriously would I take a promoter promising I might, with his help, someday, if I’m incredibly lucky, make it to the prestigious airwaves of Showtime?

There will ever be a place for a handsome guy with knockout power in both hands, a place in our sport, a place in general sports lore, a place in popular culture at large, and even if Matthysse somehow does not know this, he necessarily senses it, and if he feels any compulsion whatever, and perhaps he does not, it is a compulsion to verily pain the man across from him, as he did in quick time against Lamont Peterson, Saturday.

Much could be deduced from the final instants of round 1, when Matthysse landed a leaping lefthook lead that imparted to Peterson such significance all athleticism fled Peterson’s legs in the minute that followed, a minute after this moment: At the bell Matthysse watched Peterson take his first steps towards the corner, with a predator’s facade, placid to a point of complacency, one not often seen since Juan Manuel Marquez studied Juan Diaz at the close of every round in Houston – like a disinterested curator pondering a work’s craquelure. “The Machine” confirmed about Peterson what Matthysse enters every fight suspecting of every opponent: He is fragile.

Matthysse then waited a few minutes before timing Peterson’s jab, using the twitch of Peterson’s left shoulder as a trigger, and spear-chiseling him with a right cross that drained the match of any suspense save: How badly will Lucas hurt Lamont?

Both men started left hooks in the middle of round 3, and while Matthysse’s arrived earlier by a piece of a second, the difference in the punches’ effects was anticipated by their hips, not their fists: Matthysse squared his feet and completed a 180-degree hip turn before his punch struck. Peterson threw his punch more correctly – short, balanced, fist pronated – and it made Matthysse’s eyes widen for a moment, which is now a solacing detail Peterson might find on replay, since Peterson was, by the time Matthysse reacted, dropping canvasward in the unresisting way unique to the freshly unconscious.

Welcome to boxing’s new pleasure, then, a comely man who unwreathes other men with a dispassionate glaze on his eyes that he rinses with tears at the mention of his daughter’s name on an American television channel he cares rather little about.

Bart Barry can be reached at bart.barrys.email (at) gmail.com

Follow all the action LIVE from ringside at Historic Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City as Lamont Peterson and Lucas Matthysse battle in a potentially explosive fight of Jr. Welterweight belt holders. In the opening bout that will begin at 9:15 pm eastern / 6:15 pac, IBF Welterweight champion Devon Alexander will fight Lee Purdy in a non-title bout

12 Rounds–Jr. Welterweights—Lamont Peterson (31-1-1, 16 KOs) vs Lucas Matthysse (33-2, 31 KO’s)

Round 1 Counter left from Matthysse..Body head combo…10-9 Matthysse

Round 2 Matthysse missing on some shots..Combination from Matthysse..Straght right drives Peterson to ropes..HUGE LEFTLEFT AND DOWN GOES MATTHYSSE AND DOWN GOES PETERSON…20-17 Matthysse

Round 3 Uppercut from Peterson..Huge combo from Matthysse..HUGE LEFT AND DOWN GOES MATTHYSSE…BIG LEFT HOOK FIGHT OVER

12 Rounds–Welterweights–Devon Alexander (24-1, 13 KO’s) vs Lee Purdy (20-3-1, 13 KO’s)

Round 1 Alexander places a left to the body..hard right to the body..straight left/body combo..Purdy not throwing any punches…now he worksthe body..Purdy sneaks in a right..2 hard right hooks…Devon landing power shots..2 hard uppercuts at the end of the round 10-9 Alexander

Round 2 2 hard straight lefts..body…two hard right hooks to the end at the end of the round…20-18 Alexander

Round 3 Purdy fighting in the pocket but ALexander quicker and stronger..Purdy sneaks in a rght but not much affect,.30-27 Alexander

Round 4 ALexander outclassing as he lands some hard shots to the head…Left from Purdy...40-36

Round 5 Alexander lands a hook/uppercut combo..Purdy sneaks in a right…50-45 Alexander

Round 6 Alexander splits the guard with a uppercut..Right hook..Purdy’s nose is bleeding…60-54 Alexander

Round 7 Alexander pounding away….THE FIGHT IS STOPPED IN THE CORNER

ATLANTIC CITY–In a fight between two reigning beltholders, Lucas Matthysse made a bold statement by wrecking IBF Jr. Welterweight champion Lamont Peterson in round three of their twelve round fight at Boardwalk Hall

Matthysse dropped Peterson with a vicious left hook in round two. Peterson fought back and landed some shots but Matthysse’s power Made a huge impact as he dumped Peterson in span of seconds from two huge left hooks and referee Steve Smoger stopped the fight at 2:14.

Matthysse who was looking a potential September 7th bout with Danny Garcia now with this performance could vault to the head of the line to fight pound for pound king Floyd Mayweather.

Matthysse of Argentina is now 34-2 with 32 knockouts. Peterson of Washington, DC is now 31-2-1.

After the fight, Matthysse spoke through a translator, “The first round I was trying to find out what I was bringing to the fight. After the second round I started connecting with more force. I had two and a half months of preparation for this fight and that was the difference.”

Feeling confident, Matthysse boasted, “Now I know I am the best at 140 pounds because no one has ever dominated Peterson the way I did tonight.”

When asked by SHOWTIME reporter Jim Gray if he would like to fight Unified Super Lightweight World Champion Danny Garcia, who was in attendance at Boardwalk Hall, Matthysse responded, “Golden Boy and Al Haymon will get me that fight. I’m ready for that fight. I want to fight him.”

Gray also spoke with Peterson right after the fight and asked how he felt following the three knockdowns. Peterson said, “I feel good. There is nothing physically wrong with me right now. Of course I am upset that I lost, but so far I feel good.”

On his performance, “I think I got a little lazy with the jab. I started relaxing a little bit…I guess he hit me with a good shot. He did a good job. I recovered from that first knockdown and I was okay for a while and then, eventually, he hit me again and he hurt me again. I still thought I could have fought through it but the ref did the right thing. I guess tonight he was (the better fighter). He won the fight fair and square tonight. He’s a good fighter.”

In round one, Alexander looked to be dominant as he landed some hard body shots to start the round and then some scraping lefts and uppercuts to close the stanza. Alexander continued to outclass the visitor while standing in the pocket and landing some great shots. Purdy was game and landed a few left hooks on the inside. The accumulation of blows began to show in round six as blood came down from the nostrils of Purdy.

Alexander continued using Purdy for target practice in round seven to the point that fight was stopped in the corner following that frame.

Alexander, 146.7 lbs of St. Louis is now 25-1 with 14 knockouts. Purdy, 147.8 lbs of Colchester, UK is now 20-4-1.

The fight was to be contested for Alexander’s IBF Welterweight title but Purdy weighed in one pound over the limit. He could only lose one-quarter of a pound and was fined ten percent of his reported $150,000 purse

Alexander admitted that he wasn’t able to fight to the best of his ability due to an injury. “I hurt my left hand in the first round actually. I hit him on top of the head. I hurt my hand, but I had to get that out of my mind. I had to fight to win. I wanted to impress tonight. My left hand was on point in camp. When I hurt my biceps, that strengthened my left hand so it would have been popping real hard, but I hurt it. I had to set it up softly. I wanted to use my hook and my upper cut but I couldn’t.”

He continued, “There are going to be a lot of critics saying Purdy wasn’t all that anyway, but he’s a good fighter. Over in the U.K. he beat some good guys and I think he was very suitable. He came to fight and he gave me a good fight. I got the win. I got the technical knockout.”

Haroon needed just fifty-seven seconds to dispatch of Vicente Medellin in a scheduled four round Bantamweight bout.

Khan dropped Medellin twice and the fight was stopped.

Khan, 116 1/2 lbs of Bolton, Englans is 2-0 with 1 knockout, Medellin, 115 lbs of Riverside, CA is 0-6.

In a battle of undefeated Welterweights, Shawn Porter had a relatively easy time with Phil Lo Greco as pounded out a unanimous decision.

In round one, Porter tried to back up Lo Greco with some solid body work. In round two, Porter landed a hard combination that backed up Lo Greco which led to two hard uppercuts on the ropes. Porter came out and in round four and landed some hard combinations. Later in the round, Porter ripped Lo Greco with a hard one-two combination. Porter then rocked Lo Greco with hard left hook in the fifth.

Porter continued to dominate and score a dubious knockdown with what looked like a left hook. In the tenth, Porter scored a more emphatic knockdown when he dropped Porter with a left hook. After that, Lo Greco did well to hold on to last the distance.

Porter, 150 lbs of Las Vegas won by scores of 100-88 on two cards and 99-89 and is now 21-1-1. Lo Greco, 150 lbs of Toronto is now 25-1.

Thomas Williams Jr. scored an eight round unanimous decision over veteran Otis Griffin in Light Heavyweight bout.

Williams boxed well over the first few rounds. He then opened up and hurt Griffin on the ropes in the fourth. Williams landed some of his best power shots in the seventh and eighth and had Griffin reeling several times but was not able to come close to the stoppage.

Williams, 175 lbs of Washington, won by scores of 8-72, 79-73 and 79-73 and is now 14-0. Griffin, 175 lbs of Sacramento is now 24-13-2.

2012 Olympic Bronze medal winner Anthony Ogogo pounded out a six round unanimous decision over Edgar Perez in a Middleweight bout

In round two, Ogogo started landing the power punches at range. Ogogo continued to use his range and mix up his punches over the next several rounds. Ogogo was never tested and boxed his way to the decision via scores at 60-54; 60-54 and 60-53 for Ogogo.

Ogogo, 159 lbs of East Anglia, UK is 2-0. Perez, 159 lbs of Arecibo, PR is now 5-5.

Cesar Seda banged out an eight round unanimous decision over Miguel Tamayo in a Bantamweight bout.

Seda, 117 1/2 lbs of Juana Diaz, PR won by scores of 80-70, 80-72 and 79-73 and is now 25-1. Tamayao, 117 1/2 lbs of Ciudad, MX is now 13-6-2.

Former world title challenger Anthony Peterson scored a stoppage over Dominic Salcido after round two of their scheduled ten round Lightweight bout

Peterson came out landing hard power punches in round one. In round two he scored with a vicious body shot that led to a hard barrage in the corner. Peterson continued to land with pummeling shots to the head. After the round, the fight was stopped after Salcido was deemed to have a broken nose.

Peterson, 136 1/2 lbs of Washington, D.C. is now 32-1 with 21 knockouts. Salcido, 136 1/2 lbs of Rialto, CA is now 18-5.

Three-time U.S Olympian Rau’She Warren scored a fourth round stoppage over Angel Carvajal in a scheduled four round Bantamweight bout.

Warren dropped Carvajal in round’s two and four and the bout was stopped at 2:05 of the final round.

Warren, 118 lbs of Cincinnati, OH is now 4-0 with 2 knockouts. Caravjal, 116 lbs of Chicago, IL is now 2-2.

It took two rounds and alot of vicious shots but Robert Easter Jr. scored a second round stoppage over Eduardo Guillen in a scheduled four round Light bout.

Easter landed a many hard lefts and rights that would have put most men down in the first round as Guillen was bouncing and flopping all over the ring from those shots. In round two, Easter landed a cruching left hook that looked like it almost spun Gullien’s head around before he dropped to the canvas. he was able to get up but that was not a good thing for him as another booming left hook sent him to the canvas and the fight was stopped at 1:30 of round two.

Easter, 133 1/2 lbs of Toledo, OH is now 4-0 with all wins coming early. Guillen, 132 lbs of Brownsville, TX is now 0-3.

2012 U.S. Olympian Jamel Herring opened the show with a one round beatdown over Victor Galindo in a scheduled four round Light weight bout.

Herring dropped Galindo with a hard riht to the body. Galidno continued only to absorb massive shots and finally went to his knee form another body shot. Galindo’s corner then stopped the fight at 2:01 of round one.

Herring, 134 lbs of Coram, NY is now 3-0 with 2 knockouts. Galindo, 134 1/2 lbs of San Juan, PR is 1-2

The fighters for tomorrow night’s SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast from Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey stepped on the scales today at Caesars Atlantic City for the Official Weigh-in. Main event fighters Lamont Peterson and Lucas Matthysse made the catch-weight limit of 141 pounds with Peterson weighing in at 141 lbs. and Matthysse tipping the scale at 140 lbs. IBF Welterweight World Champion Devon Alexander made the welterweight limit of 147 lbs., but his opponent, Lee Purdy, was unable to make the weight after two attempts, coming in at 147.8 lbs. As a result Purdy will not be eligible to win the world championship title in tomorrow night’s fight.

The telecast will air live on SHOWTIME at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) immediately following ALL ACCESS: MAYWEATHER vs. GUERRERO Epilogue. Preliminary fights will air live on SHOWTIME EXTREME® at 7:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

Attached is the entire bout sheet with the official weights, and the weigh-in photos.

ABOUT “PETERSON VS. MATTHYSSE”:

Peterson vs. Matthysse, a 12-round 141 pound catch-weight fight, will take place Saturday, May 18 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The event is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, sponsored by Caesars Atlantic City, Corona and AT&T and will be televised live on SHOWTIME® at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) immediately following ALL ACCESS: MAYWEATHER vs. GUERRERO Epilogue. In the co-main event, IBF Welterweight World Champion Devon Alexander defends his title against IBF number four rated welterweight contender Lee Purdy. SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® is available in Spanish on secondary audio programming (SAP). Preliminary fights will air live on SHOWTIME EXTREME® at 7:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

Tickets priced at $250, $125, $75, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes and service charges, are available for purchase at the Boardwalk Hall box office, by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 736-1420 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

LUCAS MATTHYSSE, WBC Interim Super Lightweight World Champion

“[On arriving to the United States later than planned] I don’t think it’s going to have any affect on the fight because I’ve been training so hard. I’m done training, but I’m still going to move a little bit to keep the weight off. Basically everything is the same other than not coming to the United States on Monday.

“Peterson is a good fighter and a good boxer. He knows how to deal with things when he’s in danger.

“I think I can beat Peterson with my power. I know how to get in the best punches.

“[On why he thinks he’ll win Saturday night] It’s a combination of my will to win and my experience. I’ve fought some guys with pretty good names.

“When they told me that I was coming here to fight, I came here with a mentality to win. I didn’t come here thinking that it’s going to be a robbery. Yes, I’ve had those experiences, but I’m not going to get robbed this time.

“I learned early in my career that I have a good punch and have worked very hard to maintain that.

“Winning this fight will open a lot of doors for me and my career. This might be the most important fight of my career. I want big matchups and this is definitely one of them.”

LEE PURDY, Number Four Rated IBF Welterweight Contender

“I was surprised to get this shot in the first place. My manager told me that I was ranked number four so we realized it was coming soon, but we didn’t know it was going to be this soon.

“I trained as hard as I could when I found out [that I got the fight].

“[On taking this fight] It wasn’t about money or anything. I love to fight and that’s why I’m here.

“I watched quite a few of Alexander’s fights. He didn’t really impress me.

“I broke my arm when I started my amateur career [at age 11 or 12]. I started training again when I was 17 and then I turned pro when I was 18.

“I’ve got a style that people like to watch. I have power and that’s entertaining for people.

“I think I’ll have 20 or 30 people [family and friends] coming out to support me. I think I’ll have a few fans coming out to support me too. I don’t know how many exactly, but they’ll be here.

“I can’t see myself doing anything else but fighting. It’s what I love to do.”

ANTHONY OGOGO, 2012 British Olympic Bronze Medalist

“I’ve always loved sports. I came across boxing when I was 12-years-old and I fell in love with it. I fell in love with the intensity and passion of it. I knew that whether I was going to be any good or not that this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life, and it turned out pretty well.

“I walked into the boxing gym when I was 12. I sparred that very first day and I’ve never turned back.

“I had about 150-160 amateur fights and it culminated with me winning a Bronze Medal in the 2012 Olympic Games. My mom was very ill at the time; six weeks before the Olympics she suffered a really serious injury. She’s doing great now, but I initially pulled out of the Games. Then three weeks before, my mom and sisters pulled me aside and kind of guilt-tripped me into going, and I did. Somehow I managed to juggle it all.

“I thought I deserved to win the gold medal and I was good enough to win the gold, but with everything else going on, I’m quite proud of my achievements to go in there and still come out successful.

“[On the crowds at the Olympic Games in London] That was phenomenal. That was one of the reasons I wanted to turn professional because I’ve never had that. Ten thousand people [cheering] at the Excel Arena; it made hairs on the back of my neck stand up, and it still does. I didn’t want to go back and be an amateur and box in front of 100 people. I wanted to experience those big exciting nights all of the time.”

# # #

Peterson vs. Matthysse, a 12-round 141 pound catch-weight fight, will take place Saturday, May 18 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The event is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, sponsored by Caesars Atlantic City, Corona and AT&T and will be televised live on SHOWTIME® at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) immediately following ALL ACCESS: MAYWEATHER vs. GUERRERO Epilogue. In the co-main event, IBF Welterweight World Champion Devon Alexander defends his title against IBF number four rated welterweight contender Lee Purdy. SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® is available in Spanish on secondary audio programming (SAP). Preliminary fights will air live on SHOWTIME EXTREME® at 7:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

Tickets priced at $250, $125, $75, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes and service charges, are available for purchase at the Boardwalk Hall box office, by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 736-1420 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

NEW YORK (May 15, 2013) – All five of the fighters in attendance at Wednesday’s press conference at Lucille’s Bar & Grill (located inside B.B. King’s Blues Club) in New York City were confident and ready for fight night as they discussed their upcoming bouts taking place this Saturday, May 18 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J live on SHOWTIME® (9:00 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).

In the main event IBF Junior Welterweight Champion Lamont Peterson (31-1-1, 16 KO’s), of Washington, D.C., faces power-punching WBC Interim Super Lightweight Champion Lucas Matthysse (33-2, 31 KO’s), of Trelew, Argentina, in a 12-round bout at a catch-weight of 141 pounds. In the co-featured attraction on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING®, Devon Alexander (24-1, 13 KO’s), of St. Louis, will defend his IBF Welterweight Championship against number four rated IBF welterweight contender Lee Purdy (20-3-1, 13 KO’s), of Colchester, England.

Fights on SHOWTIME EXTREME®, airing beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET/PT, will include a scheduled 10-round bout between promising, world-ranked, unbeaten welterweights Shawn Porter (20-1, 14 KO’s), of Akron, Ohio, and Phil Lo Greco (25-0, 14 KO’s), of Toronto, Canada, and a six-round middleweight bout between highly regarded 2012 British Olympic Bronze Medalist Anthony Ogogo (1-0, 1 KO), of Lowestoft, England, who’ll be making his United States debut against Puerto Rico’s Edgar Perez (5-4, 3 KO’s). Haroon Khan (1-0), Amir Khan’s brother, of Bolton, England, will make his United States debut against Vicente Medellin of Riverside, CA in a four round bantamweight bout which, time permitting, will also air on SHOWTIME EXTREME®.

In non-televised undercard action, Anthony Peterson (31-1, 20 KO’s), Lamont’s younger brother and also from Washington, D.C., will face slick veteran Dominic Salcido (18-4, 9 KO’s) of Rialto, CA

See below for what the Peterson brothers, Alexander, Purdy, Ogogo, Golden Boy Promotions COO David Itskowitch and SHOWTIME Sports EVP and General Manager Stephen Espinoza said Wednesday.

LAMONT PETERSON, IBF Junior Welterweight World Champion

“I’m looking forward to a great fight this weekend.

“This is a great card. I want to thank Golden Boy Promotions for signing me. This is our first fight and I think we’re going to do great things together.

“If you haven’t gotten your tickets yet, you need to. I’m hoping there’s a monitor for me in my locker room to watch the whole card. There are a lot of my friends fighting Saturday night and of course my brother.

“You’ve got Anthony Ogogo, Khan’s brother Harry, the Cincinnati boys and D.C.-native Thomas Williams. I’m excited to see everyone on the card and I encourage everyone to go get tickets.”

DEVON ALEXANDER, IBF Welterweight World Champion

“‘Finally’ is the key word here. My fight with Kell Brook was postponed three times. I was supposed to fight him many times, but now I’m fighting Lee Purdy who’s a very suitable opponent for me.

“I’m ready. It doesn’t matter what Lee Purdy is going to bring Saturday night. He’s in the wrong place at the wrong time. I’m ready to fight. I’ve been ready to fight.

“This fight will lead to bigger and better things with SHOWTIME.”

LEE PURDY, Number Four Rated IBF Welterweight Contender

“I’m a big underdog in a lot of peoples’ eyes. I’m here to fight and put on a good show for the fans.

“Fans are paying their hard earned money for entertainment and they don’t want to see fighters holding for 12 rounds.

“This is a fight that I’ve wanted. I’m coming to bring the upset.”

ANTHONY PETERSON, Lightweight Contender

“I’m excited about my fight, but I’m more excited about my brother’s. He gets to eliminate this so called ‘Boogey Man.’ I know that’s what’s going to happen Saturday night.

“My brother is a solid guy all around, inside and outside of the ring, so that’s going to make a big difference on Saturday night.

“My brother is going to take out his [Matthysse’s] power, and it’s going to be a big problem.

“Matthysse only knows how to go one way, and that’s forward. He doesn’t know how to work the inside and Lamont does, so that’s going to be the difference in the fight.”

ANTHONY OGOGO, 2012 British Olympic Bronze Medalist

“I’m really thrilled. This is why I wanted to sign-up with Golden Boy Promotions, to fight in places like Boardwalk Hall.

“I’m an ambitious young man and I want to get to the top of world boxing. I know that’s a few years down the road, but right now I need to take these opportunities as they come, learn and keep getting better and better.

“I’m looking forward to the future.”

DAVID ITSKOWITCH, COO of Golden Boy Promotions

“This main event is probably one of the best fights that can be made in a very talent rich weigh class.

“Lucas Matthysse is probably one of the most feared fighters on the planet and I think that’s one of the reasons Lamont Peterson wanted to fight him.

“Devon Alexander is a great fighter. That’s all that needs to be said because it is the truth.”

STEPHEN ESPINOZA, EVP & General Manager of SHOWTIME Sports

“During the past few weeks SHOWTIME has been showcasing the best fighters in the world in the 140, 147 and 154 pound weight divisions.

“We have been bringing fans not just competitive and exciting fights, but competitive and exciting fights from the biggest names and most skilled fighters in the sport. That is something that, right now, fans are only getting on SHOWTIME. This weekend is no exception.

“Lamont Peterson versus Lucas Matthysse promises to be one of the hardest hitting fights of the year.”

# # #

Peterson vs. Matthysse, a 12-round 141 pound catch-weight fight, will take place Saturday, May 18 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The event is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, sponsored by Caesars Atlantic City, Corona and AT&T and will be televised live on SHOWTIME® at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) immediately following ALL ACCESS: MAYWEATHER vs. GUERRERO Epilogue. In the co-main event, IBF Welterweight World Champion Devon Alexander defends his title against IBF number four rated welterweight contender Lee Purdy. SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® is available in Spanish on secondary audio programming (SAP). Preliminary fights will air live on SHOWTIME EXTREME® at 7:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

Tickets priced at $250, $125, $75, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes and service charges, are available for purchase at the Boardwalk Hall box office, by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 736-1420 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.