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PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS ON CBS & SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING®FIGHTER WORKOUT QUOTES & PHOTOS

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Premier Boxing Champions on CBS: Saturday, July 18 at 4 p.m. ET/1p.m. PT

 

SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING®: Saturday, July 18 at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT

 

Click HERE For Photos From Esther Lin/SHOWTIME

 

 

EL PASO, TEXAS (July 15, 2015) – Fight week kicked off with media workouts at the Redstar and Castro Chiropractor Center in El Paso Wednesday for the huge day of boxing on Saturday, July 18 as Premier Boxing Champions on CBS and SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING bring a full day and night of action to the Don Haskins Center.

 

The evening event on SHOWTIME® features Mexican superstar Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (48-2-1, 32 KOs) returning to the ring to face Marcos Reyes (33-2, 24 KOs). In the evening’s co-main event, Puerto Rican Olympian McJoe Arroyo (16-0, 8 KOs) takes onArthur Villanueva (27-0, 14 KOs) of the Philippines for the IBF Junior Bantamweight World Championship. Televised coverage begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT with undefeated 140-pound contender Amir “Young Master” Imam (17-0, 14 KOs) taking on veteran former world title challenger Fernando “La Fiera” Angulo (29-9, 16 KOs) in a world title eliminator.

 

The afternoon’s PBC on CBS event is headlined by undefeated Irish superstar Carl Frampton (20-0, 14 KOs) taking on Alejandro “Cobrita” Gonzalez Jr. (25-1-2, 15 KOs). Televised coverage begins at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT with a heavyweight showdown between Chris “The Nightmare” Arreola (36-4, 31 KOs) and “Big” Fred Kassi, (18-3-0, 10 KOs).

 

Tickets for the evening event, which is promoted by Chavez Promotions, in association with TGB Promotions and Warriors Boxing, are priced at $200, $100, $75, $50 and $25 are on sale now. Tickets for the afternoon event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions in association with Warriors Boxing and Cyclone Promotions, are priced at $50 or $25 for general admission and are on sale now. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000 or the University Ticket Center at (915) 747-5234. Tickets are also available at www.ticketmaster.com.

 

Fans purchasing tickets for the evening session will also be provided a ticket in the same section for the afternoon card.

 

Here’s what the fighters and their trainers had to say on Wednesday:

 

JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ JR.

“I am trying to get back to the level I once was at. I spent a lot of time out of the ring with non-boxing issues, but now I feel fully focused in the ring.
“I feel more comfortable in the ring and I feel like I have the right tools to win this fight on Saturday.
“Each fight you must prove something, you need to win and put on a good show. I think the fans will see a great fight on Saturday between two Mexican fighters. When I fight I try to do my best in the ring.
“I think 168 is a good weight class for me. Going into my last fight I had an extended period of time off and I didn’t know how my body would respond.
“I will have two more fights this year, but I can’t look past this Saturday. I respect my opponent, because all my opponents are looking to beat me.
“Training with Robert Garcia has been great. I have a great connection with him because he knows how fighters are feeling in the ring.
“I am working more on my jab, I have changed a little bit of my style under Robert Garcia.”

 

MARCOS REYES

“Training camp has been the best it has ever been and I am in great shape to win this fight.

 

“I am so excited for this opportunity to fight Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. I have been counting down the days.

 

“I am not sure how it will end, but I know that I want the knockout. But, I have the preparation for 10  rounds so I just know I am going to win.

 

“I have the best trainer in my corner [Nacho Beristain].  He’s trained the best for many years.  This is no mistake that we are training together and there is no room for mistakes on Saturday.

 

“He’s a great fighter.  He doesn’t need to imitate Julio Cesar Chavez Sr., but he’s always trying to do it.  He has skills, but as a boxer he keeps making the same mistakes imitating his dad.  And that’s why he hasn’t done what he’s capable of in boxing.

 

“I don’t know what’s going to happen Saturday.  They only thing I can tell you is that I’m ready to win and I will win on Saturday.”

 

 

CARL FRAMPTON

“I’m very excited. Fighting for the first time in the United States on CBS, this is an incredible opportunity for me to get great exposure.
“His dad was a great champion, a great fighter. I respect both Gonzalez Jr. and his father.
“It’s just levels really, and I am at a better level than Alejandro Gonzalez Jr. He’s a good fighter, I’m giving him credit. He will come to fight and make it interesting, but I have all the tools to beat him.
“He will try to keep it long, most of my opponents do. I can punch very hard and when I hit people they tend to go backwards.

 

“From the start he will try to keep it a long fight, but it’s up to me to use tactics that will work. We have plan A and plan B, but we think plan A will work.”

 

ALEJANDRO GONZALEZ JR.

“My career was going excellent until I made a mistake and took a fight that I shouldn’t have. My team was telling me no and I took the fight anyway which led to my first and only loss. They say ‘what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,’ and I truly believe that.

 

“They call Carl Frampton a superstar in the UK. He has a world championship. I’m a contender.

 

“When I become champion, I will have a following, especially when I beat Carl Frampton.

 

“Everyone has a different style. I’m an intelligent fighter. I’m a Mexican that just takes punches. I can take care of myself. I’m 23-years-old and ready to fight a good fight against a good opponent.

 

“I have to take advantage of this opportunity. It is a great opportunity for me and I can’t wait to fight on Saturday afternoon.

 

“There are weaknesses in Carl Frampton’s game, but I can’t tell you in case he hears my plan.

 

“Its easy to see a fighter and tell them they should have done this or that. It is different when you’re in the ring. I always prepare 100 percent. I prepare for 12 rounds.

 

“I’ve only fought outside of Mexico one time and it was here in El Paso. I knocked my opponent out and I’m looking forward to repeating that performance.

 

“There’s a ton of fighters in my weight class and I’m the one that got this opportunity.”

 

AMIR IMAM

“Boxing forces you to be strong. It takes a lot to get in that ring.

 

“This fight is dedicated to Jake LaMotta.  It is his birthday and a lot of people would get belts and not take them seriously, but he held belts with pride. I never met him, but I’m dedicating this fight to him.

 

“The goal is to fight for and win a world title.

 

“I’m a boxer-puncher. Every fight you learn something.

 

“Angulo is a veteran. He’s a good fighter. He’s been in title fights and fought some names. I’m prepared for a great fight.”

 

CHRIS ARREOLA

“The main thing is to give the fans a great show. I am going to go for that title. I’m working and grinding.

 

“Training camp has been going very well. I have been in camp for six weeks. The main thing about this fight is my boxing performance. My weight is what it is, this is me.

 

“I may not have the six-pack, but I will have the punch to knock somebody out.

 

“I am committed to boxing. I love boxing, and this training camp has been good for me.

 

“I would be a fool to say that it doesn’t cross my mind to fight again for the title.  At the end of the day, Saturday is much more important than a title shot.

 

“I want my opponent out of that ring as soon as possible.”

 

ROBERT GARCIA, Chavez Jr.’s Trainer

“I can’t say I have noticed anything different because I haven’t been in his previous camps. All I can say is that he has showed me something that I didn’t expect.

“All I heard from the fans and the media was the way he conducted his training camps, but I was surprised. I got nothing but good results. He showed up to the gym every day and did everything he was supposed to do.
“He has sparred just around 100 rounds, that’s more than he has done in any other training camp. The training camp was much easier than I expected.
“I’m training Julio not just to beat Marcos Reyes, but I’m training Julio to get him better for three or four fights from now to look at something real big.
“This is the biggest opportunity in Reyes’ career, so we must be ready for him. He also has a great trainer in Nacho Beristain, who may be the best trainer ever, so we must be ready for that too.
“Right after Julio’s loss to [Andrzej] Fonfara, he got right back in the gym to prepare for this fight. He wants to fight on Saturday and then have two more fights before the end of the year. I think this is exactly what Julio needs, to stay active. The fighters that fight just once or twice a year lose their rhythm.”

 

JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ SR.

 

“Julio Jr. is in very good shape. He’s had a very good training camp with Robert Garcia and I’m very happy with him as a trainer.

 

“This fight is a must-win fight for my son. He cannot lose. It will hurt his career very much to lose again.”

 

BARRY MCGUIGAN

“Carl is looking sensational. He’s looking better every time he trains. He’s maturing. You don’t get guys who mature when they’ve won the title. They normally mature as a fighter working their way up, but he’s relatively inexperienced.

 

“He’s only had 20 fights, but he had an extensive amateur career.  He’s a very talented guy. Chronologically, he’s 28, but physiologically he’s more like in his early twenties.

 

“He’s hugely excited about his U.S. debut and today’s turnout has only amped that up. We know we’re up against a difficult kid.

 

“We think he’ll be more difficult than his last mandatory defense against Chris Avalos. We think he’ll be cuter than Avalos and fight more defensively. Carl is going to have to go get him. The bottom line here is we have to make an impression.

 

“He has to be exciting and make an impact and then we’ll come back again St. Patrick’s Day and try to get the winner of Santa Cruz and Mares.”

 

 

NACHO BERISTAIN, REYES’ TRAINER

 

“This will be my third fight training Marcos Reyes. The other two times I trained him, Marcos won by knockout.

 

“Although he performed well in those two fights, I can see a big difference in Marcos. He is entirely focused on boxing and is much more mature. His mind is completely on his opponent and that’s what will make the difference on Saturday.

 

“Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. is trying very hard to become just like his father and gain the same amount of fame that his father received. The only thing I can tell you is that Julio Cesar Chavez is the greatest fighter in Mexican history; he is phenomenal and made his name working very hard.”

 

# # #

 

For more information visit www.sports.sho.com, www.premierboxingchampions.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @SHOSports, @jccchavez1, @RealCFrampton, @WarriorsBoxingProm, @TGBPromotions and @Swanson_Comm and follow the conversation using #ChavezReyes and #FramptonGonzalez become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing and www.Facebook.com/WarriorsBoxingPromo or visit the SHOWTIME Boxing Blog http://shosportspoundforpound.tumblr.com/.
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It’s Fight week for July 17 ShoBox Fight at Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem

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4 TITLES ON THE LINE

6 UNDEFEATED FIGHTERS

COMBINED RECORD OF EIGHT TELEVISED FIGHTERS: 125-4-4, 75 KO’s

Antoine Douglas – Istavan Szili in 10-round Middleweight main event for IBO Intercontinental Title

Derrick Webster battles Arif Magomedov for NABO Middleweight title

Adam Lopez – Eliecer Aquino for WBA FEDELATIN and WBC Interim Latino Super Bantamweight title

Jerry Odom to battle Samuel Clarkson in opening bout of televised quadruple-header

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Bethlehem, PA (July 14, 2015)–Fight week is here for Friday Night’s big ShoBox: The New Generation card at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem.

Promoted by GH3 Promotions in association with King’s Promotions, Greg Cohen Promotions and Main Events, the event will feature three title bouts with a total of four titles on the line.

In the main event, Antoine “Action” Douglas (17-0-1, 11 KO’s) of Burke, VA. takes on Istvan Szili (18-0-2, 8 KO’s) of Basel, Switzerland for the vacant IBO Intercontinental Middleweight title.

Derrick Webster (19-0, 10 KO’s) of Glassboro, NJ battles Arif Magomedov (15-0, 9 KO’s) of Chekhov, Russia for the vacant NABO Middleweight title scheduled for 10 rounds.

Adam Lopez (12-0, 6 KO’s) of San Antonio, TX takes on Eliecer Aquino (17-0-1, 11 KO’s) of Higuey, DR for the WBA FEDELATIN and WBC Latino Super Bantaweight titles in a fight scheduled for 10-rounds.

Opening up the telecast will be an 8 -round Super Middleweight clash between Jerry “The Kings Son” Odom (13-1, 12 KO’s) and Samuel Clarkson (14-3, 8 KO’s) of Cedar Hill, TX.

The off-television card will be stacked with future contenders.

In 6-round bouts:

Lavarn Harvell (14-1, 7 KO’s) of Atlantic City, NJ will take on an opponent to be named in a Light Heavyweight bout.

Rob Brant (15-0, 9 KO’s) of Minnesota will battle Ernesto Berrospe ((10-7, 5 KO’s) in a Middleweight bout.

In 4-round Bouts:

Christopher Brooker (3-0, 3 KO’s) of Philadelphia, PA will fight Botirsher Obidov (1-0-1) of Florida in a Super Middleweight battle.

Ricky Nuno (1-0) of Bethlehem, PA will fight pro debuting Tim Kunkel of PA in a Jr. Middleweight bout.

Manny Folly (4-0, 3 KO’s) of Philadelphia, PA will battle Jose Garcia (0-2) of Puerto Rico in a Super Bantamweight fight.

Samuel Teah (5-1, 3 KO’s) of Philadelphia, PA will take on Raymond Velez (3-7) of Albany, NY in a Lightweight bout.

Oscar Bonilla (3-1-2, 2 KO’s) of New Haven, CT will box Bienvenidio Diaz (2-0, 2 KO’s) of Paterson, NJ in a Lightweight bout.

Below is the fight week schedule for the July 17th televised Quadruple header form the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem and will be televised live on Showtime’s ShoBox: The New Generation.

Thursday, July 16th

5:00 PM—Weigh in — at the Vision Bar at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem (On scales at 6 PM)

Friday, July 17th

6:00 Doors Open
7:00 1st Bout
10:00 Showtime Broadcast begins

Tickets are priced at $100, $75 and $50 and can be purchased at Ticketmaster and www.ticketmaster.com

GH3 Promotions features undefeated Middleweight Antoine Douglas, Super Middleweight’s Jerry Odom & Derrick Webster, undefeated Super Bantamweight Adam Lopez as well as Boxcino 2015 Jr. Middleweight Champion John Thompson, Jr., undefeated Welterweight Jerrell Harris,undefeated Super Bantamweight Qa’id Muhammad, lightweight Oscar Bonilla, Heavyweight Natu Visinia, Light Heavyweight Lavarn Harvell and Jr. Lightweight O’Shanique Foster to the GH3 Promotions stable.

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PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS ON CBS & SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING MEDIA CONFERENCE CALL TRANSCRIPT

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Lisa Milner  

Thank you operator. Thank you everybody for joining us. We’re going to get to the fighters for this huge, huge day of boxing next Saturday, July 18. I did want to first turn the call over to Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager of SHOWTIME Sports who can get into the details of the fights and the first fighter we will have speaking immediately after Stephen is Chris Arreola. But Stephen please kick it off.

 

Stephen Espinoza

Thanks very much Lisa. As Lisa said, it is a huge weekend of boxing coming up on CBS and SHOWTIME. First on Friday night we’ve got a stellar SHOBox card featuring six undefeated boxers in action.

 

Then on Sunday we have a unique day/night double header, which as far as we have found is unprecedented. It’s CBS and SHOWTIME teaming up to televise a total of five fights, including two world title fights and a title eliminator, all coming from the Don Haskins Center in my hometown, El Paso, Texas.

 

So the SHOWTIME family is very happy about these events, as are all the rabid boxing fans that are in the El Paso area. At 1:00 p.m. PT/4:00 ET on CBS we have the always exciting heavyweight star Chris Arreola as well as the U.S. debut of super bantamweight world champion Carl Frampton.

 

Shortly you’ll hear from both Chris and Carl as well as Carl’s promoter Barry McGuigan. Interesting note about Barry McGuigan, obviously a Hall of Famer in his own right. Barry McGuigan appeared in one of the first televised bouts ever on SHOWTIME back in 1986 against Steve Cruz. Unfortunately he didn’t win that night, but he was one of the very first televised events on SHOWTIME. It’s a pleasure to have him back.

 

Then in the evening portion of the telecast on SHOWTIME, 7:00 p.m. PT/10:00 p.m. ET we have what is now a three fight card. Happy to announce that we’ve added a third fight to the card, the very exciting Amir Imam will be taking on Fernando Angulo in a super lightweight title eliminator.

 

Then we are also excited to have a super flyweight world championship McJoe Arroyo, the exciting Puerto Rican star, against Arthur Villanueva. Of course the headliner is a battle of two very exciting Mexican fighters Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. and Marcos Reyes.

 

So all in all, it could be a very historic day. It’s certainly unprecedented as far as we know in in this sport. Now I’m going to turn back over to Lisa.

 

L. Milner      

Okay great. Thanks so much and we’re just going to go straight ahead and introduce Chris “The Nightmare” Arreola. Chris could you please make an opening statement just about training camp and then we will open it up for questions?

 

Chris Arreoloa         

Well I’m over here in Riverside training. I’ve been out here for the past seven weeks working hard, grinding every day, getting ready for this big fight in El Paso. You know El Paso is a big fight town and I’m looking forward to exhibiting my boxing skills and showing everybody that I’ve still got it and I’m still a force to be reckoned with and I’m going for the title run again.

 

Q

Just talk a little bit about this next fight and your opponent. What do you know about him? And what are the keys for you?

 

C. Arreola

I know that he’s a very slick fighter, a very slick boxer, a boxer that switches a lot, switches from left to righty, depending on the kind of options that you offer them. And the thing that I’m going to need to do is use a lot of my angles and give him a different view because he’s a very skilled fighter and I want to take him out as soon as I can because they don’t pay me overtime. And the El Paso fans deserve a good outing from me.

 

Q

I know you’ve had a couple of title shots in your career, Chris, and I know there’s been some talk of you getting another title shot in September. What’s your focus right now? What’s your mentality like?

 

C. Arreola     

My focus right now, it’s the 18th. That’s my one and only focus because without that win, there is no title shot.           You’re only as good as your last win, and that’s the way I feel. So all the talk is just talk. It doesn’t mean anything until I win this fight. Then we can really talk about it. So first things first is the 18th. I want to make sure that I put on a good fight because Fred is a good fighter and when I beat him I want to beat him in a fashion that people want to see me fight Wilder, not just have it given to me.

 

I want to deserve that title fight. I want people to want to see that fight. So that’s my main goal of this fight, to showcase my skills and show everybody that I deserve another title shot.

 

Q

Chris is there an ideal weight for you to fight at and what do you plan to come in, tip the scales at on fight night?

 

C. Arreola     

My main goal – first and foremost my main thing is being in boxing shape. My weight doesn’t reflect my training. The main thing is I want to be a good boxing weight and great boxing weight in order for me to go the full ten rounds, in order for me to throw 80 to 100 punches around. That is my main goal is to showcase my boxing skills.

 

As far as boxing weight, if I had an optimal weight, it would be in the mid-240s, like 44, 45, at the lowest maybe 42, but for this fight I’m thinking I’m going to come in in the high 40s, — 47, 48. But the main thing is El Paso fans are going to see a good boxing weight and a great boxing fight from myself.

 

Q

How do you use your size advantage? How do you use your size advantage against an opponent, particularly on this fight coming up? How will you use that advantage you have?

 

C. Arreola

Well as far as my weight advantage, it’s more you’ve got to impose your will. You’ve got to impose your will as far as pushing him back. Pushing him back is smart with the jab and making sure I keep him in his heels because I don’t want him being on his toes because he’s very good on his toes.

 

So the main thing I have to do is impose my will, moving my head, working behind the jab, and pushing it back to the ropes. Once I push his back to the ropes, it’s trying to work his body from the body to the head. We love working the body.

 

That’s what I’m going to plan to do, is make sure that he knows that he’s in a fight, make sure that he understands that every time I touch him I don’t touch him to touch him, I touch him to hurt him.

 

Q

What does it mean to fight on network television, which everybody gets?

 

C. Arreola     

Honestly it’s a privilege and an honor to be fighting on national network TV where everyone gets it. It’s different to hear of regular person – a person that doesn’t even know boxing – know some boxers. Like I’ve been hit up by a guy like, “Hey do you know Keith Thurman?”

 

They never watched a boxing fight in their life. But the fact that now it’s on NBC, CBS, and all the three networks, people are able to watch boxers and showcase their skills. That’s one thing that I’m so happy and honored to do is that it’s not just a casual boxing fans but it’s anyone. Anyone could watch me fight, and that’s pretty dope. That’s really an honor and just drives me to want to display my skills a lot more, knowing that there’s going to be a wider audience watching me.

 

Q

Chris. I was just wondering what you thought of Wilder’s performance against Molina and were you surprised that Molina was able to give him the trouble that he did considering what you did to him in your fight?

 

C. Arreola

To be honest with you, when I watched that fight I didn’t think it was going to last two, three rounds. Personally I think that Wilder carried him. First I think Wilder wanted to get himself rounds. I don’t think that Wilder was really trying to take him out until he actually pushed on the gas.

 

Sometimes trying to showcase you get caught and he got caught a couple times with some stupid shots that he should never have been caught with. That’s why I never want to go rounds. I don’t care who it is. I want to get him out of there as soon as I can because all it takes is one punch to get knocked out.

 

I honestly believe that Wilder was just showcasing. I believe that Wilder was just carrying him to fight. I take nothing out of that fight. I take no honor in me taking Molina out quicker than him.

 

Q

Does it encourage you if you were able to get the opportunity to fight him?

 

C. Arreola

It didn’t encourage me. It didn’t make me feel any better, any different. What I got to see more off of him is when he fought Stiverne. Now that fight was a good fight. That fight is a fight that I see a lot out of Wilder and a lot of mistakes, a lot of good and a lot of bad in Wilder.

 

As far as him fighting Molina, did it encourage me? Man, honestly, I don’t fear anybody. I love fighting. I want to fight him just because I want to fight him, especially now since he has a title. And do I believe I could fight him? Yes and I believe that he hasn’t been in the ring with someone like me, someone that really doesn’t give a crap.

 

You know, I really don’t care about myself. I really care about winning the fight. I’m willing to put my life on the life because I want to win a fight. Now the time that I cried when my trainer stopped me, I didn’t cry because he said I quit or anything. I didn’t quit. I cried because of my pride. I’m a prideful man. I have too much fight for myself. And to quit, that’s horrible.

 

L. Milner      

Thank you so much. If you give just one quick closing comment and then we’ll move on to Carl Frampton.

 

C. Arreola

Okay, well I’m really looking forward to July 18 to showcase my skills in front of the whole United States to watch showcase boxing. I’m happy that we’re up here and I can’t wait to showcase my skills in El Paso, Texas which I know has been hungry for big fights. See you on the 18th.

 

L. Milner      

Perfect, thank you. Okay now I am delighted to introduce Carl Frampton and his Hall of Famer manager Barry McGuigan. We also have Alejandro  on the line. But before we have him make an opening statement I did want Carl and Barry to say a few words.

 

Carl Frampton         

I’m just looking forward to the fight. I think it’s going to be a good fight. Kind of reiterating what Chris just said there now, it’s giving me a chance to showcase my talents on CBS, terrestrial TV in the U.S., also terrestrial television in the U.K. on ITV. So I’m really looking forward to a good fight.

 

Barry McGuigan

Just to reiterate that point, as a manager and a former world champion myself, my name was sort of written in stone 30 years ago because I appeared on terrestrial TV. It’s been that way for a long time, and I think what PBC is doing – it’s great for us to be associated with the go-to guy at the moment in boxing.

 

To get terrestrial television fans interested in boxing, casual boxing fans, not just the aficionados but people who are genuinely of a casual interest in boxing but the ones who will watch big fights. I think it’s great not just for Carl Frampton but great for all the fighters on the bill and great for boxing in general.

 

So we’re thrilled to be here. We’re already in El Paso. Carl is expecting a tough fight from Alejandro, and we’re very much looking forward to it.

 

L. Milner

Okay, wonderful. We actually also have Alejandro Gonzalez, Jr. on the line. Alejandro could you make an opening comment just about how training camp’s going and preparing for Carl?

 

Alejandro Gonzalez

Well, we’re preparing 100% because we’re going to fight a great champion so we need to be 100% ready with the preparations.

 

Q

Your name is not relatively known to the casual American boxing fan and in this fight you’re going to get massive exposure to American boxing time basically. What does that mean to you?

 

C. Frampton

That means a lot, that’s something me and my time have discussed, I’m pretty well known in the UK and Ireland but in the United States, unless you’re a diehard boxing fan you won’t know who Carl Frampton is.

 

So this is giving me the chance for a lot of exposure on terrestrial television. It’s a big deal. I think boxing has kind of been depraved. It’s a sport for the working class and the working class people are not getting to see it because it’s been hidden away on satellite channels for so long.

 

So this is great for me, well not only for me for boxing and also for our pretty new promotional team Cyclone promotions to have one of their fighters showcased on both sides of the Atlantic.

 

Q

What was the main reason that you decided to jump on board with Al Haymon and make a trip over to the United States?

 

Carl Frampton         

Well we discussed it with our team and it was a pretty easy decision to be honest. I think the exposure that we can get with Al Haymon is absolutely massive and huge.

 

Even more so than that he’s got a lot of the top fighters around the super bantamweight division all these names that I want to fight, you know, Leo Santa Cruz, Abner Mares, Gary Russell those sort of fighters that he’s got that Al Haymon controls.

 

So without linking up with him it would have been pretty hard to make them fights. So it was a pretty easy decision. We are very grateful for the opportunity here.

 

As I said before to the answer previously it’s giving me a chance for massive exposure here and that’s really the big thing, exposure both sides of the Atlantic.

 

B. McGuigan

If I could add to that, there isn’t any bigger than Al Haymon at the moment. If you want to get into the American market and the reality is Carl is a superstar in Britain and in Europe and in Ireland and the reality is when your career is dead and buried all they remember is the stuff you’ve done in the United States.

 

So it’s a very important decision for us to come over here and try and be impressive and trying to make a name for ourselves.

 

Q

How much of that went into your decision to come over here and expand the market and be able to touch on those big fights against Leo Santa Cruz, Gary Russell or even Abner Mares if he can upset Leo in August.

 

B. McGuigan

Here’s the thing, here’s the thing again there are at the last count 27 million people of Irish descent in America I think that’s on the East Coast actually. So we want to get into that market.

 

It’s a great market, we need to get as many people on our side as possible and we have great respect for Alejandro and his dad. He’s got a great Mexican boxing heritage and obviously that’s the fight that we’re looking at and concentrating on at the moment.

 

But it would be foolish certainly of me not to look ahead and plan ahead and think about what are the super fights out there for us and that is against Leo Santa Cruz and Abner Mares, Gary Russell and I believe Frampton can to go 130 as well and be successful there.

 

But one stage at a time and we’re not taking our eyes off the ball on the 18th. It’s a very tough fight for us, Alejandro is a great fighter.

 

C. Frampton 

I just agree 100% on everything that Barry said. If you want to do anything in America at the minute the way boxing is going Al Haymon is the man to link up with and we’ve done that.

 

I’m very pleased with doing that. Me and the team are all very pleased and we think that things are just really going to kick off. But again it’s one fight at a time.

 

I’m not looking past Alejandro. I leave it to my manager Barry and the rest of the team to think ahead but for me I just think about the fighter in front of me and that’s Alejandro .

 

He’s the only guy I’ve been thinking about for the last 14 week training camp and that’s the way it will remain until the fight.

 

Q

I’m just wondering what your thoughts are on adopting fighting on the East Coast, beginning to draw in some of those new American Irish boxing fans who may not be familiar with you yet?

 

C. Frampton 

That’s where we want to be, we want to be on the East Coast. We want to be fighting around the East Coast, New York, Madison Square Garden, Barclays Center, those sort of places, Boston potentially as well.

 

I’m hoping that there is already talk about my next fight I’m not too sure where it will be but good chance my next fight could be in the UK and Ireland again somewhere.

 

Then we’d be looking to go to New York or the east coast. I think that’s where my American fan base will be, mainly on the East Coast.

 

I think they’ll appreciate the way I fight. It’s all well and good me winning fights but I think what the Americans and boxing fans want to see is exciting fighters and I think that I’ve got an exciting style to please them.

 

So East Coast is where we want to be. I think El Paso was the only matinee show that we could link up with British TV Time. So it’s setting pretty in the UK at the minute, it’s being shown at around 10:00 pm out of the UK.

 

That’s why we had to go to El Paso but, you know, I’m very happy for this chance to fight here but of course I want to fight on the East Coast.

 

B. McGuigan

Can I also add to that, what we see and Carl wants to do what GGG has done. We want to get the Mexicans fans on our site too and obviously the fight against Alejandro on the 18th of July is a fight that we, that Carl must win, he must win impressively. We hope that we will garner some support from the Mexican fans too and that they will appreciate Carl’s style.

 

Q

What’s it like working with Barry and what kind of things have you learned from him during your time together?

 

C. Frampton 

Well it’s great. I’ve been with Barry since six years ago. Originally at the start I had done a lot of training with Barry and he’s the best for me and taking me through training sessions.

 

I lived in his house while I trained in England, the South of England. I have a very good relationship with Barry and the rest of his family. His son is now training me at the minute and he kind of took the reins.

 

Barry is in the gym most days. He comes and watches me spar and he’s been there and done it, he’s done it all and to be getting advice every day of someone who has done that it’s obviously great and very beneficial to me.

 

I’m 28 years old I’m not the youngest guy in the world but I still feel like I’m learning all the time. I still feel like I’m getting better and I just try and soak as much information up as I can.

 

Q

Barry can you bring to him I guess in terms of advice in the say of what to look for as he moves forward in his career?

 

B. McGuigan

I think Carl Frampton is one of the best Irish fighters that there’s ever been and that’s a bold statement and he’s 28 years old, he’s chronologically 28 but physiologically he’s only a young man because of the way he fights, the way his style is.

 

He doesn’t take a lot of punishment and he can box going back, going forward and I think he’s got a great style of fighting. I think the Americans are going to love him and the 18th of July is the fight where we make our first impression and I believe it’s going to be a big impression.

 

We’re expecting a tough fight but I really believe that Carl has both the personality, the fighting style and the charisma to make it work over here and, I believe we’re on the threshold of something very big.

 

Q

Barry does it bring back a lot of memories for you seeing Carl.

 

B. McGuigan

The next best thing to actually fighting yourself is being involved with young men and developing talent and as you come along through your career and I’m sure the same is with Alejandro ‘s dad.

 

Being involved with kids and developing them, especially if they are your own child and often Carl feels like he is part of the family. He’s been involved so long and he’s a really talented kid. He’s very dedicated and it’s great to see him make progress.

 

For me vicariously I love and appreciate all of the things that he’s doing and making the progress he’s making and turning into the fighter that I always believed he could.

 

Q

What do you see as being the potential for you fighting either or both Guillermo Rigondeaux and Scot Quigg?

 

C. Frampton 

Look, I would like to fight them all. I think the situation with Quigg is he’s outpricing himself on a fight. He thinks he’s worth more than what he is. I was always told by my mother growing up never to sell myself short so I’m not going to sell myself short to Scott Quigg or Eddie Hearn.

 

I think the Rigondeaux fight is a great possibility. There’s rumors that he may be linking up with Al Haymon and if he does link up with Al Haymon then of course the fight would be easier to make. I believe I could win.

 

You look at Rigondeaux and I completely admire what he does and his fighting style, but I think I’m the only man in the Super Bantamweight division that can beat him. I’m ready to take that fight whenever it comes.

 

Q

How long do you see yourself sticking around at 122?

 

C. Frampton 

Well I can stay here as long as possible. I think I could probably, if I wanted to be, I could be a career super bantamweight. I find it that I’m making the weight division a little bit easier with each camp.

 

But I’m a big super bantamweight. I think Alejandro is maybe a few inches taller than me. He’s about five foot seven area. I’m about five foot five.

 

I’m strong. I’m very, very solid. I’m quite a super bantamweight. But if I wanted I could just stay here for the rest of my career. But I think it’s some sort of legacy and it’s important to move up the weight divisions. I think I would be very dangerous as well.

 

B. McGuigan

Very simple situation with Scott Quigg. Scott Quigg has got the regular title. Scott Quigg has never headlined to show, although he’s a champion and I really respect the guy. He thinks I don’t, but I do. I just want to set the record straight in America too. He’s a decent fighter, no question about it.

 

He never has fought the level of opposition Carl has fought. The real champion is Guillermo Rigondeaux. Scott Quigg doesn’t merit 50% of the purse. Carl has won all his title fights. He’s taken risks. He’s buying out arenas. He’s been a headline act; all of the things that Quigg has not done. Quigg has got the WBA regular title. The real champion is Guillermo Rigondeaux.

 

When Hearn took it upon himself to go and ask, he went behind our backs and asked if the fight could be sanctioned as a unification fight. He was told no because the real champion is Guillermo Rigondeaux.

 

So with that in mind, we don’t want the regular title. We’re not interested in the regular title. We’re interested in the fight, but not in that title.

 

We are of course interested in Guillermo Rigondeaux’s Super world title. That’s a different story. But the fact is, if we’re going to Manchester, we’re putting Carl’s credibility on the line and we’re going into his home first.

 

When you come into this fight with a voluntary defense, the guy gets as much as the champion wants to pay him. Or even in the mandatory position, it’s still a 75/25% situation. So we said we’d star at 70/30 but the least we would take would be 60/40, and they wouldn’t play ball. It’s as simple as that.

 

So the fight doesn’t matter and therefore we now have a situation where we can fight a number of these great guys, provided Carl gets back and gets past Alejandro on the 18th of July.

 

Q

How much of an adjustment is it going to be for you not being in that arena full of the big supporting crowd for you?

 

C. Frampton 

I think it will be absolutely fine. I’ve boxed all over the world as an amateur. I’ve boxed away from home a lot of the time. I’ve been in very, very hostile environments in Turkey. I remember Turkey being extremely hostile for some reason and I went out there and beat three Turks three years in a row.

 

Q

Have you noticed any difference around since that fight on ITV?

 

C. Frampton 

I get recognized a lot, but obviously back home in Belfast it’s very good, and especially around a fight. It’s hard to kind of go anywhere without someone coming and asking for a photograph or even just to shake your hand, which I don’t mind at all. I enjoy it and I enjoy people’s company and I enjoy chatting to him.

 

In London since the last fight it has got a little bit better. Well better or worse; whatever you want to call it. People are approaching me a little bit more. But I can still go fairly unrecognizable in London.

 

It’s all about the change. We’re fighting here on CBS here. I’m fighting on ITV at prime time – a prime time slot. We don’t have any other big shows to go up against. The last time I fought it was pretty late on ITV much of the day and stuff was on at the same time.

 

So they took a lot of viewing figures we’re expecting to do about a million viewers here, and obviously when you do that, more people are going to recognize you in the street.

 

Q

Did you get any feedback from ITV?

 

C. Frampton 

I think they were over the moon with it and that’s why this came back and they’re showing another. You know if they weren’t happy with it they wouldn’t have put me back on again. That’s the bottom line.

 

So ITV were very happy. They were very happy with their viewing figures and they want to continue a relationship with us and that continues with the fight on the 18th against Alejandro.

 

L. Milner

Okay, great. We’re actually going to take one question for Alejandro and then we have to move on to Julio Cesar Chavez. So can we please have this question for Alejandro and then we will turn it over.

 

Q        

Alejandro you’ve fought before at the Sun Bowl on the Julio Cesar Chavez undercard. Are you looking to upset Carl Frampton this way here and shock the world?

 

A. Gonzalez

Yes, this is going to be my second time fighting on Chavez’s undercard, but I’m very happy to fight a great fighter. But my dad told me, if you want to be best you have to fight the best. So that’s what I think that Carl Frampton is one of the best of the bantamweight champs.

 

Q

Are you looking forward to fighting in front of a huge Mexican-American crow in El Paso?

 

A. Gonzalez  

Yes, of course. In El Paso there’s a lot of Mexican people. Like I just said, Chavez is going to be in that fight and he’s a Mexican. So he has a lot of crowd. I have a lot of crowd and it’s going to be a great fight and a lot of people and a lot of Mexican and American people in the fight.

 

L. Milner

We do have Julio Cesar Chavez on the line so we’re going to jump over to the SHOWTIME

 

Julio Cesar Chavez 

I’m very happy that we are close to the fight. I have five weeks with (Robert) and I prepared 100% for the fight. I feel ready to fight.

 

Q

Julio, you’re always an honest person. You’ve always been very sincere about everything. And my question to you is, whether the biggest enemy of your career has been Julio Cesar Chavez, himself?

 

J. Cesar Chavez

I haven’t been 100% all the time, but my career has had lots of accomplishments. I was the first Mexican to win the Middleweight World Champion. I’ve been a World Champion. I’ve defended my belt. In addition to that I’ve beaten really great fighters. And I have a record of 48 and 2. And so it’s not fair to say that I haven’t accomplished a lot and haven’t been prepared all the time. But this is a great challenge.

 

Q

Do you feel you owe the public a great performance?

 

J. Cesar Chavez

Obviously I have to win this fight. I have to be great.

 

I took on a challenge that was tough. I fought somebody who was 175 pounds. I fought somebody after two years of being inactive.

 

There were a lot of things going on in my career including the legal problems that I was going through at the same that I was trying to get ready for a fight. It was a tough challenge.

 

Even though it was a defeat for me I feel like I was a better fighter than him. But he was more prepared. I think that those were the factors. I plan to win this next fight.

 

L. Milner      

Okay we actually have Marcos Reyes on the line before okay our next question I just want to let him say a few words about training camp.

 

Marco Reyes 

Well I’ve been Mexico City for six weeks right now in camp with Nacho Beristain, my trainer right now. A number of you have been excited for that fight July 18 which I’m going to face with Julio Chavez and I’m going to be in great shape for it.

 

Q        

Nacho Beristain says that Julio changing trainers is not the issue, that it’s a personal and a mental issue and that’s the problem. Do you have a response?

 

J. Cesar Chavez       

Robert Garcia is a great trainer. He has respect for a lot of people. He’s a respected trainer. I don’t understand what Nacho Beristain’s problem is.

 

He has in the past criticized me and he’s also criticized other people. In his career he goes around criticizing people. But, the facts are different.

 

I’m is first Mexican middleweight champion. I’ve only had two defeats. One was number two pound fighter which is Martinez. And I knocked him down, almost knocked him out, almost finished the right.

 

My second was against a natural 175 pounder who was ranked number four in the world who’s a very top level fighter.

 

So on July 18 I plan to show Nacho Beristain and everybody else that I’m one of the greatest fighters.

 

Q

Julio have you ever thought about losing again since you lost again what would happen in your career with another defeat?

 

J. Cesar Chavez

I’m not planning on losing. I’m planning on winning. When I fight at my weight I can beat anybody. There’s nobody in boxing who can beat me when I fight at my weight.

 

I feel right now that I’m at the best. I feel this is the best part of my career. And on July 18 I’m going to win.

 

If I lost this fight then it would make me think about retiring because this is not the type of rival that should beat me. The type of rivals that I fought are much better and tougher than this rival.

 

Q

What big name are you thirsty for?

 

J. Cesar Chavez

Well firstly I respect my opponent a lot. All opponent are dangerous because Reyes, he’s a tough guy.

 

I have big plans for the division, I will fight anyone out there.

 

But now I focus on Reyes. After that it’s whatever opponent comes. I’m ready for whatever name

 

I fight for the people and if the people want a big name I will fight anyone

 

L. Milner      

Okay. Julio could you just close out today as you wrap up training camp and head into fight week in El Paso?

 

J. Cesar Chavez

I feel ready to show the people a great fight. I’m ready to show the people my great fighting and I hope they enjoy the fights. Because two Mexican fighters in the ring every time makes a great fight.

 

I want to send a big hug to all of the people in El Paso. I hope that they come out and support both fighters. This is going to be a great fight between two Mexican fighters.

 

But obviously I intend on winning this fight. And most importantly I plan on giving the fans a great fight on July 18.

 

 

For more information visit www.sports.sho.com, www.premierboxingchampions.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @SHOSports, @jccchavez1, @RealCFrampton, @WarriorsBoxingProm, @TGBPromotions and @Swanson_Comm and follow the conversation using #ChavezReyes and #FramptonGonzalez become a fan on Facebook atwww.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing and www.Facebook.com/WarriorsBoxingPromo or visit the SHOWTIME Boxing Blog http://shosportspoundforpound.tumblr.com/.
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SHOWTIME SPORTS® & CBS SPORTS TO OFFER ROBUST LINEUP OF FIGHTS AS PART OF UNIQUE WEEKEND OF BOXING

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 ShoBox: The New Generation: Friday, July 17 at 10 p.m. ET/PT

Premier Boxing Champions on CBS: Saturday, July 18 at 4 p.m. ET/1p.m. PT

SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING®: Saturday, July 18 at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT

 

NEW YORK (July 13, 2015) – SHOWTIME Sports® and CBS Sports will offer an action-packed weekend of fights spanning three different boxing series beginning with ShoBox: The New Generation on Friday, July 17, and concluding with a special afternoon-evening PBC on CBS doubleheader and SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING tripleheader from the same venue on Saturday, July 18.

 

The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast will air live on SHOWTIME® at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT from the Don Haskins Arena at the University of Texas El Paso and the PBC on CBS broadcast will originate just hours earlier from the same arena, live on CBS Sports at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT.

 

ShoBox: The New Generation will kick-off the weekend action on Friday live on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) from Sands Casino Hotel in Bethlehem, Pa., as the prospect-oriented developmental series celebrates its 14th anniversary with a quadrupleheader featuring six undefeated prospects squaring off.

 

“SHOWTIME Sports and CBS Sports are excited to offer fans an unprecedented weekend of boxing featuring at least nine fights, including two world championships and a world title eliminator,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports.  “From boxing’s biggest stars on our SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING franchise and undefeated prospects on our critically acclaimed ShoBox series, to working with our colleagues at PBC and CBS Sports, we are the destination for fight fans this weekend.”

 

In the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING main event, Mexican superstar Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (48-2-1, 32 KOs) will aim for redemption as he returns to the ring with a new trainer in a lower weight class.  The former middleweight champion will take on fellow Mexican brawler Marcos Reyes (33-2, 24 KOs) in his first fight with renowned trainer Robert Garcia in a 10-round super middleweight bout.

 

Also on SHOWTIME, a pair of top bantamweights will put their undefeated records on the line as Puerto Rican Olympian McJoe Arroyo (16-0, 8 KOs) takes on Arthur Villanueva (27-0, 14 KOs) for the vacant IBF Bantamweight World Championship.  In the opener of the tripleheader, undefeated 140-pound contender Amir Imam (17-0, 14 KOs) will take on veteran Fernando Angulo (29-9, 16 KOs) in a 10-round eliminator to become the No. 1 mandatory challenger in the WBC.

 

PBC on CBS will take center stage earlier that afternoon with an action-packed doubleheader.  In the 12-round main event, Irish champion Carl Frampton (20-0, 14 KOs) will defend his Junior Featherweight World Championship against Mexican contender Alejandro Gonzalez Jr. (25-1-2, 15 KOs).  In the PBC on CBS co-main event, heavyweight contender Chris Arreola (36-4, 31 KOs) will take on Frederic Kassi (18-3, 10 KOs) in a 8/10-round bout.

 

ShoBox: The New Generation will kick-off the weekend on Friday with a quintessential ShoBoxcard matching well-regarded prospects in some of the toughest tests of their careers.

 

In the main event, Antoine Douglas (17-0-1, 10 KOs) will face Istvan Szili (18-0-2, 8 KOs) in a 10-round middleweight bout, while a pair of undefeated prospects, Derrick Webster (19-0, 10 KOs) and Arif Magomedov (15-0, 9 KOs), square off in the 10-round super middleweight co-feature.

 

Also on the ShoBox telecast, Adam Lopez (12-0, 6 KOs) will meet fellow undefeated prospect Eliecer Aquino (17-0-1, 11 KOs) in a 10-round super bantamweight bout and once-beaten prospect Jerry Odom (13-1, 12 KOs, 1 NC) will face Samuel Clarkson (14-3, 8 KOs) in an eight-round super middleweight matchup.

 

# # #

 

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®, and also offers SHOWTIME ON DEMAND®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ ON DEMAND and FLIX ON DEMAND®, and the network’s authentication service SHOWTIME ANYTIME®. Showtime Digital Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of SNI, operates the stand-alone streaming service SHOWTIME®. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks™, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution, which offers Smithsonian Channel™. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV. For more information, go to www.SHO.com.

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UNDEFEATED AMIR IMAM TO TAKE ON FERNANDO ANGULO IN 140-POUND WBC ELIMINATOR

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ON SATURDAY, JULY 18, LIVE ON SHOWTIME®

 

Three-Fight SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING Telecast Headlined By

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. vs. Marcos Reyes From The Don Haskins Center In El Paso, Texas

 

EL PASO, TEXAS (July 10, 2015) – Undefeated 140-pound contender Amir “Young Master” Imam(17-0, 14 KOs) will take on veteran former world title challenger Fernando “”La Fiera” Angulo (29-9, 16 KOs) in a 10-round WBC super lightweight title eliminator in the opening bout of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® on Saturday, July 18, live on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT) from the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas.

 

The winner of the Imam vs. Angulo scrap will be the WBC’s No. 1 mandatory challenger to the winner of the recently ordered Lucas Matthysse vs. Viktor Postol bout for the vacant WBC Super Lightweight World Title.

 

One of boxing’s fastest-rising prospects, the 24-year-old Imam has knocked out 14 of his 17 professional opponents since turning pro in 2011.  The Albany, N.Y., native is coming off a lopsided 10-round victory over Walter Castillo on April 18 in a bout televised on SHOWTIME.

 

“I’m excited for the fight. My dream is finally coming true,” Imam said. “This is basically my title shot right here. This is the biggest fight of my career and I know I can’t mess it up.  Not everyone gets to make it here, but I get to show the world my talents once again.”

 

A professional since 1999, Angulo is currently riding a five-fight win streak, with his most recent victory coming in November 2014 via a 10-round decision over Pedro Verdu.  The native of Caracas, Venezuela via Ecuador made his U.S. debut in 2006 in a fight televised on SHOWTIME, losing a 12-round decision for the WBA Lightweight Title against Juan Diaz in Arizona.

 

“I’m excited to face Amir Imam on July 18,” Angulo said.  “This is a great opportunity for me to get a huge win on SHOWTIME and in front of the great boxing fans in El Paso. I’m not going to waste this chance.”

 

Imam vs. Angulo joins a rare afternoon-evening doubleheader as CBS Sports and SHOWTIME combine to televise no less than five fights from the Don Haskins Center in West Texas.

 

Premier Boxing Champions on CBS will kick-off the action with a doubleheader featuring the U.S. debut of Irish champion Carl Frampton (20-0, 14 KOs), who will defend his Junior Featherweight World Championship against Mexican contender Alejandro “Cobrita” Gonzalez Jr. (25-1-2, 15 KOs) in the 12-round main event.  In the PBC on CBS co-main event, heavyweight contender Chris Arreola (36-4, 31 KOs) will return to the ring against Cameroonian heavyweight Fred Kassi (18-3, 10 KOs).

 

Later that evening, SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING takes center stage as Mexican superstarJulio Cesar Chavez Jr. (48-2-1, 32 KOs) aims for redemption against fellow Mexican brawler Marcos Reyes (33-2, 24 KOs) in his first fight with renowned trainer Robert Garcia in a 10-round super middleweight bout.  In the evening’s co-feature, a pair of top bantamweights will put their undefeated records on the line as Puerto Rican Olympian McJoe Arroyo (16-0, 8 KOs) takes on Arthur Villanueva (27-0, 14 KOs) for the vacant IBF Bantamweight World Championship.

 

# # #

For more information visit www.sports.sho.com, follow on Twitter @SHOSports, @jcchavezjr1, @WarriorsBoxingProm, @TGBPromotions and @Swanson_Comm, follow the conversation using #ChavezReyes become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing andwww.Facebook.com/WarriorsBoxingPromo or visit the SHOWTIME Boxing Bloghttp://shosportspoundforpound.tumblr.com/.
boxing, ShoBox, Showtime Boxing

BLUE-CHIP PROSPECT SERGIY DEREVYANCHENKO TAKES ON ELVIN AYALA ON SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION TRIPLEHEADER

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Plus, Undefeated Ievgen Khytrov Returns Against Nick Brinson in Co-Feature and Knockout Artists Regis Prograis and Amos Cowart Clash In Telecast Opener

 

Live On SHOWTIME ® Friday, August 7 At 10 p.m. ET/PT

From Bally’s Atlantic City

 

NEW YORK (July 9, 2015) –Boxing returns to the Ballroom at Bally’s Atlantic City on Friday, Aug. 7 with an exciting ShoBox: The New Generation tripleheader featuring the return to the series of Ukrainian blue-chip middleweight prospect Sergiy Derevyanchenko (5-0, 4 KOs, WSOB: 23-1, 7 KOs) as he faces his toughest test to date, former world title challenger Elvin Ayala(28-6-1, 12 KOs) of Reading, Pa. This crossroads battle is scheduled for eight rounds in the middleweight division and will be televised live on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).

 

In the co-feature, Derevyanchenko’s stablemate, red-hot prospect Ievgen Khytrov (10-0, 9 KOs) of Krivoy Rih, Ukraine squares off against upset-minded Nick Brinson (17-3-2, 7 KOs) of Rochester, N.Y., in an eight-round middleweight matchup.

 

Opening the ShoBox telecast, undefeated knockout artists Regis Prograis (14-0, 12 KOs) of New Orleans, La., and Amos Cowart(11-0-1, 9 KOs) of Leesburg, Fla., will clash in an eight-round junior welterweight showdown.

 

The card is promoted by DiBella Entertainment in association with Fight Promotions Inc.

 

“I have been preparing for this fight for over a month now and still have another five weeks of camp left; everything is going according to plan,” said Derevyanchenko. “I can’t wait to showcase my skills to the world on Aug. 7 as the main event. I’m truly thankful to Al Haymon and my promoters DiBella Entertainment and Fight Promotions for giving me this opportunity.

 

“Ayala is an experienced and proven contender and, without a doubt, my toughest opponent to date. That being said, there is no doubt in my mind that I will come out victorious from this battle.”

 

“I never really understood till now that this is what I do,” said Ayala. “The fight life is the life I chose. It’s why I was born into a broken home. It’s why I’ve been broke since I was born, because the only place you can go from the bottom is either six feet deeper or up, I used to believe that I was doing this for my family and those close to me, but now I truly believe I’m doing this just for me. You will see that hunger and desire when I step into the ring on Aug. 7.”

 

“This will be my third time fighting on the ShoBox series this year, and I am looking to put on my most spectacular performance yet,” said Khytrov. “Every time I step into the ring, I am looking to showcase that I’m one of the best up-and-coming fighters in all of boxing. I have been training like never before and promise another sensational victory.”

 

“I’ve got too much experience for this guy and will dictate the fight and back him up,” said Brinson. “Amateur experience means nothing when you take this kind of step up. He will be fighting a true 160 pounder for the first time and he will understand what it is like to be bullied. I can’t wait to get in the ring.”

 

“Boxing is a dangerous and vicious sport and I want to prove that I am one of the most dangerous, and vicious fighters out there,” saidPrograis. “I must test myself against dangerous and vicious fighters. This fight is such a test; DiBella Entertainment promotes us both [my opponent and I], therefore, it goes without saying that Cowart has talent. This fight is an opportunity for us both, but someone will have to begin again. I expect it to be a competitive fight, but I will do what it takes to win. I am looking to move forward.”

 

“To be on national television and to showcase my talents and my will to win on a major network like SHOWTIME is a dream come true,” said Cowart. “This will be my second fight under the DBE umbrella and I would like to thank my promoter Lou DiBella and my manager Roy Cruz and the entire team at OPB for giving me this opportunity. I am looking forward to a tough fight against Regis Prograis, but most importantly, I’m looking forward to giving boxing fans what boxing is missing, an absolute war. There will be no running in this fight, exactly the type of fight I dream of every time I step into the ring.”

 

SHOWTIME is excited to come back to Bally’s Atlantic City, whereShoBox: The New Generation series originated over 14 years ago with a main event battle of undefeated lightweights featuring Leo Durin vs. Martin O’Malley. Durin won the clash with a ninth round TKO and went on to become the first of 62 fighters to date that have appeared on the series and have gone on to win world championships.

 

“Atlantic City, the Entertainment Capital of the Jersey Shore, andShoBox: The New Generation, the premiere host for live events, have long had the reputation for producing some of the world’s best-known fights and we are excited to welcome this match on Aug. 7 at Bally’s,” said Kevin Ortzman, President of Caesars and Bally’s Atlantic City. “Since our last boxing match, Bally’s has opened Guy Fieri’s Chophouse, Buca di Beppo, and most recently, we debuted a brand new gaming and live entertainment space at the Wild Wild West, which will be the perfect experience for the boxing community both before-and-after the fights.”

 

“Sergiy Derevyanchenko and Ievgen Khytrov are two of the elite prospects in all of boxing and the future of the middleweight division,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. “Elvin Ayala is an experienced contender coming off of an impressive upset over previously undefeated Ronald Gavril. Nick Brinson has never been in a bad fight and is a veteran of ShoBox, having scored an upset victory over Jorge Melendez on the series. The opening bout between Regis Prograis and Amos Cowart is a can’t-miss battle between two undefeated, young punchers.”

 

As an amateur, Derevyanchenko compiled an astonishing 390-20 record and represented his native Ukraine at the 2008 Olympics. He also won a bronze medal at the 2007 Amateur World Championships and competed in the World Series of Boxing, where he posted a 23-1 overall record and was the 2012 WSB Team Champion and 2011 and 2012 WSB Individual Champion. Derevyanchenko’s rise up in the world rankings is expected to be meteoric and anything less than a world championship would be a disappointment.

 

In Ayala, Derevyanchenko will meet his toughest and most experienced opponent to date. Ayala is 8-1 in his last nine bouts, with the lone loss coming against fellow middleweight contender and world title challenger Curtis Stevens. Ayala is coming off back-to-back upset victories in 2015, with the first coming over 27-1-1 Aaron Mitchell in January, and then earning an impressive eight-round unanimous decision over previously undefeatedRonald Gavril (13 -1 ) in his most recent bout. Ayala knows he cannot afford another loss in his career if he is going to get another crack at a piece of the middleweight championship and is looking to derail Derevyanchenko’s championship goals when they meet onAug. 7.

 

Known as the “Ukrainian Lion”, Khytrov has been on a tear since turning pro in December 2013. Hailing from Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, but now living and training in Brooklyn, N.Y., Khytrov, like his stable-mate Derevyanchenko, was a phenomenal amateur, accumulating a 480-20 record.  His amateur career culminated with a trip to the 2012 Olympics, where he was one of the favorites to win gold, but dropped a highly questionable decision to eventual gold medalist Anthony Ogogo.

 

Incredibly active as a pro, Khytrov notched six victories in 2014, including first-round knockouts over once-beaten prospects Willie Fortune and Louis Rose. Khytrov has not let off the gas in 2015, having already picked up three impressive wins, all on national TV, with two coming under the ShoBox banner.

 

In Brinson, Khytrov finds himself facing yet another tough opponent who has fought top competition for much of his career. Brinson is 8-2 in his last 10 bouts, with the losses coming against top undefeated prospect Dominic Wade and Olympian and recent world title challenger Andre Dirrell.

 

Both Khytrov and Brinson hold victories over Puerto Rican contender Jorge Melendez.

 

The opening matchup of the night between fellow knockout artists Regis Prograis and Amos Cowart is the exact type of matchup that the ShoBox series has been built on. The bout features two young, hungry, exciting and explosive undefeated prospects looking to burst onto the scene in both of their national TV debuts. Both fighters have devastating power in each hand and fight in very similar seek-and-destroy styles. Neither fighter is expected to take a step back for as long as the fight lasts.

 

The 26-year-old Prograis has knocked out eight consecutive opponents and is fully confident that Cowart will be victim number nine. Cowart, on the other hand, feels that Regis’ come-forward style will only spell disaster for his foe. Cowart is coming off his most impressive victory to date this past April when he scored a dramatic come-from-behind knockout over previously undefeated Anthony Burgin.

 

Tickets for the event, promoted by DiBella Entertainment in association with Fight Promotions Inc., are currently on sale and are priced at $120 and $60. Tickets can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000 or by visitingwww.ticketmaster.com.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. ET, with the first bout scheduled to start  at7:00 p.m. ET.

 

# # #

About ShoBox: The New Generation
Since its inception in July 2001, the critically acclaimed SHOWTIME boxing series, ShoBox: The New Generation has featured young talent matched tough. The ShoBox philosophy is to televise exciting, crowd-pleasing and competitive matches while providing a proving ground for willing prospects determined to fight for a world title. Some of the growing list of the 62 fighters who have appeared on ShoBox and advanced to garner world titles includes: Andre Ward, Deontay Wilder, Erislandy Lara, Shawn Porter, Gary Russell Jr., Lamont Peterson, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Omar Figueroa, Nonito Donaire, Devon Alexander, Carl Froch, Robert Guerrero, Timothy Bradley, Jessie Vargas, Juan Manuel Lopez, Chad Dawson, Paulie Malignaggi, Ricky Hatton, Kelly Pavlik, Paul Williams and more.

boxing, ShoBox, Showtime Boxing

Antoine Douglas – Istvan Szili for WBC Latino and IBO Intercontinental Middleweight titles to headline on ShoBox, July 17 at Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem

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Derrick Webster to take on Arif Magomedov for NABO Middleweight title

Adam Lopez – Eliecer Aquino for WBA FEDELATIN and WBC Interim Latino Super Bantamweight title

Jerry Odom to battle Samuel Clarkson in opening bout of televised quadruple-header

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Bethlehem, PA (July, 9, 2015)–On Friday, July 17 at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem, Antoine Douglas (17-0-1, 11 KO’s) of Burke, VA. will defend his WBC Latino and vie for the vacant IBO Intercontinental Middleweight title when he takes on Istvan Szili (18-0-2, 8 KO’s) of Frenkendorf, Switzerland in a bout that will headline a televised quadruple-header on Showtime’s ShoBox: The New Generation.

The fight is scheduled for 10-rounds.

The show is promoted by GH3 Promotions in association with King’s Promotions, Greg Cohen Promotions and Main Events.

In the televised co-feature, Derrick Webster (19-0, 10 KO’s) of Glassboro, NJ will take on Arif Magomedov (15-0, 9 KO’s) of Russia in 10-round battle for the NABO Middleweight title.

In another title clash, Adam Lopez (12-0, 6 KO’s) of San Antonio, Texas will take on Eliecer Aquino (17-0-1, 11 KO’s) of Higuey, Dominican Republic in a 10-round Super Bantamweight bout for the WBA FEDELATIN and WBC Interim Latino titles.

The opening bout will pit Super Middleweight’s Jerry Odom (13-1, 12 KO’s) of Washington, DC and Samuel Clarkson (14-3, 8 KO’s) of Ceder Hill, TX in a bout scheduled for 8-rounds.

Some of the best talent in the country will be on display on the non-televised undercard as scheduled to appear will be undefeated Rob Brant (15-0, 9 KO’s) of Minnesota taking on an opponent to be named in a 6-round Middleweight bout.

Natu Visinia (11-1, 9 KO’s) of Clinton, IL. will rematch Jon Bolden (7-10-1, 5 KO’s) of New York, NY. in a 6-round Heavyweight bout.

Light Heavyweight Lavarn Harvell (14-1, 7 KO’s) of Atlantic City, NJ will take on an opponent to be named in a bout scheduled for 6-rounds.

Super Middleweight Christopher Brooker (3-0, 3 KO’s) of Philadelphia, PA will fight Botirsher Obidov (1-0-1) of Florida in a 4-round bout.

Super Bantamweight Manny Folly (4-0, 3 KO’s) of Philadelphia, PA will square off with Gabriel Braxton (2-10, 1 KO) of Redwood, GA. in 4-round bout.

Lightweight Samuel Teah (5-1, 3 KO’s) of Philadelphia, PA. will box Raymond Velez (3-7) of Albany, NY in a 4-round bout.

Lightweight Bienvenidio Diaz (2-0, 2 KO’s) of Paterson, NJ will fight Oscar Bonilla (3-1-2, 2 KO’s) of New Haven, Connecticut in a bout scheduled for four rounds.

Also on the card will be a 4-round Jr. Middleweight bout between Ricky Nuno (1-0) of Bethlehem, PA taking on Tim Kunkel.

Tickets are priced at $100, $75 and $50 and can be purchased at Ticketmaster and www.ticketmaster.com

1st Bout is 7 PM with the Showtime broadcast beginning at 10 PM ET.

GH3 Promotions features undefeated Middleweight Antoine Douglas, Super Middleweight’s Jerry Odom & Derrick Webster, undefeated Super Bantamweight Adam Lopez as well as Boxcino 2015 Jr. Middleweight Champion John Thompson, Jr., undefeated Welterweight Jerrell Harris,undefeated Super Bantamweight Qa’id Muhammad, lightweight Oscar Bonilla, Heavyweight Natu Visinia, Light Heavyweight Lavarn Harvell & Jr. Lightweight O’Shanique Foster to the GH3 Promotions stable.

boxing, Showtime Boxing

JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ JR., ALEJANDRO GONZALEZ JR., CHRIS ARREOLA, JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ SR., & TRAINER ROBERT GARCIA MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES & PHOTOS

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Chavez Jr. Looks To Get Back On Track Against Marcos Reyes Next Saturday, July 18 At The Don Haskins Center, Live On SHOWTIME®

 

Click HERE To Download Photos

Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea/SHOWTIME

 

“I feel like I am in a good place now. I need to have a dominant performance to show my fans what I am capable of.”

– Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.

 

Tickets Still Available!

 

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (July 9, 2015) – Former world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., super bantamweight contender Alejandro “Cobrita” Gonzalez Jr. and heavyweight contender Chris “The Nightmare” Arreolaparticipated in a media workout on Wednesday at Robert Garcia Boxing Academy in Riverside, Calif., prior to their upcoming fights on Premier Boxing Champions on CBS and SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING®.  The fights will take place as part of an afternoon-night doubleheader on Saturday, July 18, at theDon Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas, live on CBS Sports (4 p.m. ET/ 1 p.m. PT) and SHOWTIME(10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT).

 

PBC on CBS will kick-off the action with a doubleheader featuring the U.S. debut of undefeated Irish championCarl Frampton (20-0, 14 KOs), who will defend his IBF Junior Featherweight World Championship against Mexican contender Gonzalez Jr. (25-1-2, 15 KOs) in the 12-round main event.  In the 10-round co-feature, heavyweight star Arreola(36-4, 31 KOs), of Los Angeles takes on Cameroonian heavyweight Frederic Kassi(18-3, 10 KOs).

 

In the main event of the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXINGdoubleheader later that evening, Mexican superstar Chavez, Jr. (48-2-1, 32 KOs) meets fellow Mexican brawler Marcos Reyes (33-2, 24 KOs) in a 10-round super middleweight bout.

 

The 12-round co-main event will feature a pair of top bantamweights, as Puerto Rican Olympian McJoe Arroyo(16-0, 8 KOs) and Arthur Villanueva (27-0, 14 KOs), of the Philippines put their undefeated records on the line for the IBF Bantamweight World Championship.

 

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. is the first fighter to train at Robert Garcia’s new boxing academy in Riverside, which opened June 8.  Garcia formerly trained all of his boxers at his well-known gym in Oxnard, Calif.

 

Julio Cesar Chavez, arguably the greatest Mexican fighter of all time, made an appearance during his son’s workout to show his support and offer words of encouragement.

 

Here’s what Chavez Jr., Gonzalez Jr., Arreola, Julio Cesar Chavez and Robert Garcia (Chavez Jr.’s trainer) had to say Wednesday at the Riverside gym:

 

 

JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ JR., Former World Champion

“I think Robert Garcia was the best option for me after my last fight.  He speaks Spanish and knows the Mexican style. He has trained a lot of champions and I have a good connection with him.

 

“I missed the basics of boxing training for the last fight.  Since I had such a long layoff, I needed to get back to the basics and I never did.

 

“I feel like I am in a good place right now. I am confident in my boxing ability because I know I am in the right condition.  I sparred 10 rounds yesterday, this never happened in my last fight.

 

“I must win this fight and then everyone will see that I am capable of fighting the big names like [Gennady] Golovkin and [Carl] Froch.

 

“I must stay prepared and focus on my current opponent.  He’s only 27 and has the ability.

 

“I learned a lot in my fight against [Andrzej] Fonfara.  I really felt his punches, I became very tired.  He taught me that I needed to spend more time in the gym and on my strategy.  But I don’t think it was the wrong decision to fight him.

 

“I am currently training not just for my fight with [Marcos] Reyes, but also for a potential rematch with Fonfara.

 

“I feel like I need to have a dominant performance to show my fans what I am capable of.  I must work my jab and use my defense.

 

“For this fight I will be at 168, but I am not sure what I will weigh for my fights in the future.  I’m ready for less than 168 to face opponents like Canelo [Alvarez].”

 

 

ALEJANDRO GONZALEZ JR., Super Bantamweight Contender

“I have a big chance, a great opportunity.  I am going to take advantage of it.

 

“For this fight we worked differently in training camp than all my other camps.  I worked more on my defense, my attack and counter punches.  Everything about this camp is different and focused solely on Frampton.

 

“It’s Frampton’s first time coming to the United States and he wants to be a superstar.  But, in order to become a superstar he must first get by me.

 

“I know that he’s a great fighter with a lot of experience and a hard-hitting punch, but nothing that I can’t handle.

 

“I’m not going to be afraid of anyone.  Even though this will be the biggest fight of my career. I won’t be nervous.

 

“Ever since my lone loss to [Juan Alberto] Rosas last year, I gained a lot of experience.  I think I am ready for this test.

 

“He’s looking at me as the fighter who lost to Rosas, but I’m a different fighter now.”

 

 

CHRIS ARREOLA, Heavyweight Contender

“I expect to step in the ring in the high 240s.  That’s about where I need to be.  Just staying in shape and making sure I don’t balloon up like I have.  My last fight when I weighed 263 I could easily cut weight to 255, but what for?  I’m a big heavyweight.   I messed up by overeating and it’s my fault.  No one else to blame but me.  I’m not going to cut any vanity weight.  Why would I?  I’m a heavyweight.

 

“I will never quit in a fight.  Broken nose, broken ribs, broken whatever.  You would have to kill me in the ring before I ever quit.

 

“I watched Kassi’s last fight.  He’s a good mover and switches a lot.  The main thing I’m going to have to do is catch him when he’s flinching, because he’s flinching out of nowhere.

 

“I’ve got to make a statement and I have to give myself a shot for a world title fight.  Title shots don’t come around every day so when they do you got to take them.”

 

 

JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ

“Julio is more relaxed and confident in his training.  It’s never too late to start over.  I hope on Saturday that we will see a new Julio.

 

“The loss to Fonfara didn’t take him down, it woke him up.  Now he must take a new path and win in a dominant fashion.

 

“I didn’t want him to take the fight with Fonfara because he wasn’t at the same weight and he was coming off a year of inactivity.

 

“I think that this is the right weight for Julio.  He is taking on a challenger who trains well and is young.  Julio has the essential qualities to step ahead and forge a new path.”

 

 

ROBERT GARCIA, Chavez Jr.s’ Trainer

“I think everything has come together so much easier than I expected.  Julio is training every day, he’s sparring.  He’s doing everything he has to do.  It’s been easier than I ever expected.

 

“We start at 7:30 p.m. and we train till 11 p.m. sometimes.  He’s training so much.  He loves to train.  Sometimes he goes in my swimming pool and swims for 15 or 20 minutes.

 

“Junior has his own style, and I’m not going to change that.  I’m just correcting little things; making sure he doesn’t have his head in front of his opponent and letting them hit him like they did his last couple of fights.  I want him to use the jab a little more and move side to side.

 

“I love it out here in Riverside.  I own the whole property so my fighters all stay here. We have horses and it’s quiet.  It’s just so different than Oxnard where 40 or 50 fighters could walk in at any time.”

 

 

 

# # #

 

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Chavez Promotions, in association with TGB and Warriors Boxing, are priced at $200, $100, $75, $50 and $25 dollars and are on sale now. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000 or the University Ticket Center at (915) 747-5234. Tickets are also available at www.ticketmaster.com.

 

For more information visit www.sports.sho.com, follow on Twitter @SHOSports, @jcchavezjr1, @WarriorsBoxingProm, @TGBPromotions and @Swanson_Comm, follow the conversation using #ChavezReyes become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing and www.Facebook.com/WarriorsBoxingPromo or visit the SHOWTIME Boxing Blog http://shosportspoundforpound.tumblr.com/.
boxing, Showtime Boxing

READY TO WIN ONE FOR THE LITTLE GUYS: INTRODUCING MARCOS “DORADO” REYES

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“I really don’t care about the size difference. I’m a better fighter than him.”

 

“Chavez is the son of a giant, but there’s a saying that goes ‘the sons of giants are dwarfs.’  They never live up to expectations and become giants like their fathers.” – Marcos Reyes

 

Reyes Faces Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.,

In Main Event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING®Doubleheader

 Saturday, July 18, Live on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT)

 

NEW YORK (July 6, 2015) – One of the most recognizable names in boxing, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (48-2-1, 32 KOs) will attempt to get back on the winning track when he meets Mexico’s Marcos “Dorado” Reyes (33-2, 24 KOs) on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIPBOXING® live on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT) on Saturday, July 18, from theDon Haskins Center at UTEP in El Paso, Texas.

 

Chavez is a Mexican superstar and former middleweight world champion.  He’s also the son of legendary Julio Cesar Chavez Sr., a six-time world champion in three weight classes considered, by acclamation, as the greatest Mexican fighter of all time and as one of the best boxers of all time.

 

So who is Marcos Reyes?

 

“I’m the boxer who’s going to beat Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.,” he said. “I’m the one who’s going to take advantage of my opportunity of a lifetime.  I’m the one who’ll show everybody that I’m a better fighter than him.

 

“I’ve proven to be a good fighter in my career but I’m hungry to be something more.  I want to make a name for myself.  I’m not intimidated.  I want to beat Chavez so I can fight with the best.”

 

Reyes, of Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico, is 27.  An eight-year-pro, he stands 6-foot-1, the identical height of Chavez.  Chavez is the naturally bigger boxer, of course, a fact that’s not been lost on anybody, including most certainly Reyes.

 

“When they told me about the Chavez fight, I couldn’t believe it,” Reyes said.  “I just said, ‘OK, let’s do it.’ I just didn’t care about anything but making the fight.  I wanted this fight to happen so badly.

 

“I’m a 160-pound fighter, but I really didn’t care about the size difference.  I just wanted the chance against him.  I know I’m a better fighter than him.  I can do much more than him inside the ring.  I can take (a punch) at my weight, I can go toe-to-toe or I can box.  I can use my legs, jab, keep busy in there.  He can’t.

 

“That’s why I’m so excited and happy about this fight.  It’s the major leagues.  It’s everything.  It’s my chance to show the people in the world how good I am.  It can open the door to all the big fights.  I’m going to leave everything I have in the ring, I’m putting my whole heart on the line.”

 

Chavez achieved his success at middleweight but has been scrapping at super middleweight and beyond since abandoning the 160-pound division after a loss to Sergio Martinez in September 2012.

 

Last April 18 on SHOWTIME, Chavez took the dangerous step to move up in weight to face the naturally larger Andrzej Fonfara.  Chavez, who measured 171½ pounds at the weigh-in, Chavez went down in the ninth, made it to his corner after the bell but chose not to continue in a fight he was losing by the scores of 89-80 and 88-81 twice.

 

Chavez has since changed trainers and will be working with Robert Garcia for the 168-pound, 10-round rumble with Reyes.  Reyes will be trained for this fight by International Boxing Hall of Famer Ignacio “Nacho” Beristain.  Until recently, Reyes was trained by Robert Garcia.

 

“This is my second fight in a row with Nacho and fourth overall,” Reyes said, “but I spent most of the last two years training with Robert at his gym.  So Robert and I are on excellent terms.  I know he’s training Chavez now.  But I’m also sure Robert already knows that I’m a better fighter than Chavez is.”

 

“I saw his last fight with Fonfara; Chavez is going down now, I am going up.  The right time to beat Chavez is now.”

 

Reyes isn’t a braggart, merely a determined, confident kid anxiously closing in on a matchup he’s wanted and dreamed of for years.

 

“Of course there’s pressure on me, but Chavez is the fighter with the name,” Reyes said.  “Chavez is the son of a giant, but there’s a saying that goes ‘the sons of giants are dwarfs.’  They never live up to expectations and become giants like their fathers.”

 

Reyes does have concerns about July 18, but they don’t have anything to do with Chavez Jr.

 

“I am worried a little about the judges if the fight goes the distance,” he said.  “Maybe I have a bad decision go against me.  So I don’t want it to go to the judges.  I want to finish him before the 10 full rounds.

 

“From the first bell, I’ll be throwing punches and I will keep throwing punches.  I will do what I have to do to knock Chavez out.”

 

On being the son of a famous father/fighter, Reyes can empathize with what Chavez Jr., has had to endure.  However, Reyes is quick to point out the inherent advantages that go along with it.  He also puts some of the burden on Julio Jr., for not being his own self in the ring.

 

“I think it is hard to handle being the son of someone famous,” Reyes said.  “His father was an icon and he wants to follow the same steps, but he didn’t have it nearly as hard as his father did.  Being the son brings on its own issues.  Chavez doesn’t possess the qualities his dad had yet he wants to fight like his father.  But he shouldn’t.  His dad was short, he’s tall. He shouldn’t try to fight like him at all.

 

“Chavez is his son and has the same name, but in the ring he’s just a guy with the name of Julio Cesar Chavez.  He’s not the same as his father and will never be.

 

“I just don’t see Chavez as a better boxer than me.”

 

Like the vast majority of Mexican boxers, Reyes idolized Chavez Sr.

 

“Julio Sr. was one of my first idols.  I remember watching him when I was five,” Reyes said. “He was one of the main reasons I started to box.  Then when I watched Oscar De La Hoya he became one of my idols.  I saw a lot of their fights.  And Roy Jones Jr.’s fights, too; he was also one of my idols.”

 

At one time during the past year Reyes was world-ranked at middleweight in the WBC (No. 9) and the IBF (No. 15).  He’s campaigned almost exclusively in Mexico where he defeated a string of tough, rugged contenders.  This will be his fourth U.S. appearance, second in three fights and second in Texas.

 

“This is very exciting for me to fight on SHOWTIME,” the come-forward boxer-puncher said.  “It’s my first main event on a major television network and I’m proud and very happy about it.  This is my time and I’m going to take advantage and do what I need to do against Chavez.”

 

Reyes went 63-7 in the amateurs, was a six-time Mexican national champion and a representative of the Mexican National Team in both the 2006 and 2007 Pan American Games.  He turned pro at age 19 in April 2007.

 

In his third fight Reyes captured the Mexican super welterweight title with a third-round TKO.  In his seventh start and United States debut, in July 2008 in Corpus Christi, Texas, he registered a third-round TKO.  Reyes, in his 11th outing, defeated one of Mexico’s all-time most popular former world champions when he outpointed Luis Ramon “Yory Boy” Campas over 12 rounds in March 2009.

 

Reyes made it to 13-0 before he suffered his initial loss on a 10-round decision to Amilcar Milian in 2010.  After losing to Milian, Reyes won his next 19 consecutive fights before losing a controversial majority 10-round decision to El Paso’s Abie Han last Oct. 18 in Carson, Calif.  Reyes’ trainer that night?  Robert Garcia.

 

Reyes might have won two or three of the first seven rounds against Han, but he made things interesting when he scored a knockdown with 30 seconds remaining in the eighth.  Han also crumpled to the canvas from a seemingly meaningless left hook to the chest that may have landed a split second after the bell sounded in the eighth. The first was scored a knockdown, the second was not.

 

The knockdown got Reyes back into the fight and he was on his way to winning the ninth round, too, except that the referee deducted a point from him for a late hit (short left hook to the face) that appeared to clearly connect before the bell.

 

“I was angry with the judges in that fight,” Reyes said.  “I thought I won.  I don’t know what happened. I dropped him twice in the eighth but I only got credit for one.  I got credit for the first one late in the round but the second one in the closing seconds of the round I did not.”

 

Reyes, who has mostly campaigned at 154 and 160 pounds, tipped the scale at a personal-high 165½ pounds for his most recent fight, a unanimous eight-round decision win over David Alonso Lopez last Jan. 24.  Reyes won by 77-74 twice and 76-75 despite going down in the second.

 

# # #

In the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING co-feature, unbeaten fighters McJoe Arroyo(16-0, 8 KOs) of Puerto Rico and Arthur Villanueva (27-0, 12 KOs) of the Philippines will clash in a 12-rounder for the vacant IBF Super Flyweight World title.

 

The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast will conclude an action-packed weekend on SHOWTIME and CBS Sports that will feature three different boxing series.  It begins on Friday, July 17, with a ShoBox: The New Generation quadrupleheader live on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/PT) and ends with a day-night Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on CBS and SCB doubleheader on July 18.

 

Just hours earlier from the Don Haskins Center, PBC on CBS (live at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT) will offer a terrific doubleheader. In the main event, undefeated British superstar Carl Frampton (20-0, 14 KOs) will make his U.S. debut when he defends his IBF Super Bantamweight World title against Alejandro “Cobrita“ Gonzalez Jr. (25-1-2, 15 KOs).  The co-main event will feature exciting heavyweight Chris “The Nightmare“ Arreola (36-4, 31 KOs) against an opponent to be announced.
boxing, Showtime Boxing

SPECIAL TICKET DEAL OFFERED TO FANS FOR THE ACTION-PACKED PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS & SHOWTIME® BACK-TO-BACK EVENTS ON SATURDAY, JULY 18 FROM THE DON HASKINS CENTER IN EL PASO, TEXAS

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Ticket Purchased For Saturday Night’s SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® Card Include Admission For Saturday Afternoon’s

Premier Boxing Champions on CBS Event

 

EL PASO, TX (July 2, 2015) – Boxing fans in West Texas have a sensational opportunity on Saturday, July 18 to attend two world-class boxing events on the same day at the same venue!

 

A full day of action from the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas, kicks off with an afternoon session of Premier Boxing Champions on CBS, with doors opening at 12:00 p.m. MT, while the evening session of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING begins with the doors opening at 5:30 p.m. MT.

 

Fans purchasing tickets for the evening session will also be provided a ticket for the afternoon card as well.

 

Tickets for the live events are priced at $200, $100, $75, $50 and $25 dollars and are on sale now. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000 or the University Ticket Center at (915) 747-5234. Tickets are also available atwww.ticketmaster.com.

 

Headlining the evening session is the return to El Paso of former world champion and son of Mexican boxing legend Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.,  (48-2-1, 32 KOs), who fights in El Paso for the second time, in a 10-round super middleweight bout against hard-hittingMarcos “Dorado” Reyes, (33-2, 24 KOs).

 

The afternoon’s main event features the United States debut of undefeated Irish superstarCarl Frampton, (20-0, 14 KOs) in a ten round featherweight clash with quick-fisted featherweight Alejandro “Cobrita” Gonzalez, Jr. (25-1-2, 15 KOs).

 

Also featured on the PBC on CBS telecast will be the return of Mexican-American heavyweight star Chris Arreola, (36-4, 31 KOs).

 

For more information visit www.sports.sho.com, www.premierboxingchampions.com,follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @SHOSports, @jccchavez1, @RealCFrampton, @WarriorsBoxingProm, @TGBPromotions and @Swanson_Comm and follow the conversation using #ChavezReyes and #FramptonGonzalez become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing and www.Facebook.com/WarriorsBoxingPromo or visit the SHOWTIME Boxing Blog http://shosportspoundforpound.tumblr.com/.