Comerio, Puerto Rico (November 15, 2015) – 122 pound contender Luis “Orlandito” Del Valle improved to 20-2 with 15 knockouts following a one-sided beatdown of 56-fight veteran Juan Jose Beltran yesterday evening at the Auditorio Municipal in Comierio, Puerto Rico.
Fighting in front of a passionate hometown crowd, Del Valle dominated from the get go, dropping his Mexican foe in the opening round then following up with an onslaught of punches. Del Valle continued to take the fight to Beltran in the second, ripping him with hard shots to the body and head. Beaten and battered, Beltran elected not to come out for the third round, sending the pro-Del Valle crowd into a frenzy.
“I went in there and did what I had to,” said Del Valle. “Beltran came into this fight over the original contract weight by a significant amount, so I had to make him pay the price because I work hard in camp. Even with the unexpected weight issue, I did what I was expected to.”
With Beltran out of his way, the Bayamon native has his sights set on the 122 pound division’s upper echelon.
“The reason I am in this sport is to be the best and fight the best. Since I’ve had a few setbacks, I know I’ve got to show the boxing world that I’m still here. For my next fight, I’d love to face anybody ranked in the top fifteen of the super bantamweight division. I have what it takes to beat these guys and get a title shot. I’ll do whatever it takes to get there!”
Fans can interact with Del Valle on Twitter @Orlanditoboxing.
Bayamon, PR (November 10, 2015) – Popular Puerto Rican contender Luis “Orlandito” Del Valle will face upset minded Juan Jose Beltran in an eight round contest Saturday, November 14 at the Auditorio Municipal de Comerio in Comerio, Puerto Rico.
Tickets from $12 are available at TCPR.com or by calling787-792-5000. The card is presented by Miguel Cotto Promotions. The Del Valle-Beltran bout will air via tape delay on Friday, November 20 on Unimas.
A pro for close to two decades, Beltran hails from the boxing crazed nation of Mexico. The 56 fight veteran battled numerous world champions and top contenders including Leo Santa Cruz, Jorge Arce, Eric Morel, Hugo Cazares, Claudio Marrero, Rico Ramos, Jesus Rojas and Jonathan Oquendo among others. In his most recent bout, Beltran outpointed Arturo Delgado over eight rounds. He also owns a win over two time title challenge Akihiko Nago and is out for revenge against Del Valle, who stopped him in four rounds back in 2013.
“Beltran has a lot of experience and has fought some of the best fighters in the world,” said Del Valle, who sports an excellent 19-2 record with 14 victories by knockout. “I give him credit for stepping up because a lot of guys didn’t want to take this fight. I need to dominate but it’s always dangerous fighting a guy with nothing to lose. Mexico vs Puerto Rico is boxing’s biggest rivalry and I know he wants to knock me out in front of my people to avenge his prior defeat. I’m not about to let that happen because I know there are bigger opportunities on the horizon, so my goal is to score another knockout and target all of the top super bantamweights!”
Fans can interact with Del Valle on Twitter @OrlanditoBoxing.
LOS ANGELES (November 6, 2015) – WBC, Ring Magazine and Lineal Middleweight World Champion Miguel Cotto (40-4, 33 KOs) hosted a media workout on Nov. 5 with his renowned trainer Freddie Roach at Wild Card Boxing Club in Los Angeles ahead of his Nov. 21 mega-fight against former WBC and WBA Super Welterweight World Champion Canelo Alvarez (45-1-1, 32 KOs) at the Mandalay Bay Events Center which will produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View.
Below is what Cotto and Roach had to say:
MIGUEL COTTO, WBC, Ring Magazine & Lineal Middleweight World Champion
“I don’t care about Canelo’s age. I don’t care about his size. I’m just here to do my work and be ready for Nov. 21. I can tell you that I am going to be in the best shape on Nov. 21.
“I don’t care how Canelo is doing in training camp. I hope he can get in his best shape.
“People will have to wait to see on Nov. 21 if Canelo’s age is stronger than Miguel’s spirit. OnNov. 21, people are going to see the best Miguel Cotto they have ever seen.
“Freddie had the opportunity to make Miguel Cotto work better and harder. With Freddie, I just realized that I could bring more to every day. I’m here to follow everything Freddie wants me to do in training camp.
“The biggest tool I have on my side is Freddie Roach. They know what Freddie Roach means in boxing. They know what Freddie Roach is capable of doing with Miguel Cotto.
“They know what Miguel Cotto is capable of doing in his fights. I’m going to bring the same level of emotion to this fight.
“I’m going into the ring with our plan in mind and will implement it.
“The Mexican-Puerto Rican rivalry is one of the biggest in boxing. It’s in our hands to present the fight at the same level of intensity everyone expects. Mexico is a lot bigger than Puerto Rico, but we have something in our boxers that make us able to compete at the same level.
“I am a boxer. I’m here working and looking forward to Nov. 21. We are working for the victory and that is what we are going to get on Nov. 21.”
FREDDIE ROACH, International Boxing Hall of Famer & Seven-Time BWAA Trainer of the Year Award Winner, Miguel Cotto Trainer
“I believe this is going to be the best fight of the year. I think it’s a great match up. I think its youth versus experience. How much is Canelo’s youth going to take a toll on him? How much will it help him? I think you get a little bit of everything. You get Mexico versus Puerto Rico. You get youth versus experience. This fight brings a lot to the table. It’s the perfect match. It’s a very exciting fight.
“Canelo is only about a half-inch taller [then Miguel]. He doesn’t have a huge height advantage or reach advantage over us. I don’t think he’s stronger than we are. I think we are the better puncher out there. We have more experience. We beat a lot of guys a lot better than him along the way. He’s just another guy to us.
“We’ve had four sparring partners against Miguel each day. That’s for breaking the fighter down and hitting the body. We take their legs away from them. I feel that our opponent does a lot on his own. He’s not that disciplined. He’s a young guy. He’s the playboy. He’s a good looking guy. He gets all the girls like Oscar De La Hoya, but the thing is, those girls are not going to help him in this fight.
“I have the better fighter. We’ve fought better opposition. We’ve been in there with better fighters. We’ve learned after the process of going through this and he’s still at the beginning of the learning stage. Who knows how far he’ll go? Miguel’s gone a long, long way. We’ve proven ourselves and we’ll prove ourselves again on Nov. 21. I promise.
“Miguel and I get along really well together. We’re just working out the strategy of the fight. Both of us work together combining what he’s comfortable with and what I’m comfortable with and it works out really well.
“I think we’ll give Canelo a boxing lesson for about five rounds and then I think we’ll turn it up from that point on. After five, I am going to have Miguel go out there and trade with him a little bit and when Canelo slows down a little bit, I think we will knock him out in about eight or nine rounds.”
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Cotto vs. Canelo, a 12-round fight for Cotto’s WBC and Ring Magazine Middleweight World Championships, takes place Saturday, Nov. 21 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. The fight is presented by Roc Nation Sports, Golden Boy Promotions, Miguel Cotto Promotions and Canelo Promotions and sponsored by Corona Extra; Mexico, Live it to Believe it!; O’Reilly Auto Parts; Tequila Cazadores and Corporate Travel Made Simple (ctms). Also featured on the pay-per-view telecast will be Takashi Muira vs. Francisco Vargas in a 12-round fight for the WBC Super Featherweight World Championship presented in association with Teiken Promotions and Jayson Velez vs. Ronny Rios is a 10-round featherweight. The event will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.
Randy Caballero vs. Lee Haskins, a 12-round fight for the IBF Bantamweight World Championship, is presented in association with Bristol Boxing Ltd. and will be featured as part of the preliminary undercards available on digital platforms starting at 7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT.
A limited number of tickets priced at $2,000, $1,750, $1,250 and $650, not including applicable service charges, can be purchased at the Mandalay Bay box office, ticketmaster.com,mandalaybay.com, all Ticketmaster locations or by calling (800) 745-3000. Ticket orders are limited to four per person.
Tickets for closed circuit viewings of Cotto vs. Canelo at select MGM Resorts International properties in Las Vegas are priced at $75, not including applicable service charges, and can be purchased at all MGM Resorts International Ticket Offices, http://www.ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations or by calling (800) 745-3000.
Miguel Cotto vs. Canelo Alvarez will be presented live with Fathom Events in select theaters nationwide. Tickets for theater screenings of Cotto vs. Canelo can be purchased online by visiting www.FathomEvents.com or at participating theater box offices. For a complete list of theater locations visit www.fathomevents.com/event/cotto-vs-canelo-live.
Sports bars, restaurants, casinos (outside of Clark County, Nevada) and other commercial establishments can order Cotto vs. Canelo by contacting Joe Hand Promotions at (800) 557-4263 or by visiting www.JoeHandPromotions.com. Joe Hand Promotions is the exclusive commercial distributor for Cotto vs. Canelo throughout the United States and Canada.
On Thursday, November 5th in Washington DC, Javier “El Chino” Flores will step in the ring at the 25th Annual Fight for Children Night with the WBC United States National Welterweight Championship (“USNBC”) on the line. Flores, one of Roc Nation’s most promising prospects, has been in the game for some time but is now poised to take the next step towards a championship as he battles a tough Jaime Herrera (12-1-3 7 KOs) in a 10 round bout.
Flores of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico is currently in camp in Orlando, Florida and is training hard for his first title opportunity. Said Flores, “camp has been very good and we are working hard to bring home the victory to Puerto Rico.” The southpaw Flores is a come forward fan friendly fighter who describes himself as a power boxer that can box from the outside or rumble on the inside. His current record stands at an impressive 12-0 with 11 KOs. Having been sidelined previously with managerial issues, Flores is ready to increase his activity level and show that he is the best fighter in Roc Nation’s stable not named Miguel Cotto or Andre Ward. Flores feels the timing is right for him to break out and establish his own name. In Herrera, Flores is facing a battle- tested veteran who has victories over Patrick Boozer, Michael Finney and his biggest win to date when he stopped former world title challenger Mike Jones just 15 months ago. Said Flores of Herrera, “he’s a durable fighter, very strong. He likes to come forward and is not afraid to mix it up, which I like. We are preparing for a war and working hard to make sure that we come out victorious on November 5th.”
Fores is managed by boxing attorney Rick Torres of Victory Sports & Entertainment and noted boxing advisor Gaby Penagaricano. Said Torres, “we feel Chino is ready to take the next step and that he will soon be ready to challenge the best of the Welterweight division. We’re very appreciative of the opportunity that Roc Nation has given us and are confident Chino will deliver a title on November 5th; we’re also honored to take part in such a prestigious charity event in Washington DC and know that Chino is going to steal the show.”
CABALLERO VS. HASKINS WILL BE AVAILABLE LIVE ON MULTIPLE DIGITAL OUTLETS
LOS ANGELES (October 29, 2015) – Making the first defense of his IBF Bantamweight World Title, Randy “El Matador” Caballero (22-0, 13 KOs) will headline the preliminary undercard preceding the HBO Pay-Per-View® telecast of the Miguel Cotto vs. Canelo Alvarez event on Saturday, November 21 as he faces off against England’s Lee “Playboy” Haskins (32-3, 14 KOs) at TheMandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.The 12-round world championship bout will be available to view digitally on HBO Boxing’s YouTube Page, TIDAL.com andGoldenBoyPromotions.com, along with other websites and outlets to be announced shortly. Additional undercard fights will be announced separately.
“I am excited to be fighting in one of the biggest cards of the year,” said Caballero. “I have been out of the ring for about a year and it has been hard watching all the great shows, but I am ready to come out strong and defend my title. I know Lee is a tough guy, there is a reason why he is my mandatory, but his style will make me shine on fight night. This training camp has been wonderful, my body feels different, and we have been training very hard to make sure I remain the champion. I feel there is more to accomplish, and this is my big opportunity to shine and stand out on Nov. 21.”
“Randy has the charisma, athleticism, fan-friendly fighting style and now a world title to make him one of the future top stars in the sport,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “Fans watching Randy’s fight live at The Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas and at home on the preliminary undercard on Nov. 21 are in for a real treat when he makes his first title defense against Lee Haskins, who, like Randy, is one of the top fighters in the bantamweight division right now. This fight will be a clash between two warriors and a great precursor to the guaranteed action in the main event with Miguel Cotto and Canelo Alvarez that night.”
“All my life I have dreamed about boxing in Las Vegas and now my dreams have come true,” said Haskins. “I have great respect for Randy Caballero, and I will be in the best shape of my life with all intentions of bringing the IBF World Bantamweight belt home. You best believe I am as fit as a butcher`s dog. I am counting the days for when I arrive in U.S.A. Let’s get it on!”
The fighting pride of the Coachella Valley in California, Randy “El Matador” Caballero is one of the sport’s most intriguing rising stars and as the IBF World Bantamweight Champion prepares for his Las Vegas debut, he is on the verge of taking his career to the next level in a big way. “El Matador” Caballero has gone from local hero to international standout over the course of a professional career that began in 2010, as his meteoric rise has seen him defeat the likes of Alexis “Beaver” Santiago, Jose Luis “Tapitas” Araiza, Manuel “Suavecito” Roman and Luis “Titi” Maldonado. In 2014, the 25-year-old took his show on the road as he traveled to Kobe, Japan to defeat Kohei Oba via eighth-round technical knockout. The victory earned the 24-year-old Caballero a shot at a world championship, and on October 25, 2014 he packed his bags once again, as he traveled to the Salle des ‘Etoiles in Monte Carlo to defeat England’s Stuart Hall for the vacant IBF World Bantamweight Championship.
British southpaw Lee “Playboy” Haskins has had a big 2015 campaign thus far. The Bristol native regained the EBU Bantamweight Title in February with a decision win over Omar Lamiri and then took the interim IBF Bantamweight crown in June by stopping Ryosuke Iwasa in six rounds. This November, the 31-year-old will attempt to unify the title with the highly touted Caballero and is determined to go back to England with the belt.
Cotto vs. Canelo, a 12-round fight for Cotto’s WBC and Ring Magazine Middleweight World Championships, takes place Saturday, Nov. 21 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. The fight is presented by Roc Nation Sports, Golden Boy Promotions, Miguel Cotto Promotions and Canelo Promotions and sponsored by Corona Extra; Mexico, Live it to Believe it!; O’Reilly Auto Parts; Tequila Cazadores and Corporate Travel Made Simple (ctms). Also featured on the pay-per-view telecast will be Takashi Muira vs. Francisco Vargas in a 12-round fight for the WBC Super Featherweight World Championship presented in association with Teiken Promotions and Jayson Velez vs. Ronny Rios is a 10-round featherweight. The event will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. Randy Caballero vs. Lee Haskins is a 12-round fight for the IBF Bantamweight World Championship presented in association with Bristol Boxing Ltd. and will be featured as part of the preliminary undercards available on digital platforms starting at 7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT.
Tickets for closed circuit viewings of Cotto vs. Canelo are priced at $75, not including applicable service charges and can be purchased at all MGM Resorts International Ticket Offices,http://www.ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations or by calling (800) 745-3000.
Miguel Cotto vs. Canelo Alvarez will be presented live with Fathom Events in select theaters nationwide. Tickets for theater screenings of Cotto vs. Canelo can be purchased online by visitingwww.FathomEvents.com or at participating theater box offices. For a complete list of theater locations visit www.fathomevents.com/event/cotto-vs-canelo-live.
Bayamon, PR (October 28, 2015) – Puerto Rican super bantamweight contender Luis “Orlandito” Del Valle will return to the ring in an eight round contest Saturday, November 14 at the Auditorio Municipal de Comerio in Comerio, Puerto Rico.
The card is presented by Miguel Cotto Promotions and Roc Nation Sports and will air Friday, November 20 via tape delay on Unimas.
An all-action brawler that gives fans their monies worth each and every time he enters the ring, Del Valle has an excellent 19-2 professional ledger with 14 of his victories coming by knockout. Del Valle, who made a name for himself on the global scene by fighting on HBO and Showtime, stopped Roberto Castaneda in eight rounds this past March. A former NABA featherweight champion, Del Valle owns victories over Dat Nguyen and Christopher Martin.
Currently in an intense training camp alongside undefeated contender Jayson Velez, Del Valle is excited for fight night and has his sights set on bigger opportunities in 2016.
“I’d like to thank Roc Nation and Miguel Cotto Promotions for giving me another opportunity to entertain the people of Puerto Rico,” said Del Valle. “Fighting at home inspires me and if everything goes as expected on the 14th, our plan is to take on somebody in the top 5-10. First things first, I not only need to win next month but do so in dominant fashion so the top guys in the 122 pound division will have my name back on their radar!”
Del Valle’s opponent will be named shortly.
Fans can interact with Del Valle on Twitter @OrlanditoBoxing.
Classic Puerto Rico vs. Mexico Battle Comes to Movie Theaters
Live from The Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas on November 21 Only
DENVER – October 26, 2015 – Boxing fans across the country will have a ringside seat for a highly-anticipated clash of two titans when Fathom Events, Roc Nation Sports, Golden Boy Promotions, Miguel Cotto Promotions and Canelo Promotions present Miguel Cotto vs. Canelo Alvarez, the battle between Puerto Rico’s most decorated fighter Cotto (40-4, 33 KOs) and Mexican superstar Canelo (45-1-1, 32 KOs) live in select theaters nationwide on Saturday, November 21 at 9:00 p.m. ET/ 8:00 p.m. CT / 7:00 p.m. MT / 6:00 p.m. PT.
The highly-anticipated 12-round fight will be broadcast live to select theaters across the U.S., from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. Miguel Cotto, reigning WBC, Ring Magazine and Lineal Middleweight World Champion, will go head-to-head with Canelo Alvarez, former WBC and WBA Super Welterweight World Champion, in what is shaping up to be 2015’s most exciting fight and the biggest battle in the history of the famed Puerto Rico vs. Mexico rivalry.
Tickets for theater screenings of Cotto vs. Canelo can be purchased online by visiting www.FathomEvents.com or at participating theater box offices. Fans throughout the U.S. will be able to enjoy the event in select movie theaters through Fathom’s Digital Broadcast Network. For a complete list of theater locations visit the Fathom Events website(theaters and participants are subject to change).
“As I have always said, during my whole career, I am here to fight the best names and the best fighters,” said Miguel Cotto. “This will be another chapter in my career and I will be ready for him. Fans will enjoy a real fight, another classic battle in the Puerto Rico vs. Mexico rivalry.”
“There’s a great history between Mexico and Puerto Rico and this is going to be a historic fight, another one for the storybooks,” said Canelo Alvarez. “I have a lot of pride to be fighting for my country. It’s going to be a great night.”
Miguel Cotto (40-4, 33 KOs) is the first native of Puerto Rico to become a world champion in four different weight classes and is hailed as a national hero and the successor of Felix “Tito” Trinidad as the island’s most notable boxer. During his extraordinary career, Cotto represented Puerto Rico in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, and is the former WBO Junior Welterweight World Champion, the former WBA Welterweight World Champion, the former WBO Welterweight World Champion and former WBA Super Welterweight World Champion. Cotto now looks to further his illustrious resume with a win over Canelo.
Returning to the ring hungrier than ever with his high-energy fighting style and charisma, 25-year-old Mexican boxing superstar and pride of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, Canelo Alvarez (45-1-1, 32 KOs) is on a mission to position himself as the most popular boxer of his generation. With a win against Cotto, the former WBC and WBA Super Welterweight World Champion Canelo could break into the top pound-for-pound list.
Roc Nation President and Chief of Branding and Strategy Michael Yormark said, “Roc Nation and Golden Boy share a passion for creating the biggest fights in history. We want to give boxing fans what they deserve: a show of epic proportions.”
“Tickets for boxing’s most exciting event of the year, Cotto vs. Canelo, went quickly because this is a fight that guarantees drama and action from start to finish,” said Golden Boy Promotions Chairman and CEO Oscar De La Hoya. “That is what makes this match up ‘The Fight for the Fans,’ and we want to be able to give fans that can’t make it to Las Vegas an exciting way to watch the fight and feel like they are in the arena to see the action up close and in person.”
Fathom Events CEO John Rubey said, “Over the past several years, boxing fans have filled movie theaters across the country to see the world’s biggest boxing superstars square off in the ring. With Cotto vs. Canelo being so full of rich history and rivalry, what better place for those fans to witness this historic bout than up on the big screen!”
JAYSON VELEZ VS. RONNY RIOS ALSO TO BE FEATURED ON THE TELEVISED CARD
FROM THE MANDALAY BAY EVENTS CENTER IN LAS VEGAS
LIVE ON HBO PAY-PER-VIEW®
LAS VEGAS (Oct. 20, 2015) – Already destined to be one of the best fight nights of 2015, a stellar televised undercard for the Saturday, Nov. 21 showdown between Miguel Cotto and Canelo Alvarez will provide even more punch to an already highly anticipated event from The Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas which will be produced and distributed live byHBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.
Highly touted Takashi Miura (29-2-2, 22 KOs) of Tokyo, Japan will defend his WBC Super Featherweight title for the fifth time against Mexico City, Mexico’s unbeaten Francisco Vargas (22-0-1, 16 KOs) in a 12-round battle which is presented in association with Teiken Promotions. Hailing from the same city as headliner Miguel Cotto, and co-promoted by the Puerto Rican legend’s Miguel Cotto Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions, undefeated, multiple-regional title champion Jayson Velez (23-0-1, 16 KOs) of Caguas, Puerto Rico, will face Santa Ana, California’s Ronny Rios (24-1, 10 KOs) in a highly anticipated 10-round featherweight bout. An additional televised bout will be announced shortly.
“Bringing sports fans an event featuring what is likely to be the 2015 Fight of the Year in Cotto vs. Canelo is great, but adding a highly entertaining undercard makes it greater,” said David Itskowitch, COO Boxing of Roc Nation Sports. “The announcement of these two televised undercard fights brings additional excitement and value for fans watching the event live in Las Vegas or at home on HBO Pay-Per-View.”
“On November 21, the best fighters in boxing will gather for one epic night in Las Vegas,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “Audiences will not only see the two biggest stars battle, Miguel Cotto and Canelo Alvarez, but every fighter featured on the card brings the highest caliber of talent propelling the sport further into a new golden age of boxing.”
“I believe Velez vs. Rios is a great match for both fighters,” said Hector Soto, Vice President of Miguel Cotto Promotions. “The winner will be a step away from a title shot and it adds more drama to the Puerto Rico vs. Mexico rivalry. In Ronny Rios we have a tough fighter and Jayson Velez is a warrior that brings action into the ring.”
“Francisco Vargas has proved himself to be a tough competitor,” said Miura. “But, I have repeatedly fought to keep my WBC title and on November 21, I will show American fans once again why I am a champion.”
“To add the WBC title to my NABF and WBO Intercontinental titles would be the ultimate victory and a great ending to 2015,” said Vargas. “I am training hard and ready to bring a fight to the ring at Mandalay Bay. Takashi Miura better be ready because I am coming for him onNovember 21.”
“I have been working to make a name for myself and show fans that I am a true undefeated champion,” said Velez. “This fight against Ronny Rios represents an important next step in my career and I am hungry for the win. To fight on the same card as Miguel Cotto and to represent Puerto Rico in Las Vegas in what is sure to be one of this year’s biggest nights in boxing is surreal.”
“I was dealt the first loss of my career not long ago, but that has only made me more focused and driven,” said Rios. “I have already sought redemption and am now ready to continue on my path to a world title. Jayson Velez may prove to be a tough opponent, but I will be ready for him. Come November 21, Velez will know what a first career loss will feel like.”
Southpaw power-puncher Takashi Miura is a force at super featherweight who is excited to make his United States debut on the Cotto vs. Canelo undercard. Unbeaten since 2011, the 31-year-old from Tokyo has scored several notable wins in that timeframe, stopping Gamaliel Diaz to take the WBC title, turning back Sergio “Yeyo” Thompson and defeating former world champion Billy “The Kid” Dib in defense of his belt. On November 21, he will expect a similar result when he faces Vargas.
A member of the 2008 Mexican Olympic team, Francisco “El Bandido” Vargas turned professional in 2010 and is now one win away from a coveted world championship. The NABF and WBO Intercontinental champion at 130 pounds, the 30-year-old Mexico City native has blasted through his last three opponents, halting former World Champion Juan Manuel “Juanma” Lopez, Genaro “Duro” Camargo and “Wild” Will Tomlinson to earn his shot at Miura in a fight boxing fans can’t wait to see.
Hailing from the same city in Puerto Rico as headliner Miguel Cotto, 27-year-old Caguas native Jayson “La Maravilla” Velez has compiled a collection of titles in his professional career, including the WBC USNBC, WBO Latino and WBC Silver belts. He nearly took his first world title in November 2014 before a controversial draw verdict was rendered in his IBF Featherweight World Championship fight with Evgeny Gradovich. Determined to get another world title shot, Velez needs a win against Rios to get there.
Santa Ana, California’s Ronny Rios was sailing to the top of the division before an upset loss to the number one contender for the WBC Featherweight title Robinson “Robin Hood” Castellanos in October of 2014, but with a comeback win over Sergio “El Frio” Frias and the determination and heart of a champion, the talented 25-year-old has his sights set on glory once more. With a victory over Velez, he will be back on the road to a world title fight once more.
Tickets for closed circuit viewings of Cotto vs. Canelo are priced at $75, not including applicable service charges, and can be purchased at all MGM Resorts International Ticket Offices, http://www.ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations or by calling (800) 745-3000.
Cotto vs. Canelo, a 12-round fight for Cotto’s WBC and Ring Magazine Middleweight World Championships, takes place Saturday, Nov. 21 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. The fight is presented by Roc Nation Sports, Golden Boy Promotions, Miguel Cotto Promotions and Canelo Promotions and sponsored by Corona Extra; Mexico, Live it to Believe it!; O’Reilly Auto Parts; Tequila Cazadores and Corporate Travel Made Simple (ctms). The event will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. Also featured on the pay-per-view telecast will be Takashi Muira vs. Francisco Vargas in a 12-round fight for the WBC Super Featherweight World Championship presented in association with Teiken Promotions and Jayson Velez vs. Ronny Rios is a 10-round featherweight. Follow the conversation using #CottoCanelo.
LOS ANGELES (September 30, 2015) – Reigning WBC, Ring Magazine and Lineal Middleweight World Champion Miguel Cotto (40-4, 33 KOs) has arrived in Los Angeles to begin training camp at Wild Card Boxing Club with trainer Freddie Roach ahead of his Saturday, Nov. 21showdown against former WBC and WBA Super Welterweight World Champion Canelo Alvarez (45-1-1, 32 KOs) which will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View from The Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.
Below is what Cotto and Roach had to say about the start of camp:
MIGUEL COTTO: WBC, Ring Magazine and Lineal Middleweight World Champion
“I am more than ready to get to work and am fully confident that the plan Freddie Roach has in place for our team is going to ensure that I am prepared to lock in this victory on November 21.”
FREDDIE ROACH: Hall of Fame Trainer, Seven-Time Trainer of the Year Award Winner and Trainer of Miguel Cotto
“The energy at Wild Card is at an all-time high. Miguel is one of the hardest working men I know and he did not waste any time getting into the ring with me. I know that we have the tools we need for a successful training camp that will put Miguel in the best position possible to beat Canelo.”
Remaining tickets can be purchased at the Mandalay Bay box office, ticketmaster.com,mandalaybay.com, all Ticketmaster locations or by calling (800) 745-3000. Ticket orders are limited to four per person.
Cotto vs. Canelo, a 12-round fight for Cotto’s WBC and Ring Magazine Middleweight World Championships, takes place Saturday, Nov. 21 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. The fight is presented by Roc Nation Sports, Golden Boy Promotions, Miguel Cotto Promotions and Canelo Promotions and sponsored by Corona Extra; Mexico, Live it to Believe it!; O’Reilly Auto Parts, Tequila Cazadores and Corporate Travel Management Solutions (ctms). The event will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. Follow the conversation using #CottoCanelo.
Fores is managed by boxing attorney Rick Torres of Victory Sports & Entertainment and noted boxing advisor Gaby Penagaricano. Said Torres, “we feel Chino is ready to take the next step and that he will soon be ready to challenge the best of the Welterweight division. We’re very appreciative of the opportunity that Roc Nation has given us and are confident Chino will deliver a title on 