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ABNER MARES OUTPOINTS JESUS CUELLAR TO WIN FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

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UNBEATEN JERMALL CHARLO RETAINS IBF BELT WITH
FIFTH-ROUND KNOCKOUT OVER NO. 1 JULIAN WILLIAMS
ON SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING®

 

Sergey Lipinets, Erickson Lubin Triumph on SHOWTIME BOXING on FACEBOOK LIVE

 

 IBF Heavyweight World Champion Anthony Joshua Retains Crown

With Third-Round KO over Eric Molina on SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL

 

Watch The Replay Monday, Dec. 12, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHO EXTREME®

 

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Photo Credit: Stephanie Trapp/SHOWTIME®

 

LOS ANGELES (Dec. 10, 2016) – Abner Mares (30-2-1, 15 KOs) scored an impressive, upset 12-round split decision over defending champion Jesus Cuellar (28-2, 21 KOs) to capture the WBA Featherweight World Championship and become a four-time boxing titlist Saturday in the main event of a SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING doubleheader.

 

In the co-feature from Galen Center on the campus of USC in Los Angeles, Jermall Charlo (25-0, 19 KOs) retained his IBF Junior Middleweight World title with an emphatic fifth-round knockout over previously unbeaten, top-ranked Julian “J-Rock” Williams (22-1-1, 14 KOs). (VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: http://s.sho.com/2hqXDr8)

 

Earlier in the day on SHOWTIME, unbeaten IBF Heavyweight World Champion Anthony Joshua (18-0, 18 KOs) knocked out Eric Molina (25-4, 19 KOs), of Weslaco, Texas, in the third round in Manchester, England.  (VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: http://s.sho.com/2hqHTo8)

 

Mares, of Huntington Beach, Calif., by way of Guadalajara, Mexico, was victorious by the scores of 117-110, 116-111 and 112-115. Judge Kermit Bayless was the lone descender to score the hard-fought match for the Argentine.  Mares scored the bout’s lone knockdown in the 11th round. Cuellar, of Buenos Aires, had an 11-fight winning streak end.  (VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: http://s.sho.com/2hbJayp)

 

Mares, making his first start in 16 months and first with renowned trainer Robert Garcia, executed a technically sound game plan and was the more accurate puncher than Cuellar, who was under the tutelage of Hall of Famer Freddie Roach for the first time in his career.

 

“I feel so good, it’s been a long time.  I’m champion, baby,’’ said Mares, 31, a former WBC featherweight and super bantamweight world champion and IBF bantamweight world champion, who became Garcia’s 10th world champion. “We had the perfect game plan.

 

“I never doubted myself.  I felt it in my heart.  When I fought Leo (Santa Cruz) I beat myself because I fought the wrong fight.  I fought smart tonight.  I thought it would be a unanimous decision, but at the end of the day I’m champion.’’

 

Cuellar is known as a devastating puncher, but he was unable to land his power shots or cut off the ring against Mares, who seemingly pocketed rounds with accuracy and a solid left hook. Mares floored Cuellar with a straight right in the opening minute of the 11th, sending Cuellar to the canvas for the third time of his career.  The onslaught continued, with a resurgent Mares teeing off on Cuellar until he raised his hands following the final bell.

“They said he was a power puncher, they said he was going to knock me out, but I proved that I have some power, too,’’ said Mares, who dropped a majority 12-round decision to Santa Cruz in his last fight on Aug. 29, 2015.  “I want Leo, I want (Carl) Frampton, I want anyone.  I’m a champion.  I’m not afraid of anyone.”

 

Cuellar stated his case for a rematch afterward.

 

“I thought the fight was pretty even until he threw me down, and that’s when he took control,” said Cuellar, who was making his third title defense.  “He definitely had the boxing skills going today.  I would have preferred a rough fight, but Mares had his skills today. I want a rematch. I gave him the opportunity and now I think it’s fair that he gives it to me.”

 

In the co-main event, Charlo dropped Williams three times, once in the second and twice in the fifth. Williams, who had not lost a round in 10 consecutive fights, went down for the first time in his career from a strong counter left-hand midway through the second round.

 

Williams, who established his counter right early, performed well for the next two rounds in the first title fight between undefeated 154-pound champions since Floyd Mayweather dismantled Canelo Alvarez in 2013.

 

But Charlo decked him again with a brutal right uppercut midway through the fifth round that sent Williams collapsing face-forward onto the canvas.  Williams got up, but he was clearly in trouble. Charlo floored him seconds layer with a left hook, forcing referee Wayne Hedgepath to instantly halt the contest at 2:06.

 

Charlo was ahead with scores of 38-37 on the three scorecards entering the fifth round in a highly skilled matchup between two fighters in their prime.

 

Afterward a fracas broke out in the ring between the fighters and their cornermen after Charlo wouldn’t acknowledge Williams’ congratulatory hand shake. Williams immediately stormed from the ring. The fans booed Charlo loudly throughout his post-fight interview with SHOWTIME reporter Jim Gray.

 

“I did what I was supposed to do, I’m very happy with my performance, I listened to my trainer,’’ said Charlo, the identical twin brother of WBC 154-pound titlist Jermell Charlo. “I trained hard for this fight, I stayed in the gym the whole time.

 

“No matter what, people have to respect my accomplishments. He just wasn’t on my level. I told everyone what I was going to do since the fight was announced. I knew I was going to win; he was badly hurt after the knockdown.

“I just want to tell Julian Williams, I’m sorry.  Leading up to this fight Julian talked, and I held it in.  I did what I had to do to become the champion of the world and I deserve my respect.   He disrespected me all the way up to the fight.  I made the fight happen; I gave the fans what they wanted to see.  I stayed at 154 pounds, although I do want to move up to 160, just to fight someone the world said I couldn’t beat.

 

“I said I don’t want your congratulations; I want your apology.  I don’t care what they say, I knocked him out.  No matter what they say about me I’m going to continue to work hard.  I did what my trainer told me to do, I stayed in there and bang the shot came home.  I’m never disrespected this dude, never, until I knocked him out.

 

“Yes, I want to unify.  I want to prove I’m the best junior middleweight in the world, none of them are on my level.”

Williams offered no excuses. “I just got caught,’ he said. “I was fine after the second round and kept going. He just caught me. He wasn’t too big. He just caught me.

“I didn’t care about any of that [post-fight drama]. I just wanted to win.”

 

Charlo-Williams was the fourth 154-pound title fight on SHOWTIME in 2016.

In one off the fights streamed earlier Saturday on FACEBOOK LIVE, Sergey Lipinets (11-0, 9 KOs) knocked out Lenny Zappavigna(35-3, 25 KOs) to become the mandatory challenger for the IBF Junior Welterweight World Title.

 

After flooring Zappavigna midway through the fourth, Lipinets finished off the Australian with an overhand right in the eighth in a closely contested and bloody affair.

 

“Yes, this was my toughest fight, it’s bloody and rugged but no problem for me,’’ Lipinets said. “This was an eliminator and now I want my next fight to be for the world championship. Julius Indogo has the IBF title and now I’m the mandatory.

“I’m very happy with my performance. We’ve worked on adjusting during fights and that worked very well for me tonight. I was hoping for the knockout but my trainer said to keep working and the stoppage will come.”

“I left it all in the ring,’’ Zappavigna said. “I fought my heart out and I came here to give it my best. Even though I’m disappointed with the loss, I am at peace with the result because I know I couldn’t have done anything else.

“I wish Sergey all the best in his world title fight.

“I know my fans are behind me and I’m bringing pride back to Australia. I know I was in control of the fight, but my Australian ‘white line fever’ kicked in and I tried to take his head off.”

In the opening bout on Facebook Live, talented undefeated middleweight Erickson Lubin (17-0, 12 KOs) knocked out previously once-beaten Juan Ubaldo Cabrera (23-2, 15 KOs) at 2:09 of the second round.

 

“He was a little awkward in the first round,’’ Erickson said. “I set him up with my jab and I knew I hurt him in the second. That’s when I knew it was time for him to go.

 

“I think that fight definitely proves that I’m in the discussion as one of the top up and comers in the sport, but I don’t feel any pressure. I’m back in the gym on Monday.

 

“I want to be undisputed champion. I want all of the belts. Give me the Charlos, Julian Williams, any of them.

 

“I’ll take whoever is in front of me next, but those names and put them in bold letters and you know I’ll be front and center for that Charlo-Williams fight.”

 

The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING doubleheader and SHOWTIME INTERNATIONAL telecast will re-air on Monday, Dec. 12, 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME EXTREME. The fights were promoted by Ringstar Sports and TGB Promotions and sponsored by Corona.

 

 

 

# # #

 

For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports and www.premierboxingchampions.com, follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @SHOSports, @PremierBoxing, @JesusCuellarBOX, @AbnerMares, @FutureOfBoxing, @JRockBoxing, @TGBPromotions and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports and www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions.PBC is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.

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JESUS CUELLAR vs. ABNER MARES, JERMALL CHARLO vs. JULIAN WILLIAMS WEIGHTS, PHOTOS & COMMISSION OFFICIALS

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Tomorrow/Saturday Live on SHOWTIME®

From Galen Center On The Campus Of USC In Los Angeles

 

Click HERE For Photos From Stephanie Trapp/SHOWTIME

 

SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® – 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT

 

WBA Featherweight World Championship – 12 Rounds

Jesus Cuellar – 124 Pounds

Abner Mares – 126 Pounds

Referee: Jack Reiss; Judges: Kermit Bayless (Calif.), Max DeLuca (Calif.), Dave Moretti (Nev.)

 

IBF Junior Middleweight World Championship – 12 Rounds

Jermall Charlo – 153 ½ Pounds

Julian Williams – 154 Pounds

Referee: Wayne Hedgepeth; Judges: Eddie Hernandez (Calif.), Patrick Russell (Calif.), Zachary Young (Calif.)

 

SHOWTIME BOXING ON FACEBOOK LIVE – 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT

 

IBF Junior Welterweight World Title Eliminator – 12 Rounds

Sergey Lipinets – 139 ¾ Pounds

Lenny Zappavigna – 139 ½ Pounds

 

Middleweight Bout – 10 Rounds

Erickson Lubin – 157 Pounds

Juan Ubaldo Cabrera – 159 Pounds

 

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Ringstar Sports and TGB Promotions, are on sale and are priced at $35, $50, $75, $150 and $200. To purchase tickets go to www.galentix.com.

 

For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports and www.premierboxingchampions.com, follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @SHOSports, @PremierBoxing, @JesusCuellarBOX, @AbnerMares, @FutureOfBoxing, @JRockBoxing, @TGBPromotions and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports and www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions. PBC is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.

 

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Jesus Cuellar vs. Abner Mares & Jermall Charlo vs.  Julian Williams Trainer Media Roundtables  Quotes & Photos

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Top Trainers Freddie Roach, Robert Garcia, Ronnie Shields & Stephen Edwards Discussing SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING Doubleheader Saturday, December 10 from 
Galen Center 

at USC in Los Angeles
 
Click HERE for Photos from Stephanie Trapp/SHOWTIME
LOS ANGELES (December 7, 2016) – Four of the top trainers in the sport, Freddie Roach, Robert Garcia, Ronnie Shields and Stephen Edwards met with media in Los Angeles to discuss their fighters’ respective showdowns this Saturday, December 10 from Galen Center at USC and live on SHOWTIME®.
Saturday’s event is headlined by featherweight world champion Jesus Cuellardefending againstformer three-division world champion Abner Mares in a long-awaited showdown. The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® telecast begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT with junior middleweight world champion Jermall Charlo and top-rated challenger Julian Williams in a world championship battle of undefeated rising stars in their prime.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Ringstar Sports and TGB Promotions, are on sale and are priced at $35, $50, $75, $150 and $200. To purchase tickets go towww.galentix.com.
Roach (Cuellar), Garcia (Mares), Shields (Charlo) and Edwards (Williams) spoke to media at the Sheraton Los Angeles Downtown about their fighters and the highly anticipated matchups taking place this weekend in Los Angeles.
Here is what the participants had to say Wednesday:
FREDDIE ROACH, Cuellar’s Trainer
How has your relationship with Cuellar developed?
“I’ve gotten to know Cuellar quite well and have spent a lot of time with him. I think he’s learned a lot and I think he’ll carry that into the fight with him. He’s prepared and he won’t go out there just trying to look for a knockout. He’s a good puncher and everybody thinks he’s looking for the KO, but I told him to just let it happen. If you force it, it will never happen.
“He’s going in there with a good opponent, an experienced fighter with a lot of good fights under his belt. He’s caught punches before and knows how to handle it. And if [Mares] moves, we’ll cut the ring off to make it smaller and set traps for him. If he tries to come forward, I want my guy to show his power either way and show him who the boss is.”
On Garcia having the upper hand by having trained Cuellar:
“I don’t really know how their relationship is and I don’t really know how long they’ve been together. I heard that during his training camps that he had gone to Florida for another trainer so I don’t know how great they’re really getting along but again, I don’t really worry about the other side so much. I know my guy is ready for a hard 12-round fight.
“He does know my fighter well and I’ve tried to improve my fighter a lot and he said he never learned anything over there, but every day he learns in my gym. I just don’t think he’s the same guy that Robert is used to seeing and I think he’s improved a lot in a lot of different areas and I think he’ll show it in the fight.”
What are you predicting for Cuellar?
“I’m predicting better angles, not so wide with the punches, not so big with them. He goes out there looking for knockouts so many times and I’ve told him to just let it happen. He needs to get behind his jab a little bit. He has a good jab but he just doesn’t throw it that much because he’s always looking for the home run. So, we’ve worked a lot on not only looking for the home run right away and going out there and breaking this guy down.”
What’s the game plan if Abner comes to box?
“I think he’s going to try to box us, yes, so we have to put pressure on him and we have to keep him close to the ropes. We have to set traps on the ropes and into the corners and we’re well prepared for that. We did prepare for [Mares] coming at us also, trying to maybe catch him early and I want Cuellar to show his power right away because I think if we can get him to box and move, he can’t win the fight by moving away.”
ROBERT GARCIA, Mares’ Trainer
“Cuellar is very strong and hits really hard. He has tremendous power. He’s very strong physically and mentally. He has that warrior mentality that just goes out there looking for the knockout.
“I don’t have the secret recipe. It’s just that I know Abner is in great shape and we’ve had a year to prepare for this fight. And I know Cuellar very well. I know how he thinks and that could be a plus. I think facing a guy I used to train can be an advantage for us.
“I know Jesus and how he is in locker room. And I can use that against him. Even though he’s with a great trainer in Freddie Roach, he has never walked out to the arena with him. I did it for five fights and for two years. But I don’t think I need those advantages.
“If Abner does everything that he needs to do, there’s no doubt he will walk out of there a world champion. But this is my first fight with him so I don’t know if during the fight he will forget all I told him, and do what he is used to doing. He’s picked up a lot of good things from me, so I think he’ll stick to the game plan.”
What has impressed you most about Abner this camp?
“For a full year training and having dates and then the dates being cancelled, postponed, changed. It’s been four dates. They were scheduled to fight in March, then June. Then we were supposed to fight in October and now December. He never showed any signs of frustration or being upset. He always thought like I think: Things happen for a reason and this just gives us more time to work together and to learn from each other. So, I think it was the best thing that happened.”
Did you always have aspirations of becoming a trainer?
“Never did. It’s funny how it happened. When I had my last fight at 26, my plans were to forget about boxing. I hated boxing. The last couple of fights I had I didn’t want to be in the ring. I didn’t want to have anything to do with it. But then I started to come around my Dad’s gym in Oxnard (Calif.). The thing that I loved the most was the travel — because I traveled around the world during the amateurs and the pros. My first three fights were in Japan. But we didn’t enjoy it. I was always trying to make weight. And I never got to enjoy it. But I never thought I’d be in this position to train nine world champions.
“I will have my 10th world champion, and I’m hoping it’s this Saturday. I’m very confident about it. One day I’ll have 15 or maybe 20, but that’s one thing I hate to do is predict it. But I do feel really good we can pull this one off.”
Who is your pick for Trainer of the Year?
“Manny Robles had two world champions and has two really good fighters. And Freddie Roach had a great year with Pacquiao. So, I think they would be good picks. I believe Manny Robles deserves it.”
Have you gotten the credit you are due?
“It’s mostly politics and who you know. Will I get it again? I really don’t care. My fighters are happy and my family is happy. I get the love from you reporters and the fans. And that’s all that’s important to me and my team.”
RONNIE SHIELDS, Charlo’s Trainer
“All I hear is Charlo is scared. Jermall isn’t scared to fight anyone. Why would a guy who is champion of the world be scared of fighting [Williams]?
“Jermall and Julian ran into each other a few times as amateurs, but not as professionals. I think they both realized they would meet in the ring and that it would happen.
“I’m not really surprised this fight happened this early in their careers, because both guys are great fighters. And they are both deserving to be at the top.”
On Charlo calling Williams an “undefeated nobody”:
“That’s just Jermall [laughing]. All fighters are confident in their ability, and he just feels like he’s the better guy. And I’m glad he feels that way, because I don’t have to do anything extra to motivate him. He’s highly motivated, and ready to go.”
How do you think this fight will end?
“I don’t look at the ends, I only look at the beginnings. If you go in looking to knock the guy out in the early rounds and don’t get it, what’s going to happen in the later rounds? I think I’ve got Jermall to the point where he can go 12 rounds with anyone. He doesn’t care who it is.”
What does Julian Williams do well?
“I think Julian does a lot of things well. You have to have the simple fundamentals in boxing, which I think carries a lot of fighters a long way. You have to have a good jab, combination of punches. And Jermall has the same thing. I think it will come down to who has the biggest will to win this fight. My guy has a huge will to win this fight.”
What is underrated about Jermall that fight fans might now know?
“I think that a lot of people don’t know how smart an individual he is. Outside of the ring, and inside of the ring. He’s so different than he appears in public. He’s a really quiet guy and does not really boast a lot.
“These days you see a lot of fighters using different guys, and not just the same guys [in terms of trainers]. I think a lot of fighters are trusting different people, and not just the same guy.
“I’ve known Jermall since he was eight-years-old and I know what type of guy he is, and what his will is. I just don’t see anybody beating him. He just has such a strong will to win, and he does everything right. And that’s hard to say about the other guy.”
“This could be Jermall’s last fight at 154 pounds. But he will make weight on Friday. If there was a chance he wasn’t going to make weight, I wouldn’t let him [fight at 154 pounds] because I realize it’s too dangerous, and I’m not going to take that chance with my guys.”
STEPHEN EDWARDS, Williams’ Trainer
“We were ready for this fight, maybe a year and a half ago but unfortunately it took a bit longer than we thought to come into fruition. But he’s had a great camp. I know Jermall is a formidable fighter, he has a great coach and I’m expecting a great fight. I think it’s really, really difficult to beat an undefeated fighter that does not know how to lose.
“We have a big task in front of us but he’ll be the third undefeated guy that Julian has fought. So, he’s used to being up under that kind of stress.”
On knowing Julian’s past life on the streets:
“I knew him but I wasn’t training him at the time. Ironically, I knew Julian in 2007 and I used to work at the shelter that he was at. Unfortunately, due to the circumstances I didn’t meet him until I was having a fight party for the Floyd Mayweather-Ricky Hatton fight and we became pretty good friends and then later I started training him in 2010. When he came to the party I knew who he was from attending some of his amateur fights and when he was ready to turn pro, he asked me for some help. We have a relationship outside of boxing and then I started working with him and here we are.”
Did he open up to you about his story shortly after you knew him?
“I kind of already knew it so it wasn’t a revelation. It kind of happened organically, you know, as you get to know somebody and you’re around them, I kind of started to learn different things about him and we started talking more about it. Actually, a lot of things came up through boxing because I would ask him ‘How do you not win Nationals as good as you are?’ I thought he was the best amateur in the city. I would say: ‘How long do you run?’ and ‘What kind of diet do you do?’ and he would say ‘I just lose weight by taking laxatives.’ I thought he was killing himself and that’s when I wanted to take him on in training. I said man, if he was 77-10 as an amateur taking laxatives to lose weight, he is ruining the lining of his stomach and decreasing his energy level too. So, I said to myself ‘this kid has a big upside.’
“If I could just get him to buy into a diet, buy into doing things the right way, he could be a world champion. I think that I believed that he was going to be a world champion before he did. That’s how the stories started to unravel about his homelessness, that he didn’t have anything to eat, that he would work at McDonalds and other places and that would be his diet.
“This is a national level fighter, ranked No. 3 in the country on a McDonald’s diet. So I always just kept in the back of my mind that he had an unbelievable upside and regardless of what was going on or what people were saying, I trust my eyes more than I trust anybody else’s and that’s what I believe.”
How much do you think his past goes into the way he fights?
“I definitely think that he has a hint of anger. He’s a little introverted and I’m very similar in certain things that we don’t talk about. Getting him ready for the Hugo Centenofight when his mom passed away, we never talked about it. It’s the weirdest thing in the world. I hugged him, I told him I would help him with the funeral arrangements because he’s a young guy and he didn’t know how to handle those things.”
What can you say about Jermall?
“He’s not better than Julian at anything. I’m not trying to concede anything. He doesn’t punch harder, he’s not faster and you all can quote me when I say he’s not better than him at nothing. And determination. If it comes down to a point of who’s really willing to lose his life in the ring, I already know who’s willing to lose his life in the ring. But he’s not better at him at anything. Nothing. Not just determination, Julian is just the more skilled fighter and he has more on the inside and he’s going to show everyone on Saturday night.”
For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports andwww.premierboxingchampions.com,follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @SHOSports, @PremierBoxing, @JesusCuellarBOX, @AbnerMares, @FutureOfBoxing, @JRockBoxing, @TGBPromotions and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports andwww.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions.PBC is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.
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JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ JR. DEFEATS MARCOS REYESSATURDAY AT DON HASKINS CENTER IN EL PASO, TEXAS ON SHOWTIME®

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McJoe Arroyo Wins IBF Junior Bantamweight World Championship & Amir Imam Earns Shot At 140-Pound Title On SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING®

 

Watch The Replay Monday At 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME EXTREME

 

EL PASO, TEXAS (July 18, 2015) – Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. earned a unanimous decision (97-92, 98-91, 96-93) over Marcos Reyes in the main event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on Saturday in front of 9,245 at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas.

 

Reyes was the more active fighter – he doubled Chavez’s output – but simply couldn’t hurt his larger opponent.  Following a loss at light heavyweight last April, Chavez decided to attempt to campaign at super middleweight.

 

Chavez (49-2-1, 32 KOs), who was fighting for the first time with trainer Robert Garcia, seemed to be able to land his power shots at will, however he would pick his spots and had long bouts of inactivity.  Although he was working with a new trainer, Chavez continued to bulldoze forward and fought a very similar fight as he did against Andrezj Fonfara in April, this time against a smaller opponent.

 

“I won.  This is big for me and Robert,” Chavez said.  “I can do it better, but I won and that is the important thing.  I’m going to fight at 168 pounds.  Little by little, I’m going to get down in weight.  We know we’re doing much better work in the gym.

 

“In the third round I hurt my left hand.  I think it’s broken, I don’t know.  I’ll see the doctor.  With all respect to Reyes, if I hadn’t hurt my hand I would have knocked him out.

 

“I connected on the best punches to the chin and the body.  I hurt him, but I couldn’t finish him because I hurt my hand.  He threw a lot of punches but missed a lot.  He never hurt me.  I felt I hurt him every time I landed.”

 

After the fight, Reyes (33-3, 24 KOs) preached his case to SHOWTIME reporter Jim Gray and pointed out the weight disparity.

 

“I feel I won the fight.   I showed him how I box,” Reyes said.  “I made the weight at 168 and he didn’t make weight.  He’s like a light heavyweight fighting a middleweight.

 

“I was against all odds – the referee, the weight, everything.  I think I won the fight.  It’s OK – I did my best.”

 

In the co-feature, McJoe Arroyo won a technical decision over Arthur Villanueva to win the vacant IBF Junior Bantamweight World Championship after the bout was stopped at 2:10 in the 10th round due to a deep gash over Villanueva’s right eye.  The fight went to the judges’ scorecards and Villanueva was ahead 97-92, 98-91 after the judges scored the 10th.

 

The Puerto Rican Arroyo (17-0, 8 KOs) became the third fighter from the island to win a 115-pound title.

 

The lefty-righty matchup was at times highly technical and foul-filled.  Referee Rafael Ramos deducted a point against Villanueva (27-1, 14 KOs) for leading with his head in the sixth.  In a different clash in the sixth, a deep gash opened up over the right eye of Villanueva that ultimately led to the stoppage.  Ramos ruled that the clash that opened the cut was unintentional.

 

Dr. Brian August inspected the cut midway through the seventh round and again after the eighth.  Ramos again signaled for August to inspect the cut in the 10th and ruled that it was too deep to continue.  In an interview with Jim Gray, August stated that he stopped the fight in the best interest of the fighter but that Villanueva claimed he was having no sight issues.

 

“When he was entering, he was entering low.  He was clashing heads a lot,” Arroyo said.  “Before the fight, I knew he was a tough fighter.  All Philippine fighters come to fight.  I knew I had to be ready for 12 rounds, boxing or brawling.  It was a competitive fight but we just worked harder every round.”

 

When asked by Gray if it was hard to find his rhythm, Arroyo responded, “That’s a normal thing when a southpaw fights a right hander.  We were both trying to be slick and smart.  That happens when two boxers with the same style fight.”

 

Villanueva disagreed with the stoppage and called for an immediate rematch.

 

“It was a rough fight and very tough for me after the headbutt,” Villanueva said.  “I thought I won the fight.  I didn’t want them to stop the fight because it was just getting into the flow.  I’m disappointed with the stoppage. I know I can beat him and I want an immediate rematch.”

 

In the opening bout of the evening, undefeated 140-pound contender knocked out Fernando Angulo with a thundering right to earn a mandatory shot at the winner of the scheduled fall showdown between Viktor Postol and Lucas Matthysse for the vacant WBC Super Lightweight World Championship.

 

It appeared to be a difficult fight for Imam (18-0, 15 KOs), but he was always in control and supremely accurate, landing 54 percent of his power punches compared to just 17 for Angulo (28-10, 16 KOs).  Imam ended the bout in brilliant fashion with a powerful right to Angulo’s ear, forcing his opponent to fall face-forward to the canvas and the referee to instantly stop the contest at :56.

 

“I take my hat off.  He’s a good opponent,” Imam said.  “I just hit him with a big shot on his ear and he was done.

 

“These guys get the belts and just hold it.  I’m going to get the belt and hold it with pride.”

 

Said Imam promoter and Hall of Famer Don King, “It was an excellent performance – just what I expected and more. You should never underestimate but pontificate when it comes to the ‘Young Master.’  We will take the belts and anyone that comes in front of us.”

boxing, Premier Boxing Champions, Showtime Boxing

PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS ON CBS & SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE 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

 

Click HERE For Lucas Noonan/Premier Boxing Champions

 

EL PASO, Texas  (July 16, 2015) – Fighters competing on the huge Premier Boxing Champions on CBS and SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING cards held an open to the public final press conference Thursday before they enter the ring this Saturday, July 18 at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas.

 

The evening event on SHOWTIME® features Mexican superstar Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (48-2-1, 32 KOs) returning to the ring to face Marco Reyes (33-2, 24 KOs). In the  co-main event, Puerto Rican Olympian McJoe Arroyo (16-0, 8 KOs) takes on Arthur 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) meeting  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 is what the fighters had to say Thursday:

 

JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ JR.

“I know I have a tough opponent in front of me. I’m ready. I’ve prepared very well with Robert Garcia. He has a great trainer too in Nacho Beristain.

 

“I’ve recovered well from my last fight. I had too much time away from boxing before. On Saturday everyone will see me at my best.

 

“When two Mexican fighters take the ring, there’s going to be a lot of action. You don’t want to miss any of this one.”

 

MARCO REYES

“I have a great deal of admiration and respect for Julio Sr. and Julio Jr.

 

“There is something magical that happens when two Mexican fighters step in the ring. I am very determined and ready to put on amazing performance.

 

“I will leave my all in the ring against Chavez Jr.”


MCJOE ARROYO

‘”This is the biggest shot I’ve had and I’m going to give it my all. This fight is very important to me.

 

“This is going to be a great fight. I promise that I’m going to leave everything in the ring on Saturday night.”

 

ARTHUR VILLANUEVA

“This is my first time on this big stage. I’ve fought all over the world and I just want to thank everybody for this great opportunity.

 

“I promise that I will give the best I have and a great fight this Saturday night.”

 

AMIR IMAM

“When I get the belt, I will hold it with pride with the name of “Young Master.

 

“I’m coming to put on a show and do damage. This is my title shot right here. I am not thinking of anything past this fight.”


CARL FRAMPTON

“El Paso is a big boxing city and people here love their boxing.
“I know that Gonzalez Jr. has a height and reach advantage on me. I think he’s going to try to keep it long. He’s young, hungry and from a good pedigree, I’m expecting a good fight.

“If I can perform at my best I should be able to get rid of this guy. I want to be explosive and that’s not disrespect to my opponent.

“There really isn’t anything different I did to prepare for this fight. We must get close to him. I brought in sparring partners similar to the stature of my opponent.

“If you want to create a legacy in boxing you must come to the United States. It’s important for me to come here, the time was right.

“There’s a few names I would like to fight next, possibly Scott Quigg, Abner Mares and Gary Russell.

 

“I’m can go forward, move back, stay in the pocket and most importantly I just do whatever it takes to win.

 

“I have an exciting style and the Mexican-American fans will appreciate it. They love an all-action  style and I’m going to show them that I have a crowd-pleasing style.

 

“Everyone has been very friendly since I arrived in America. I’ve met many approachable and nice people. The weather is very different from back home so I’ve gotten to do some sunbathing in between training sessions, which is nice.”

 

ALEJANDRO GONZALEZ JR.

“I love being in the underdog role because every time I’ve been in the underdog role I’ve come out with the victory. I not only win, but I get the knockout. I love everything being against me.

 

“Having my dad as a former world champion can be hard. There can be a lot of pressure from my dad to be better than him. But he always has my back and is in my ear. I got a lot of experience from my dad.

 

“Frampton is a very intelligent fighter who hits hard. He’s too aggressive sometimes because in boxing you have to be more intelligent and try not to get hit. He’s a very good fighter;  there’s a reason he is a champion though.

 

“In every fight you have to give it everything you have, no matter who you’re in there against. You have to leave it all in the ring and that’s what I do.

 

“I can box, but I’m Mexican so I like aggression too. It’s going to be a war. I want that title and I know he’s not just going to give it to me. I have to go get it.”

 

CHRIS ARREOLA

“I’m honored to be fighting for the first time in El Paso in front of these terrific boxing fans.

“I love fighting and I’m thrilled that fans all over the country can watch this fight on CBS Saturday afternoon.

 

“Fred Kassi is coming to win, this is a big opportunity for him, but I plan on putting on a show and being victorious on Saturday.

 

“Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. was a hero to me when I started fighting and it’s a thrill to know that he will be watching my fight in person.

 

“I want the green belt, it’s the one I’ve always wanted. After Kassi I want to fight Deontay Wilder and become a champion.”


FRED KASSI

“I thank Chris for this opportunity; it’s great to be fighting on this big day of boxing in the presence of Julio Cesar Chavez Sr.

 

“Chris is a hard-hitting heavyweight and I have a lot of respect for him but come Saturday I will have my hand raised.”

 

ROBERT GARCIA, Chavez Jr. Trainer

“There’s not much left to say. We had a great training camp. Everyone on the team has done what they had to do.

 

“Julio followed the instructions all camp and we’re ready to give the fans a great fight.”

 

JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ SR., Chavez Jr.’s Father

“I was ready to talk trash, but after Nacho was so kind I will follow in his footsteps.

 

“There is something special when two Mexicans step into the ring. I can promise my son is ready and I can promise a great fight.”

 

NACHO BERISTAIN, Reyes’ Trainer

“I have nothing but respect for Chavez and his team. I’ve known them for many years. I will not speak badly of them. I know on Saturday everyone is going to get a great fight on a massive platform on SHOWTIME with two Mexicans going toe-to-toe in the ring.”

 

BARRY MCGUIGAN, Frampton’s Manager

“I didn’t even know Frampton was from Belfast when I signed him. Once I learned more about him I thought that this was meant to be, his background is so similar to mine.

 

“The more I saw from Frampton the more I saw that he could really compete at the highest level of this sport.

 

“I’ve invested six years into Carl and it’s  been the most enjoyable and gratifying experience of my life. Shane has developed into an incredible boxing coach and I’m hugely proud of him.”

 

SHANE MCGUIGAN, Frampton’s Trainer

“I used to box with Carl as an amateur and when my dad (Barry) used to ask me who I thought would be the best pro on the Irish team I’d say, ‘it’s Carl Frampton, he’s got world class style.’

 

“Five years ago my dad asked me to hold the pads for Carl a couple of times and it just gelled. Here we are today. We work really well together and I feel I found my forte as a coach.

 

“Gonzalez is no pushover but I don’t think he’s on Carl’s level. I think Carl is going to knock him out in an exciting fight. This is about making a statement. Next thing you know we’ll have the massive super fights coming.”

 

ALEJANDRO GONZALEZ, Gonzalez’s Father & Former World Champion

“The words other people say about this fight, they are only words. The fight is going to be Saturday and everyone is going to see what happens.

 

“My son is very prepared and he’s going to win. We’ve done everything right in camp. It’s my son’s time and he’s coming to win.

 

“They got the wrong opponent for Frampton. My son is a very strong fighter and everyone will see on Saturday.

 

“I love Mexico and this fight is going to be for Mexico.”

 

 

# # #

 

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/.
boxing, CBS Boxing, Showtime Boxing

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/.
boxing, CBS Boxing, Premier Boxing Champions, Showtime Boxing

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.

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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.

 

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