Current Boxing

On Saturday, Feb. 18, Paul "The Punisher" Williams, Tavoris "Thunder" Cloud and Chris "The Nightmare" Arreola will bring their aggressive, knockout power and crowd-pleasing all-out action style to the great fans and city of Corpus Christi, Texas.  The stacked fight card will emanate from the 9,200-seat American Bank Center Arena in an event presented by Goossen Tutor Promotions. On the SHOWTIME Championship Boxing world championship doubleheader (LIVE at 10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast), the Williams vs. Nobuhiro Ishida bout will be promoted in association with Golden Boy Promotions and Canelo Promotions.  The Cloud vs. Gabriel Campillo bout will be promoted by Don King Productions in association with Sampson Boxing, LLC. Arreola will battle Eric Molina to headline the preliminary bouts on SHOWTIME Extreme.

The fights from Corpus Christi -- which is a two-hour drive from the Mexican border -- will begin at 6:30 p.m. CT, with Arreola stepping into the ring at 8 p.m. CT. Tickets are priced at $25, $35, $50, $75, $100 and will available at the American Bank Center box office and on Ticketmaster.com starting Saturday, January 14 at 10 a.m. CT. VIP packages are also available by calling (817) 296-4546.

The 30-year old Williams (40-2, 27 KOs), a southpaw from Aiken, S.C., who twice held the WBO Welterweight Championship and the interim Super Welterweight Championship, will take on Japan's Nobuhiro Ishida (24-6-2, 9 KOs) in the scheduled 12-round junior middleweight main event.

"The Punisher" takes on Ishida with his sights strictly on re-establishing his reputation as "The World's Most Feared Boxer."  Fighting just three times in the past two years, Williams is looking to stay busier and getting back to dominant victories.  Before sustaining a devastating second-round knockout in a WBC World Middleweight championship bout against Sergio Martinez in November 2010, Williams was involved in one of the more unique victories in boxing when Kermit Cintron took a nosedive through the ropes and landed on the floor beneath the ring, declaring himself unable to continue.  After the Martinez bout, Williams took on the challenge of Cuban Erislandy Lara back in July of last year and earned what many considered a very controversial decision win, despite the fact Williams threw and connected with more punches than Lara.

In facing the 36-year old Ishida, Williams will be taking on a dangerous veteran who, back in April of last year, handed current WBC Continental Americas Super Welterweight Champion James Kirkland his first defeat in 28 fights by knocking him down three times en route to a first-round stoppage in Las Vegas - his only fight on American soil to date.  After his KO loss to Ishida, Kirkland landed a November fight with Alfredo Angulo, who had 17 knockouts in his 20 wins, and in a slugfest, he stopped Angulo in the sixth round, making Ishida's KO victory over Kirkland that much more impressive.

"I am happy to be getting back in the ring and honored to be fighting on SHOWTIME and I know 2012 is going to be a good year for me," Williams stated.  "Just like in the gym, sometimes you have good days and sometimes bad days.  I had a couple of bad days against Martinez and Lara, but I am much more focused now and I intend to show everyone in Corpus Christi.

"I know Ishida is a hungry fighter and a hungry fighter is a most dangerous fighter.  Lara fought over his head against me and I am going to try not to let it happen again with Ishida.   I am looking to get some belts in 2012 at 154 and 160 pounds."

"I'm coming with every intention to win, but I'm not underestimating my opponent," said Ishida.  "I respect him, but I fight for the welfare of my family.  Obviously, after winning this fight I'm looking for a shot at the world title.  I'm really excited to fight in the United States again, so I will put it all on the line against Paul Williams."

Tavoris "Thunder" Cloud (23-0, 19 KOs), of Tallahassee, Fla., will be making the fourth defense of the IBF light heavyweight title he won via 12-round unanimous decision over former world champion Clinton Woods in August 2009.  The undefeated, 29-year-old then successfully defended his title against Glen Johnson, Fulgencio Zuniga and Yusaf Mack.

Challenging him for the IBF belt is the very competent 33-year-old Spaniard from Madrid, Gabriel Campillo (28-3-1, 8 KOs).  A former WBA light heavyweight world champion, Campillo handed current world champion Beibut Shumenov the only loss of his career - on his home soil in Kazakhstan, no less. Now, in his second trip to America, he presents a serious challenge to Cloud.

Arreola (34-2, 29 KOs), 30, from Riverside, Calif., remains determined to become the first man of Mexican descent to win a world heavyweight championship, having lost his first opportunity to long-reigning WBC Champion Vitali Klitschko back in 2009.   Since experiencing his only other loss as a pro to Tomasz Adamek in April 2010, "The Nightmare" has dedicated himself to training and physical conditioning while rattling off six consecutive wins, four by knockout, weighing about 20 pounds less while doing so.

In his most recent outing back in November, Arreola traveled to Leon, Guanajuato to make his highly anticipated Mexican debut at the grand arena "El Domo" where he headlined an event promoted by Goossen Tutor and Promociones Del Pueblo and broadcast on Televisa.  He stopped Raphael Butler in the third round in front of over 7,000 rousing fans in attendance.

"I am very excited about fighting on February 18 in Corpus Christi and being on SHOWTIME Extreme," Arreola exclaimed.  "I remember seeing Fernando Vargas fighting in front of a full house here and I believe I will bring that type of excitement for these great fans. I am looking to build off a positive 2011 when I showed that I could get my weight under control and take my training and conditioning more seriously.  This will be the first fight of what I predict will be a big and exciting 2012 for me and my career."

Standing directly in Arreola's path towards heavyweight supremacy, is 29-year-old Eric Molina (18-1, 14 KOs).  Having tasted defeat in his professional debut, Molina and his camp went back to the drawing board to make sure that it wouldn't happen again.  To this point he has been successful in that regard, defeating all of his next 18 opponents, while dispatching 14 of them by knockout.

"Six sluggers, three world champions, all in 'Triple Threat' fights," said promoter Dan Goossen.  "This will definitely be SHOWTIME for the fans in attendance and the ones watching at home".

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

World Boxing Organization (WBO) featherweight champion ORLANDO “Siri” SALIDO and former WBO featherweight champion JUAN MANUEL “Juanma” LOPEZ will finally square off for their World Featherweight Championship rematch, Saturday, March 10.  Their battle will be televised live from Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, P.R. on SHOWTIME Championship Boxing, beginning at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast.)  If the rematch is anything like their first rumble, more than palm trees will be swaying when these two warriors start throwing.  The SHOWTIME telecast will open with undefeated No. 1 featherweight contender MIKEY GARCIA risking record and rating as well as his impending world title shot in a 10-round featherweight battle.


“The stakes are high for the heated rivalry between Mexico and Puerto Rico,” said Todd duBoef, president of Top Rank.  “There is no predictability in this rematch as the first fight showed.... Anything can happen!”
 

“SHOWTIME has made a name for itself by televising the most competitive fights in boxing,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports. “This match-up is not only competitive, but explosive as well. Add the intensity of the Puerto Rican fan base at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum and you have a recipe for a sports spectacle. Boxing fans have been asking for this rematch since last April, and we’re happy to give them what they want.”
 

"I shocked the world last year with my win, but when I do it again no one will be surprised,” said Salido. “I know I belong among the elite in the world at featherweight and look forward to been a world champion for a long time"
 

"I am very happy to finally get the opportunity to regain my world title and to show everyone that I am still the best featherweight in the world and that what happened last April was just a bad night,” said Lopez. “I will make my Puerto Rican fans proud on March 10."
 

Salido (37-11-2, 25 KOs), from Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, México, is a two-time featherweight champion.  A professional fighter for 15 years, Salido captured the International Boxing Federation (IBF) featherweight crown in 2010, dethroning defending champion Cristobal Cruz winning an exciting split decision and avenging his previous split decision world title loss to Cruz in 2008.  After losing the title to undefeated superstar Yuriorkis Gamboa via a 12-round decision, also in 2010, Salido has been on a mission to seek and destroy, winning all three of his 2011 fights by knockout, including the WBO featherweight title from Lopez, and a title defense against Kenichi Yamaguchi.

 
Lopez (31-1, 28 KOs), from Caguas, Puerto Rico, returns to the ring for this rematch fresh from winning the the WBO Latino featherweight belt, via a second round knockout of Michael Oliver, Jr., in October. The pride of Puerto Rico has won 18 of his previous 20 fights by knockout, with the he only blemish, his eighth-round TKO loss to Salido last April.  Lopez earned his first world title by knocking out defending WBO junior featherweight champion Daniel Ponce De Leon in the first round of their June 2008 fight.  After five successful title defenses – four by knockout – he vacated the title and successfully challenged WBO featherweight champion Steven Luevano, stopping him in the seventh round, on January 28, at Madison Square Garden .  He successfully defended his featherweight crown with an exciting second-round TKO of the Manny Pacquiao-managed contender Bernabe Concepcion and an eighth-round TKO of two division world champion Rafael Márquez.
 

Garcia (27-0, 23 KOs), from Oxnard, Calif., makes his Puerto Rico debut having won 11 of his past 12 bouts by knockout.  Considered to be one of boxing’s top young prospects, Garcia, 24, returns to the ring fresh from a career-best year in 2011, knocking out previously undefeated contender Matt Remillard in the 10th round last March to capture his NABF and NABO title belts, as well as Rafael Guzman and Juan Carlos Martinez, both in the fourth round, in title defenses.  Trained by his father Eduardo Garcia and co-managed by his brother Robert Garcia, the former IBF junior lightweight champion, Garcia is currently world-rated No. 1 by the WBA, No. 2 by the WBC, No. 3 by the WBO.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

It's official. Boxing superstar Floyd "Money" Mayweather will return to the ring, step up in weight and challenge three-division World Champion Miguel Cotto for his WBA Super Welterweight World title in what will be a gargantuan showdown between two future Hall of Famers who bring excitement and fierce competition every time they step into the ring. Mayweather vs. Cotto will take place on Saturday, May 5 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. and will be televised live on pay-per-view.

Mayweather, a seven-time world champion in five weight classes, is excited to be facing the heavier, much-tested Cotto, who is the pride of Puerto Rico and has the experience, heart and determination to give pound for pound king Mayweather the toughest fight of his career.

"Miguel Cotto is a world class fighter who can never be taken for granted and continues to prove he is one of the best in boxing," said Mayweather, whose only other fight at super welterweight came in a World Boxing Council (WBC) world title win over Oscar de la Hoya in May 2007. "It will be a challenge for me to compete with him at this weight, but this is the type of test I thrive on and gives me the motivation to train even harder. I have no doubt in my mind that my title belt collection will increase once again and Cotto's reign as champion will come to an end on May 5."

Cotto, coming off of the second defense of his title, a spectacular tenth-round technical knockout win over Antonio Margarito in December 2011, is ready to face Mayweather and believes he is Mayweather's most competitive career challenge to date.

 
"I am here to fight the biggest names in boxing," said Cotto who true to his warrior spirit that has distinguished his entire career has accepted this challenge to face the undefeated Mayweather. "I've never ducked anyone or any challenge in front of me. I have accepted everything to give the fans what they like...great and exciting fights. That is what the sport of boxing is all about; making the fights that the fans want and deserve to see. On May 5, stay tuned, because I will convincingly beat Floyd Mayweather."

In addition to agreeing to the terms of the bout which will take place on Cinco de Mayo, one of boxing's biggest weekends, both fighters have agreed to Olympic-style drug testing for the fight.

"Floyd always asks us to find the best available competition for him to fight and we have found that in Miguel Cotto," said Leonard Ellerbe, CEO, Mayweather Promotions. "This is a very risky fight for Floyd as Miguel is a solid 154-pound champion who has already proven to have great boxing abilities and to be a very competent and strong puncher. This is a big test for Floyd, but as always I believe, he is the superior fighter with unmatched skills. This will make the difference and lead to another Mayweather victory the night of May 5." 

 

"What we have here are two champions of amazing caliber set to meet in the ring on May 5 and give boxing and sports fan one of the most compelling match-ups in the sport's history," said Richard Schaefer, CEO, Golden Boy Promotions. "Floyd Mayweather has already achieved worldwide recognition as one of the best fighters ever and Miguel Cotto is one of the greatest fighters of this era. I commend both fighters for agreeing to the fight each other on one of the biggest weekends for boxing and also commend them for agreeing to participate in Olympic style drug testing, a precedent set by Floyd, which continues to uphold the integrity of the sport."

The undefeated Mayweather, (41-0, 25 KO's), a seven-time world champion in five weight divisions, remains boxing's biggest attraction, wowing crowds and generating record pay-per-view numbers each time he steps into the ring. During his extraordinary career, he has amassed wins over world champions such as Diego Corrales, Jose Luis Castillo, Arturo Gatti, Zab Judah, Oscar de la Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Juan Manuel Marquez and Shane Mosley. His last fight against then WBC Welterweight World Champion Victor Ortiz on September 17, 2011 not only showed his boxing skills, as he took the younger Ortiz to school in the first three rounds before knocking him out in the fourth stanza. He is also no stranger to appearing on the classic Mexican celebratory weekends such as Cinco de Mayo and Mexican Independence Day as his fight with Cotto will mark the fifth fight of his career to land on one of those weekends. Mayweather returns to face Cotto in an attempt to capture his eighth world championship. 

Cotto (36-2, 29 KO's), from Caguas, Puerto Rico, has held a world title every year since 2004 while winning 16 of the 18 world championship bouts in which he has fought. Puerto Rico's most exciting fighter and one of its greatest of all time, Cotto held the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Junior Welterweight crown from 2004-2006, successfully defending it six times before vacating it to capture the WBA Welterweight title at the end of 2006, a title he held for nearly as long. After losing the WBA title to Margarito in July 2008, Cotto won his second welterweight belt in February 2009, knocking out Michael Jennings in the fifth round to become the WBO Welterweight champion. He lost the title in his second defense in November 2009, but captured the WBA Super Welterweight title in June of 2010 at Yankee Stadium in New York by stopping then-undefeated defending champion Yuri Foreman. Cotto successfully defended that title by stopping Two-Division World Champion Ricardo Mayorga in the 12th round in March of 2011 and, in his last fight, finally avenged his loss to Margarito, once again retaining his title and giving him true peace of mind.

Mayweather vs. Cotto, a 12-round fight for Cotto's WBA Super Welterweight World title, is presented by Mayweather Promotions, Golden Boy Promotions and Miguel Cotto Promotions. More information on Mayweather vs. Cotto, including ticket prices, pay- per- view information as well as press tour dates and cities, will be announced shortly.