Toronto – Fight Network, the world’s premier 24/7 television channel dedicated to complete coverage of combat sports, presents a live broadcast of the all-star Golden Boy Live! doubleheader to close out 2013 this Friday, December 13, at 10 p.m. ET.
Emanating from Fantasy Sport Resort Casino in Indio, Calif., the special edition features the return of welterweight world title contender Josesito “Riverside Rocky” Lopez against “Mighty” Mike Arnaoutis, and in the co-feature bout, the NABF/WBO Intercontinental super featherweight title will be on the line between Mexico’s unbeaten Francisco Vargas and Texas’ tough Jerry Belmontes.
In three other televised bouts, unbeaten junior middleweight Jermall Charlo takes on Joseph De Los Santos, 2012 U.S. Olympian Joseph “JoJo” Diaz Jr. meets Mexico’s Carlos Rodriguez in a junior featherweight battle and Diaz’ Olympic teammate Errol Spence Jr. puts his perfect professional record on the line against Noe Bolanos in junior middleweight action. All three bouts are scheduled for eight rounds.
Also stepping into the ring for an exciting 10-round non-televised middleweight bout will be Coachella, Calif. favorite Angel Osuna and unbeaten Hugo “The Boss” Centeno Jr.
“It’s great to be back in the ring, especially in front of my Southern California fans,” said Lopez. Arnaoutis is a tough guy and I know he’s going to give me a fight, but that’s what I’m looking forward to.”
“Josesito Lopez is a true warrior and with our styles, this is going to be a fight no one will forget,” said Arnaoutis. “I can’t wait for the first bell to ring and I’m not going to stop swinging until my hand is raised.”
“This is a big fight for me and I’m expecting a tough challenge from Belmontes,” said Vargas. “He’s a hungry prospect, but I won’t let him make his name off of me.”
“Vargas is a talented opponent and I know he’s hungry to win this fight, but I don’t think any fighter is hungrier than me now,” said Belmontes. “I want to end the year with a big win and start chasing down even bigger names in 2014.”
Riverside, California’s Josesito Lopez (30-6, 18 KO’s) was long considered one of the local fight scene’s best-kept secrets, but after his stunning victories over former champion Victor Ortiz and Mike Dallas Jr., the rest of the boxing world found out just how good he was. A former junior middleweight world title challenger, the 29-year-old returned to welterweight in June and engaged in a ‘Fight of the Year’ candidate against Marcos Maidana and on Dec. 13, he’s got Mike Arnaoutis to face in the ring as he aims for world championship gold in 2014.
A former USBA and NABO junior welterweight champion, who has stepped into the ring with the likes of unified super lightweight world champion Danny Garcia, former world champion Victor Ortiz, Ricardo Torres and Delvin Rodriguez, the Queens, New York native “Mighty” Mike Arnaoutis (24-9-1, 11 KO’s), is a seasoned veteran with a slick and exciting style that keeps him competitive against anyone in the world. Undaunted by the task ahead of him, the 34-year-old Arnaoutis is excited for the opportunity to face Lopez this December and prove he has what it takes to face the best.
2008 Mexican Olympian Francisco “El Bandido” Vargas (17-0-1, 14 KO’s) has enjoyed an impressive run through the 130-pound weight class since turning pro in 2010, with 2013 wins over Ira Terry, Cristian Arrazola and Brandon Bennett putting him on the fast track to even bigger things next year. But first, the 28-year-old from Mexico City has to hold off a stiff challenge from Jerry Belmontes.
One of the most popular fighters representing Texas today, Jerry “The Corpus Christi Kid” Belmontes (18-2, 5 KO’s) has been nearly unstoppable in his home state, winning 12 of 13 bouts there. On Dec. 13, the 24-year-old fights in California for the first time since 2009 and he plans on spoiling Vargas’ unbeaten record and taking two title belts back to the Lone Star State.
Houston’s Jermall Charlo (16-0, 12 KO’s) cemented his reputation as a force to be reckoned with in the junior middleweight division as he has gone 6-0 with six knockouts already in 2013, with finishes over notable foes such as Orlando Lora, Luis Hernandez and Antwone Smith. The 23-year-old aims to close out the year with another furious finish. A rugged veteran from the Dominican Republic, 36-year-old Joseph De Los Santos (16-12-3, 9 KO’s) may have a few defeats on his record, but he has only been stopped once, making him a tough test for Charlo. Plus, with wins in six of his last seven bouts, De Los Santos is proving himself to be a late bloomer primed to score the upset.
Twenty-one-year-old South El Monte native Joseph “JoJo” Diaz Jr. (8-1, 5 KO’s) is on the fast track to big things in the 122-pound weight class and with six wins in 2013 alone, he’s keeping the kind of busy schedule that makes world champions. On Dec. 13, the 2012 U.S. Olympian hopes to score his fifth straight knockout when he takes on Los Mochis’ Carlos Rodriguez (18-12-4, 10 KO’s). Rodriguez will be quite the challenge for the young Diaz and after winning six of his last eight fights, the 30-year-old has the momentum he needs to come up big at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino.
A highly decorated amateur who made it to the quarterfinals of the 2012 London Games, Desoto, Texas’ Errol Spence Jr. (9-0, 7 KO’s) has picked up plenty of frequent flyer miles in 2013, fighting in Florida, Nevada, California and Texas while putting seven more wins on his record. A recent victor over unbeaten Emmanuel Lartey in October, the 23-year-old Spence is hungry for more W’s. Looking to put a “1” in Spence’s loss column is Obregon, Mexico’s veteran Noe Bolanos (25-8-1, 16 KO’s). The 27-year-old will be looking to make it two wins in a row on Dec. 13, following his eight-round win over Felipe Gonzalez in September.
Two of California’s top prospects collide in a highly anticipated showdown, as 25-year-old Angel Osuna (11-3-1, 7 KO’s) from Coachella takes on the young and undefeated 22-year-old Hugo “The Boss” Centeno Jr. (19-0, 10 KO’s). Osuna bounced back from a rocky start to his pro career to win his last seven bouts, five by knockout. Centeno has yet to lose as a professional and he wants to end 2013 with an upset win to remember against the fan favorite Osuna.
Lopez vs. Arnoutis is a 10-round welterweight bout presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Goossen Tutor Promotions, Thompson Boxing and Star Boxing and sponsored by Corona and O’Reilly Auto Parts. Doors open at 4 p.m. PT and the first fight starts at 4:30 p.m. PT. Fight Network’s three-hour live broadcast airs at 10 p.m. ET.
For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, follow us on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @JosesitoLopez, @JerryBelmontes @Elbandido130 and @FantasySprings, follow the conversation using #GoldenBoyLive, become a fan on Facebook at Golden Boy Facebook Page and www.facebook.com/fantasysprings . Also, visit us on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing.
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