LOS ANGELES (Feb. 11) – Francisco “EL Bandido” Vargas and “Wild” Will Tomlinson hosted a main event media conference call, Tuesday, Feb. 10, to discuss their upcoming NABF & WBO International Junior Lightweight Championship bout live from the Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio, Texas on Thursday, March 12. Co-promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and Leija*Battah Promotions, the championship bout will be broadcasted live on HBO Latino® Boxing.
The fighters were joined by Oscar De La Hoya, Founder and President of Golden Boy Promotions and Mike Battah, President of Leija*Battah Promotions. Below is what the participants had to say. Downloadable fight footage for the fighters is available via FTP.
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OSCAR DE LA HOYA, Founder and President of Golden Boy Promotions:
“We have a terrific main event which will put Francisco Vargas vs. Will Tomlinson; we are extremely excited that this fight will be televised live on HBO Latino. This card will be action pack and packed with local talent from San Antonio.
“We are so happy to go back to San Antonio where the fans are incredible, when a fight likes this goes to San Antonio we’re very confident that the fans will sell out the Freeman Coliseum.
“This is going to be a tough and exciting fight, Francisco is ready to for a world title and this challenge will bring him closer if he wins. Will Tomlinson is a strong fighter and will bring a tough fight on March 12.”
Mike Battah, President of Leija*Battah Promotions:
“I want to thank Oscar De La Hoya and Golden Boy Promotions for letting us have the opportunity to work alongside you, this will be our first HBO Latino Boxing and I am excited.
“Leija*Battah Promotions has been working with Golden Boy Promotions for the past three years and we are looking to continue this great relationship.
“I’m excited for a great night of boxing with Francisco Vargas and Will Tomlinson these are two hungry fighters and contenders in their prime. This undercard will be stacked with some of the best young prospects so we are excited.”
FRANCISCO “EL BANDIDO” VARGAS, NABF & WBO Junior Lightweight Champion:
“I am very excited and motivated, and I know Will Tomlinson is coming ready for a good fight, and I’m going to give him my best as well.
“I’m very happy and motivated. This is what I dreamed of, to fight on HBO. This gives me the extra motivation to be prepared and ready to bring a great fight for fans.
“I know Will is training hard, and I’m glad he is. He has nothing to lose and everything to win. I am right around the corner from a title, and I’m working very hard as well.
“This fight is important to me because it puts me closer to a world title fight, and I am preparing to fight at 100% to win this fight.”
‘WILD’ WILL TOMLINSON, Junior Lightweight Contender
“This is a massive opportunity that I’m very thankful for. I’m training very hard, getting ready for the fight of my life.
“I really believe this is going to be a coming out fight for me in the U.S., and I’m going to be able to introduce ‘Wild Will’ to the Latino and U.S. boxing fans.
“Vargas is an aggressive fighter; he is there to fight, and we are there to give the fans what they want to see, which is a good fight.
“I’m going get in there, and Vargas is going there to hit, and it’s going be a great fight for the fans because I can guarantee it will be action-packed. It’s going be a good fight to watch, and I’m going be just a little bit better than Vargas; I’ll hit harder, and I’ll do enough to get the win.
“It all comes down to who is going to prepare the best and who will be ready. The lifestyle I’ve been living the last two years is a pretty good indication of how much I want this. I’ve put it all on the line to come here to America. This will be the occasion to make it happen for me.”
Tickets are priced at $150, $100, $50, and $25 plus applicable taxes and service charges and are available for purchase at www.ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations, by calling 800-745-3000, or in person at the Freeman Coliseum/AT&T Center SE Box Office, Monday – Friday 10:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., or through Leija*Battah Promotions by calling (210) 979-3302 or emailing m@leijabattahpromo.com.
Vargas vs. Tomlinson, is a 10-round NABF and WBO International Junior Lightweight bout is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and Lejia*Battah Promotions. The HBO Latino Boxing telecast begins at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT is sponsored by Corona Extra and Mexico – Live It To Believe It!. The Freeman Coliseum doors will open at 4:00 p.m. CT and first bout begins at 4:00 p.m. CT.
For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.leijabattahpromo.com and www.freemancoliseum.com, follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @LeijaBattahPr, @HBOLatino, @elbandido130, @WillTomlinsonAU, and become a fan on Facebook at Golden Boy Facebook Page, www.facebook.com/hbolatino or www.facebook.com/LeijaBattah, and visit us on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing, @LeijaBattahPr,@elbandido130, @willtomlinsonau.
