Andre Berto avenged his first professional loss as he stopped Victor Ortiz in round four of their scheduled 12-round Welterweight bout.

In round one, a clash of heads caused a cut on the hairline of Ortiz,  In  round two, Ortiz dropped Berto with a straight left.  In round four, Berto dropped Ortiz with a straight right hand.  Ortiz was in trouble and took punishment on the ropes and a hard uppercut put Ortiz on the canvas for a second time.  Ortiz was if he wanted to continue by referee Jack Reiss but Ortiz didn’t answer and the fight was stopped at 1:14 of round 4

Berto of Winter Haven, CA is 31-4 with 24 knockouts.  Ortiz of Ventura, CA is 31-6-2.

Thomas Williams Jr. scored the biggest win of his career when he scored a stunning 2nd round stoppage over Edwin Rodriguez in a scheduled 10-round Light Heavyweight bout.

It was a firefight from the word go, as both guys landed huge bombs that had each other rocked and hurt on several occasions.  Just before the end of the 2nd frame, Williams nailed Rodriguez with a booming right hook that sent Rodriguez to the canvas.  Rodriguez got to his feet, but was wobbly and referee Wayne Hedgepeth stopped the bout at 2:59 of round two.

Williams, 177 lbs of Laurel, MD is now 20-1 with 14 knockouts.  Rodriguez, 177 lbs of Worcester, MA is 28-2.

Jorge Lara took out former world champion Fernando Montiel by registering 4 knockdowns in a just over a minute of their Featherweight bout.

Lara dropped Montiel seconds in with a right hook.  Montiel was wobbly when he got up and was dropped two more times with right hooks.  He was allowed to continue after the third knockdown only to be leveled with anrother rght hook and he went down face first and the fight was stopped at 1:37.

Lara, 124 lbs of Guadalajara, MX is now 28-0-2 with 20 knockouts.  Montiel, 126 lbs lbs of Los Mochis, MX has seen better days and his record now stands at 54-6-2.

Good looking Super Middleweight prospect David Benavidez stopped Phil Jackson in round two of their scheduled eight round bout.

Benavidez systematically beat down Jackson over the first round and a half until he landed a uppercut and shot to the body that softened Jackson up for a follow up left hook that sent Jackson down face first and the fight was stopped at 2:07.

Benavidez of Phoenix, AZ is now 14-0 with 13 knockouts.  Benson is now 16-3.

Gerald Washington remained undefeated by scoring a 8-round unanimous decision over former world title challenger Eddie Chambers.

Washington of Los Angeles won by scores of 8-72 twice and 79-73 and is now 17-0-1.  Chambers of Philadelphia is 44-3.

SANTA MONICA, CALIF. (April 27, 2016) – Fight week kicked-off Wednesday afternoon with media workouts for the long awaited rematch between former world champion “Vicious” Victor Ortiz and Andre “The Beast” Berto that headlines Premier Boxing Champions on FOX and FOX Deportes on Saturday, April 30 from StubHub Center in Carson, Calif.

The action begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and features an explosive battle between light heavyweight sluggers Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriguez and Thomas “Top Dog” Williams Jr. plus unbeaten featherweight Jorge Lara taking on former multiple division world champion Fernando “Cucholito” Montiel.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, are priced at $209, $105, $53, and $27, plus applicable taxes, fees and service charges, are on sale now and are available for purchase online at AXS.com.

Prior to the start of televised fights, an Official Fan Fest will be held for ticket holders outside of the StubHub Center. The events start at 2:30 p.m. PT and features a Corona Beer Garden, food trucks, music from the band Metalachi and autograph signings with popular fighters such as Leo Santa Cruz, Abner Mares, Shawn Porter and more.

Here is what the fighters had to say Wednesday from the Wild Card West Boxing Club in Santa Monica:

VICTOR ORTIZ

“I put a total of 14 weeks of work into this fight. Nothing easy about that work. Come the 30th, I’m going to prove why I beat Berto the first time.

“I know what I’m here to do. I’ve got my fire back. People claim that I don’t have the fire, but you’ll see on April 30.

“People don’t know what I go through on the daily. When I’m injured for months at a time, I just have me and my team. We work hard.

“I’m going to be back on top in no time. That’s my opinion. I know where I belong.

“I’m focusing on Berto. That’s my target and that’s my focus.

“He’s done what he’s done. You have to respect that. I’m here and I’m not going anywhere. We’re going toe-to-toe.”

ANDRE BERTO

“This is the type of game where if you don’t respect it, it won’t respect you. I’m in a much better place right now. I’ve learned a lot over the years since the first fight. I’m healthy and focused.

“I’m just ready to go. Camp was tremendous. We’re really ready to get in there and do it.

“There’s a lot that goes into this for me. It was my first loss and I had so many emotions back then, so it’s time to get that monkey off my back.

“My plan is to win this in a fashion so there will be no third fight.

“My focus is on getting the victory Saturday night. I want to look good doing. I’m not thinking about anything after that.

“I’ve worked on a lot of different things in camp. We’re going to do whatever it takes to get the win.

“You all haven’t ever seen me look like this. I’ve pretty much locked myself in a cage for eight or nine weeks. I’ve put everything aside. I’ve just been grinding.”

EDWIN RODRIGUEZ

“He’s got some power and some style. He can do a few things. We have to go at it.

“I feel great at this weight class. I have the speed and strength to make an impact in this division.

“I hadn’t fought a southpaw in a while but we’ve had great sparring with guys like Marcus Browne. I feel very prepared. I’ve never had an issue with southpaws.

“I’m excited to be back on the west coast. This is an incredible card. I was at the first fight between Ortiz and Berto and It’s going be another great fight. But I’m coming to steal the show on Saturday night.

“In boxing you’re as good as your last fight. Right now I’m a warrior who took more shots than I should have. I’ve improved quite a bit but I want to improve on any fights. I’m not going down again.”

THOMAS WILLIAMS JR.

“Win, lose or draw you know Thomas Williams will bring the fight to you. I’ve been dropped and gotten up. This won’t go the distance, so don’t blink.

“I’ve been boxing since I was five-years-old. I have an amateur pedigree and been pro since 2010. I had to take some time off in 2014 but now I’m back and stronger than ever.

“The biggest challenge is just getting to the ring. I don’t want to get caught up in the talk of what he does. It’s just going to be me in there. If I go in and do the things that I’m supposed to do, I should come out on top.

“You have to keep your punches short against a pressure fighter. A short punch will beat a wild punch any day. I just have to keep my composure and stay relaxed.

“I haven’t watched any of his fights. I leave that up to my trainers to create the game plan and we go from there. I have seen him fight before. We were on the same card, so I did have the chance to watch him live.”

JORGE LARA

“Montiel has been around a long time. He’s been a world champion and he comes to fight.

“I’ve studied him and watched him fight before. I feel I know him very well. I have a plan for how I’m going to get to him.

“I am very well prepared. I’m not worried about his experience. I’ve trained hard to be ready and I know what I have to do on fight night.

“The winners in this fight will be the fans. We are going to put on a great show and give the fans something to remember.

“If I can beat him, I can move up the rankings and get closer to a world title shot. That is my goal and this is a big step on my path.

“I’m really pumped up about fighting in front of the fans in Southern California. I know they will appreciate my style and it will be a great atmosphere on Saturday.”

FERNANDO MONTIEL

“Lara is a young talented guy and I’m going to have to be at my best. He’s a dangerous guy and I will have to be ready.

“I had to change everything to fight the lefthander after preparing to fight Abner Mares. We had a great camp and we will be ready.

“I’m excited to be on a card like this. I think the main event is going to be a really fun fight for the fans. I see both guys going down during the fight but I’m going with Victor to win.”

PBC on FOX is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina. For more information visitwww.premierboxingchampions.com www.TGBPromotions.com, http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepage and foxdeportes.com follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @ViciousOrtiz, @AndreBerto, @LaBombaBoxing, @TopDoggJr, @FOXSports, @FOXDeportes and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxing,www.facebook.com/foxsports and www.facebook.com/foxdeportes. Follow the conversation using #PBConFOX.

Richard T. Slone “The official artist of the International Boxing Hall of Fame” will be signing official posters of his Ortiz vs Berto 2 artwork. The first 2,000 people to arrive to the Corona booth will get an autographed poster.

Victor Ortiz, Andre Berto, Jorge Lara & Fernando Montiel
Press Conference Quotes & Photos

PBC on FOX & FOX Deportes Saturday, April 30
From StubHub Center in Carson, Calif.
8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT

Click HERE For Photos
Photo Credit: Arnold Turner/Premier Boxing Champions

LOS ANGELES (March XX, 2016) – Former welterweight world champions “Vicious” Victor Ortiz and Andre “The Beast” Berto,along with undefeated featherweight contender Jorge Lara and former world champion Fernando “Cochulito” Montiel, held a press conference in Los Angeles Wednesday to discuss their Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on FOX & FOX Deportes showdowns taking place Saturday, April 30 from StubHub Center in Carson, Calif.

The tripleheader of primetime action beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT also features an exciting light heavyweight showdown between Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriguez and Thomas “Top Dog” Williams Jr.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, are priced at $209, $105, $53 and $27, plus applicable taxes, fees and service charges, and are on sale now and available for purchase online at AXS.com.

The fighters held court at the Conga Room at L.A. Live and spoke about their respective matchups. Ortiz and Berto will tangle in a highly anticipated rematch of their 2011 battle, won by Ortiz, while the rising Lara and former champion Montiel meet in a crossroads fight that could launch the winner into title contention in a stacked featherweight division.

Here is what the participants had to say Wednesday:

VICTOR ORTIZ

“This is definitely the next chapter of my boxing career and I want to take full advantage of it. I’m healthy and I’m young and I’m still able to pull the trigger.

“Everyone said I was a ‘tomato can’ who had no business being in the ring with Berto the first time. I had to go to Connecticut to get my belt and my respect.

“I’ve fought a lot of wars. I’ve been in battles. I broke my jaw and my wrist, that’s three years right there. But my will to fight led me back. The more boxing I watched, the more upset it made me. I don’t think the other welterweights are on my level.

“Berto blames me for his downward spiral. He thinks he has a chance this time. Always a good dream to have.

“I’m not going the distance this time. I’m going in 100 miles per hour, full throttle.

“2011 was one heck of a year. The repeat is coming on April 30 because I want another world championship. Berto is a tremendous warrior; I’ll give him that. I’ll be ready and I know he will be too.”

ANDRE BERTO

“I’m excited about this one. April 30 is going to be a tremendous night. I promise you that.

“The fight back in 2011, he got me. He did what he had to do to win. But this time I’m going in extremely focused and ready to take everything that I felt he took from me that night.

“I went to school. I failed the test and now I have the chance to ace it.

“He said it wouldn’t go the distance last time, but I still did and I wasn’t training to my full capabilities.

“My power and speed are still there. I’m glad this fight came about because it’s going to be a great night for the fans.

“I’m not about running my mouth and saying stuff just for the media. I’m going to back it up in the ring.

“I’ve got to show Victor some respect because he beat me the first time. I’m big on being respectful. I respect Victor and the history of Mexican fighters, they put their blood, sweat and tears in there.

“This is what he asked for. So I want to make sure he knows what he’s getting himself into. This isn’t the same situation as last time. So we’ll see it in the ring. Come out on April 30 and see me handle this business.”

JORGE LARA

“It’s an honor to be able to fight on a card like this. I’m really excited about entering the ring on April 30.

“I know this isn’t going to be an easy fight. Montiel is a very accomplished fighter and that’s why we’re preparing ourselves very diligently for this fight. We’re looking forward to the challenge that he presents.

“I have all the respect in the world for Fernando Montiel. He was a great world champion who is very established in his career. I must be at my best to get the victory.

“If I’m able to win the fight then I would like to fight the winner of Jesus Cuellar vs. Abner Mares in that title fight. But first and foremost, I have to get this big victory.

“Don’t miss this fight. We’re going to give it our all and it’s going to be a tremendous matchup. I’m going to give it my all to be victorious.”

FERNANDO MONTIEL

“It’s an honor and pleasure to be a part of this amazing card. My fight with Lara is going to get the ring hot for the rest of the card.

“Lara is going to come prepared just like myself. He’s a great fighter. He’s undefeated and I know he’s going to bring his best.

“I know that Jorge Lara is a very good fighter, he’s aggressive. I know if I make a mistake it could be a long night for me.

“I know I have to rely on my experience to come out victorious. I expect both of us to battle. There could be some knockdowns. It’s going to be a fun fight for the fans.

“I’m very thankful for the opportunity and I hope everyone comes out because I’m planning on making this a terrific fight.”

For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.comwww.TGBPromotions.com, http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepage and foxdeportes.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @ViciousOrtiz, @AndreBerto, @LaBombaBoxing, @TopDoggJr, @FOXSports, @FOXDeportes and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxing, www.facebook.com/foxsports and www.facebook.com/foxdeportes. Follow the conversation using #PBConFOX. PBC on FOX is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.

CARSON, CALIF. (March 17, 2016) – Former welterweight world champions “Vicious” Victor Ortiz (31-5-2, 24 KOs) and Andre “The Beast” Berto (30-4, 23 KOs) will meet again in a 12-round welterweight rematch in primetime on Saturday, April 30 as Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on FOX and FOX Deportes comes to StubHub Center in Carson, Calif.

Televised coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and features two exciting undercard attractions. Light heavyweight sluggers Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriguez (28-1, 19 KOs) and Thomas “Top Dog” Williams Jr. (19-1, 13 KOs) meet in a 10-round brawl plus former three-division world champion Fernando “Cochulito” Montiel (54-5-2, 39 KOs) faces unbeaten Mexican brawler Jorge Lara (27-0-2, 19 KOs) in a 10-round featherweight battle.

Ortiz and Berto first faced off in their 2011 welterweight world title barn burner that garnered significant Fight of the Year buzz. The bout saw both men hit the canvas twice, including a thrilling round six in which each fighter was knocked down. In the end, Ortiz walked away with a unanimous decision. A victory in the rematch will propel the winner to the forefront of the world title picture in this stacked with talent division.

“I know I’m in for another war,” said Ortiz. “I’ve always been open to a rematch because Berto has a big mouth and something to prove. After our fight, he went on a losing streak, because I gave his opponents a blueprint on how to beat him. My losses have been unfortunate, but I wouldn’t want to come up against me at this stage in the game. My name is Victor and that’s no coincidence.”

“This is the fight the people have been waiting for and it’s time to give it to them,” said Berto. “I am in a good place mentally, physically and spiritually. I’ve never wanted my story to be perfect, that’s boring. Life is filled with ups and downs and I’ve embraced them all in my career. Everything I’ve been through has turned me into a savage. It’s time to close this chapter once and for all. I want his head!”

The undercard bouts are sure to feature exciting two-way action as the experienced veterans Rodriguez and Montiel look to hold-off rising contenders in Williams Jr. and Lara.

“This is a very big fight for the light heavyweight division,” said Rodriguez. “Thomas brings it, but so do I. You can expect fireworks from the opening bell as we are both looking to put on a sensational performance. That being said, the light heavyweight championship is right around the corner, and there is nothing that is going to stop me from getting there.”

“I’m thrilled to be fighting on this card,” Williams said. “When they called me about this fight, I said, ‘I love it, let’s make it happen.’ I think that it’s going to be a really exciting and fan-friendly matchup. Edwin is a strong fighter who I know is going to be prepared to bring it on fight night, and I’ll make sure I’m ready to do the same.”

“It’s a pleasure to be on this fight card and I promise an exciting night for the fans,” said Montiel. “I came up short in my last fight, but I am determined to become a world champion in a new weight class. I always come to fight and I will be throwing punches non-stop until I’m victorious on April 30.”

“I’m blessed to be back in the ring as part of this great night of fights,” said Lara. “My dream is to be a world champion, and to do that I have to beat fighters like Montiel. I respect my opponent, but right now he is on my way and nothing is going to stop me.”

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, are priced at $209, $105, $53, and $27, plus applicable taxes, fees and service charges, are on sale now and are available for purchase online at AXS.com.

PBC on FOX in primetime debuted on January 23 and featured a thrilling three-fight card that was topped by undefeated star Danny Garcia conquering former world champion Robert Guerrero to claim a welterweight world title in a back-and-forth brawl. Another exciting contest in the welterweight division is sure to thrill those watching at home and the Southern California boxing fans in attendance.

“We are proud to be bringing this long awaited rematch to the StubHub Center and the Los Angeles boxing fans,” said Tom Brown of TGB Promotions. “Victor Ortiz and Andre Berto battled back in 2011, and their meeting on April 30 will take care of unfinished business.”

“After the overwhelming success of the return to boxing on FOX in January, after an almost 20 year absence, FOX Sports and FOX Deportes are thrilled to present the second Premier Boxing Champions fight on April 30,” said David Nathanson, FOX Sports Head of Business Operations.

“StubHub Center is excited to host this welterweight bout on Saturday, April 30,” said Katie Pandolfo, General Manager of StubHub Center. “We look forward to an exciting rematch and an electric atmosphere at the premier outdoor boxing venue in the United States.”

An exciting fighter who never shies away from action, Ortiz returned to the ring in December 2015 one year after injuring his hand during a third round stoppage of Manuel Perez. The 29-year-old stopped Gilberto Sanchez Leon in his last bout for his second victory in a row. Ortiz was a 147-pound world champion when he defeated Berto in 2011 to set up a showdown with Floyd Mayweather. The Kansas-native has spent time in recent years to film roles in movies such as “Southpaw” and “The Expendables 3” but is now fully focused on a return to the pinnacle of the welterweight division.

Berto is a former amateur standout and Olympian for his native Haiti. He challenged now-retired pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather in September. The offensive-minded Berto always makes for sensational scraps as his 2012 slugfest with Robert Guerrero was another Fight of the Year candidate. The 32-year-old thrilled in his PBC debut last March when he stopped Josesito Lopez in the sixth round of their welterweight showdown.

An accomplished amateur who won a 2006 National Golden Gloves gold medal and a 2005 U.S. National Championship gold medal, the 30-year-old Rodriguez enters this fight a winner of his last four fights. Born in the Dominican Republic but fighting out of Worcester, Massachusetts, Rodriguez’s only loss came to the undefeated Andre Ward in 2013. He owns impressive victories over previously unbeaten fighters Will Rosinsky, Jason Escalera, Ezequiel Osvaldo Maderna, Craig Baker and Michael Seals. Against Seals, in his most recent bout on November 13, Edwin rose from the canvas to score a devastating third-round TKO in what was a ‘Fight of the Year’ candidate.

Williams Jr., a 28-year-old from Fort Washington, Maryland, was introduced to boxing by his father, a former pro fighter. A dynamite puncher, Williams Jr. has registered seven of his 13 knockouts in the first round. However, the southpaw has also proven his endurance with unanimous decision victories over warriors like Michael Gbenga, Yusaf Mack and Otis Griffin. Most recently he earned two victories, including a second-round TKO over world-ranked contender Umberto Savigne last November.

The veteran Montiel won his first world title in 2000 over Isidro Garcia and went on to have title winning performances over Pedro Alzacar, Ivan Hernandez, Z Gorres, Ciso Morales and Hozumi Hasegawa. Born in Sinaloa, Mexico, Montiel rode an eight-fight win streak heading into his October world title shot against Lee Selby. Montiel’s aggressive style frustrated Selby but it was not enough for him to grab a title in his fourth weight class.

Undefeated out of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, Lara made his U.S. debut on March 7, 2015 with a first round stoppage of Mario Macias in Las Vegas. The 25-year-old has ended seven of his last nine opponents early including experienced contenders Jovanny Soto, Jairo Hernandez and Oscar Ibarra. He looks to rebound from a technical draw in his last outing after the fight was stopped in six rounds due to numerous cuts Lara had received from accidental headbutts.

For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.comwww.TGBPromotions.com, http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepage and foxdeportes.com follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @ViciousOrtiz, @AndreBerto, @LaBombaBoxing, @TopDoggJr, @FOXSports, @FOXDeportes and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxing, www.facebook.com/foxsports and www.facebook.com/foxdeportes. Follow the conversation using #PBConFOX. PBC on FOX is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.

NEW YORK (Feb. 3, 2016) – Former three-division world champions Abner Mares and Fernando Montiel will square off in all-action co-feature on Saturday, March 12, live on CBS at 8:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. PT.

In the main event of the first primetime boxing presentation on CBS in nearly 40 years, welterweight knockout artist Keith Thurman will defend his WBA Welterweight World Championship against former titlist Shawn Porter in a matchup of two elite fighters in boxing’s glamour division.

The event, promoted by DiBella Entertainment from Mohegan Sun Casino Resort in Connecticut, is produced by SHOWTIME Sports® for the CBS Television Network, both divisions of the CBS Corporation.

Mares (29-2-1, 15 KOs) and Montiel (54-5-2, 39 KOs) are two of the most accomplished and entertaining Mexican boxers in the sport today. Mares compiled a staggering resume over the past five years while earning titles at 118, 122 and 126 pounds. Montiel is one of the most skilled boxers of his generation having won championships at 112, 115 and 118 pounds over a 17-year career.

“I’m ready to get back in the ring and have the boxing world see the monster that the Mares and Robert Garcia partnership is creating,” said Abner Mares. “I’m a tough fighter. I’ve made some adjustments and I will show my warrior spirit and skill on March 12. It’s time to go to work.”

“I have been wanting to fight Abner Mares for many years,” said Montiel. “They say that styles make fights and Abner Mares’ style is tailor made for me. My last fight was a close decision against one of the best featherweights in the world in Lee Selby. I need to make every fight count and on March 12 Abner Mares will be my next step to another world title!”

“Abner Mares and Fernando Montiel are both proud warriors,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. “Both are coming off tough, competitive fights and both must win to once again realize championship dreams. This will be a throw down, entertaining battle.”

Tickets for the live event are priced at $300, $150, $75 and $35 (plus applicable fees) and are on sale now through Ticketmaster. Ticketmaster customers may log on to ticketmaster.com; call (800) 745-3000; or visit any Ticketmaster outlet. Tickets are also be available at the Mohegan Sun Box Office.

Born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico and fighting out of Downey, Calif., Mares won his first title in 2011 when he beat Joseph Agbeko to win the bantamweight crown. He continued his rise up the pound-for-pound list with wins over Anselmo Moreno and Daniel Ponce De Leon to win world titles at super bantamweight and featherweight. The 30-year-old won three straight fights leading to a massive showdown with Leo Santa Cruz last August. Mares showed the same explosiveness that made him a multiple division world champion in a thrilling Fight of the Year candidate that he lost by decision. The always-exciting Mares will enter the ring for the first time under the tutelage of renowned trainer Robert Garcia and strength coach Luis Garcia as he looks to work his way towards another world title.

The veteran Montiel won his first world title in 2000 over Isidro Garcia and went on to have title-winning performances over Pedro Alzacar, Ivan Hernandez, Z Gorres, Ciso Morales and Hozumi Hasegawa. Born in Sinaloa, Mexico, Montiel rode an eight-fight win streak heading into his October world title shot against Lee Selby. Montiel’s aggressive style frustrated Selby but it was not enough for him to grab a title in his fourth weight class. The 36-year-old has an opportunity to get back in the mix for a world title with a victory over Mares.

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, and also offers SHOWTIME ON DEMAND®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ ON DEMAND and FLIX ON DEMAND®, and the network’s authentication service SHOWTIME ANYTIME®. Showtime Digital Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of SNI, operates the stand-alone streaming service SHOWTIME®. SHOWTIME is currently available to subscribers via cable, DBS and telco providers, and as a stand-alone streaming service through Apple®, Roku®, Amazon and Google. Consumers can also subscribe to SHOWTIME via Hulu, Sony PlayStation® Vue and Amazon Prime Video. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks™, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution, which offers Smithsonian Channel™, and offers Smithsonian Earth™ through SN Digital LLC. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV. For more information, go to www.SHO.com.

For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports and www.premierboxingchampions.com, follow on Twitter @SHOSports, @PremierBoxing @KeithFThurmanJr, @ShowtimeShawnP, @AbnerMares, @LouDiBella and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports, www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions and www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment.

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Lee Selby isn’t shy about where he thinks he belongs on the Premier Boxing Champions long list of talented featherweights.

He raises the index finger on his potent right hand when asked how he would rank himself in a deep pool that includes Leo Santa Cruz, Abner Mares and Carl Frampton.

But the confident gesture is more of a prediction than a current assessment.

“Numero Uno,’’ the Wales fighter said, joking in a UK accent after a brief workout at Central Boxing before his Wednesday bout with Fernando Montiel at Gila River Arena in Glendale, Ariz. “See, I’m learning my Spanish, too.

“I rank myself amongst them. They are the fights I want to be in. I want to be in the big fights, see how good I am.’’

For now, the Wales fighter and IBF champion is just trying to introduce himself to the American market against the experienced and well-traveled Montiel of Mexico on an ESPN-televised card (6 p.m.PT/9pm ET) featuring former welterweight champion Devon Alexander (26-3, 14 KOs) against Aron Martinez (19-4-1, 4 KOs).

The weigh-in is scheduled for Tuesday at 2 p.m. (PT) at Gila River Arena.. It’s open to the public.

“I myself chose a formidable foe, a former three-weight world champion,’’ said Selby, who will defend the title
he won in a technical decision over Evgeny Gradovich last May in London. “If I beat a guy like him, look good on free television, it should change my profile overnight.’’

A profile, perhaps, that could lead to a bout with Santa Cruz, who put himself at the head of Al Haymon ‘s126-pound class with a dramatic decision over Mares at Los Angeles’ Staples Center on August 29.

“At the moment, my name, my profile, is not big in America, if at all’’ said Selby, who trained for his U.S. debut in Los Angeles. “So, I have a lot work to do on that. A lot of it depends on who the opponent is. But the fights are on free TV. Everybody gets to see me. It’s not like pay-per-view. So, if I look good, it could happen fairly rapidly.’’

Premier Boxing Champions on ESPN (PBC on ESPN) presented by Corona Extra will feature live coverage on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and WatchESPN on Wednesday, Oct. 14 of former two-division world champion Devon Alexander “The Great” (26-3, 14 KOs) against Mexican Aron Martínez (19-4-1, 4 KOs) in a 10-round welterweight bout, from Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona.

The live PBC on ESPN telecast begins at 9 p.m. ET with the co-main event: featherweight world champion Lee Selby (21-1, 8 KOs), making his U.S. debut, vs. Fernando “Cochulito” Montiel (54-4-2, 39 KOs), a former three-division world champion. ESPN Deportes will present Spanish-language coverage of the event as part of its Noche de Combates series.

Live streaming on WatchESPN will be available on computers, smartphones, tablets, Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Xbox 360 and Xbox One via an affiliated video provider. It will also air on ESPN International networks in Latin America, Brazil, the Caribbean and the Pacific Rim.

Host Marysol Castro, blow-by-blow commentator Joe Tessitore, Teddy Atlas and reporters Todd Grisham and Bernardo Osuna comprise ESPN’s commentary team. In addition, Hall of Fame boxing writer and ESPN boxing contributor Nigel Collins will provide social media content, insight and analysis.

On ESPN Deportes, Pablo Viruega and Delvin Rodríguez will call the fights, while Leopoldo González, Claudia Trejos and Hall of Fame referee Joe Cortez, will host.

Additional Highlights:
· Nigel Collins narrates a special segment on how champions are made and takes a historical look at the top faces of boxing past.

· Atlas’ Fight Plan: Atlas will demonstrate what each fighter needs to do to win in his “Fight Plan.”

· ESPN.com will provide comprehensive coverage, including pre- and post-fight features, videos and blogs from ESPN’s Dan Rafael, Brian Campbell, and Nigel Collins and ESPN.com’s boxing program “Making the Rounds.”

Fighter backgrounds:
A world champion at 140 and 147-pounds, the 28-year-old Alexander is making his 2015 debut looking for a performance that will vault him back into title contention. Alexander owns victories over Marcos Maidana, Lucas Matthysse, Randall Bailey and Lee Purdy. The St. Louis-native is 4-2 in world title fights with his most recent victory coming via a decision over Jesus Soto Karass.

The 33-year-old Martinez is coming off of a decision loss to Robert Guerrero, in a fight where Martinez dropped Guerrero for the second time in his career and appeared within seconds of being awarded a stoppage victory. Born in Mexico, but fighting out of Los Angeles, Martinez has fought professionally since 2004 and racked up 10 straight victories between 2009 and 2012.

Born in Barry, Wales, Selby picked up his world title with a technical decision over previously undefeated Evgeny Gradovich in May. The 28-year-old has victories over previously unblemished fighters including Joel Brunker, Ryan Walsh, Viorel Simon, Corey McConnell and Stephen Smith. Selby will be making his first start in the United States on October 14.

The Mexican veteran Montiel has won world titles across three weight classes throughout his career that began as a 17-year-old in 1996. He won his first world title in 2000 over Isidro Garcia and went on to have title winning performances over Pedro Alzacar, Ivan Hernandez, Z Gorres, Ciso Morales and Hozumi Hasegawa. Born in Sinaloa, Mexico, Montiel has an eight-fight win streak heading into this match and returns to fight in the U.S. for the first time since 2011.

The PBC series was created for television by Haymon Boxing and features top-level fights between many of boxing’s biggest names. This is the fourth PBC on ESPN event which debuted on ESPN July 11. The last event on Aug. 19 headlined by Leo Santa Cruz’s majority decision win over Abner Mares delivered the largest boxing audience on ESPN since 1998, reaching an average of 1.2 million viewers (P2+).

Former world champion Fernando Montiel won a 10 round unanimous decision over Rogelio Doliguez in a Featherweight bout at Auditorio Municipal Fausto Gutiérrez Moreno in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico.

Montiel scored two knockdowns in round one and another in the next round. Doliguez was also deducted a point in round seven from a headbutt.

Montiel, 126 lbs won by scores of 99-88 on all cards and is now 54-4-2. Doliguez, 126 lbs is now 19-3-2.

Juan Carlos Sanchez Jr. scored a 10-round unanimous decision over Luis Melendez in a Super Bantamweight bout.

Sanchez, 122 lbs won by scores of 100-90 twice and 99-91 and is now 20-3-1. Melendez, 122 1/2 lbs is now 41-10-1.

Former world champion Fernando Montiel scored a 10-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Sergio Puente in a Super Featherweight bout at Gimnasio Nuevo León in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico.

Montiel scored a knockdown in round two from a left hook to the body.

Montiel, 129 lbs of Los Mochis, MX won by scores of 98-91 and 96-93 twice and is now 53-4. Puente, 129 lbs is now 15-1.

Jose Zepeda took out former world title challenger Victor Manuel Cayo in just 87 seconds of their scheduled 10-round Welterweight bout.

Zepeda landed a left that plummeted Cayo into the bottom two ropes and the fight was stopped at 1:27 of round one.

Zepeda, 142 3/4 lbs of Long Beach, CA is now 21-0 with 18 knockouts. Cayo, 142 3/4 lbs of Santo Domingo, DR is now 32-6.

Joselyn Arroyo scored a 10-round unanimous decision over Mayela Perez in a Female Flyweight bout.

Scores were 98-92 twice and 97-93 twice for Arroyo, 111 lbs of Guadalajra, MX and is now 17-0. Perez, 109 1/2 lbs is now 11-17-4.

By Bart Barry-

After nine years of sitting ringside at Top Rank shows – my first media credential came from Lee Samuels, in April 2005 – one flatters himself to think he can discern the difference between a well-built fight and a well-built fighter, noting hallmarks of the promoter’s extraordinary eye for talent and talent for matchmaking in the differences between a well-built fight like Donaire-Montiel and a well-built fighter like Miguel Cotto. In Dallas one year ago to see Mikey Garcia continue his ascent, while actually witnessing its antithesis, I believed the best-built fighter I saw at American Airlines Center was not Garcia but an undefeated kid from Nebraska named Terence Crawford.

Saturday confirmed that opinion and ratified Crawford as one of the world’s two best lightweights (and if a fight’s probable aesthetics should require ambiguity, may it ever do so in the case of Crawford and Miguel Vazquez), when Crawford overcame undefeated Cuban Yuriorkis Gamboa’s initial superiority of reflex and craft to make a first defense of his world title the proper way: TKO-9. At Omaha’s CenturyLink Center, Crawford switched from orthodox to southpaw, socked Gamboa from most every direction, dropped him four times, and commanded referee Genaro Rodriguez’s mercy, in a performance that made aficionados everywhere suddenly invest in the Nebraskan’s fortunes.

Crawford-Gamboa was an excellent fight conducted near the height of boxing’s current powers, though not quite as much as HBO’s hyperbolic commentating crew proclaimed – so thrilled were they to be somewhere new in front of a spectacle competitive. Terence Crawford is a rarity among contemporary prizefighters: A talented fighter able to sell tickets at home though nevertheless willing to travel anywhere and make fight real fights against real fighters. He is a monument to how Top Rank alone can build a fighter when it wishes to, when it takes a nothing-much-to-lose approach and moves him properly, making sterner tests steadily, and giving him a chance to surprise himself and others when his moment comes.

If a prizefighter improves considerably by becoming a champion, Crawford just became better again by defending his belt before a hometown crowd. Whatever collectedness Crawford showed throughout the match and afterwards, however much the ferocity of Gamboa’s attack elevated Crawford’s demeanor in aficionados’ eyes from insipid to poised, there can be no doubt he was surprised and overjoyed by his performance and its result. Watch him immediately after being hoisted on his handler’s shoulders in the traditionally celebratory way; he begins with the menacing glare one sees predominately in staredowns and hip-hop clubs then surrenders his face to a wide and nearly disbelieving grin.

It was, in its way, a metaphor for the transition in demeanor our sport’s fans underwent these last 30 days: After a scowl-inducing opening five months, 2014 righted its course, if it didn’t fully redeem itself, with definitively heroic showings by Carl Froch, Chris Algieri, Vasyl Lomachenko and Terence Crawford, interrupted early by a coronation of sorts for Miguel Cotto, aficionados’ consensus pick for the veteran prizefighter most deserving of one. While a single stretch in a mediocre run would not save a programming regime in a meritocracy, in the current state of premium-cable programming it likely buys those running HBO Sports another year or so.

As if in late-arriving rebuttal to Showtime’s groundbreaking work with Chuck Giampa in 2012, HBO unveiled Saturday its own fan-battle and groggy-cam innovations, the former a feature in which, rather than feign objectivity at the outset, Max and Roy each pick an opposing fighter and comb a match’s every indecisive moment for evidence his fighter took it, while Jim scores their efforts and Steve agrees. Max selects the object of his greater overstatements in bygone fights, and Roy picks whichever guy resembles Roy. Perhaps the fan-battle innovation, then, marks not an innovation but a feedback mechanism: Any time Max tore his eyes from Gamboa’s spellbinding athleticism, Saturday, it meant Crawford did something exceptional, and each time Roy got Gamboa’s name right it was because the Cuban showed much heart, son.

The groggy-cam innovation, though, was exactly that: Effectively as Chuck Giampa once took Showtime viewers inside the mind of a judge so did HBO’s camerawork take subscribers inside the massively concussed brain of a nearly unconscious man in a championship prizefight. Viewers who delighted in HBO’s rope-obstructed shots in the opening rounds had no choice but to concede the close of Saturday’s main event was nigh intoxicating, if not intoxicated. After Gamboa rose from the blue mat and readied himself for his final act of self-immolation in round 9, HBO gave its viewers a jerky Omaha-crowd-as-Pacific-Ocean angle nonsensical as broadcasting a Tiger Woods sudden-death putt from the Goodyear Blimp.

Self-immolation was indeed the phrase that often came to mind while watching Gamboa in Saturday’s final rounds. Gamboa, who has been rendered HBO-camera-like just about every time a fight of his makes television, brought to mind the Mike Tyson whom Evander Holyfield stopped in their first match, though without a chin fractionally reliable as Tyson’s. Just as Holyfield weathered the initial onslaught of Tyson’s reflexive rage and raging reflexes, weathered it to remind Tyson who the physically stronger man was, so did Crawford get too close and then too far in his opening 12 minutes with Gamboa, determining what he might be missing in the Cuban’s all-offense-always style and what the consequences of his carelessness later might bring, before marching forward and imposing himself the way a man should in a confrontation.

Unlike Crawford, Gamboa had no means of countering a force that moved him backwards, asserting once more his claim on contemporary prizefighting’s largest delta between physical ability and ring IQ – that somewhat fuzzy quality one needn’t define precisely before knowing Crawford has much larger stores of it than Gamboa. More enticing, still, is this: Crawford utilized his IQ to make a wager worthy of prizefighting’s master gambler, Juan Manuel Marquez, choosing to absorb Gamboa’s overhand rights, from a southpaw stance, in the hopes of deploying his own arsenal with more devastating effect.

When such hopes find full satisfaction in an arena filled with one’s hometown fans, it’s OK to break character afterwards and smile widely, Terence. You’ve got lots of folks smiling.

Bart Barry can be reached at bart.barrys.email (at) gmail.com

Boxing’s equivalent of lighting in a bottle was captured by Nonito Donaire nearly two years ago when he knocked out accomplished Fernando Montiel within two rounds of a stunning statement that transformed him into a pound-for-pound contender.

Everything since then has been like time in a high school class. Donaire studied, did his homework and roadwork. Yet, he yearned for that bold stroke of reality that still has fans and media talking about him.

“The last three fights were experimental,’’ Donaire said in a conference call. “This fight, we are going back to boxing and being unexpected. We relied on the power in the last three fights. But this fight we will come out throwing lots of punches.’’

In a statement that sounds a lot like a bid to re-insert himself into the pound-for-debate amid doubts about whether Manny Pacquiao can beat Juan Manuel Marquez in a third rematch and only silence from Floyd Mayweather Jr., Donaire promised to reaffirm his credentials in a significant test Saturday night against another accomplished foe, Toshiaki Nishioka of Japan.

It’s another step up for Donaire (29-1, 18 KOs), whose version of the super-bantamweight titles – the International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Organization – will be at stake in an HBO-televised bout from the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. In beating Montiel in February, 2011, Donaire stopped an acknowledged master of tactical skill. The proof was in Montiel’s record, then 44-2-2 with 35 KOs.

Flip the calendar forward, jump up in weight and you’re looking at Nishioka, whose record (39-4-3, 25 KOs) adds up to mastery of a division, 122 pounds, that he has quietly ruled since 2004.

“This is a fight Nonito has wanted for a very long time,’’ said manager Cameron Dunkin, who sounded as if he worried Donaire might regret that his wish was granted.

A Donaire advantage appears to be his age. At 29, he should be stepping into his prime. At 36, Nishioka is probably a step beyond his. There is also Nishioka’s recent inactivity. He hasn’t fought since a unanimous decision over skillful Rafael Marquez a year ago.

“We don’t want to take any chances at all,’’ said Donaire, who this year has fought twice at 122 pounds and won both, beating Jeffrey Mathebula and Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. by decisions. “I believe when we are at this level and at this age and even if he hasn’t fought in a while, he can be very dangerous.’’

A potential disadvantage for Donaire is the absence of trainer Robert Garcia for much of his camp. The busy Garcia was also working with Brandon Rios, who faces Mike Alvarado in a junior-welterweight clash that has potential to upstage Donaire-Nishioka.

Nishioka’s advantage rests in experience and smarts. He hasn’t been stopped once and that was in 1995 in only his second pro bout. If Donaire is trying to re-energize his pound-for-pound claim with emphasis – meaning a knockout, he might have picked the wrong guy.

“Sometimes, you don’t get the results that people look for,’’ Donaire said. “ People expect a lot from me. We have been trying to change things up to get different results. Against Nishioka we can’t let our guard down and going back to the old Nonito Donaire style of fighting smart.

“When it comes, it comes. But the proper game plan will show my power, which is what I was known for – lightning fast counters that were knocking people out because they never saw it coming.

“No matter how tough you are, if you don’t see where it’s coming from, you don’t expect it and it will knock you down.’’

And maybe knock him squarely back into pound-for-pound talk.

It’s a reach to make too much out of one punch. But we can hope, can’t we? I’m talking about Nonito Donaire, whose second-round thunderbolt in February dumped Fernando Montiel into a shaking heap and created an aura about Donaire.

There was more than just power. There was anticipation.

“Before I went in the ring I explained to each and every one of them how it was going to end,’’ Donaire said of a forecast he made in his dressing room.

No lie, Donaire trainer Robert Garcia said.

“He called it,’’ Garcia said during a conference call before Donaire’s bantamweight title defense against Omar Narvaez at the Madison Square Garden Theater in New York. “We’re not making this up or exaggerating. That’s just the way it happened.’’

If one left hook – the biggest punch in what thus far has been a forgettable year – says something about Donaire’s timing, maybe he can deliver some timely relief from a mind-numbing succession of confusion, controversy and disappointment.

Given what’s just happened, it’s reasonable to be skeptical. No, amend that. Fans should remember what Victor Ortiz forgot in September when he was knocked out by Floyd Mayweather Jr. Protect yourselves at all times.

On the scale of things nobody expected, there was Mayweather’s left-right combination at an Ortiz who left his hands at his side and didn’t keep a wary eye on the threat in front of him. What else could happen? Plenty.

Crazy turned bizarre in Los Angeles last Saturday when Chad Dawson’s shoulder did more apparent damage in the second round than any of his punches, dropping Bernard Hopkins, who must have felt like Michael Vick after an encounter with a defensive end.

By now, everybody has their own spin on what happened. From this corner, it still looks as if Dawson’s TKO victory should have been ruled NC, as in No Contest. But the absence of any real discussion in mainstream media indicates apathy, as in WC. Who Cares? Some controversy sells. Mayweather’s stoppage of Ortiz did, in large part because HBO’s Larry Merchant’s wish that he was 50 years younger so he could kick Mayweather’s ass.

But too much controversy creates exasperation, then boredom, the real peril. This is a year that began with Tim Bradley’s technical decision in January over Devon Alexander in an empty Silverdome near chilly, rundown Detroit. It continued with Shane Mosley’s retreat into defeat in May against Manny Pacquiao. Then, there was David Haye stubbing his toe, apparently injured, in a July loss to Wladimir Klitschko and Abner Mares’ majority decision over Joseph Agbeko in an August bout marred by low blows. Haye announced his retirement last week. A lot of fans, all with healthy toes, might join him this week, especially if any of them heard about an insulting post-fight news conference in the wake of the Dawson-Hopkins mess.

Dawson, who says he doesn’t trash-talk, talked nothing else, perhaps because Hopkins was in the hospital for a reported shoulder separation. Dawson mocked Hopkins for claiming to be a gangster. A gangster, Dawson said, would not have quit. Huh? Since when have gangsters been known to be courageous? A gangster would have let his boys, guys in the hallway with hidden nunchucks, continue the fight.

Then, there was a question about whether customers at Staples Center and in HBO’s pay-per-view audience should get their money back.

“Let Bernard take his paycheck and refund everybody,’’ Dawson promoter Gary Shaw said through a predatory grin.

Translation: Suckers.

All of this is a round-a-bout way of getting back to Donaire (26-1, 18 KOs), a likeable Filipino-American. By all accounts, he is expected to score a dominant victory over Narvaez, who has an impressive record (35-0-2, 23 KOs), yet is mostly unknown in the Northern hemisphere. But he is from Argentina, which is enough reason for Donaire to beware. Sergio Martinez, 2010’s Fighter of the Year, is from Argentina. So is Marcos Maidana, who was an unknown Argentine with an impressive record in 2005. Ask Victor Ortiz about him.

“I really believe that Nonito will be a major star,’’ said Top Rank’s Bob Arum, who has reunited with Donaire after a nasty battle eight months ago when Donaire tried to jump to Golden Boy Promotions.

The year needs one desperately. If Donaire’s timing is as good as many think, Saturday in New York is the perfect time and place to begin.

AZ Notes
Phoenix promoter Michelle Rosado stages her third card Friday night at Madison Events Center with eleven bouts, eight pro and three amateur. Super-bantamweight Emilio Garcia-Colon is scheduled for the main event. First bell is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. (PST).

Former Phoenix junior-flyweight Michael Carbajal, a Hall of Famer, expects to see his brother and former trainer Danny Carbajal for the first time since Danny went to prison in 2008 on fraud charges related to the theft of an estimated $2 million. A hearing is scheduled for Friday morning in downtown Phoenix. Michael is suing to recover property purchased by Danny, who was released from prison in July.

LOS ANGELES, March 16 – Golden Boy Promotions is extremely pleased to announce the signing of Two-Division World Champion Nonito Donaire to its roster of fighters. The 28-year-old native of the Philippines is coming off of a dominant second round stoppage of Fernando Montiel on February 19, which earned him the WBC and WBO Bantamweight World Titles. Now, as he looks to continue his reign as one of the top pound-for-pound boxers today, “The Filipino Flash” has signed an exclusive, multi-year agreement with Golden Boy Promotions.

“Nonito Donaire is one of the top boxers in the world today and we’re going to make sure he gets the chance to defend his world titles and stays as active as possible,” said Oscar de la Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions. “The bantamweight division is becoming one of the most competitive and exciting divisions in boxing and we look forward to promoting Nonito in great fights in the coming years.”

“I’m honored to be joining so many great fighters and champions on the Golden Boy Promotions team, with,” said Donaire. “I’m going to fight my heart out every time I’m in the ring and will give fans the fights they want to see.”

A native of Talibon, Bohol, Philippines who now resides in San Leandro, California, Donaire (26-1, 18 KO’s) is unbeaten since his lone loss in his first year as a professional in 2001. Since then, he has defeated everyone put in his path, and in July of 2007, he won the IBF and IBO Flyweight World Titles with a fifth round knockout of then-unbeaten Vic “Raging Bull” Darchiniyan. He went on to defend his titles three times before winning the WBA Super Flyweight Interim World Title with a unanimous decision victory over Rafael “Torito” Concepcion in August of 2009, which he then successfully defended in August of 2010 against Hernan “Tyson” Marquez. Following the Marquez fight, Donaire moved up to the bantamweight division where in just his second bout at the new weight, he shocked the boxing world with the ease with which he dominated Fernando “Cochulito” Montiel in February. In 2011, Donaire will look to defend his new crown with Golden Boy Promotions in his corner.

About Golden Boy Promotions:

Los Angeles-based Golden Boy Promotions was established in 2002 by Oscar de la Hoya, the first Hispanic to own a national boxing promotional company. In 2007, in its fifth year of promoting, Golden Boy Promotions set a record by selling over 2.5 million in pay-per-view homes in a single night. Also in 2007, Golden Boy Promotions established the record for highest grossing pay-per-view homes in a single year with more than 4 million total. In 2009, the company broke records again by breaking the million mark in pay-per-view homes again with the return of Floyd Mayweather against Juan Manuel Marquez. Golden Boy Promotions is one of boxing’s most active and respected promoters, presenting shows in packed venues around the United States and the world on networks such as HBO, HBO Latino, HBO Plus, SHOWTIME, TeleFutura, Televisa, ESPN2 and Fox Sports Net.

Golden Boy Promotions currently has over 70 fighters under contract, from future Hall of Famers Bernard Hopkins and Juan Manuel Marquez to current world champions and superstars Nonito Donaire, Amir Khan, David Haye, Saul Alvarez and Chris John. Also included on the company’s roster are top contenders Marcos Maidana, Robert Guerrero, Victor Ortiz, Daniel Ponce De Leon, Librado Andrade and Abner Mares as well as highly regarded prospects Adrien Broner, Danny Garcia, Frankie Gomez, Erislandy Lara, Seth Mitchell, Carlos Velasquez and Deontay Wilder.

Some boxing aficionados were suspicious of Nonito Donaire’s talents during the promotion of the young Filipino’s fight with Mexico’s WBC/WBO bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel. Most of these aficionados’ wrongheaded ways were righted by the Donaire left that took Montiel’s mind right away. Donaire claimed those suspicions with grace and violence.

But a few stubborn members of the aficionado ranks remain. There is but one way for Donaire to undo these men’s obduracy. And lucky for us, that way is the one Donaire says he wants to go. More about that in a bit.

Saturday night at Mandalay Bay, Donaire did no wrong – not one wrong step, slip or punch – as he razed Montiel in a fight that was supposed to be super, wasn’t, but did end in superlative fashion. Donaire stopped Montiel ultimately with a flurry of afterthought punches at 2:25 of round 2. But by then he’d changed the trajectory of his career with a left hook that surprised Montiel, and everyone else.

Even serious boxing fans were forgiven their disbelief at Saturday’s spectacle. For most of us, after all, Nonito Donaire was the guy who stretched Vic Darchinyan on Showtime 40 months ago, left promoter Gary Shaw and disappeared into promoter Top Rank’s farm system, making reportedly excellent if alliterative progress on Pinoy Power pay-per-view programs.

By 2010 Donaire was lost to the public. While specialists knew of his technical acumen, most everyone else assumed Top Rank already had its Filipino superstar in Manny Pacquiao – and one was enough. Rabid as boxing’s supporters in the Philippines were, there was only so much money to be squeezed from the world’s number 46 economy.

How well Top Rank has handled Donaire’s career is debatable. How well Top Rank has developed Donaire as a prizefighter, though, is not.

Since his one-punch flattening of Darchinyan in 2007, Donaire had fought seven times against very good if not well-known opponents, men with a cumulative record of 170-13-5, and he’d gone 7-0 (6 KOs) while doing it. But none of them had much tested him, and only one had been undefeated when Donaire got to him.

Hence the suspicions. As usual, doubts about a Top Rank fighter’s otherwise remarkable achievements are a backhanded compliment to matchmaker Bruce Trampler. There are few fighters in the world who beat other men effectively as Trampler handicaps them. Trampler makes great fighters. And his brilliance might just be that rarest thing in our beloved, embellished sport: an underestimated entity.

Which is why a few folks out there remain shy of totally convinced by what their eyes saw Saturday when Donaire obliterated a man many suspected was, at worst, the world’s second-best bantamweight.

But Montiel was a 31 year-old tactician on a 12-fight unbeaten streak, for goodness’ sake! And he knocked-out Hozumi Hasegawa in Tokyo – something our prizefighting betters assured us was without precedent in modern bantamweight history.

Well, maybe. But what some saw Saturday was the same old Fernando Montiel, the guy who looked pretty good against Pramuansak Posuwan in Boxing World Cup ’05 and then pretty bad against Jhonny Gonzalez seven months later. When that impression was married to the data from HBO’s unofficial fight-night scale, showing Montiel’s body had grown 13 percent in fewer than 30 hours, the venti cup of credibility poured for us last week had some room left at the top.

Things aren’t the way they used to be. HBO’s trustworthiness as a boxing programmer in the last five years has been publicly challenged often enough, and by sources credible enough, that no subscriber any longer assumes a fight or fighter is great because HBO says so. The on-air talent knows this and often takes an apologetic or even defensive bent in its broadcasts; only Roy Jones Jr. remains an evangelist.

But none of this undermines how good Donaire looked Saturday. From the opening minute, he was in an entirely different class from Montiel’s. Where the Mexican looked tense and doubtful, Donaire looked fluid and assured. Where Montiel threw tentative range-finding punches, Donaire uncoiled counter hooks flamboyant for their commitment so early in a championship fight.

Donaire did not go after Montiel as a world champion making a title defense on boxing-television’s largest stage; he went after him like Montiel was just another hand-picked extra in an off-Broadway pay-per-view show. Montiel may not have been everything others promised, but he was still a hell of a lot better than Donaire made him look.

And because of the way he comported himself both during and after the fight, you have to believe Donaire when he says the few jabs and tentative right hands Montiel landed in the second stanza were part of a plan. First, Donaire allowed Montiel to touch him with the left. Then, when that succeeded, Donaire allowed Montiel to hang his jab, trigger a weak right-hand from Donaire, and try a left-hook counter behind it.

Soon as Montiel was confident enough to commit to a right cross, Donaire had him unconscious on the canvas, legs and arms twitching like a beetle tipped on its shell.

And that wasn’t enough? No, not quite. There is, after all, a Bantamweight Tournament being fought on Showtime. Its champion will be decided in Los Angeles two months from now. Whether he is Joseph Agbeko or Abner Mares, that champion will have undergone a more-public test than Donaire has. Will Mares or Agbeko fair any better against Donaire than Montiel did? Maybe not. But we won’t know till they fight.

Asked for his future plans, Saturday, Donaire said exactly the right thing: “I think that I want to be undisputed in this weight class.”

If Donaire handles the winner of the Bantamweight Tournament successfully, we’ll know he is the future of boxing. If not, we’ll have to see what boxing holds for Donaire’s future.

GOLDEN GLOVES
Writing of boxing’s future, at least in South Texas, it will be on display this week in San Antonio when the city hosts its 2011 Regional Golden Gloves Tournament. Festivities begin Tuesday night at 7:30 PM in the Woodlawn Gym on Cincinnati Avenue and culminate Saturday night at the majestic Municipal Auditorium, downtown.

You want a darkhorse pick? Happily: San Antonio Parks & Rec’s Benjamin Mendoza in the sub-novice heavyweight division.

Bart Barry can be reached at bbarry@15rounds.com.

LAS VEGAS –He called himself No. 2 on the Filipino ticket, but Nonito Donaire was No. 1 in the ring Saturday night. As a bantamweight, he is all by himself. A guessing game will soon ensue about how long he will stay at 118 pounds. Bigger things await Donaire.

Within seven minutes, however, General Santos City in The Philippines emerged on the boxing map like no other piece of modern real estate. It is more than Manny Pacquiao’s hometown. Donaire was born there, too.
There must be some punch in the water.

Donaire threw a huge one to stop the accomplished Fernando Montiel in the second round of a bout for two pieces of the bantamweight title. Montiel missed with a right. Donaire countered with a left, which traveled in an orbit-like loop and landed on Montiel’s chin with the impact of a baseball bat.

“I’m very surprised he got up,’’ said Donaire (26-1, 18 KOs), who earned $350,000, $100,000 more than Montiel’s purse.

Montiel (44-3-2, 34 KOs), who lost the World Boxing Council and World Boxing Organization versions of the title, went down as if he had been dropped onto the canvas from a diving board. The Mexican landed on his back in a flop. His legs twitched one way, then another. His arms and upper body moved, almost as if he were trying to regain control of nerve endings that connected him to consciousness. He did, long enough to get up and onto his feet. He stumbled in a futile attempt to re-gain his balance.

Referee Russell Mora must have thought that he had. Mora signaled for the fight to continue.

It did for a maybe a couple of seconds. Donaire threw a couple of punches that quickly indicated Montiel was defenseless. Mora ended it, calling it a TKO at 2:25 of the second.

But there was nothing technical about a knockout that makes Donaire the world’s best bantamweight, a future contender in the featherweight divisions, a rising factor in the pound-for-pound debate and the second-best fighter from General Santos City.

Mike Jones and Jesus Soto-Karass got it right the second time around.

The controversy of Jones victory by majority decision in November was swept away Saturday night at Mandalay Bay with poise Jones and guts by Soto-Karass.

Jones (24-0, 18 KOs) won another decision. But this one was unanimous on the scorecards and unanimous for its brilliance. Duane Ford scored it 115-113, Robert Hoyle 116-112 and Ricardo Ocasio 117-111, for Jones. The crowd roared in approval for both.

Cuts near each eye in the third seemed to put Soto-Karass (24-6-3, 16 KOs) in early jeopardy. Before the fourth, it looked as if Nevada State Athletic Commission executive director Keith Kizer and one of the four ringside physicians were about to stop a bout, scheduled for 12 rounds on a card featured by Nonito Donaire’s second-round stoppage of Fernando Montiel for two pieces of the bantamweight title.

Blood poured from a cut near the outside of Soto-Karass’ left eye. That one was caused by a head butt. There was more blood flowing from another cut near the outside of his right eye. It looked as if a Jones’ punch caused that one. Blood flowed like tears. But Soto-Karass wasn’t crying.

If anything, he appeared energized, emboldened by his wounds. He could taste the sense of urgency. He jumped off his stool and raced at Jones throughout the fourth, gesturing at him as if he were inviting him inside for a closer look at the carnage. Jones played it smart.

He stayed away, backed away, from the dangerous, courageous Soto-Karass. While Soto-Karass saw less and less. Jones could see what was happening. He waited with patience and enough quickness to score with range and precision.

In the ninth, a long Jones punch opened up another cut on the inside of Soto-Karass’ left eye. By then, it was only a matter of time before the end, before Jones celebrated a victory and everybody else celebrated a great fight.

Four hours before Nonito Donaire and Fernando Montiel entered the Mandalay Bay ring, the card began in a chilly and empty arena Saturday with Denver junior-welterweight Mike Alvarado (29-0, 21 KOs) in a bid to restore his chances at being a contender in the crowded 140-pound division after a stretch in jail on a parole violation.

Alvarado, who did time on a domestic violence charge and driving offenses, needed some work. He got four rounds. Alvarado’s tune-up turned into target practice against Englishman Dean Harrison (16-5, 5 KOs), a TKO loser who was left bloodied, beaten and unable to continue after the fourth of a scheduled eight.

The undercard’s best: Welterweight Mark Melligen (21-2, 14 KOs), who had the Filipino flag on his trunks and Filipino fans in his corner, didn’t disappoint his countrymen with a unanimous decision over Mexican Gabriel Martinez (27-2-1, 14 KOs), who staged a ninth-round rally that was too late to save him from a one-sided loss on the scorecards.

The worst: Dallas lightweight Jose Hernandez (10-4-1, 4 KOs) had the fans screaming Si Se Puede, Si Se Puede. Either the judges don’t speak Spanish or they didn’t hear a chant that means Yes We Can, Yes We Can. Hernandez’ bid for an upset of unbeaten Mickey Bey of Cleveland (16-0-1, 8 KOs) fell a few points short. CJ Ross and Glenn Trowbridge scored it even, 76-76, each. Lisa Giampa gave it to Bey, 78-74, for a majority draw booed by a majority of the fans.

The rest: Welterweight prospect Yordenis Ugas (6-0, 3 KOs), a Cuban bronze medalist at the 2008 Olympics, continued his apprenticeship with a unanimous decision over a Sacramento opponent, Carlos Musquez (3-3-4, 3 KOs), who rocked Ugas in the opening round, yet did little throughout the next five.

LAS VEGAS – There was no discrepancy on the official scale, but there was one about the timing Friday before Nonito Donaire and Fernando Montiel weighed the mandatory 118 pounds for their bantamweight showdown Saturday night at Mandalay Bay.

There was talk that Montiel was annoyed that the weigh-in was delayed for about 25 minutes. Montiel’s representatives said Donaire was about a half-pound heavy when he tested the scale before the weigh-in was scheduled to happen in front of media and fans at a bar on the casino floor. The delay gave Donaire time to make weight, they said.

Donaire is listed at 5 feet -7, or three inches taller than 5-4 Montiel.

Donaire (25-1, 17 KOs), who is fighting for only the second time at 118, looks as if he could comfortably add weight and fight at a super-bantam (122) or featherweight (126). A move up in weight appears to be the plan for Donaire, a Filipino native who was born in General Santos City, also Manny Pacquiao’s hometown.

Montiel (44-2-2, 34 KOs), who holds the World Boxing Council and World Boxing Organization titles, has been campaigning at 118 since late 2008. His experience at the weight is thought to be a significant advantage, although Donaire was a 3-1 betting favorite late Friday.

Meanwhile, Jesus Soto-Karass was 146 pounds, one under the welterweight’s mandatory 147, for his rematch against Mike Jones. Jones, who won a majority decision over Soto-Karass in November at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Tex., was 147.

Nonito Donaire faces expectations that are growing into a challenge more dangerous than even Fernando Montiel. The next Manny Pacquaio? The next bantamweight champion should be enough, but it isn’t for an audience and nation that apparently thinks Donaire will be the next Filipino boxer to visit the White House.

The next syndrome has undercut countless other careers. The next John Wooden never had a chance. Unfortunate Roger Maris could never be the next Babe Ruth. But here’s Donaire, a good fighter, already being asked to satisfy the Filipino appetite for another Pacquiao. There will only be one, especially after Pacquiao’s visit with President Obama further cemented a unique ascendancy to stardom attained by few.

Donaire (25-1, 17 KOs) can beat the accomplished Montiel. He is still this corner’s pick by decision. Donaire’s recent victories, including a fourth-round dismantling of Volodymyr Sydorenko, are full of signs that indicate he is a fighter just entering his prime. Donaire is bigger than Montiel. Younger than Montiel. He looks more like a featherweight than a bantamweight.

But doubts have increased with each headline calling him the next this and the next that. There are a lot of longtime ringsiders who think Donaire only will be Montiel’s next knockout victim. For Donaire, the coincidence of Pacquiao’s visit with President Obama a few days before opening bell Saturday night at Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay only heightens the pressure on him to do what is impossible.

At Thursday’s news conference, Montiel had the benefit of lessons from a country that already has learned from the perils of searching for the next Julio Cesar Chavez. In Mexico, there will only be one Chavez.

“No one’s ever going to be Julio Cesar Chavez,’’ said Montiel (44-2-2, 34 KOs), who wants to become the first Mexican to win titles in four weight classes. “No one is ever going to come close to that.”

For Montiel, that acknowledgement allows him to be himself. For Donaire, there’s a lingering question about whether all of the attention on Pacquiao will be a distraction — a feint that takes his focus off the danger in front of him. There’s some irony in that. Pacquiao’s last fight was preceded by swirling stories about distractions that were supposed to have been his undoing against Antonio Margarito. Pacquiao conquered them and Margarito.

“I will be very happy if Nonito Donaire continues to win and beats all the top fighters and reaches the prominent position he is capable of,’’ promoter Bob Arum said.

But, Arum warned, Muhammad Ali couldn’t be cloned.

“You couldn’t duplicate Sugar Ray Leonard,” Arum said. “You can’t duplicate. But you forge your own story and that’s what Nonito is in the process of doing.

“It remains to be seen whether it resonates as much as Pacquiao or Leonard or one of these other guys.
“He is trying to create a great story for himself.’’

If Donaire’s story is about anybody else Saturday night, he’ll have to create a comeback.

The best don’t normally fight each other much below Featherweight in Boxing and it’s even rarer to see them fight on HBO or Showtime. However late last year Showtime realised the potential in the Bantamweight class and looked to create another Super 6, which would of included consensus number one Fernando Montiel against Nonito Donaire who was moving up in weight but considered by many to have star potential. Ultimately a deal was struck outside of the confines of a Bantamweight Super 6 that meant Montiel would defend his WBC & WBO titles against Nonito Donaire and HBO happily picked up the fight which takes place this Saturday at the Mandalay Bay Hotel Casino in Las Vegas, NV. It’s a very attractive match up between two guys who’s styles mess very well, both have power, speed and excellent fundamentals. For his part Donaire 25-1(17) will be looking to in his own words “Sky rocket his career” he knows this fight holds the keys to possible stardom & crossover appeal enjoyed by only a handful of Boxers today. He has a massive upside and many believe him to be someone who can do much like his fellow Filipino Manny Pacquiao did and move successfully through the several weight classes. At only 28 already conqueror of 2 worlds he seeks a third knowing this will be the toughest fight of his career.

Hello Nonito, welcome to 15rounds.com

Anson Wainwright – Firstly congratulation’s on a terrific Bantamweight debut. Looking back on your fight with Wladimir Sidorenko what are your thoughts on the fight & how happy were you with your performance?

Nonito Donaire – I trained really hard for that fight. I was really happy with the performance. To be able to get to Montiel, I was set up to win, if I win then i would fight Montiel and I accomplished that. I felt strong at Bantamweight, my speed and power was there. I’m becoming more natural in the weight, I didn’t have to cut down to much. So I was really comfortable at Bantamweight.

Anson Wainwright – Your fighting Fernando Montiel at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas this Saturday. That looks a fantastic fight. What do you think of that fight?

Nonito Donaire – I think it’s good for Boxing. You have two technical guys with power & speed, going in there. It’s a very interesting fight, it’s a fight to look forward too. I mean both Montiel & I want knock out wins. I’m going to go out there and try to knock him out. You’ve got two guys trying to prove who’s the best in the division. It’s going to be a good fight, a very exciting fight.

Anson Wainwright – What do you think of Montiel?

Nonito Donaire – As a fighter, as a champion he’s been there for a long time. I think before I even turned pro he was a top guy. He knows what to do out there. He has tremendous power, tremendous experience. I want to beat Montiel. I think Montiel is the guys who’s going to Sky rocket my career to better fights and better deals.

Anson Wainwright – Could you tell us about your team, who is your manager, trainer & Promoter? Also what gym do you regularly train at?

Nonito Donaire – Right now for quite a few years actually i’ve worked with Cameron Dunkin as my manager. I work with a strength trainer Michael Bazzel, he does a lot of Pyometrics and stuff like that. I have my ART guy which is Active Release Technique, he’s a Chiropractor. He’s pretty much helped me out when i’m injured or have injuries or pain. He comes and fixes that for me, realigns my spine aswell. Then of course my two trainers Jonathan Penalosa who holds the mits for me and does the physical work for me and my other trainer is Robert Garcia who pretty much heads the strategic part of my fights. He’s out there talking to me in the corner. He’s making decisions on the fight, how I am going to be able to take advantage of my opponent. And of course my nutritionalist Victor Conte who pretty much helped me get the proper diet, the proper amount of minerals and nutrients in my body stuff like that and be healthy for the weigh in. Then I have my sprint trainer Rimi Korchemny. So I have all these guys who do all these things to prepare me mentally and physically. All these guys believe in me, so I have a very good team around me. Of course my wife pretty much does everything all around. I’m promoted by Top Rank and i’ve been with them going on 3 years. I train in San Carlos in California at Undisputed.

Anson Wainwright – Could you tell us about your early years growing up in The Philippines and later America? How did you first become interested in Boxing?

Nonito Donaire – Well it was very tough in the Philippines, my family didn’t have much money at all. We were poor a lot of the time my parents were trying to earn as much as they can because they had 4 children including me. They were trying to work as much as they could so we’d have food on the table. It was a difficult journey growing up. I didnt feel like anything would happen to me and then when we moved to the United States everything was very different. For the first time in my life I saw diversity. After a year or two my brother started Boxing and as much as I liked to box it felt like i needed my parents approval to make them proud of me and I thought that was the way. The way they looked at my brother everytime he won, they were proud. They were happy to see us win. That’s how i got started. The main part of that was my dad wanted us to be off the streets instead of going out with our friends he wanted us in the gym. Instead of hanging around doing nothing.

Anson Wainwright – Your coming out party was when you brutally KO’d Vic Darchinyan with one left hook in 2007. Is that how you see it and looking back what are your thoughts on that fight and why the rematch never took place?

Nonito Donaire – That fight we really worked hard for and studied Darchinyan. We were confident we’d win by knock out. When I was interviewed a week or two before the fighti said I was going to knock this guy out and we were able to accomplish that goal and everything changed form that point on. It was an incredible feeling to achieve what I had dreamed of since I was little becoming a world champion. I have no idea (Why the rematch never took place) after the Darchinyan & Maldonado fight I stayed more than a year without a fight, I don’t know what happened. I even stayed for a long time at 112 to be able to give him a rematch. When I was in the 115 division we were supposed to fight last year on Showtime August 21st and 3 months before the fight when I came to sign the contract they backed out, they said I was taking to long to sign the contract. Which was ridiculous because the fight was 3 months away. He said I took to long to sign and they didn’t want to wait for me. I was like it doesn’t matter when I sign the contract. My point is the first time I signed the contract at the weigh in and they never complained about that. I know he’s affraid of me and that’s why the rematch never happened. I waited to give him the opportunity but i’m done waiting around. So I fought Sidorenko and now i’m fighting Montiel. So i’m moving on.

Anson Wainwright – Your name was linked with a Super 6 in the Bantamweight division. Obviously that didn’t happen what are your thoughts on that & what do you think of the 4 man tournament and who do you think will win it?

Nonito Donaire – Well my goal was we were supposed to be in that tournament & Montiel. But Top Rank advised Montiel and then me to pull out and by doing so they’d give me Montiel. I believe Montiel is better than all of them. Those guys are world champions or world calibre fighters but I believe Montiel’s the best in the division right now and on Saturday 19th i’m better than him. That’s my goal that’s why I choose to stick with the Montiel fight.

Anson Wainwright – When your not fighting what is your walk around weight?

Nonito Donaire – Usually if I’m not doing anything maybe 140 or close to that. It was really tough to make 112. I was hungry and not happy. I think that’s why my performances have got a lot better and because of the guys working with me and I focus on my game plan or what’s going to happen and take advantage of my opponent, whereas before I would focus on losing weight and maintaining weight was my main focus. Now I’ll cut down on weight but not as much. But my main focus now is putting a game plan together and executing it.

Anson Wainwright – You won a world Title at Flyweight and have since moved up to 115 where you won an Interim belt and your now up at 118. Without getting ahead of ourselves how many more divisions do you think you can successfully fight in?

Nonito Donaire – I think I’ll be comfortable as I grow older and as the years go by up to 130 or higher.

Anson Wainwright – When your not Boxing what are your hobbies and Interests? What other sports do you like and what teams do you support?

Nonito Donaire – I do a lot of photography and filming doing a lot of stuff for my website. Doing some little films and things like that, that’s who I am. I love sports, when I was younger I used to play a lot Basketball, I used to do track and field, I played Soccer, I played football, baseball, I played a lot of sports. I still do, I play a little Basketball or Football but of course I can’t play as much now because when I play I get right into it and don’t want to get injured. I support the Bay area teams like the San Francisco Giants, in the world series or the 49’ers. I watch a lot of Basketball as well and like the Golden State Warriors the Kings. I watch a lot of Sports with my friends.

Anson Wainwright – Your countryman Manny Pacquiao has done wonderful things for Boxing in your country and in general. Could you tell us a little about your relationship with him and how you feel he’s helped create opportunity’s for Filipino’s?

Nonito Donaire – He’s done a lot. I met him in 2000. We actually went to the same school, without knowing that we did. If we see each other we’ll probably have lunch or dinner and we’ll talk for a little bit. He’s a very busy man. But he’s done a lot for the country, not only to inspire it but make it better for people to work together, just a lot of inspiration from that man has got me an a lot of people to work hard and to do the best for ourselves and for the country.

Anson Wainwright – How do you think the fight with Montiel will be viewed in The Philippines. Will it be similar to when Manny Pacquiao fight in that much of the country pretty much comes to a standstill and almost straight after there are bootleg DVD’s available?

Nonito Donaire – Yeah, that happens a lot, one time I fought and the next day they already had my fight in the bootleg section. That was pretty funny. The Philippines has so much love for Boxing, especially for world class fighters. When they fight the whole country stops and gives there support. It means a lot to me for them to do that, so far they’ve been watching my fights and giving me the ratings on the networks, who said it’s pretty high.

Anson Wainwright – How popular are you when you go back amongst the people?

Nonito Donaire – Yeah it’s hard when i’m walking in the mall there’s always someone who recognises me and take a picture, one comes a whole crowd comes. I’m truely blessed with that. It’s been really crazy. There promoting this fight really big in the Philippines.

Anson Wainwright – So if you win this fight, perhaps you’ll get the same treatment as Manny Pacquiao did on 24/7 when you turn up at the airport the plane is ready to leave when you are! Haha

Nonito Donaire – When it comes it comes! Haha

Anson Wainwright – Your fellow Filipino Z Gorres was very badly injured in 2009. How is he doing?

Nonito Donaire – I haven’t really talked to him. His wife facebooked my wife and Z Gorres was telling my wife he wished so bad he could of helped me with this fight. But the only thing he thing he can do for me is pray for me and give me his support. I know a lot of the ALA guys. They all support me the same way I support them.

Anson Wainwright – Finally do you have a message for your fans?

Nonito Donaire – I want to thank each and everyone of them for there support and being there through out. I hope they pray for me and my best everytime I fight. That they cheer and enjoy the fight. Watch February 19 or February 20 wherever your at. It’s going to be very exciting, that’s something you guys can’t miss.

Thanks for your time Nonito, keep up the good work.

Anson Wainwright
15rounds.com

Midweek Thoughts – On Saturday night at Sands Tavern Maroochydore Australia several bouts took place.

(10 x 3)

Australian lightweight champion and first time promoter Brett W Smith put on a great promotion with his debut event at the Sands Tavern Maroochydore. Two professional, six amateur and one exhibition bout provided plenty of action for the night.

Brett W Smith (62.3) probably realised early in the first round of his eight round KO loss to Filipino Jack Asis, that promoting an event and being the main fight isn’t easy.

Brett was down twice in the first round from flurries of hard punches, he managed to find his feet after the shaky start and box his way back into the fight in rounds two and the start of round three before a cut in the third added to his problems. Rounds four and five were much the same as the previous with Brett seemingly in control of the fight when he chose to box only to lose control quickly when he tried to punch it out with his tough opponent. A warning in the sixth on top of being hurt a couple of times spelt more trouble and after another knock down at the end of round seven Brett showed a true champions heart to come out in the eight.

The packed crowd couldn’t lift their local hero and after more brutal exchanges and another knockdown the fight was stopped 1.05 of the eight round, referee was Alan Moore and judges Adrian Cairns, Adam Height and Steve Marshall all had Jack Asis ahead 66-65, 67-64 and 68-63 respectively at the time of stoppage.

Due to a change of opponents twice in the lead up to this fight Brett’s Australian Lightweight title was not on the line, and disappointed as he was after Brett assured me that injuries aside he is willing to defend his title against anyone, jokingly adding so long as it is on someone else’s promotion.

(4 x 3)

Brett John Smith( 65.7) showed his experience with his second round KO over Ryan Mc Donald who was having his first pro fight.

Smith controlled the fight throughout the first round with snappy combinations and some hard shots and continued with more of the same at the start of the second before the end came at .50 in the same round.

Referee was Steve Marshall and judges Adrian Cairns, Adam Height and Alan Moore all had Smith winning the first round.

Global Amateur Results

Australian Heavyweight Title

Tyson Andrews (94.6) KO 2 Glen Ayres

Queensland Middleweight Title

Shane Parry (75) win unanimous points over Nick Murry (69.54)

S/E Queensland Middleweight Title

Ben Greenslade (69.8) win unanimous points over Stuart Shaw (72.1)

Josh Coutts (91.8) win points over Dan Dwyer (87.5)

Dean Flanigan (70.8) win points over Joey Evans (71.68)

Ali Jerkil win points over Josh Adams

Fight report courtesy of Brad Arnold, who was ringside.

There’s a new wrinkle to a line that has echoed throughout boxing for as long as gyms have been full of the familiar rhythms from a speed bag. Yeah, styles make fights. That one fits like an old glove. But styles do more than that. They create audiences, which these days are more interested in fighters willing to risk a record instead of protecting one. Fernando Montiel has figured that out. At least, it sounds as if he has.

He returns to the United States for the first time in a year and to HBO for the first time since 2006 on Feb. 19 in an intriguing a bantamweight clash against Nonito Donaire at Las Vegas Mandalay Bay. About five years ago, Montiel was told he would never appear on HBO again. A split-decision loss to Jhonny Gonzalez was one thing. Another was a performance that included no compelling reason for anybody to think they’d like to see him an encore.

“That fight against Gonzalez, I think, was a question of styles,’’ Montiel said during a conference call Tuesday. “We just couldn’t get together. His style and my style could never match that night. It was a difficult fight for both of us and we each wanted to show something and it wasn’t possible.

“After the fight, I heard the criticism and thought I needed to do something about it. I did. I changed my style, became more aggressive. I wanted to give people a better show, a better fight. I think I have done that. My style is better and it has shown in my fights. Now I get another opportunity on HBO and I’m not going to mess it up.’’

Any change in style is problematic. It’s not as if Montiel (44-2-2, 34 KOs) or any other fighter can walk into a gym and order up a few alterations. He’s not visiting a tailor. Style is about personality, habit and instinct. All three will likely be tested by Donaire (25-1, 17 KOs), who isn’t a Filipino Congressman, yet often moves with the speed of the only one who is known in places other than the Pacific nation.

A Manny Pacquiao-like punch from Donaire, who like the Congressman was born in General Santos City, could quickly force Montiel into a comfort zone full of old habits, yet forgettable to the audience he hopes to create.

That won’t happen, promises the 31-year-old Mexican who is popular in his own country, yet mostly unknown in the United States. Montiel, who has held major titles at three weights – flyweight, super-fly and bantam, believes he re-fashioned himself in 2010, possibly as a dramatic finisher with four victories, all by stoppage. The key to re-opening the door to HBO was a fourth-round TKO of Hozumi Hasegawa in Tokyo last April.

Montiel also seems to understand that the timing of the Donaire bout is critical. A couple of weeks after Tim Bradley’s victory over Devon Alexander in front of a few customers and thousands of empty seats at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Mich., fans are still yawning. Montiel-Donaire is a chance to wake them up with a bout that promoter Bob Arum says has Fight of the Year potential.

“You have to fight smart, but I am here to entertain too,’’ Montiel said. “I want people to go in there and say that is a fight that they will remember for a long time. If we need to break into a war, let’s do a war if that’s what needs to be done. But it is certainly not going to be a boring fight.

“For sure, I am ready to risk getting knocked down and getting back up and knocking him down and him getting back up. I want it to be a great fight so everybody can remember.”

Memorable enough for a rematch, Montiel said.

“Maybe, two or three,” he said.

Maybe.

But after the Silverdome sleeper, one would be enough.

Legendary promoter Bob Arum talks all things Top Rank which includes Donaire – Montiel; Cotto – Mayorga and Pacquiao – Mosley

Several years ago Jhonny Gonzalez 47-7(41) won the WBO Bantamweight title he defeated Marc Johnson & Fernando Montiel and the future appeared rosey. He stepped up to 122 and fought Isreal Vazquez for the WBC crown in the main event on the Mexican Independance in 2006 and was performing incredibly well, ahead on points and having dropped Vazquez. However the fight took a drastic U-turn in the tenth when Vazquez stormed back and pulled victory from the jaws of defeat. That lead to Gonzalez now 29, returning to Bantamweight after one more successful defense he lost to Gerry Penalosa who stopped him in the seventh with a debilitating liver shot. He did what his body had told him for awhile and moved up in weight, after 6 wins he once again fought for the WBC title this time against Japan’s Toshiaki Nishioka, despite a good start in which he dropped the champion Gonzalez was stopped in the third. Gonzalez has since moved up to Featherweight and is on a seven fight winning streak with all of them by knock out, proving he maintains his power even at 126. It is widely rumoured that Gonzalez will face Hozumi Hasegawa for the WBC Featherweight championship early in 2011. He is currently ranked WBC 1, WBA 2 & IBF 4.

Hello Jhonny, welcome 15rounds.com

Anson Wainwright – Just a few weeks back you beat Jackson Asiku, what can you tell us about that fight?

Jhonny Gonzalez – The fight of Jackson was an important fight for me as for all the Mexicans because it’s a very special date September 15 Is the Independence of Mexico.

Anson Wainwright – Though it’s early do you think you’ll be back in action? If so can you tell us when & against who it maybe?

Jhonny Gonzalez – I just fought against Santos Marimon. I am going to dispute the world championship of the WBC against the champion Hozumi Hasegawa of Japan there are plans that be in the month of February in Mexico.

Anson Wainwright – Who are members of team Gonzalez, who is your manager, trainer & Promoter? Also what gym do you train at?

Jhonny Gonzalez – My managers are Oswaldo and Reginaldo Kulche. My coach is Ignacio beristain, my brother Miguel Angel Gonzalez and Ulysses help too. My promoter is Promociones Del Pueblo & I train in the La Romanza, Mexico City.

Anson Wainwright – Your campaigning in the Featherweight division which has many talented fighters at the moment what are your thoughts on that? Are you targeting anyone in particular?

Jhonny Gonzalez – The division is very tough, there are Juanma Lopez, Yuriorkis Gamboa, Chris John, Elio Rojas,etc. I feel capable to face any of them in the 2011

Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about your early years growing up in Hidalgo? Were things tough growing up and how did you first become interested in Boxing?

Jhonny Gonzalez – There is an error, I am from Mexico City. My first fight was there and it appears on my record.

Anson Wainwright – You previously reigned as a Bantamweight World champion from 2005 to 2007. Looking back what are your thoughts on what it was like to be champion and what it meant to you?

Jhonny Gonzalez – My dream was achieved because every boxer dreams of that I was fortunate to achieve it and to be able to face tough fighters.

Anson Wainwright – Having fought down at 118 you quickly moved through 122 and now fight at 126 how do you find making weight now? What weight are you between fights?

Jhonny Gonzalez – Well I believe that my body needed me to rise from division because I struggled with those pounds, now in 126 I feel better I believe that this is my natural weight at this time.

Anson Wainwright – You have fought Israel Vazquez in 2006 on the Mexican Independence card it was a fantastic give and take war, you were ahead at the time of the stoppage. Looking back what do you think of that fight now? How good do you think Vazquez was?

Jhonny Gonzalez – It was a great experience for and in my career as a boxer, I was on the verge of winning a tough fight but he actually went on to win.

Anson Wainwright – When your not Boxing or training what do you like to do with your time to relax? Do you have any hobbies or interests?

Jhonny Gonzalez – I like to be with my family because when I have a fight I feel very tired and it’s very difficult to be able to be a lot of time with them. I have a business in Mexico City a rostiseria. I like the video play

Anson Wainwright – I remember reading that your father spelt your name wrong when he registered your birth can you tell us exactly what happened?

Jhonny Gonzalez – By an er. ror, but he never went to change it.

Anson Wainwright – What do you consider you best performance so far? Who do you think is the best fighter your have shared a ring with & why?

Jhonny Gonzalez – When I won my first world championship in Tucson Az. There have been various one’s Vazquez, Fernando Montiel and the but recent to Jackson Asiku.

Anson Wainwright – Do you have a message for the Featherweight division?

Jhonny Gonzalez – That the champions fight Jhonny Gonzalez to make it a better division over the next year. I want to achieve big things. Many tough Mexican’s they command a greeting to all the people that trust my profession.

Thanks for your time Jhonny.

Anson Wainwright
15rounds.com

Midweek Musings – Bernard Hopkins certainly looked to have done enough to beat Jean Pascal on Saturday. Pascal looked devoid of ideas and seemed to have no plan B. He couldn’t figure out the puzzle that is Bernard Hopkins. Hopefully we get the rematch, not sure Pascal is in any rush, seems like he may exercise the rematch clause with Chad Dawson…Canada wasn’t the only place where the home guy was given the benefit of the doubt seems like Luis Lazarte did against Ulises Solis in Argentina…Word out of Britain is Frank Warren has offered Amir Khan an undisclosed amount to face Kell Brook.

LAS VEGAS, NEV (December 17, 2010) – Las Vegas hosts its first world title fight of 2011 when World Bantamweight Champion FERNANDO “Cochulito” MONTIEL defends his title against two-division world champion NONITO “The Filipino Flash” DONAIRE, in the latest chapter of the storied México-Philippines rivalry, Saturday, February 19, at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino. Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Zanfer Promotions, the Montiel-Donaire world title tilt will be televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark, beginning at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast.) The broadcast will open with undefeated NABO/NABA/WBC Continental Americas welterweight champion MIKE JONES defending his titles against Top-10 contender JESUS SOTO-KARASS in a rematch of their exciting battle which took place on November 13 under the Manny Pacquiao-Antonio Margarito pay-per-view extravaganza.

Looking for a great last-minute Christmas gift? Yule love this! Tickets to Montiel vs. Donaire, priced at $250, $125, $50 and $25, not including applicable service charges, go on-sale Next Thursday! December 23, at Noon PT. They can be purchased at all Ticketmaster locations (select Smith’s Food and Drug Centers and Ritmo Latino). Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Mandalay Bay at (877) 632-7400 or Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also will be available for purchase at www.mandalaybay.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

Montiel (43-2-2, 33 KOs), of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, México, is only the fourth Méxican fighter to win world titles in three different weight divisions, joining Hall of Famer-elect Julio César Chávez and future Hall of Fame inductees Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera. Undefeated since 2006, eight of Montiel’s last ten victories (eight were world title fights) have been by stoppage.

Donaire (25-1, 17 KOs), a native of General Santos City, Philippines, now living in the Bay Area of San Leandro, Calif., is a consensus top-10 pound for pound fighter. He enters this fight riding a nine-year, 24-bout winning streak, which includes an IBF/IBO flyweight title knockout victory of defending champion Vic Darchinyan, and a fourth-round blasting of former WBA bantamweight champion Wladimir Sidorenko in his last fight on December 4.Nine of Donaire’s last 10 victories have come by way of knockout.

Co-promoted by Peltz Boxing, Jones and Soto-Karass return for an immediate rematch of their November 13 brawl. After Jones decked Soto-Karass in the second round, Soto-Karass came back to almost pull out the victory in a fight most ringside fans and media thought could have gone either way. In fact, Jones’ second-round knockdown of Soto-Karass provided Jones the one-point margin for a razor-thin majority decision victory instead of a Draw. The judges’ scores were 95-94, 97-93 and 94-94.

Jones (23-0, 18 KOs), of Philadelphia, PA., has been attracting rabid fans to his fights in the friendly confines of Atlantic City and Philadelphia. He took on his biggest challenge on the biggest stage he has ever fought on when he tangled with Soto-Karass, successfully defending his titles and adding the vacant WBC Continental Americas welterweight title. Considered one of the hottest prospects in boxing, six of his last nine victories have come by knockout. Victories over Brazilian strongman Juliano Ramos, Henry Bruseles, ending his five-year winning streak, Hector Muñoz and Irving Garcia, have catapulted Jones to the top of the WBA welterweight ratings. He’s also rated No. 2 by the WBO, No. 3 by the IBF and No. 4 by the WBC.

Soto-Karass (24-5-3, 16 KOs), of Los Mochis, México, boasts an impressive 13-2-2 (one No Contest) record, over his past 18 fights, dating back to 2005. The only other blemish was a sixth-round technical loss to Alfonso Gomez last year. Highlights of that period include knockout victories of former world champion Vince Phillips and undefeated contender Michael Rosales in WBC Continental Americas welterweight title fights in 2006 and contender David Estrada for the vacant NABF welterweight championship in 2008. He is currently world-rated No. 8 by the WBC.

Doors will open at 4:00 p.m. PT with the first bell at 4:30 p.m. PT. The HBO-televised fights will begin at 6:45 p.m. PT.

Photo by Chris Farina / Top Rank

Currant WBO Bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel was injured while riding a dirtbike in Mexico according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

Montiel and a friend were riding in Alamos, Mexico, a resort town a couple of hours from his home in Los Mochis that he was visiting for the weekend, when the accident happened. Montiel (42-2-2, 33 KOs) suffered several bad cuts and bruises and had a bone fragment cleaned out of the leg.

“He got very scared and is very sad by the accident, but the leg is not fractured,” Top Rank spokesman Ricardo Jimenez said.

Jimenez said Montiel had a “deep wound” and that he was advised to stay off the leg, which is heavily bandaged, for three weeks.

Fernando Montiel tuned up literally and figuratively as pounded out Rafael Concepcion in round three of a twelve round Bantamweight fight to retain the WBC/WBO Bantamweight titles.

Montiel dropped Concepcion in the first seconds of round two from a perfect right. About a minute later, Concepcion walked into a left hook that sent him to seat of his pants for a second time in the round. Late in the round, Concepcion was docked a point for holding by referee Robert Byrd. Montiel ended things in the third when he landed a perfect right that knocked Concepcion down and out and Byrd stopped the fight without a count at 1:07 of round three.

Montiel, 118 lbs of Los Mochis, Mexixo will now look for a fall showdown with former Flyweight and Super Flyweight beltholder Nonito Donaire with a record of 43-2-2 with thirty-three knockouts. Concepcion, 118 lbs of Panama City, Panama is now 14-5.

Michael Medina scored a fourth round stoppage over Gilberto Flores in a scheduled ten round Jr. Middleweight bout.

Medina landed a barrage of punches that forced the referee to stop the bout at 1:41 of round four

Medina, 155 lbs of Monterrey, Mexico is now 24-2 with nineteen knockouts. Flores, 154 lbs of Tuianciago, Mexico is now 14-5.

Ramon Maas scored a four round split decision over Carlos Penaloza in a Featherweight bout.

Maas 122 lbs of Merida, Mexico is now 21-0. Penaloza, 123 1/2 lbs of Mexico is now 10-11-1.

Photo’s by Chris Farina/Top Rank

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, Top Rank was the only bidder for the WBO Bantamweight title fight that will feature champion Fernando Montiel and Interim champ Eric Morel.

Top Rank’s Carl Moretti said the fight will be televised on “Top Rank Live” (Fox Sports in Espanol) and most likely take place July 17 in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Mexico.

“That is the most likely scenario,” Moretti said. “It’s not definite because the contracts have to be sent out, but that is the most likely scenario.”

Montiel, 31, of Mexico, is entitled to 80 percent of the purse offer, meaning $82,000. Puerto Rico’s Morel, 34, a former flyweight titlist, will receive 20 percent ($20,500).

If Montiel-Morel takes place July 17, welterweight Alfonso Gomez, the former world title challenger and former “Contender” star, will face an opponent to be determined in the co-feature.

In one of the Biggest Bantamweight fights of all time Hozumi Hasegawa 28-3(12) squared off against Fernando Montiel 41-2-2(31). The fight too place in Nihon Budokan in Tokyo, Japan in front of Hasegawa’s adoring fans. For the first three rounds saw Hasegawa box smartly and picking off Montiel with smooth combination however late in the fourth Montiel threw a picture perfect right hand as Hasegawa was coming in doubling the impact. Hasegawa’s knee’s dipped and he went reeling backwards, Montiel could smell blood he chased Hasegawa to the ropes where he unloaded several more shots. With Hasegawa seemingly out on his feet referee Laurence Cole called the fight off at 2.59 of the fourth round. With the win Montiel 31, added the WBC title to the WBO crown he already held.

On the undercard Toshiaki Nishioka 36-4-3(23) retained his WBC Super Bantamweight title when he stopped previously unbeaten Filipino Balweg Bangoyan 15-1(6) in the fifth round.

Come backing Takahiro Aoh 19-2-1(9) won his second fight up at Super Featherweight since he moved up from Featherweight after losing the WBC title to Elio Rojas last summer. Aoh beat two time former World title challenger Whyber Garcia 22-8(15) when he stopped him in 8.