HBO Boxing travels to the nation’s capital for an all-action doubleheader when HBO BOXING AFTER DARK: LUIS ORTIZ VS. TONY THOMPSON AND SADAM ALI VS. JESSIE VARGAS is seen SATURDAY, MARCH 5 at 10:00 p.m. (live ET/tape-delayed PT) from the DC Armory in Washington, D.C., exclusively on HBO. The HBO Sports team will be ringside for the event, which will be available in HDTV, closed-captioned for the hearing-impaired and presented in Spanish on HBO Latino.

Other HBO playdates: March 6 (10:15 a.m.) and 8 (12:05 a.m.)

HBO2 playdates: March 6 (3:15 p.m.) and 7 (12:30 a.m.)

The doubleheader will also be available on HBO NOW, HBO GO and HBO On Demand.

The headlining bout features undefeated Cuban native Luis Ortiz (24-0, 21 KOs) risking his perfect record against veteran Tony Thompson (40-6 27 KOs) in a heavyweight showdown set for 12 rounds. Ortiz, 36, took the division by storm in 2015, compiling three consecutive knockouts over a six-month stretch; most notably, the southpaw handed rising heavyweight prospect Bryant Jennings the first knockout loss of his career. Thompson, 44, will be fighting before a hometown crowd for the first time in more than ten years.

In the evening’s co-main event, a vacant welterweight championship is on the line when Brooklyn’s Sadam Ali (22-0, 13 KOs) takes on Las Vegas’ Jessie Vargas (26-1, 9 KOs) in a scheduled 12-round contest. Ali, 27, has a decorated amateur background, including a spot on the 2008 U.S. Olympic boxing team, and has fought nearly his entire pro career in the northeast, including a 2014 bout at the DC Armory. Vargas, 26, is looking to rebound from his first professional loss last June against world-class performer Timothy Bradley Jr.

This edition of HBO BOXING AFTER DARK marks HBO Boxing’s third trip to the nation’s capital; most recently, a 2011 card featured a hotly contested light welterweight championship bout between Amir Khan and Lamont Peterson.

Launched 20 years ago last month, HBO BOXING AFTER DARK was the network’s initial platform for a host of exciting talents, including Floyd Mayweather, Arturo Gatti, Marco Antonio Barrera, Fernando Vargas, Terence Crawford, Canelo Alvarez, Gennady Golovkin and Sergey Kovalev.

Follow HBO boxing news at hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/hboboxing and on Twitter at twitter.com/hboboxing.

All HBO boxing events are presented in HDTV. HBO viewers must have access to the HBO HDTV channel to watch HBO programming in high definition.
The executive producer of HBO BOXING AFTER DARK is Rick Bernstein; producer, Thomas Odelfelt; director, Johnathan Evans.

OSCAR DE LA HOYA, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions: Welcome, everyone, to the Luis Ortiz, Tony Thompson and Sadam Ali and Jessie Vargas media conference call. These will be two exciting matchups taking place on March 5th at the DC Armory in Washington D.C.

Fresh from a stunning knockout of Bryant Jennings and obviously eager to continue his quest to be the best heavyweight in the sport, WBA heavyweight world champion, Luis “The Real King Kong” Ortiz will make his first title defense of 2016 when he faces former world title challenger Tony “The Tiger” Thompson who is 40-6 with 27 knockouts. It will be the main event in the 12-round fight for the WBA interim heavyweight title on March 5th.

Ortiz versus Thompson is presented by Golden Boy Promotions, in association with King Kong Boxing and Warriors Boxing Promotions.

Opening up the live HBO telecast on March 5th is the co-main event, top contender and 2008 Olympian Sadam “World Kid” Ali with a record of 22-0, 13 knockouts, will face former WBA super lightweight world Jessie Vargas who holds a record of 26-1 with nine knockouts. It’s a highly anticipated co-main event, and that will be for the vacant WBO welterweight world championship title.

The Ali-Vargas is a co-feature. I see it as a 50-50 fight. The fans are eager to see who will be victorious. And it’s always a pleasure to be co-promoting this event, this fight, with Top Rank, in association with Top Rank.

And at this moment I would also like to thank our event sponsor, Cerveza Tecate Born Bold. They’ve been a great new partner for us in 2016. I’m pleased to announce that the tickets are reasonably priced, starting at $25 all the way up to $100 for ringside seats, and you can get those tickets at ticketmaster.com.

The doors will open at the DC Armory at 3:00 p.m. Eastern and the HBO Boxing After Dark telecast begins live at 10:00 p.m. Eastern Pacific.

Obviously I’m very pleased and excited that these two incredible fights will be broadcast live on HBO, which is the best network for boxing. So now let me take this opportunity to introduce the president of Top Rank who will say a few words. We are pleased to be working with Top Rank and to put together this stacked event on March 5th.

TODD DUBOEF, President of Top Rank: Thanks, Oscar. Welcome, everybody, to the conference call. Obviously co-promoting this with Golden Boy and this fight for HBO is highly anticipated. The welterweight division is just so robust and deep with talent and seems like for the last decade it’s just been a slew of fighters young and established that have been going through there.

That’s what we will see in this semifinal, co-feature event on March 5th. As Top Rank, we’re the promoter of Jessie Vargas. Jessie is a former world champion, earned it the hard way.

He had to be encouraged to go into the ring, and fought in China against DeMarco. He won that. He then went for the chance to fight Tim Bradley, which was a very close fight. Some people thought Jessie was very disappointed in the last minutes of the round where he thought he had Bradley out, where he could have secured a victory.

He’s an action fighter. He’s always a gentleman. He’s classy. He’s managed by Cameron Dunkin. He’s the pride of Vegas, and he’s always held up in the gym late at night in Top Rank.

At this point I’d like to introduce Jessie Vargas so he can try to earn his second world title.

JESSIE VARGAS, Former World Champion and Number Four Contender for the vacant WBO Welterweight World Championship: Thank you, Todd. Good afternoon to everyone. First of all, I’m very thankful for this opportunity once again. And I want to thank Top Rank and everyone that made it possible. I’m glad to be back on HBO.

And as you said, I always come to give the fans great fights. I’m an action-packed fighter and this fight will be no different, if not more, because I’m very eager and very anxious to come back strong and reclaim that WBO world title.

I’m coming in with everything I’ve got, and I’m fully confident that I will come out victorious because of my preparation with my team. I’m also very thankful for the support that Top Rank has given me and that Top Rank will be in the house in Washington D.C. to see me win another world title.

What can I say, I’m excited. And I’m planning on making Sadam Ali quit. That’s my goal, and I plan to achieve it. I’m not going to stop pushing from beginning to end. I’ve conditioned myself. I’ve prepared myself for that fight to come in busy basically and not leave it up to the judges. Just win a clear, decisive fight. And to be honest, like I said, my goal is to win by a tail. That’s my ultimate goal. I’ve shown the power that I can do so. It’s all about going in the fight and giving it my all, and I plan on doing so.

OSCAR DE LA HOYA: Thank you. We can now ask the media, we can have a few questions for Vargas.

Q. Tell me about what Cooper is doing with you in the gym that will allow you to win this fight. You said to me a couple of weeks ago that you’ve known each other since you were a kid. Now that you’re a man and you’re fighting for a second world title, what’s he emphasizing in the gym with you? What’s he doing to make you believe you can win this fight?

JESSIE VARGAS: You know, just with him I’m throwing a lot of combinations, getting down on my punches, throwing the punches correctly. Just small things that needed correction and that we are putting together, just going back to the basics.

Ultimately, it’s always just about going back to the basics. But I’m feeling very comfortable more than anything because I’m throwing more punches than I ever have.

And that’s going to be needed in this fight, because we know that Ali is the type to run around and move around, and we’re going to hunt him down.

Q. For you, you’re obviously still motivated by what happened at the StubHub Center. How do you keep that from being a negative in terms of wanting to win this title so bad that maybe you forget the things that you did well that gave you the chance to win in California that night?

JESSIE VARGAS: Well, you know, it’s close to fire. I’m coming back with rage into this fight. I have that fire that I just want to destroy any opponent that’s in front of me, not wait until the last round or not let any second, any minute of the fight just go. I’m planning on fighting the entire fight.

And I’ve prepared and I’m prepared to do so. And that’s what matters. That’s what I’ve learned from that fight. And I plan to just stay busy.

Q. Following up on what Steve just asked you about working with Dewey in the gym, you’re with a new trainer again, and I’m wondering, I’m sure that there have been things you’ve learned from your different trainers, and obviously you’ve won a world title and become one of the top welterweights around. But I’m wondering your take on this: You’ve been a pro for eight years. He’s your sixth trainer by my count. What’s the deal with six trainers in eight years? It is highly unusual.

JESSIE VARGAS: Yeah, it is. Well, you know, situations that I was put in just led me to either split, more than anything, just split. I’ve learned from each coach, and I have nothing but respect for them. But things are complicated.

What can I say? One fighter — one trainer, unfortunately didn’t have the time for my camp, another trainer had to leave to be in training camp with another team while I was in training camp. And others, Robert Alcazar wanted to do training out of California, I was out of Las Vegas. So it’s just different things. With Roger, he was very sick, very ill. I wasn’t able to train with him any longer at that time.

So it’s just the situation that was put in front of me at the moment is the things that led me to making a decision switching up, either me or them. But I’ve learned from every trainer, I can say that. And I’m learning from Dewey as well. So that’s a big benefit.

Q. Obviously even having made a number of trainer changes over the last couple of years, you’re still 26-1. You’re still top-rated welterweight. You’re still a guy that won a world title. You’ve put in heck of a effort and performance against Tim Bradley. I wonder, if you would have had stability in your training camp, you know, like Pac has with Freddie Roach for 15 years or guys who stayed — Bernard Hopkins has been with the same trainer like since 2002, just stayed and got that familiarity and the repetition in the gym and really got in sync, how much better do you think you could be if you had that sort of continuity in your training camp, fight after fight for many years?

JESSIE VARGAS: Well, those fighters are fortunate to have that team that would stick with them or that they felt comfortable with. I unfortunately — not so much unfortunately, because I have learned from everybody, but I haven’t been put in that position just yet. Like you said, I’m still young.
So I’m still looking for the trainer that I’m going to settle down with and feel comfortable with. And I’m feeling comfortable with Dewey, I will have to say that, and I look forward to showing off what we are putting together.

I’m sure Bernard Hopkins, if he’s 40 now in 2000, I don’t know exactly what year that was, I don’t know if he was 26, 28, or 30 years old —

Q. He’s 51 now.

JESSIE VARGAS: All right. So eventually we find somebody at one age, and I’m very comfortable with Dewey Cooper. He’s putting in a great effort and he also wants to bring out the best in me because he had a close relationship with me. And I’m feeling very comfortable.

Q. Can you just walk me through a little bit about what happened at the end of last year where this fight was supposed to originally — or at least it was being discussed and offered to do on the December 19th card that HBO and Golden Boy put on up in Turning Stone in Verona, New York, and ultimately Luis Ortiz, who is going to be in the main event on your card here, ended up fighting the main event because you guys could not come to an agreement about where the fight would take place. Could you walk us through that as far as your camp’s view of not fighting in New York state even though Sadam Ali is hours and hours away from there? How did that — what was the story there?

JESSIE VARGAS: My trainer — I’m sorry, my manager, Cameron Dunkin, is the one who negotiated for all of the fights and all of the deals. As we were sitting down talking about the next fight, Cameron did advise about how a fight in New York could be against a fighter from New York. And it wasn’t something that we were very interested in, just because of from the past experiences how it’s been in a hometown, a fighter from the hometown having the hometown advantage in New York.

That’s why we just wanted any different site. Just not New York. And that’s what I have Cameron there for; he’s there to advise me and make sure that there will be success. And he and I are very much looking forward to this fight in Washington.

Q. Earlier in the call you mentioned that you were going to make Sadam Ali quit. I was just wondering what you’ve seen in him that leads you to believe that you could do that.

JESSIE VARGAS: He’s not on my level. And I’m here to show this on fight day. I’m here to prove that he’s not on my level. Of course I’m saying it, but I’m going to prove it that night as well. It’s just two different breeds, and March 5th I’m going to show it.

I’m very confident coming into this fight, you know what I mean? My strength is better than ever, my speed and how comfortable I feel in the ring. And I’m just having fun in there, and I’m going to have fun March 5th.

Q. Can you elaborate why you think he’s not on your level? What have you seen from him that leads you to believe that?

JESSIE VARGAS: He doesn’t have the experience I have. I’ve been in there with world-class fighters in the beginning of my career. I’ve beaten several undefeated records already, and I’m planning to do the same March 5th.

So, first of all, he doesn’t have the experience. He’s never had to really dig deep. He hasn’t been in those wars. And it’s something that he has inside that he’s going to — something that he hasn’t experienced, he will experience in this fight.

Q. His win over Abregu surprised a lot of people especially him stopping Abregu, what did you think of that performance?

JESSIE VARGAS: I thought he fought well. He was a young fighter, and it was an opportunity. And he fought well in that fight. Abregu was a top fighter, but he had also been on a long layoff before then. And he was an older fighter as well. Like I said before, he’s never experienced being in the ring with someone like me — young, hungry, strong, fast, in his prime.

He hasn’t faced any fighters like me.

Q. Were you surprised that he beat Abregu?

JESSIE VARGAS: I didn’t know how Abregu was going to come back. I thought it was going to be a good match. I did tune in to watch it. But he did surprise me that he did stop Abregu. But credit to him for that. But I did know the possibilities of fighting.

Q. You’ve always been a very measured boxer over your career, but for this fight seems like you’re promising more of an aggressive style. Is that correct?

JESSIE VARGAS: That’s right. I’m coming back with a vengeance. I want to come back strong and take what’s mine and come back to Vegas and celebrate over here.

Q. You seem very confident about being able to change your style, and I guess become more aggressive. Have you found that just through training camp that that’s been a pretty easy transition to become a lot more of an aggressive fighter than you have been in the past?

JESSIE VARGAS: I’ve always been aggressive. I’ve always stayed busy. My last fight wasn’t as busy as I usually have been in the past. But one thing that you just mentioned is that I’m very comfortable with how training camp is coming along, I’m very comfortable with the team, and it’s going to show a difference March 5th.

Q. I also wonder, Jessie, you and Sadam are around the same age. Do you guys know each other from the amateurs or have any amateur experience together at all?

JESSIE VARGAS: I believe I’ve seen him before. I’ve heard of him in the past. He’s one of those amateur boxers that used to run around a lot, run around the ring and try to score points. I have heard of him. I have seen him when we were young, when we were kids.

So I do know of him.

Q. You guys never faced each other, never sparred at all or nothing like that?

JESSIE VARGAS: No.

Q. Just from your describing Sadam Ali’s style, you think maybe he still has an amateur style, is that how you look at him?

JESSIE VARGAS: That’s right. That’s right. I mean, a friend of mine dropped him in amateurs and had him nearly knocked out. So I know his weaknesses, and I plan on working on that.

Q. Do you remember who that friend of yours was who dropped him in the amateurs?

JESSIE VARGAS: Yeah, it was — it was a Toronto fight, which I don’t remember who it was, it was here in the U.S. And there was another fight as well with Francisco Vargas. Francisco dropped him and that was like, I believe it was in the Olympics.

Q. Based on that, you’ve kind of gleaned some of his weaknesses and you think maybe you can take advantage of them?

JESSIE VARGAS: Based on what I saw in his clips, in his last couple of fights, based on what I’ve known from when we were kids, based on some of the fights that he had as an amateur, so I’m just putting it all together.

MODERATOR: Todd, can you talk about the fight and final comments?

TODD DUBOEF: Obviously you mean the matchup between two very — it’s a 50/50 fight. Both guys are established, and obviously Sadam Ali is trying to win his first title.

It’s going to be a — it’s a terrific division, again. And to have both of these guys in the division creating some buzz and putting on great performances will make bigger fights for them.

I won’t forget when Jessie and I had our conversation right before the Bradley fight. I said, Go get it. Go do the best you can. He said, I’m going to win. I’m going to win. I said, Well, even in defeat, even in winning, whatever you do, I said, you chew off those big matches, you’re going to make opportunities for you.

So this one is another opportunity. Even though he didn’t win the Bradley fight, we commend fighters that take fights, and both guys will put it all on the line.

So we look forward to meeting everybody and seeing everybody on March 5th on HBO and working with Golden Boy and everybody. It’s going to be a terrific night of fights.

OSCAR DE LA HOYA: Now it’s my pleasure to introduce to you team Sadam Ali. First off, I would like to introduce Sadam’s trainer to say a few words, and his name is Andre Roizer. Andre, do you want to say a few words to the media.

ANDRE ROIZER, Trainer to Sadam Ali: Basically we’re getting ready for this opportunity that we’ve been waiting for for some time. Sadam is working diligently at his craft. And you’re going to see the best Sadam Ali that you’ve ever seen.
We’re preparing to be victorious. We’re preparing to look like a million dollars, and we’re preparing to show the world that Sadam Ali is an athlete that should be reckoned with in this welterweight division, which is loaded with so much talent.

OSCAR DE LA HOYA: Now it’s my pleasure to introduce a former member of the 2008 United States Olympic boxing team and the first Arab American to represent the U.S. at the Olympics. “Brooklyn” Sadam Ali has been climbing the welterweight ladder since a big year in 2013. Ali has had back-to-back victories over Michael “Cold Blood” Clark where he won the NBAO title. He beat Jeremy “Hollywood” Bryan winning the WBO intercontinental welterweight title. He’s coming off that great victory over the tough and rugged and experienced Luis Carlos Abregu, defending his titles and giving the experienced fighter his second loss and Francisco “Chia” Santana we’re he earned the WBA international welterweight title.

So it’s my pleasure to introduce a fighter who boasts remarkable speed, incredible power, and I know he’s ready for this world title shot against former champion Jessie Vargas. So it’s my pleasure. He has a record of 22-0 with 13 knockouts. Sadam “World Kid” Ali.

SADAM ALI, Number One Contender to the Vacant WBO Welterweight World Championshi[: Good afternoon, everybody. I’m excited. First and foremost, I would like to thank God for this opportunity and for keeping me healthy. And I’d like to thank HBO, Golden Boy and the WBO for this opportunity.
This is a world title match, and what pro fighter isn’t looking for that? Who doesn’t want that? We’re all going to want it as bad. He’s going to want it bad. I’m going to want it bad.

This is my chance. This is my shot. He had his. Well, he has another one. That’s good for him. But I’m ready. I’ve been working hard. I’m ready to show everybody why I deserve to be in this position.

You all know me, I’m the humble guy. I don’t like to talk. I do the talking in the ring. People say I run. I say I box. I move. I fight smart.

And I’m ready to go out there get that WBO title and show everybody why I deserve to be where I am, and I will do that.

Q. Here’s a question for you. I know it’s a big deal for you just talking about the opportunity to win this world title belt against Jessie Vargas, but you were sitting in the mandatory spot for a while. I wonder if there’s any part of you whatsoever that is maybe a little bit disappointed that rather than fighting Vargas for a vacant title that you would have rather had an opportunity to fight Timothy Bradley to take the title off the champion. Obviously Timmy beat Jessie, is a much more well-known fighter than Jessie. Or does it not matter to you at all?

SADAM ALI: Timothy Bradley is a world champion and a great fighter. That opportunity would have been amazing. But I look at it like this: Everything’s in God’s hands. Whatever happens is meant to happen.

I don’t blame the decision that Bradley has to make. I understand. And in his position I would have made the same decision. So I don’t knock anybody for that.

I mean, God put me in the position to do what I have to do. This is the opportunity that comes across me, and my mind is officially focused on that.

Q. You’re not one to say that Tim Bradley was maybe avoiding you or ducking you, you understand the business of why he would go for a third fight with Pacquiao?

SADAM ALI: Yes, I understand the business.

Q. The last few wins you’ve had have been very good victories, like Oscar was mentioning. Santana was a tough fight on a big stage. Abregu was a tremendous performance. But you only had the one fight last year against Santana, been off for a while. I know they tried to make this fight with Jessie at the end of the year, didn’t work out. What are your thoughts about having just the one doubt last year as you head into a world championship fight?

SADAM ALI: It was a little frustrating, a little hard to get the fight going and figure out everything that’s been going on.

But I’ve been in the gym. I’ve been ready. I never took off and stayed out because I didn’t have a fight. So I’ve been ready. For some people they might think I haven’t proved to be on the top elite. But this is why I’m here. This is why I’m here to prove that. Jessie Vargas is a great fighter, but I am a great fighter.

And if anybody wants to underestimate me, then that’s fine. I’m just ready to go out there and show why I shouldn’t be underestimated.

Q. I think many people look at this fight, look at your record, look at his record, Todd Duboef was mentioning on the Jessie Vargas part of the call, basically a 50/50 fight between the two of you guys, at least in the minds of many of the media and the public. Whose resumé do you think stacks up a little stronger? You have the two really good, outstanding victories with your past two fights with Abregu and Santana and solid victory with Jeremy Bryant. And, on the other hand, he has a tough, competitive fight against Bradley that he lost but also victories against DeMarco who was a former world title holder, Novikov who was undefeated, Khabib who was undefeated where he took the title off him. Seems awfully close. I know you’re probably biased toward yourself, but if you step back whose resumé stacks up better at the moment?

SADAM ALI: We both are great fighters, but he has 26 fights. I have 22. So he had more fights than me. He had more opportunities. As for me, my resumé is going to get better and better. That’s the way I look at it. I’m not comparing myself to him or to who he fought. I know who I am. I know what I can do. And March 5th I’m going to show it.

Q. He said he’s going to make you quit in the fight, which it’s one thing for a guy to say he’s going to win or maybe get a knockout. You don’t hear too often, I haven’t heard too often in a long career, other fighters say I’m going to make the guy quit. What do you make of that? Why would he say he’s going to make you quit? Not beat you, but make you quit?

SADAM ALI: This may piss him off, but it makes me laugh. He’s really confident. That’s good. That’s the way a fighter should be. But make me quit, that is not an option for me.

Q. Sadam was kind enough to allow me to visit his gym last week, and some of the things we talked about included Sadam wants stringent PED testing for this fight. Sadam, I’m wondering if you have an update for us about testing for this fight with Vargas?

SADAM ALI: Well, of course, this is a very dangerous sport. And I just want everything to be fair on both sides. So I did offer that. The other side didn’t really want to go half and half with it, because the fighters have to cover something like this.

And so in this situation where I’ve got to handle the whole thing on my own. So I’m in the situation where I’ve got to decide that on my own.

Q. You’re going to go it alone and you’re going to pay for all the testing?

SADAM ALI: A final decision hasn’t been made. But most likely that’s what the thoughts are.

Q. Oscar, I’d like your assessment of Sadam. Especially pertaining to Jessie saying, yeah, he’s got an amateur style. I see Sadam being able to do pro and more of an amateur style. But I’d like your assessment. Where do you think he stands? Does he still have some amateur ticks in his game? I’d like your assessment and analysis of Sadam.

OSCAR DE LA HOYA: Sadam Ali is the perfect combination. I mean, he has the amateur pedigree, which is very, very necessary to become a world-class athlete, and that’s exactly what he is. He’s a professional fighter who has tremendous speed and amazing footwork and great power.

He demonstrated that against Abregu, a fighter who was coming forward, a fighter who has tremendous power, and Sadam Ali took care of business.

So, look, Sadam Ali is at the perfect moment in his life where this is his year and this is the perfect time to shine. And March 5th, against the great fighter in Jessie, it’s going to be a tremendous fight. But a lot of people, like Sadam said, underestimate his abilities and especially his power. I’m really looking forward to this fight.

Q. Sadam, following off some of the comments that Jessie has made and you’ve made in response, how important is it that you not only win this fight but win making a statement, win in impressive fashion? Is that the top of your radar?

SADAM ALI: Well, for sure. It’s important for the viewers. It’s important for everybody who doubted. It’s important for my career. It’s important for what I do after this.

I’m not looking past Vargas. But this is the biggest fight of my life right now. And I feel I’m going to say that every fight after this, because I feel every fight is the biggest fight of my life.

So this fight has a lot to do with what’s going to happen in the future.

Q. Is fan friendliness an important aspect of the fight to you? Is being fan friendly entertaining, an important aspect of the fight to you?

SADAM ALI: Being fan friendly?

Q. Fan friendly. In other words, being entertaining in the ring, putting on a good show. Is that also important to you?

SADAM ALI: Of course. That’s one of the most important things to me in boxing. Because, at the end of the day, we’re in there. It’s a dangerous sport. We put a lot just going into the ring.
But at the end of the day I like to perform for the viewers. I like to impress. I like to look special. So that is very important to me.

Q. Do you think Jessie is a little overconfident in this fight, judging by some of the comments he’s made about you on this call?

SADAM ALI: Well, honestly, I wouldn’t say overconfident, because he’s coming off the fight with Bradley. He feels it didn’t end like he wanted it to. He has a second chance at a world title fight. I don’t blame him for being this confident at all.

I mean, I wouldn’t say overconfident. You should be confident as a fighter. But I’m confident, too. I’m just not going to go around and tell the whole world. I’m going to show it in the ring.

Q. I’m also curious, just because I’m not really used to, I guess, hearing this type of like animosity from a fighter towards you, and I’m wondering just were you kind of caught off guard by it and maybe surprised that Jessie was, I guess, that dismissive of you as a boxer, just some of the comments?

SADAM ALI: I mean, it is what it is. People are going to doubt me or people are not going to think too highly of me. There’s going to be people like that. But that’s up to me to change their minds. That’s my job to do.
I don’t blame them. There’s different kinds of fighters, different types of attitudes. This is me. Like, this is not an act. This is how I’ll always be. This is who I am. And as I’m fighting I’m going to run into a whole different type of personalities, and this is just one. It’s no big deal to me at all.

Q. How do you see this fight unfolding? Do you see yourself winning a decision? Do you see yourself trying to stop him late? How do you envision this fight ending?

SADAM ALI: Honestly, I can’t call it. First and foremost, he’s saying he’s going to come — I don’t know if that’s how he’s going to come. I’m the type of fighter that’s ready for any type of style.

So if he wants to come to me, I have something for that. If he wants to stay outside and try to counterpunch, I have something for that.
So I don’t know how this fight is going to turn out. All I know, it’s going to be a great fight.

MODERATOR: Sadam, any final words you want to say to the press on this call.

SADAM ALI: First and foremost, I want to say thank you to the press. I appreciate the write-ups they do and the talk they keep about us fighters, because it’s very important to keep it out there and for the sport.

I want to also thank the viewers and everybody who is watching. Tune in. It’s going to be a great fight. And I will be the WBO champ, and I’m excited about that.

OSCAR DE LA HOYA: Thank you very much. The main event of the evening will be a heavyweight showdown. And I would like to take this opportunity to commend Tony Thompson and his team. Here you have a fighter who is experienced, a fighter who is from Washington D.C., American, who is ready to prove that he’s afraid of no one. He’s going up against “King Kong” Ortiz, and it is really a pleasure to be working with a fighter who can step up and face probably the most feared heavyweight in the division today.

So let me introduce to you to say a few words, and it is my pleasure to be working with, Leon Margules, president of Warriors Boxing. Here is Leon Margules.

LEON MARGULES, President of Warriors Boxing and Promotions: Thank you, Oscar. First of all, I’d like to thank HBO for the opportunity that Tony is getting, and I’d like to thank Golden Boy for the opportunities Tony is getting.

Tony’s been around many, many years. And he fears no one. While he’s not the youngest guy in the division, he’s been very active and he’s fought all over the world. I mean, in 2015 he knocked out Odlanier Solís, in 2013 he knocked out David Price twice, 2014 he beat Solís.

So he’s been around the world. And he’s lost a couple of close decisions like to Carlos Takam and to Pulev, but Tony is a well-traveled, well-seasoned, fought Klitschko twice, veteran who is excited, because I’m looking at Tony’s record, and I don’t think he’s fought many, many years if at all in his hometown of Washington D.C.

So this is like a dream come true and, of course, the bigger the challenge, the more motivated Tony is. So without further ado, I’d like to introduce world title contender, former world title challenger from Washington, Tony Thompson.

TONY THOMPSON, Former World Title Contender: Hello. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, everybody. How are you doing? Wonderful introduction. I’m just too tired to enjoy it. I appreciate the opportunity from HBO after, what, nine years, eight years. You should have had me back sooner, but we won’t get into that. But I appreciate the opportunity.

Like Leon said, I’m not the youngest guy in the sport but I’m probably still the hungriest guy in the sport. I don’t know how I’m going to be facing the most feared fighter, the most feared and tough fighter in the division, because that’s myself, so I can’t box myself. But I understand what you’re saying about your guy. It’s all good, baby. He won’t have no problem finding me, trust me.

Q. A lot of people would commend you for taking this kind of fight on relatively short notice. I can’t say I’m that surprised having followed your career for a long time. So let me ask you this, then: You get the fight on short notice. That’s not necessarily a good thing. But, on the other hand, you get a fight at home, where you haven’t had a chance to fight for a long time, and now all of a sudden you get an HBO main event in your backyard. Can you kind of balance the two out? Like on the one hand it’s short notice, but on the other hand you get to fight at home. Is one better than the other? I’m sure you’d rather have the fight with plenty notice in home, but how much does having it at home make up for the fact that it’s fairly short notice?

TONY THOMPSON: Absolutely makes up for it. My whole career has been a span of short-notice fights. This is nothing new to us. And before y’all ask me, no, I wasn’t in the gym. It don’t matter because I’m working my ass off, and I didn’t want to talk myself into this fight to get embarrassed in my hometown or HBO at that. I’ve only been on HBO one time. They never invited me back.

So I’m out to prove not only to my hometown that I’m a live candidate in this division but HBO or any other television network that chose to leave me off for whatever reason.

So, I mean, again, short-notice fights have made my career because everybody think they’re going to catch me off guard, catch me slipping. All they can do is make me extra motivated. So when I go in the gym and I bust my ass two or three times a day getting ready, that’s what I try to think about: They’re trying to pull the fast one on me again.
It’s up to me to show them it’s not the case. You can do what you want. Handicap, put my left hand behind my leg and make me hop on my knees — everyone know I got bad knees — make me hop on one knee, doesn’t matter. I show up for all my fights. Not only do I show up, I win. I don’t care if the decisions didn’t go my way. A lot of the decisions should have went my way. If everybody was honest about it, they would print that.

Solís beat me, yes, he beat me with a great game plan. I should have waited a little bit longer because I was a little bit under the weather, whatever. So but with this fight I’m healthy, and I’m going to train as hard as I can.

Q. He’s got a big-time amateur background out of the Cuban national system. He’s obviously looked good so far as a pro. Hasn’t faced the kind of opponents overall that you’ve faced, although has looked very impressive particularly against Bryant Jennings who’s been regarded as one of the top contenders for the past few years. Do you feel that people are maybe overhyping Ortiz a little too much and you’re there to sort of extract the truth about them, or are you impressed by his talent also and you’re looking forward to the challenge?

TONY THOMPSON: I think it’s a little bit of both. They say he’s a hype job until he did beat one of the best heavyweights in the division in Bryant Jennings who stood toe to toe with the best in that division still, in my opinion, in Wladimir Klitschko. The way he demolished Jennings shows you there’s something there. You feel me?

I’m not Bryant Jennings. As much as I love — one of my favorite heavyweights. As much as I love him, he’s not Tony Thompson. And that’s not to say anything disparaging about Bryant Jennings, it’s just that nobody can copy his style. You wouldn’t go in the gym and say look at Tony, and that’s how we’re going to fight. You feel me?

Q. I do. Do you think, though, that the biggest attribute then — he’s got — seems like he’s got tremendous power even though he hasn’t fought like the top guys. You’ve been stopped a couple of times. Is that the main thing you’ve got to watch out for, is his big shot, or is it just something besides that and you feel like he has never been tested by a guy, because you’re a pretty good puncher yourself, never been tested by somebody as big and strong as you are?

TONY THOMPSON: Who have I been stopped by?

Q. Klitschko obviously.

TONY THOMPSON: There you go.

Q. I’m not saying anything bad; I’m just making the point that —

TONY THOMPSON: I’m with you. I feel you. I made my point with you. My point being I fought the toughest, hardest punching guys in the division. Yes, I was stopped by Klitschko twice. Yes. I was put down by David Price. I continue to get up. I continue to get up. And the only fight I’ve ever been disappointed myself in ever is the second Klitschko fight.

Q. Which one? The second Klitschko fight?

TONY THOMPSON: The second Klitschko fight. It wasn’t me. It wasn’t me. And I’m not going to elaborate on it too much. I’m just going to say it wasn’t me. And my career proves, the way I fought, that fight that wasn’t me.

So am I afraid of his heavy shots? No, he’s a heavyweight (indiscernible) you want to kick my ass, you gotta bring some ass to get some ass. You feel me? And he got a lot of ass back there. So he’s got to bring it to come get it. Let’s do it, baby. If he’s Godzilla — he’s King Kong, I’m Godzilla, baby. Let’s go.

Q. I wanted to know what has changed from your last fight with Malik Scott to now. I know you said you haven’t necessarily been training for the fight, but you’re staying in shape. Like the talk after your fight, like some team members are saying you’re even thinking about retirement. I wanted to know what’s gone through your mind the past couple of months, like if you had every intention of staying in the game or even considering walking away.

TONY THOMPSON: I mean, at this age, honestly, it’s a fight-by-fight basis. I’m not 24. Hell, I’m not even 34. I’m 44. So what I say changes fight to fight, how I feel. Yes, I have been thinking about retirement. I’m 44. Who doesn’t think about retirement as a fighter or any professional athlete at 44?

Does it mean I’m not wound up for this fight? Hell no! It’s absolutely got my juices pumping. And that’s bad news. The worst thing they can think is that I’m retired. Oscar, tell your man I’m not thinking of retiring. I’m thinking about winning.

So don’t come in here thinking it’s a payday for me, because I don’t look at the payday. I look at the payday after this fight. You feel me? That’s what I’m talking about. Forget retirement talking to the fighter.

I go back in there, I look bad, my family worried about me, obviously you got to take a hard look. That’s just honest in the fight game. You get beat up as a 44-year-old, it’s not the same as you get beat as a 24. You have some comeback. 44, it might be my last beat-up, I have to quit. You feel me?

Yes, it crosses my mind when the fight’s over. But when the fight’s come up and I’m busting my ass, we’re not thinking about retirement. We’re thinking about getting ready. And we’re ready.

Q. At what point did you decide? Like was it the fact that Ortiz was available and he needed an opponent that changed your mind, or were you already thinking: You know what? I’m going to give it one last run in 2016 regardless of who I fight.

TONY THOMPSON: Of course I was going to give it one last run. Yeah, I lost to Malik, yes, but Malik absolutely has the wrong style for me and I wasn’t in the best shape I should have been.

Not to say I’m going to be in a whole lot better shape for this fight. But it’s a different fighter. He’s not running. We’re going to meet in the middle of the ring and we’re going to decide what’s going to happen. And just like he try to knock me, I’m going to try to knock him the fuck out.

Q. Just curious, you admitted you had not been in the gym when you received a call for this fight. I’m wondering, at 44, are you finding it tougher to get back in shape than you have been in the past, just given your age.

TONY THOMPSON: Well, I’m a half-glass-full guy, I’m always optimistic. To me a short period of time means you don’t have to sustain a long camp, don’t have to take as much punishment. You want to get in blasts as fast as you can. It’s like a sprint instead of a marathon there. And that could be even less taxing to the body.

Yes, this is a short time, but, again, my whole career has been a short time. So now I’m going in there, I get in shape as fast as I can, hopefully, coming out healthier because it’s a shorter time, and then we are going to let it decide the outcome in the ring. Forget the timeframe.

So we’re going to decide the outcome in the ring. That’s the beauty part of it. They can say what they want, but the outcome comes in the ring.

Q. If my records are correct, looks like it’s been 10 years since you’ve fought in front of a hometown crowd. So how motivating was that for you to take the fight to be in front of your hometown.

TONY THOMPSON: I mean, it was the sole reason for having the fight. Yes, Ortiz is a good fighter. He wasn’t on my radar, to be honest, but when they started saying because they have no nobody to fight them, I am in your backyard, stop playing with me, call me. I’ll walk to the venue and kick your ass. Don’t tell me you got nobody to fight and I live here.

You feel me? It’s a motivating fight. I’m geeked. I’m bringing the (indiscernible) with me, man. Hopefully they go loud, man, and prop a brother up more. I’m already pumped up for the fight. Pump me up more.

Q. Do you expect to have a big crowd behind you.

TONY THOMPSON: Yes, I do. I do. But if you think about it, I know my family will be there. And it’s like 20 of my family members. That will be enough. I really don’t care, actually. I think they’re going to come out. If they don’t, watch it on HBO.

If they do come out, then they’re going to be one of the lucky ones because I think it’s going to be a hell of a fight.

MODERATOR: Leon and Tony, do you have any final words you want to say.

LEON MARGULES: I’ll leave it to Tony, but I’d like to thank everybody for giving Tony this great opportunity at this point in his career. Thank you.

TONY THOMPSON: The only last thing I would say is, I mean, again, like Leon said, I appreciate HBO putting me on. Whatever the motive was, I appreciate it. And I’m looking forward to showing the good faith they put into me.

I’m looking forward to rewarding that. Because I know they need good heavyweight fights, and I’m looking forward to putting on a good heavyweight fight, maybe even a great heavyweight fight, if Ortiz can stand up that long. So thank you.

OSCAR DE LA HOYA: Thank you very much. It is really my pleasure to introduce to you the most feared man on the planet in the heavyweight division. Let me tell you one thing, when I tell you that nobody wants to fight him, nobody wants to step up to the plate and fight him, I’m putting everybody on notice in the heavyweight division: Luis Ortiz is coming after you.

It is my pleasure to introduce to you the manager of Luis “The Real King Kong” Ortiz to say a few words about the heavyweight division and his fighter. Let me introduce to you Jay Jimenez.

JAY JIMENEZ, Manager to Luis Ortiz: First of all, good afternoon to everyone on the line or good morning to the guys in California, and thank you guys for what you’ve done for us. I’m here with Luis, and we couldn’t be more excited. The days go on and we get more enthusiastic and more comfortable in the family he’s got, the support he’s got from you guys, and it’s just been incredible. It’s been the best thing that’s happened to him in his whole career.

OSCAR DE LA HOYA: Now it really is my pleasure to introduce to you a native of Camagüey, Cuba, who makes his home now in Miami. Luis “The Real King Kong” Ortiz was one of boxing’s breakout stars in 2015. He’s a southpaw. Scored three knockouts in his three fights, each bigger than the one before.

He has a record of 24-0 with 21 knockouts. His most notable was obviously where he defended the WBA interim heavyweight world championship in a spectacular seventh round technical knockout of top contender Bryant “By-By” Jennings December 19 at Turning Stone Resort in New York. This win over Jennings marked Ortiz as a must-see fighter for fans around the world and secured a place for him in the heavyweight pound-for-pound list.

He’s a decorated amateur fighter. He became a professional fighter in 2010, has gone on to win multiple titles, including WBC (indiscernible) heavyweight title, WBA (indiscernible) Latino heavyweight, WBO Latino heavyweight title and the WBC Latino heavyweight title.

This man is out on a mission. He’s out to prove to the world that he’s afraid of no one, and it is my pleasure to introduce to you with a record of 24-0, 21 knockouts, the Camagüey, Cuba, (indiscernible) Miami, Luis “The Real King Kong” Ortiz.

Q. Luis, there’s been a lot of talk here, at least in the Thompson part of the call, and a lot of the rhetoric in recent times that he is perhaps the most avoided heavyweight in the business. A lot of people saw what he did against Bryant Jennings in some of his fights prior to that. I want to know from Luis, does he feel like he’s the most avoided guy in the heavyweight division? And also, if that’s the case, even, what does he think about the fact that a guy like Tony would step up to the plate on basically like three to four weeks’ notice and agree to fight him.

LUIS ORTIZ, WBA Interim Heavyweight World Champion, (Via Interpreter): He said he’s an athlete. He does his job. He comes to box. And the ones that don’t want to fight him he doesn’t understand because this is boxing. He doesn’t understand why would they avoid him. It’s no reason to avoid another man.

He admires him for taking the fight. Nobody else wanted to take it. And he’s going to come and do his job. Come that day, come show Tony what he does.

Q. Luis’s thought is it’s short notice, I’ve got to get myself ready, so it’s tough on him perhaps to take on particularly somebody at the level of Luis on short notice, but by the same token you have Luis Ortiz getting ready for a fight, he didn’t know who his opponent was, right-handed southpaw, until a couple of weeks ahead of time. What’s his feeling on getting the opponent on short notice, similar to Tony not even knowing he’s fighting until short notice? Is he uncomfortable with not knowing who his opponent was just a few weeks before the fight, or does it not make much difference to him.

JAY JIMENEZ: No, he’s not comfortable mainly because he’s a southpaw, but he’s by no means nervous. This is what he does. Luis trains all year long even if he doesn’t have an opponent. You could call Luis on a month notice, he’s coming to fight. The only thing that got him off guard that he was a little uncomfortable with the southpaw. Not nervous, not scared. He’s ready to fight.

Q. Luis, it’s kind of I guess a lucky shot here from the standpoint there’s a lot of heavyweights out there, but just so happens they’re doing the fight in Washington. That’s where Tony is from. What are your thoughts coming into Tony’s hometown for this fight.

LUIS ORTIZ VIA INTERPRETER: He said he’s not worried. He’s going to concentrate what he has to do, which is his job.

Q. (In Spanish).

LUIS ORTIZ VIA INTERPRETER: The last response she asked who would he like to fight, was her first question, and he said he wants to fight whoever has the belt. Tyson Fury, Wladimir Klitschko, whoever has the belt is who he would like to fight. He doesn’t have nobody in particular.

And she asked a second question, was who was his hardest rival to date, and he said to date right now I can honestly say it was Bryant Jennings. That was the only question she asked.

Q. Luis, I know you want to fight like as often as possible. If you have your way, you would probably fight every month if they would allow you to. Does it get frustrating at all that there are just not a lot of heavyweights out there that are willing to get in the ring with you.

LUIS ORTIZ VIA INTERPRETER: Yeah, he says yes he gets a little bit frustrated not being so many opponents out there that are able to take the fight because of other circumstances.

Q. I wanted to know if his thought process, like, will eventually change to where he might have to accept fighting every five or six months, just because it’s getting harder and harder to find opponents for him? Like, his thought process, like he might have to fight every five or six months if it just means finding the right opponents for him? I just wanted to ask if —

LUIS ORTIZ VIA INTERPRETER: Opponents?

Q. If there’s a concern that he might not be able to be as busy because it’s getting harder to find opponents for him. Like there’s not always going to be a Tony Thompson popping up last minute.

LUIS ORTIZ VIA INTERPRETER: No. He said no, he knows things are going to be okay.

Q. I know the fight just came up. I know Tony just accepted the fight. But if he’s familiar with him at all, like if what’s gone on in the past couple of days, if he’s studied him, if that’s changed his training at all, ever since the fight was announced.

LUIS ORTIZ VIA INTERPRETER: He says yes. He’s seen already a couple of his fights. Also because he fought Solís, who was a Cuban, last year and stopped him. So, yes, he’s familiar with him and he’s seen his fights.

Q. Without looking past Tony Thompson, just his thoughts on the WBA heavyweight tournament coming up.

LUIS ORTIZ VIA INTERPRETER: He says he thinks they got what it takes to be (indiscernible) but he wants (indiscernible).

Q. Tony said that he had not been in the gym when he got the call and he’s kind of rushing his training. He’s 44. Luis, I’m wondering if you expect a tough fight or do you expect this fight to be more of like a showcase for you on March 5th, just based on Tony’s limited training and his age at this point.

LUIS ORTIZ VIA INTERPRETER: He says he doesn’t confide nobody, and much less in a boxer saying he hasn’t trained, and not in Tony Thompson who is an old-school boxer, a wise boxer. So he’s not comfortable at all. He’s coming in taking it real serious. He’s going to come real aggressive now.

Q. First, I was wondering if someone could tell me who the heavyweights were that turned the fight down, because I know there was a long list.

Q. Who were the fighters that turned down this fight? I know there was a number of fighters, and this is a difficult fight to get an opponent for. Who were the fighters that turned down the offer to King Kong.

JAY JIMENEZ: I couldn’t say exactly because the ones who do the promotion know, I don’t know if Oscar or Robert or anybody is on, I know there was a couple of them. There were like five boxers who said no.

Q. In 2014 there was a steroid suspension of which Team King Kong always denied. I was wondering if you could clear up what happened with that. What do you think happened with that?

JAY JIMENEZ: Personally, I had the discussion and the day I was there at the arraignment in Vegas, I don’t understand why commissions around the world are here to take care of boxers but they wait 23 days, 21 days to send a letter out and not let an athlete that this is what he lives by to defend himself, especially when it was such a margin of difference of closeness by less than .0002 percent.

We don’t know. We really — they don’t know what happened. It was something we’re trying to get over not and think about anymore. That was devastating to Luis and his career and we thank God everything came out okay, which is why we’re always happy and glad to do a lot of testing and testing to prove his name.

Q. But there’s no testing for this fight, right.

JAY JIMENEZ: Well, we’re doing testing anyway, randomly. Every two weeks. Every month we do testing in case we’re going to have a problem. We’re not going to let that happen to us again. Even though when the Vegas commission sent us a letter, we went right the next day and did a test, and the endocrinologist said he don’t have nothing and it was impossible for him to have something. It must have been a contamination. Their thoughts were we can do nothing about it.

But we’re doing testing anyway around the clock, just to always clarify our name, Luis’s name. And all our athletes are doing it, all the athletes under our state.

It’s a delicate situation for athletes especially in boxing because all they do. So the fact that if somebody — we are suggesting that somebody should start hiring doctors for the commission, because their job could be to save athlete’s careers. Not all the time when it’s so close. Any left outside, any contamination could give you a false reading.

FastScripts by ASAP Sports

Tickets priced at $25, $50, $75, and $100, plus applicable taxes, fees and services charges, are on sale today and available online at www.ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster locations, by calling (800) 745-3000.The DC Armory Box Office will be open on fight night only from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.warriorsboxing.com, www.toprank.com, www.hbo.com/boxing and www.eventsdc.com. Follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @WarriorsBoxProm, @TopRank, @HBOBoxing, @KingKongBoxing, @Tiger_Thompson, @RealWorldKidAli, @Jessie_vargasJV and @dcsportsent become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.facebook.com/WarriorsBoxingPromo, www.facebook.com/trboxing, www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing or www.facebook.com/OfficialEventsDC. Visit us on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing, @WarriorsBoxing, @trboxing, @KingKongBoxing, @EventsDC and follow the conversation by using #OrtizThompson.

Luis Ortiz vs. Tony Thompson is a 12-round heavyweight fight for the WBA Interim Heavyweight Title presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with King Kong Boxing and Warriors Boxing and Promotions. Sadam Ali vs. Jessie Vargas is a 12-round fight for the vacant WBO Welterweight World Championship presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Top Rank. The event is sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, BORN BOLD. The DC Armory doors open at 3:00 p.m. ET, and the HBO Boxing After Dark telecast begins live at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

LOS ANGELES (Feb. 8, 2016) – Fresh from a stunning knockout of Bryant “By-By” Jennings and eager to continue his quest to be the best heavyweight in the sport, WBA Interim Heavyweight World Champion Luis “The Real King Kong” Ortiz (24-0, 21 KOs) will make his first title defense of 2016 when he faces former world title challenger Tony “The Tiger” Thompson (40-6, 27 KOs) in 12-round main event at the DC Armory, in Washington D.C.on Saturday, March 5 and televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark®beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Opening up the live telecast, top contender and 2008 Olympian Sadam “World Kid” Ali (22-0, 13 KOs) will face former WBA Super Lightweight World Champion Jessie Vargas (26-1, 9 KOs) in a 12-round co-main event for the vacant WBO Welterweight World Championship.

“This fight is just another stepping stone on my path to becoming the unified heavyweight world champion,” said Luis Ortiz. “I came to the United States to chase my American Dream and fighting at the nation’s capital is a dream come true. My life is coming full circle, and I know that this fight will put me a step closer to achieving everything I have worked so hard for in my career.”

“I’m happy to be back on HBO fighting for another world title,” said Tony Thompson. “If you look at my competition and his [Ortiz], it’s not even close. This isn’t the amateurs. I’m going to use my experience as a professional to take him places he’s never been. Odlanier Solis was a great Cuban amateur but he was also an Olympic Gold Medalist, and I beat him twice. Ortiz thinks he has it tough. I’ve been avoided for my entire career. Just about all my fights have been on short notice and in foreign countries. If I fought the guys Ortiz fought, I’d be undefeated too. If Ortiz is King Kong, I’m Godzilla; Godzilla coming to whoop some ass!”

“Luis Ortiz and Sadam Ali are two top fighters in our sport today and both will impress audiences in the ring on March 5 in their first fights of 2016,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “Luis demonstrated in his brilliant knockout over Bryant Jennings in December that he is an elite fighter that can dominate even the toughest opponent. Sadam Ali is a phenomenal fighter, and I think he is the future of the welterweight division, which is very exciting.”

“Tony Thompson is a very talented hard punching contender who has beaten David Price and Odlanier Solis twice each over the last 2 years,” said Leon R. Margules, President of Warriors Boxing and Promotions. “Luis Ortiz will have his hands full on March 5 in clearly his toughest challenge to date, and in Tony’s hometown. We are very excited he is getting this opportunity.”

“We are excited to televise a heavyweight knockout machine like Luis Ortiz in a tough bout on a big stage against Tony Thompson on March 5 in our nation’s capital,” said Peter Nelson, Executive Vice President, HBO Sports. “The winner will take a significant step up in the public’s esteem. The Ali-Vargas co-feature is a terrific 50-50 fight at welterweight that has fans eager to see who will come out on top.”

“To fight for the world championship is something that I have been training and fighting for my whole career,” said Sadam Ali. “I am grateful for the opportunity and promise all my fans I will not let them down. On March 5, I will have my hands raised up in victory as the new WBO Welterweight World Champion.”

“This is a different Jessie Vargas,” said Jessie Vargas. “I learned a lot from my last fight and I am ready to prove that I am still a world champion. I’m coming back with a Vengeance!”

“Jessie Vargas knows what’s at stake this time around” said Carl Moretti, VP, Top Rank. “He plans to take full advantage of this opportunity and we fully expect his hand to be raised as the winner in what promises to be a great fight.”

Tickets priced at $25, $50, $75, and $100, plus applicable taxes, fees and services charges, go on sale on Wednesday, February 10 at 10:00 a.m. ET and available online at www.ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster locations, by calling (800) 745-3000.The DC Armory Box Office will be open on fight night only from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET.

Luis Ortiz vs. Tony Thompson is a 12-round heavyweight fight for the WBA Interim Heavyweight Title presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with King Kong Boxing and Warriors Boxing and Promotions. Sadam Ali vs. Jessie Vargas is a 12-round fight for the vacant WBO Welterweight World Championship presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Top Rank. The event is sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, BORN BOLD. The DC Armory doors open at 3:00 p.m. ET, and the HBO Boxing After Dark telecast begins live at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

A native of Camaguey, Cuba who now makes his home in Miami, Luis “The Real King Kong” Ortiz was one of boxing’s breakout stars of 2015. The 36-year-old southpaw has scored three knockouts in three fights, each bigger than the one before it. Most notably, Ortiz defended his WBA Interim Heavyweight World Championship via seventh-round technical knockout of top contender Bryant “By-By” Jennings on Dec. 19. It was a win that marked Ortiz as a must see for fight fans around the world and securing him a place on heavyweight pound-for-pound list. A decorated amateur in his home country, Ortiz, became a professional in 2010 and has gone on to win multiple titles including the WBC FecarBox Heavyweight, the WBA Fedelatin Heavyweight, the WBO Latino Heavyweight and the WBC Latino Heavyweight titles during his undefeated streak.

A skilled boxer from Washington DC, Tony “The Tiger” Thompson is a former world title challenger who has taken tough challenges on his way to the top of the heavyweight division. A professional since 2000, Thompson has earned USA Maryland Sate Heavyweight Title, the WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight Title and the WBO Inter-Continental Heavyweight title before his first attempt at the unified heavyweight world championship against Wladimir Klitschko in 2008. Although unsuccessful, Thompson continued fighting and remained undefeated until his second clash against Klitschko in 2012. Since then, the heavyweight titlist has stayed active and last held the WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight Title in 2015. Now, Thompson is ready to challenge Ortiz for the WBA Interim Heavyweight World Title on his way to become a world champion.

A member of the 2008 United States Olympic boxing team, and the first Arab-American to represent the U.S. at the Olympics, Brooklyn’s Sadam “World Kid” Ali has been sailing up the welterweight ladder since a big year in 2013. Ali has had back-to-back title victories over Michael “Cold Blood” Clark, where he won the NABO Welterweight Title; Jeremy “Hollywood” Bryan, winning the WBO Inter-Continental Welterweight Title; Luis Carlos “El Potro” Abregu, defending his titles and giving the experienced fighter his second loss; and Francisco “Chia” Santana where he earned the WBA International Welterweight Title, the 27-year-old with remarkable speed and power is ready for his world title shot against former world champion Jessie Vargas.

Las Vegas standout Jessie Vargas has been following a path to the top similar to that of Ali, as he’s turned back several top foes since making his professional debut in 2008. A former WBA world champion at 140 pounds who defeated Khabib “The Hawk” Allakhverdiev, Anton “The Pick Hammer” Novikov and Antonio DeMarco in super lightweight title fights, Vargas lost a controversial 2015 fight to Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley for the WBO Interim Welterweight World Championship. Now, Vargas could get his wish of becoming a world champion once more when he faces Sadam “World Kid” Ali for the WBO Welterweight World Championship.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.warriorsboxing.com, www.toprank.com, www.hbo.com/boxing and www.eventsdc.com. Follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @WarriorsBoxProm, @TopRank, @HBOBoxing, @KingKongBoxing, @Tiger_Thompson, @RealWorldKidAli, @Jessie_vargasJV and @dcsportsent become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.facebook.com/WarriorsBoxingPromo, www.facebook.com/trboxing, www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing or www.facebook.com/OfficialEventsDC. Visit us on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing, @WarriorsBoxing, @trboxing, @KingKongBoxing, @EventsDC and follow the conversation by using #OrtizThompson.

Las Vegas (Sept. 2, 2015) – Hall of Famers Ray Mancini and Mike McCallum, as well as former WBA Champion Jessie Vargas has confirmed that they will appear at the Title Boxing/Rival booth, at the Las Vegas Convention Center for the second annual Box Fan Expo that will take place Saturday Sept. 12, 2015
. The Boxing Expo will coincide with the Floyd Mayweather vs. Andre Berto championship fight, which will take place later that evening, and Mexican Independence weekend.

Tickets to the Box Fan Expo are available online at: http://www.boxfanexpo.eventbrite.com

Mancini, McCallum and Vargas join: Roberto Duran, Tim Bradley, Zab Judah, James Toney, Sergio Martinez, Mia St. John, Terry Norris, Joel Casamayor, Fernando Vargas, Ruslan Provodnikov, Wayne McCullough, Austin Trout, Demarcus Corley, Rances Barthelemy, Jorge Linares, Kevin Kelley, referee Richard Steele, the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame, the World Boxing Council (WBC) and the World Boxing Association (WBA) among early commitments to this year’s Box Fan Expo.

This unique fan experience event, which allowed fans to meet and greet boxing legends, past and current champions and other celebrities of the sport, debuted last September. This year the Expo will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and once again, allow fans a chance to collect autographs, take photos and purchase merchandise and memorabilia.

Exhibitors such as boxing gear, apparel, broadcasting media and other brand companies who wish to participate will have a chance to showcase their products to fans and the whole boxing industry.

Last year’s inaugural Box Fan Expo featured some of the most popular fighters and boxing celebrities in recent history. Fans were treated to visits with Mike Tyson, Roy Jones Jr, Martinez, Amir Khan, Zab Judah, Mikey Garcia,Toney, Riddick Bowe, Leon Spinks Terry Norris, Porter, Chris Byrd, Jesse James Leija ,Lamon Brewster, Ray Mercer, Earnie Shavers, St-John, Erislandy Lara, Quillin, Jean Pascal and Austin Trout. Also appearing were current WBC Champion Deontay Wilder, the charismatic Vinny Pazienza, Paul Williams, noted commentator Al Bernstein and trainer Roger Mayweather of Mayweather Promotions.

The roster of attendees for this year’s Box Fan Expo will be announced throughout the next several weeks leading up to the event.

For anyone in the boxing industry or brand companies who wish to be involved and reserve a booth as an exhibitor or sponsorship opportunities, please contact Box Fan Expo at:

U.S.A telephone number: (702) 997-1927 or (514) 572-7222

For any inquiries please email: boxfanexpo@gmail.com

More information on the Box Fan Expo is available at: http://www.boxfanexpo.com

View the official promo video of Box Fan Expo here: http://www.boxfanexpo.com/video-2/

You can follow Box Fan Expo on Twitter at: https://www.twitter.com/BoxFanExpo and on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/BoxFanExpo

Timothy Bradley 146.4 – Jessie Vargas 146.4
Oscar Valdez 127.4 – Ruben Tamayo 129

HBO Boxing News: Jessie Vargas Interview

One of the sport’s best fighters returns when WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING: TIMOTHY BRADLEY JR. VS. JESSIE VARGAS AND OSCAR VALDEZ VS. RUBEN TAMAYO is seen SATURDAY, JUNE 27 at 9:45 p.m. (live ET/tape-delayed PT) from StubHub Center in Carson, Cal., exclusively on HBO. The HBO Sports team will be ringside to call all the action, which will be available in HDTV, closed-captioned for the hearing-impaired and presented in Spanish on HBO Latino.

The night marks the 1,000th fight televised on HBO. It all began Jan. 22, 1973 when HBO acquired telecast rights to the heavyweight title fight between Joe Frazier and George Foreman in Kingston, Jamaica. HBO has carried fights from 34 states plus Washington. D.C and international destinations such as Buenos Aires, Cancun, Montreal, London, Berlin, Copenhagen, Munich, Manila, Moscow and Tokyo. The fighters with the most appearances on the network during its 43 years of covering the sweet science are Roy Jones Jr and Oscar de la Hoya tied with 32.
Other HBO playdates: June 28 (10:00 a.m.) and 29 (11:30 p.m.)
HBO2 playdate: June 28 (3:30 p.m.)
Timothy Bradley Jr. (31-1-1, 12 KOs), from Palm Springs, Cal., takes on undefeated Jessie Vargas (26-0, 9 KOs) of Las Vegas in a scheduled 12-round welterweight contest. A former super lightweight and welterweight titleholder, Bradley will be making his 2015 debut. His only pro loss came at the hands of Manny Pacquiao, which was followed by a controversial draw against Diego Chaves. Bradley has consistently accepted difficult fights and will be returning to the venue where he fought Ruslan Provodnikov in an epic 12-round battle that was named 2013’s Fight of the Year by the BWAA. Vargas has held a title in the super lightweight division and is moving up in weight to take on Bradley, seeking a new championship belt for his collection.
Opening up the telecast is a 10-round featherweight attraction that features the HBO debut of highly regarded two-time Mexican Olympian Oscar Valdez. The 24-year-old (16-0, 14 KOs) from Nogales, Sonora, hopes to show off his considerable ring skills in a matchup with southpaw Ruben Tamayo (23-5-4, 15 KOs), who hails from Ciuadad, Obregon, Sonora, Mexico.
Follow HBO boxing news at hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/hboboxing and on Twitter at twitter.com/hboboxing.
All HBO boxing events are presented in HDTV. HBO viewers must have access to the HBO HDTV channel to watch HBO programming in high definition.
The executive producer of WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is Rick Bernstein; producer, Dave Harmon; director, Johnathan Evans.
® WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is a registered service mark of Home Box Office, Inc.

PALM SPRINGS, CALIF. (June 6, 2015) — Former two-division world champion and highly-rated pound for pound fighter TIMOTHY “Desert Storm” BRADLEY JR., deep in training for his upcoming clash with undefeated World Boxing Association (WBA) super lightweight world champion JESSIE VARGAS (26-0, 9 KOs), from Las Vegas, NV, for the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight world title, hosted a workout today that was open to hundreds of fans who packed Bradley’s Gym. Bradley (31-1-1, 12 KOs), from Palm Springs, Calif., has held a world title every year since 2008. He will be looking to extend that streak when he tries to regain the title he first won off Manny Pacquiao in 2012. Here is what Bradley and his trainer Joel Diaz had to say:

TIMOTHY BRADLEY

“I want to be strong and get a decisive win over Vargas – like knock him out and put him to sleep. I know he’s going to have a will to win but I am generating more power in camp. I’ve gone back to my roots in training, doing things which got me to this high level.

“I am not on a vegan diet for this training camp. I am eating fish, chicken and once a week, steak, to help build up my strength and power.

“I have more big fight experience than Vargas, more speed, more power and I am the better athlete. Vargas knows in his heart I am going to bring it. In the ring I will tell Vargas, ‘this in my time, not yours.’

“I want my title belt back too. That motivates me. I don’t care if Vargas is training in the mountains with his new trainer Erik Morales. The StubHub Center is my War Ground as Vargas is about to find out.”

JOEL DIAZ

“We went back to old school training — sledgehammers, medicine balls, swimming. This is a hard camp but we are facing a fighter who hungers to win. But Tim has too much power and more experience than Vargas.”

****************************************

The Bradley vs. Vargas world welterweight title fight will take place Saturday, June 27, under the stars at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., and will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing®, beginning at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT.

Promoted by Top Rank®, in association with Tecate, remaining tickets to the Bradley vs. Vargas world welterweight championship event, priced at $150, $75, $50 and $25, (plus applicable taxes and fees), can be purchased online at http://www.axs.com, by telephone at (888) 929-7849 or at the StubHub Center box office, Monday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Suites are available by calling (877) 604-8777. For information on group discounts, please call (877) 234-8425.

For fight updates go to www.toprank.com, or www.hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/trboxing, facebook.com/trboxeo or facebook.com/hboboxing, and on Twitter at twitter.com/trboxing, twitter.com/trboxeo, or twitter.com/hboboxing. Use the Hashtag #BradleyVargas to join the conversation on Twitter.

Just a day after getting Jose Felix as a replacement foe for Ray Beltran. Humberto Soto injured his knee and his June 27 fight on the Timothy Bradley – Jessie Vargas undercard is off, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“Soto is not going to fight,” said Golden Boy Promotions Eric Gomez. “He messed up his knee jogging on Tuesday. He was training. He got X-rays and he has strained knee ligaments, and the doctor told him he needs to rest it for a month.”

“It’s shocking. This guy can’t catch a break,” Eric Gomez said of Soto. “First, there was the Frankie Gomez situation, then Ray Beltran and now this. When bad news happens, it comes in threes. It was like 1-2-3 strikes, you’re out.”

LAS VEGAS, NV (May 29, 2015) — Former four-division world champion and Mexican boxing icon ERIK “El Terrible” MORALES is the new trainer for undefeated World Boxing Association (WBA) super lightweight world champion JESSIE VARGAS. Morales, who received the call a few days ago, is already in Vargas’ Las Vegas-based training camp preparing him for the biggest fight of his professional career, against former two-division world champion TIMOTHY “Desert Storm” BRADLEY JR. Vargas (26-0, 9 KOs), a native of Los Angeles who now lives in Las Vegas, and Bradley (31-1-1, 12 KOs), from Palm Springs, Calif., will go mano a mano for the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight world title, Saturday, June 27, at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. The fight will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing®, beginning at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT.

These two gladiators boast a combined record of 57-1-1 (21 KOs) — a winning percentage of 97%.

“I am very religious so I began to pray for the right person to train me,” said Vargas. “Instantly, the name of Erik Morales came to me. I was able to track him down and he came right to our training camp in Las Vegas. I watched practically of all Erik’s big fights – the wars with Marco Antonio Barrera, the fights against Manny Pacquiao. Erik always fought hard and with all his heart. That’s who I want in my corner, someone who will give me everything they have to beat Bradley.”

“I’ve trained many fighters in Mexico. But Jessie is the best fighter I will be working with and this is the biggest fight, against Bradley,” said Morales. “We will win this fight. Jessie will put on pressure with intelligence and mix it up, using counter-punching. Bradley likes to go into his comfort zone in the ring. We will attack there too.”

Promoted by Top Rank®, in association with Tecate, remaining tickets to the Bradley vs. Vargas welterweight championship event, priced at $150, $75, $50 and $25, (plus applicable taxes and fees), can be purchased online at http://www.axs.com, by telephone at (888) 929-7849 or at the StubHub Center box office, Monday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Suites are available by calling (877) 604-8777. For information on group discounts, please call (877) 234-8425.

For fight updates go to www.toprank.com, or www.hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/trboxing, facebook.com/trboxeo or facebook.com/hboboxing, and on Twitter at twitter.com/trboxing, twitter.com/trboxeo, or twitter.com/hboboxing. Use the Hashtag #BradleyVargas to join the conversation on Twitter.

LONDON (22 May) – Boxing has enjoyed an incredible year in 2015 with BoxNation at the forefront having screened the biggest and best fights around.

In the past few weeks alone ‘The Channel of Champions’ has shown some of the highest viewed fights in years live and exclusive including the thrilling toe-to-toe war between Lucas Matthysse and Ruslan Provodnikov, heavyweight legend Wladimir Klitschko’s defence of his world titles against Bryant Jennings, Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez’s brutal knockout of James Kirkland and Kazakh ace Gennady Golovkin’s stunning win over Willie Monroe Jr.

Those eye-catching battles will undoubtedly go down among the top highlights of a remarkable year with BoxNation set to keep delivering with an unbelievable value-for-money lineup over the summer.

The non-stop live boxing action starts tonight when Russian kingpin Alexander Povetkin takes on the Cork based Cuban Mike Perez as both slug it out to see who will compete for the charismatic Deontay Wilder’s WBC heavyweight world title next up.

Then, next Friday night, live from the Barclays Centre in Brooklyn, one of boxing’s most exciting fighters is back when British welterweight star Amir Khan takes on Chris Algieri as he looks to get his name into the Floyd Mayweather sweepstakes for September.

28-year-old Khan is coming-off a dazzling display against the tricky Devon Alexander in his last matchup but will have to be at his best against former champion Algieri who is fighting in his hometown under respected new head trainer John David Jackson.

A host of top fights keep coming on BoxNation when Puerto Rican idol Miguel Cotto takes on former two-time world champion Daniel Geale in a bout that could lead to a superfight for the victor.

Four-weight world champion Cotto has enjoyed a revival under Hall of Fame coach Freddie Roach and is looking more dangerous than ever as he eyes a showdown with Canelo Alvarez should he prevail on June 6th.

Featherweight assassin and reigning WBA Super champion Nicholas Walters will be out a week later on June 13th as he puts his title on the line against knockout king Miguel Marriaga.

The Columbian holds a win over the unbeaten Walters in the amateurs, with the Jamaican hitter out for revenge and looking to continue his fine form that has seen him destroy 2012 Fighter of the Year Nonito Donaire last October.

Top welterweight Tim Bradley is hoping to cement his name at the pinnacle of the 147 pound division but will have his work cut out against rising American Jessie Vargas who goes up against the experienced 31-year-old in his breakout fight.

Vargas is mentored by fight legend Roy Jones Jr, having once trained under the Mayweather banner, and is well aware that a win over Bradley will catapult him to the top of the division.

Plus, on July 11th from the Manchester Velodrome, lightweight Terry Flanagan will have home advantage as he challenges for the vacant WBO world title against Jose Zepeda.

Both men are undefeated but Manchester born Flanagan, with a record of 27-0, will look to capitalise on fighting in front of his home crowd against 25-year-old big-hitting Zepeda, who has knocked out 20 opponents in his 23 wins.

There is even more big-hitting to come on BoxNation when one of the world’s most feared knockout artists Sergey Kovalev defends his prized WBA, WBO and IBF light-heavyweight titles against Frenchman Nadjib Mohammedi.

The 175-pound hitman has made light work of his previous 27 opponents, putting 24 of them to sleep along the way, and will be out to do much of the same against Mohammedi as he eyes a megafight with rival Adonis Stevenson in the near future.

Jim McMunn, Managing Director of BoxNation, said: “BoxNation is enjoying an amazing year with a host of record breaking fights having been screened live and exclusive on the channel. 2015 has already witnessed some unbelievable matchups and things just get better on BoxNation with a jam-packed summer schedule featuring the biggest and best names around. BoxNation continuously looks to deliver the best fights from around the world at a genuinely affordable and value-for-money price for our subscribers. The next few weeks on BoxNation is truly a fight fan’s dream.”

To subscribe to BoxNation (on Sky/Virgin/TalkTalk/ Livesport.tv/Apps) for just £12 a month please visit boxnation.com.

-Ends-
About BoxNation
BoxNation, the Channel of Champions and proud partner of Rainham Steel, is the UK’s first dedicated subscription boxing channel. For £12* a month and no minimum term customers can enjoy great value live and exclusive fights, classic fight footage, magazine shows and interviews with current and former fighters.

BoxNation is proud to support Fight for Peace, a charity that uses boxing and martial arts combined with education and personal development to realise the potential of young people in communities that suffer from crime and violence. Buy LUTA (www.luta.co.uk) clothing and support Fight for Peace.

Previous highlights have included Haye vs Chisora, Khan vs Collazo and Mayweather vs Maidana.

The channel is available on Sky (Ch.437), Virgin (Ch.546), TalkTalk (Ch.525), online at Livesport.tv and via apps (ios, Android). BoxNation is also available in high definition on Sky (Ch. 490), at no extra cost to Sky TV subscribers, providing they are already HD enabled.

BoxNation is also available to commercial premises (inc. pubs, clubs and casino’s) in the UK and Ireland, for more information on a commercial subscription please call 0844 842 7700.

For more information visit www.boxnation.com

*Plus £8 registration fee for Sky TV and new Livesport.tv customers.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, former world champions Ray Beltran and Humberto Soto will meet on June 27 as part of the Timothy Bradley – Jessie Vargas undercard at the StubHub Center in Carson, California.

“Adding this slugfest to the much anticipated slugfest between Bradley and Vargas just ensures another memorable night of prizefighting at the highest level at the StubHub Center,” Top Rank vice president Carl Moretti told ESPN.com. “Those in attendance and watching at home on HBO are in for a special night with major implications for those combatants.”

“We’re excited about the fight. It should be a fun fight. Both guys are exciting fighters,” said Golden Boy vice president Eric Gomez, who negotiated the bout with Moretti. “Peter Nelson took it upon himself to tell Soto they would have him back on after what happened with Frankie. We really appreciate it. He kept his word. He is doing the right thing here. Peter stepped up and said he’d get him back on the network, and he did it with what we think is going to be a great fight. Humberto Soto is going to make a war.”

LOS ANGELES (May 18, 2015) — Former two-division world champion and highly-rated pound for pound fighter TIMOTHY “Desert Storm” BRADLEY JR. and undefeated World Boxing Association (WBA) super lightweight world champion JESSIE VARGAS will make their long-awaited 2015 debuts when they square off in a 12-round welterweight rumble, Saturday, June 27, under the stars at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. The Southern California natives’ fight will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing, beginning at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT.

These two gladiators boast a combined record of 57-1-1 (21 KOs) — a winning percentage of 97%.

Promoted by Top Rank®, in association with Tecate, tickets to the Bradley vs. Vargas welterweight event go on sale Tomorrow! Tuesday, May 19, at 10:00 a.m. PT. Priced at $150, $75, $50 and $25, (plus applicable taxes and fees), tickets can be purchased online at http://www.axs.com, by telephone at (888) 929-7849 or at the StubHub Center box office, Monday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Suites are available by calling (877) 604-8777. For information on group discounts, please call (877) 234-8425.

“I’m excited to be back in the ring with an undefeated champion,” said Bradley. “I look forward to the challenge and to take his 0 away from him on June 27th.”

“I am thrilled to have this fight,” said Vargas. “I will be facing a very talented fighter and when you have two great talents with a lot of heart it always makes for a great fight. I always elevate my game against better competition. I am ready to show and prove that I am one of the best fighters out there. There is not one doubt in my mind that everyone will enjoy this fight. I look forward to giving the fans the best of Jessie Vargas on June 27. ”

“Tim Bradley, one of the sport’s elite fighters, will be looking to take another big step toward regaining a world title belt, while Jessie Vargas, a young and hungry world champion, will be moving up to a new weight division in the biggest test of his professional career. It’s a great matchup of Southern California natives in a perfect setting for their fans at StubHub Center,” said Todd duBoef, president of Top Rank.

“The last time Timothy Bradley, Jr., entered the ring at the StubHub, he left having given the fans the fight of the year,” said Peter Nelson, Vice President of programming, HBO Sports. “Now, he returns for his 2015 debut against one of boxing’s undefeated rising attractions, Jessie Vargas, in a fight that augurs to have great action and impact in the loaded welterweight division.”

Bradley (31-1-1, 12 KOs), from Palm Springs, Calif., a former two-division world champion, from 2008 to 2014, who unified the junior welterweight titles twice during his previous four-year reign, returns to the ring following a controversial draw against one-time interim world champion Diego Chaves last December. The judges were taken to task by ringside media who had Bradley winning handily, an argument bolstered by the fact that Bradley landed 73 more punches than Chaves and controlled almost every round. Bradley continues his comeback since suffering his first professional loss, in his welterweight championship rematch against Fighter of the Decade Manny Pacquiao on April 12, 2014. Before the Pacquiao rematch, Bradley posted three consecutive career-best victories. After moving up in weight and beating Pacquiao in 2012 to capture the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight crown, Bradley co-starred in the Fight of the Year on March 16, 2013, at StubHub Center, winning a brutal 12-round decision over future world champion Ruslan Provodnikov though Bradley was suffering from a concussion throughout most of the fight. Seven months later, Bradley encored with a virtuoso performance in defeating three-division world champion and Mexican icon Juan Manuel Márquez on October 12, 2013, proving that Bradley is indeed one of boxing’s elite pound for pound fighters.

Vargas (26-0, 9 KOs), a native of Los Angeles who now lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, is trained by former four-division world champion and future Hall of Famer Roy Jones, Jr. Vargas captured the WBA super lightweight title on April 19, 2014 in Las Vegas, winning a unanimous decision over undefeated defending champion Khabib Allakhverdiev. It was a close and competitive fight that proved Vargas’ grit as he bit down hard during the championship rounds to pull away with the victory and the world championship belt. Vargas successfully defended his title twice that same year, winning unanimous decisions over undefeated contender Anton Novikov in Las Vegas and former world champion Antonio DeMarco in Macao, China on the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao – Chris Algieri world welterweight pay-per-view card. Vargas’ impressive resume also includes victories over former world champions Stevie Forbes and Vivian Harris and top contenders Josesito Lopez, Lucky Boy Omotoso, Ray Narh and Lanardo Tyner.

For fight updates go to www.toprank.com, or www.hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/trboxing, facebook.com/trboxeo or facebook.com/hboboxing, and on Twitter at twitter.com/trboxing, twitter.com/trboxeo, or twitter.com/hboboxing. Use the Hashtags #BradleyVargas to join the conversation on Twitter.

LONDON (May 13) – BoxNation will air the return of Puerto Rican legend and reigning WBC middleweight champion Miguel Cotto live and exclusive on June 6 as he steps in against former two-time world champion Daniel Geale.

The 34-year-old superstar Cotto will return to New York, where he has enjoyed much success, as he fights for the first time at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn having fought 11- times previously in ‘The Big Apple’.

Against the skilled Geale, however, the Freddie Roach trained Cotto will have to be at his best if he hopes to continue the impressive revival that has been witnessed under the Hall of Fame trainer.

Cotto is regarded as one of boxing’s elite stars and is ready to impress once again, live on BoxNation.

“I am happy and excited to be back in New York and fighting at Barclays Center,” said Cotto. “This is another chapter in my career and I’m committed to train as hard as always and bring a big victory. I’m looking forward to seeing all the Puerto Rican fans on June 6 and to being part of another exciting boxing night in Brooklyn.”

Australian Geale is back in New York following his 3rd round loss to Kazakh assassin Gennady Golovkin but is confident he can reign as champion once again.

“Thanks to Miguel Cotto for the opportunity to become a world champion once again,” said Geale. “I have total respect for Miguel and his achievements, but I can win this fight and that is exactly what I intend to do come June 6 in Brooklyn at Barclays Center.”

Further great news for BoxNation subscribers is that the channel will be bringing two further thrilling cards in June starting with Nicholas Walters versus Miguel Marriaga on June 13 and welterweight ace Tim Bradley facing the crafty Jessie Vargas on June 27.

Known as ‘The Axe Man’, Walters burst onto the scene late last year when the undefeated Jamaican, who has a record of 25 wins with 21 knockouts, stopped 2012 ‘Fighter of the Year’ Nonito Donaire inside six rounds.

The WBA featherweight world champion is ready to get revenge on the unbeaten Marriaga at the fabled Madison Square Garden, with the Colombian holding a win over him in the amateurs having defeated him during the Olympic trials.

“Headlining at Madison Square Garden is every fighter’s dream. I have unfinished business with Miguel Marriaga,” said Walters. “He kept me out of the 2008 Olympics when he beat me in the Americas Olympic Qualifier and I am ready to pay him back. I am going to chop him with the axe.”

“I am happy to be fighting at the legendary Madison Square Garden,” said Marriaga. “I was born to be world champion and come June 13 I will be victorious.”

The card will also feature the golden Puerto Rican lightweight talent Felix Verdejo who takes on an unbeaten prospect like himself in Ivan Najera.

“I know that the fight against Ivan Najera will not be easy,” said Verdejo. “I will prepare myself to the maximum and sacrifice everything in the gym so that on fight night I will be at my best. I am very thankful to Top Rank for giving me these types of opportunities.”

This exciting bill is quickly followed by Bradley’s 12-round matchup with the undefeated Vargas at the StubHub Center in Carson, California, where the victor will be looking to cement themselves as one of the very best in the stacked 147-pound division.

Jim McMunn, Managing Director of BoxNation, said: “After enjoying some amazing nights of boxing in recent weeks live on BoxNation we are delighted to fill our summer schedule with further great matchups. Miguel Cotto is one of boxing’s true superstars so we are very pleased to feature him on the channel once again. The further two cards on June 13 with Nicholas Walters against Miguel Marriaga, and Tim Bradley taking on Jessie Vargas on June 27, ensures that BoxNation continues to deliver the very best fights for boxing fans at a truly exceptional price of just £12 a month.”

To subscribe to BoxNation (Sky 437/490HD, Virgin 546, TalkTalk525) for just £12 a month please visit boxnation.com.

-Ends-
About BoxNation

BoxNation, the Channel of Champions and proud partner of Rainham Steel, is the UK’s first dedicated subscription boxing channel. For £12* a month and no minimum term customers can enjoy great value live and exclusive fights, classic fight footage, magazine shows and interviews with current and former fighters.

BoxNation is proud to support Fight for Peace, a charity that uses boxing and martial arts combined with education and personal development to realise the potential of young people in communities that suffer from crime and violence.

Previous highlights have included Haye vs Chisora, Khan vs Collazo and Mayweather vs Maidana.

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Former Welterweight champion Timothy Bradley will take on WBA Super Lightweight champion Jessie Vargas on June 27 at the StubHub Center in Carson, California.

“Vargas is a good, little fighter,” Bradley told ESPN.com. “He’s a world champion, and he has to be respected. This is another good fight, another good opponent. I’m always fighting good competition. He’s undefeated. I think this is a good test for both of us and a good fight for me against an undefeated fighter.”

“I’m very excited about this fight,” Vargas told ESPN.com. “I’m extremely excited to be getting the opportunity to fight a name like Timothy Bradley, a guy who beat Manny Pacquiao. I know it was controversial, but he has a win over him. I’m trying to get closer to fighting the big names.”

“It was getting harder for me to make 140. I knew it was coming to an end, and I didn’t want to get to a point where that last half-pound would hurt me,” said Vargas, who is trained by former pound-for-pound king Roy Jones Jr. “I’m looking forward to fighting at 147. I was successful in past fights at 147.”

“Tim is a great fighter, and that’s why I’m excited. We both come to fight and give the fans a great fight,” Vargas said. “Timmy always comes and gives an exciting fight. I want to be a fan-friendly fighter.”

Said Carl Moretti, vice president of Top Rank, “Because of their styles, I think it’s going to be a great fight and the winner is going to come out as a big player in the division. Jessie wanted to move to 147 and he’s been on HBO before. Any time you get a good fight in the welterweight division, there’s interest, and this is a good fight in the welterweight division.

“It’s a fight that keeps Bradley going in another competitive fight, and for Jessie, it’s a chance for him to fight a big name. Jessie is sky-high for the fight.”

“It ain’t hard to get up for this fight,” he said. “He wants what I got. He wants my name on his resume. You got to get in there and show me you can beat me. I’ve faced big names in the sport, but I’m [a] risk-taker, baby. It’s me and him that night.”

Phoenix junior welterweight Jose Benavidez Jr., who won the WBC’s interim junior-welterweight title in a controversial decision over Mauricio Herrera on Dec. 13, plans to resume training on Monday.

His trainer and father, Jose Benavidez Sr., said he hopes his son’s next fight is in the spring. However, Top Rank, his promoter, has yet to decide on an opponent or a date.

“We still have to meet and talk about that,’’ said his father, whose unbeaten son will train at Central Boxing near downtown Phoenix.

Unbeaten Jessie Vargas, the WBA’s 140-pound champion and also a Top Rank fighter, is at the top of Benavidez’ wish list.

“If everything works out, yes, Vargas is the guy we’d like to fight,’’ the senior Benavidez said.

A rematch was speculated after Benavidez (22-0, 15 KOs) won a controversial unanimous decision over Herrera at Las Vegas’ Cosmopolitan in an HBO-televised bout. In the immediate aftermath of the bout, a frustrated Herrera (21-5, 7 KOs) said he wanted a rematch and Benavidez said he would give him one.

However, it sounds as if Herrera has changed his mind. Instead, he says he wants a shot at Adrien Broner, who faces John Molina Jr. on March 7 at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand on the first card in Al Haymon’s deal with NBC.

Herrera, 34, broke into The Ring’s 140-pound ratings at No. 10, despite the loss to the 22-year-old Benavidez, who is not ranked among the top 10.

Benavidez’ father said he had no problem with the ranking.

“Mauricio is good fighter, a good guy and a good story,’’ he said. “My son learned a lot in that fight. With that experience, I think, he’d knock him out in a rematch.’’

Benavidez is the third Arizona fighter in the state’s history to win a title sanctioned by a major sanction acronym. Junior-flyweight Michael Carbajal, a Hall of Famer, held the IBF, WBC and WBO titles during the 1990s. Louie Espinoza won the WBA’s super-bantamweight title in 1987.

LAS VEGAS — There were a lot of surprise, but only one upset.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. did the expected Saturday night at the MGM Grand and beat Miguel Cotto with a decision that was as bruising as it was unanimous. Then, there was the upset.

Mayweather did an interview with HBO’s Larry Merchant after saying he wouldn’t after the two engaged in a war of words following his controversial stoppage in a September stoppage of Victor Ortiz. Merchant said Mayweather apologized Friday for the rhetorical brawl.

The bet was that an apology from Mayweather would happen before immortality and an end to taxes. The way things are changing, anything looks possible, maybe even a Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao fight. More on that later.

Nevertheless, there have been hints for at a least week that Mayweather is a changed man even before he has to report on June 1 for an 87-day jail sentence for domestic abuse. At news conferences and other public appearances, he had begun to behave more like a diplomat and less like an ill-mannered rapper.

In Cotto, he said, he expected a tough fight.

“He came to fight,’’ said Mayweather (43-0, 26 KOs), who collected a minimum of $32 million, a record guarantee. “He didn’t come for survival.’’

No, he didn’t. Cotto came for a significant upset. He didn’t get it. On the scorecards, his loss was one-sided. Judges Patricia Morse Jarman and Dave Moretti scored 117-111 each for Mayweather. The third judge, Robert Hoyle, had it 118-110. Cotto (37-3, 30 KOs) left the ring without speaking to the media, which might be a sign of his frustration at the scoring.

But there are no points for determination and the guts to sustain an attack throughout 12 rounds. A key element to Cotto’s tactical plan took shape early. Mayweather often uses distance like a puppeteer uses strings. From about the length of a jab, he pushes, pulls, leads, twists and, in the end, turns ordinary opposition inside-out. But Cotto refused to let him maintain the distance so fundamental to his reign.

In the second, it was evident Cotto would not follow Mayweather’s calculated lead. Cotto shoved him up and against the ropes as if to say that Mayweather should have picked a different dance partner. Cotto returned to the blueprint again and again throughout the next 10 rounds, driving Mayweather into the ropes with a bruising jab and a physical attack that bloodied Mayweather’s nose.

The blood was a surprise. If anybody was going to bleed, the guess was that it would be Cotto, whose eyes are surrounded by scar tissue from old wounds. This time, however, the unmarked Mayweather was the only one to bleed and sight of that blood elicited cheers from that part of the crowd that lusts for him to lose.

He didn’t, because in the ring, at least, he never changes. He is never without resources or an infinite ability to adjust. He scored by getting Cotto out in the center of the ring and landing shots, some unlikely. In the fourth, he rocked Cotto with a right that circled around his upraised hands. The punch found its mark, almost like a curve ball. Even when pushed up against the ropes, he rolled his shoulder and managed to deflect many of Cotto’s blows.

What’s next? For now, there’s only June 1 and time in Nevada’s Clark County Jail.

“That comes with the territory,’’ Mayweather said. “Things of life. You are faced with certain obstacles. You take the good with the good and the bad with the bad. …When June 1 comes, I’m going to accept it, like a true man would do.’’

And after his release?

“I don’t know,’’ said Mayweather, who went on to rip Pacquaio’s promoter, Bob Arum. “I was looking to fight Manny Pacquiao. I didn’t think that fight would happen because of Bob Arum. Bob Arum stopped the Manny Pacquiao fight. Let’s give the fans what they want to see. Let’s get that fight together.’’

Otherwise, Mayweather might have to apologize again. Once is enough.

It was the end of a beginning for a 21-year-old Mexican who might finally begin to be known for something more than his red hair.

“This is the beginning of my career,’’ Saul “Canelo” Alvarez said. “Thank you, Shane Mosley, for giving me this experience.’’

Alvarez (40-0-1, 29 KOs) might also have said thanks to Mosley (46-8-1, 39 KOs) for letting him add a legendary name to his unbeaten resume. He could also have said good-bye and good-luck to Mosley.

Mosley never had a chance. He was pounded to the body, pounded to the head, pounded from pillar-to-post in losing a unanimous decision to Alvarez, still the World Boxing Council’s junior-middleweight champion and more ambitious than ever to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. or Miguel Cotto or Manny Pacquiao.

A sign, perhaps, that Canelo is growing up and beyond his Howdy Doody days happened at the moment when he encountered the only potential adversity in an otherwise one-sided fight.

Blood, Canelo red, poured from a cut above Alvarez left eye after a head butt in the second. But it didn’t seem to bother Alvarez, who is said to have never suffered a cut before the inadvertent collision with Mosley.

If it really was Alvarez’ first wound, the 21-year-old Mexican responded as if he had always known how it would feel. How it would color his vision. How it would taste. It was a moment when he looked as if he had been born for the blood sport.

“He can go a long ways,’’ said Mosley, who collected $650,000 on a night when Alvarez earned $2 million.

The totality of Alvarez’ victory, however, might be hard to judge in terms of how he will do against younger, more dangerous opponents. The 40-year-old Mosley did nothing to dispel mounting evidence that he’s more shot than Sugar. He endured 12 rounds. He would not quit Saturday night. After sustained punishment that has left his face puffy and some say his speech slurred, however, it looks as it is time to quit the long, legendary career that will one day land him in the Hall of Fame.

“It can look that way,’’ said Mosley, who in the immediate aftermath of the loss didn’t say he would retire.

Mosley had no defense for the heavy hands that ricocheted off his midsection, rocked his head and echoed with an almost sickening thud throughout the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

“Maybe, he’ll be one of the next kings of the ring,’’ Mosley said.

Maybe.

Las Vegas welterweight Jessie Vargas (19-0, 9 KOs, a Floyd Mayweather Jr.-promoted fighter, is still unbeaten, but there wasn’t anything unanimous about his performance after a unanimous decision over shop-worn Steve Forbes (35-11, 11 KOs), also of Las Vegas.

There were scattered boos from a crowd gathering for the Mayweather Jr.-Miguel Cotto fight for the dull 10 rounder. Vargas won at least eight of the rounds, but wasn’t dominant in any of them over Forbes, who has lost six of his last eight fights.

With Miguel Cotto watching from a ringside seat, super-welterweight Carlos Quintana (29-3, 23 KOs) scored a sixth-round knockout of DeAndre Lattimore (23-4, 17 KOs) of Las Vegas in the first bout on the pay-per-view part of the card.

Cotto must have liked what he saw from Quintana, a fellow Puerto Rican, in a victory that might have been a good sign for his chances at an upset of Floyd Mayweather in the main event. Quintana swarmed Lattimore with a barrage of punches — head to body, body to head.

Midway through the sixth, Quintana stunned Lattimore in a neutral corner. A dazed Lattimore slid along the ropes. Quintana pursued, hitting Lattimore with a succession of left hands that finally dropped him near his own corner at 2:19 of the round.

“A great day for Puerto Rico,’’ Quintana said of a night that he hoped would end in a Cotto encore.

Puerto Rican featherweight Braulio Santos (6-0, 5 KO) employed explosive quickness for a unanimous decision over Juan Sandoval (5-9-1, 3 KOs) of San Bernardino, CA, in the last fight before the pay-per-view telecast.

Santos’ array of punches came at a blinding rate, especially in the fourth when Sandoval was knocked into the ropes by combo capped by a stinging left.

Lightweight Omar Figueroa (16-0-1, 13 KOS) of Weslaco, TX, could have been swinging a bat at a ball poised on a tee with a wide left hook that lifted Robbie Cannon (12-7-2, 6 KOs) of Pevely, MO, up and almost out of the ring.

Somehow, Cannon got up, but only to see that referee Vic Drakulich had ended it, declaring Figueroa a TKO winner at 2:08 of the second round.

Welterweight Keith Thurman (17-0, 16 KOs) of Clearwater, FL, turned the card’s second fight into a display of the reasons why Golden Boy Promotions signed him.

Thurman’s foot speed, power and quick jab overwhelmed Brandon Koskins (16-1-1, 8 KOs) of Hannibal, MO. Referee Russell Mora stopped it at 25 seconds of the third with a defenseless Koskins hanging on the ropes after a head-rocking right hand from Thurman.

Antonio Orozco and Dillet Frederick fought in front of referee Kenny Bayless, three judges, cornermen, a few ushers and nobody else in the first fight on a card Saturday that would end hours later with Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Miguel Cotto in the main event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

The arena was filled only with echoes, mostly from body punches landed by Orozco (14-0, 10 KOs), a San Diego welterweight who won a third-round TKO over Frederick (8-6-3, 5 KOs) of Fort Myers, Fla.

Poise might have been the area that veteran Lanardo Tyner(25-7-2 15 ko’s) chose to target more than any other in his welterweight bout with prospect Jessie Vargas(18-0 9 ko’s), but the 22 year old showed composure beyond his years, and outlasted Tyner in an ugly ten round affair littered with fouls.

Vargas opened up the fight long exchange in illegal blows by catching Tyner low in the first round, part of a sustained body attack. Tyner was granted time to recover by referee Tony Weeks, and was visibly angry as he rose to his feet, and converted his frustration into an offensive rally to close out the first round.

The two men exchanged combinations inside, until round four when Tyner evened the score with a low blow of his own that sent Vargas to the canvas, reeling in pain. After a recovery period Tyner pounced on his weakened opponent, putting punches together and scoring well. Vargas turned the tables once again, however, with another shot below the belt in retaliation, which infuriated the 36 year old Tyner.

The fighters were able to keep things moderately clean for the next few rounds, with the exception of a few exchanges after the bell that were quickly broken up. Vargas continued to work well inside, but showed a few defensive flaws, and ate some unnecessary shots from Tyner.

Vargas stepped on the gas pedal in round 7, teeing off on Tyner with hooks, and right hands to the body and head. The offensive showcase drew a reaction from the crowd until Tyner smiled and beat his chest at the younger Vargas, and pressed forward with a successful combination of his own.

After a rough and tumble eighth round that saw the two men wrestle their way through the ropes and out of the ring momentarily, Vargas was able to clean up the pace of the bout, and get the better of Tyner in close quarters, outworking his man down the stretch.

In what started out as a firefight, Jessie Vargas was able to keep his cool in the late rounds, and outlast a savvy veteran opponent for a lopsided decision victory with scores reading 99-91 all the way across. It was an ugly affair for the centerpiece of Floyd Mayweather’s promotional stable, and while room for improvement is clear, Vargas was able to pick up a big win, and a valuable learning experience.

“I don’t think this was my toughest or hardest fight, but it was a good fight,’’ said Vargas, who was sporting a cut on the upper left side of his head afterward. “This was just another learning experience. I need these kinds of fights against these kinds of fighters to stay in position to move forward.

“I probably could have moved and boxed more, but he took my out of my game plan a few times. There were times when all I wanted to do was connect with the big shot.

“That low blow he got me with in the fourth round was definitely the hardest low blow I’ve ever been hit with. I’ve never been nailed with anything like that before.’’

Latimore vs. Nunez

“The Bull’ took on the role of matador when Deandre Latimore (23-3-1) survived a late rally from short notice replacement Milton Nunez (23-4-1) and took home a majority decision win.

St. Louis native Latimore, originally slated to face Ryan Davis (who failed his eye exam), brought a conservative game plan into Friday’s bout, working his jab, and making the Columbian miss with wide hooks. In round three the 26 year old Latimore found a rhythm, landing to the body and putting combinations together, staggering Nunez at certain points.

24 year old Nunez, who was brought in on 48 hours notice, stayed competitive, but wasn’t able to do any significant scoring. Until round 9 that is. In the final minute of the ninth Latimore’s sharp defense offered up a costly opening, which Nunez capitalized on with a hard right hand. With Latimore visibly staggered Nunez charged forward with a wild, but effective flurry that dropped Latimore to the canvas. Latimore rose to his feet, still out of sorts, but was saved by the bell to end the round.

Latimore was able to slow the pace down a little bit to open round ten, staying defensive and jabbing himself out of trouble. Nunez, however, was able to find another opening and drop Latimore once again inside of the round’s final minute, winning over the crowd, and earning his paycheck.

Latimore was announced the majority decision winner, to a mixed reaction from the crowd at Hard Rock in Las Vegas, improving him to 23-3-1.

“It was my first start in nearly a year and I’m just happy to get the win,’’ said Latimore, who was making his first start for new trainer Jeff Mayweather. “Honestly I didn’t care if I won by 10 points or one, I just wanted the win. I had to pace myself at times but I did what I had to do and what Jeff wanted me to do,

“The second knockdown wasn’t a knockdown. I went down from headbutts. It is what it is, though, and I look forward to getting back to work in the gym and fighting on a regular basis.’’

“I knocked him down and was hitting him with a barrage of right and left hands and the referee (Joe Cortez) moved in and stepped between us. I thought he was going to stop it. You don’t do what the ref did and not stop the fight.

“Still, I thought I’d done enough to win.’’

Undercard

Junior Welterweights Joaquin Chavez (0-0-1) and Jalani Wilson (0-0-1) put both their passion and inexperience on display. Chavez was able to land significant shots throughout the four round affair, while Wilson lunged forward with hooks, landing on occasion but failing to inflict any meaningful damage. The bout was ruled a draw after four rounds.

Antonio Orozco (13-0 8 ko’s) looked sharp as nails in a dominating performance over Rodolfo Armenta(11-5 9 ko’s).

Orozco stayed tight with his combination punching, working the body, and scoring upstairs. Armenta was game, but overmatched by the hand speed of “The Simple Man”. Orozco scored a well earned stoppage in round 4 with a combination that dropped Armenta for the count.

In a California vs. Nevada border war David Clark(4-2-1) blitzed Rocco Espinoza(3-3-1) for an easy TKO1 via 3 knockdown rule. Espinoza had no answer for Clark’s immediate pressure and collapsed to the canvas three times early on for the quick loss.