CAROLINA, P.R. (March 7, 2012) – Television camera crews and reporters packed the Verdanza Hotel on Wednesday for the final press conference for Salido-Lopez II – the rematch of one of last year’s most shocking upsets – just three days before World Boxing Organization (WBO) Featherweight World Champion Orlando “Siri” Salido defends his title against the man he dethroned, former world champ Juan Manuel “Juanma” Lopez, on Saturday, March 10, LIVE on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast), from Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Salido (37-11-2, 25 KOs), of México, won the WBO title on April 16 on SHOWTIME when he scored an eighth round TKO over the heavily favored Lopez. Salido successfully defended the title on July 23 in Mexico against Kenichi Yamaguchi via 11th round TKO.
Lopez (31-1, 28 KOs), of Puerto Rico, is eager to avenge the only loss of his career and win back his crown. The exciting and all-action Lopez has knocked out 87 percent of his opponents and is a two-division world champion.
In the co-feature, undefeated No. 1 featherweight contender Mikey Garcia (27-0, 23 KOs), of Oxnard, Calif., will face former featherweight title challenger Bernabe Concepcion (31-4-1, 17 KOs), of Metro Manila, Philippines, in a 10-round featherweight bout. Preliminary bouts will be televised LIVE on SHOWTIME EXTREME at 8 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).
Here are what the fighters had to say on Wednesday:
JUANMA LOPEZ:
“This fight is going to be a war. Orlando, you had a good night last year – but I want my title back. I let you wear the belt for 11 months but I’m bringing it back to where it belongs on Saturday.
“I have had a great preparation for this fight and I’m very confident. I never gave excuses about my last fight with Salido. He won. He knocked me out, fine. I don’t make excuses; I fight. If the ref didn’t stop the fight when he did last time, I’d still be fighting.
“Saturday is a great card with a lot of good prospects. Garcia vs. Concepcion is a really good fight and I’m glad that it will be on SHOWTIME, along with mine. Mikey is one of the most intelligent fighters around. He has great ability. And Bernabe is a tough guy. He dropped me in our fight a couple of years ago so I know.”
ORLANDO SALIDO:
“Entering the first fight, I had some doubts but now I have beaten Juanma and I know I can beat him again. I am 1000 percent sure I can win. I’ve been in the gym preparing and I know what to expect. Even though I won last year, I still have something to prove. In the ring, we have a score to settle.
“I don’t have much to say, that’s not who I am. It’s the press that said Juanma made excuses. To me, it doesn’t matter either way. My job is the same on Saturday night no matter what.”
MIKEY GARCIA:
“My fight with Concepcion is a tough fight. It’s a dangerous fight and it means everything to me. If I want my title shot, I need to win. There has been talk about me fighting the winner of Lopez and Salido. I want my chance. I hope to fight the winner of Saturday night’s fight for the belt before the end of the year.”
“I’m thankful for the reception I’ve received in Puerto Rico. It’s my first time here and I like it very much. I’m really looking forward to Saturday’s match. I’ve put in a lot of hard work because the fight is so important to me.”
BERNABE CONCEPCION:
“I’m excited for fight night on Saturday against Garcia. I came to Puerto Rico once before (in July 2010 to fight Lopez). Thank you to the promoters and all the fans for having me back but I hope for a different result this time.”
Promoted by Top Rank, in association with PR Best Boxing Promotion, Zanfer Promotions and the city of San Juan, tickets to Lopez-Salido II are priced at $400, $200, $100, $75, $50 and $25. Tickets can be purchased at www.tcpr.com or by phone charge by calling Ticket Center at (787) 792-5000.
Tickets Now Available For Middleweight Prospect Richard Pierson’s Upcoming April 18 Bout
Team Pierson has announced that tickets for middleweight prospect Richard Pierson are now available. Pierson will be stepping back into the ring April 18 at the Robert Treat Hotel in Newark, NJ, fresh off an impressive KO victory.
On February 17, Pierson (10-2, 7 KO) finished off Anibal Acevedo with a devastating right hand to the ribs at the end of the first round in his first fight back following an 18-month layoff.
“It felt good to be back in the ring, but feels even better to have a team,” said Pierson about his recent victory.
Throughout his career Pierson has dealt with his share of adversity and having fights fall through, yet he has stayed focus and determined to work towards a world title shot.
“The way I stay focused is that I keep my faith in God, and I stay around positive people,” said Pierson. “Boxing is life, and before you can get into that ring, you have to be mentally stable. You can’t get into the ring and have any doubt or concern for anything. So before I lace up the gloves, I make sure my household is safe and stable, and the people that surround me and care about me are happy. That is what really affects me and keeps me focused.”
Pierson has established himself as a top middleweight fighter with serious implications on making a title run by the end of 2012.
“I feel good about the upcoming fight; I’m hoping that nothing happens like it has in the past, where the fight falls through last minute,” said Pierson. “I’m working hard and training camp is going great, and I want to be able to get out there and work.”
Richard Pierson has waited patiently for his chance to shine. From day one all he has wanted to do is step between the ropes and have a fair shot, and although he has been thrown to the wolves countless times to simply be an opponent against “A” fighters, Pierson has rose above.
Pierson has caught the attention and respect of fellow fighters due to his unrelenting work ethic, determination and drive to excel in what he does.
Outside the ring Pierson is a dedicated student and full-time father, striving to give his children a better life. Quiet and humble, Pierson goes about life one day at a time, creating and seizing opportunities at will.
And for the first time in his career, Pierson has had a solid team around him to give him a full time training camp.
“It means a lot to have the resources around me and the people willing to put the time in,” said Pierson. “I am going to make the most of it, and it will show when I step between the ropes April 18.”
For tickets for Richard Pierson’s road to a middleweight title fight, call Bruce Vega at 973-885-4626 or Lou Esa at Final Round Boxing and Fitness at 973-885-7962 or visit the gym at 159 Algonquin Parkway in Whippany, NJ.
Tickets are $50 for general admission; $100 for ringside; $200 for VIP ringside (front row seat and coupon for concession stand). The doors open at 5:30 and the first fight begins at 7 p.m.
The Robert Treat Hotel is located at 50 Park Place, Newark, NJ.
To stay current with all of Team Pierson’s latest news visit https://www.facebook.com/pages/Richard-TP-Pierson-Fan-Page/251954198152149.
Thompson Boxing Promotions’ Night of Champions this Saturday, March 10
Orange, CA (March 7) – This Saturday, March 10, Thompson Boxing Promotions will host a very special private dinner and boxing card named “Night of Champions”. The event will honor special guests and former champions Evander Holyfield, Ray Mancini and Israel Vazquez and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Today’s Youth Boxing Club located in Corona, California.
About the card
Two weeks after a packed sold out event in Ontario, CA, Thompson Boxing Promotions returns with a fight card filled with hungry prospects led by undefeated flyweight hopefuls Miguel Diaz (7-0, 3 KOs) and Austreberto Juarez (10-0, 2 KOs) battling for the WBC US flyweight title.
Diaz and Juarez eagerly step forward on the main event on Saturday, March 10, at the Doubletree Hotel in Orange, California. Their flyweight clash features an East versus West confrontation that never fails to bring that extra spice.
Allentown, Penn.’s Diaz has met little resistance in his forays into California. The flyweight boxer-puncher has found the Golden State much to his liking including four consecutive knockouts in one stretch. Though the knockout streak ended three bouts ago,
Diaz still wields serious firepower and an uncanny knack to adapt to the foe’s strengths and come roaring back with an antidote. Wins over Malcolm Franklin and Felipe Castaneda excited the crowd. Can he continue his west coast invasion? That question will be answered on Saturday night.
Juarez hails from Ventura’s fertile boxing grounds and has faced solid competition in his stretched out eight-year career. Though his activity has been inconsistent, no opponent has been able to topple Juarez from the ranks of the undefeated. With his aggressive boxer-puncher style he’s been able to ward off different fighting styles from out-right brawlers to pure boxers. The lanky Ventura boxer has never faced anyone with a losing record and still prevailed.
The semi-main event features two young undefeated prospects that will tangle in a welterweight blow out when Anaheim’s Victor Garcia (4-0, 3 KOs) faces Puerto Rico’s Luis Merced (3-0, 3 KOs). Their bout is scheduled for only four rounds but expect a major firefight when these two bombers begin to unleash. Someone’s “O” has got to go.
A preceding junior welterweight event features undefeated Jake “The Bull” Giuriceo (14-0, 3 KOs) of Youngstown, Ohio testing Mexican veteran Jaime Orrantia (14-28-5, 5 KOs) in a scheduled six round bash.
Giuriceo has never fought west of the Mississippi River but has grounded out a well-deserved record in Ohio and Pennsylvania prize rings. The Ohio puncher wants to test the West Coast fighters first hand.
Orrantia may have a inconsistent track record but throughout his career the fighter from Michoacan, Mexico has fought star prospects like Frankie Gomez, Antonio Orozco, Andrew Cancio, and Jorge Paez Jr. to name a few. His career has teetered but he’s proven to be a good barometer for testing new hungry fighters.
Featherweights Sergio Nunez (4-0-1, 2 KOs) of Maywood faces Spain’s Cesar Martinez (3-0, 1 KO) in a super featherweight match set for four rounds. When you have two undefeated boxers you can only expect the unexpected. No one fights harder than unbeaten prizefighters looking to stay at the top of their division and that’s exactly what Martinez, who is making his first appearance in the U.S., intends on doing.
A four round female bout will also be featured on the card but will be announced at a later time.
Please note that this is a private sold out dinner and press passes will not be distributed at this event.