NEW YORK (June 15, 2012) – An injury has forced heavyweight Chris Arreola to withdraw from his scheduled June 23 fight against Mike Mollo, which was slated to open the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast on SHOWTIME®. The premium network will move ahead with a doubleheader featuring two 12-round fights.
In the main event, former World Champion “Vicious” Victor Ortiz (29-3-2, 22 KO’s), of Ventura, Calif., will face Josesito Lopez (29-4, 17 KO’s), of Riverside, Calif., for the WBC Silver Welterweight Championship. The co-feature will match world-ranked fighters, former Three-Time World Champion Humberto “Zorrita” Soto (59-7-2, 34 KO’s), of Los Mochis, Mexico, and hard-hitting Lucas Matthysse (30-2, 28 KO’s), of Chubut, Argentina, in a battle for the WBC Continental Americas super lightweight title.
The doubleheader emanating from STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, Calif. will air live on SHOWTIME at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). It will be preceded by preliminary bouts airing live on SHOWTIME Extreme at 7 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). In the main match-up on SHOWTIME Extreme, Jermell Charlo (17-0, 8 KO’s), of Houston, risks his perfect record against Denis Douglin (14-1, 8 KO’s) of Marlboro, N.J., in a 10-round junior middleweight bout. Also featured on the SHOWTIME Extreme telecast will be an eight-round super lightweight clash between undefeated Omar Figueroa (17-01, 14 KO’s), of Weslaco, Tex., and veteran Alain Hernandez (18-10-2, 10 KO’s) of Tijuana, Mexico.
Tickets priced at $250, $150, $100 and $50 are available online at www.staplescenter.com, www.ticketmaster.com, via Ticketmaster charge-by-phone lines at (800)745-3000 or at STAPLES Center box office.
ISAAC MENDEZ STEPS UP TO FACE GILBERTO RAMIREZ AFTER J.C. CANDELO IS FORCED TO WITHDRAW FROM TOMORROW NIGHTS FIGHT IN PLAYA DEL CARMEN – PLUS OFFICIAL BOUT SHEET
LOS ANGELES (June 15) – Due to immigration issues, J.C. Candelo was unable to travel to Mexico for his fight against Gilberto Ramirez that was originally scheduled for tomorrow night in Playa Del Carmen. San Buenaventura, Mexico’s Isaac Mendez (13-5, 11 KO’s) has stepped up to the plate to face Ramirez in the 10-round super middleweight co-featured fight.
In the 12-round main event, the vacant WBC Continental Americas Bantamweight Title will be on the line when Guamuchil, Mexico’s Cuadras battles countryman Javier Franco of Chihuahua.
Cuadras vs. Franco is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Pepe Gomez Promotor Deportivo and sponsored by Corona, Periodico QueQui, Gobierno Solidaridad, Hotel Paradisus, Playa Mamitas and Riviera Maya. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. CT and the first fight begins at 6:30 p.m. CT. The Televisa broadcast will air on Canal 5 and begins at 10:30 p.m. CT and the FOX Deportes broadcasts will air on Sunday, June 17 at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT.