Press Conference for Mayweather vs Maidana 2
At Tuesday’s press conference for “Mayhem: Mayweather vs. Maidana 2” the two gentlemen in the co-main event Leo Santa Cruz (l) and Manuel Roman (r) accompanied by two Corona hostesses, posed for photos. Photo: Esther Lin/Showtime
Las Vegas, Sept. 9, 2014
The Mayweather vs. Maidana 2 fight week is officially here and all the fighters for this Showtime PPV show made their grand arrival at the jam packed lobby of the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino this afternoon.
Attached are some quotes from the headliners on this 10 bout fight card:
Floyd Mayweather Jr. (46-0-0, 26 KOs) vs. Marcos Rene Maidana (35-4-0, 31 KOs)
Floyd Mayweather Jr. holds court. Photo: Stephanie Trapp/Mayweather Promotions
Floyd Mayweather Jr. must have the biggest bodyguards on the planet. Photo: Stephanie Trapp/Mayweather Promotions
Marcos Maidana, the most fashionable fighter on Saturday night’s fight card, arrives in a limo. Photos: Esther Lin/Showtime
Floyd Mayweather Jr. 11-time, five-division World Champion: “It’s all about excitement. Saturday is about giving the fans what they want to see. It could be round one or round 13, but it’s all about the fans. I’m pretty sure Maidana is going for the knockout. I’m going for the knockout so this is going to be an amazing show. I have a brilliant game plan and we’ll see how it plays out Saturday.”
Marcos Maidana, former Welterweight World Champion: “It feels great to be back here. I’m planning on winning on Saturday and I’d like to dedicate my future victory to all my fans out there, especially to all my Latino fans. I have 12 more rounds to finish the job, that’s what I’m here for. I’m well prepared and ready to show that Mayweather isn’t all that everyone thinks he is.
“When I first analyzed Mayweather, I thought he would be too fast to hit. But that wasn’t the case during the fight, I was able to hit him and keep him against the ropes and I plan on doing the same thing again. I’m definitely going to look for the knockout like I always do but I will take the victory any way I can.”
They were all smiles today, but they won’t be on Saturday night. Leo Santa Cruz (l) and Manuel Roman (r) face off for the benefit of the many photographers. All photos: Esther Lin/Showtime
In the co-feature, Leo Santa Cruz (27-0-1, 15 KOs) vs. Manuel Roman (17-2-3, 6 KOs), both boxers are righties, both are 26 years-old and both have local ties.
Santa Cruz, from Rosemead, CA by way of Huetamo, Michoacán de Ocampo, Mexico has sparred with local boxers from San Diego’s House of Boxing while Roman from Paramount, CA by way of Tijuana, B. C., Mexico has fought locally at Salon Las Pulgas (3 times), at El Foro Theatre in Tijuana (3 times), at the Del Mar Fairgrounds (twice) and once at the Sycuan Resort & Casino in El Cajon, CA. Jorge Marron of Lakeside, CA is part of his management team.
Leo Santa Cruz gets a warm reception from the crowd. Photo: Esther Lin/Showtime
Leo “Teremoto” Santa Cruz, the more experienced of the two, is a two-division World Champion who has fought and defeated 20 fighters with a winning record. He has a record of 7-0 (3 KOs) in World Title fights and a record of 5-0 (4 KOs) versus current or former world champions.
Santa Cruz: “I know Roman is a great fighter and he throws good punches. I can’t look past him and we had one of the hardest camps I’ve had and are very ready. Fighters like Roman are dangerous. They come with everything and sometimes they surprise you. We don’t underestimate anybody and we always come ready. We train harder and for longer and with more routines than ever.
“I know Roman boxes very well and has good defense. It might be hard to knock him out but we train very hard to stop him before the 12th round. Hopefully, we get the victory and we can fight Rigondeaux and make that happen. If not, hopefully Frampton or Scott Quigg.”
Manuel Roman was unaccustomed to all the fanfare. Photo: Esther Lin/Showtime
Roman tried his best to accommodate the many fight fans. Photo: Esther Lin/Showtime
Local favorite here in San Diego, Manuel “Suavecito” Roman, is in the Co-Main Event on this prestigious fight card. Roman, the USA California State Bantamweight Title holder has two losses. On August 24, 2012 Randy Caballero got the best of him winning by an unanimous decision (Roman was knocked down once in round two) and he also lost a split decision back on April 8, 2009 to flyweight Anthony Villarreal. After fighting 15 boxers with a winning record, Roman’s record versus those fighters is 10-2-3.
Roman: “We’re here to try to disappoint Leo Santa Cruz on Saturday. I’ve been working out very hard three times a day and also focusing on strength and conditioning. Nothing worries me. I know myself, I’m ready. He’s just a great fighter who throws a lot of punches, but I’m a better boxer.
“I’ve known Leo for a while, we used to train together and that builds my confidence up. I’m a great counter-puncher and he’s a slugger and I think that works to my advantage.”
On Saturday night, Miguel Vazquez (l) of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico will be defending his lightweight title against Mickey Bey (r) from Cleveland, Ohio.
Lightweights Miguel “Titere” Vazquez (34-3-0, 13 KOs) from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico vs. Mickey Bey (20-1-1, 10 KOs) from Cleveland, Ohio for the IBF Lightweight Title
Miguel Vazquez, the current IBF Lightweight World Champion has lost to only two gents, both decision losses, twice to Saul Alvarez and once to Timothy Bradley. In his fifth defense, back on December 8, 2012, Vazquez defeated San Diego’s Mercito Gesta.
Vazquez: “I’m very happy and excited to be on such a big important card and I’m ready to get the win. I’m the champion and this is my night. I’m here to win and they will have to take it from me. I don’t care who I fight, I’m going to win. I’m motivated because I know all the Mexicans are here to support me and it’s going to be a great fight.”
Mickey Bey: “I take each fight one at a time, that’s how boxing is. Even once this huge fight is over, I’m focusing on my next fight the following day. Boxing is fight to fight and you must be focused for every opponent; each fighter is its own experience.
“The preparation for this fight has been night and day different than from my loss [against John Molina Jr.]. The stuff that Floyd Mayweather Sr. had me doing was crazy. Floyd Sr. has trained plenty of champions and comes from the Ray Robinson and Joe Louis school of training.
“Training for a championship fight is different than training for any fight I’ve had in the past. You have everything at your disposal, including numerous sparring partners. I probably sparred with eight different fighters for this camp.
“I just need to do what I’ve been doing in the gym. If I fight the way I’ve been looking in the gym, then Miguel Vazquez won’t have a chance against me. Honestly, I think I’m better than him at everything. He’s a smart good fighter but he can’t match anything that I can do. He has experience, but none of his wins have been impressive. I have more speed, power and defense.”
Alfredo “Perro” Angulo (l) and his opponent on Saturday night, James De La Rosa pose for photos at the MGM Grand Hotel & casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photos: Esther Lin/Showtime
Alfredo “Perro” Angulo (22-4-0, 18 KOs) vs. James De La Rosa (22-2-0, 13 KOs)
The 32 year-old Alfredo Angulo, a former Olympian (Athens, 2004), former Intercontinental and Interim WBO Light Middleweight and WBC Continental Americas champ is from Coachella, CA by way of Mexicali, B. C., Mexico. His three TKO losses were to Saul Alvarez, Erislandy Lara and James Kirkland.
Angulo: “I am ready to be back in the ring and I am happy to see all these people and to be back in Las Vegas.
“It’s a very important and dangerous fight for me. De La Rosa is a good fighter but I will fight anybody they put in front of me.
“I’m going to stay focused on this fight. It’s one fight at a time. I’m focused on Saturday and then we’ll see what comes after.”
The 26 year-old James “The King” De La Rosa is from San Benito, Texas. He has lost two of his last four bouts.
De La Rosa: “I feel really good and ready to put on a show Saturday night. It’s really important for me to boost back up my career and get back to where I want to be. There’s no pressure on me at all. I’m just going to go up there and give him his third straight loss.
“Training camp is going very well. This fight could not have come at any better time. There are a lot of things that I can do to pull off the upset. His style is slow so I just need to have the higher output. He’s there to get hit.”
Humberto Soto (64-8-2, 35 KOs) the former three Division (Featherweight, Super Featherweight and Lightweight) Champion with a record of 9-1 (3 KOs) in World Title fights, will face John Molina Jr. (27-4-0, 22 KOs).
Humberto Soto (r), the former three Division World Champion will face John Molina Jr. (l) on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Hotel. Photo: Esther Lin/Showtime
Born in Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico, the 34 year-old Soto now lives in Tijuana, Mexico. His last loss, a fifth round stoppage was back on June 23, 2012 to Lucas Martin Matthysse. Since then, he has won six straight.
Soto: “I’m very happy to return to Las Vegas and to represent Mexico here. I’m calm and relaxed because of my preparation. I’m always the underdog but I end up winning.
“Like all true Mexicans we always fight with our heart and give our all. I’m going to do my part and make sure all the fans get a great fight.”
In Molina’s last fight on April 26 of this year, he was knocked out in round 11 by Lucas Martin Matthysse. Over the last six bouts, Molina, who is trained by Joe Goossen, has a record of 3-3.
John Molina Jr.: “I’m looking forward to going out there and giving the fans a great show. It’s a beautiful feeling to be here and I’ll never let my fans down. Come Saturday night you will see another great fight. Soto demands my undivided attention. I think the fans already know that me and Lucas Matthysse have to do it again.”
“Mayhem: Mayweather vs. Maidana 2,” a 12-round world championship bout for Mayweather’s WBA Welterweight Belt and WBC Welterweight and Super Welterweight World Titles takes place Saturday, September 13 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas and is promoted by Mayweather Promotions, Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona Extra, O’Reilly Auto Parts and “The Equalizer” in theaters September 26 and Mexico – Live it to Believe It!
The event will be produced and distributed live by Showtime PPV (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT) and is the fourth fight of a six-fight deal between Mayweather and Showtime Networks Inc. In the co-main event, Leo Santa Cruz defends his WBC Super Bantamweight Title against Manuel Roman in a 12-round bout and Miguel Vazquez faces Mickey Bey in a 12-round bout for the IBF Lightweight World Championship.
In the pay-per-view opener, Alfredo Angulo faces James De La Rosa in a 10-round middleweight bout (162 lbs.). The event will also be available in Spanish via secondary audio programming (SAP).
Showtime will also televise Humberto Soto against John Molina Jr. in their 10-round junior welterweight bout (7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, preceding the live pay per view event).The above boxers will be filling out the fight card which has 10 fights scheduled. Photos: Esther Lin/Showtime
The remaining gents are also on Saturday’s fight card, a fight card that has a total of 10 bouts scheduled. Esther Lin/Showtime
Finally, for the true boxing fan, who will be there from start to finish, here’s a look at the rest of the undercard.
Andrew Omotunde “The Beast” Tabiti (7-0, 7 KOs).
Undefeated and coming off an impressive TKO victory on August 30, 24 year-old Andrew Omotunde “The Beast” Tabiti (7-0, 7 KOs) of Las Vegas by way of Chicago, Illinois, who stands 6’1” tall, is another of the rising stars in the Mayweather Promotions’ stable. Tabiti looks to remain undefeated after facing 33 year-old Lake Odessa, Michigan’s Caleb Grummet (4-3-1, 3 KOs) in a six-round cruiserweight match.
An undefeated prospect in the welterweight division, Buenos Aires, Argentina’s Damian Alejandro “El Pana” Sosa (8-0, 6 KOs) will be looking for his third win of 2014 when he faces the Nogales, Mexico native Armando Lopes (4-3, 1 KO) Nogales, Mexico who is making his pro-debut in a six-round bout.
Adding to the Argentine-heavy card is Jose Leon Suarez, Buenos Aires, Argentina’s 22 year-old Fabian Andres “TNT” Maidana (2-0, 1 KO). The younger brother of Marcos Maidana, who is also trained by Robert Garcia, will be looking to get his third victory when he takes on 34 year-old Springfield, Illinois’ Jared Teer (2-2) in a four-round welterweight bout.
Another of Mayweather Promotions’ signees, Junior Benjamin, who fights out of LasVegas by way of London, had beenscheduled to make his professional debut against 21 year-old Alimkhan Jumakhonov (0-0-1) of Reseda, Los Angeles, CA by way of Tajikstan in a four-round super middleweight bout, but that match was cancelled on Friday.
Also under the Mayweather Promotions’ banner is the 6’1” Kevin “The Second Coming” Newman II of Las Vegas. Under the tutelage of Jeff Mayweather since he was nine-years-old, Newman will be fighting Azamat Umarzoda (0-5-1) of Dushananbe, TAJ in a four-round super middleweight bout to open up this stacked fight card.
