Marcos Maidana vs. Josesito Lopez, a 12-round fight for Maidana's WBA Intercontinental Championship will take place on Saturday, June 8 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. The event is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, sponsored by Corona and AT&T and will be televised live on SHOWTIMECHAMPIONSHIP BOXING beginning at 10p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. Also featured will be a 12-round super welterweight showdown between all-action warrior Alfredo "El Perro" Angulo and number one rated WBC super welterweight contender Erislandy Lara. SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is available in Spanish on secondary audio programming (SAP). Maidana vs. Lopez is presented in association with Goossen Tutor Promotions and Thompson Boxing Promotions. Preliminary fights will air on SHOWTIME Extreme at 8 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

MOSCOW, Russia—World Boxing Association cruiserweight champion Denis Lebedev (25-1, 19 KOs), from Chekhov, Russia, and WBA cruiserweight champion in recess Guillermo “El Felino” Jones (38-3-2, 30 KOs), from Colon, Panama, are set to meet on May 17 at Crocus City Hall in Moscow, Russia. Co-promoter Don King has invited Russian President Vladimir Putin and Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli to attend the event.

“I have invited the leaders of Russia and Panama to attend our big boxing event in Moscow on May 17 as the world champions in the main event hail from these great countries,” King said. “Sports can transcend boundaries and bring us together, so what better way to exemplify that than to have these great leaders on the scene supporting their countrymen.”

The event will take place in the beautiful 7,000-seat Crocus City Hall and has been dubbed “Fight For Peace, The One Will Stand.”

“It’s to Russia with love and understanding, a sports extravaganza to bring people together for peace, democracy and freedom. President Putin said, ‘Nobody and nothing will stop Russia on the road to strengthening democracy and ensuring human rights and freedoms,’ and I support him in his quest to make a better Russia for the Russian people.”

Salita Doesn't Want to Retire, Hopes to Face Bracero

Last month, Dmitriy Salita was quoted in Haaertz as saying, "Physically, I feel great, but the business and inconsistency of the sport has me seriously thinking about doing something else." The former world title challenger recently clarified his comments, telling The Jewish Boxing Blog, "I do not want to retire from the ring. However, I have a family and that is my first focus. Boxing is my job!"

Salita has made a yeoman's effort to step up the competition in recent years, but it's been all for not. Former world champion Mike Anchondo backed out of a fight with Salita twice, once in December of 2010 and again the following spring. Salita signed a contract to face Ismael El-Massoudi sometime late in 2011 or early in 2012, but El Massoudi pulled out. Next, Salita called out beltholder Paulie Malignaggi. Malignaggi said he'd love to fight Dmitiry, but then went in another direction.

Most recently, Salita was scheduled to take on Hector Camacho Jr. The fight was initially postponed due to an injury incurred by one of the main event fighters and then was bizarrely cancelled. Salita explained that, after the fight was inexplicably shelved by Golden Boy Promotions, "Post-cancellation we tried to do the Camacho fight ourselves, but he did not want to take it."

Salita added, "We sold loads of tickets for Camacho fight that we had to return post-cancellation. I did get a lot of frustrated long time fans that did not understand why my fight got cancelled. I hope that it does not damage my relationship with my fans and supporters."

Dmitriy has now turned his sights to another Brooklynite, Gabriel Bracero (22-1, 4 KOs). Salita hopes the fight will be televised by Showtime and will take place on June 22 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. For his part, Bracero announced on Twitter, "I love the idea."

Salita concluded, "At this level of my career, I need the network and promoter to want to make these step up fights... My friends in the boxing world tell me that logically it does not make sense that I do not get good opportunities, especially in New York City, the world's biggest Jewish metropolis. My record and fan support should make things easy, but they are very hard. I honestly feel that I have been getting second class treatment. It's very frustrating as you can imagine."

Salita vs. Bracero would be an interesting fight with a lot of local appeal, although it might be relegated to Showtime Extreme, unfortunately. The winner should vault himself into contention to fight another name opponent at welterweight, possibly on the main Showtime channel. Hopefully, the fight gets made; both men deserve it.

DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla.—Emerging lightweight boxer Bahodir “Baha” Mamadjonov traveled to Don King’s office in South Florida today to sign a long-term promotional agreement with the legendary promoter. 

A heralded amateur with over 200 fights, Mamadjonov won several championships fighting out of his native Uzbekistan before moving to Houston two years ago to turn professional under the guidance of trainer Ken Richardson.  He has fought often and risen rapidly as evidenced by his record: 13-1 with nine knockouts.

“Signing with Don King brings me closer to my goal of winning a world championship,” Mamadjonov said.  “That is what drives me every day.  I want to win a world title for my family and the people of Uzbekistan who always believed in me.”

Key to Mamadjonov’s success has been a fearlessness and work ethic that has allowed the 25-year-old to take fights on short notice that less industrious fighters would have missed.  His trainer said some have gone as far as criticizing him for moving his fighter along too fast.

“My belief is that if a boxer is prepared and stays in training year-round, he can and should be ready to fight at all times,” Richardson said.  “Baha is passionate about the sport and wants to fight as often as he can.”

Mamadjonov’s rapid rise began when his first six fights took place in less than six months.  That was in 2011. He fought six more times in 2012. 

Richardson further tempted fate by accepting four key fights for Mamadjonov in the last 16 months on notice varying from two weeks down to three days.

Archie Ray Marquez was 12-1 before facing Mamadjonov on Nov. 10, 2011, and Michael Clark was 42-6 going in against the Uzbeki on March 1, 2012.  Mamadjonov won both fights by decision, serving notice he would be a force to be reckoned with.

Undefeated Darley Perez was to have met Michael Katsidis last August, but Katsidis pulled out two weeks before the fight with a knee injury.  Mamadjonov took the fight and dominated until round five when an accidental clash of heads resulted in blurred vision in his left eye. 

After suffering a flash knockdown in round eight, Mamadjonov still almost won the fight, which went to Perez by split decision after 10 rounds.

Another undefeated and touted lightweight, Angelo Santana, lost his opponent on April 12 just one week before the match. Mamadjonov willingly accepted the challenge and made the most of the opportunity.

After suffering a flash knockdown from a Santana jab in round 2, Mamadjonov took control of the fight. After six rounds, the three judges had the fight scored even at 66 apiece. 

In a pivotal round eight, Mamadjonov battered Santana unmercifully along the ropes before he crumbled to the mat.  The Cuban made it to round nine, but Mamadjonov floored him twice more before the referee halted the contest.

“I hit Santana with a body shot in the seventh round and I heard him groan so I tried to stop him,” Mamadjonov said.  “In the eighth round, I said to myself, ‘Baha, you must stop him now.’  “Don’t forget, I took the fight on short notice and had to lose a lot of weight quickly.  There was no time for me to waste.”

Promoter Don King loves what he has seen from his newest fighter.

“I am extremely pleased and proud to have Baha with me,” King said.  “I expect great things from this young man because he’s dedicated and committed to becoming a world champion.  He took the fight with Santana on almost no notice and stopped a great lightweight.

“Baha reveres industrialist Alisher Usmanov from his native Uzbekistan and he wants to bring a world title back home for him and the people of Uzbekistan.”

Mamadjonov risked everything to come to the United States to pursue his dream of winning a world title.

“When you see me fight ferociously it’s because I want to achieve great things,” Mamadjonov said.  “I want a world title more than anything I have ever dreamed of in my life.”

Mamadjonov is proud to be represented by King.

“Don King is a superstar in my country,” Mamadjonov said.  “Just the fact I was meeting with him in his office today was news in Uzbekistan.  I can’t wait to tell everyone back home he is now my promoter.

Trainer-manager Richardson echoed the feelings of his fighter.

“Don always took my calls when I was looking for a promoter,” Richardson said, “and I never forget that.  When fate brought us together for the Santana fight, I was reminded that Don is a world promoter.  I’ve always said that if you are or want to be a world champion boxer, Don King is the guy you want to be with.”

Chicago, IL, Thursday, May 9, 2013--This week "Hitz Boxing," the online actuality show produced by Bobby Hitz and Frankie "Hollywood" Rodriguez, has surpassed 5 million cumulative views on YouTube, since it launched in August of last year. The show, which gives viewers behind the scenes access to Hitz's life as a boxing promoter, stars him, Rodriguez and Renee Tedesco, who serves as the chief operating officer of the boxing operation. Episodes can be found on YouTube or hitzboxing.com.

"When we started this show last year I knew that it could attract a decent following, but we had no idea it would be as successful as it is," said Hitz. "This show is not about boxing, its about the lives of the people who work in this industry. Its great sharing our stories."

Hitz and Rodriguez call "Hitz Boxing" an "actuality show" as opposed to a reality show because its not staged like many reality shows. Whether its following the cast around on fight night and on other boxing related business or spending personal time with them at birthday parties or school plays, "Hitz Boxing" gives the viewers full access. After 17 episodes the show is averaging just over 300,000 views per installment.

"This is a peak into the lives of normal people who working in an industry they love and are trying to make a living like everyone else. That is why it is so popular," said Rodriguez. "The world of boxing is chaotic and fun. Its like 'Rocky' meets 'Jersey Shore.'"

In addition to Hitz, Rodriguez and Tedesco, viewers meet numerous consultants, managers, commissioners, trainers, ring card girls, sponsors and boxers including Frank Scalise, Dimar Ortuz, Mike "Hollywood" Jimenez and Simon Buettner.

Since its debut in 1991, Hitz Boxing has been the Midwest's leading boxing promoter. Led by Bobby Hitz, who boasted a 21-4 record with 18 KO's as a boxer, Hitz Boxing is the longest running boxing promoter in the Chicago area dating back to the bi-monthly boxing series the "Ramada Rumble," held at the former Rosemont Ramada Inn. The organization currently promotes the wildly popular "Fight Night at the Horseshoe" at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, IN and is the subject of "Hitz Boxing," a reality show airing on YouTube which has amassed over 3 million views. Over the years the organization has produced matches that have included some of the top names in boxing such as James Toney, Antonio Tarver, Montell Griffin, Iran Barkley, Andrew Golota and "Fast" Fres Oquendo.

When I was growing up, Harold Johnson, the Hall-of-Fame light-heavyweight champ from Philadelphia, was my boyhood idol. So much so that when I would get my hair cut, I had it cut so
short my head looked like a dirty tennis ball. Friends at Lower Merion High School would call out: “There goes Peltz with his Harold Johnson haircut.”

The 1963 night the Las Vegas judges robbed Johnson of his world title on a 15-round split decision against Willie Pastrano was one of my worst. I remember storming out of my friend’s house, heading home and being in a funk for weeks. When I ran into the one kid in school who thought Pastrano deserved the verdict, my only response was: “Are you Italian?” He was.

Jack McKinney, as good a boxing writer who ever walked this planet, wrote in the Philadelphia Daily News a less-then-flattering story about the fight. It seemed as if McKinney also thought Pastrano won. At the time, McKinney had a nightly talk show on WCAU radio and I called in, arguing with him. I never forgot what he told me: “Russell, I never said Pastrano won the fight. What I said was that because it was not one of Harold’s better nights, the fight was close enough to steal.”

Close enough to steal!I never forgot that line because that’s how I felt Saturday night, back in Las Vegas, when middleweight Gabriel Rosado was judged a 10-round split-decision loser to unbeaten J’Leon Love. Scores were 95-94 Rosado, 95-94 Love and 97-92 for Love, a scorecard from judge Herb Santos, who should be suspended for six months and required to pass the same ophthalmological exam Nevada requires of its boxers.

Among the things I talked about in the dressing room prior to the fight was that Rosado should jump on Love from the first bell. Love had been fed a steady diet of no-hope opposition and I thought the more battle-tested Rosado should put so much pressure on Love early that Love would start asking himself: “Why am I in here?” The last thing I said before going to my seat was that if the fight goes the limit, we won’t get the decision. This was Las Vegas, backyard of the “in crowd” and we were going against a fighter controlled by the “in crowd” and we were not going to get any favors. Rosado told me not to worry because, he said, it wasn’t going 10 rounds.

Then the fight started and my worst fears were realized. Far from jumping on Love, Rosado was pawing at him with a range-finder left jab, spending precious minutes without any real offense. When things got only slightly better in the next two rounds, I went over to Rosado’s corner and yelled at his trainer, Billy Briscoe, imploring him to get Rosado to be more aggressive and rough Love up on the inside. Billy said that’s what he was doing but Rosado was not responding. In the meantime, Love was probably thinking that this fight isn’t so tough after all.

Ironic, isn’t it, that nearly one year ago, when Mike Jones was fighting the same way in the same ring against Randall Bailey, Rosado had texted me during the fourth round, wondering why Jones had not stepped up the pace.

I thought Rosado won at least one of the first five rounds. Actually, I thought he won two of them, but again, this was Las Vegas. In many of those early rounds, nothing much happened and those were the rounds given to Love. Things changed late in round six when Rosado dropped Love in the waning seconds, but took his foot off the pedal in the seventh and let Love back into the fight.

Rosado took over after that, hurting Love on several occasions, but failing to close the show. Two judges, Glen Trowbridge and Dave Moretti, had it even after nine rounds. Trowbridge gave the 10^thto Rosado; Moretti gave it to Love, another strange call. That was the deciding factor since judge Herb Santos was in another solar system.

I had it 95-94 Rosado. People say there were a lot of close rounds. So what? Professional judges are paid to decipher who wins close rounds. If every round was one-sided, any fan in the audience could be a judge. If the Phillies beat the Mets 2-1, they get as much credit as when they win 10-1.

As usual, Rosado showed class in his post-fight interview, but he was distraught in the dressing room, surrounded by his father and two cousins who worked the corner. I sat there listening to their complaints—justified as they were—but couldn’t help but think about Jack McKinney’s “close enough to steal”line.

“What did I tell you before we left the dressing room?” I asked Rosado. “I told you we weren’t going to get the decision.”

“I know, Russell,” he said, “but I still deserved to win.”

“You did,” I said, “but it was close enough to steal and they stole it,”

Judging professional boxing is not rocket science.Rosado landed the harder punches, scored the only knockdown of the fight and finished stronger. The rounds he won were much more dominant than the rounds Love won.

Love says he will give Rosado a rematch. Sure, and I have a bridge in Brooklyn I’d like to sell you. If boxing were a sport, that would happen. But boxing is a business, not a sport. It ceased being a sport in the 1980s when many promoters decided that forging relationships with TV executives who liked a particular fighter of theirs was more important than pleasing fans with competitive matches. That’s why you often seen televised fights in 10,000-seat arenas where 9,000 fans show up disguised as empty seats (An old line, but an appropriate one).

My fighter, Mike Jones, was judged the winner over Jesus Soto-Karass nearly three years ago in Cowboys Stadium in Texas. Moments after Jones was given an unpopular decision, I went to Soto-Karass’ dressing room and asked trainer Joe Goossen for a rematch. I may be one of the few promoters on the winning side to ask the loser for a second chance. HBO liked the idea and bought the fight and Jones proved his superiority the second time around. Let’s see if Love and Showtime are up for it!

In the meantime, I had decided before the fight Saturday that if Rosado won, I would wear home his black souvenir T-shirt with his picture on it.

When I woke up Sunday morning and got dressed to go to the airport, I looked at that T-shirt and proudly put it on.

Guillermo 'El Chacal' Rigondeaux is looking forward to defending his
super WBA and WBO 122 pound world titles in September. Rigondeaux is
hoping that his promoters Top Rank and Caribe Promotions can make a
fight with Golden Boy's WBC 126 pound champion Abner Mares. Golden Boy,
according to the Nevada Athletic Commission, only paid Mares $350,000
for Mares' victory over Ponce de Leon on the undercard of Mayweather/
Guerrero.

"It was an easy night's work beating the 2012 fighter of the year
Nonito Donaire on April 13th but beating Mares will be even easier,"
said Rigondeaux. "I have already beaten Mares in the Pan American
Games by a wide points margin of 17-7 but with the headgear off and these small
gloves I will knock him out. However, if he wants to step up to the
big time he should take this challenge. I'm sure my promoters can
make financially it worthwhile for him and for Golden Boy. Of
course, if he simply wants to be an undercard fighter and not rise to
this challenge, that is his right but all will know then that he is
afraid to fight me."

LAS VEGAS (May 3, 2013) - The six fighters who will compete on the pay-per-view undercard portion of "MAY DAY: Mayweather vs. Guerrero" this Saturday, May 4 on SHOWTIME PPV from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. participated in their final press conference on Thursday in front of a packed media center at MGM Grand.

Undefeated Eight-Time and Five-Division World Champion Floyd "Money" Mayweather (43-0, 26 KO's), of Grand Rapids, Mich., defends his WBC Welterweight World Championship against Six-Time and Four-Division Champion Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero (31-1-1, 18 KO's), of Gilroy, Calif., in a 12-round bout that will also be for the vacant RING Magazine World Championship in the eagerly awaited main event.

On a stacked undercard preceding Mayweather vs. Guerrero on pay-per-view, Daniel "Ponce" De Leon (44-4, 35 KO's), of Cuauhtemoc, Mex., risks his WBC World Featherweight World Championship against Two-Division World Champion Abner Mares (25-0-1, 13 KO's) of Guadalajara, Mexico; Leo Santa Cruz (23-0-1, 13 KO's), of Los Angeles, opposes Alexander Munoz (36-4, 28 KOs), of Caracas, Ven., in a 10-round bout for the vacant USBA Junior Featherweight Championship; and J'Leon Love (15-0, 8 KOs), of Las Vegas, faces Gabriel Rosado (21-6, 13 KOs), of Philadelphia, in a 10-round fight for the vacant NABF Middleweight Championship.

See below what the fighters and executives said Thursday:

PONCE DE LEON, WBC Featherweight Champion

"First of all I want to thank God, Frank Espinoza, my manager, Golden Boy, Mayweather Promotions, MGM, SHOWTIME, my team and everyone involved for making this fight possible.

"This is going to be a great fight. I'm very prepared. I've fought many times at MGM. Everyone wants to see a battle and that's what I'm ready for. Don't miss it."

ABNER MARES

"I want to thank Golden Boy, Mayweather Promotions and SHOWTIME. My last five or six fights have been on SHOWTIME. People know me because of SHOWTIME. What can I tell you; this fight alone is a main event so, really, you have two main events on one card. It's going to be a tremendous fight.

"I want to thank Ponce for this opportunity. You guys know me.I'm ready. I'll fight anyone as long as we give fans a good fight, I'm with it.

"I've dedicated this fight to my dad, who suffered a stroke a month ago.

"I've trained hard and I'm ready. I actually added something to my training; I call it Mexican judo: 'ju' don't know if I'm going to box and 'ju' don't know if I'm going slug, but 'ju' know I'm going to win."

LEO SANTA CRUZ

"First of all I want to give thanks to Golden Boy, Richard (Schaefer), Mayweather Promotions and especially Al Haymon, my manager. Ever since I signed with him, everything changed for me. He has helped me a lot and is always there for me.

"Thanks to him, I was able to get my mom her first house. I owe it all to him and I'm going to repay him by giving him my best. I'm going to show the world who Leo Santa Cruz is.

"I'm very excited to be on this undercard. I know Munoz is an extremely strong fighter who comes forward. I've trained hard and worked hard. It's going to be a war and I'm going to try and finish him before the 10^th round."

ALEXANDER MUNOZ

"I'd like to thank all of you for being here. They've put together a very good fight. We know Santa Cruz is tough. I'm prepared for this and I want to make all the fans in Venezuela proud.

"I'm excited about this fight and this opportunity."

J'LEON LOVE

"I want to thank everyone involved for this opportunity...Al Haymon, my fight team and Mayweather Promotions. This will be a good fight. We have much love for Team Rosado. There is no bad blood.

"Both of us have a lot to prove. He came up a little short in his last fight, but he's a tough guy. A lot of people are also saying this is a big step up for me, but I'm a fighter and this is what I do.

"It's going to be a very good fight. We're going to both put it on the line, but I will be victorious."

GABRIEL ROSADO

"I want to thank God, Golden Boy Promotions and Mayweather Promotions for making this fight happen. I'm excited for this opportunity. I fell a little short in my shot at a world title, but I got a taste of the big stage.

"I don't think he has the experience I have and I'm hungry and determined.I had a great camp and I'm prepared to leave it all in the ring.

"I expect to have a lot of Philadelphia fans on hand here. I can't wait to open the show and give the fans a great fight."

LEONARD ELLERBE, CEO of Mayweather Promotions

"On behalf of Mayweather Promotions, we would like to thank you all for coming out. We have a great main event and a great undercard.Ponce De Leon-Mares is a main event in itself. We have what fans want to see...a strong lineup of fights.

"In the first fight on pay-per-view we have two guys who will put it all on the line. J'Leon Love told me he wanted this fight, that he wanted to fight Rosado and then asked if I could go out and make it. I said 'sure.' Personally, I think this is a tremendous fight to open the show."

OSCAR DE LA HOYA, President of Golden Boy Promotions

"What's better on Cinco de Mayo weekend than 'MAY DAY?' This is the week for boxing. Mayweather is back with a vengeance, facing a very difficult, tough, young, hungry Robert "The Ghost'' Guerrero. The main event is a highlight but the undercard is just as important.

"Match Mares against Ponce and you've got a real fight, a war. Mares is a smart guy, intelligent with great boxing skills and a big heart who goes forward with a passion. He's fighting a guy, Ponce, the champion, who is known for his punching power and is ready for the fight of his life.Neither guy wants to hear this, but I can see a trilogy.

"We have a tremendous fight with Leo Santa Cruz, who when we think of him, we instantly think about action, excitement and fighting with passion against Munoz, who a lot of people don't know, but who's here to win. I'm really looking forward to this one. There'll be guaranteed action and fireworks.

"In my eyes, the first fight on pay-per-view is another interesting match, one you don't want to miss, between Love and Rosado. Both have an opportunity to seize. It's there for both of them."

STEPHEN ESPINOZA, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports

"When we, Richard, Oscar, Floyd, Al and Leonard, first started talking about this event, we immediately came to the conclusion that a world-class main event deserved a world-class undercard, and that's what we put together.These aren't filler fights. These aren't no-name fighters.These are 'name' fighters in tough, meaningful fights. Top to bottom, this is the highest-quality undercard for any event I can remember.

"I'm extremely excited and extremely proud to be involved with these three fights. I'm especially proud because several of the fighters have been groomed and developed on SHOWTIME. J'Leon Love was featured twice on SHOWTIME EXTREME, Leo Santa Cruz actually hit the trifecta last year: he fought on SHOWTIME EXTREME, SHOWTIME and CBS and Abner Mares has fought on SHOWTIME his whole career and is a staple of the network.

"The weigh-in on Friday will be televised live on CBS Sports Network and SHOWTIME. Also, for the first time in recent history there will be a live post-fight show, thanks to CBS Sports Network, on Saturday night.We are pulling out all the stops with the newest technology.There will be 16 cameras, the most ever used in the history of network.

"As you can tell, I'm very excited. See you on Saturday."

LAS VEGAS, May 3 - Just a day away from the Saturday, May 4 showdown between Eight-Time and Five Division World Champion Floyd "Money" Mayweather and Six-Time and Four-Division Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero, FOX Deportes will wrap up fight week with back-to-back classic fights and an "ALL ACCESS" look into the biggest event of 2013.

On Friday, May 3, the Classics will showcase memorable wins by both Mayweather and Guerrero. Guerrero's battle against all-action warrior Michael Katsidis which took place on April 9, 2011 will open the telecast and Mayweather's thrilling knockout over then undefeated British superstar Ricky Hatton, which took place in December 8, 2007. The Classics telecast will begin at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT.

Finally, on fight day, Saturday, May 4, all four episodes of SHOWTIME's critically acclaimed documentary series ALL ACCESS will be aired in succession beginning at7:00pm ET/4:00 p.m. PT, leading fight fans right into the "MAY DAY: Mayweather vs. Guerrero" live event which will be produced and distributed by SHOWTIME PPV.

Eye of the Tiger Management is pleased to confirm receipt of official letter from the WBC president, Mr. Jose Sulaiman, ordering a heavyweight title bout between current champion Vitali Klitschko and our own Bermane Stiverne. The WBC will allow free negotiations until Monday June 3^rd. If by then no agreement is reached between the parties, the WBC will conduct a purse offer on Monday June 3, 2013 at the WBC Executive Offices in Mexico City.