A fan-friendly, action-packed fight card highlighted by three important 12-round bouts which is presented by Golden Boy Promotions on Saturday, June 8, live on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT) from The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., was formally announced by Golden Boy Promotions President Oscar De La Hoya today at La Fonda Restaurant in Los Angeles.
In what should be a slugfest in the main event, hard-hitting, former WBA Super Lightweight World Champion and current No. 2 rated WBA welterweight contender Marcos “El Chino” Maidana (33-3, 30 KO’s), of Santa Fe, Argentina will defend his WBA Intercontinental Welterweight Championship against tough-as-nails upset-minded Josesito Lopez (30-5, 18 KO’s) of Riverside, Calif.
In co-featured 12-round fights, top-rated super welterweight contenders Alfredo “El Perro” Angulo (22-2, 18 KO’s), of Los Angeles by way of Mexicali, Mexico and Erislandy Lara (17-1-2, 11 KO’s), of Houston by way of Guantanamo, Cuba square off while and Demetrius “The Gladiator” Hopkins (33-2-1, 13 KO’s), of Philadelphia takes on promising, undefeated Jermell “Iron Man” Charlo (20-0, 10 KO’s), of Houston, Texas, for Hopkins’ USBA Junior Middleweight Championship and Charlo’s WBC Continental Americas Super Welterweight Championship.
MARCOS MAIDANA
“I know Josesito is a great fighter. I know he likes to stand and trade and fight. That’s what I do and that’s why it’s going to be such an exciting fight.
“My plan is to go toe-to-toe. I don’t know what Josesito is going to do, but that’s what I plan to do. Pressure is the key to the fight.
“I’m feeling great. I’ve been in Oxnard, California for over a month already. I love training there. The weather is great and it’s where my coach (Robert Garcia) is. It’s going to be a great fight and I’m going to defend the honor of Argentina.
“The 147-pound division is where I feel best. I didn’t feel that way at 140. Now I’m free and I can eat more. My body is different and you can see the definition.”
JOSESITO LOPEZ
“When you’re fighting a heavy puncher like Maidana, you have to be smart. The move up to 154 pounds helped me now that I’m back at 147. Now I feel I’m a true welterweight. I feel great in the gym; stronger and faster.
“I’m so excited about this fight and I’m the one receiving the punches. I can only imagine how excited the fans are. Years ago before I was at this level I thought, ‘Man, this would be an exciting fight. I would love to get in there and bang with him.’ Now we’re here. It’s a hell of a match-up. It could be the fight of the year.
“This is a fight I have to win. It’s a fight that keeps me on the map. This is where I want to be and I’m working my ass off.
“He’s a strong puncher and I like to think I have a little punch myself. In the ring I just have to be smart whether it’s defense on the inside or boxing on the outside. I have to be the smarter fighter and whatever works that’s what I’m going to have to do.
“We have to be smart and shoot our jab. We have to pick our spots and not let him. He’s an inside fighter and he likes to bang. Well, I like to bang too. I’ve got to be in a position where I want to be, not where he wants me to be.”
ALFREDO “EL PERRO” ANGULO
“This is my third fight after my time off and conditioning-wise I’m feeling like my old self, feeling like I used to feel. There’s no doubt I’ll be in better condition than I was for my last two fights. There was just too much time off. Now, I’m in a rhythm.
“It’s going to be a very good fight, the bull versus the matador. I have a lot of respect for Lara. He’s a really good fighter and he wants to show he’s the best, but he’s going to have to come out and fight.
“He may think he’s just going to box, but he’s going to fight.”
ERISLANDY LARA
“There’s always a lot at stake when I fight, so I know I can’t look ahead or take Angulo for granted. He is my total focus now. After I win on June 8; I can start thinking about a world title shot again.
“Angulo is a good fighter. I give him a lot of credit. He always comes to fight. I’ve worked very hard and am preparing for the best Angulo possible.
“The fact that I’m favored to win means nothing. Once the bell rings, it doesn’t matter what the odds are. It’s what you do in the ring that counts.
“Style-wise this is a perfect fight for me because Angulo likes to come forward. It’s the classic boxer versus the puncher. I expect to put on a boxing clinic, so you can expect a smart fight from me.
“Obviously, the most important thing is for me to win, but I want to put on a great show for all the fans.”
OSCAR DE LA HOYA
“We should have called this ‘High Stakes’ because you have the welterweight division where you have Floyd Mayweather. The winner between Marcos Maidana and Josesito Lopez automatically puts himself in line and at the front door knocking to fight the very best.
“This is how important this event is. This is high stakes here for everyone on this card. Saturday, June 8 will be explosive, that’s for sure.
“What’s most exciting for Alfredo Angulo’s team is that he’s just now putting everything together and really learning the craft of boxing under Virgil Hunter. It’s going to be very exciting to see him fight such an incredible fighter like Erislandy Lara.
“Stephen Espinoza (Executive Vice President and General Manager of SHOWTIME SPORTS) has now taken SHOWTIME to a whole new level. This is the home of boxing and it will continue to be the home of boxing for many years to come.”
KEN THOMPSON, Josesito’s Lopez’ Co-Promoter
“Here we go again…one more time in L.A. and in every city thanks to SHOWTIME. We have the best fighter in the world in Josesito Lopez, the ‘Riverside Rocky.’
“When Josesito and Marcos Maidana enter the ring for the main event on June 8, no judges will be needed. This fight will end with one great fighter laying in the middle of the ring, while the other great fighter will be standing and getting his hand raised in victory and that fighter is the ‘Riverside Rocky,’ Josesito Lopez.”
LUIS DECUBAS JR., Erislandy Lara’s Manager
“This is going to be a great fight. We’re happy to be on such a great card. Erislandy is ready. He knows he is in with a very tough, aggressive fighter.
“Angulo is a hungry and determined fighter, but so is Erislandy. We’re excited about fighting on June 8.”
ROBERT GARCIA, Marcos Maidana’s Trainer
“We’re training hard for this fight and we know what type of fight we have in front of us. We cannot take this fight lightly.
“We’ve gotten some great sparring in for this fight and I know Josesito and his coach have done the same. We’re actually pretty good friends with Henry (Ramirez). We just know this is a fight that fans are really going to enjoy.
“We know both fighters’ styles and we know this could turn out to be one of the best fights of the year. As everyone who has seen the last few of Maidana’s fights knows, he is starting to use his jab a little more and using a little more footwork, in and out, so we’re going to fight smart. I know this will be end up in a war and whoever is the best conditioned has the best chance to win.
“I fought most of my fights on SHOWTIME so I’m just so happy to be part of SHOWTIME again.”
HENRY RAMIREZ, Josesito Lopez’s Trainer
“Josesito has been living with me at my place the last few weeks. He wanted to do it and it was his idea. This way there are no distractions. Just eat, sleep and think boxing. It’s been working out great.
“The return to 147 pounds will do him a lot of good. I think the time off will do him a lot of good, too, but we didn’t really plan to be off this long.
“This fight, Josesito and Maidana, is a Fight of the Year candidate. Robert Garcia and I are good friends, but this is a sport and I know he has been preparing Maidana like I’ve been preparing Josesito.
“This will be a terrific fight.”
VIRGIL HUNTER, Alfredo Angulo’s Trainer
“I want to thank SHOWTIME and Golden Boy. This is going to be a great fight. We have great respect for Lara, who’s a great Cuban fighter, but we know what a big chance this is for us.
“I believe Angulo has been judged a little harshly; after all, he has only had two fights after spending nine months in detention. That’s tough for a fighter to be away that long. His first comeback fight lasted a minute. The last fight, he went 12 strong rounds and closed the show. He’ll be even better on June 8.
“I don’t think the styles will make a difference. The winner will be who wants it more. I expect Alfredo to hit another level. He’s prepared and excited to fight Lara.
“Don’t miss it. Tell a friend.”
