Fibroso
08-07-2015, 01:04 PM
Orlando Salido meets 'Rocky' Martinez again on Mayweather-Berto cardBoxing
Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer
Pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather's welterweight title defense against Andre be, announced on Tuesday, is the main attraction, but Mayweather Promotions also announced two of the undercard fights that will appear on the Sept. 12 Showtime PPV telecast (8 p.m. ET) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Junior lightweight titlist Roman "Rocky" Martinez (29-2-2, 17 KOs), 32, of Puerto Rico, will meet former titlist Orlando Salido (42-13-2, 29 KOs), 34, of Mexico, in a rematch of their April 11 slugfest. Salido traveled to Puerto Rico for that fight and lost a competitive decision and his 130-pound title in a fight-of-the-year candidate.
"We are ready and working hard to make sure this title remains in Puerto Rico," Martinez said. "Everyone saw the first fight against Orlando Salido, and I know that this second bout will also be a war. Once again we have the rivalry between Puerto Rico and Mexico, which guarantees plenty of action."
Said Salido, who will be the crowd favorite on Mexican Independence Day weekend, "I'm excited for the rematch with Rocky Martinez. The first fight in Puerto Rico did not go my way. I got off to a slow start and had to fight two fights -- one against the referee and one against Rocky Martinez. On Sept. 12, I am going to take matters into my own hands and look to knock out Rocky to get my world title belt back. Mexico and Puerto Rico have had a great rivalry over the years, and this September you will see me bring the belt home to Mexico, where it belongs."
In another world title fight on the card, super middleweight titlist Badou Jack (19-1-1, 12 KOs) will make his first defense against mandatory challenger George Groves (21-2, 16 KOs), 27, of England. Jack, 31, won his title in a mild upset of Anthony Dirrell, scoring a majority decision to win the 168-pound belt on April 24. A Sweden native, Jack lives in Las Vegas, where he trains with Mayweather,
"I'm very excited, and I'm preparing for the toughest fight of my career against George Groves," Jack said. "I always go into a fight with an underdog mentality, even as champion. It feels great to be defending in my adopted hometown of Las Vegas. My promoter, Floyd Mayweather, has had my back during the ups and downs of my career, and I want to make him and the whole Mayweather Promotions team proud on Sept. 12."
Groves has won two fights in a row since being stopped in back-to-back world title bouts against countryman Carl Froch.
"I have been fortunate enough to experience some of the greatest feelings the sport can give," Groves said. "I have challenged for world titles, and I have sold out stadiums, but my true childhood dream of winning a world title is yet to be fulfilled. I get that chance on the Las Vegas Strip -- the crème de la crème for any fighter on the planet. I cannot wait to achieve my goal and become world champion.
"Badou Jack isn't 'bad' enough to halt my dream," he said. "His WBC belt is all that is on my mind each and every waking moment. We have studied Jack. We are prepared for his strengths and ready to expose his weaknesses. Vegas is my second home, and I can't wait to come back with a bang."
Jack-Groves was originally scheduled to headline an Aug. 22 Showtime-televised card in Las Vegas before being shifted to Mayweather's undercard.
Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe said a "very exciting" fourth fight is still in the works for the card.
Also on the undercard, according to Ellerbe, Ishe Smith (27-7,12 KOs), 37, of Las Vegas, a former junior middleweight titlist and Mayweather protégé, will face contender Vanes Martirosyan (35-2-1, 21 KOs), 29, of Glendale, California. The fight that will air on Showtime during the network's pre-pay-per-view telecast.
Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer
Pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather's welterweight title defense against Andre be, announced on Tuesday, is the main attraction, but Mayweather Promotions also announced two of the undercard fights that will appear on the Sept. 12 Showtime PPV telecast (8 p.m. ET) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Junior lightweight titlist Roman "Rocky" Martinez (29-2-2, 17 KOs), 32, of Puerto Rico, will meet former titlist Orlando Salido (42-13-2, 29 KOs), 34, of Mexico, in a rematch of their April 11 slugfest. Salido traveled to Puerto Rico for that fight and lost a competitive decision and his 130-pound title in a fight-of-the-year candidate.
"We are ready and working hard to make sure this title remains in Puerto Rico," Martinez said. "Everyone saw the first fight against Orlando Salido, and I know that this second bout will also be a war. Once again we have the rivalry between Puerto Rico and Mexico, which guarantees plenty of action."
Said Salido, who will be the crowd favorite on Mexican Independence Day weekend, "I'm excited for the rematch with Rocky Martinez. The first fight in Puerto Rico did not go my way. I got off to a slow start and had to fight two fights -- one against the referee and one against Rocky Martinez. On Sept. 12, I am going to take matters into my own hands and look to knock out Rocky to get my world title belt back. Mexico and Puerto Rico have had a great rivalry over the years, and this September you will see me bring the belt home to Mexico, where it belongs."
In another world title fight on the card, super middleweight titlist Badou Jack (19-1-1, 12 KOs) will make his first defense against mandatory challenger George Groves (21-2, 16 KOs), 27, of England. Jack, 31, won his title in a mild upset of Anthony Dirrell, scoring a majority decision to win the 168-pound belt on April 24. A Sweden native, Jack lives in Las Vegas, where he trains with Mayweather,
"I'm very excited, and I'm preparing for the toughest fight of my career against George Groves," Jack said. "I always go into a fight with an underdog mentality, even as champion. It feels great to be defending in my adopted hometown of Las Vegas. My promoter, Floyd Mayweather, has had my back during the ups and downs of my career, and I want to make him and the whole Mayweather Promotions team proud on Sept. 12."
Groves has won two fights in a row since being stopped in back-to-back world title bouts against countryman Carl Froch.
"I have been fortunate enough to experience some of the greatest feelings the sport can give," Groves said. "I have challenged for world titles, and I have sold out stadiums, but my true childhood dream of winning a world title is yet to be fulfilled. I get that chance on the Las Vegas Strip -- the crème de la crème for any fighter on the planet. I cannot wait to achieve my goal and become world champion.
"Badou Jack isn't 'bad' enough to halt my dream," he said. "His WBC belt is all that is on my mind each and every waking moment. We have studied Jack. We are prepared for his strengths and ready to expose his weaknesses. Vegas is my second home, and I can't wait to come back with a bang."
Jack-Groves was originally scheduled to headline an Aug. 22 Showtime-televised card in Las Vegas before being shifted to Mayweather's undercard.
Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe said a "very exciting" fourth fight is still in the works for the card.
Also on the undercard, according to Ellerbe, Ishe Smith (27-7,12 KOs), 37, of Las Vegas, a former junior middleweight titlist and Mayweather protégé, will face contender Vanes Martirosyan (35-2-1, 21 KOs), 29, of Glendale, California. The fight that will air on Showtime during the network's pre-pay-per-view telecast.