LAS VEGAS, September 13 – The “Knockout Kings” featured fighters are ready to put on a spectacular show at the MGM Grand Garden Arena this Saturday, but before the epic SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING quadruple-header begins at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT, there will be two preliminary bouts, with coverage on SHOWTIME EXTREME at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT, and two additional fights to begin the night in the arena.
The SHOWTIME EXTREME telecast will include a junior featherweight bout scheduled for eight rounds featuring 19-year-old phenom Andrés “Jaguarcito” Gutierrez (22-0-1, 19 KO’s) of Guadalajara against Cataño, Puerto Rico’s Carlos Valcarcel (12-5-4, 5 KO’s). The current IBF International Junior Featherweight and WBC CABOFE Super Bantamweight Champion, Gutierrez’s last seven wins have come by way of knockout. He will seek to keep that streak going when he makes his long-awaited United States debut on Saturday night.
Coachella, California’s Francisco “El Bandido” Vargas (14-0, 7 KO’s) looks to put on a performance to remember in his Las Vegas debut on SHOWTIME EXTREME (time permitting) this weekend when he faces Houston Texas’ Victor Sanchez (3-3-1) in a junior lightweight bout. A native of Mexico City, Vargas represented his country in the 2008 Olympics and has carried his amateur success into the pro game. He is 4-0 in 2012 with the 27-year-old most recently stopping Irving Torres in a single round in July.
Chetumal, Mexico’s Sergio “Yeyo” Thompson (22-2, 20 KO’s) will also introduce himself to American fans this weekend when he meets Guayama, Puerto Rico’s Carlos Claudio (15-8-3, 8 KO’s) in an eight round junior lightweight match-up. Thompson is riding a nine-fight winning streak that includes eight knockouts and a second round finish of former World Champion Jorge Linares in March. Claudio, a 24-year-old southpaw, has won five of his last six bouts.
Opening up this star-studded event will be highly regarded 20-year-old super welterweight Eddie Gomez (9-0, 7 KO’s) facing Quinton Whitaker (9-9, 5 KO’s) of San Antonio, Texas. A native of Bronx, New York, Gomez seeks out his third victory of 2012 in an eight round bout against.
“Knockout Kings,” headlined by Canelo Alvarez defending his WBC Super Welterweight World Championship against breakout star Josesito Lopez, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Canelo Promotions in association with Goossen Tutor Promotions and Thompson Boxing Promotions and sponsored by Corona, DeWalt Tools, AT&T and O’Reilly Auto Parts. In the co-featured attractions, WBC Featherweight World Champion Jhonny Gonzalez defends his crown against former World Champion Daniel Ponce De Leon in fight presented in association with Promociones Del Pueblo, former World Champion Marcos Maidana faces perennial contender Jesus Soto Karass in a 12-round fight for the vacant WBA Intercontinental Welterweight Title presented in association with Universum Box-Promotion and Leo Santa Cruz defends his IBF Bantamweight World Championship against former Two-Time World Champion Eric Morel. The Saturday, Sept. 15 quadruple-header, packed with Mexican pride and power, will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be televised live on SHOWTIME Saturday, Sept. 15 at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT with preliminary fights to air live on SHOWTIME EXTREME® at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT.
Tickets priced starting at $25, not including applicable service charges and taxes, are on sale now. Ticket sales are limited to 10 per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.