On Saturday, May 9 former three-division world champion Humberto “La Zorrita” Soto of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico, will take on one of boxing’s most prized prospects, East Los Angeles native, Frankie “Pitbull” Gomez as the televised co-main event of the highly anticipated Canelo vs. Kirkland at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas.The super lightweight 10-round bout will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.
“The addition of Frankie ‘Pitbull’ Gomez and Humberto ‘La Zorrita’ Soto as the co-main event for Canelo vs. Kirkland further adds to the excitement and fireworks we are going to see in the ring on May 9 at Minute Maid Park in Houston,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Founder and President of Golden Boy Promotions. “The undefeated Gomez will be put to the test May 9 against the seasoned Soto, and I’m sure the fans won’t forget this war in the ring.”
“This fight is a classic tale between an experienced fighter and a young fighter,” said Humberto Soto. “Gomez, is a young, hungry fighter with a future ahead of him. He comes into the fight full of energy and the desire to create his own legacy in the world of boxing, and this makes him dangerous. I understand because I used to be in that position dreaming of one day becoming a world champion. Now, it’s my turn to be the fighter with the experience and maturity and I am prepared to take on a fighter like Gomez, a fight that will be exciting and explosive and one that I would like to dedicate to all the fans in Mexico!”
“I’m grateful to Golden Boy Promotions and HBO for giving me the opportunity to fight on the best network for boxing,” said Frankie Gomez. “It’s an honor to be chosen as the co-main event on the Canelo-Kirkland televised card. I know it’s going to be a tough fight against Humberto Soto; he is a ranked former world champion and is always prepared to fight. Come fight night, I will be at my best and will prove that I am a feared contender in the division.”
A respected boxer from Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico, Humberto “La Zorrita” Soto (65-8-2, 35 KOs) has seen and done it all in the ring in his 18-year professional career. A former three-division world champion, Soto is a dangerous and hungry contender set on adding another title belt in his trophy case. Soto has won tough fights against Juan Carlos Abreu, giving Abreu his first loss and hard-hitting contender John Molina Jr. Undefeated since 2012, Soto is ranked number six in the world by the WBC, the fifth by the IBF and seventh by the WBO. The 34-year-old is on track for glory once more when he faces Frankie Gomez on May 9.
A stellar amateur who won the 2009 United States Championship and earned a silver medal in the 2009 World Championships, East Los Angeles’ Frankie “Pitbull” Gomez (18-0, 13 KOs) has impressed every step of the way since then. Owner of 12 knockouts in three rounds or less, Gomez can also box when he wants to, as shown in his near-shutout victory over longtime contender Vernon Paris last July. Now stepping up for his biggest challenge yet, Gomez, who is ranked eighth in the world by the IBF, knows that he can make the move into the title picture with a victory over Humberto Soto. Gomez is under the tutelage of multiple winner “Trainer of the Year” and International Boxing Hall of Famer, Freddie Roach.
Tickets priced at $350, $150, $100, $50, $25 and $10, plus applicable fees and service charges, and are on sale now and available for purchase at the Minute Maid Park Box Office (Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.) all Ticketmaster outlets, by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000, online at www.ticketmaster.com. There is a 19-ticket limit per household.
Canelo Alvarez vs. James Kirkland is a 12-round super welterweight bout presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Canelo Promotions, SMS Promotions and Leija*Battah Promotions. The fight will take place Saturday, May 9 at Minute Maid Park in Houston Texas and is sponsored by Corona Extra, Mexico – Live it to Believe it!, Fred Loya Insurance and O’Reilly Auto Parts. Doors open at 2:00 p.m. CT and first bout starts at 2:10 p.m. CT, the HBO World Championship Boxing telecast begins at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.
An all-new edition of 24/7 Alvarez/Kirkland debuts Tuesday, May 5 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO.
