NEW YORK (Sept. 26, 2007) – If the saying “styles make fights” holds any truth, then Don King Productions has found the perfect replacement opponent for World Boxing Council (WBC) Light Heavyweight Champion Chad Dawson in hard-hitting Epifanio Mendoza (28-4-1, 24 KOs)..
Mendoza, who opened his professional career with 16 consecutive knockouts, likely will give the younger Dawson (24-0, one NC, 16 KOs) fits when the two tangle Saturday, Sept. 29, on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). Mendoza, of Barranquilla, Colombia, replaces Adrian Diaconu, who was forced to withdraw when he injured his right hand during sparring.
In the co-feature, International Boxing Federation (IBF) Bantamweight Champion Luis Perez will defend his crown for the first time when he squares off against IBF No. 15 contender Joseph Agbeko. Don King Productions will present the championship doubleheader
Both world championships will be televised on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING during the premium network’s Free Preview Weekend (live at 10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast). From Friday, Sept. 28 through Monday, Oct. 1, the premium network will be available in approximately 54 million homes nationwide, providing an opportunity for many non-subscribers to experience all of the hard-hitting sports and acclaimed original programming on SHOWTIME.
Tickets to see the event in person priced at $30, $50, $75, $100 and $250 are on sale now and can be purchased most easily by calling TicketMaster Charge-By-Phone at (916) 649-TIXS or by visiting www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets are also available at the ARCO Arena Box Office and at all Sacramento-area TicketMaster outlets.
“I don’t back down from anyone” said Mendoza, who is trained by Roberto “Chavo” Duran, son of Hall of Famer Roberto Duran, and managed by Tony Gonzalez. “I have an entertaining style because I always apply continuous pressure on my opponent.”
Due to Mendoza’s fiery fighting style, his matches rarely go the distance. He will have to manage his punches because Dawson has built a reputation as a well-conditioned athlete who doesn’t tire in the later rounds.
“My camp is aware of how Dawson likes to fight,” said Mendoza, who will spend the days leading up to the showdown training at the Miami Fight Gym. “He likes to move around a lot. We will have something different for him on Sept. 29.”
Interestingly, Mendoza was preparing for a different title shot (against WBA Super Middleweight Champion Anthony Mundine) just weeks prior to receiving the call to fight Dawson.
To help prepare for the Mundine fight, Mendoza sparred against fellow countrymen Alejandro Berrio, the International Boxing Federation (IBF) 168-pound world titleholder
“Mundine suffered an eye injury and that fight was scrapped,” Mendoza said. “Then, I got the call for this fight on Monday, Sept. 17, and I couldn’t turn it down. Sometimes in boxing, fights have a weird way of working themselves out. I’ll be ready and hungry to fight on Sept. 29.”
SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING’s Steve Albert and Al Bernstein will call the action from ringside with Jim Gray and Karyn Bryant serving as roving reporters. The executive producer of the SHOWTIME telecast will be David Dinkins Jr., with Bob Dunphy directing and Ray Smaltz producing.
For information on SHOWTIME Sports Programming, including exclusive behind-the-scenes video and photo galleries, complete telecast information and more, please go the new SHOWTIME Sports website at http://www.sho.com/sports.
About Showtime Networks Inc.
Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME® TOO™, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILYZONE® and TMC XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL HD™, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND™ and THE MOVIE CHANNEL ON DEMAND™. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI is also an owner and manager of SUNDANCE CHANNEL, a venture of NBC Universal, Robert Redford and SNI. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME® PPV
About Don King Productions
Don King Productions has promoted over 500 world championship fights with nearly 100 individual boxers having been paid $1 million or more. DKP also holds the distinction of having promoted or co-promoted seven of the 10 largest pay-per-view events in history, as gauged by total buys, including three of the top five: Holyfield vs. Tyson II, 1.99 million buys, June 1997; Tyson vs. Holyfield I, 1.6 million buys, November 1996; and Tyson vs. McNeeley, 1.58 million buys, August 1995.
DKP has promoted or co-promoted 11 of the top 15 highest-grossing live gates in the history of the state of Nevada including four of the top five: Holyfield vs. Lewis II, paid attendance: 17,078, gross: $16,860,300 (NOTE: Also second-highest live-gate gross for any event in the history of the world.), date: Nov. 13, 1999; Holyfield vs. Tyson II, paid attendance: 16,279, gross: $14,277,200, date: June 28, 1997; Holyfield vs. Tyson I, paid attendance: 16,103, gross: $14,150,700, date: Nov. 9, 1996; and Tyson vs. McNeeley, paid attendance: 16,113, gross: $13,965,600, date: Aug. 19, 1995.
About Maloof Sports & Entertainment
Maloof Sports & Entertainment includes the Sacramento Kings (NBA), Sacramento Monarchs (WNBA) and ARCO Arena. Led by Joe and Gavin Maloof and owned by the Maloof family with a group of long-term partners, the organization is committed to the community in Sacramento and to making a positive, meaningful difference in the lives of families in need and at risk in the Sacramento region. For more information about Maloof Sports & Entertainment, please visit kings.com, sacramentomonarchs.com and arcoarena.com or call 916-928-0000.