CANCUN, Mexico—Promoter Don King is pulling out the stops on Saturday to make sure the first heavyweight championship ever staged in Mexico is a star-studded affair. He announced today that boxing legends Larry “The Easton Assassin” Holmes, Ken Norton, Gerry Cooney, Thomas “Hitman” Hearns, Roberto “Hands of Stone” Duran and Saoul Mamby will all join him ringside when World Boxing Council heavyweight champion Oleg Maskaev squares off with WBC interim heavyweight champion Samuel “The Nigerian Nightmare” Peter on Saturday night at Plaza de Toros in Cancun, Mexico..
“I love Mexico and I love the Mexican people so it’s only fitting that some of biggest names in the sport of boxing are here to witness history in Cancun,” King said. “Mexico has contributed some of the best boxers ever to our sport but a world heavyweight championship has never been decided here.
“Cancun has fully recovered from the devastation of hurricane Wilma in 2005 and is now a better-than-ever First Class resort destination capable of hosting an event of this magnitude.”
King and his posse of ring legends will also take in a second world championship when undefeated World Boxing Association, International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Organization lightweight champion Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz takes on IBF No. 1-ranked mandatory challenger Nate “Galaxxy Warrior” Campbell.
Former two-time world champion Jose Luis Castillo will meet undefeated No. 1 contender Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley in a WBC super lightweight elimination bout, and former two-time WBA heavyweight champion John “The Quietman” Ruiz is in a WBC qualification bout opposing Jameel “Big Time” McCline.
Tickets priced at $1,000, 500, $300, $150, $100, $70, $50 and $10 are on sale at all Ticketmaster outlets including www.ticketmaster.com or by calling Ticketmaster in Mexico at +5255 5325 9000.
Both fights will be televised live in America on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 9:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. PT. “History in Cancun” is being promoted by Don King Productions in association with Duva Boxing, Pepe Gomez Promotions and One Punch Productions.
King also praised the governor of Quintana Roo, the state inside Mexico that Cancun is located in.
“Quintana Roo Governor Felix Gonzalez Canto is a visionary and a true representative of his people,” King said. “Without his help and guidance, Mexico would not be hosting its first heavyweight championship on Saturday