News: Abner Mares; Robinson vs Solomon; Karim Mayfield

LOS ANGELES, November 25 – A top ten contender in the ratings of all four major sanctioning bodies, bantamweight star Abner Mares is gearing up for his first world title shot in 2010 and on Tuesday, signed a new promotional contract with Golden Boy Promotions for five years, continuing the relationship that has led him to near the top of the boxing world. “Golden Boy Promotions is like a family to me and I’ve felt that way ever since I signed with them and now I’m ready for my shot at a world title,” said Mares, a 2004 Olympian for Mexico who signed his new contract at the Golden Boy Promotions offices in Los Angeles yesterday afternoon..

“It’s been a great journey watching Abner go from raw prospect to legitimate contender over the last few years and I can’t wait to see him take the next step and win a world title,” said Oscar de la Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions. “The plan for now is to put him in a WBC world title elimination bout in early 2010 and then it’s off to a world championship bout.”

“Golden Boy and Abner have been a spectacular team over the years and we’re going to keep that streak going,” said Frank Espinoza, Mares’ manager. “The saying goes, ‘if it’s not broke, don’t fix it’, and that’s the way we feel. This is a winning combination and we’re very happy to extend Abner’s contract with the Golden Boy team.”

The 23-year old Mares (19-0, 12 KO’s) is currently ranked second in the world by the WBC, third by the IBF, fourth by the WBO and sixth by the WBA. In his last bout, on August 27, Mares knocked out Carlos Fulgencio in the sixth round.

FORMER AMATEUR STANDOUTS NOW PRO PROSPECTS: ROBINSON AND SOLOMON PUT UNDEFEATED RECORDS ON THE LINE AT HUSTLER BOXING

It is rare in boxing when you see two prospects at such an early stage of their career put their undefeated records on the line against on another. But on December 3rd, on Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing premiere installment of his new collaborative series “Hustler Boxing” with Larry Flynt’s Hustler Club-NYC, you will see just that when Star Boxing’s “The New” Ray Robinson (11-0, 4KO) takes on Brad Solomon (8-0, 3KO) in a must see welterweight showdown between two unbeaten, up and coming prospects. The bout is scheduled for six rounds in the welterweight division and is one of the co-feature bouts of the evening. “Huster Boxing” will take place in the Grand Ballroom at New York City’s famous Manhattan Center, and will be broadcast live on the nationally televised Versus Network.

“Anytime you have two unbeaten prospects matched up against one another at this stage of their careers you know you are in for a special treat,” stated Joe DeGuardia, CEO and founder of Star Boxing. “Both Ray and Solomon had very good amateur backgrounds and are now progressing right along through their respective professional careers. They are both very hungry, very determined, and neither of them knows how to lose. A win, against an unbeaten prospect, on a nationally televised broadcast, will do wonders for either guy’s career. With all of that on the line, you can’t expect anything less than a great fight.”

The 23-year-old Philadelphian native Robinson had an exceptional amateur career, which resulted in him boxing on the U.S. National Team, as well as being ranked the third top light welterweight in the entire nation. As a pro Robinson has been equally impressive. At close to six feet tall, the rangy southpaw Robinson is a gifted boxer with tremendous hand speed. In February of this year, Robinson scored his most impressive victory to date, a third round TKO over previously unbeaten Darnell Jiles, on ESPN2’s “Friday Night Fights”.

“This is a huge fight for me at this stage of my career, but I couldn’t be more confident of the outcome,” stated Robinson. “I have had a tremendous training camp, and I am ready to go. I am excited to be part of this great card on December 3rd at the Manhattan Center, and am looking forward to putting on a great performance for all those in attendance and all those watching at home on Versus.”

The 26-year-old Solomon is a three-time National Golden Gloves Champion. Solomon won the welterweight title in 2005, and light welterweight titles in both 2006 and 2007. In 2007 Solomon made it all the way to the semifinals at the United States Amateur Championships, beating fellow unbeaten pro prospect Danny Garcia (now 14- 0, 9KO) in the process.

This VIP evening of boxing and entertainment, hosted by various celebrities, will feature special entertainment and top boxing. Larry Flynt’s Hustler Honeys will serve as ring card girls, hostesses at all VIP dinner tables and will be entertaining late into the evening at the official after-fight-party to be held at the Hustler Club 641 W. 51st street in Manhattan.

KARIM “HARD HITTA” MAYFIELD REMAINS UNDEFEATED

November 24, 2009 San Francisco, CA – This past Saturday in Oakland CA, on the undercard of the Super Six World Boxing Classic featuring Mikkel Kessler vs Andre Ward, undefeated welterweight prospect, Karim “Hard Hitta” Mayfield (11-0-1, 7 KO’s) continued his winning ways, scoring an impressive fifth round TKO over Francisco Santana (11-2, 5 KO’s). Both fighters squared off in March of 2008, with Karim winning a close split decision.

This time around, Mayfield made it more decisive and showed much improvement showing the fans in attendance that he is the superior fighter as he landed his signature overhand right while using his quick feet to avoid damage.

In the early rounds both fighters were feeling each other out but it was evident that Karim was landing the more powerful blows. As the fight progressed, Mayfield started to get in the zone as he found a home for his overhand right.

In the fifth, Karim rocked Santana with shots to the head and body forcing the Santa Barbra native to take a knee. Santana got up and Karim ended the contest with a flurry punches. The time was 2:27 of round five.

“I wanted to show everyone that I’m the real deal,” said Mayfield. “It was a great feeling to have thousands of fans cheering for me. I want to thank Sugar Shane Mosley for letting me train with him and the Garcia’s as well as management team, for making it possible for me to go to big bear to get in boss condition. I also want to thank my coach, Ben Bautista, for sharpening my tools and helping me put together a game plan to execute. To all my sparring partners at SFC Boxing Gym, thank you, and I thank Andre Ward and Dan Goossen in association with Antonio Lennard for bringing a great show to the Bay Area. I’m ready to take my career to the next level. I want to move up in the rankings and hopefully compete for a world title and become a world champion.”