ERIK MORALES, Five-Time and Three Division World Champion
“When we were first talking about this fight, we were talking about an opponent who wasn’t easy, but not as difficult as Lucas Matthysse.
“I have seen a lot of comments on Facebook…people saying I am crazy, and I want to confirm that I am crazy. I am crazy about what I do.
“This is a sport that I participate in with a lot of love and a lot of heart. People question me, but I know that I love to fight and I want to fight. I will be ready September 17. The Mexicans can have a great party and celebrate when I am victorious.
“This is my second fight in the United States since I came back and I am going to win.
“I am very excited to be here and to be boxing again. I was away for two and a half years, but I had a lot of desire to do great things again.
“In April I had a tough fight against Marcos Maidana. A lot of reporters doubted me, but I made it very clear that I am back and can still accomplish great things.
“Everyone can see how I have advanced in the last year. Little by little I am back at the level at which I expected to be. I am very happy with where I am and where I need to be for this fight.
“I am going to do whatever I have to do to win.
“This fight is going to be for the fans and a lot of my fans will be traveling from Tijuana to Las Vegas.
“We’re going to be ready on September 17. I’ll fight for the Mexican people and be champion again.”
JESSIE VARGAS, Undefeated Super Lightweight Contender
“I am definitely excited and will take full advantage of this opportunity. It’s a pleasure and an honor to be on the same card as Floyd Mayweather and Erik Morales.
“I feel that I am ready for this big stage. I had two quick knockouts in my last two fights, but the preparation was there. I was ready for 10 rounds.
“I have a new trainer and I’m very happy with the work we have put in. There will be a difference in my style for the better.
“I expect a great fight from Lopez. We could definitely steal the show. We are both coming to fight.
“Watching Floyd [Mayweather] train is something to be admired. He trains like a fighter who is just coming up. The fact that I have been able to be in the gym with him has helped me because I want to train like that. I am not as slick as him, but I have definitely added some of his tools to my belt.
“This is a great opportunity that has been given to me at 22 years of age and I’m going to take advantage of it. I will definitely come to fight.”
JOSESITO LOPEZ, #8 Rated WBC Super Lightweight Contender
“I am thrilled, ready and focused for my fight against Jesse Vargas.
“I’m excited for the opportunity to showcase my talent on HBO Pay Per View.
“Vargas is a good fighter, but I know that I am the better fighter with more drive. Come fight night, everyone will know it.
“Whenever you put fighters like me and Jessie in the ring, you are going to have a great fight on your hands because it will be two fighters at the top of our game getting it on.
“I have to prove once again that I am ready to be at the top of my weight class. It’s a tough position to be in, but if you are mentally strong, it can be the best position to be in.”
LEONARD ELLERBE, CEO of Mayweather Promotions
“I have been around boxing for 30 years and I cannot remember a card that is as tremendous as this one. From top to bottom, this card is stacked with great fights.
“I think the fans are truly in for a great night of boxing.
“Behind every great young fighter there is someone who has been with them from day one and for Jessie Vargas that has been his father Jose.
“In our [Mayweather Promotions’] eyes, Jessie Vargas is the best young fighter in all of boxing. September 17 will be his coming out party.
“Jessie has been part of the Mayweather Promotions family every since he was a young kid. We have taken him under our wing for a number of years.
“I am personally very proud of him for his accomplishments thus far. Come September 17, all of you will see what Jessie Vargas is capable of.”
RICHARD SCHAEFER, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions
“Today we are here to announce the two fights that will round out this amazing card. Two young prospects in Jessie Vargas vs. Josesito Lopez and of course one of the most famous Mexican fighters in the history of the sport, the legendary Erik Morales who will face Lucas Matthysse. Matthysse is as hungry to bring that belt back to his homeland of Argentina just as Erik Morales is to take it back to Mexico.
“Erik Morales does not take and does not need to take any hand outs.
“When Barrios was not available and Lucas Matthysse became available, I think that it became evident that this was never about Morales getting a title handed to him. It was about earning his titles and if someone has earned his titles the hard way, it is Erik Morales.
“Erik Morales is truly the definition of a modern day gladiator.
“Morales’ resume is second to none. He will become the first Mexican to win a world championship in four weight divisions and make history.
“When the fight is over on September 17, we will have a new world champion and it is going to be Erik ‘El Terrible’ Morales.
“September 17 is going to be the Super Bowl, the World Series, game seven of the NBA Finals, the last lap of the Indianapolis 500, whatever sport that can help you put this into perspective, that is what September 17 is for boxing.
“The fact is, this is as good as it gets.”
CARLOS MERA, Director of Operations of Box Latino Promotions (Morales’ Promotional Company)
“As a company we are proud to be working with Golden Boy Promotions on this event.
“Morales is going for a championship in a fourth weight class.
“This is going to be a great event and a great fight.”
KEN THOMPSON, President of Thompson Boxing Promotions (Lopez’ Co-Promoter)
“This is overall best fight card I have seen in years.
“It’s an opportunity for sports fans everywhere to get together with their families and friends and enjoy a great night of fights.
“This card features eight of the greatest fighters in the sport today.
“Josesito Lopez is one of the youngest, sharpest, fastest, most exciting fighters in the world.”
ROBERT ALCAZAR, Vargas’ Trainer
“I want to thank the people who made this fight possible and I want to thank the fighters’ families.
“Jose Lopez is a good fighter. He is considered one of the top fighters in the weight class by most of the sanctioning bodies, but Jessie is ready. Jessie is an excellent fighter. In my opinion, that is what is going to be the difference in this fight…a good fighter against an excellent fighter.
“In my opinion, Jessie Vargas is going to be the big champion we are waiting for in boxing. This fight will open doors for him.
“I have big expectations for this kid. I believe in him. I believe in his family. I believe we are going to have a great fight.”
# # #
“STAR POWER” is a mega-event taking place on Saturday, Sept. 17 from two world-class cities with three world titles at stake. Floyd Mayweather and Victor Ortiz will face off in a 12-round fight for Ortiz’s WBC Welterweight World Title from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. Canelo Alvarez and Alfonso Gomez will do battle in a 12-round fight for Alvarez’s WBC Super Welterweight World Title from STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, Calif. Also live in Las Vegas, will be Erik Morales vs. Lucas Matthysse in a 12 round fight for the vacant WBC Super Lightweight World Title and an opening fight featuring undefeated rising star Jessie Vargas against top contender Josesito Lopez. The mega event is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, DeWALT Tools and AT&T. Alvarez vs. Gomez is presented in association with Canelo Promotions and Morales vs. Matthysse is presented in association with Box Latino Promotions and Arano Box Promotions. “STAR POWER: Mayweather vs. Ortiz” will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.
Tickets for Mayweather vs. Ortiz are priced at $1,250, $1,000, $600, $300 and $150, not including applicable service charges, with a total ticket limit of twelve (12) per person. Ticket sales are limited to ten (10) per person at the $1,250, $1,000, $600 and $300 price levels with a ticket limit of two (2) per person at the $150 price level.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
The MGM Grand Garden Arena is home to concerts, championship boxing and premier sporting and special events. The Arena offers comfortable seating for as many as 16,800 with excellent sightlines and state-of-the-art acoustics, lighting and sound. Prominent events to date have included world championship fights between Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson, Oscar de la Hoya vs. Floyd Mayweather and George Foreman vs. Michael Moorer, as well as concerts by The Rolling Stones, Madonna, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Bette Midler, George Strait, Janet Jackson, Phil Collins, Billy Joel, U2, ‘N Sync, Sting, Coldplay, Alicia Keys, Jimmy Buffett and the Barbra Streisand Millennium Concert. The MGM Grand Garden Arena also is home to the annual Academy of Country Music Awards and the Frozen Fury NHL pre-season game which features the Los Angeles Kings vs. Colorado Avalanche.
HBO®’s Emmy® Award-winning all-access series “24/7” premieres an all-new edition when “24/7 Mayweather/Ortiz” debuts Saturday, Aug. 27 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT. The four-part series will air for three consecutive Saturday nights before the finale airs the night before the welterweight championship showdown in Las Vegas.