Six Questions With Vincent Arroyo: ShoBox, This Friday LIVE on SHOWTIME at 11 p.m. ET/PT; Mayfield-Lopez on Ocotber 1

NEW YORK (Sept. 8, 2011) – Give Vincent “Vinsanity” Arroyo (11-1, 7 KOs) a brutally cold Buffalo winter day to train and he’s as happy as can be. The 24-year-old explained why and answered other questions just days before his 10-round welterweight fight against Hector “El Flaco” Sanchez (19-1, 9 KOs) on ShoBox: The New Generation, Friday, Sept. 9 LIVE on SHOWTIME® (11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).

Question: What’s the coldest weather you’ve ever run outdoors in during a Buffalo winter?

Arroyo: “Oh, man, you don’t even want to know. To be honest with you, I love running in the winter. There’s definitely snow on the ground. I love it when the winds blowing and it’s bone-chilling cold and snowing. [I do it] just to test myself, to battle all forms of adversity.”

Question: What do you think about Hector Sanchez?

Arroyo: “I don’t think much of him, just like I didn’t think much about Willie Nelson in my last SHOWTIME fight. I don’t care about any fighter. I just care about myself and knowing that I’m going to war against another guy. I don’t care about talking junk. I don’t care about nothing but winning. It’s what drives me and keeps me going in this game.”

Question: Growing up in New York, was it always your dream to fight at Madison Square Garden?

Arroyo: “Yes, of course. I’ve always had that dream. I would like to fight there and go down in history with some of the great fighters like Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier and Felix Trinidad. But I’m in no rush. I still have a lot of learning to do. But it’s always fun to dream.”

Question: What fighters did you look up to as a kid and whose style do you try to emulate?

Arroyo: “I emulate myself. I never take anything from anyone. I fight like me and only me. I grew up watching Trinidad, (Hector) Camacho, (Julio Cesar) Chavez, Mike Tyson. One of my all-time favorites was Roy Jones Jr. People think I have the same style and that I’m a forward fighter. I just want to put my name up there with the greats.”

Question: Was your father a big influence in your decision to become a professional fighter?

Arroyo: “My father was a Golden Gloves champion and he watches my fights and congratulates me but he’s been out of the game for a while. My trainers Hector Alejandro and Rick Diaz have been there for me the entire time and I would say they are my biggest influences.”

Question: What can we expect to see from “Vinsanity” Friday night?

Arroyo: “It’s going to be sensational. Take this down: It’s always different when you see Vincent Arroyo. You never know what you’re going to see or what’s going to happen. I don’t know if it will be a knockout or if we’ll go to the cards, but I will be the last man standing. It will definitely not be boring.”

Promoted by Gary Shaw Productions, the ShoBox telecast will originate from the Grand Casino Hinckley in Hinckley, Minn.

Bernard Osuna will call the ShoBox action from ringside with Steve Farhood and Antonio Tarver serving as the expert analyst. Gordon Hall is the executive producer of ShoBox with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.

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.

Karim “Hard Hitta” Mayfield to fight for vacant NABO Jr. Welterweight Title

San Francisco California, September 8, 2011 – San Francisco’s undefeated Jr. Welterweight slugger, Karim “Hard Hitta” Mayfield (14-0-1, 9 KO’s) has officially signed a contract to fight Patrick Lopez (20-4, 12 KO’s) who hails from Cojedes, Venezuela. The ten round bout, promoted by Prize Fight and Mo Betta Entertainment, takes place at “Fitzgerald’s Casino and Hotel” in Tunica, Mississippi on October 1, 2011 . On the line will be the vacant NABO Jr. Welterweight title.

Mayfield, who recently defeated former world champion Steve Forbes on ESPN this summer, went on to say, “This is a great opportunity to showcase my skills against a live opponent. I’ve fought my whole career at Welterweight but feel this is the right move for me. Fighting at Jr. Welterweight I’ll have a distinct advantage because I know I’ll be stronger than any other fighter in the division. Fighting for a regional title is the first step toward my goal of becoming a world champion. I’m going to bring the fight to Lopez and look for the knockout”

“Karim shocked a lot of people in boxing circles by stopping Steve Forbes at welterweight,” said Prize Fight promoter Brian Young. “I expect to him to be even faster and more powerful at 140 lbs. He has the potential to give anyone problems between Jr. Welterweight and Welterweight.”

Sports South, a Fox Affiliate will air the fight on a one week tape delay for Dish Network and Direct TV subscribers. For more information please visit www.prizefightboxing.org.

THOMPSON BOXING PROMOTIONS ADDS TWO PROMISING TALENTS TO THEIR STABLE OF FIGHTERS!

RICHARD CONTRERAS AND ARON MARTINEZ
ORANGE, September 8 – Known for building the careers of boxing greats such as Timothy Bradley and Yonnhy Perez, Thompson Boxing Promotions is applauded for their savvy in picking up and coming boxing prospects.

Joining the Thompson Boxing Promotions’ team are Aron Martinez and Richard Contreras. “As a long time business owner there is always a concern to give the customers the latest and greatest merchandise. It’s important to follow the same model in the sport of boxing. The fight fans deserve the best new talent and that is exactly what we have done by signing Aron Martinez and Richard Contreras,” said Ken Thompson, founder and president of Thompson Boxing Promotions. “They are an integral part of our company and the future of the sport of boxing and it thrills us to grow their career.”

RICHARD CONTRERAS

Contreras
Promoter Ken Thompson, Super bantamweight Richard Contreras and trainer Joe Esquivel

The powerful super bantamweight, Richard “El Terminador” Contreras, carries a professional record of (6-0, 5 KOs) and fights out of Riverside, CA. The undefeated rising star began his professional career with only 22 amateur fights under his belt; 20 of which he won by stopping his opponents.

“When my manager and trainer, Joe Esquivel, suggested that I sign with Thompson Boxing Promotions I agreed without hesitation. I know that I am very young and new to this game but I have good instincts and I am very happy to sign with Thompson Boxing Promotions. I’m a relentless and rugged fighter that doesn’t run and I am going to make them proud,” added Contreras.

Contreras is scheduled to take on Texan Olvin Mejia (4-4-3, 4 KOs) in a 6 round battle on the Thompson Boxing’s “Locked N’ Loaded” card scheduled to take place in just 2 weeks, on Friday, September 23, at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, CA.

Tickets for “LOCKED N’ LOADED” are priced at $75, $45, and $30. They are available now and may be purchased by calling 714-935-0900.

ARON MARTINEZ
Martinez
Promoter Ken Thompson and Welterweight Aron Martinez

East Los Angeles’, 29-year old welterweight prospect, Aron Martinez is well known for his hard hitting orthodox style. Martinez pays homage for his steadily climbing career to his tough upbringing. “I haven’t had an easy upbringing and I wanted to change my direction in life so I put everything I have into my training. As a result I have been able to build my professional boxing career. I have fought on past Thompson Boxing Promotions’ cards and I feel that signing with them will give me the opportunity to grow at a momentous pace. They know my boxing style and what I am capable of and it feels good to know that they believe in me. I will work hard to pave the way to a championship title.”

Martinez is coming off an impressive victory over perviously unbeaten prospect Joseph Elegele on a televised ESPN “Friday Night Fights” bout last July. With a current professional record of (15-1, 3 KO’s) the durable Martinez aims to improve his record fight-by-fight beginning with his next battle slated to take place on October 14 at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, California, against an opponent to be named.