The Lone Star State will play host to an exciting tripleheader featuring two world championship fights and a grudge rematch between former world champions that’s been building for over six years.
Two-time WBO junior lightweight champion Roman “Rocky” Martinez will defend his title against undefeated Mikey Garcia; 2012 Fighter of the Year Nonito “Filipino Flash” Donaire and Vic “Raging Bull” Darchinyan will be looking to settle each other’s hash in a 10-round featherweight rumble and undefeated No. 1 and No. 2 contenders and one-time U.S. Olympians Vanes “The Nightmare” Martirosyan and Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andradewill battle it out for the vacant WBO junior middleweight title.
“This fight is a great opportunity to clear any doubts about my value as a world champion, “Martinez said to Primera Hora.
“A win over Garcia will prove that I am a real champion and it will take me to the next level.”
“I’m fighting a defending champion. It won’t be easy but I think I have all the tools to beat Rocky,” said Garcia.
“I want to be champion again and Rocky is in my way. I will become champion again.”
“This is a very important fight for me,” said Darchinyan. “It gives me the opportunity to face and defeat an opponent who beat me in the past. This win will be sweet revenge for me.”
“I am ready to go,” said Martirosyan.
“The last fight postponement might be a blessing in disguise because it is just making me hungrier and hungrier every day. I just can’t wait to get into the ring and prove how badly I want this. I have been training very hard and have a great game plan with Freddie Roach. A lot of one-on-one with Freddie, combined with great sparring and training along with the likes of Miguel Cotto and George St. Pierre. That has been very inspirational and motivating. Andrade is a great fighter. I hope he is ready to go to war. We are on HBO and I plan on stealing the spotlight that night with a very exciting and entertaining win for the fans.”
“I am looking forward to this fight and have been waiting for this fight ever since I walked into the gym at age 7”, said Andrade.
“I always wanted to be champion of the world and on November 9th I will be crowned champion. I wanted to win an Olympic gold medal and since they took that from me, I am going to take this world title. I was a 2008 Olympian and he made it in 2004. It’s great that the fans will get to see two Olympians battle on HBO. I know I will bring home the title.”
“We are proud to present to the fans of Corpus Christi a fistic feats involving some of the greatest boxers in the world,” said Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum
“There are at least five fights on this card which could be the main event in any arena. This will be the most exciting night ever for boxing fans in Corpus Christi.”
“In all three fights, fans expect big statements to be made in the ring,” said Peter Nelson, director of programming, HBO Sports.
“The night presents a fistic hat-trick of exciting match-ups in which the momentum can shift at any time.”
This boxing extravaganza will take place Saturday, November 9, at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, TX. All three fights will be televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark®, beginning at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT.
Tickets to the Martinez vs. Garcia world championship event will go on sale This Friday! September 20, at 10:00 a.m. CT. Tickets, priced at $200, $100, $60, $40 and $25, plus applicable charges, can be purchased at the American Bank Center Box Office, ticketmaster.com, or by phone at 1-800-745-3000.
