The biggest boxing event of 2011 is rapidly approaching, but before Floyd Mayweather and Victor Ortiz show off their “STAR POWER” to fans in Las Vegas and around the world, some of boxing’s top seasoned veterans and up-and-coming talents will step into the ring at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. to show off their skills. One could even call it “FUTURE STAR POWER.”
Kicking off the festivities in two bouts that will air just before the “STAR POWER: Mayweather vs. Ortiz” pay-per-view broadcast begins, Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions are proud to present a “Freeview” that will feature a 10-round welterweight bout between veterans Said Ouali and Carson Jones as well as an eight-round super middleweight battle pitting Dion Savage against Adonis Stevenson.
Also in action in intriguing undercard bouts will be British contender Anthony Crolla, Mexican sensation Marco Antonio Periban and Las Vegas debutants Kyrone Butler and Cassius Clay.
The “STAR POWER” “Freeview” broadcast will be available free of charge and shown by several satellite and cable providers, as well as online beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT. The broadcast will be available online at www.goldenboypromotions.com, RingTV.com, Yahoo! Sports and Foxsports.com. Cable, satellite and phone customers should contact their local providers for channel information. DirecTV, Dish Network, AT&T U-verse and most cable systems will be showing the “Freeview.”
Las Vegas based “Prince” Said Ouali (28-3, 20 KO’s) has long been one of the most underrated fighters in the sport, but with a strong performance on September 17, he can show the world what he’s made of. Boasting a record of 14-1 since 2004, the 32-year-old Morocco native has done his part to earn a big fight opportunity, and now the light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter and brighter.
Twenty-five-year-old Oklahoma City product Carson Jones (31-8-2, 21 KO’s) shares a similar path to Ouali, as all he keeps doing is winning. Unbeaten in 15 of his last 16 bouts, Jones’ last six wins have come by knockout, and it’s evident that when he and Ouali meet in Las Vegas, there will be plenty of fireworks from these two hungry veterans.
While Ouali and Jones are established veterans, super middleweights Dion Savage and Adonis Stevenson are hungry to get their names out to the boxing public. Flint, Michigan’s Savage (10-1, 6 KO’s) bounced back in style from his lone loss to fellow prospect Marco Antonio Periban in February by shutting out Eddie Tigs over six rounds in August. Nicknamed “Superman,” Longueuil, Canada’s Adonis Stevenson (14-1, 11 KO’s) is a talented southpaw who is coming off of a third-round knockout of 25-1 Derek Edwards in April that netted him an NABA title.
A young man who has emerged in the last year as one of Mexico’s top prospects for future world title consideration is 26-year-old Marco Antonio Periban (14-0, 10 KO’s) who will introduce himself to fans and the media in the fight capital of the world on September 17 when he takes on tough Pennsylvania veteran Dhafir Smith (24-21-7, 4 KO’s) in a super middleweight bout scheduled for eight rounds. 4-0 in 2011 already, Periban took the “0” from Dion Savage’s perfect record in February and is looking to put on another stellar performance in his most important fight to date.
Former amateur star and current British Boxing Board of Control Lightweight Champion Anthony “Million Dollar” Crolla (21-2, 9 KO’s) has been waiting for an opportunity to fight in Las Vegas and on September 17, he will get his chance when he takes on Mexico City’s Juan Manuel Montiel (6-4-3, 1 KO) in an eight round matchup. The 24-year-old Manchester, England native has won eight in a row over the last two years. Crolla will face a still challenge in Montiel, a rugged battler who is guided by Hall of Fame trainer Nacho Beristain. Crolla vs. Montiel will be available on Primetime in the United Kingdom.
Opening the event will be a super lightweight four round bout pitting Kyrone Butler against Cassius Clay in a meeting of debuting Las Vegans.
