Living up to the old adage that everything is bigger in Texas, the March 24 HBO World Championship Boxing event featuring a hard-hitting doubleheader of Erik Morales vs. Danny Garcia and James Kirkland vs. Carlos Molina will have an undercard just as exciting as the featured fights at Houston’s Reliant Arena, with former World Champion Jose Luis Castillo squaring off against longtime contender Jose Miguel Cotto in a ten round welterweight bout, adding another chapter to the great fistic rivalry of Mexico vs. Puerto Rico, plus a bevy of up and coming prospects doing battle prior to HBO hitting the airwaves.
Also in action on the undercard will be top Houston prospects (and twin brothers) Jermell and Jermall Charlo as well as Lanard Lane, plus Hollywood’s Jamie Kavanagh and Orlando’s Daquan Arnett.
Few active fighters own the resume sported by Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico’s Jose Luis Castillo (63-11-1, 54 KO’s). A two-time lightweight world champion best remembered for his classic battles with former World Champions Diego Corrales and Floyd “Money” Mayweather, the 38-year-old Mexican warrior has also shared the ring with the likes of former and current World Champions Ricky “Hitman” Hatton, Joel “Cepillo” Casamayor, Julio “The Kidd” Diaz, Cesar Bazan and Jorge Paez. The winner of three of his last four bouts, “El Terrible” is prepared to put on a show against Cotto on March 24.
34-year-old Caguas, Puerto Rico native Jose Miguel Cotto (32-3-1, 24 KO’s) is like Castillo in that he has been fearless when it comes to fighting anyone put in front of him. A veteran of over 15 years in the professional game who has thrown hands with former and current World Champions Canelo Alvarez, Paulie “Magic Man” Malignaggi and Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz, Cotto is 4-2 in his last six fights and when the bell rings in Houston, expect him to give his all to win not just for himself, but also for Puerto Rico.
Representing the city of Houston on March 24 will be two of boxing’s premier prospects, unbeaten super welterweight twin brothers Jermell and Jermall Charlo. In a 10-round showdown, Jermell (16-0, 7 KO’s), who has defeated fellow up and comers Luis Enrique Grajeda and Francisco Santana in recent bouts, will square off against 27-year-old Chicago product Chris Chatman (10-1-1, 5 KO’s), who is unbeaten in his last seven contests. In a six round fight, Jermall (8-0, 4 KO’s) takes on La Vista, Nebraska’s Shawn Wilson (5-8, 1 KO).
Irish lightweight prospect Jamie “The Nuisance” Kavanagh (8-0-1, 3 KO’s) is a slick boxer with a fan-friendly style that has led him to an unbeaten record thus far in his professional career. A native of Dublin now fighting out of Hollywood, California, the 21-year-old will make his first appearance of 2012 in a six round match against Bradenton, Florida’s Cesar Cisneros (3-3-2, 1 KO).
A proud member of the Houston Fire Department, 29-year-old Lanard Lane (12-1, 7 KO’s) specializes in putting fires out outside of the ring, but heating up the action inside the ring. In the ring, Lane owns victories over solid vets John Brown, Martin Tucker and Dairo Esalas with his lone career loss coming via a close decision to fellow prospect Mike Dallas Jr. in his most recent fight in July of 2010. Now, Lane is ready to make a triumphant return to the sport and his hometown in an eight round welterweight battle when he faces Waco’s Milton Ramos (7-2-2) who has won five in a row.
In the four round bout slated to open the show, Orlando super welterweight prospect Daquan Arnett (1-0) meets Fabian Cancino (0-3) of San Antonio.
Erik Morales vs. Danny Garcia, a 12-round bout for Morales’ WBC Super Lightweight World Title taking place on Saturday, March 24 at Reliant Arena in Houston, Tex., is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Box Latino and sponsored by Corona, DeWalt Tools and AT&T. Also featured will be a 12-round battle between James Kirkland and Carlos Molina for Kirkland’s WBC Continental Americas Super Welterweight title which is presented in association with Warrior’s Boxing and Promotions. The fights will be telecast live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT.
Tickets, priced at $250, $125, $75, $50 and $25, are available for purchase at all Ticketmaster outlets, by calling (800) 745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets are also available for purchase at the Reliant Stadium box office south ticket windows.
