The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. will be the site of one of the most intriguing clashes of boxing’s summer season, as Argentinean knockout artist Marcos Maidana faces off against Southern California favorite Josesito Lopez in a 12 round fight for Maidana’s WBA Intercontinental Welterweight Championship in the main event of a Showtime tripleheader set for Saturday, June 8.
The tripleheader will also feature a 12-round junior middleweight showdown between all-action warrior Alfredo “El Perro” Angulo and number one rated WBC super welterweight contender Erislandy Lara and a clash for the vacant WBC Super Middleweight World Championship between number one rated WBC super middleweight contender Sakio “The Scorpion” Bika and Mexico’s Marco Antonio Periban, the number four rated WBC super middleweight contender.
“If you’re a fan of action fights, there is no better card to see than this one on June 8th,” said President of Golden Boy Promotions, Oscar De La Hoya. “All three high-stakes bouts have the potential to be the main event and the winners who walk out of the Home Depot Center with their hands raised will know they’ve been in a fight.”
“Like all of our recent fights, the fight between Marcos Maidana and Josesito Lopez is a matchup in which there is no clear-cut favorite,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive General Manager and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports. “You can make a legitimate argument for either fighter. Maidana is one of the most exciting fighters in any division, and he’s facing an opponent, Josesito Lopez, who scored the biggest upset of 2012 and is now back in his most natural weight class.
“Top to bottom, this card is filled with fan-friendly, all-action fights. There is no question that Maidana vs. Lopez will be one of the most entertaining, hard-fought matchups of the year, and the Angulo-Lara and Bika-Periban are sure to be hotly contested and action-packed as well.”
“Outdoor boxing cards at The Home Depot Center’s intimate 8,000-seat outdoor stadium continue to be annual highlights on the southern California sports calendar,” said Katie Pandolfo, General Manager of The Home Depot Center. “With Golden Boy Promotions lining up this championship card, our fans are truly in for another great night of boxing.”
“Josesito Lopez is a tough challenge, but I’m ready for everything he will bring to the ring on June 8th,” Maidana said. “Beating him is the next step to getting a world title shot and I know I’ll get the victory.”
“I fight my best at home, and with the fans in my corner on June 8th, Maidana doesn’t have a chance,” said Lopez. “He’s going to push me hard from start to finish, but that’s when I truly shine. I promise this will be a great fight for the fans.”
“Lara is one of Cuba’s greatest talents, but I’ll have the California fans on my side and I’m determined to do whatever it takes to win,” said Angulo. “This is the most important fight of my career and I will perform like it when the bell rings.”
“Angulo hits hard and is a tough fighter making this a classic boxer vs. puncher match up,” said Lara. “I’m really excited for this fight. Come June 8th, I’m going to put on a boxing display and finally get the ‘W’ over a top fighter that has been taken from me in my past fights.”
“I’m thankful to Golden Boy Promotions and the WBC for giving me this opportunity and I will make the most of it,” said Bika. “Ever since I turned pro, my only goal was to win a world championship and on June 8th, Marco Antonio Periban won’t be able to stop me from getting that belt.”
“I’ve trained hard, I’ve made many sacrifices and I feel that my time is now to become Mexico’s next world champion,” said Periban. “Sakio Bika will be my toughest challenge, but I have the skills, determination and heart to beat him. I’ll beat him and become the first Mexican super middleweight world champion and make history for all of Mexico.”
Maidana vs. Lopez, a 12-round fight for Maidana’s WBA Intercontinental Championship, is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona. The tripleheader will take place on Saturday, June 8 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. and will be televised live on SHOWTIME Championship Boxing beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT. Maidana vs. Lopez is presented in association with Goossen Tutor Promotions and Thompson Boxing Promotions. Also featured will be a 12-round junior middleweight showdown between all-action warrior Alfredo “El Perro” Angulo and number one rated WBC super welterweight contender Erislandy Lara and a 12-round fight for the vacant WBC Super Middleweight World Championship between number one rated WBC super middleweight contender Sakio Bika and number four rated WBC super middleweight contender Marco Antonio Periban. Preliminary fights will air on SHOWTIME Extreme at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT.
Tickets priced at $150, $75, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes, fees and services charges, go on sale Friday, April 19 at noon PT and can purchase tickets at AXS.com or by phone at 1-888-9-AXS-TIX, as well as The Home Depot Center Box Office. VIP Suites are available for purchase by calling 1-877-604-8777.
