The opening two Pay-Per-View bouts of the September 14 mega-card at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas have been announced, with a third world championship bout and a meeting of two contenders adding even more action to the event, which is of course headlined by Floyd Mayweather vs. Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, and also features Danny Garcia vs. Lucas Matthysse.
In a 12-round battle for the IBF Junior Middleweight title strap, Las Vegas’ own Ishe “Sugar Shay” Smith defends his crown for the first time against top contender Carlos Molina. The opening bout on the PPV will be a 10-round Welterweight showdown between Mexico’s Pablo Cesar “El Demoledor” Cano and England’s Ashley “Treasure” Theophane, the most recent fighter to sign with Mayweather Promotions.
After a long career that saw him go from the world of reality television as a star on “The Contender” to a series of ups and downs at 154 and 160 pounds, Las Vegas’ Ishe “Sugar Shay” Smith (25-5, 11 KO’s) finally put it all together in late 2010, beginning a four fight winning streak that culminated in a 12 round decision win over Cornelius Bundrage on February 23 earning the 34-year-old the IBF Junior Middleweight World Championship. Now the reign of “Sugar Shay” begins with a hometown bout against the always-tough Molina.
Long avoided by the elite at 154 pounds, Patzcuaro, Mexico native Carlos Molina (21-5-2, 6 KO’s) is finally getting his shot at championship gold on September 14 after a decade slugging it out in the ring. Now making his home in Chicago, the 30-year-old Molina began making noise with his disputed draw against Erislandy Lara in 2011, and he has since won four of five bouts, defeating former world champions Kermit Cintron and Cory Spinks, with his only loss coming via controversial DQ against James Kirkland in March of 2012.
Mexico’s Pablo Cesar “El Demoledor” Cano (26-3-1, 20 KO’s), like countryman and headliner Canelo Alvarez, will have a nation in his corner when he steps between the ropes on September 14. Given the controversial nature of his recent decision losses to Paulie Malignaggi and Shane Mosley, the 23-year-old plans on giving the judges the night off by scoring a defining knockout of Theophane. A pro since 2006, Cano can do it all in the ring, and in his first Las Vegas fight since his classic 2011 battle with the legendary Erik Morales, he vows to put on a show.
A proud native of London, England, 32-year-old Ashley “Treasure” Theophane (33-5-1, 10 KO’s) is a graduate of the School of Hard Knocks in the ring and is finally getting his chance to shine on the world stage. A former British junior welterweight champion, the talented Theophane owns victories over Delvin Rodriguez and DeMarcus Corley, and he gave current world champion Danny Garcia one of his toughest fights in 2010 before losing a split decision. Winner of two straight, Theophane is looking to prove that he was made for the bright lights of Las Vegas.
