The Shawn Porter vs. Julio Diaz II fight card on Thursday, Sept. 12 at MGM Grand Las Vegas’ Premier Ballroom just keeps getting bigger and better with the addition of prospect Jermall Charlo, 2012 United States Olympian Errol Spence and Oscar De La Hoya’s cousin Diego de la Hoya to the card. The action-packed event will be broadcast live on FOX Sports 2/FOX Deportes.
Also in action will be promising lightweight Robert Easter Jr. and two other members of the 2012 U.S. Olympic team Terrell Gausha and Dominic Breazeale.
“This is going to be a spectacular card and a great lead in to Saturday night’s fight,” said CEO of Mayweather Promotions Leonard Ellerbe. “This is the biggest week in recent boxing history and this fight makes it even more impressive.”
“This is going to be a tremendous night of boxing,” said CEO of Golden Boy Promotions Richard Schaefer. “For as little as 25 dollars, boxing fans can watch four U.S. Olympians fighting live here at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.”
In the main event, it’s the rematch fight fans demanded as unbeaten Shawn “Showtime” Porter (21-0-1, 14 KO’s) faces former World Champion Julio “The Kidd” Diaz (40-8-1, 29 KO’s) in a 10-round bout for the NABO & USBA welterweight titles. The co-featured bout showcases Las Vegas up-and-comer Badou Jack (15-0, 10 KO’s) as he takes on Mexico’s Marco Antonio Periban (20-1, 13 KO’s) in a 10-round NABF Super Middlweight fight. Additionally, two of boxing’s top prospects return to the ring as Julian “J-Rock” Williams (13-0-1, 10 KO’s) faces Hugo “The Boss” Centeno Jr. (19-0, 10 KO’s) in a 10-round clash for the WBC International Super Welterweight title.
Fighting under the radar for a few years, Houston’s Jermall Charlo (15-0, 11 KO’s) burst onto the scene in 2013, already winning five bouts, with each victory coming by way of knockout. Fresh from a trio of stoppages over world-class foes Orlando Lora, Luis Hernandez and Antwone Smith, the 23-year-old Charlo will face fellow Houstonite Rogelio De La Torre (10-3, 6 KO’s) in an eight-round super welterweight bout.
Unbeaten in seven professional bouts following his appearance in the 2012 London Olympic Games, Dallas’ Errol Spence (7-0, 6 KO’s) has not let his last three opponents escape the first round, showing off the power and punching accuracy that is becoming his trademark. On Sept. 12, the 23-year-old southpaw makes his third Las Vegas appearance in an eight-round welterweight fight against Mexico City’s Jesus Tavera (5-3, 1 KO).
Opening the televised portion of the card will be Mexicali super bantamweight Diego de la Hoya. Making his professional debut in a four-round bout against a fighter to-be-named, the 19-year-old “Golden Kid” is a former member of the Mexican National Team with over 250 amateur bouts to his name, not to mention champion bloodlines as the cousin of Oscar De La Hoya.
Fans on site in Las Vegas will get a three-punch combination of quality bouts to open up the night, as Akron’s Robert Easter Jr. (6-0, 6 KO’s) puts his perfect record on the line against Muscatine, Iowa’s Lance Williams (6-1, KO’s) in an eight-round lightweight match. 2012 U.S. Olympian Terrell Gausha (5-0, 3 KO’s) of Cleveland meets Wheeling, West Virginia’s Bruce Runkle (4-2-1)in a six-round middleweight matchup and Gausha’s Olympic teammate, heavyweight banger Dominic Breazeale (6-0, 6 KO’s) of Los Angeles, takes on West Virginia’s John Hill (6-2, 5 KO’s) in an eight-round contest.
“It’s show time!” said Shawn Porter. “This is a big week for me. I’m very excited. This is my first time fighting here in Vegas, the main event on the card. It doesn’t get any better than that. I had a great camp. Can’t wait to bust his joker up again, take care of business, and set the record straight.”
“This is a great weekend for boxing. I feel blessed and I’m excited,” said Julio Diaz.
“A couple of years ago, the boxing world retired me, supposedly I was done, but here I am still headlining shows. I never gave up and I kept on working hard and I’m still here. The first time around, we had a good fight. I was coming back, gaining my confidence. Right now I think I’m where I need to be. I’m very excited and I’m coming with everything. This fight, we will not need judges. Anyway it goes, it’s not going to a decision. I guarantee you that.”
“[Periban] is a good fighter, but Thursday night I will be victorious,” said Badou Jack. “I had a great camp and I’m in great shape. Bring it.”
“I have trained very well,” said Marco Antonio Periban.
“I am very well prepared and come Thursday we are going to come out with a victory for all of Mexico. We are ready for this fight. We are closer to the title. That title escaped my hands. Obviously it was a little slip but the judges really affected me in the fight with Sakio Bika. But we gained experience and we’re very motivated. I want to remind you, this is not the first time I fought a Mayweather fighter. When I fought Shujaa EL AMIN [Formerly Dion Savage] he lasted 15 seconds.”
“I’m a very exciting fighter,” said Julian Williams. “I trained extremely hard for this fight and I’m fighting a decent fighter in Hugo Centeno, but I come to win. I’m the best prospect at 154 pounds. Thursday night will be no different. I plan on putting on a spectacular performance and getting a win.”
“I’ve been training extremely hard for this fight and I come to win,” said Hugo Centeno. “When I get in the ring, I’m here to take this victory.”
