Before British superstar Amir “King” Khan makes his ring return against Carlos Molina at the legendary Los Angeles Sports Arena on Saturday, December 15 live on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING, LA’s own IBF Bantamweight World Champion Leo “Terremoto” Santa Cruz will face unbeaten Alberto “Metro” Guevara in a 12-round bout that will air as a special boxing feature live on SHOWTIME BOXING on CBS beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET/1:30 p.m. PT.
U.S. Olympian Joseph “Jo-Jo” Diaz’s bout against an opponent to be named will also be broadcast live on CBS, the first live fight on CBS Television in 15 years. Rounding out the early portion of the fight card will be Olympians Errol Spence and Marcus Browne, who made their pro debuts one month ago on November 9, in separate bouts also against opponents to be named.
Also featured on the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast (10:30 p.m. ET/PT, SHO) will be a 10-round junior middleweight clash between Alfredo “Perro” Angulo and Jorge “Pantera” Silva as well as a 10-round heavyweight bout featuring charismatic unbeaten knockout artist and 2008 Olympic Bronze Medalist Deontay “Bronze Bomber” Wilder in a tough test against undefeated Kelvin Price.
But that’s not all, as SHOWTIME EXTREME will kick-off the evening action at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) with unbeaten welterweight Shawn “Showtime” Porter stepping up to the plate against surging former World Champion Julio “The Kidd” Diaz. Also slated for undercard action will unbeaten East Los Angeles prospect Frankie “Pitbull” Gomez taking on Pavel Miranda.
Perhaps boxing’s most exciting fighter, IBF Bantamweight World Champion Leo “Terremoto” Santa Cruz (22-0-1, 13 KO’s) is a thrill machine with a warrior’s heart, making him a fan favorite wherever he goes. In the midst of a breakout year, the 24-year-old from Los Angeles won his first world title in June, beating Vusi Malinga, and he has since defended it with knockout victories of Eric Morel and Victor Zaleta, making him the perfect candidate to be aired on network television.
Unbeaten in 16 professional fights, Mazatlan, Mexico’s Alberto Guevara (16-0, 6 KO’s) is expected to give Santa Cruz a tough battle in their 12-round clash and with the high stakes involved, expect “Metro” to come out with guns blazing on December 15. A three-year pro, Guevara is taking a big step up against the world champion, but is ready for the fight of his life.
A proud native of South El Monte, California, 20-year-old southpaw Joseph Diaz Jr. was a 2011 U.S. National Champion at featherweight and winner of his opening bout at the London Olympics earlier this year, garnering him a devoted fan following. Now ready to take the next step in what is expected to be a spectacular professional career, Diaz makes his pro debut on December 15 in a4-round fight against an opponent to be determined.
A native of Mexicali, Mexico now making his home in Los Angeles, Alfredo Angulo (21-2, 18 KOs) made his long awaited return in November after an emotional year out of the ring, but “Perro” delivered on the promise he has shown over the years as he took just 56 seconds to knock out Raul Casarez. Now determined to make up for lost time, the 30-year-old power puncher is back again and looking for another knockout win, this one over 20-year-old Tijuana product Jorge Silva. Silva (19-2-2, 15 KO’s) has some dynamite in his gloves as well, and after two straight wins and a draw with Japan’s Yoshihiro Kamegai, he’s got all the momentum he needs to score the biggest victory of his career.
The hottest prospect in the heavyweight division, Tuscaloosa, Alabama’s Deontay Wilder (25-0, 25 KO’s) has left no one in his path standing after winning a Bronze Medal at the 2008 Olympics. Standing at 6-foot-7, the “Bronze Bomber” has not only shown power in his victories over Damon McCreary, Owen Beck, and Kertson Manswell, but his charisma and personality have captured a huge fanbase for the 27-year-old that he hopes to grow even bigger on December 15.
One of the few heavyweights that match Wilder with not only an unbeaten record, but also in size, Pensacola, Florida’s 6-foot-7 Kelvin “Price is Right” Price (13-0, 6 KO’s) will present some difficulties for the former Olympian that he has yet to see in his pro career. A six year veteran who got a late start in the sport, the 37-year old is best known for spoiling the perfect record of hot prospect Tor Hamer in 2010. He’s ready to play that spoiler role again when he faces Wilder.
Akron, Ohio’s Shawn Porter (20-0, 14 KO’s) is an exciting welterweight who is beginning to make his move on the elite in his division and is doing it with a two-fisted, aggressive attack that none of his opponents have been able to handle. A decorated amateur and 2008 U.S. Olympic team alternate, the 25-year-old Porter won the NABF welterweight title by beating Hector Munoz in 2010 and he added the NABO crown in July with his hard fought win over the respected Alfonso Gomez.
The fighting pride of Coachella, California, Julio “The Kidd” Diaz (40-7, 29 KO’s) is a former world lightweight champion who has fought it out with Jose Luis Castillo, Angel Manfredy, Jesus Chavez, Juan Diaz and Herman Ngoudjo. After a year-long break and a move up to welterweight, the 32-year-old Diaz has looked better than ever in knocking out Henry Aurad and Hector Sanchez in 2012. With a win over Porter, he can move back into title contention.
Unbeaten as a professional, former amateur star Frankie “Pitbull” Gomez (13-0, 10 KO’s) made a triumphant return to the squared circle after nearly a year off when he stopped veteran Manuel Leyva in three rounds on November 3. Now looking to stay busy and pile up some more wins on the way to a welterweight title shot, the East LA battler will meet up with Tijuana veteran Pavel Miranda (17-8-1, 8 KOs) on December 15.
Winner of two bouts in the 2012 Olympics as a member of Team USA, 22-year-old Dallas native Errol Spence Jr. (1-0, 1 KO) may have been the most impressive of his fellow teammates in his pro debut on November 9, as he showed off a wide variety of skills and poise before dispatching Jonathan Garcia in the third round. Now he’ll look to repeat that feat in another four round affair against an opponent to be named later this month.
22-year-old Marcus Browne (1-0, 1 KO) fought with a heavy heart during his pro debut on November 9 after his native Staten Island, New York was hit hard by Hurricane Sandy. Despite the devastation back home, with the heart and resolve that took him to a National Amateur Championship, three Golden Gloves titles and a spot on the 2012 U.S. Olympic team, Browne took out unbeaten Codale Ford in three rounds to earn his first professional win. On December 15, he looks for win number two against an opponent to be determined in a four round bout.
The evening session of boxing will begin with Houston, Texas’ Jerren Cochran (6-0, 3 KO’s) against an opponent to be named in a four round feather fight followed by an eight-round junior middleweight battle between Oxnard, California’s Hugo “The Boss” Centeno (16-0, 8 KO’s) and Allen Conyers (12-7, 9 KO’s) of the Bronx, New York.
