SUGAR SHANE MOSLEY & ZAB “SUPER” JUDAH FIGHT CARD SHAPING UP

Posted on | March 16, 2008 | No Comments

SUGAR SHANE MOSLEY & ZAB “SUPER” JUDAH STAKE THEIR CAREERS ON INTRIGUING WELTERWEIGHT SHOWDOWN, SATURDAY, MAY 31, AT MANDALAY BAY RESORT & CASINO IN LAS VEGAS LIVE ON HBO PAY-PER-VIEW

JORGE BARRIOS vs. ROCKY JUAREZ TO BATTLE ON TELEVISED UNDERCARD

LAS VEGAS, March 15 – With everything riding on the line, the stakes will be high when Sugar Shane Mosley and Zab “Super” Judah square off in a welterweight showdown on Saturday, May 31. Mosley vs. Judah: “High Stakes,” headlines a night of world-class professional boxing presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Rockstar Energy Drink, Tecate Beer, Affliction Clothing and Southwest Airlines. The 12-round bout will take at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nev. and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.

In addition to the main event, Golden Boy is pleased to announce that former super featherweight world champion Jorge Barrios will meet 2000 Olympic Silver Medalist Ricardo Rocky Juarez as the featured undercard bout of the evening and also featured on the live broadcast.

Tickets, priced at $600, $400, $300, $200 and $100 are now on sale and available at the Mandalay Bay Events Center box office and at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith’s Food and Drug Centers, Macy’s West at the Fashion Show Mall and Ritmo Latino). Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call the Mandalay Bay box office at (702) 632-7 580 or Ticketmaster at (702) 474-4000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mandalaybay.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

“It’s extremely high stakes for Zab and myself in this fight and I’m excited to be fighting him,” said Mosley. “We have similar styles in terms of speed and power and we both always come to fight. I think it will come down to who’s the hungrier fighter. I am hungry for this victory and I’m confident I will get it May 31.”

Judah rebutted saying, “I am willing to gamble everything on this fight against Mosley and I know I have to win it to set my career back on the winning path. I respect Shane as a great fighter but I know he can’t go 12 fast rounds with me. I plan to take him into deep waters and be the first one to stop him.”

Oscar de la Hoya, president of Golden Boy Promotions stated, “As a boxing fan, I am excited to finally see what happens when two of the best welterweights of this era get in the ring together. Both Mosley and Judah always come to fight with tremendous non-stop action and as they both need to win this fight to keep their dreams of another championship alive, I know we’re going to see the best of them May 31.”

Senior Vice President of HBOPPV Mark Taffet agreed, “Shane Mosley and Zab Judah have given boxing fans so many exciting, memorable performances for years. We expect May 31 to be another one of those great nights.”

A four-time and three-division world champion who has proven to be worthy of the venerable nickname “Sugar,” Mosley (44-5, 37 KOs) continues to thrill fans with his speed, power and warrior’s heart. Mosley holds wins over the likes of De La Hoya (twice), Fernando Vargas (twice), Jesse James Leija, Luis Collazo and John John Molina while winning world titles in the lightweight, welterweight and junior middleweight divisions. The 36-year-old Pomona, Calif. native also showed his mettle and toughness last November when he fought welterweight champion Miguel Cotto tooth and nail for 12 rounds, falling short via close decision. A win over Judah in May will put Mosley at the top of the line for a rematch with Cotto.

Judah (36-5, 25 KOs), a three-time and two-division world champion, is considered one of the most talented fighters of the past decade. The former undisputed world welterweight champion, 30-year-old “Super” Judah owns victories over Junior Witter, Micky Ward, DeMarcus Corley and Cory Spinks. He has recently been fighting with his speed, power and focus coming together like never before. Brooklyn’s finest is on track for a spectacular performance against Mosley on May 31.

The Mosley vs. Judah pay-per-view telecast, beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, will be produced and distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View and will be available to more than 61 million pay-per-view homes. The telecast will be available in HD-TV for those viewers who can receive HD. HBO Pay-Per-View is the leading supplier of event programming to the pay-per-view industry. For Mosley vs. Judah fight week updates, log on to www.hbo.com.

For more information please visit www.goldenboypromotions.com.

LAS VEGAS PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES

ODDS—MOSLEY SLIGHT FAVORITE AT 3:2.

RICHARD SCHAEFER

“Glad to be back at the Mandalay Bay on May 31 and this will be another thrilling night of boxing for all of the fans.

“Golden boy Promotions is very busy and so proud to be putting on great fights in the coming months—Hopkins vs Calzaghe in Las Vegas in April, Oscar de la Hoya vs Forbes in Los Angeles in May and then we come right back here to Las Vegas for this fight card at the Mandalay Bay on May 31.

High Stakes is the theme of the show and the whole card will be at risk and up for grabs. Crossroad fights for all of these fighters and what will make a great night of boxing.

MARK TAFFET

“We are here to announce this great fight. The people in boxing over the last year or so have been putting together these great fights and we have another one on our hands May 31.

“We have known both Shane and Zab have been a part of HBO for along time and when you look back at their careers and they have provided an incredible moments in boxing.

“They both have a lot on the line, and when you put two fighters that know there is so much on the line, knowing they have to win.

“They are King of the Rings and that is the way the fans know him. Great card and High Stakes top to bottom.

“Juarez and Barrios were here early and that tells you they are ready and excited about this fight May 31.

“Great to be a part of it and we are really looking forward to this night.”

MOSLEY VS JUDAH

ZAB JUDAH

“First of all want to thank God for having me here and making everyone safe to get here too.

“Everyone is watching my career—both the great fights and the other things. But it’s time to grow up and I give a lot of thanks to Golden Boy too because they have given me a great fight and a great fighter.

“This fight is not about Shane Mosley it is about me. On May 31 you are going to see the old Super Judah, the one that and if it even gets past the six rounds, you are going to see me finish strong and be the fighter I know I can be.”

SHANE MOSLEY

“I thank God so much for my career to date and for the opportunities I have had to make my career.

“Tremendous fight on May 31 and I am ready to go to war. After the Cotto fight we saw some things that we are going to work on but we will be ready and it is going to be a great fight.

“Zab is definitely a great fighter, and he can crack, and he is fast. But I am on a mission to be the top dog and I want to fight to get through this fight and then fight the best welterweights out there—Cotto, Mayweather.

“Zab is standing in my way and I am too old to fall back now. I want to make this run a great one and it is going to start with Zab on May 31.

“Get ready to go to work and it is going to be great.”

JUAREZ VS BARRIOS

RICARDO ROCKY JUAREZ

“Jorge Barrios comes to fight with a lot of heart and a lot of balls and a fighter like that is always dangerous. For some reason I always felt that I would fight him and now it is here. We know that this fight is the turning point that we could be back in the champion’s level.

“I still have a desire to become world champion and to prove to fans and critics that I can be world champion.”

JORGE BARRIOS

“Great opportunity on May 31 and to fight Rocky Juarez he is going to be an excellent fight. I think he is too small for me anyway and I am going to show him that night.”