While the main event on Friday, July 29, at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas and live on ESPN Friday Night Fights, a 12-round IBF elimination bout between Victor Cayo and Lamont Peterson, may be of more worldwide significance, the opening televised bout that night just might steal the show.

Given their aggressive styles, the 10-round light heavyweight showdown between murderous punching Colombian Edison “Pantera” Miranda (34-5, 29 KOs) and hard-nosed former Cuban amateur star Yordanis Despaigne (8-1, 4 KOs) is a can’t miss all-action war.

The former multiple world-title challenger Miranda is having only his second fight at 175 lbs after campaigning as a middleweight and super middleweight, but his debut at the weight last June against the normally durable Ray Saunders became a track meet after Saunders tasted some of Miranda’s power.

Eager to get back to world-title contention and finally win his first belt, the charismatic Miranda has been in heavy training for the important showcase. Through an interpreter, he answered the following questions.

What about the Rayco Saunders fight told you, you were ready for a big fight? Did you feel good in your first fight back in a year?

It felt great getting back into the ring. I wasn’t looking for a knockout. We have been working on different things in the gym and I wanted the rounds to see how I felt. There were a few times I saw opportunities to throw a big punch, but I held back. Saunders was the perfect opponent. He is a tough guy who has a great defense. It was just what I needed to get me ready to fight someone like Despaigne.

How would you describe Yordanis Despaigne as a fighter?

I know Despaigne very well. He has a good amateur background. When we step in the ring next week, he better be ready for the big leagues. I am very strong at 175 lbs and I will not hold back from letting him feel my power. I am not looking past him, but I am very confident that this will be easy work for me. This is my world TV premier at 175 lbs on ESPN. You saw what happen to David Banks in my 168-lb world premiere. I hope this fight is not shown in 3D or Despaigne may end up in your living room. I will make a statement and people will be talking about Edison Miranda again.

What makes you know you will beat him?

My trainer and I have seen the tapes. He does not impress me. I am very ready for this fight and very hungry to get a shot at the light heavyweight title. When that bell rings I am going in for the kill.

You’ve always been sensational against second-tier opponents and then disappointed against top-level guys. What’s going to be different this time if you make it back to a title shot?

I have to be at my best to fight the best. Making weight has always been my biggest struggle. I have made mistakes in the ring and have learned from these. It is not how hard you fall. It is how you get back up and learn from your falls. At 175 lbs I will not be losing muscle to make weight. The higher weight feels natural and I am able to work hard at boxing instead of working hard at losing weight. I have let down my fans when it mattered the most. I want to make my fans proud and be a champion.

You came in heavy for your last fight. Any weight problems this time?

No problems at all. I am right on target. I was looking at the fight with Saunders as another day in the gym. It was a good sparring session for me. Weight was not on my mind. I came in a few pounds heavier than the contract weight. Not a big deal.I would never let that happen for an important TV fight like I have with Despaigne.

Are you as powerful as ever at 175?

I can’t tell you how great it feels not having to worry about my weight. I have always had so much power during training, but when it came down to losing those last 10-15 lbs it killed me. I never felt like myself in the ring when I needed to be at my best. I was able to be good enough against most fighters, but I didn’t have the strength I needed against guys like Bute and Ward. I don’t see me having this problem at 175 lbs. I am close to weight already and feel strong as ever. My hands are like TNT and they are going to explode when I land my fist on Despaigne’s big head.

Will we ever see you as a cruiserweight?

I want the big fights at 175 lbs now. That is where I need to look. I want to stay at a weight that feels right. When the day comes that 175 lbs feels like a struggle then I will move up. I have been well over 200 lbs and I feel better there than I ever did at 160 or even 168. So you may want to ask if Edison Miranda will ever be a heavyweight.

In conjunction with Warriors Boxing Promotions and Blue Wave Group, “Fight Nights at The Cosmopolitan” combines the mystique and excitement of legendary Las Vegas boxing matches with a new and socially dynamic experience. Tickets are on sale now and priced at $250 for VIP tables, $150 for ringside seats, $100 for floor seats, $50 for grandstand seating and $20 for general admission tickets and are available for purchase by calling 877-551-7778 or at www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com.  

Most boxing fans see today’s heavyweight division as a sleepy, boring place. Rightfully so. But rest assured, Artur “Big Pin” Szpillka (SHPILL-ka) is going to do something about it.

Southpaw Szpillka (6-0, 4 KOs) of North Bergen, New Jersey, by way of Wieliczka, Poland, is already known overseas as one of the hottest heavyweight prospects in boxing. He is also building a growing reputation as one of the sport’s most colorful new characters.

From the orange prison jumpsuit he wears into the ring to his dust-ups outside of it, the 22-year-old southpaw has the iron fists and bad attitude to shake up boxing’s most peaceful division.

Szpillka is now signed to a co-promotional agreement with Florida-based Warriors Boxing and Poland-based 12 Round Knockout Promotions.

He will make his triumphant return to American soil when he faces David Williams (6-4-1, 2 KO) of Philadelphia on July 29 at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut, on a card entitled “Heat Wave”, promoted by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports and dynamic, new North Bergen, New Jersey-based promotional firm Global Boxing, headed by Mariusz Kolodziej.

“Heat Wave” will be headlined by the Mariusz Wach vs. Kevin McBride heavyweight showdown.

Szpillka boasts a strong amateur pedigree; the former Polish amateur champion went an impressive 102-5 against strong international competition. He stands 6′ 3″ and weighs in around 240 lbs., but is blessed with terrific timing, good hand speed, wicked power and fluid upper-body movement.

“Artur has tremendous potential,” said his co-promoter, Leon Margules of Warriors Boxing. “He’s so young, but he’s already so strong and he has an exciting, confusing style that baffles his opponents on their way to the canvas. Fans back in Poland are crazy about him and now we’re bringing him to the U.S. where he can start making a name for himself over here. It won’t take long.”

In his last fight, Szpillka turned many heads by flattening unbeaten Bosnian Ramiz Hadziaganovic with a perfectly timed right hook in just 33 seconds of the first round.

Szpillka’s story already reads like a movie. He witnessed his father’s death at four years old and picked up boxing at the age of 15, when he was discovered by his trainer during a soccer hooligans’ fight.

He turned pro in 2008 as a cruiserweight, but has since gained 40 pounds of muscle.

“It’s too early in his career to proclaim him the next great Polish heavyweight,” added Margules, “but what he is, is an unpredictable, cocky, powerful, dangerous breath of fresh air in a division that desperately needs it. No matter what Artur does, he does it with his own flair and we’re proud to be introducing him to this side of the world.”

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“Heat Wave” features two championship bouts – a 12-round showdown between Kevin McBride (35-9-1, 29 KOs) and Mariusz Wach (24-0, 12 KOs) for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) International heavyweight title, and a 10-round intrastate battle between Elvin Ayala (23-5-1, 11 KOs) of New Haven, Conn., and rival Israel “Pito” Cardona (36-10, 28 KOs) of Hartford for the vacant WBC United States National Boxing Council (USNBC) middleweight title.

The undercard includes New Haven welterweight Edwin Soto (6-0-1, 2 KOs) battling Michael Denby (3-11-4, 2 KOs) of Felton, Delaware. Cruiserweight Jose Torres of Springfield, Mass., will make his debut against fellow newcomer Pedro Rivera of Southbridge, Mass.; super middleweight Greg McCoy (2-3-1, 1 KO) of New Haven will fight in a separate four-round bout against Worcester’s Ralph Johnson (0-1); and super middleweight Keith Kozlin (6-2, 4 KOs) of Warwick, R.I., will face Woonsocket’s Reynaldo Rodriguez (5-2, 2 KOs) in a six-round intrastate showdown. In a special attraction will be an eight-round light middleweight bout featuring Worcester, Mass., veteran and former three-time world champion Jose Antonio Rivera (40-6-1, 24 KOs). All fights and fighters are subject to change.

Tickets for “Heat Wave,” which are priced at $40, $65 and $105, can be purchased by calling CES at 401.724.2253/2254 or Ticketmaster at1.800.745.3000. Fans can also purchase tickets online at www.cesboxing.com,www.ticketmaster.com, or at the Mohegan Sun Box Office. For more information on “Heat Wave,” visit www.cesboxing.com or www.mohegansun.com. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with the first bout scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

**MEDIA ALERT**

WBC SUPER WELTERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION

CANELO ALVAREZ BACK IN LOS ANGELES FOR

MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT AND PRESS CONFERENCE

Alvarez And Top Contender Alfonso Gomez To Officially Announce

September 17 Championship Fight

TUESDAY, JULY 26 AT 12:00 P.M. PT

LOS ANGELES PUBLIC LIBRARY CENTRAL LIBRARY OUTDOOR PLAZA

**OPEN TO THE PUBLIC**

WHO:             CANELO ALVAREZ,WBC Super Welterweight Champion

ALFONSO GOMEZ, #6 Rated WBC Super Welterweight Contender

RICHARD SCHAEFER,CEO of Golden Boy Promotions

JOSE “CHEPO” REYNOSO, Alvarez Manager

ALFONSO GOMEZ SR., Gomez Trainer

WHAT: CANELO ALVAREZ and ALFONSO GOMEZ will hold a press conference in Los Angeles to officially announce their WBC Super Welterweight Championship fight which will be part of the “STAR POWER: Mayweather vs. Ortiz”mega-event taking place on Saturday, Sept. 17.

Please note: This event is open to the PUBLIC.  Fans are encouraged to arrive early.

WHEN: Tuesday, July 26

11:00 a.m. PT – Media Arrival / Lunch

12:00 p.m. PT – Press Conference Starts

WHERE:        Café Pinot Restaurant (press entrance)

400 S. Hope Street Los Angeles, CA 90071 (corner of Hope and Flower)

*Followed by press conference at Outdoor Plaza

PARKING:     Westlawn Garage

Entrance on Flower St. between 5^th and 6^th St.

(Underground Lot at Los Angeles Public Library Central Library)

FACTS: “STAR POWER: Mayweather vs. Ortiz,” is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions and is sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, Dewalt Tools and AT&T.  The 12-round mega-fight, which will be contested for Ortiz’s WBC Welterweight World Championship, will take place Saturday, Sept. 17 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nev. and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View®.