It is a lonely time for a boxer when they hit the canvas, their mind suddenly trying to process why the crowd is blurringly at eye level, their sounds muffled. Everything is in slow motion as the referee comes into focus, their voice counting numbers. J’Leon Love from Inkster, Michigan (18-1, 1 No Contest, 10KO) was in such a position on Saturday night after being crushed by a devastating left hook at the hands of Rogelio “Porky” Medina (33-6, 27 KO) of San Luis, Sanora Mexico and was knocked out in the third round in Saturday’s ShoBox Main Event from the Pearl at The Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Love was headlining a ShoBox card which was showcasing three highly touted super middleweights with something to prove and all promoted by Floyd Mayweather and Mayweather Promotions, Love, Badou Jack, and Ronald Gavril.

In the first round, Love used his 4 ½ inch reach advantage and jabbed Medina while landing a few body shots. Love was using a lot of movement as Medina stalked him and landed a few power shots of his own. Love had been down in his last fight against Marco Antonio Periban so it was wise to jab and move away from the power punching Medina. In the second round, Medina landed the stronger shots and continued stalking Love as Love continued to use his jab and move while trying to land his right.

In previous fights, Love had shown a weakness to keep his chin straight up during exchanges and Medina was there to exploit it in the third. Medina stalked Love into the corner and landed a picture perfect left hook that had him out on his feet. As Love was falling, Medina landed a small left uppercut as the Michigan man fell face first into the mat, his legs twitching as he lay on the canvas. He tried to get up stumbling into the ropes from his knees causing Referee Tony Weeks to wave the fight off at 39 seconds of round three.

This is a devastating setback for Love who had hoped to be in line for bigger fights. He must now pick up the pieces and start his journey over again after a knockout loss. He doesn’t have to go far to find guidance on what that will take. He need only go back to the gym and consult with his stablemate Badou Jack who did just that on Saturday night.

Badou Jack (17-1-1. 11 KO) from Stockholm, Sweden had experienced what happened to Love in his last fight. Not comparable in the brutality of how it happened but in tasting the canvas and losing by knockout. Jack needed to prove in this fight against Jason Escalera (15-3-1, 12KO) of Union City, New Jersey that he was not the same fighter who lost to Derek Edwards by KO but more so the fighter who beat the aforementioned Medina by TKO.

Jack fought the first round like he had one goal in mind, survive the round. Although Jack fought very cautious, he exhibited a good jab, worked to the body, and used lateral movement.  Escalera was just looking for one shot trying to repeat what Edwards had done. Round one to Jack, mission accomplished.

Jack controlled the early rounds by utilizing his jab to the body and then to the head while landing timely counter rights. He wobbled Escalera in round three but Escalera recovered quickly and made it a non-issue. Jack picked up the pace and pressed the action in the middle to late rounds as he began to get more confident that Escalera could not hurt him.  He continued to lad his jab and landed a few body shots from time to time. Jack showed good speed and lateral movement on his way to earning a dominant unanimous decision with scores of  100-90 X 2 and 99-91  Escalera actually threw 177 more punches than Jack but Jack was far superior in connection rate landing 158 more.

In the first bout of the night, Ronald Gavril of Bacau, Romania raised his record to (10-0, 8 KO’s) by defeating Thomas Falowo (12-3, 8 KO’s) of Pawtucket, Rhode Island by a seventh round TKO.

In the seventh round, Gavil landed a right to the temple of Falowo’s head sending the Rhodes Island man to the ropes. Gavril observed that Falowo was dazed by the shot and unloaded with right and left hooks and body shots causing Referee Robert Byrd to stop stopped the fight at two minutes fourteen seconds of the seventh round. Falowo, who also was dropped in the third round, was game but clearly overmatched.

Gavril is a sound technical boxer and expends little energy as his economical style allowed him to pick his opponent apart. As Mayweather Promotion’s CEO Leonard Ellerbe stated to Showtime “In this gym, Gavril is the only guy nobody wants to spar with”

Gavril has continued to get better; he has a vast amateur background with 180 fights and is a good pressure fighter who can cause damage wither either hand. Said trainer Eddie Mustafa Muhammad of Gavril’s opponents, “If you’re hurt, you’re gone”

SHO Box The New Generation’s tagline is: Before Greatness…Before Glory…You Have To Prove Yourself Here…Tomorrow’s Champions Today.  On Saturday’s card we saw three fighters answer that call, two expected and one unexpected, a highly touted prospect continued his rise, one returned to exercise his demons, and one that no one saw coming.

– Rick Guerrero / @lapittrack

– Contributer to www.BehindtheGloves.com

The six fighters who will compete in tomorrow’s Special Saturday presentation of ShoBox: The New Generation live on SHOWTIME^® (immediately following the Premiere of “ALL ACCESS: Mayweather vs. Maidana 2″ Episode 1 at 9:30 p.m. PT/ET) made weight Friday at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.

In the main event of a ShoBox tripleheader from The Pearl at Palms Casino Resort today, undefeated super middleweight contender J’Leon Love (18-0, 10 KOs), of Inkster, Mich., will take on Rogelio “Porky” Medina (32-6, 26 KOs), of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico,in a 10-round bout. In other bouts, also featuring Mayweather Promotions’ super middleweights, once-beaten, hard-hitting Badou Jack 16-1-1, 11 KOs), of Stockholm, Sweden, will be opposed by Jason Escalera (15-2-1, 12 KOs) of Union City, N.J., in a 10-round match and Romanian Ronald “Thrill” Gavril (9-0, 7 KOs), who is making his ShoBox debut, will risk his unblemished record against Thomas Falowo(12-2, 8 KOs) of Pawtucket, R.I., in the eight-rounder that will open the telecast.

WEIGHTS: Love weighed 167.5 pounds, Medina tipped scale at 168.6 pounds; Jack weighed 169.4 pounds, Escalera 169.2 pounds; Gavril and Falowo both tipped the scale at 166 pounds.

Tickets for the event, sponsored by Corona, are priced at $25, $50, $75 and $100, plus applicable taxes, fees and service are on sale now and available for purchase by clicking HERE. The first live, non-televised preliminary fight starts at 3 p.m. PT.

Below is what the fighters had to say prior to Friday’s weigh-in:

J’LEON LOVE:

“I’ve been caught with punches in the past and have been able to bounce back and get the victory. It shows that I can make improvements on the fly and overcome adversity.

“I believe that I am two fights away from a title shot. I will take care of business in this fight and go from there. I just need to be myself and execute. I believe in my punches, and when I am in that ring there is never any fear that comes into my body.

“Badou [Jack] let me know about [Rogelio] Medina. He’s a tough guy who will come prepared to fight. I respect that, but I would do the same,

“Each and every day that I train, I learn something new. I have a great team and trainer that constantly tell me that I am only as good as my last fight.

“I must keep my hands up, stay consistent with my punches and not throw any lazy jabs, because that’s what caught me in my last fight. I want to keep excelling as a fighter, silence my critics and stay humble.

“There is a certain level of expectation when you’re a part of TMT [The Money Team]. I know that everyone associated with this team doesn’t accept anything less than the best.”

ROGELIO MEDINA:

“I feel very strong going into this fight. I am very well prepared.

“In the past when I moved up a weight class I fought well, but didn’t win. The reason for that was I wasn’t properly prepared going into those fights to take the punches, but for this fight I have constantly been training for the past three months.

“I feel that I can beat anyone in the 168-pound weight class.

“My opponent likes to trade punches, has no fear and is in great shape. But, he isn’t always consistent with his punches and has a suspect chin. I am ready to pressure him every round and I am prepared for a 10-round fight.

“All the fighters on TMT want to fight like Floyd [Mayweather]. The problem with that is there is only one Floyd and you must be yourself and not try to fight like someone else.

“I will give it everything I have in the ring tomorrow and a victory would be huge for me and open up many doors.”

BADOU JACK

“In my last fight [loss to Derek Edwards], he caught me cold when I ran into his punch. I have learned a great deal from that fight that I will use to my advantage in fighting my opponent tomorrow. I must keep my distance and use my height and range.

“A title fight is definitely a possibility in the future, but I never look past my next opponent. I am focused solely on him and there is nothing else going through my mind.

“My opponent puts constant pressure on and doesn’t move his head. I feel like his style fits well into my style. I plan to wear him down with body shots, use my range and height to my advantage. I have no fear.

“I am very focused on my career and I don’t worry about anything else. You will see a very different Badou in this fight in relation to my last bout.”

JASON ESCALERA

“This is the biggest fight of my career and I am very excited and ready for this opportunity.

“I must keep pressure on him with constant punches and refresh him about his last fight.

“I am honestly surprised that I got this fight. Since [Badou] Jack is coming off of a loss, I figured he would want to fight someone who wasn’t a puncher, but I will not back down.”

RONALD GAVRIL:

“I had a great amateur career for 10 years in Romania, but the United States is the best place to fight. I couldn’t be happier with the decision I made to come over here to advance my professional career.

“I am a workhorse that is all business and no flash. I am very focused on my goals and won’t let anything get in my way. I have a great attitude and work ethic with technique and skill.

“With my trainer [Eddie Mustafa Muhammad], I am learning how to shorten up my punches, but I have always been a big puncher. My defense is also improving every day.

“My opponent is a solid fighter and I believe that he is going to be the toughest test of my professional career to date. I want to make him tired and uncomfortable in the ring.

“My team says I may have a shorter road to the title than other fighters. I believe I have what it takes to one day be world champion.”

THOMAS FALOWO:

“I’m very excited about fighting on ShoBox and grateful for the opportunity. I’m ready to prove that I belong to fight on the big stage.

“I’ve had tougher fights, but this is definitely my biggest fight. I feel that I’m more ready than ever and that this fight came along at a perfect time.

“This would be a huge step in the right direction if I come out with the victory. I know that everything will fall into place for me if I stay focused in the ring.

“My opponent has a similar style; we both like to throw big punches. He had a good amateur career and has been doing OK as a pro. But he’s definitely never a fighter of my caliber.

“I know that the fans will really enjoy watching our fight. I have always been a fan favorite and Saturday night I will not disappoint.”

Barry Tompkins will call the ShoBox action from ringside with boxing historian Steve Farhood and former World Champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts. The executive producer is Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.

For more information, visit www.mayweatherpromotions.com and follow on Twitter with @mayweatherpromo, @coronaboxing, @PearlatPalms, @ShoSports, @Swanson_Comm. And become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromo and www.facebook.com/SHOBoxing and follow the conversation using #desertshowdown.

- PRESS RELEASE

Exactly two weeks before Floyd “Money” Mayweather faces Marcos “El Chino” Maidana in the main event of “MAYHEM: Mayweather vs. Maidana 2″ on Saturday, Sept. 13 live on SHOWTIME PPV^®, the 11-Time World Champion and perennial No. 1 pound-for-pound superstar will be at ringside to watch three of his brightest rising stars compete in Mayweather Promotions “Desert Showdown” from The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.

In the featured attraction of the Aug. 30 special Saturday presentation of ShoBox: The New Generation undefeated super middleweight contender J’Leon Love will meet Rogelio Medina in a 12-round bout. In other ShoBox bouts, all featuring super middleweights, hard-hitting Badou Jack will take on Jason Escalera in a 10-round match and Ronald Gavril faces Thomas Falowo in an eight-rounder.

The tripleheader will air live on SHOWTIME^® immediately following the premiere of of ALL ACCESS: Mayweather vs. Maidana 2 Episode 1 at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT.

Mayweather, who attends all Mayweather Promotions shows, will be interviewed between fights during a ShoBox telecast that became a three-fight affair after a fight between MP’s Chris Pearson and Steve Martinez was cancelled when Pearson suffered an injury in training.

Tickets for the event, sponsored by Corona, are priced at $25, $50, $75 and $100, plus applicable taxes, fees and service are on sale now and available for purchase by clicking HERE. The first live, non-televised preliminary fight starts at 3 p.m. PT.

“It’s great to be putting on another great card with Mayweather Promotions stars from top to bottom,” said Mayweather, president of Mayweather Promotions. “Even though we will be two weeks away from my rematch against Maidana, there is no way I would miss this. These guys all live by the motto of ‘Hard work, dedication,’ and I look forward to seeing that hard work pay off on Aug. 30.”

“The Aug. 30 fight kicks off two big weeks for Mayweather Promotions,” said Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions. “With a full roster of our toughest fighters, fans at The Palms will be in for great fights from start to finish just 14 days before the biggest fight of the year.”

“We’re excited to work with Mayweather Promotions and SHOWTIME for another exciting boxing event at The Pearl,” said Billy Conn, Vice President of Entertainment and Special Events for the Pearl at Palms Resort and Casino.

With his huge win against Marco Antonio Periban on “THE MOMENT: Mayweather vs. Maidana” pay-per-view undercard in May, J’Leon Love (18-0, 10 KOs) earned himself the vacant WBA International Super Middleweight Title and the respect of boxing fans who saw him get knocked down, but get back on his feet to defeat Periban. Now the Dearborn Heights, Mich., native looks to earn himself a world title fight with an impressive performance on Aug. 30.

His opponent, Rogelio Medina (32-6, 26 KOs), of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, is a hard-hitting 25-year-old looking to find himself in the world title picture with a signature victory against Love.

A member of the 2008 Gambian Olympic Team, Badou “The Ripper” Jack (16-1-1, 11 KOs) will look to rebound from the first loss of his career, a first-round knockout against Derek Edwards. A victory here will surely return the exciting super middleweight to contender status.

Jack takes on Jason Escalera (15-2-1, 12 KOs) of Union City, N.J., who turned pro in 2008 after only 25 amateur fights. The 168-pounder will be seeking his third victory in a row when he takes on “The Ripper.”

Rounding out the tripleheader will be undefeated Romanian Ronald “Thrill” Gavril (9-0, 7 KOs), who will try and keep his unblemished record intact against Thomas Falowo (12-2, 8 KOs) of Pawtucket, R.I. The 25-year-old Falowo will be fighting for the first time in Las Vegas as a professional.

The non-televised portion of the undercard is sure to bring the usual Mayweather Promotions fireworks as an array of their top fighters will look to impress. Featured against opponents to be announced are a pair of welterweights, the United Kingdom’s Ashley Theophane (35-6-1, 11 KOs) and Ladarius Miller (3-0, 1 KO) of Memphis, Tenn. Also on the undercard are Milwaukee’s middleweight Luis Arias (9-0, 4 KOs), Kansas City super middleweight Lanell Bellows (8-1-1, 6 KOs) and Chicago cruiserweight Andrew Tabiti (6-0, 6 KOs).

– PRESS RELEASE

Mayweather Promotions closes out the summer in a big way on Saturday, Aug. 30 as they present the star-studded “Desert Showdown” featuring undefeated super middleweight contender J’Leon Love taking on the dangerous Rogelio Medina from The Pearl at Palms Resort Casino in Las Vegas.

In other action, hard-hitting Badou Jack will face Jason Escalera in the evening’s co-main event. The event also features Mayweather Promotions stars Chris Pearson who takes on Steve Martinez and Ronald Gavril who faces Thomas Falowo.

Fights from this night of boxing, sponsored by Corona, will come to you live as part of ShoBox: The New Generation telecast live on SHOWTIME which will begin at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

Tickets priced at $25, $50, $75 and $100, plus applicable taxes, fees and service are on sale now and available for purchase by clicking HERE.
“It’s great to be putting on another great card with Mayweather Promotions stars from top to bottom,” said Floyd Mayweather, president of Mayweather Promotions. “Even though we will be two weeks away from my rematch against Maidana, there is no way I would miss this. These guys all live by the motto of ‘Hard work, dedication,’ and I look forward to seeing that hard work pay off on Aug. 30.”

“The Aug. 30 fight kicks off two big weeks for Mayweather Promotions,” said Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions. “With a full roster of our toughest fighters, fans at The Palm will be in for great fights from start to finish just 14 days before the biggest fight of the year.”

“We’re excited to work with Mayweather Promotions and Showtime for another exciting boxing event at The Pearl,” said Billy Conn, Vice President of Entertainment and Special Events for the Pearl at Palms Resort and Casino.

With his huge win against Marco Antonio Periban on “THE MOMENT: Mayweather vs. Maidana” pay-per-view undercard in May, J’Leon Love (18-0, 10 KOs) earned himself the vacant WBA International Super Middleweight Title and the respect of boxing fans who saw him get knocked down, but get back on his feet to defeat Periban. Now the Dearborn Heights, Mich., native looks to earn himself a world title fight with an impressive performance on Aug. 30.

His opponent, Rogelio Medina (32-6, 26 KOs) is a hard-hitter who has racked up the knockouts throughout his career. Still just 25-years-old, the Mexican fighter is looking to find himself in the world title picture with a signature victory against Love on August 30.

A member of the 2008 Gambian Olympic Team, Badou “The Ripper” Jack (16-1-1, 11 KOs) will look to rebound from the first loss of his career, a first-round knockout against Derek Edwards. A victory here will surely return the exciting super middleweight to contender status.

Jack takes on Jason Escalera (15-2-1, 12 KOs) of Union City, NJ burst onto the boxing scene in 2008 turning pro after only 25 fights. The super middleweight is coming off of a two-fight winning streak and is looking to hand “The Ripper” another loss.

Rounding out a four-fight telecast will be undefeated middleweight Chris Pearson (14-0, 10 KOs) and unbeaten super middleweight Ronald “Thrill” Gavril (9-0, 7 KOs) in separate bouts. The Romanian, Gavril, and the Dayton, Ohio, native, Pearson, are hoping to keep their unblemished records intact on their way to reaching their world championship aspirations.

Pearson takes on Steve Martinez (15-1, 12 KOs) a 24-year-old prospect from the Bronx, New York who enters this bout on a four-match winning streak that includes three victories by TKO. Gavril will take on Thomas Falowo (12-2, 8 KOs) of Pawtucket, Rhode Island who looks to make it three wins in a row on August 30. The 25-year-old will be fighting for the first time in Las Vegas as a professional when he steps in the ring with Gavril.

The remainder of the undercard fight are sure to bring the usual Mayweather Promotions fireworks as an array of their top fighters will look to impress. Featured against opponents to be announced are a pair of welterweights, the United Kingdom’s Ashley Theophane (35-6-1, 11 KOs) and Ladarius Miller (3-0, 1 KO) of Memphis, Tenn. Also Milwaukee’s middleweight Luis Arias (9-0, 4 KOs), Kansas City super middleweight Lanell Bellows (8-1-1, 6 KOs) and Chicago cruiserweight Andrew Tabiti (6-0, 6 KOs).

For more information, visit www.mayweatherpromotions.com and follow on Twitter with @mayweatherpromo, @coronaboxing, @PearlatPalms, @ShoSports, @Swanson_Comm. And become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromo and www.facebook.com/SHOBoxing and follow the conversation using #desertshowdown.

– PRESS RELEASE

Floyd Mayweather dumps Golden Boy Promotions

Mere hours after former Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer announced he’d be leaving the company, representatives for Floyd Mayweather confirmed that he too would no longer be working with the southern California based promoter any longer.

ESPN.com’s Dan Rafael spoke to Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe, who confirmed that their relationship with Golden Boy was based on their comfort with Schaefer, and with him out of the picture they will go in another direction.

“Absolutely not,” said Ellerbe when asked if Mayweather would again work with Golden Boy now that Schaefer is out of the picture.

“We have a great working relationship with Richard Schaefer and that will never change,” Ellerbe said. “Richard is a good friend and a great businessman and an excellent promoter. Richard will have an impact in anything that he decides to do, a tremendous impact. He built that company from the ground up and did a phenomenal job. We’ve had a very close relationship for a number of years and worked hand-in-hand on a number of great fights.

“Mayweather Promotions will continue to promote Floyd’s fights and Floyd will continue to put on the biggest fights in boxing. I have a tremendous team and staff and we continue to expand year by year and we’re ready to go.”

During fight week for Mayweather’s bout against Marcos Maidana, Mayweather addressed the rumors of in-fighting between Schaefer and Oscar De La Hoya by stating that Schaefer would have a home at Mayweather Promotions if things shook out the way they have.

“We like working with Richard Schaefer. Richard Schaefer is Golden Boy,” Mayweather said that week. “He does all the day-to-day leg work. He works hard. He’s up late on the phone with Leonard, three, four in the morning, taking flights, and people that’s putting work in like this you got to commend them.

“Richard always has a home over here. We would love to work with him hand-in-hand if he has any problems over there because we know it’s a company Richard Schaefer built. We working hand-in-hand already. We would love to work with Richard. He’s a great guy, a great father. Richard knows the door is always open. Richard Schaefer knows he’s family.”

Ellerbe didn’t want to comment immediately on the idea of Schaefer moving over to their company.

“Richard just put in the resignation (Monday) and I’m not going to speak on what Richard might do next,” Ellerbe said. “That is for Richard to say. But Richard will have a tremendous impact on whatever he decides to do and wherever he goes. We always welcome smart leaders, but I don’t know what his future is.”

Perhaps the most intriguing thing Ellerbe said was that he doesn’t recall De La Hoya being involved in any way with the lead-up to any of Mayweather’s promotions. These are the fights the company has largely built their name on over the past few years dating back to 2007, when Golden Boy exclusively began promoting Mayweather on a fight-by-fight basis.

“I’ve been in a hundred strategy sessions, I’ve been in a hundred meetings, I’ve been in a hundred planning sessions on our events and the people I’ve worked closely with are Richard and Bruce,” Ellerbe said. “I’ve never seen Oscar in one of those sessions, not once. We’ve never had one discussion about business. But I wish (Golden Boy) nothing but the best.”

There are many questions left by this move. What will happen to future bouts between Golden Boy fighters and those under the Mayweather Promotions banner? Do fights like Sakio Bika against J’Leon Love, a bout that has been rumored, fall by the wayside? Will Golden Boy halt putting Mayweather’s young fighters on their shows in the future?

There’s also a question of what will happen with Mayweather’s bout slated for mid-September. Golden Boy cultivated a relationship with the MGM Grand, though much of that can be attributed to Schaefer. While there’s little doubt Mayweather will fight at the MGM Grand, what about all the sponsors that have been cultivated through De La Hoya’s company? Who do they side with in this and does it affect their future business?

A lot of answers to come as this interesting development continues to get more intriguing by the day and the hour.

-Mark E. Ortega / @MarkEOrtega

-Managing editor at www.BehindTheGloves.com

Photo courtesy of Tom Casino / SHOWTIME

Floyd Mayweather-Marcos Maidana weights & photos

Floyd Mayweather, Marcos Maidana, and all the undercard fighters weighed in on Friday afternoon at the MGM Grand ahead of SHOWTIME’s big pay-per-view. Here are the weights and photos.

Floyd Mayweather, 146 vs. Marcos Maidana 146.5.

Amir Khan 147 vs. Luis Collazo 147.

Adrien Broner 140 vs. Carlos Molina 140

J’Leon Love 168 vs. Marco Antonio Periban 168

Andrew Tabiti 194 vs. John Shipman 194

Ronald Gavril 167 vs. Tyrell Hendrix 167

Anthony Ogogo 161.5 vs. Jonuel Tapia 158

Ashley Theophane 142 vs. Angino Perez 141.5

Lanell Bellows 168 vs. Thomas Gifford 166.5

Ladarius Miller 140 vs. Richard Colas 142

-Mark E. Ortega / @MarkEOrtega

-Managing editor at www.BehindTheGloves.com

Floyd Mayweather-Marcos Maidana undercard press conference quotes & photos

LAS VEGAS (May, 1 2014) – Undercard fighters from “THE MOMENT: Mayweather vs. Maidana” took the stage at the Hollywood Theatre at MGM Grand today for the final press conference before their fights this Saturday, May 3, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena live on SHOWTIME PPV®. All photos courtesy of Esther Lin / SHOWTIME

Below is what the fighters from this stellar televised undercard had to say:

AMIR “KING” KHAN, Former Unified Super Lightweight World Champion

“This is a great event, every fight here could be a main event. There’s a lot of great fighters up here.

“I’m excited to put on a great show. I’ve trained my way up to this weight. The hand speed and movement is always going to be here but there are a lot of news things you will see.

“I’m going to put on a great performance and I hope we give the fans what they want.

“Spending this time with (trainer) Virgil Hunter has only made me a better boxer. This is the only time I’ve had time off to rest and take a break from boxing.

“As long as I put on a great performance I’ll earn that shot [at fighting Mayweather]. But, to be honest, I’m not looking past Collazo. I need to win this fight and take it from there. I need to put on a good performance and we’ll see what happens.

“It’s going to be a hard fight. It will be tough and exciting, but I think I have all the tools to beat him.

“I’ve been working hard and improving myself. It’s not like I’ve been taking time off. I’ve been sparring and working on my style.

“He’s coming off a big win so I know it won’t be an easy fight. I’m looking to make a big statement on the Mayweather undercard.”

LUIS COLLAZO, WBA International Welterweight Champion

“This is the highest of the high for a boxer and I’m humbled by the opportunity.

“It’s been a tremendous ride. I’m blessed to be here and soak this moment in.

“Khan, welcome to the welterweight division. Once the bell rings you’re going to see the best Collazo you’ve ever seen.

“I’m going to give the fight fans what they want; make sure you tune in and don’t miss it. It’s going to be a special night.”

ADRIEN “THE PROBLEM” BRONER, Former Three-Division World Champion

“I’m coming to do damage. I’m punching with bad intentions and I’m back on my A-game.

“I’m thankful God slowed me down and showed me how to be humble. I know he can take it all away.

“I’m still that same flashy, hungry young man.

“I feel disrespected. I’m a main event fighter. You can put Adrien Broner anywhere. You put Carlos Molina in front of me, and I feel disrespected.”

CARLOS MOLINA, Super Lightweight Contender

“We’re ready. Come Saturday night this is pay-per-view, so you know we’re going for broke on this one. We’re letting our hands fly.

“I know I’m going to have a lot of great fans after this victory.”

J’LEON LOVE, Undefeated Super Middleweight Title

“This is a crazy card to be on. All these guys up here are coming to put on a show and I’m looking to do the same thing.

“I know Periban is a tough, rugged fighter and I’m prepared for that. I’ve had a great camp. My trainer pushed me to the limit.

“We’re in this to win and we want to let you know that I am the future of this sport.”

MARCO ANTONIO PERIBAN, NABF Super Middleweight World Champion

“I just want to invite everybody to watch this fight. It’s going to be great, and I’m prepared.

“Saturday is going to be a great show, a great fight. I’m well prepared for this. I’m going to give every ounce of me so that I can regain a title shot. That’s what I’m here for.

“I know that J’Leon is a strong fighter and I have to give a strong performance. That’s the only way I can win.”

LEONARD ELLERBE, CEO of Mayweather Promotions

“Thanks to everyone for coming out. Like others have said, you can’t call this an ‘undercard’ because these are all great fighters. It will be an exciting card.

“The official weigh-in is Friday, and it starts at 2 o’clock. Floyd wanted to do something different. 2 Chainz will be performing live at the weigh-in. It will be an event within an event.”

RICHARD SCHAEFER, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions

“This isn’t an ‘undercard.’ This is an accumulation of three main events under the Super Bowl of boxing between Mayweather and Maidana. Each one of the TV fights could have its own TV platform and venue and would be a main event in many other boxing programs.

“We always feel very comfortable in Las Vegas, the fight capital of the world. It is very special for these fighters to fight under the bright lights of Las Vegas. It really is an entertainer’s dream to perform in Las Vegas and it is a fighter’s dream to box here in Las Vegas.

“Of course when you think of Las Vegas, MGM is the place to be. The headquarters of boxing worldwide, it is where all the big fights are happening. We are very happy to be back here at the MGM Grand with this terrific quadrupleheader supported by some of the sport’s young, rising stars.”

STEPHEN ESPINOZA, Executive Vice President & General Manager of SHOWTIME Sports

“There is one thing that we know about Floyd Mayweather events – they are massive, and they generate more attention, more publicity and more awareness than any other event in the sport.

“That attention, that visibility, means that Mayweather events attract huge numbers of casual boxing fans, and non-fans, people who may only watch one or two shows a year.

“In short, this is not an event where you skip the undercard. At six o’clock on Saturday night, you have to be in front of your television if you’re at home, or in your seat if you’re in the arena. If you’re not, you’ll be missing the best this sport has to offer.

“In Broner against Molina, we have the very talented Adrien Broner, who has a lot of questions to answer after his setback last December. But Carlos Molina is here to make a statement of his own.

“Khan versus Collazo is the very definition of a high-stakes fight. Collazo is a tough veteran who’s fought the best welterweights in the world during his career. He’s come out on the short end of some very close decisions. Luis is getting the opportunity of a lifetime.

“Amir Khan is fighting for high stakes as well, with the possibility of launching himself onto an even bigger stage as a possible Mayweather opponent.”

# # #

“THE MOMENT: Mayweather vs. Maidana,” isa 12-round world championship unification bout for Mayweather and Maidana’s respective 147-pound titles. This is the third fight of Mayweather’s lucrative multi-fight deal with Showtime Networks Inc. THE MOMENT is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona, O’Reilly Auto Parts and AT&T. In the co-main event, Amir Khan faces Luis Collazo in a 12-round bout for the vacant WBC silver welterweight world title. The pay-per-view undercard also features a 10-round Super Lightweight fight between Adrien Broner and Carlos Molina for the vacant WBA International super lightweight title as well as a 10-round super middleweight bout for the vacant WBA International super middleweight title featuring J’Leon Love vs. Marco Antonio Periban. The event will be produced and distributed live by SHOWTIME PPV (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) will be available in Spanish via secondary audio programming (SAP).

Tickets for the live event priced at $1,500, $1,000 and $750 are still available, not including applicable service charges and taxes. Tickets priced at $550 and $350 are sold out. Tickets are limited to eight (8) per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available at www.mgmgrand.com orwww.ticketmaster.com

As usual, Floyd Mayweather makes everyone wait on his grand arrival

LAS VEGAS–As is the usual trend for any Floyd Mayweather grand arrival, the unbeaten pound-for-pound king made the crowd and media at the MGM Grand wait an extra hour for him to finally make an appearance–this despite living just a few miles down the road.

Though the atmosphere wasn’t on the level of Mayweather’s last appearance against Canelo Alvarez, Saturday night’s opponent on SHOWTIME PPV, Marcos Maidana, had a stirring amount of support from the Latino boxing community, most of which were his fellow Argentines. Though it is only Tuesday, a good number of them were in attendance and sounded even deeper in numbers based on the volume they were able to punch up in support of their fighter.

Mayweather had the usual pre-fight things to say, gave respect to his opponent and voiced his gratitude to the fans who waited for him more than an hour in the main lobby of the MGM Grand, which will play host to a Mayweather fight for the ninth straight time. Though the Barclays Center in Brooklyn put in a sizable offer and were a real threat to steal Mayweather for this fight, the MGM Grand eventually won out as the official home of the unbeaten 37-year old.

Amir Khan arrived to loud support as he looks ahead to a challenge from Brooklyn’s Luis Collazo. The winner potentially could face Mayweather in September and Khan brought a fair number of Brits over in support. Fellow Brits Ashley Theophane and 2012 Olympic bronze medalist middleweight Anthony Ogogo bring additional UK flavor to the card. Though it is Cinco de Mayo weekend, super middleweight Marco Antonio Periban remains the only Mexican-born fighter on the show as he squares off with Mayweather promoted J’Leon Love in the opening PPV fight.

Adrien Broner punked out Golden Boy Promotions emcee Tattoo on stage when asked about if he could give any advice to Mayweather, since he is fighting the man that handed Broner his first career defeat last December. Broner didn’t take kindly to the question and grabbed the mic to make his own statements. Broner faces Carlos Molina in what amounts to a showcase fight, though Molina obviously has other plans.

Keep following @BehindTheGloves for more content from Las Vegas fight week over the next few days…

-Mark E. Ortega / @MarkEOrtega

-Managing editor at www.BehindTheGloves.com

All photos courtesy of SHOWTIME / Esther Lin.

Mayweather-Maidana fight week: who has most to prove?

Its technically fight week for Floyd Mayweather against Marcos Maidana and at Behind The Gloves we will be discussing Saturday’s pay-per-view all week long.

Of every fighter on the PPV portion, who has the most to prove?

Floyd Mayweather: The pound-for-pound King Mayweather has never officially tasted defeat, and at an 11-to-1 favorite, it’s highly unlikely that he will be on the losing end against Marcos Maidana. For Floyd, how important is it that he scored a dominant victory over his opponent?

The expectation is that Mayweather will play it safe and box the ears off of Maidana without putting himself in harm’s way, similar to the way he beat Maidana’s fellow countryman Carlos Baldomir in 2006. Is it important that Floyd not just beat Maidana, but beat him down and try and stop him? Floyd hasn’t stopped an opponent in recent years aside from the controversial KO of Victor Ortiz when Ortiz gifted his chin on a platter and Floyd landed a one-two. A stoppage win would be out of character for Mayweather and would definitely be the best way to end the evening’s festivities.

Marcos Maidana: Maidana earned this fight off the strength of his December domination of Mayweather pal Adrien Broner. While we await to see if Broner’s loss was just a fluke or if he’s really not all we thought he was, Maidana is faced with the task of beating the most dominant fighter of the past quarter century.

Should Maidana fall victim the same way most other Mayweather opponents do and he get outboxed definitively, it would do very little to damage Maidana’s marketability. One thing is that most Mayweather victims have a hard time bouncing back from a loss and rarely make it back to being a top fighter, Canelo Alvarez aside.

Amir Khan: The UK’s Khan arguably has the most to prove out of anyone. Khan missed out on a Mayweather fight after Floyd lead him on for months into thinking he’d be his May 3 opponent. Khan backed out of a fight with Devon Alexander and has sat out more than a year and will now face veteran Luis Collazo.

Collazo is a formidable opponent coming off a career defining KO over Victor Ortiz but still lacks the name recognition necessary for Khan to get lots of credit just for winning.

Coming off a difficult win over Julio Diaz, Khan has to prove he’s got what it takes to compete with Mayweather while also not looking past Collazo. Khan is more or less fighting for a chance to face Floyd and can’t afford any setbacks, putting ultimate pressure on himself.

Luis Collazo: It took a long time for Collazo to earn his way back into a major fight on a major card and he isn’t about to let it all go.

Collazo was fighting off TV as recent as a few years ago, even fighting on an internet PPV at one point. In his biggest challenges, Collazo has come up just short against the likes of Ricky Hatton and Andre Berto and knows now that to get a win over a flashy name, it’s gonna take just a little bit more. Collazo could become the unlikeliest of Mayweather opponents should he dominate Khan, while also representing the best shot at bringing Mayweather to Barclays Center in Brooklyn, being a native. Into his thirties, this maybe represents Collazo’s last chance at becoming a big name player.

Adrien Broner: Broner is coming off a humbling defeat at the hands of Maidana, a loss that spawned thousands of boxing memes from his many detractors. Broner faces light hitting Carlos Molina and must dominate every second in order to dodge the criticism of all who can’t stand him. A win and Maidana loss would setup a rematch between the two, something Broner seems to really want. First, he must look fantastic.

J’Leon Love: Love has now fought twice since escaping with a win last May over Gabriel Rosado on Mayweather’s undercard. He tested positive for a banned substance and was suspended, with the win being changed to a no contest.

That erased Love’s most credible win and again he is out to prove himself in a 50/50 fight against Marco Antonio Periban. Should Love want to be taken seriously as a top super middleweight, dominating Periban is a good place to start and would most likely lead to a title shot.

Marco Antonio Periban: Mexican contenders above the middleweight class are hard to come by and are extremely bankable. Periban showed guts in squeaking out a draw against Badou Jack and just narrowly lost his first vid at becoming champ against Sakio Bika. If Periban wants to avoid becoming a stepping stone, it is necessary he gets by Love, and does so impressively.

Every fighter on Saturday is out to prove something, but Khan carries the most weight on his shoulders. He’s also most likely to face an upset and knows all eyes are on him.

-Mark E. Ortega / @MarkEOrtega
-Managing editor at www.BehindTheGloves.com

Floyd Mayweather media day quotes and photos

Quotes and photos from Tuesday’s media day at the Mayweather Boxing Club in Las Vegas are below. FLOYD MAYWEATHER, 10-Time World Champion “In 18 years I haven’t brought my best out yet. Being around the sport for so long, I have a lot of experience. I’ve boxed my whole life. I’ve never worked a job. “As I get older I want to settle down and be with my family. I’ve had enough fun. “It feels good to be in camp. Everyone on the team is ready to go out and do what we do best. “This is a give and take type of sport. Al Haymon has done a good job. Leonard Ellerbe has done a good job. Now it’s time for me to go out and do what I do. “Maidana deserves the opportunity. He’s a champion with an 80 percent knockout ratio. He deserves this fight. “Everything isn’t about speed. Everything in boxing and life is about timing. I’m a fighter that likes to take my time and be smart. Some fighters like to be reckless. You see what happens when fighters are reckless. “Boxing is like chess. Every move has to be thought about before you make it. I like to study my opponents first. “I’m not going to do a lot of moving when I get in the ring. I’m coming straight ahead. “Everyone is supposed to say they want to fight me. Right now Maidana is the guy that I can’t overlook. “I love all my fans that support me from Argentina. It’s the sport of boxing, so the best have to fight the best.” LEONARD ELLERBE, CEO of Mayweather Promotions “Mayweather is always ready for anyone. “Maidana has tremendous punching power and can knock you out at any moment. “Maidana should be ready for a toe-to-toe battle. “THE MOMENT will be a tremendous fight. A must see event. “Floyd has a unique talent that I’ve never seen before in my life. He’s better now than he was 12 years ago. “Floyd’s preparation elevates him above the rest. “J’Leon has matured as a fighter. This is going to be a very tough fight for him.” “I have every bit of confidence that this is a challenge that J’Leon will prevail in and then be in a great position to challenge for the world title.” RICHARD SCHAEFER, CEO GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS “Floyd Mayweather did it again. He picked the most dangerous opponent he could have. “It’s going to be a thrilling fight. Maidana is ready and he’s going to come to try to knock out Mayweather. “It is always amazing to be at a Mayweather workout. The turnout is something to see. “As a boxing fan, I cannot wait for May 3. THE MOMENT is going to be an unforgettable night of boxing. “The whole card from top to bottom is something that no one is going to want to miss and the pay-per-view portion is one of the best, if not the best we have ever put together.” J’LEON LOVE, Super Middleweight Contender “I’m going to bring my A-plus game. “I’m not scared of a guy Periban’s size. “This is graduation season. I’m ready to fight for the world title. “I know I’m going to beat Periban. I feel it in my heart.” RONALD GAVRIL, Undefeated Middleweight Contender “My opponent is not a problem for me. “I’m preparing for a show. He better be ready. “It’s an honor to train next to Floyd. I learn from the champion in every way. “Keep your eyes on me. The show is going to begin.” ASHLEY THEOPHANE, Welterweight Contender “I don’t worry about my opponent. I fight my fight. “Experience counts. I’ve been here before. I’m beyond ready. “I’ve never been knocked out before. It’s going to be an action-packed fight. “I’m one win away from the world title. I’m focused. “It’s all about getting the W. “I’m good for another few years. I’m still young and hungry.” LANELL BELLOWS, Super Middleweight Prospect “It’s just another day at the office. We do what we have to do. “I’m working harder now. What happened yesterday is yesterday. “I always strive to push myself further. “He has to be fast enough to hit me. No mater how big or small. “Expect a hungry man. Nothing but the very best. “If I touch you there’s a chance you may be going down. ANDREW TABITI, Undefeated Cruiserweight Prospect “Never give up. I didn’t think I would make it so that’s all I have to say. “It doesn’t stop here. I’m trying to get to the next level.” All photos courtesy of Esther Lin / SHOWTIME # # # “THE MOMENT: Mayweather vs. Maidana,” is a 12-round world championship unification bout for Mayweather and Maidana’s respective 147-pound titles. This is the third fight of Mayweather’s lucrative multi-fight deal with Showtime Networks Inc. THE MOMENT is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona, O’Reilly Auto Parts and AT&T. In the co-main event, Amir Khan faces Luis Collazo in a 12-round bout for the vacant WBC silver welterweight world title. The pay-per-view undercard also features a 10-round junior welterweight fight between Adrien Broner and Carlos Molina as well as a 10-round super middleweight bout featuring J’Leon Love vs. Marco Antonio Periban. The event will be produced and distributed live by SHOWTIME PPV (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) will be available in Spanish via secondary audio programming (SAP). Tickets priced at $1,500, $1,000 and $750 are still available, not including applicable service charges and taxes. Tickets $550 and $350 are sold out. Tickets are limited to eight (8) per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available at www.mgmgrand.com orwww.ticketmaster.com. Six MGM Resorts Properties will host live closed circuit telecast of THE MOMENT: Bellagio, ARIA, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, The Mirage and Monte Carlo. General admission tickets for the closed circuit telecasts are priced at $75, not including handling fees, and are available for purchase at each individual property’s box office outlets and by phone with a major credit card at 866-799-7711 or at www.mgmgrand.com. Select properties also will sell tickets through Ticketmaster by calling (800) 745-3000 or by purchasing online at www.ticketmaster.com. “THE MOMENT” will also be broadcast on nearly 520 select movie theaters across the country. Tickets are available at participating theater box offices and online at www.FathomEvents.com. -PRESS RELEASE