In the first bout, and opening the
pay-per-view telecast that evening, Francisco "Panchito" Bojado
will represent De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions. His opponent
Steve Forbes, will represent the Leonard-hosted 'The Contender'
Series, as runner-up from Contender Season Two. In the other
bout, Golden Boy pugilist and former junior middleweight
champion Kassim "The Dream" Ouma will battle Contender first
season winner Sergio "The Latin Snake" Mora. The winners of the
bouts will decide the winner of the bet between De La Hoya and
Leonard with both decorated fighters agreeing that the loser
will provide ring card girl duties between the first and second
round of the main event. If it's a draw with one bout a piece
for each side, De La Hoya and Leonard will share ring card
duties.
"Ray wanted to bet me that his guys will
beat my guys, and I'm extremely confident that he will be the
one embarrassing himself as a ring card girl on September 15, I
know Bojado and Ouma will win because I never make a bet I can't
win," said Oscar de la Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions.
"I can't think of a better way to top off
a night of "Fireworks" than by seeing Oscar climb into the ring
during the Marquez vs. Juarez fight dressed as a ring card girl.
I know I'm not the only one who wants to see that," said Sugar
Ray Leonard, Contender Series host.
In addition to the
bragging-rights bet, and as part of the relationship
between the two companies to help promote the September 15 fight
card and the start of the Contender Series third season, De La
Hoya and the four fighters will join Leonard during a special
appearance during the Tuesday, September 11 episode of the third
season of The Contender which starts tonight and can be seen on
ESPN Tuesday nights at 10:00 PM EST and 7:00 PM PST. In return,
Leonard will travel to Las Vegas for fight week and work as a
part of the broadcast team for the September 15 show.
"Fireworks" features four televised fights
headlined by the WBC World Super Featherweight Championship bout
between current champion Juan Manuel Marquez and 2000 Olympic
Silver Medalist Rocky Juarez. The evening also includes a
middleweight showdown between former World Champion Kassim "The
Dream" Ouma and 'The Contender' season one winner Sergio "The
Latin Snake" Mora, a battle for the IBF World Featherweight
Title between Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero and Martin Honorio and
a super lightweight battle pitting former Olympian Francisco
"Panchito" Bojado against former World Champion and 'The
Contender' season two runner-up Steve Forbes.
"Fireworks", a night of world-class
professional boxing, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in
association with Romanza Productions and Tournament of
Contenders and sponsored by Tecate, Rock Star Energy Drink and
Southwest Airlines. For more information please visit
www.goldenboypromotions.com.
Tickets for this unforgettable night of
boxing, priced at $300, $200, $100 and $50, are on sale now at
the MGM Grand Garden Arena box office. Tickets are sold at all
Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (Smith's Food and Drug Centers,
Macy's stores and Ritmo Latino). To charge by phone with a
major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (702) 474-4000. Tickets
also are available for purchase at
