Morel, 36, Says Age Will Be No Excuse

EL PASO, Texas (April 19, 2012) – The four fighters who’ll compete in the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING doubleheader this Saturday, April 21, live on SHOWTIME^® (9:30 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) at UTEP’s Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas, participated in the final press conference Thursday at Don Haskins Center.

In Saturday’s 12-round main event, talented, unbeaten former Bantamweight World Champion Abner Mares (23-0-1, 13 KO’s) of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, will return to the 122-pound division for the first time since 2006 to face former Two-Time World Champion Eric “Little Hands of Steel” Morel (46-2, 23 KO’s), of San Juan, Puerto Rico, for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) Super Bantamweight World Championship.

In a second world title fight, World Boxing Association (WBA) Bantamweight Super World Champion Anselmo “Chemito” Moreno (32-2-1, 11 KO’s), of Panama City, Panama, will defend his title for a 10^th time when he faces David “Morita” de la Mora (24-1, 17 KO’s) of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico.

Scheduled matchups for the SHOWTIME Extreme telecast (begins live at 7:00 p.m. ET/PT): Librado Andrade (30-4, 23 KO’s) vs. Rowland Bryant (15-1, 10 KO’s), 10 rounds, super middleweights; Luis Ramos, Jr. (21-0, 9 KO’s) vs. Daniel Attah (26-9-1, 9 KO’s), 10 rounds, lightweights; Francisco Vargas (9-0-1, 7 KO’s) vs. Rafael Lora (11-7, 5 KOs), 6/8 rounds, junior lightweights (swing bout); and Antonio Escalante (25-4, 17 KO’s) vs. Francisco Camacho (10-1, 3 KO’s), 8 rounds, junior lightweights (swing bout).

Tickets, priced at $25, $50, $75 and $150, are available at the UTEP Ticket Office, all Ticketmaster locations or by phone at (800) 745-3000. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com. For more information, please call: (915) 747-5234.

A special preview episode of THE FRANCHISE: A SEASON WITH THE MIAMI MARLINS will air Saturday at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) immediately preceding SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on SHOWTIME.

Here’s what the participants had to say on Thursday:

Abner Mares

“Ever since I entered the SHOWTIME Bantamweight Tournament, people started recognizing me. People started noticing me and getting a close look at Abner Mares, the real Abner Mares. People didn’t know much of him, just the fact that he went to the Olympics, and now I’m making a name for myself.

“This fight is going to be really good. I am not underestimating Eric Morel. Never will I underestimate any fighter. I train really hard for any fighter because I want to give a great show. I want to show a different Abner every time I face anyone. I’m ready. I’m ready for Eric.

“I know Eric trained really hard as well and it’s only going to make this fight really interesting.This is really going to be a good and explosive fight.’’

Eric Morel

“This is going to be a great fight. Nothing is going to stop me.Age is not going to be an excuse. I’m well prepared. I know what I’m getting into. I know Mares is extremely hungry and a very good fighter, very talented. He has his dreams and I’ve got mine, too.

“But on Saturday the best man will win. It’s not going to be easy for either one of us.’’

Anselmo Moreno

“I am ready to fight, I have the will to fight and have come 100 percent prepared. I plan to do good work and hopefully everything comes out fine because I came prepared to win.

“I want to fight everyone in the 118-pound division and 122-pound division.”

David de la Mora

“I spent five weeks in Mexico preparing for this fight, so I am very prepared. If Moreno beats me, there will be no excuses like a lot of fighters make. If Moreno wins, he was better than me. There will be no excuses.

“It was a mistake for Moreno to take this fight because I am going to take that title away.’’

“Mares vs. Morel: Battle on the Border” is a 12-round fight for the vacant WBC Super Bantamweight World Championship set for Saturday, April 21 at UTEP’s Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas. The co-featured fights will see Anselmo “Chemito” Moreno vs. David de la Mora in a 12-round fight for Moreno’s WBA Bantamweight Super Championship. The event is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona and AT&T. The SHOWTIME Championship Boxing doubleheader airs live at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). Just prior to the action on SHOWTIME, preliminary bouts will air live on SHOWTIME EXTREME^® beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

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