Canelo vs. Josesito: WHO DO YA LIKE?

Lopez (right) pulled off one mega upset, when he took out Ortiz. Could his lightning strike twice? Could he topple Canelo (left)?

LAS VEGAS (Sept. 11, 2012) – All eight fighters participating in Saturday’s blockbuster Mexican Independence Day weekend world championship event on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING arrived in grand fashion at MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Tuesday.

Group Photo (from left to right) – Leo Santa Cruz, Marcos Maidana, Jhonny Gonzalez, Canelo Alvarez, Golden Boy Promotions President Oscar De La Hoya, Josesito Lopez, Daniel Ponce De Leon, Jesus Soto Karass and Eric Morel.

Incredibly popular and undefeated superstar Canelo Alvarez will defend his WBC Super Welterweight World Championship against breakout star Josesito Lopez on Saturday, Sept. 15, live on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PT) from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

The four-fight, three world championship event also features WBC Featherweight World Champion Jhonny Gonzalez defending his crown against former World Champion Daniel Ponce De Leon, former World Champion Marcos Maidana squaring off against perennial contender Jesus Soto Karass and Leo Santa Cruz defending his IBF Bantamweight World Championship against former Two-Time World Champion Eric Morel.

Below are two select quotes from Tuesday’s grand arrivals.

CANELO ALVAREZ:

“Josesito earned the right to be here. I’m not underestimating him at all. I want to continue on this path, but I have to get through Josesito first.”

JOSESITO LOPEZ:

“I can’t say I don’t like being the underdog. It adds excitement to the fight and makes me want to pull off the upset that much more.”

ABOUT “KNOCKOUT KINGS”:

“Knockout Kings,” headlined by Canelo Alvarez defending his WBC Super Welterweight World Championship against breakout star Josesito Lopez, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Canelo Promotions in association with Goossen Tutor Promotions and Thompson Boxing Promotions and sponsored by Corona, DeWalt Tools, AT&T and O’Reilly Auto Parts. In the co-featured attractions, WBC Featherweight World Champion Jhonny Gonzalez defends his crown against former World Champion Daniel Ponce De Leon in fight presented in association with Promociones Del Pueblo, former World Champio Marcos Maidana faces perennial contender Jesus Soto Karass in a 12-round fight for the vacant WBA Intercontinental Welterweight Title presented in association with Universum Box-Promotion and Leo Santa Cruz defends his IBF Bantamweight World Championship against former Two-Time World Champion Eric Morel. The Saturday, Sept. 15 quadruple-header, packed with Mexican pride and power, will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be televised live on SHOWTIME Saturday, Sept. 15 at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT with preliminary fights to air live on SHOWTIME EXTREME® at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Tickets priced at $400, $300, $150, $50 and $25, not including applicable service charges and taxes, are on sale now and available for purchase. Ticket sales are limited to 10 per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

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