Expect Sure-Fire Action June 8 With Maidana-Josesito, Perro-Lara

LOS ANGELES-Regardless of the promoter one thing is as certain as traffic in Los Angeles, the fight card at the Home Depot Center will be spectacular.

The converted tennis stadium will once again provide the battle setting when Riverside’s Josesito “Riverside Rocky” Lopez (30-5, 18 Kos) fights Argentina’s Marcos Maidana (33-3, 30 Kos) on Saturday, June 8. Plus, Mexico’s Alfredo “Perro” Angulo (22-2, 18 Kos) meets Cuba’s Erislandy Lara (17-1-2, 11 Kos). Showtime will televise.

Based on the history of the venue located in Carson, expect to be riveted to your seat.

It’s matchmaking at its best and seldom will prizefighters (seen in above Al Applerose photo) accept a challenge as difficult as these four boxers.

“It should have been called High Stakes because they have put themselves right in the middle of fighting for world titles,” said Oscar De La Hoya, president of Golden Boy Promotions inside the world famous La Fonda Mexican restaurant on Monday.

Argentina’s head wrecking bomber Maidana doesn’t ever participate with multiple game plans or strategies. It’s go-for-broke and see what he can break inside of the boxing ring.

“He likes to stand and trade and that’s what I like to do,” said Maidana, with a slight maniacal chuckle. “Each time I get in the ring I go toe-to-toe.”

Like Maidana, Riverside’s Lopez has a reputation of wrecking dreams inside the ring too. Since upsetting Victor Ortiz last year, the Riverside welterweight has become a crowd favorite for not quitting in the ring.

“I’m happy to be in the ring with a great fighter like Maidana,” says the slightly taller Lopez. “I’ve always wanted to be in this position of fighting the best.”

Remarkably, there is no world title for the winner, but Golden Boy’s De La Hoya said that the winner will definitely be facing one of the welterweight world titlists.

Junior Middleweights

Mexico’s Angulo surprised many of the reporters when he told Golden Boy matchmaker Eric Gomez that he didn’t need a translator. The popular fighter known “Perro” grabbed the microphone and told the media in English and Spanish what to expect when he fights Lara next month.

“Erislandy Lara is a really good fighter,” said Angulo, who now lives in Los Angeles. “This is a really good fight for the fans.”

Cuba’s southpaw Lara agreed that this fight will be a crowd pleaser.

“I’m happy and grateful that Angulo took the fight,” said Lara, who trains in Houston. “I’m willing to go step by step to show my talent and that I’m the best junior middleweight in the world.”

De La Hoya put it best.

“These fights are for the fans,” he said.