Lara-Angulo Is For Vacant WBA 154 Pound Belt

LOS ANGELES (June 3, 2013)– After six weeks of intense training, No. 1 rated WBA super welterweight contender Erislandy Lara (17-1, 11 KO's) is fully prepared to give fans a great fight when he faces Alfredo “El Perro” Angulo (22-2, 18 KO's), in their scheduled 12-round co-featured bout for the vacant WBA Interim Super Welterweight World Championship taking place Saturday, June 8, live on SHOWTIME (10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT) from The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.

Lara, an elusive southpaw with great boxing skills, is known for his incredible ring intelligence. He's up against a fighter in Angulo who applies a tremendous amount of pressure. Lara vows to take his boxing skills to the next level against Angulo and show the boxing world why he is the best fighter in the division.

“Angulo is a very tough fighter who can overwhelm his opponents with the pressure style he brings to the ring,” said Lara. “I know I'm up against a very tough challenge, but he's never been in the ring with a world class fighter like me. There is nothing he does that I haven't already seen. My goal is to give him a boxing lesson and win my first world championship on June 8.”

Lara's trainer Ronnie Shields sees traits in his fighter that can't be matched by anyone in the division.

“I don't see any fighters in the super welterweight division that can match skills with Lara,” said a confident Shields. “Lara is in a class of his own. He's one of the most advanced fighters I've been around in a very long time and I can say that with confidence.”

Lara continued, “My trainer Ronnie Shields and I are extremely confident we have the right strategy to expose Angulo's weaknesses. With my co-managers Bob Santos and Luis DeCubas Jr. guiding my career and Edward Jackson doing my strength and conditioning, I feel I'm unstoppable.”

Maidana vs. Lopez, a 12-round fight for Maidana's WBA Intercontinental Championship, is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona and AT&T. The tripleheader will take place on Saturday, June 8 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. and will be televised live on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING beginning at10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT. The event can be heard in Spanish using secondary audio programming (SAP). Maidana vs. Lopez is presented in association with Goossen Tutor Promotions and Thompson Boxing Promotions. Also featured will bea 12-round showdown between all-action warrior Alfredo “El Perro” Angulo and top rated super welterweight contender Erislandy Lara for the vacant WBA Interim Super Welterweight World Championship which is presented in association with Blue Wave Group and a 12-round fight between veteran Demetrius Hopkins and unbeaten phenom Jermell Charlo for Hopkins' USBA Junior Middleweight Championship and Charlo's WBC Continental Americas Super Welterweight Championship. Preliminary fights will air on SHOWTIME EXTREME at8:00 p.m.ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

Tickets priced at $150, $75, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes, fees and services charges are available at AXS.com or by phone at 1-888-9-AXS-TIX (1-888-929-7849), as well as The Home Depot Center Box Office (Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. PT). VIP Suites are available by calling 1-877-604-8777. For more information on group discounts or VIP packages, please call 1-877-234-8425.