The undercard for the Sept. 13 Showtime pay-per-view card titled “Mayhem” Floyd Mayweather Jr. versus Marcos Maidana 2 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas has been released.
The card features some solid names, but their opponents are as well-known as they are, which as lead to some moaning and groaning in the boxing community.
The four-fight pay-per-view telecast is headlined by Leo Santa Cruzas he puts his WBC Super Bantamweight title Championship on the line against Mexican contender Manuel Roman.
The 23-year-old champ is excited about fighting on the biggest platform in the sport: a Mayweather-headlined card.
“This is my second time fighting on a Floyd Mayweather pay-per-view undercard and I know that there is no bigger stage than this,” Santa Cruz said. “Manuel Roman is a tough customer. I know he’s going to come prepared and try to take my title. He has nothing to lose and everything to gain, but I plan on leaving the ring with my hand raised.”
Santa Cruz’s popularity grows with each fight he wins and now that he is in his third fight as world champion he should have a solid backing in Las Vegas against Roman who hasn’t exactly wowed anyone in his recent fights.
Roman is 3-2-2 in his last seven bouts and should be easy work for Santa Cruz as he should look for bigger fights in the future against the likes of Vasyl Lomachenko or Guillermo Rigondeux.
Also, Miguel Vazquezdefends his IBF Lightweight World Championship against Mickey Bey, a rising star under the Mayweather Promotions umbrella.
Bey is appreciative of his chance to capture his first world title and knows his crew plays a big part in his success.
“I want to thank God for helping me persevere through the tough times and helping me overcome obstacles in my life,” Bey said. “I also want to thank my team for believing in me and helping me get to this opportunity. I plan on seizing the moment and becoming a world champion on September 13.”
Lastly, in the opening fight of the PPV portion of the card is the return of Alfredo Angulo as he takes on James De La Rosa in a 10-round affair.
Angulo was once one of the best 154 pounders in the game, but losing three of his last five bouts via TKO(losses to Saul Alvarez, Erislandy Lara and James Kirkland), his career is on the down slide.
That being said Angulo knows this could be the last bout of his career is he isn’t victorious September 13.
“I’ve been anxious to get back in the ring ever since the end of the Canelo fight,” Angulo said. “I’m ready to get back on the winning track and this is a great opportunity for me to do that in front of the world on Mexican Independence Day weekend. This fight could not be more critical for my future in this sport and I want to put on a great show for the fans.”
Rounding out an action packed night of televised fights, Showtime will air a live 10-round junior welterweight bout between John Molina Jr.and Humberto Soto, in a fight that could steal the evening.
All the action starts at 7 p.m. EDT/4 p.m. PDT on Showtime before the Showtime PPV telecast begins.
