Gary Shaw Boxing: Bradley Moves Up To Welter Against Abregu

Undefeated WBO junior welterweight Champion Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley and undefeated top-rated welterweight contender Luis Carlos “El Potro” Abregu will go mano-a-mano in a sizzling summer 12-round welterweight rumble Saturday, July 17, in The Show at Agua Caliente Casino in Rancho Mirage, CA.

The co-main event will feature WBO interim junior middleweight champion Alfredo “Perro” Angulo against former WBA super welterweight champion Joachim “Ti-Joa” Alcine Boasting a combined record of 104-2 (68 KOs), both fights will be televised live on HBO’s Boxing After Dark, beginning at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast.

“Luis Carlos Abregu is going to be a great opponent and a great test as I try the deep waters of the welterweight division for the first time, and that’s the type of challenge I crave,” said Bradley, a native of Palm Springs, Calif.

“We’re both undefeated and the winner of this fight is truly going to be considered one of the top 147-pounders in the world. This is going to be a fun night and the fans are going to love this fight.”

“I respect Timothy Bradley for stepping up and moving up to take this fight, but that respect will end when we’re facing each other in the ring and I knock him on the seat of his Pampas,” said Abregu, who hails from Salta, Argentina. “I promise everyone that this will be a war. I’m going to “Firpo” all over him and knock him out of the ring.”

“I’m looking forward to coming to Palm Springs and giving the fans a good show,” said Angulo. “Alcine is a strong opponent and I will train my hardest for him. It’s a good thing he’s from Canada because I’m going to throw a cold front that will ice him.”

“It’s appropriate that this fight is taking place at Agua Caliente because as much as I respect all four fighters, they are going to be in hot water once the bell rings,” said Gary Shaw, Abregu’s promoter and Bradley’s co-promoter.

“Timothy’s demolition of undefeated Lamont Peterson was his entrée into boxing’s Top-10 pound for pound list. Carlos’ victory over Richard Gutierrez proved he is deserving of the biggest fights.

Both fighters’ credentials are very impressive. ‘Perro’ makes exciting fights and he raises the stakes of this event. He’s got his work cut out for him in what I think is his toughest fight. This one has ‘Fight Card of the Year’ written all over it.”

“This is a great fight for the sport of boxing and I commend both fighters for stepping up to take it,” said Bradley co-promoter Ken Thompson.

“There is no question in my mind that these are the two of the most exciting fighters in the world, and this is going to be one of the best fights of 2010. And while I may be biased, I truly believe that Abregu will bring out the best in Tim Bradley and establish him as the superstar that he is.”

“We’re excited to be bringing Timothy Bradley’s HBO debut to our viewers, particularly when it’s against a tough undefeated fighter like Luis Abregu,” said Luis Barragan, director of programming HBO Sports.

“Bradley has quickly established himself as one of the best fighters in the deepest, most talent-laden divisions in boxing and the winner of this fight will be in a great position for future marquee fights.”

Bradley (25-0, 11 KOs), from Palm Springs, Calif., will be making his fifth defense of the junior welterweight title. He won the World Boxing Council (WBC) super lightweight title when he dethroned defending champion Junior Witter via a 12-round split decision in Witter’s backyard of Nottingham, England in 2008.

Since winning the title Bradley has become an unstoppable force, successfully defending his title against former world champions Kendall Holt, in a title unification fight (Bradley elected to keep the WBO title), and Nate Campbell, as well as top-rated contenders Peterson and Edner Cherry.

Abregu (29-0, 23 KOs), a former South American welterweight champion, is a distant relative
of Argentinean Luis Firpo, “The Wild Bull of the Pampas,” known for knocking World Heavyweight Champion Jack Dempsey out of the ring during their exciting world title fight at the Polo Grounds in 1923, ultimately won by Dempsey.

Abregu’s last five victories, over Gutierrez, Diego Gallardo, Irving Garcia, Americo Rodolfo Sagania and David Estrada, have catapulted him into the Top Five as a world-rated welterweight contender in the WBC and the International Boxing Federation (IBF).

Angulo (18-1, 15 KOs), a native of Mexacali. Mexico, who trains in Coachella, Calif., successfully defended his WBO interim junior middleweight title in April, knocking out Joel Julio in the 11th round.

Angulo won the title last November when he knocked out undefeated top-rated contender Harry Joe Yorgey in the third round. A member of the 2004 Mexican Olympic Team, Angulo’s last 14 victories have been by knockout, dating back to 2006.

Alcine (32-1, 19 KOs), of Montreal, won the WBA super welterweight title in 2007, dethroning Travis Simms by a dominant unanimous decision. He held the title for one year before losing it to Daniel Santos.

He has won his last two fights, winning unanimous decisions against Eric Mitchell and Christophe Canclaux, the latter for the vacant WBO Inter-Continental junior middleweight title. He is currently world-rated in the Top-Five by the World Boxing Council, WBA and WBO.

Promoted by Gary Shaw Productions and Thompson Boxing Promotions, tickets for Bradley vs. Abregu/Angulo vs. Alcine, priced at $180, $150, $130, $90 and $45, go on sale Saturday, June 5 and will be available for purchase at The Show box office, by calling 800-585-3737 and online at www.HotWaterCasino.com/TheShow.