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Golden Boy Promotions presents “Action Heroes,” this Saturday evening, featuring Erik Morales vs. Marcos Rene Maidana in a 12-round junior welterweight bout, Robert Guerrero vs. Michael Katsidis in a 12-round bout for the vacant WBA and WBO Interim Lightweight Championships, James Kirkland facing Nobuhiro Ishida in an 8-round middleweight bout and Paul Malignaggi vs. Jose Miguel Cotto in a 10-round welterweight bout from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev.
Erik Morales, Six-Time & Three Division World Champio:
“I trained very hard for this fight. I trained for eight weeks in Otomi, in the mountains of Mexico City.
“After so many interviews, I am starting to say to myself, ‘Was this the right decision? Am I the only crazy one that thinks I can win? When I am alone at night lying in bed, I start thinking to myself, I am not wrong.
“I didn’t make a mistake picking Maidana. I am going to prove it to you guys on Saturday night. I am going to prove that I wasn’t crazy. It is going to be a great night. After I win, it will be a big party and a special night for all my supporters.”
Marcos Maidana, Former World Champion:
“My advisor said I should speak a little bit for this press conference. Some of us talk a little bit and others talk more. I want to say thank you. I am very happy to be here. This is going to be a great event.
“There are a lot of very good fighters on this card. There are going to be great fights. Don’t miss it. For an Argentinean, headlining a fight in Las Vegas is a very special thing. Sometimes I do not even realize how bit it is for me. I will make Argentina proud on Saturday night.”
Robert Guerrero, Former Three-Time World Champion:
“I want to thank everyone for these prayers. I am excited. I have never been this excited for a fight or this prepared.
“This is going to be a really good interesting fight for the fans. I want to thank everybody and God bless.”
Michael Katsidis, Former World Champion:
“G’day mates. April 9, well what’s going to be April 10 in Australia is going to be Australia’s big day out.
“Boxing is hard as it is and you’ve got to take what you can when you can and we are thrilled about this fight. We are an army put together, and we are ready to fight this weekend.”
James Kirkland, Undefeated Junior Middleweight:
“I came well prepared for this fight. I want to thank Golden Boy Promotions and De La Hoya for staying by my side.
“I can’t wait to show all of the people who supported me that it was well worth it. There is nothing in my past that I regret because I learned from it all.
“I am ready to show everyone that I am a true champion. This is one of the cards that you have to be more motivated than anything to buy because this is a great opportunity for fans to get a whole card of comeback fights.”
Paulie Malignaggi, Former World Champion:
“Coming into this fight we decided I needed an alter ego and my alter ego is “Magic Man.”
“Lately we’ve lost some boxing fans to MMA, but ‘Magic Man’ is here to get rid of all the evil forces and steal back those fans. I’ve been training at Wild Card gym since January. I was ready to fight in March then we got this date in April. So now I’m really ready to fight.
“The best guy I was ever in the ring with was Jose’s brother Miguel Cotto, but I’ ready for the other Cotto on Saturday. I’ve been through the ringer and have been in the ring with some of today’s best fighters. I am determined to get back to that level.”
Jose Miguel Cotto, Top Contender:
“I came to Las Vegas to give you guys a great show. This is going to be a great fight against Paulie Malignaggi. I’m ready for Saturday.”
Nobuhiro Ishida, Former World Champion:
“Thank you very for giving us the opportunity to fight in Las Vegas. I am going to fight for Japan. There are a lot of people who have died and are suffering.
“I am going to fight for everybody in my country. I am praying for Japan we will work hard Saturday night.”
“Action Heroes,” featuring Morales vs. Maidana in a 12-round junior welterweight bout, Robert Guerrero vs. Michael Katsidis in a 12-round bout for the vacant WBA and WBO Interim Lightweight Championships, James Kirkland facing Nobuhiro Ishida in an 8-round middleweight bout and Paul Malignaggi vs. Jose Miguel Cotto in a 10-round welterweight bout, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Erik Morales’ Box Latino and Universum Box Promotions and sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, AT&T, DeWalt Tools and Tres Generaciones Tequila.
Guerrero vs. Katsidis is presented in association with Sampson Boxing. The Pay-Per-View bouts will be produced and distributed live on HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.
Before the highly-anticipated “Action Heroes” televised fights kick off on HBO Pay-Per-View on Saturday, April 9, fight fans can get ready for one of the biggest cards of the year with three preliminary bouts featuring Danny Garcia, Nate Campbell, Gary Russell Jr. and Rakhim Chakhiev, that will air live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev.
The broadcast will be available free of charge and shown by several satellite and cable providers, as well as online, beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT.
Tickets for “Action Heroes,” priced at $350, $250, $150, $75, $50 and $25, are on sale now. 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
