Colombian KO Artist Mendoza Ready To Challenge WBC Boxing Champ Dawson

ByBoxing Press

If the saying “styles make fights” holds any truth, then Don King Productions has found the perfect replacement opponent for World Boxing Council (WBC) Light Heavyweight Champion Chad Dawson in hard-hitting Epifanio Mendoza ( 28-4-1 , 24 KOs ).

Mendoza, who opened his professional career with 16 consecutive knockouts, likely will give the younger Dawson (24-0, one NC, 16 KOs) fits when the two tangle Saturday, Sept. 29, on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). Mendoza , of Barranquilla , Colombia , replaces Adrian Diaconu, who was forced to withdraw when he injured his right hand during sparring.

In the co-feature, International Boxing Federation (IBF) Bantamweight Champion Luis Perez will defend his crown for the first time when he squares off against IBF No. 15 contender Joseph Agbeko. Don King Productions will present the championship doubleheader.

Both world championships will be televised on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING during the premium network’s Free Preview Weekend (live at 10 p.m. ET /PT, delayed on the West Coast). From Friday, Sept. 28 through Monday, Oct. 1, the premium network will be available in approximately 54 million homes nationwide, providing an opportunity for many non-subscribers to experience all of the hard-hitting sports and acclaimed original programming on SHOWTIME.

Tickets to see the event in person priced at $30, $50, $75, $100 and $250 are on sale now and can be purchased most easily by calling TicketMaster Charge-By-Phone at (916) 649-TIXS or by visiting www.ticketmaster.com.

Tickets are also available at the ARCO Arena Box Office and at all Sacramento-area TicketMaster outlets. “I don’t back down from anyone” said Mendoza, who is trained by Roberto “Chavo” Duran, son of Hall of Famer Roberto Duran, and managed by Tony Gonzalez. “I have an entertaining style because I always apply continuous pressure on my opponent.” Due to Mendoza ’s fiery fighting style, his matches rarely go the distance. He will have to manage his punches because Dawson has built a reputation as a well-conditioned athlete who doesn’t tire in the later rounds. “My camp is aware of how Dawson likes to fight,” said Mendoza, who will spend the days leading up to the showdown training at the Miami Fight Gym. “He likes to move around a lot. We will have something different for him on Sept. 29.” Interestingly, Mendoza was preparing for a different title shot, against WBA Super Middleweight Champion Anthony Mundine, just weeks prior to receiving the call to fight Dawson .

To help prepare for the Mundine fight, Mendoza sparred against fellow countrymen Alejandro Berrio, the International Boxing Federation (IBF) 168-pound world titleholder. “Mundine suffered an eye injury and that fight was scrapped,” Mendoza said. “Then, I got the call for this fight on Monday, Sept. 17, and I couldn’t turn it down. Sometimes in boxing, fights have a weird way of working themselves out. I’ll be ready and hungry to fight on Sept. 29. SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING’s Steve Albert and Al Bernstein will call the action from ringside with Jim Gray and Karyn Bryant serving as roving reporters.

The executive producer of the SHOWTIME telecast will be David Dinkins Jr., with Bob Dunphy directing and Ray Smaltz producing.
For information on SHOWTIME Sports Programming, including exclusive behind-the-scenes video and photo galleries, complete telecast information and more, please go the new SHOWTIME Sports website at http://www.sho.com/sports.