Guerrero Goes Up In Weight To Face Maidana For Interim WBA Belt

After co-headlining an explosive pay-per-view card in April, two of boxing’s toughest fighters will collide in what is sure to be a “Fight of the Year” caliber fight when WBA Interim Super Lightweight Champion Marcos “Chino” Maidana meets WBA/WBO Interim Lightweight Champion Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero on Saturday, August 27 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif for Maidana’s title.

Maidana has proven to be one of the toughest fighters to ever emerge from Argentina and will take on anyone, anywhere, any time, which is why he will travel to Northern California to take on Three-Division World Champion Guerrero in his backyard. The explosive showdown between Maidana and Guerrero will headline the HBO Boxing After Dark broadcast and promises to be a classic battle.

“I am happy that yet another great matchup has been set for me,” said Maidana. “Like I always say, I am willing to face the best out there. Robert Guerrero is a great champion and I am sure he will bring all of his skills to the ring on August 27, but I will be ready for him. I’m already working hard in training in Puerto Rico to be stronger than ever when I fight him. I know it will be a great fight.”

“Words can’t describe how I feel knowing that I’ll be fighting Marcos Maidana as the main event on HBO at the HP Pavilion in San Jose,” said Guerrero, who will be fighting at home for the first time since 2009. “Bringing a championship fight to the Bay Area is a dream come true and it excites me most that Bay Area boxing fans will get to witness one of the most anticipated fights of the year.

“I’m thrilled to be the current WBA and WBO Interim Lightweight World Champion; however, moving up in weight to battle one of the most feared fighters in the 140 lb. division for my sixth world title in four weight classes is a challenge I’m looking forward to.”

“We have been looking to bring a world title fight to the Bay Area for a long time, and now we have one with Robert Guerrero facing Marcos Maidana in San Jose,” said Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “Not only is this a great matchup between two exciting fighters, but there is a lot on the line in this fight for both men. This bout looks like it could be one of the best of 2011.”

“This is one of the most exciting match ups in the incredibly talented 140-pound division,” said Kery Davis senior vice president programming HBO Sports. “A terrific match-up like this is what HBO Boxing After Dark is all about.”

Santa Fe, Argentina’s Marcos Rene “Chino” Maidana (30-2, 27 KO’s) has been one of boxing’s most amazing success stories over the last few years. A fighter who toiled in obscurity for many years, he broke out onto the world stage with his sixth round technical knockout over current WBC Welterweight Champion “Vicious” Victor Ortiz in 2009.

His exciting and aggressive style combined with concussive punching power has been an immediate hit with fans around the world. In 2010, he engaged in the “Fight of the Year” against Amir “King” Khan and his April 2011 battle with Erik “Terrible” Morales is a frontrunner to take the same honors this year. On August 27, Maidana will look to top his win over Morales with an even more spectacular victory against Guerrero.

An inspiring young man in and out of the ring, Gilroy, California’s Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero (29-1-1, 18 KO’s) has captivated the boxing world ever since his professional debut in 2001, and he is far from finished. In fact, it seems that Guerrero sets the bar higher for himself with each fight, always passing each progressively more difficult test with flying colors.

Already a World Champion at 126, 130 and 135 pounds, the 28-year-old Guerrero’s list of conquests includes Joel “Cepillo” Casamayor, Jason Litzau, Vicente Escobedo and Michael Katsidis “The Great.” The southpaw sharpshooter who is becoming as well known for his charity work outside of the ring as he is for his work inside the ring, will close in on a spot at the top of the pound-for-pound list should he turn back his toughest opponent to date in the hard-hitting brawler Maidana.

A full undercard will be announce shortly.

Maidana vs. Guerrero, a 12 round fight for the WBA interim super lightweight championship, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Universum Box Promotions and sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, DeWalt Tools and AT&T. The HBO Boxing After Dark broadcast will air at 10:30pm ET / PT.

Tickets, priced at $252, $127, $62, $26, will go on sale on Friday, July 8 at 10:00am PT and may be purchased at the HP Pavilion Ticket Office, Ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster outlets or by calling 1-800-745-3000.