Champions Moreno, Mares Come Face To Face In Los Angeles

Six of the talented and exciting fighters who will compete this Saturday live on Showtime and Showtime Extreme from Staples Center in Los Angeles, Calif. participated in a public media workout Monday in MacArthur Park in Los Angeles.

On hand for the outdoor event were undefeated WBC Super Bantamweight Champion Abner Mares (24-0-1, 13 KO’s), of Hawaiian Gardens, Calif., WBA Bantamweight Champion Anselmo Moreno (33-1-1, 12 KO’s), of Panama City, Panama, unbeaten IBF Bantamweight Champion Leo Santa Cruz (21-0-1, 12 KO’s), of Los Angeles, hard-hitting junior middleweight contender Alfred Angulo of Los Angeles by way of Mexicali, Mexico, the upset-minded junior middleweight contender Raul Casarez (19-2, 9 KO’s) of Edinburg, Texas and undefeated WBO Light Heavyweight Champion Nathan Cleverly (24-0, 11 KO’s) of Cefn Fforest, Wales.

In a battle of world champions, Mares will risk his title against Moreno in the main event on Showtime Championship Boxing on Showtime at 10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast. Santa Cruz will defend against Victor Zaleta (20-2-1, 10 KO’s) in the co-feature while Angulo and Casarez will clash in the telecast’s opening match.

Cleverly will put his unblemished record and world title belt on the line against Shawn Hawk (22-2-1, 16 KO’s), of Sioux Falls , South Dakota , on Showtime Extreme at 8 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast. Also featured on Showtime Extreme will be a junior welterweight scrap between promising unbeaten Antonio Orozco (15-0, 11 KO’s) of San Diego , Calif. and Danny Escobar (8-1, 5 KO’s) of Riverside , Calif.

What the fighters said Monday:

Abner Mares:

“You can expect a more mature, focused and ready Abner than you ever have seen before. I’m ready to fight. I’ve been through the most aggressive, best training camp ever. I feel great, I probably could have taken this whole week off and just concentrated on my weight.

“This will be a very good fight, a very tough one that will bring out the best in me and the best in both of us. This is the kind of fight the fans want, a pretty even fight you could say, between two world champions going at it from the opening bell.

“I think this could be a more mentally exhausting fight than a physically exhausting one for me. I know I have to be mentally sharp. With Moreno ’s style, if you miss, you cannot become frustrated. You have to keep working and that is one of the biggest keys for me.”

Anselmo Moreno:

“My style is what it is. I’m an elusive fighter, the kind of fighter that hits and doesn’t get hit. My style is one that makes you watch at all times.

“I’ve fought the same way since I was younger. I learned that lesson when I was fighting in the streets when you need to stay smart all the time and not just brawl.”

Leo Santa Cruz:

“I was pretty happy with my performance when I became the first to knock out Eric Morel, but I really didn’t think it was that big a deal. I was really surprised at how excited fans and the media were after watching it. I remember reading what they had to say about me and the fight.

“I guess I left a pretty good impression, but now I need to do it again. All the nice words only serve to give me more motivation. The Morel fight was a good start, but I want to do this for a long, long time.

“I know Zaleta is a really good pressure fighter who likes to come forward and punch. This is going to be a really good fight. I can’t wait.”

Alfredo Angulo:

“No words can describe how excited I am to be able to fight again and to be able to do it in my hometown is even better. I always knew that one day I would be free to fight again, the question was always when.”

“I’ve always believed that for every bad thing that happens in life, something good would come out of it. My hair was getting long anyway and one day I got on the internet and did some research and found out about Locks Of Love.

“I never planned to do anything for charity until I read about it. You need to donate at least 10 inches of your hair. I haven’t had a real haircut in a while and I still have a little ways to go, but once it is long enough, that’s where my hair is going.’’

Raul Casarez:

“I’m excited. This is as big as it gets for me. I’ve worked very hard for this opportunity and now that it’s here I have to take advantage of it.

“I most definitely feel they are making a mistake by fighting me. There are a lot of 154-pounders who were willing to take this fight, but they chose the wrong guy and they can’t change their minds now.

“I’m hungry like you wouldn’t believe. I want it like you wouldn’t believe. It’s Showtime! Angulo had his time, but now it’s my turn.”

Nathan Cleverly:

“I’m very excited for Saturday and fans can look forward to a good fight and a good performance by me. It’s fantastic to be fighting on Showtime Extreme and I thank everyone involved for making it happen.

“I’m definitely relieved that I finally have an opponent. Now, I can relax. The downside, if you want to call it that, is that I trained 10 weeks for a southpaw, but I’m just happy we have a fight.

“I’m sure my opponent is going to give it everything. He’s a colorful, a come-forward type of fighter who can bang. I expect it to be tough. He’ll be fighting me with nothing to lose.”

Tickets priced at $200, $100, $50 and $25, not including applicable service charges and taxes, are on sale at all Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com, by phone at (800) 745-3000 and at the Staples Center Box Office.

The event is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona and AT&T. Doors open at 2:30 p.m. PT and the first fight begins at 3:00 p.m.