Golden Boy Boxing: Kirkland, Ortiz, Guerrero Headline San Jose Tripleheader March 7

Boxing’s next generation of stars will be present and accounted for on Saturday, March 7, when Golden Boy Promotions presents an explosive triple-header boxing event featuring the top young talent in the sport at HP Pavilion at San Jose, CA located in the heart of Silicon Valley.

The HBO Boxing After Dark show will feature a 10 round junior middleweight showdown between knockout artists James Kirkland and Joel Julio, two of boxing’s hardest punchers.

In one of the co-featured bouts, the NABO and USBA junior welterweight crowns will be on the line when “Vicious” Victor Ortiz takes on “Mighty” Mike Arnaoutis.

Opening the telecast will be two-time featherweight World Champion and Gilroy, California native Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero in a ten round junior lightweight contest against undefeated contender Daud Yordan.

“This is the type of event that fight fans will be talking about for months and years to come,” said Oscar de la Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions. “To have all this talent on one card is an amazing feat. The fighters that emerge victorious will be able to look back on March 7th as the night when they truly established themselves as the fighters to carry this sport into the next era.”

24-year old power puncher James Kirkland, 24-0 (21), is widely considered to be the best prospect the junior middleweight division has seen in years. An aggressor from the opening bell with concussive power in both hands, the southpaw from Austin, Texas is coming off a 2008 campaign that saw him stop Eromosele Albert, Ricardo Cortes and Brian Vera in successive bouts.

“I’ve been waiting for a fight like this for a long time,” said Kirkland. “There’s going to be no running, no chasing, no holding. Me and Julio are going meet up in the center of that ring and we’re going to see whose chin is better.”

Monteria, Colombia’s Joel Julio, 34-2 (31), knows what it’s like to be a highly touted prospect, as he won his first 27 pro bouts before losing a decision to former world champion Carlos Quintana in 2006. Since then, Julio has gone 7-1 with 6 KO’s and the power-punching 24-year-old is ready to return to the top with a victory over Kirkland.

“Kirkland is a very good fighter, but he hasn’t been tested yet,” said Julio. “I’m in the best shape of my life and very happy to be fighting, again on HBO. I am looking forward to March 7th when I plan to knock Kirkland out.”

Hailing from the boxing-rich city of Oxnard, California, 22-year-old “Vicious” Victor Ortiz, 23-1-1 (18), has looked unstoppable in the last two years as he’s racked up wins over Emmanuel Clottey, Carlos Maussa, Dairo Esalas and Jeffrey Resto, all by TKO or KO. In 2009, the NABO junior welterweight champion hopes to make his move on the top guns at 140 pounds, beginning with Mike Arnaoutis.

“I’m excited about coming back to California to fight and I promise the fans that they’re going to see the best of me on March 7th,” said Ortiz. “Arnaoutis is a great boxer with fast hands, but he doesn’t have the firepower to keep me off him. I will catch up to him and knock him out.”

A native of Athens, Greece, slick boxing “Mighty” Mike Arnaoutis, 21-2-2 (10), has represented his home country well throughout his exciting seven-year pro career. Owner of the USBA junior welterweight title, Arnaoutis’ only losses have come via decision to World Champion Kendall Holt and former World Champion Ricardo Torres, and he knows that a win over Ortiz can put him back on the road to another title shot.

“The only thing that matters to me right now is a world championship and Victor Ortiz is going to be my ticket to a rematch with Kendall Holt,” said Arnaoutis. “He’s a good fighter, but he’s too young and inexperienced to deal with me. I will win this fight for myself and for Greece.”

If people were wondering how Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero, 23-1-1 (16), was going to be affected by an almost year long layoff, they got their answer on January 24 when the Gilroy, California native blasted out veteran Edel Ruiz in just 43 seconds. Looking better than ever at 130 pounds, the former two-time Featherweight World Champion plans on adding another world title to his collection by the end of 2009.

“A big HBO show coming to San Jose for the first time is what Bay Area sports fans have been waiting for,” said Guerrero. “It is going to be a colossal event and I can’t wait to showcase my talents for my hometown fans on March 7th.”

The pride of Ketapang, Indonesia, Daud “Cino” Yordan, 23-0 (17), is looking to build on his United States debut win over Antonio Meza last September with a victory against Guerrero. Just 21 years old, Yordan brings not only youth and substantial talent to the ring, but an aggressive, hard punching style that has made him unique among his Indonesian peers. On March 7, the world-ranked banger takes his first step into the big leagues.

“Robert Guerrero is a great fighter and it will be an honor to be able to compete against him on March 7th on HBO,” said Yordan. “This is the kind of fight I’ve wanted for a long time, against a former world champion, and I expect to make a statement to the fans, media and my fellow fighters that I am a legitimate world title contender.”

Tickets for this hard-hitting event, priced at $200, $100, $60 and $25, go on sale Friday, February 6 at 10:00am PT at the HP Pavilion Ticket Office, Ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster outlets or by calling 1-800-745-3000.

The explosive triple-header boxing event is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Cerveza Tecate and Southwest Airlines. Doors open at 3:00pm and the first bell rings at 3:30pm. The HBO Boxing After Dark telecast begins at 10:00pm ET/PT.

A talent-rich undercard will be announced at a later date.