Dwayne McRae hopes to stamp ticket to the next level!

 

Laurel, MD (October 30, 2014) – A quick glance at the record of heavyweight hopeful Dwayne “Big Ticket” McRae shows a respectable 14 wins against only three defeats with eight of his victories by knockout.

 

After dropping two out of three fights back in 2009, McRae’s lost just once in eleven tries. However, the Maryland native is adamant that he’s better than what you see on paper.

 

“I was robbed in the two decisions,” McRae said of both majority decisions he dropped five years ago. The one fight I lost by TKO was due to a cut and the referee stopped it way too quickly and I know I would’ve come back to win. Truth be told, I feel like an unbeaten fighter.”

 

Even if he were 17-0, McRae is a relative newcomer to the sport, competing in just 14 amateur bouts prior to turning pro. However the 34-year-old grew up in a brutal environment where he had to fight for everything. Due all he’s been through, including being shot in the knee before his pro debut, McRae’s confident his trials and tribulations can help him overcome whatever doubters believe he lacks in experience.

 

“I’ve been through a lot as a person and a fighter. When I first started boxing, I was beating guys up in the gym after doing bad things in the street or going out and drinking the night before. Now I’m on a whole different path. I’m not getting any younger so I’m taking this sport a lot more seriously. I came from the streets but am now blessed to be surrounded by good people. My plan is to step it up in the immediate future. My manager Mike Harris makes all the decisions but with the way I’m training I want to fight in a ten rounder. I’ve got a hit list of potential opponents and the guys I’ve got in mind are the kind of opponents that can get me to the next level.”

 

McRae returns to the ring Saturday evening against veteran Grover Young at Constitution Hall in Washington, DC. If he’s victorious, the confident McRae believes he’ll be able to land a notable fight in the near future because of his willingness to take tougher fights and TV-friendly style.

“I’m different than the typical heavyweight because I’m an explosive fighter and I’m going to bring the fight to my opponents. I love fighting and performing for a crowd so I’ve got to continue making it happen. The way I fight is made for TV and I’m looking to step up to the next level.”

 

Fans can interact with McRae by going to https://www.facebook.com/big.ticketmcrae.

Featherstone and Veazey on separate paths to stardom!

 

Baltimore, MD (September 17, 2014) – Jerome Featherstone and Joey “Bazooka Joe” Veazey are both talented rising boxing stars that generate attention in the Baltimore area. The two have matches Saturday evening as part of Baltimore Boxing Promotions’ “Wiggle, Wiggle, Wiggle” card at the Myers Pavilion.

 

Their journeys leading up to September 20 however are about as different as possible.

 

A late comer to the sweet science, Featherstone was an established athlete before putting on a pair of gloves. He was a superstar wrestler at Boys Latin High School and went on to make his mark as a 165 pounder for Oklahoma State University.  In 2012, Featherstone walked into the Baltimore Boxing & Fitness Gym interested in learning the sport; he was a natural that quickly turned heads.

 

Fifteen months later, he won the Golden Gloves in the Washington, DC/Baltimore region and went on to compete in the national tournament against the best fighters in America. He’s won all but two of his fights and will have his final amateur bout Saturday evening against Francisco Bustos for the East Coast Middleweight Championship.

 

A high school junior, Veazey fought his first fight at seven and has been a success ever since. Humble and mature, an unusual combination even for top professional athletes, he’s a two-time regional titlist, one-time National Silver Gloves winner and 2009 Ringside World champion. This year, Veazey captured a silver medal at the Junior National Golden Gloves. He’s still a few years away from entering the pros but has the chance to win another title when he meets Keayen Coleman for the Maryland State Welterweight Championship.

 

“Jerome and Joey took very different paths into boxing,” said Smith, a former boxer that has promoted in the beltway region the last decade. “Joey grew up around the gym and has been fighting since he was very young. Jerome is a late bloomer in boxing who made up for lost time by being a fast learner with an excellent athletic background. Those in attendance Saturday night will get to see two of the best up and comers we've got.”

 

Smith is also proud of the kind of people his two featured fighters are.

 

“Jerome and Joey are champions in and out of the ring. They don’t bring an attitude or sense of entitlement with them regardless of their success. I’ve promoted many of their fights and both are class acts. To me, promoting a quality human being is just as important as the boxing aspect because the community rallies behind good people.”

 

“Wiggle, Wiggle, Wiggle” features ten additional matches, two of which are also for titles.

 

To top off this solid evening of entertainment, Baltimore Boxing will honor Murray Smith, late father of promoter Jake Smith. During the evening, the “School of Hard Knocks” Award will be presented in Murray’s honor toBaltimore native and former IBF Junior Middleweight champion Vincent Pettway.

 

Tickets from $25 and are on sale now by calling 410-375-9175. In addition to the $25 bleacher seats, $35 floor, $50 individual VIP, $350 reserved tables for 10, and VIP tables of 10 for $500 are currently on sale.

 

All VIP ticketholders can enjoy free hors d’oeurves by Midtown BBQ from 7-8:15.

 

Doors for “Wiggle, Wiggle, Wiggle” open at 6:30 pmand the opening bell will sound at 8:15. All bouts are scheduled by USA Boxing. There will also be a special 50/50 raffle during the evening. All proceeds are going towards the Baltimore Boxing amateur program, a non-profit which rescued many local youths from the toughCharm City streets and helped develop them into boxers.

 

For more information, go to Baltimoreboxing.com.

 

Gunn Jr back in action August 9!

Hackensack, NJ (July 23, 2014) – Unbeaten Bobby “Kid Dynamite” Gunn Jr. will look for his fifth straight first round knockout when he enters the squared circle Saturday, August 9 at North Hall at Eastern Market in Washington, DC.

 

Fighting for the first time both in the nation’s capital as well as in a six rounder, the 18-year-old’s been working hard at Global Boxing Gym with his sights set on another stellar performance on the 9^th.

 

“I’m looking forward to fighting in the nation’s capital,” stated Gunn Jr. “I’ve been getting world class sparring from (Filipino contender) Marvin Mabait and learn something new every day. This has been my best training camp to date and I believe the hard work in the gym will show on August 9.”

 

Gunn Jr’s opponent and additional information will be available shortly. Fans can interact with him by going to Facebook.com/profile.php?id=100007554614047&fref=ts

 

Tickets starting at $50 are available by calling 202-213-0133. Doors open at 6:30 and the North Hall Eastern Market is located at 225 7^th St S.E. Washington, DC 20003.

Douglas Targets World title in Fall!

 

 

Baltimore, MD (July 21, 2014) – Blue chip prospect Tyrieshia “Lady Tiga” Douglas has her sights set on capturing a world title before the end of 2014.

 

At 5-0 with 1 win by knockout, the Baltimore-based Washington DC native’s set a lofty goal for herself. As an amateur, she won multiple Golden Gloves and National PAL titles while making Team USA twice. According to industry insiders, if Douglas wins a title in her sixth pro fight, she’d have the third fewest bouts before winning a major world title. The current record holder is Canada’s Jeannie Garside, who captured a belt in her fourth professional bout. Douglas’ Ponytail Promotions stablemate Tori “Sho Nuff” Nelson won the WBC title after only five.

 

A 2012 Olympic Trials participant, Douglas and her brother Antoine are the first siblings to compete at the trials during the same year. Of all the American fighters who participated in the trials or made the Olympics, Tyrieshia would be the first to compete for a major title.

 

Regarded amongst the best young female fighters in the world, Douglas is brimming with confidence leading up to a quantum leap in competition.

 

“I’ve felt ready for a title shot since I turned pro because I’m that confident in my ability,” said the supremely skilled Douglas. “I’m a fighter and the biggest competition is myself. Nobody can beat me but myself and I’m excited for a title fight. I’ve been boxing for awhile and my goal is to the this first belt then many more after that.”

 

Even though most fighters are maneuvered carefully for a number of years before competing for any kind of title,Douglas’ promoter believes she’s already a championship level fighter.

 

“Tyrieshia Douglas is a special talent,” said James Hogan, CEO of Ponytail Promotions. “The way she boxes is beautiful and I’ve seen very few fighters at her age male or female that has Tyrieshia’s level of skills, poise and maturity. I’m working on a title fight for her this fall and within a year, expect she’ll be on the pound for pound list alongside Tori Nelson.

 

Information on Ponytail Promotions’ next card, which is scheduled for early fall, and Douglas’ title bout will be available shortly.

 

Founded in 2014 by respected Baltimore-based boxing businessman James Hogan, Ponytail Promotions envisions becoming one of the top promotional firms in the United States. With a keen interest in both male and female fighters, Ponytail Promotions will run a total of 10-12 shows per year in Maryland, Virginia, Washington DCand North Carolina. For more information, go to Ponytailpromotions.com.

GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS ANNOUNCES DONATION OF FLOYD MAYWEATHER AND BERNARD HOPKINS PORTRAITS TO NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

Washington, DC (April 7, 2014) - Golden Boy Promotions is pleased to announce the donation of portraits of living boxing legends and future Hall of Famers Floyd Mayweather and Bernard Hopkins to the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery. The portraits, taken by renowned sports photographer Holger Keifel, are a part of the National Portrait Gallery's permanent collection in Washington, DC. "Golden Boy Promotions is incredibly proud to donate these portraits to the National Portrait Gallery and further the widespread recognition of these two great athletes and the recognition of the sport of boxing as a mainstay in American culture," said Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer. "This is an honor befitting these two great champions Floyd Mayweather and Bernard Hopkins." The National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC houses portraits of Americans who have influenced the country's history and culture. The process for choosing new additions to the museum's collection is very selective. In November 2013 the museum approved the inclusion of the Mayweather and Hopkins portraits into the museum's collection. The portraits are projected to appear in the museum within the next two to three years and will likely be on display for six months or longer. Both future Hall of Famers will be presented with their portraits before upcoming world title fights. Hopkins will receive his portrait on Thursday, April 17 in Washington, D.C. at the final press conference before hisApril 19 light heavyweight world championship unification bout against Beibut Shumenov at the DC Armory and on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING®. Mayweather's portrait will be presented to him on April 30 in Las Vegas, NV at the final press conference for his May 3welterweight world championship unification bout against Marcos Maidana at the MGM Grand Garden Arena and on SHOWTIME PPV®. Throughout Mayweather's stellar career, he has amassed a record of 45 wins with no losses, 10 world championships and endless accolades recognizing his incomparable boxing talents. He is boxing's biggest attraction setting and breaking records every time he fights. His September 2013 fight against Mexican boxing phenom Canelo Alvarez set a record for the highest grossing pay-per-view event of all-time. His skills in the ring are unmatched and as he continues his stellar career with a two fights planned in the coming year, Mayweather The oldest athlete to win a championship in any major sport, Hopkins has had a long and storied career that has seen win seven world championships in two different weight divisions. In May 2011, Hopkins became the oldest fighter in history to win a title at 46-years-old, and has since broken his own record with his most recent win over Karo Murat to successfully defend his IBF Light Heavyweight title. Having just turned 49-years-old, Hopkins looks toward a successful year ahead with a goal of becoming the undisputed light heavyweight champion. Photographer Holger Keifel is an accomplished name in the world of photography. Having focused on boxing from 2002-2010, Keifel put together a collection of over 250 black-and-white portraits for his book "Box: The Face of Boxing", published in 2010 that included photos from fighters such as Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Mayweather, Hopkins and Oscar De La Hoya. Keifel's boxing work has been featured in several institutions, but these will be his first portraits to hang in the National Portrait Gallery. The Portrait Gallery's collection includes portraits of some of the most prominent boxers and fights in the history of the sport. Among the portraits of boxers in are images of Muhammad Ali, Jack Dempsey, Rocky Marciano, Evander Holyfield and Joe Louis. Additionally there are photos and paintings of great fights including Ali vs. Joe Frazier, Louis vs. Max Baer, Louis vs. James Braddock, Louis vs. Max Schmeling, and Floyd Patterson vs. Tommy Jackson. These images date back as far as the beginning of the 20th century and together show the history of boxing in America. "The inclusion of these two portraits is great for the sport of boxing and gives the American public another opportunity to appreciate these living legends," said Schaefer. "At Golden Boy Promotions, we believe in giving back to the sport that has give us so much and we are thrilled to be able to do so in this way." The portraits can be viewed online at npg.si.edu. In addition to being featured on the website, the portraits may be used for special exhibits or printed in a museum catalog.    ABOUT GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS: Los Angeles-based Golden Boy Promotions was established in 2002 by Oscar De La Hoya, the first Hispanic to own a national boxing promotional company. In 2007, in its fifth year of promoting, Golden Boy Promotions set a record by selling over 2.5 million in pay-per-view homes in a single night. Also in 2007, Golden Boy Promotions established the record for highest grossing pay-per-view homes in a single year with more than 4 million total. Golden Boy Promotions is one of boxing's most active and respected promoters, presenting shows in packed venues around the United States on networks such as HBO, SHOWTIME, TeleFutura, FOX Sports Networks and FOX Deportes. Golden Boy Promotions currently has over 70 fighters under contract, from future Hall of Famers Bernard Hopkins and Erik Morales to current world champions and superstars Devon Alexander, Canelo Alvarez, Adrien Broner, Danny Garcia, Robert Guerrero, Chris John, Amir Khan, Marcos Maidana, Abner Mares, Paulie Malignaggi, Lucas Matthysse, Victor Ortiz, Lamont Peterson, Daniel Ponce De Leon, Peter Quillin, Leo Santa Cruz and Humberto Soto.  Also included on the company's roster are top contenders Alfredo Angulo, Sharif Bogere, Pablo Cesar Cano, Danny Jacobs, Erislandy Lara, Jorge Linares, Seth Mitchell and Keith Thurman as well as highly regarded prospects Randy Caballero, Jermell Charlo, Omar Figueroa, Eddie Gomez, Frankie Gomez, Anthony Ogogo, Antonio Orozco, Gary Russell Jr. and Deontay Wilder.

UNDISPUTED SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MEGA-FIGHT DANNY "SWIFT" GARCIA VS. LUCAS MATTHYSSE ADDED AS CO-MAIN EVENT OF "THE ONE: MAYWEATHER VS. CANELO"

TWO OF THE MOST HIGHLY ANTICIPATED FIGHTS IN YEARS ON THE SAME NIGHT; SATURDAY, SEPT. 14 AT THE MGM GRAND GARDEN ARENA IN LAS VEGAS, LIVE ON SHOWTIME PPV® LOS ANGELES (July 18, 2013) - Mayweather Promotions, Golden Boy Promotions and Canelo Promotions officially announced today that Undisputed Super Lightweight World Champion Danny "Swift" Garcia and WBC Interim Super Lightweight World Champion Lucas "The Machine" Matthysse will meet in a decisive bout which will anchor the undercard of the biggest boxing event in years, "THE ONE: Mayweather vs. Canelo" on Saturday, Sept. 14 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, live on SHOWTIME PPV®. If Mayweather vs. Canelo is "THE ONE" fight for boxing fans worldwide, then the highly anticipated Garcia vs. Matthysse is "THE ONE-A."  Garcia, the undefeated WBC, WBA Super and The Ring Magazine World Champion, has emerged as the division's dominant force over the last 18 months by dismantling world champions Amir Kahn, Zab Judah and Mexican legend Erik Morales twice.  Matthysse burst on to the world stage in May by seizing the scoring an electrifying knockout of highly skilled World Champion Lamont Peterson.  The third-round knockout of Peterson put the world on notice that Matthysse's power was to be feared and that The Machine was rising to the division's top spot.   Now, the fight that has been called potentially "mind blowing" (Yahoo! Sports), could steal the show of a mega-event headlined by the world's pound-for-pound king, Mayweather, and a young fighter who many have tapped as boxing's next global star, Canelo.  "This is the fight I wanted and the fight that I asked for.  That is why I'm so happy this fight has been made and will be a part of this huge event," said Danny Garcia.  "I'm more confident than ever in my abilities and I'm going to show it on September 14.  Matthysse is a good fighter and has a big punch, but I'm a talented fighter with what it takes to be a champion and stay that way.  This is an opportunity for the world to see what I can really do in the ring." "I'm glad I finally get a chance to fight Danny Garcia," said Lucas Matthysse.  "This is the fight that the entire boxing world (especially my country Argentina) and I wanted.  I want to thank my promoters Golden Boy Promotions and Mario Arano for making this fight possible.  On September 14, I will show the world that I am the best 140 pound fighter on the planet." "Floyd was adamant about giving fans what they wanted to see when he chose Canelo Alvarez as his opponent for his September 14 fight," said Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions.  "We're thrilled that Garcia vs. Matthysse has been added to the card, and that fans will be getting even more boxing at its best."             "The compelling match-up between Garcia and Matthysse could absolutely be its own main event," said Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions.  "We've added another fight that fans have been clamoring for to an already stellar night of boxing.  With the addition of this mega fight we are certain that "THE ONE" will continue to break boxing records." "Boxing is at its finest when the best step up to fight the best, and this is what we have with Mayweather and Canelo and now Garcia and Matthysse," said President of Golden Boy PromotionsOscar De La Hoya.  "September 14 will be one of the most memorable nights of boxing we have been treated to in a long time." "Garcia vs. Matthysse is a fight fan's dream matchup," said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports®.  "It is a main event-quality fight by itself.  To add it to what is already the biggest pay-per-view main event in years, makes the September 14 event the best PPV card in recent memory." Garcia (26-0, 20 KO's) is a popular and crowd-pleasing fighter in the prime of his career.  In his last start, the 25-year-old boxer-puncher registered one knockdown en route to successfully defending his 140-pound titles with a clear, hard-fought unanimous decision win over former Four-Time World Champion Judah on April 27at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.  The victory over Judah continued Garcia's streak of sensational performances against high-profile opposition that began a year earlier when he defeated the legendary Morales the first time via a unanimous decision to capture the WBC world title.  The following July, Garcia shocked Khan and the boxing world with a stunning fourth-round technical knockout of the British superstar to add the WBA Super and Ring Magazine World Championships to his collection.  On Oct. 20, 2012, Garcia knocked Morales out with a hellacious left hook in the fourth round of their rematch.  A 2008 U.S. Olympic Team alternate, Garcia is a physically strong, durable and determined young fighter who is poised and patient in the ring who has fought current or past world champions in his last six fights: Judah, Khan, Morales twice, Kendall Holt and Nate Campbell. The demand for Garcia vs. Matthysse began immediately after Matthysse brutally knocked out Peterson, dropping him three times, this past May 18 in Atlantic City, N.J.   Matthysse (34-2, 32 KO's), who is rated No. 1 at 140 lbs. by The RING Magazine, has scored a staggering 94 percent of his wins by knockout, one of the highest KO percentages for a world champion in history.  The 30-year-old hails from Trelew, Argentina and has won six fights in a row by knockout.  In his last nine fights, he has fought five world champions defeating Peterson (TKO 3), Humberto Soto (TKO 5) and DeMarcus Corley (TKO 8) and losing extremely close, questionable 10-round split decisions against Devon Alexanderand Judah in his opponents' home towns.  Many observers think he deserved to win both of those fights.  Matthysse, who constantly pressures his opponents and wears them down, was also a solid amateur boxer in his native Argentina. "THE ONE: MAYWEATHER VS. CANELO," a 12-round fight for Canelo's WBC, WBA and Ring Magazine Super Welterweight World Championships and Mayweather's WBA Super Welterweight Super World Championship taking place Saturday, Sept. 14 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, is promoted by Mayweather Promotions, Golden Boy Promotions and Canelo Promotions and sponsored by Corona, O'Reilly Auto Parts, Valvoline, Mexico Tourism and Fred Loya Insurance.  In the 12-round co-featured attraction, WBC, WBA Super and Ring Magazine Super Lightweight World Champion Danny Garcia and thunderous punching WBC Interim Super Lightweight World Champion Lucas Matthysse square off in a fight presented in association with Swift Promotions and Arano Box Promotions.  The mega-event will be produced and distributed live by SHOWTIME PPV® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. The event can be heard in Spanish using secondary audio programming (SAP). Less than 24 hours after going on sale in June, the event was sold out, but six MGM Resorts properties will host live closed circuit telecasts of "THE ONE."  Properties showcasing the event include ARIA, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, The Mirage, Monte Carlo and New York-New York.  General admission tickets for the closed circuit telecasts are priced at $100, not including handling fees, and are available for purchase at each individual property's box office outlets and also are available for purchase by phone with a major credit card at 866-799-7711.  Closed circuit ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person.  Tickets also are available through Ticketmaster by calling (800) 745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com. For more information, visit www.floydmayweather.com, www.mayweatherpromotions.com,www.goldenboypromotions.com,www.sports.sho.com and www.mgmgrand.com, follow on Twitter at@FloydMayweather, @CaneloOficial, @MayweatherPromo, @DannySwift, @MayweatherPromo,@GoldenBoyBoxing, @mgmgrand and @SHOSports, follow the conversation using #TheOne and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FloydMayweather, www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions,www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing and www.facebook.com/SHOsports.

"THE ONE: Mayweather vs. Canelo" Media Tour -- Tuesday Trash Talk In L.A.

“THE ONE: MAYWEATHER VS. CANELO” PRESS TOUR STOP

IN LOS ANGELES ATTRACTS 10,000 FANS

It’s a Pro-Canelo Crowd On Final Stop of Nine-Day, 10-City Press Journey

Boxers Prepare to Get to Work For Their Record-Breaking  
Saturday, Sept. 14 Fight, Live on SHOWTIME PPV^®From The MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas

LOS ANGELES (July 3, 2013) – “THE ONE: MAYWEATHER VS. CANELO” press tour came to a spectacular conclusion Tuesday night before 10,000 energetic and enthusiastic fans at Nokia Plaza at L.A. LIVE.

Tempers didn’t exactly flare between Floyd Mayweather, Canelo Alvarez and their camps during the lively festivities that included loud music, a mariachi band and colorful streamers shot into the air, but, for the first time during the enormously successful nine-day, 10-city tour, the respective teams were less than completely complimentary of each other on stage.

Golden Boy President Oscar De La Hoya, who was seated next to Canelo at the dais, told the pro-Canelo crowd that he was “convinced Canelo will win.”  Fans, who had chanted “Ca-nel-o” throughout, often drowning out the speakers, erupted in cheers.  Moments earlier, De La Hoya said he “believed this event will break all the (pay-per-view) records” and that “this will be the best fight in the history of the sport.”

When it was his turn to speak, Canelo reiterated what he had said throughout the tour, that he fully appreciated the fans’ support, that this was “his time and we’re going to win this together.”

Mayweather, who took a verbal shot at De La Hoya at the podium while comparing his (Mayweather’s) resume to Canelo’s, told reporters afterward that “this was the only time on the press tour that there was trash talk.”

“They never said a word in the first nine cities,’’ Mayweather said.  “They were totally quiet.  Now, all of a sudden we're in L.A. and they're talking big like, Canelo is the king.  Well, as you saw, if you shoot shots at me, I’ll shoot shots back.  How you react to me is how I’ll react to you.  You show me respect, I show you respect.

“Every time they give a fighter a huge buildup, I bring them down.  It’s so crazy.  Canelo is a great, young, strong champion, but he’s never fought on pay-per-view unless he’s been on one of my undercards.  I’ve been here before, done it all for 17 years.  Does he belong in the ring with me? We’ll just have to see, but I haven’t seen it yet.  

“I’m young, strong and rich.  He may be number one in his division, but I’m number one in boxing. You’ll see on September 14.”

Mayweather was joined on stage by his mother and three of his young children.  “Tonight was great,” he said.  “The atmosphere here in Los Angeles was amazing, but this was also a special night for me because it was the first time my mother and children were up here with me.

“My mother, she’s a brilliant person.  Today, I was going to write her a one million dollar check. Then, I got to thinking, what she’s given to me, my skills, my life, well I realized what she’s done for me is priceless.  A one million dollar check would be a start, but could not in any way repay her.”

Mayweather said he had been playing a lot of basketball on the tour and that he is in great physical condition, but that he’s “in basketball shape, not boxing shape.  That comes soon.  It’s time to get to work.”

Floyd also said that his company, Mayweather Promotions, would make a donation to the families of the firefighters who were killed by the devastating wildfires near Phoenix earlier this week.

“Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of the people who lost their lives in those fires,” he said.  “This was a terribly tragedy and everyone needs to support them.  Never take anything for granted.”

Canelo was thrilled to be part of the unprecedented press tour.  “This is my job and I enjoyed every moment of it,” he said.  “Every city was different, but the atmosphere was always the same.  I was so impressed with all the fans in all the cities, especially the ones in Chicago,Mexico City, San Antonio and tonight in Los Angeles.  I appreciate all the fans everywhere.”

In Los Angeles, not unlike most of the other cities on the tour, Canelo appeared to be the crowd favorite.

“Canelo-Mania,” as Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer put it, “had hit the United States.  I’ve seen it across the nation, in Mexico and in the U.S.,” said Schaefer, who emceed Tuesday’s proceedings.  “We had 100,000 fans come out for the press conferences.  Based on what we know and the monies generated already, I’m convinced this fight on September 14 is The ONE to break the pay-per-view record (2.5 million buys, set by Mayweather-De La Hoya in 2007).”

“Was I more popular on the tour?”  Canelo replied in response to a question during a roundtable session with the media before the outdoor press conference.  “It’s not for me to say.  It’s up to you to decide.”

As for who has more to lose on Sept. 14, Canelo said, “I don’t know who does, but I’m not going to lose.  This is the fight the fans wanted to see.  I’ll be ready whether and I have to box and move, or stand and slug.  Mayweather is a very difficult fighter, one of the best, and he has a very difficult style.

“We plan to study a lot of tape, especially his first fight with Jose Luis Castillo, who gave him the most problems.  I know I haven’t reached my peak yet and that I still have a lot to learn, but I wish it was September 14 already.  It’s an honor for me to be fighting on such an important weekend like Mexican Independence Day.”

Canelo didn’t think his weight fluctuated much during the sometimes exhausting tour.  “I was able to run on a treadmill at the hotel every couple days,” he said.  “I think my weight today is about what it was when we started.”

The freckle-faced, red-haired Canelo, who turns 23 on July 18, was scheduled to fly toGuadalajara Wednesday morning.  He will spend a few days at home with his family before returning to Los Angeles early next week where he will finalize preparations for training camp which will take place in the mountains near Big Bear, Calif.

The top priority on his immediate agenda, however, Canelo says is “sleep.  That’s the first thing I’ll do.” he said.

“THE ONE: MAYWEATHER VS. CANELO,” a 12-round fight for Canelo’s WBC, WBA and Ring Magazine Super Welterweight World Championships and Mayweather’s WBA Super Welterweight Super World Championship taking place Saturday, Sept. 14 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, is promoted by Mayweather Promotions, Golden Boy Promotions and Canelo Promotions and sponsored by Corona, O’Reilly Auto Parts and Valvoline.  The mega-event will be produced and distributed live by SHOWTIME PPV^® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.  The event can be heard in Spanish using secondary audio programming (SAP).

Less than 24 hours after going on sale on June 25, the event was sold out, but six MGM Resorts properties will host live closed circuit telecasts of “THE ONE.”  Properties showcasing the event include ARIA, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, The Mirage, Monte Carlo and New York-New York.  General admission tickets for the closed circuit telecasts are priced at $100, not including handling fees, and are available for purchase at each individual property’s box office outlets and also are available for purchase by phone with a major credit card at 866-799-7711.  Closed circuit ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person.  Tickets also are available through Ticketmaster by calling (800) 745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

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For more information, visit www.floydmayweather.com, www.mayweatherpromotions.com,www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.sports.sho.com and www.mgmgrand.com, follow on Twitter at @FloydMayweather,  @CaneloOficial,  @MayweatherPromo,  @GoldenBoyBoxing,  @mgmgrand and  @SHOSports, follow the conversation using #TheOne and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FloydMayweather, www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions, www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing andwww.facebook.com/SHOsports.