MIGUEL “SILKY SMOOTH” GONZALEZ LOOKING FOR A CRAWFORD SHOWDOWN

PHILADELPHIA (August 9, 2013)—Fresh off his eighth round stoppage over Josenilson Dos Santos on July 26^th, Lightweight contender Miguel Gonzalez would like to reacquaint himself with amateur rival Terrance Crawford this fall.

Gonzalez (22-3, 16 KO’s) of Cleveland, Ohio was very impressive in his victory over Dos Santos which was his second consecutive win on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights.

“It was a tough fight with a tough guy”, said the 27 year-old Gonzalez.

“I was mentally and physically prepared for the fight and you saw the results”.

Gonzalez believes he is finally on the right course to become a world champion.

“It was supposed to be like this.  I am good at the sport and my confidence is there.  I am supposed to win and have been doing it for a long time.  I am nowhere near finished and the grind doesn’t stop.  I know what to expect when I go to camp and I will keep progressing”.

Gonzalez would like a shot at Crawford, who has an HBO date on October 5^th and with the wins over Dos Santos and former world champion Miguel Acosta, Gonzalez believes he is qualified as anybody to deserve the opportunity to unseat the undefeated Crawford.

Gonzalez and Crawford have a history as they competed as amateurs with Crawford winning a controversial decision.

The fight took place in the United States Championships.

“I was up the whole fight and for some reason I was deducted a point in the last 15 seconds and that point was the difference as lost because of it by that one point”.

“We then fought in the Olympic trials and I beat him so I was satisfied with that”.

Gonzalez now would like a rubber match but this time in the pro ranks with the rising Lightweight contender from Nebraska.

“He is a talented boxer and it would be a great fight but I have the heart, style and desire to destroy him and I want the opportunity to prove it”.

Crawford’s television date is scheduled to take place on October 5^th at the co-feature to the Miguel Cotto – Delvin Rodriguez Jr. Middleweight clash in Orlando, Florida.

“Orlando is a great Boricua community; I think that would be the perfect place for me for that fight to happen”.

“I want to thank my trainer Mike Stafford and Levi Smith and I can’t wait to perform again”.

Said Gonzalez’co-Promoter Arthur Pelullo of Banner Promotions, “Miguel has fought two very good fights back to back and he did it on the national stage.  We are very pleased with his progress and hope to have him in a big fight real shortly."

PRESCOTT READY TO SHINE

Photo Credit: Chris Farina / Top Rank  Breidis Prescott 140 vs. Terence Crawford 139.5

March 29, 2013 - Breidis Prescott (26-4, 20KOs) will have to wait a little longer before he receives his title shot against WBA's "regular" junior welterweight champion Khabib Allakhverdiev. Allakhverdiev injured his elbow last week in camp and was forced to pullout of his title defense in the televised co-feature of HBO Boxing After Dark: Rios-Alvarado.

Prescott remains in the co-feature but he will now be fighting in a 10 rounder against lightweight prospect Terence Crawford (19-0, 15KOs) who will be moving up to junior welterweight for the fight. Crawford was originally supposed to compete on the untelevised portion of the card against Robert Osiobe, but he jumped at the chance to step in for the injured Allakhverdiev and now he has the opportunity to step in the ring on an HBO broadcast in his most high profiled fight to date.

It's unfortunate for Prescott, but being on the televised portion of the card and keeping the opportunity to compete in front of a major audience is nothing to balk at, which is exactly how he sees it.

"I wish I was fighting for the belt, but I'm prepared to fight and it would've been much worse not competing at all. Crawford is a talented prospect, but he's out of his division and out of his league. I'll make the adjustments and turn in a great performance.

"Who knows, maybe if I impress on Saturday I could earn myself an even greater opportunity? My job is to fight and it doesn't really matter who's in front of me because I see every opponent as an obstacle standing in my way, that's motivation enough," Prescott said.