As informed earlier by ALA Promotion via press release, Albert Pagara's Nicaraguan opponent Yesner Talavera (15-3 -1, 4 KO’s) arrived early morning, 23rd Feb. in Cebu as scheduled. Talavera was accompanied by his trainer, former flyweight champion Rosendo Alvarez.

The undefeated Filipino, Pagara (25-0, 18 KO’s) will defend his WBO Inter-Continental super bantamweight title against Talavera at the Cebu City Waterfront Hotel & Casino, Barangay Lahug, Cebu City, Cebu on Saturday night 27th Feb. His title defense will be Pinoy Pride 35 "Stars of the Future" main event, as the successful boxing series returned to Cebu after a successful US debut in October last year. Pagara won the title during that event.

Talavera arrived clad in an all-white tracksuit that looked ripped and ready to rumble.

Featherweight prospect, Mark Magsayo (12-0, 10 KO's) will take on Eduardo Montoya (17-4-1, 13 KO’s) as the co-featured fight of the evening. Magsayo is also scheduled to battle Chris Avalos of Lancaster California as the undercard of Nonito Donaire's scheduled to fight on 23rd April at the Araneta Coliseum in Manila.

Nicaragua's Yesner Talavera (15-3 -1, 4 KO's) along with former light flyweight titleholder Rosendo Alvarez, is scheduled to arrive in Manila on 22 Feb. ahead of his clash with "Prince" Albert Pagara (25-0, 18 KO's) as the main card of Pinoy Pride 35 on 27 Feb. at the Cebu City Waterfront Hotel & Casino, Cebu City.

Mexico's Eduardo Montoya (17-4-1, 13 KO's) with Tony Rodriquez and Magdaleno Motoya are also scheduled to arrive in Manila on the same flight. Montoya will battle featherweight prospect Mark Magsayo, while Rodriguez will face KJ Nataraja.

Following Alexander Dimitrenko's report pulled out of the fight, Luis Ortiz (24-0, 21 KOs) is set to face veteran Tony Thompson (40-6, 27 KOs) in a 12-round main event at the DC Armory, in Washington D.C. on March 5 on HBO Boxing After Dark.

It will be another tough test for the hard-hitting Cuban amateur standout. Thompson, 44, is a veteran of 46 fights and has a lot of experience on his sleeves on fight night.

Ortiz'z supposes opponent, Alexander Dimitrenko refuses to sign the fight contract as Golden Boy Promotions (Ortiz's promoter) did not agree to what Greg Cohen said as "11th-hour unrealistic financial requests".

With Dimitrenko's refusal to take the fight, I'm expecting a step-down opponent for Ortiz as the scheduled fight is closing in. Well, Thompson is not really that kind of opponent, as he had stiffer competition compared to the younger Ortiz.

LOS ANGELES (Feb. 8, 2016) - Fresh from a stunning knockout of Bryant "By-By" Jennings and eager to continue his quest to be the best heavyweight in the sport, WBA Interim Heavyweight World Champion Luis "The Real King Kong" Ortiz (24-0, 21 KOs) will make his first title defense of 2016 when he faces former world title challenger Tony "The Tiger" Thompson (40-6, 27 KOs) in 12-round main event at the DC Armory, in Washington D.C.on Saturday, March 5 and televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark®beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Opening up the live telecast, top contender and 2008 Olympian Sadam "World Kid" Ali (22-0, 13 KOs) will face former WBA Super Lightweight World Champion Jessie Vargas (26-1, 9 KOs) in a 12-round co-main event for the vacant WBO Welterweight World Championship.

"This fight is just another stepping stone on my path to becoming the unified heavyweight world champion," said Luis Ortiz. "I came to the United States to chase my American Dream and fighting at the nation's capital is a dream come true. My life is coming full circle, and I know that this fight will put me a step closer to achieving everything I have worked so hard for in my career."

"I'm happy to be back on HBO fighting for another world title," said Tony Thompson. "If you look at my competition and his [Ortiz], it's not even close. This isn't the amateurs. I'm going to use my experience as a professional to take him places he's never been. Odlanier Solis was a great Cuban amateur but he was also an Olympic Gold Medalist, and I beat him twice. Ortiz thinks he has it tough. I've been avoided for my entire career. Just about all my fights have been on short notice and in foreign countries. If I fought the guys Ortiz fought, I'd be undefeated too. If Ortiz is King Kong, I'm Godzilla; Godzilla coming to whoop some ass!"

"Luis Ortiz and Sadam Ali are two top fighters in our sport today and both will impress audiences in the ring on March 5 in their first fights of 2016," said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. "Luis demonstrated in his brilliant knockout over Bryant Jennings in December that he is an elite fighter that can dominate even the toughest opponent. Sadam Ali is a phenomenal fighter, and I think he is the future of the welterweight division, which is very exciting."

"Tony Thompson is a very talented hard punching contender who has beaten David Price and Odlanier Solis twice each over the last 2 years," said Leon R. Margules, President of Warriors Boxing and Promotions. "Luis Ortiz will have his hands full on March 5 in clearly his toughest challenge to date, and in Tony's hometown. We are very excited he is getting this opportunity."

"We are excited to televise a heavyweight knockout machine like Luis Ortiz in a tough bout on a big stage against Tony Thompson on March 5 in our nation's capital," said Peter Nelson, Executive Vice President, HBO Sports. "The winner will take a significant step up in the public's esteem. The Ali-Vargas co-feature is a terrific 50-50 fight at welterweight that has fans eager to see who will come out on top."

"To fight for the world championship is something that I have been training and fighting for my whole career," said Sadam Ali. "I am grateful for the opportunity and promise all my fans I will not let them down. On March 5, I will have my hands raised up in victory as the new WBO Welterweight World Champion."

"This is a different Jessie Vargas," said Jessie Vargas. "I learned a lot from my last fight and I am ready to prove that I am still a world champion. I'm coming back with a Vengeance!"

"Jessie Vargas knows what's at stake this time around" said Carl Moretti, VP, Top Rank. "He plans to take full advantage of this opportunity and we fully expect his hand to be raised as the winner in what promises to be a great fight."

Tickets priced at $25, $50, $75, and $100, plus applicable taxes, fees and services charges, go on sale on Wednesday, February 10 at 10:00 a.m. ET and available online at www.ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster locations, by calling (800) 745-3000.The DC Armory Box Office will be open on fight night only from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET.

Luis Ortiz vs. Tony Thompson is a 12-round heavyweight fight for the WBA Interim Heavyweight Title presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with King Kong Boxing and Warriors Boxing and Promotions. Sadam Ali vs. Jessie Vargas is a 12-round fight for the vacant WBO Welterweight World Championship presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Top Rank. The event is sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, BORN BOLD. The DC Armory doors open at 3:00 p.m. ET, and the HBO Boxing After Dark telecast begins live at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

A native of Camaguey, Cuba who now makes his home in Miami, Luis "The Real King Kong" Ortiz was one of boxing's breakout stars of 2015. The 36-year-old southpaw has scored three knockouts in three fights, each bigger than the one before it. Most notably, Ortiz defended his WBA Interim Heavyweight World Championship via seventh-round technical knockout of top contender Bryant "By-By" Jennings on Dec. 19. It was a win that marked Ortiz as a must see for fight fans around the world and securing him a place on heavyweight pound-for-pound list. A decorated amateur in his home country, Ortiz, became a professional in 2010 and has gone on to win multiple titles including the WBC FecarBox Heavyweight, the WBA Fedelatin Heavyweight, the WBO Latino Heavyweight and the WBC Latino Heavyweight titles during his undefeated streak.

A skilled boxer from Washington DC, Tony "The Tiger" Thompson is a former world title challenger who has taken tough challenges on his way to the top of the heavyweight division. A professional since 2000, Thompson has earned USA Maryland Sate Heavyweight Title, the WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight Title and the WBO Inter-Continental Heavyweight title before his first attempt at the unified heavyweight world championship against Wladimir Klitschko in 2008. Although unsuccessful, Thompson continued fighting and remained undefeated until his second clash against Klitschko in 2012. Since then, the heavyweight titlist has stayed active and last held the WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight Title in 2015. Now, Thompson is ready to challenge Ortiz for the WBA Interim Heavyweight World Title on his way to become a world champion.

A member of the 2008 United States Olympic boxing team, and the first Arab-American to represent the U.S. at the Olympics, Brooklyn's Sadam "World Kid" Ali has been sailing up the welterweight ladder since a big year in 2013. Ali has had back-to-back title victories over Michael "Cold Blood" Clark, where he won the NABO Welterweight Title; Jeremy "Hollywood" Bryan, winning the WBO Inter-Continental Welterweight Title; Luis Carlos "El Potro" Abregu, defending his titles and giving the experienced fighter his second loss; and Francisco "Chia" Santana where he earned the WBA International Welterweight Title, the 27-year-old with remarkable speed and power is ready for his world title shot against former world champion Jessie Vargas.

Las Vegas standout Jessie Vargas has been following a path to the top similar to that of Ali, as he's turned back several top foes since making his professional debut in 2008. A former WBA world champion at 140 pounds who defeated Khabib "The Hawk" Allakhverdiev, Anton "The Pick Hammer" Novikov and Antonio DeMarco in super lightweight title fights, Vargas lost a controversial 2015 fight to Timothy "Desert Storm" Bradley for the WBO Interim Welterweight World Championship. Now, Vargas could get his wish of becoming a world champion once more when he faces Sadam "World Kid" Ali for the WBO Welterweight World Championship.

In a shocker, Amir Khan will move up two weight classes to challenge Canelo Alvarez for the lineal middleweight crown. It was a move no one sees it coming. The fight was announced Tuesday to the surprise of the boxing world. It draws different reactions from social media.

The fight will be on HBO-PPV, on May 7 at the new T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Khan's critics' mouths were shut, especially those who said he's ducking rival Kell Brook. It takes real guts and balls to take the bigger, stronger and powerful Mexican star, two weight classes above where Khan is campaigning.

Two fighters. Campaigning in separate weight class. Clashing in another weight class.

Above is Gorilla Production reaction for the Canelo vs. Khan announcement. A nice video promo edited by GP.

It was really a surprise reading the press release from Golden Boy Promotions from my inbox. Saul Canelo Alvarez, to battle Amir Khan for the lineal middleweight championship? Again what? Really?

Yes! Mexican star Saul Canelo Alvarez (46-1-1, 32 KOs) will be fighting UK's Amir "King" Khan (31-3, 19 KOs) for the lineal middleweight championship of the world on May 7, Cinco de Mayo weekend on HBO-PPV at the new T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

I don't see this coming. Well, because of weight disparity. I mean, we all know that Canelo can easily make the middleweight limit at 160 pounds if he wanted to. He's been fighting for a long time at 154. And I believed he already outgrew the division, although he can still make it at 154.

However, Khan moving up two divisions north is something absurd. I mean look... Khan had only three fights at welterweight. He found success at 140-pound division, to say the least, but he has not done anything significant yet at 147. And yet now he's moving up to 160? Come on!

But anyway, just for the sake of dubbing the fight "middleweight championship of the world" I believed, Canelo would agree at a catch-weight no less than 155 pounds. Khan fighting Canelo at the middleweight limit will put him at a severe disadvantage. Khan's only advantage over Canelo is his speed, to a much slower, but dangerously stronger Canelo.

With an added weight, Amir Khan would really give up his speed advantage let alone his power. His power for sure will not have that telling effect on Canelo that will be standing at around 160 pounds plus during fight night.

On another point, this fight, in my opinion really screwed up the legitimate middleweight contenders. They denied the middleweight crown to the legit middleweights to battle for it. If we look at the top ten middleweight contenders ranked by Transnational Boxing Ranking Board: at number 1. Gennady Golovkin at number 2. Daniel Jacobs 3. Billy Joe Saunder. Man... these are the contenders that should have the opportunity to fight the middleweight king whoever he is.

Philadelphia, PA—Super middleweight Jesse Hart brings his boxing skills back home for the first time in 15 months when he defends his North American Boxing Organization (NABO) title against Dashon Johnson, of Escondido, CA, in the scheduled 10-round main event Friday evening, March 18, at the 2300 Arena in South Philadelphia. First of seven fights is at 7 p.m.

Hart, 26, is the son of former Philly middleweight contender Eugene “Cyclone” Hart, whose legendary left hook terrorized the 160-pound division in the 1970s.

The younger Hart (left), a pro since 2012, is 19-0, 16 K0s. He is ranked No. 3 in the world among 168-pounders by the World Boxing Organization (WBO), No. 8 by the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and No.10 by the World Boxing Association (WBA).

“I’m beyond excited to be fighting in my first main event in front of my home town fans,” Hart said. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Hart last boxed in Philadelphia on Dec. 13, 2014, when he knocked out Colombian Samuel Miller in two rounds at the 2300 Arena.

In three subsequent fights in 2015—two in Las Vegas, NV, one in Tucson, AZ--Hart scored knockouts over Mike Jimenez, of Chicago, IL, Aaron Pryor, Jr., of Cincinnati, OH, and Andrik Saralegui, of Tijuana, Mexico.

Hart won the vacant NABO super middleweight title by beating Jimenez and he defended it against Pryor.

Johnson (right), 28, has turned his career around by winning his last four fights, including an eighth-round stoppage of one-time conqueror Mike Gavronski in Gavronski’s Tacoma, WA, backyard last November. He followed that upset with another one in his last fight Jan. 15, when he earned a 10-round decision over Izaak Cardona, of Colorado Springs, CO, also in Tacoma, WA.

“I’m ready and I’m excited,” Johnson said. “We took a different and more difficult route to get here but we’re here now. I hope the 2300 Arena in packed because somebody is going to sleep.”

A pro since 2008, Johnson is 19-18-3, 6 K0s, but his record was compiled against some of the best from 154 to 168: Aaron Martinez, Glen Tapia, Jermell Charlo, Yudell Johnson, Julian Williams, Joshua Clottey, Dominic Wade and Luis Arias. He has boxed 10 men who were undefeated when he fought them and he has only been stopped twice in 41 fights.

The preliminary card will feature popular local favorites: lightweight Victor Vasquez; junior middleweight Ismael “Tito” Garcia; lightweight Jerome Conquest; junior middleweight Fred Jenkins, Jr., junior welterweight Scott Kelleher.

LOS ANGELES (Feb. 2, 2016) - WBC, Ring Magazine and Lineal Middleweight World Champion Canelo Alvarez (46-1-1, 32 KOs) will make his first title defense of 2016 against former two-time world champion and resurgent contender Amir "King" Khan (31-3, 19 KOs) on May 7, Cinco De Mayo weekend, in a match-up of two of the biggest stars in boxing. The event will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View®.

Golden Boy Promotions will exclusively promote the fight, with Khan returning to his former home at Golden Boy Promotions for the showdown. The mega-fight promises high-intensity action between two of boxing's most popular and powerful fighters competing in the primes of their careers. Information regarding, the venue, ticket availability and a press tour for the fight will be announced in the coming weeks.

"As the middleweight champion of the world, I will take on the best fighters in the sport and on Cinco De Mayo weekend, I look forward to making the first defense of my titles," said Canelo Alvarez. "Amir was a decorated amateur, a two-time world champion and is in the prime of his career. Fans are in for a great fight on May 7."

"I know Canelo fights the best and wouldn't pass up the opportunity to face me like others have," said Amir Khan. "My goal is to always fight the biggest names and the best fighters that is why I'm excited for this fight. Also, I would like to thank my team and Golden Boy Promotions for this opportunity. I know I have the speed and ability to beat him and will give my fans what they deserve on May 7."

"We are committed to putting on the biggest and best fights in boxing," said Golden Boy Promotions Chairman and CEO, Oscar De La Hoya. "Canelo is the biggest star in the sport and as he demonstrated against James Kirkland and Miguel Cotto last year, he is only getting better. Those who predicted that he would take an easy fight for his first defense have been proven wrong once again. As for Amir, he has won his last five fights including an incredible performance against Devon Alexander, and now that he is back where he belongs at Golden Boy Promotions, his future is very bright, once again."

At the age of 25, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico's Canelo Alvarez, the current WBC, Ring Magazine, and Lineal Middleweight World Champion has conquered the boxing world, captivating fans both at home and around the globe with his action-packed fighting style, charisma and willingness to take on the toughest challenges. The 2015 Fighter of the Year candidate's road to stardom began in 2011 with a win over Matthew "Magic" Hatton for the vacant WBC Super Welterweight World title, his first title defense against Ryan Rhodes and stoppage victories over Alfonso Gomez and Kermit Cintron. Then in 2012, Canelo defended his belt against future Hall of Famer Sugar Shane Mosley and showed the veteran his first retirement, winning via unanimous decision. Canelo continued on the path to superstardom in 2013 with a fifth round technical knockout of Josesito Lopez, followed by a unanimous decision victory over then world champion, Austin Trout in front of over 40,000 fans at San Antonio's Alamodome. The victory earned, Canelo the WBA Super Welterweight World Championship and proved his dominance at 154-pounds and a clear, bonafide ticket seller. On September 14, 2013, Canelo faced the man on top of the pound-for-pound list - Floyd "Money" Mayweather - giving a stellar effort before falling short of victory for the first time via 12-round majority decision. The fight ended up being the biggest of 2013, but also the second highest grossing bout of all-time and the second most watched boxing event ever on Mexican television (only behind 2015's Mayweather-Pacquiao). Since then, Canelo has won four straight fights, defeating top stars Alfredo "Perro" Angulo via 10th round technical knockout and Erislandy "The American Dream" Lara via split decision in 2014. On May 9, 2015, Alvarez dazzled with a victory over the fierce James "Mandingo Warrior" Kirkland at Minute Maid Park in Houston in front of more than 31,000 fans that featured what many have already deemed the "Knockout of the Year." Finally, On November 21, 2015, Alvarez defeated future Hall-of-Famer Miguel Cotto for the WBC, RING Magazine and Lineal Middleweight Championship in front of a packed arena at the Mandalay Events Center in Las Vegas and more than 900,000 homes across the country. The unanimous decision victory cemented Canelo's status as boxing's biggest draw and among the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world.

Bolton, Lancashire, England native, Amir "King" Khan catapulted into the media spotlight after winning the silver medal at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. Khan turned professional on July 16, 2005 with a first round technical knockout victory over Phil Edwards. Since then, Amir Khan has exploded onto the international sports scene. In July 2009, Khan competed for his first world title against Andriy "Kotelya" Kotelnik where Khan was crowned as the WBA Super Lightweight World Champion via a unanimous decision victory. Khan went on to successfully defend the title five times against tough competition in Dmitriy "Star of David" Salita, Paul "Magic Man" Malignaggi, Marcos "El Chino" Maidana, and Paul "Dudey" McCloskey. In July 2011, Khan faced Zab "Super" Judah and added the IBF Super Lightweight World Championship to his collection when he knocked out Judah in the fifth round. The victory was short lived however; as Khan lost a controversial 12-round split decision to Lamont "Havoc" Peterson on December of 2011. The controversy surrounding the officiating prompted a rematch, but that bout was canceled when Peterson failed a pre-fight drug screening. Disappointed but not discouraged, Khan faced Danny "Swift" Garcia in July 2014 for a chance to become a world champion once more but was stopped in the fourth round. Since then Khan has rebounded giving Carlos Molina his first professional loss in December 2012, defeating former IBF Lightweight World Champion Julio "The Kidd" Diaz in April 2013, securing the WBC Silver Welterweight and the WBA International Welterweight Titles against Luis Collazo in May 2014, and defending his titles in spectacular fashion against former three-time world champion Devon "The Great" Alexander in December 2014 and former WBO Super Lightweight World Champion Chris Algieri in May 2015. Now, "King" Khan will be looking to become a world champion again when he faces Canelo on May 7.