Two

HBO Boxing After Dark

Juan Diaz vs. Paul Malignaggi

August 22, 2009

Toyota Center

Houston, Texas

 

 

For more info, visit: www.goldenboypromotions.com.

 

Featured Bouts:

Jr. Welterweight Title Bout (12 Rds)

Juan Diaz (34-2, 17 KOs) vs. Paul Malignaggi (26-2, 5 KOs)

 

IBF Jr. Lightweight Title Bout (12 Rds)

Champion Malcolm Klassen (24-4-2, 15 KOs) vs. Robert Guerrero (24-1-1, 17 KOs)

 

Middleweight Bout (10 Rds)

Danny Jacobs (17-0, 15 KOs) vs. Ishe Smith (21-3, 9 KOs)

 

 

_____________________________________________________________________________

 

 

Houston's Hero, Juan Diaz, Returns On August 22nd Against

Former World Champion Paulie Malignaggi

 

Robert Guerrero Challenges For Malcolm Klassen's

IBF Junior Lightweight World Championship

 

Hbo Boxing After Dark To Televise Bouts

 

LOS ANGELES - There's nothing in the world like Texas heat in August. On Saturday, August 22nd, four of

boxing's best will square off at Houston's Toyota Center in an event that will raise the temperature of a

sweltering summer of boxing even higher.

 

In the main event, former Undisputed Lightweight World Champion and hometown hero Juan "Baby Bull"

Diaz takes on former 140-pound world titleholder Paulie "Magic Man" Malignaggi of Brooklyn, New York,

while the co-featured bout sees heavy-handed Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero challenge for a world title in a

second weight class when he takes on IBF Junior Lightweight World Champion Malcolm Klassen.

 

Both bouts, which are presented by Golden Boy Promotions, with Diaz vs. Malignaggi being presented in

association with DiBella Entertainment and Guerrero vs. Klassen being presented in association with

Branco Sports Productions, will air on HBO Boxing After Dark beginning at 9:45 pm ET/PT (8:45 pm CT).

The evening of boxing is sponsored by Quaker State, Cerveza Tecate and Southwest Airlines. Doors open

at 3:30pm and the first bout begins at approximately 3:45pm CT.

 

Tickets, priced at $250, $125, $70, $45 and $25, are on sale now and may be purchased online at

www.ToyotaCenterTix.com, by phone at 1-866-4-HOU-TIX and at select Houston area Randalls locations.

 

"An exciting evening of boxing like this is what the Boxing After Dark series is known for, and I can't think

of any place better to have it than at Toyota Center in Houston," said Oscar de la Hoya, President of Golden

Boy Promotions. "The fans in Houston are knowledgeable and enthusiastic and we're giving them plenty to

cheer for with their hometown fighter Juan Diaz taking on Paulie Malignaggi and Robert Guerrero looking to

win another world title against Malcolm Klassen. This will be a great night for Houston and for boxing."

 

"These matchups simply continue the momentum of the exciting, make-or-break fights we've been televising

on Boxing After Dark," said Luis Barragan, director of programming HBO Sports. "You put two young,

hungry and talented fighters with their backs up against the wall, like Juan Diaz and Paul Malignaggi, and

there's no doubt that you're going to get a tremendous fight."

 

"The Toyota Center is thrilled to welcome back Golden Boy Promotions and HBO for another classic night

of boxing in Houston," said Doug Hall, Vice President and General Manager of Toyota Center. "The Houston

fight fans have given their overwhelming support to boxing in general, and Juan Diaz in particular, at both our

previous matches. We are honored that Golden Boy has asked us to participate in yet another great night of

boxing and we can't wait to see the action unfold."

 

Boxing's most exciting pound for pound fighter, Juan "Baby Bull" Diaz (34-2, 17 KO's) has accomplished a

lot in the sport for a young man of just 25 years old. A former WBA World Lightweight Champion who

defended his title five times before adding the WBO and IBF World Titles to his resume with technical

knockouts of Acelino Freitas and Julio Diaz respectively, Houston's finest is coming off an epic war with

Juan Manuel Marquez in February. Though he fell short against the future Hall of Famer in a Fight of the

Year candidate, Diaz is eager to go from hitting the books to hitting opponents following his graduation from

the University of Houston - Downtown earlier this year.

 

"Ever since graduation, I've just been in the gym and I can't wait to get back into the ring," said Diaz.

"Malignaggi is a slick opponent and a good test, but I'm confident that with my fans in Houston behind me,

I'll win the fight in exciting fashion."

 

A brash Brooklynite who has been to the top of the boxing world as a former Junior Welterweight World

Champion, Paulie "Magic Man" Malignaggi (26-2, 5 KO's) is more than flash in the ring. Owner of wins over

Lovemore N'Dou, Herman Ngoudjo and Edner Cherry, the 28-year-old Malignaggi has also gone to battle

against boxing superstars Miguel Cotto and Ricky Hatton, but he knows that no fight is more important than

the one ahead of him on August 22nd as it could lead to a another world title shot for him if he beats Diaz.

 

"I respect Juan Diaz as a fighter and I know this fight has the potential to be Fight of the Year," said

Malignaggi. "But I know what I have to do on August 22nd, and that's to dominate every round. This is the

kind of big fight I've been waiting for and the fans are definitely going to see the old Paulie Malignaggi in

action."

 

Hailing from Hammanskraal, South Africa, Malcolm Klassen (24-4-2, 14 KO's) is the latest in the line of

hard-nosed South African fighters to ascend to the peak of the boxing mountain. A ten-year veteran who

rebounded from a rocky start to his career to win 11 of his last 12 bouts, Klassen came to the attention of

the boxing world in 2008 with his win over former Five-Time World Champion Manuel "Mantecas" Medina

and followed that with a seventh round technical knockout of South African boxing legend Cassius Baloyi in

April that earned him the IBF 130-pound championship.

 

"I'm happy to be fighting in the United States for the first time and to be challenged by a respected fighter

like Robert Guerrero," said Klassen. "I expect a tough fight, but I waited too long to win this title and I'm not

about to give it up on August 22nd."

 

A ferocious puncher whose last 16 wins have come by knockout, Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero (24-1-1, 17

KO's) has the type of power that can change the direction of a fight in a split second. A native of Gilroy,

California, the popular Guerrero knows what it's like to compete at the game's highest level, having won the

IBF Featherweight World Title twice. Now competing at 130 pounds, Guerrero - who is fresh off of an eighth

round stoppage of veteran Efren Hinojosa in June - is ready to join the select few who can claim to be a

world champion in two different weight classes.

 

"I miss being a world champion and knowing that I'm the best in the world, but I knew that after giving up my

featherweight title I'd have to pay my dues all over again," said Guerrero. "I think I've done that and on

August 22nd, I'm excited to have the opportunity to become a champion again. The fans should expect

fireworks."

 

For more information regarding the August 22nd event, please visit www.goldenboypromotions.com.

 

 

- Press Released issued by Golden Boy Promotions with a little editing from us (color, etc...)

 

 

 

Subject to change

 

 

 

 

(8/17/09)