The bout, promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions, and sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, AT&T, Dewalt Tools and StubHub, promises to be a spectacular display of talent and skill with Mayweather and Mosley will meet in a 12-round welterweight battle that is already being compared to other great and historic welterweight match-ups like Sugar Ray Leonard against Tommy Hearns and Oscar de la Hoya against Felix Trinidad.

“Ever since I came back to the sport I said I only wanted to fight the best and Shane Mosley is one of the best,” said Mayweather (40-0, 25 KO’s).  “Not only does he have the skills, but he is also fast, strong and a very tough competitor.  His speed and power won’t mean much that night against my will and determination to dominate him inside the square circle.  When I compete against the best, I am always at my best; so on May 1 the fans will see one great performance.”

“I have always wanted to fight Floyd Mayweather and now that dream is finally coming true,” said Mosley, (46-5, 39 KO’s).  “Floyd is excellent at what he does, but my past record of beating the best competition and other great champions shows that he is just another one of my opponents I intend to beat.  He has never faced anyone like me before and I think that will be a big factor on May 1 when I plan to show him just what it means to meet a true champion in the ring.”

“This fight has been in the making for a long time and now Floyd has the opportunity to showcase his skills against a great champion like Shane,” said Leonard Ellerbe, CEO, Mayweather Promotions.  “It is these kinds of opportunities that elevate and excite Floyd.  The people and the polls might be wondering who is going to win this fight, but on May 1, I have no doubt that Floyd is going to give them a dominant performance and continue to prove why he is the best fighter in the world today. “

“The theme of this fight is “who are you picking?” because when two champions of this caliber meet in the ring, you can expect nothing but an extremely competitive fight and an unknown outcome that will only reveal itself on May 1,” said Richard Schaefer, CEO, Golden Boy Promotions.  “Shane Mosley is one of the greatest fighters of this era and so is Floyd Mayweather, so it is a true gift that the fans will have the opportunity to see a fiercely competitive and fantastic night of boxing.”

“MGM Grand is thrilled to host two of the sport’s superstars,” said Richard Sturm, President of Sports and Entertainment for MGM MIRAGE.  “Mayweather and Mosley bring tremendous speed and skill to the ring and will no doubt electrify the fans on May 1.”

“Mayweather vs. Mosley is a showdown of superstars that fans have been talking about for years,” said Mark Taffet of HBO Pay-Per-View.  “It has all the elements of a pay-per-view mega-fight.”

A 1996 Olympic Bronze medalist for the United States, the undefeated Floyd Mayweather has since gone on to strike gold in the professional ranks, winning six world titles in five weight classes to firmly establish himself as one of the most elite fighters of his era.  With dominating wins over the likes of World Champions Diego Corrales, Jose Luis Castillo, Arturo Gatti, Zab Judah, Oscar de la Hoya and Ricky Hatton, Mayweather was on a meteoric rise to hall of fame greatness when he announced his retirement from the ring in 2008.  But he left the door open for a return if the right challenge presented itself and after 18 months of a much needed physical and emotional break from the ring, he returned to boxing on September 19, 2009 with a dominating and spectacular victory over future Hall of Famer Juan Manuel Marquez.  He now faces Mosley on May 1 in what will be one of his most challenging contests to date.

In addition to his boxing accomplishments, Mayweather has managed to become a crossover star, appearing in HBO®’s Emmy® award winning reality series “24/7” three separate times as he provided cameras with an all access look at his training and personal life.  Additionally, as a competitor on ABC’s Dancing With The Stars, Mayweather was introduced to a completely new audience with over 35 million viewers tuning in each week.

It would be easy for Sugar Shane Mosley to be a satisfied man, but Mosley will not be content until he feels that he has climbed every mountain the sport has to offer, including beating Floyd Mayweather on May 1.  His goal is to continue to win as this future Hall of Famer always has, compiling six world titles and having ruled the lightweight, welterweight and junior middleweight divisions over his storied 16-year career.  Mosley has defeated them all, including the likes of Oscar de la Hoya, Fernando Vargas (twice), Luis Collazo and Ricardo Mayorga, but his most recent victory could be his most spectacular – a ninth round stoppage of Antonio Margarito in January 2009 to win the welterweight world title for the third time.

Mosley has a worldwide fan base and feels that he can continue to win, including one more world championship, his sixth, which is an amazing feat for any fighter, but seems easy when you’re a given the hallowed “Sugar” nickname, shared by Mosley with the legendary “Sugars,” Robinson and Leonard.  He also hopes to ascend back to the number one spot on the mythical pound for pound list, which will only happen by taking on the best in the world, fight in and fight out.

Tickets priced are $1,250, $1,000, $600, $300 and $150, not including applicable service charges, are on sale now and limited to 10 per person and ticket sales at $150 are limited to two (2) per person with a total ticket limit of 10 per person.  To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000.  Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

The MGM Grand Garden Arena is home to concerts, championship boxing and premier sporting and special events. The Arena offers comfortable seating for as many as 16,800 with excellent sightlines and state-of-the-art acoustics, lighting and sound.  Prominent events to date have included world championship fights between Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson as well as Oscar De La Hoya vs. Floyd Mayweather and George Foreman vs. Michael Moorer; and concerts by The Rolling Stones, Madonna, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Bette Midler, George Strait, Janet Jackson, Phil Collins, Billy Joel, U2, ‘N Sync, Sting, Coldplay, Alicia Keys, Jimmy Buffett and the Barbra Streisand Millennium Concert.  The MGM Grand Garden Arena also is home to the annual Academy of Country Music Awards (ACMA), Frozen Fury NHL pre-season game and the U.S. Open of Motocross.

The Mayweather vs. Mosley pay-per-view telecast, beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, has a suggested retail price of $54.95, will be produced and distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View® and will be available to more than 71 million pay-per-view homes. The telecast will be available in HD-TV for those viewers who can receive HD. HBO Pay-Per-View®, a division of Home Box Office, Inc., is the leading supplier of event programming to the pay-per-view industry.  For Mayweather vs. Mosley fight week updates, log on to www.hbo.com.

The 12-round world title fight has been elevated to the main event since the Arthur Abraham vs. Andre Dirrell bout, originally set as the main event, has been rescheduled.  Ticketholders who need additional information are directed to call StarTickets at (800) 585.3737 or The Show Box Office at (760) 833-8120 during normal business hours.

The March 6 telecast is promoted by Gary Shaw Productions, LLC, and will begin at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) with a 12-round lightweight bout between the fast-rising, undefeated Lenny Zappavigna (22-0, 15 KOs) of Australia and Fernando “La Fiera” Angulo (22-6, 14 KOs) of Venezuela for the International Boxing Organization (IBO) title.

Darchinyan, a brash Australian-based Armenian, standing five-foot-five-and-one-half-inch, at the age of 34-years-old, has scored knockouts in 14 of his last 15 victories.

In his last outing, Darchinyan retained his belts with an impressive second-round knockout over Tomas Rojas at Agua Caliente on Dec. 12, 2009, on SHOWTIME. One of Darchinyan’s most devastating performances came when he unified the 115-pound titles with a ninth-round knockout over Cristian Mijares on Nov. 1, 2008, on SHOWTIME.

“I have a lot of possible big fights in the future, but I need to beat this guy up decisively first,’’ Darchinyan said.  “He’s in way over his head. I’m going to sand-blast Guerrero into an early retirement. Viva Darchinyan!’’

Guerrero, of Ciudad Neza, Mexico, is a switch-hitter who has won 11 in a row, including impressive performances against Luis Maldonado and No. 1-ranked Alberto Rosas. A natural right-hander, the five-foot-five, 22-year-old Guerrero has campaigned exclusively in Mexico since turning professional on July 28, 2005. He is coming off a third-round knockout over Rey Lopez on Dec. 18, 2009, in Tijuana, Mex.

“This opportunity is what you live for, it’s what you dream about and I feel I’m ready for it,’’ Guerrero said. “I’m a brawler. I come to fight. You’re not going to see me box too much. Darchinyan is a big, strong guy with terrific power, so we know what he’s about and what he likes to do.

“I think the biggest key for a fight like this is not to be intimidated. You go in the first round and show him that you can bang with him, but you have to fight smart.  I’ve prepared very well and feel that I can win this fight. I know it’s a difficult fight – it’s a difficult task, but it’s not an impossible one. I’m ready.’’

Zappavigna, of Sydney, by way of Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia, will be making his SHOWTIME debut and second start in the United States. In his initial stateside start last Dec. 12, the five-foot-six, 22-year-old won every round en route to winning an impressive six-round decision over Sergio Macias at Agua Caliente.

Nicknamed “Lenny Zappa,’’ Zappavigna, who’s Italian, wears his hair like fellow Aussie and former world champion Kostya Tszyu –  he has a long, rat-tail that extends from the back of his head – but he competes with the determination, passion and ferociousness of his idol, Arturo Gatti.

“I like to unleash a bunch of punches like Arturo, who was just a warrior,’’ said Zappavigna, who came out relentlessly against Macias and seldom let up. “I’ve always loved Gatti.  He always came to fight.’’

Considered by many to be Australia’s top pro prospect, Zappavigna went 72-9 in the amateurs and was a four-time national champion in his homeland before turning pro in June 2006.

Angulo is a former world title challenger who dropped a 12-round decision to then-unbeaten WBA lightweight champion Juan Diaz on Nov. 4, 2006.

The defeat to Diaz ended a 13-fight winning streak for Angulo, a five-foot-five, 29-year-old awkward boxer-puncher with good skills and movement.

Angulo was born in Ecuador and resides in Caracas, Venezuela.

“Andre saw a specialist and he is going to be ready to fight on March 27,” said Gary Shaw, Dirrell’s promoter.  “I know Andre is deeply disappointed about rescheduling but he IS determined to resume training for the super middleweight division’s most compelling fight.”

Abraham’s promoter Kalle Sauerland said: “The most important thing is that Andre gets healthy. Arthur is ready to get in the ring with him and win the next three points in the tournament – no matter when and where. We look forward to March 27 and the next spectacular victory of King Arthur.”

Abraham, who has been training in the United States since February 8, said, “Of course I was disappointed when I first heard of the postponement, but I am happy to take on Dirrell on March 27. I want him to be in top shape so that he has no excuses once I am done with him. This is the Super Six World Boxing Classic, the best fighting against the best, so I can understand that he does not want to face me when he is not at 100 percent.

“My training has gone very well thus far,” continued Abraham. “I am in great shape and I will defend my tournament lead against him.”

For information on all SHOWTIME Sports telecasts, including exclusive behind-the-scenes video and photo galleries from its events and complete information on the Super Six World Boxing Classic, please visit the website at http://www.sports.sho.com

It’s been a difficult past two years for Vivian Harris. Boxing politics coupled with long stretches of inactivity have plagued the former junior welterweight champion, but the proud Guyana native remains undeterred.

“I still consider myself one of the best fighters in the division,” said Harris. “I have faced some adversity these last two years but I’m still determined. I’m still hungry. I am here and I will be champion again.”

The 30-year-old Harris landed in Mexico City on Tuesday for his scheduled clash with Lucas Matthysse Saturday night at the Foro Scotiabank. Harris understands how important this fight is for his career. The winner puts himself right in the mix in the ultra talent-rich junior welterweight division.

“I’m ready to go,” said Harris Wednesday evening. “I’m fully prepared for Matthysse. This is my first step back to a world title and I will not be denied.”

The undefeated Argentine puncher Matthysse has compiled an impressive record of 25-0 with 23 KOs. His clash with Harris however, represents a significant step up in class, as thus far, his perfect record has come against mostly soft opposition.

Harris vs. Matthysse will be the co-featured bout with the Ponce De Leon vs. Orlando Cruz main event.

The card will air live in Latin America on the HBO Plus service.

Right from the opening bell the Lightweight division’s two best fighters, of the time, stood toe to toe exchanging  power punch after power punch. Schwer was the first to land a truly hurtful shot in the first round, a solid right to the jaw which clearly rocked Dunne. But Dunne came straight back at Schwer landing a couple of crackers and consequently won the round.

In the middle rounds it seemed that Schwer had managed to secure most due to landing more quality shots. But by the seventh he was starting to show signs of fading and ‘Dynamo’ started to control the proceedings.

The titanic battle went the full twelve rounds and ended with a close split decision win for Colin Dunne.  The British Judge scored the fight 116-114 for Billy Schwer whilst the American and South African judges see it 116-112 and 115-113 for Colin Dunne.

Dunne Vs. Schwer quite rightly won the ‘Fight of the Year’ honours at the year end awards and much of the media lavished further praise on the two stars by stating that they and the fans deserve Colin Dunne vs. Billy Schwer II

Nearly ten years after this spectacular fight Colin Dunne and Billy Schwer are finally set to again face each other in a boxing arena. This time though it will not be Dunne and Schwer that are gloved up, these two Lightweight greats will instead be in the corner with their respective charges, Ian Harrington and Kyran Speirs, as they do battle at the Dead Man Running movie sponsored Judgement Day III at T47 in Southwark, South East London.

The ever cheerful Colin ‘Dynamo’ Dunne, who still regularly trains at Rooney’s Boxing Gym in Southwark, took a little time out to talk about facing Billy Schwer, albeit as cornermen, again. “It’ll be interesting. The last time me and Billy were in opposite corners we were going hammer and tongs at it. Since them days we have met on the boxing circuit a few times. Billy’s a great guy and I’m not too bad meself (laughs).

This’ll be fun, I’ve known Billy quite a few years and we’re quite good mates. I haven’t done a lot of corner work as such and I don’t think Billy has either, so I think we are both on an even par for this one as we’re both inexperienced corners.”

Judgement Day III, which will take place at the new T47 venue, has attracted some of the UK’s top White Collar fighters including Middleweight sensation ADAM MCCANN, who will be headlining the show, and Welterweight star ED STOREY, who will be co-feature. In addition to the eight bout Boxing card, which includes the return of female star MARIANIMAL who will defend her Featherweight crown, there will also be two Mixed Martial Arts bouts organised by BANDOGS MMA.

Judgement Day III, sponsored by DEAD MAN RUNNING, will be held at T47, 47 St Thomas Street, London SE1 3QX on Saturday 27th February 2010. Doors open at 7.00pm.

Tickets for Judgement Day III are priced £15 (Standing – SOLD OUT),  £30.00 (unreserved seated – Limited Tickets left) and £50.00 (V.I.P. – Limited Tickets left) and are available from Rooney’s Boxing Gym, 895/896 Holyrood Street, London SE1 2EL or call 020 7403 6113 or on the door from 7.00pm

DAVIE, FL, February 17, 2010 – Warriors Boxing announced today a busy schedule over the next 8 weeks, where six of their fighters will be involved in very meaningful fights.

On February 27, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, unbeaten young Filipino Star “MARVELOUS” MARVIN SONSONA challenges WILFREDO VASQUEZ JR., for the WBO Junior Featherweight Title.

One week later, on March 6, at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut, on HBO Boxing After Dark, IBF World Champion, JUAN “IRON TWINS” URANGO attempts to unify the Junior Welterweight Division when he takes on WBC World Champion DEVON ALEXANDER.

On March 19, in Durant Oklahoma, Junior Middleweight contender SECHEW “IRON HORSE” POWELL takes on DEANDRE LATTIMORE in a highly anticipated rematch to determine the IBF number 1 contender in the Junior Middleweight Division as the main event headliner on ESPN2 Friday Night Fights.

Just eight days later, on March 27, VICTOR “MERMELMELADA” CAYO challenges WBA Interim Champion MARCOS MAIDANA for his Junior Welterweight crown in the main event on HBO’s Boxing After Dark.

On April 10, GLEN “THE ROAD WARRIOR” JOHNSON now designated mandatory Light Heavyweight contender by the IBF is expected to challenge undefeated World Champion TAVORIS CLOUD for his title underneath ANDRE BERTO vs. CARLOS QUINTANA, on HBO World Championship Boxing. 

Last but not least, on April 17 the always dangerous EDISON “PANTERA” MIRANDA will travel to Montreal, Quebec to take on undefeated IBF Super Middleweight Champion LUCIAN BUTE for his title, also on HBO World Championship Boxing.

“We are very excited about the accomplishments of all our fighters, and we can’t wait to crown more World Champions in the coming months.  I do not remember a time when Warriors’ fighters had this many high profile opportunities in such a short period of time”, stated Leon Margules, President of Warriors Boxing.  “Warriors Boxing has a chance to further cement itself as one of the top promotional companies in the sport by having success in these upcoming bouts” continued Margules.  “In addition some of our younger prospects like undefeated Super Middleweight DONOVAN “DA BOMB” GEORGE, world rated NABO Junior Welterweight Champion KENNY GALARZA and undefeated Junior Welterweight DANNY O’CONNOR are just about ready to make their mark in the World Rankings”

GEORGE, GALARZA AND O’CONNOR as well as undefeated Puerto Rican Olympic sensation JOHNATHAN GONZALEZ are also all scheduled to fight in March or April for Warriors.

Since returning home, Berto has continued to work on the relief efforts from the United States, including the creation of the Berto Dynasty Foundation. In addition he has developed partnerships with Everlast, which launched a signature Andre Berto Haiti Relief t-shirt and Westmark School in Encino, California. Berto and the school have developed a long-term collaboration to adopt a school in Haiti together.

Andre Berto’s Journal – A Fighter’s Fight:
At 5:58 p.m., on January 12, I got the call. I was just returning from the gym, preparing for the biggest fight of my career against Sugar Shane Mosley. I was informed that the island of Haiti was rocked by a massive 7.0 earthquake. I am confused and concerned, but night falls with no idea of how serious the damage is, so all we can do is wait. The morning sun rises and reveals the powerful strength of Mother Nature – thousands of people dead on the streets, people being pulled from the rubble and buildings that were smashed to the ground. As I sat watching CNN, a chilling sensation ran down my spine. I felt the mourning of a nation, a people that I call my own.

After three days we finally got word, but it was tragic. My uncle and seven other members of his household were all found dead. They were battered by the concrete blocks that once held their home.  But with darkness comes light; my sister Naomi and my niece Jessica were alive. They were walking to a friend’s house at the time of the earthquake when their home collapsed. So for now they wander the streets with the rest of the homeless looking for shelter and food. Walking the streets at night they hear the screams and cries of men, women, and children still under the rubble.

January 30th was supposed to be the biggest fight of my career – the type of fight that every young fighter dreams about against a living legend. With the fight only a few weeks away, I tried my best to stay focused on the task at hand. Stay on the same grueling routine I’ve endured for the past eight weeks of training camp. But at this point with every mile I run and every punch I throw, I can’t help but think of my reality. I go to the bathroom to wash my face and help clear my mind. I pause as the water drips from my chin. I look up to my reflection only to see the eyes of Toussaint L’Ouverture and the face of Jean-Jacques Dessalines – the great Haitian revolutionary leaders that freed the country in 1804. Spirits that now cry for her children’s help. They say the ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands during times of challenge and controversy. I had to decide to cancel a dream fight in Las Vegas, but now I have a much bigger cause to fight for in Haiti.

When I walk through the aisle, a little girl grabbed my pant leg, and I stopped and looked at her. She had a smile that could light up the darkest day, corn rows in her head, and a little necklace with an angel on it. I asked her what her name was, and she said Measha. I told her she was beautiful, and she responded “Thank You” (in Creole). Then she asked me if I could fix her leg because it has been hurting. She pulled the blanket back and her leg had been amputated. I looked in her eyes with emotions leaking from my heart and couldn’t believe how much strength this little girl had. As I looked around the room there were hundreds of patients that wanted that same comfort. On the other side of the tent, I see a handful of doctors rushing over to a patient who just went into cardiac arrest. I walk over to see this wonderful team of doctors try to bring this man back to life but with no success. The doctors shook their heads in disappointment. They pick him up and walk him out, another life lost. I am overwhelmed. I cannot begin to understand why God allows these things to happen. I don’t try to understand. I just have faith.

As hours pass and the day ends it is clear that everyone is physically and emotionally drained.  It’s 2 a.m., and we leave the hospital and go to the house that we’re staying.  I lay down on the cot sleep knowing there are others buried and pleading for help. I can see their faces in my dreams and hear their cries.

The days ahead we spent some time driving through the streets of Port Au Prince, I see building after building crushed to the ground. The city air is congested with the smell of dead on the streets and still under the rubble. We see tent fields filled with thousands of people that have lost everything  but are still doing what they can to survive. Western Union lines wrap around street corners as people get money from their loved ones in the States. There are long lines of Haitian women with big pots stirring and cooking their hearts out and distributing food throughout the tent camps. I made a stop at the Presidential Palace. They were hundreds of people outside the gates just looking to see how such a massive building with so much history could be crushed so easily.

Back at the Medishare hospital a truck pulled up with a father and his daughter. His daughter was unconscious.  I picked her up and carried her into the hospital. When I laid her down, she opens her eyes and I tell her it’s going to be okay. I didn’t think anything was wrong with her. There were no cuts or bruises. But not five minutes later, she falls into cardiac arrest. Doctors rip her shirt open and start CPR. The father starts to yell and cry. I grab him and tell him to relax and he tells me she is all he has because everyone else is dead. The doctors revived her three times before she passed.  Her father grips my shirt in pain and sorrow and falls to his knees. Wow…… It’s hard to imagine a parent losing their child and actually witnessing her death. I assisted some workers in placing the young girl in a body bag.

Another day and another life lost, but many were saved. It felt good to see doctors and volunteers from all around the world helping with Haiti’s efforts. Within all the pain and hurt I’ve seen so much strength.

On random late nights, I walk around the hospital camp outside and hear lovely sounds of old Haitian spirituals of faith coming through the hospital tents. My heart fills with joy and pride knowing that the strength of the Haitian history still shows proudly today. Throughout all the suffering Haiti has been through over the years, these are the people of 1804, the first free black republic.

Andre Berto is the World Boxing Council Welterweight World Champion and maintains a perfect 25-0 record as a professional. An accomplished amateur with numerous national titles, Berto represented Haiti in the 2004 Olympic Games.