Victor Ortiz/Josesito Lopez press conference and weigh-in
Promoter Oscar De La Hoya looks on as the headliner’s for Saturday’s Showtime Championship Boxing show at Staples Center, Victor Ortiz (L) and Josesito Lopez (R) literally go nose to nose at Thursday’s press conference. Photo: Esther Lin/Showtime
Los Angeles, CA (June 21, 2012)
On Thursday afternoon, the Ortiz/Lopez press conference took place at the Staples Center. With much at stake, the former World Champion Victor Ortiz (29-3-2, 22 KO’s), of Ventura, CA, will be taking on former NABF Champion Josesito Lopez (29-4, 17 KO’s), of Riverside, CA, for the vacant WBC Silver Welterweight Championship in Saturday’s 12-round main event on Showtime Championship Boxing.
Tickets are priced at $250, $150, $100 and $50. They’re available online at www.staplescenter.com, www.ticketmaster.com, via Ticketmaster charge-by-phone lines at (800)745-3000 or at Staples Center box office. PT. Doors at Staples Center open at 2 p.m. The fights begin at 2:30 p.m. If you can’t get to Saturday night’s contest, you can still watch the match later that evening on Showtime (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).
The Undercard sounds as intriguing as the main event. They have two of the top super lightweights going at it in the 12-round co-feature, former three-time World Champion Humberto “La Zorrita” Soto (59-7-2, 34 KO’s), of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico, being opposed by hard-hitting, top-contender Lucas Matthysse (30-2, 28 KO’s), of Trelew, Argentina, for the vacant WBC Continental Americas 140-pound title.
The preliminary fights will be televised live on Showtime Extreme at 7 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). The featured prelim bout has unbeaten Jermell “Iron Man” Charlo (17-0, 8 KOs), of Houston, Texas, going up against Denis Douglin (14-1, 8 KOs), of Marlboro, N.J., in a 10-round junior middleweight scrap.
The name Charlo should ring a bell. In his last fight, on March 24, 2012, he stopped San Diego’s Chris Chatman at 1:22 of the third round in a thriller at Reliant Arena in Houston. In other words, the 6’ tall Charlo is a big puncher.
Did anything out of the ordinary occur at today’s Press Conference? Wouldn’t you know it, Mr. Ortiz was up to his old tricks. When the media asked the gents to turn and face each other for a photo, Ortiz not only touched noses with Lopez, he tried to flatten it. With two days to go before the fight, this is not what you’d call good hygiene.
For some reason Ortiz’s attempts to bully his opponents remind me of that heavyweight, Dereck Chisora, the mug that’s always biting someone’s ear or spitting in someone’s face. When I see Ortiz, I can’t help recalling his Press Conference with Floyd Mayweather Jr. At that one, Ortiz overstepped his bounds and Floyd grabbed him by the throat. I’m sure Lopez would have liked to retaliate today, but he’s too much of a gentleman.
Also on hand for Thursday’s press conference was Esther Lin, a well known photographer, who often works for Showtime Promotions. Take a gander at her fine work. Without a doubt the photos are top-notch.
Headliner’s for Saturday’s Showtime Championship Boxing show at the Staples Center pose for a photo at the final press conference, Thursday, June 21, 2012. (L to R) Humberto Soto, Victor Ortiz, Josesito Lopez and Lucas Matthysse. Photo: Esther Lin/Showtime
- Representatives of Corona Beer pose for a photo with Humberto Soto (L) and Luca Matthysse (R). Photo: Lester Lin
Members of the Press and boxing fans attend a final Ortiz versus Lopez Press Conference at the Staples Center, Thursday June 21, 2012. Photo: Lester Lin/Showtime
Saturday evening, Josesito Lopez will face his toughest opponent to date. Photo: Esther Lin
Victor Ortiz smiles broadly as the fans cheer him on at his final Press Conference. Photo: Esther Lin
The Corona gals were almost as popular as the boxers. Photo: Esther Lin
At Friday’s weigh-in, things nearly got out of control as the browbeating continued. Check out the attached altercation.
