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Canelo-Smith PPV undercard announced, topped by Rosado-Monroe

Fighters Network
18
Aug
Gabriel Rosado (R) lands a right to Antonio Gutierrez, who he outpointed on the Francisco Vargas-Orlando Saldio undercard on June 4. Photo by Tom Hogan / Hoganphotos / Golden Boy Promotions

Gabriel Rosado (R) lands a right to Antonio Gutierrez, who he outpointed on the Francisco Vargas-Orlando Saldio undercard on June 4. Photo by Tom Hogan / Hoganphotos / Golden Boy Promotions

Former middleweight title challengers Gabriel Rosado and Willie Monroe Jr. will fight under the Sept. 17 Canelo Alvarez-Liam Smith showdown, Golden Boy Promotions announced, along with the rest of the HBO Pay Per View undercard, on Thursday.

Rosado-Monroe joins two other bouts that will be part of the pay-per-view broadcast from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas: Joseph Diaz Jr. vs. Andrew Cancio and Diego De La Hoya vs. Luis Orlando Del Valle.

Rosado (23-9, 13 knockouts), a popular and hard-nosed gatekeeper from Philadelphia, challenged Gennady Golovkin and Peter Quillin for versions of the middleweight title in 2013. Monroe (20-2, 6 KOs), a former amateur standout from Rochester, N.Y., challenged Golovkin in 2015. The battle-tested middleweights view the 12-round chief undercard bout as their ticket back into world title contention.

 Diaz (21-0, 12 KOs), a 23-year-old native of South El Monte, California, will make his PPV debut, defending his NABF featherweight title for the second time in a 10-round fight against one of the hardest punchers and most experienced fighters he’s faced in his his four-year pro career, Cancio (17-3-2, 13 KOs), of Blythe, Calif.



Opening up the pay-per-view telecast, featherweight prospect De La Hoya (15-0, 9 KOs), of Mexicali, Mexico, will face off against Del Valle (22-2, 16 KOs), a former amateur standout from Bayamon, Puerto Rico, in a 10-round fight.

“I’m excited for the opportunity to perform at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys,” Rosado stated in the Golden Boy Promotions press release. “Fernando Vargas, my trainer and I are on a winning streak and getting better as we continue to work together. We have all the confidence we’ll be victorious on Sept. 17. Training camp is going great; despite the change in opponent, we still continue to maintain our focus. Willie Monroe, Jr. is a southpaw as well so the game plan doesn’t change much. He’s in my way of me gaining a world title so I’m working harder than ever before to get that chance again. This is going to be a great fight for all the fans, I know I am coming in with everything I got and I know Willie Monroe, Jr. will do the same.”

Monroe says he’s glad to be in a significant, high-profile bout but the opportunity to get back into the world-title hunt is more important to him.

“Gabriel Rosado is a warrior and this should make a for a great fight,” Monroe said. “I am looking forward to this opportunity. It is a big venue, but I don’t care if I am fighting in front of 200 people or 2 million people. I am always focused and I plan to put on a great performance on Sept. 17.”

Other quotes from the press release:

09/17/16 Undercard Promos from Golden Boy Digital on Vimeo.

“Fighting on HBO pay-per-view is a dream come true,” said Diaz. “As a young fighter you always dream about being on the big stage doing what you love and I am very excited to be part of such a big event. I am very motivated and ready to take this step and perform for all the fight fans in the arena and all the fights tuning in. Andrew is a tremendous fighter, strong, aggressive; I know he bring out the best in me. I know he is going to try to take everything away from me, but I am not afraid. I am going out on Sept. 17 in the best shape of my life, I have everything ahead of me and I am ready to defend my title and give the fight fans a fight they want to see.”

“Every fighter dreams to one day get to this level of their career and be featured on pay-per-view,” said Diego De La Hoya. “With this fight and this stage I am ready to announce that I have arrived to the elite of this division. Winning this fight will take me to the next level of my career, I am ready for it. I have what it takes to win and I am looking forward to impressing all the fans on Sept. 17.”

“Being patient paid off,” said Del Valle. “This is a great opportunity, on one of boxing’s biggest stages. Now is the time to deliver, to come out with the win at all cost for my family and for Puerto Rico.  Rest assured, I will not waste this magnificent occasion.  I will rise.”

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