Shawn Porter vs Julio Diaz II to headline September 12 card

LAS VEGAS, NEV. (August 22, 2013) - It's boxing's biggest week, an opportunity for the stars of entertainment and sports to descend on Las Vegas for "THE" fight of 2013, the championship showdown between unbeaten icons Floyd "Money" Mayweather and Canelo Alvarez.  However, before the world turns its eyes to the MGM Grand Garden Arena to watch these two warriors collide Saturday, Sept. 14, Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions kick off festivities two days earlier, on Thursday, Sept. 12, with a special three-and-a-half hour, action-packed broadcast on FOX Sports 2 and FOX Deportes from MGM Grand Las Vegas' Premier Ballroom.

It's the rematch fight fans have demanded, as unbeaten Shawn "Showtime" Porter faces former World Champion Julio "The Kidd" Diaz in the 10-round welterweight bout as the main event of the tripleheader.  The co-featured bout showcases Las Vegas up and comer Badou Jack as he takes on Mexico's Marco Antonio Periban and in the opener boxing's top prospects Julian "J-Rock" Williams faces Hugo "The Boss" Centeno Jr. in a 10-round junior middleweight clash.

Porter vs. Diaz II will take place on Thursday, September 12 at MGM Grand Las Vegas' Premier Ballroom located in the MGM Grand Conference Center on the third level.  The event is presented by Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona and O'Reilly Auto Parts.  Doors open at 5:00 p.m. PT on fight night and the first bell rings at 6:00 p.m. PT.  The FOX Sports 2/FOX Deportes broadcast airs live at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT. 

Tickets priced at $100, $75, $50 and $25, not including applicable service charges and taxes are on sale now.  To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000.  Tickets also will be available for purchase a www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.  Additionally, with the purchase of a ticket, fans will be given a reserved seat for the "THE ONE: Mayweather vs. Canelo" Official Weigh-In taking place Friday, September 13 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.  Fans will also receive a 10 percent discount on tickets for closed circuit viewing of the Mayweather vs. Canelo mega-event on Saturday, September 14.

"Two days before boxing's biggest night, this is the kind of event that will get things started off in the right way," said Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe. "There are three exciting and evenly matched fights on this card that will give fans another opportunity to enjoy an exciting night of boxing while they anticipate the outcome of who "The One" will be in Mayweather vs. Canelo." 

"This is the perfect way to kick off the festivities for Mayweather vs. Canelo and I know all boxing fans will love this card," said Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions.  "Shawn Porter vs. Julio Diaz is a rematch the fighters and the fans demanded and as good as their first fight was, I think this one will be even better. In addition, we've got Marco Antonio Periban facing Badou Jack in an important super middleweight bout with title implications and there will definitely be fireworks between two of the sport's top prospects, Hugo Centeno Jr. and Julian Williams."

"Getting a full card of quality fights on FOX Sports 2 and FOX Deportes, tapping into the energy being created by the Mayweather vs. Canelo bout later in the week, is a strong offering," said FOX Sports SVP Programming & Research Patrick Crakes.  "We will continue to work with our partners at Golden Boy Promotions to put together packages for fight fans across the country."

"When I was approached with this rematch, there was no question in my mind about taking it," Porter said.  "We had a great fight the first time, but this time around I want a knockout. I'm looking to make a statement on September 12 and I will."

"I think I won the first fight and I'm not the only one who feels that way," Diaz said. "But I give Porter credit for agreeing to this rematch so we can settle things.  He's a good fighter, but on September 12, I'm going to prove that I'm better."

"Marco Antonio Periban is one of the top super middleweights in the world, and I respect him for his accomplishments," said Jack.  "This is the big fight I've wanted though, and I won't let this opportunity pass me by because when I win, I'll be one step closer to becoming a world champion."

"I believe I should be the super middleweight champion right now, but this is boxing," Periban said.  "So to get back to a title fight, I have to make sure I leave no doubts in my fights."  "Badou Jack is a good fighter with a bright future, but he's in my way and I have to remove him on September 12."

"This is the kind of fight that boxing needs, two undefeated fighters putting it all on the line and having the confidence to back up their talent," said Williams.  "Centeno's a tough guy and I know he's going to bring it on September 12, but I have more tools than he does and more ways to win and he's going to find that out once we're in the ring."

"I'm really excited about this fight and this event, because the world is going to be watching," Centeno Jr. said.  "We're both unbeaten and rising up the ladder, and this fight will prove who's going to keep going forward. I expect it to be me."