Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona Archives

Diego De La Hoya (20-0, 9 KOs), the quick-handed super bantamweight contender of Mexicali, Mexico, will defend his NABF and NABO Super Bantamweight Titles against Jose “Sugar” Salgado (35-4-2, 28 KOs) of Cozumel, Mexico in the 10-round main event of the June 8 edition of Golden Boy Boxing on ESPN at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, N.Y. The event will take place during the International Boxing Hall of Fame Induction Weekend, where legendary fighters such as “Dr. Ironfist” Vitali Klitschko, Erik “El Terrible” Morales, and Ronald “Winky” Wright will be inducted, along with important figures in the sport of boxing such as Peter Kohl, Steve Albert, Jim Gray and Lorraine Chargin.

ESPN2 will air the fights at a delayed start time of 12:30 a.m. ET/9:30 p.m. PT. ESPN Deportes will air the fights the following day at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. ESPN3 will steam the fights live beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

De La Hoya is an undefeated contender who has built a stellar resume since turning professional in 2013. The 23-year-old will return after his most significant victory yet when he defeated former IBF Bantamweight World Champion Randy “El Matador” Caballero on the HBO-televised undercard of Canelo vs. Golovkin in Sept. 2017. De La Hoya is eager to produce another exciting victory to demonstrate that he is ready for bigger and more lucrative fights.

“I’m delighted that Golden Boy Promotions and my manager Joel De La Hoya have given me the opportunity to return to the ring on June in Verona,” said Diego De La Hoya. “I’m enthusiastic because it will take place during Hall of Fame weekend where I hope to one day be inducted like my cousin and promoter Oscar De La Hoya. I promise an exciting fight and to walk away with my hand raised in victory because I’m ready for bigger things.”

Salgado is a former world title challenger who fought to a controversial technical draw against former WBC Super Flyweight Champion Carlos “Principe” Cuadras. The 28-year-old Mexican contender will move up to test the young fighter with an aggressive style that is backed by years of boxing experience.

“This is the most important fight of my career,” said Jose Salgado. “I’m preparing for this fight with the clear goal of fighting for a world title after. I totally respect my opponent because he’s a great fighter who is very skilled. However, I’ll do my best to win so I can fulfill my dream of becoming a world champion.”

De La Hoya vs. Salgado is a 10-round super bantamweight fight for the NABF and NABO Super Bantamweight Titles presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Don Chargin & Paco Presents.The event is sponsored by Tecate, “THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING” and Hennessy, “Never Stop, Never Settle.” The fights will take place on Friday, June 8, 2018 at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, N.Y. ESPN2 will air the fights at a delayed start time of 12:30 a.m. ET/9:30 p.m. PT. ESPN Deportes will air the fights the following day at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. ESPN3 will steam the fights live beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

Boxing Hall of Fame Weekend is packed with a series of events starting Thursday, June 7 until the induction ceremony on Sunday, June 10. The weekend kicks off on Thursday with the opening bell ringing and ringside lectures on the museum grounds. Friday, June 8 will feature another series of lectures preceding the celebrity fist casting, followed by the highly anticipated Fight Night, broadcasted live from Turning Stone. Saturday, June 9 will showcase a golf tournament, a 5K race, another series of lectures, a boxing autograph card show, a VIP “Gala” and the Banquet of Champions at 8:00p.m. The weekend will conclude on Sunday with the Parade of Champions and the Hall of Fame induction ceremony at 2:30p.m. Click here to see the full schedule.

Host of the June 8 event, Turning Stone Resort Casino is a Forbes Four-Star Award-winning destination resort, which continues to distinguish itself as a premier venue for fight-of-the-year level boxing. The May event will mark Turning Stone’s 26th nationally-televised boxing event, cementing the resort as a leading destination for nationally-televised combat sports. Turning Stone features world-class amenities including four hotels, more than 20 signature restaurants and dining options, two spas, an all-new 125,000 square foot Las Vegas style gaming floor, a cabaret-style Showroom, a 5,000-seat arena, five golf courses, several bars, cocktail lounges and nightlife venues with live entertainment every weekend.

Tickets for this matchup go on sale Tuesday, May 1 at 10:00 a.m. ET, and are available from $34 and $85 for the first two rows ringside, $70 for remaining ringside seats and all others priced at $49, $45 and $39 plus any applicable fees. Tickets can be purchased at the Turning Stone Resort Box Office in person or by calling 315-361-7469 or online at Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com).

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and http://www.espn.com/boxing/; follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing, @OscarDeLaHoya, @ESPN, and @ESPNBoxeo; become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing; and follow on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing and @OscarDeLaHoya. Follow the conversation using #GBPonESPN.

Press Golden Boy Promotions / Photo by Tom Hogan

Photos: Amanda Westcott/Showtime –

Former WBO jr welterweight champion Ruslan “The Siberian Rocky” Provodnikov (25-4, 18 KOs) and John “The Gladiator” Molina (28-6, 23 KOs), who will compete on this Saturday’s Showtime tripleheader, participated in the final press conference Thursday at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, NY.

Ruslan Provodnikov: “Words are not so much associated with explaining this because anybody can talk and anybody can say words. I think the fans or the people have to see how my fights have been and the way that I’ve fought those fights. For me to say right now that I’m going to ‘die in the ring,’ they’re words right now. The fight will show, then the fans will have an understanding in their mind of was I just saying that or is that really the way it is. The actions show, not the words.”

John Molina Jr: “I believe in my heart of hearts the fans are going to get a treat with Ruslan Provodnikov coming forward, not wanting to take a backward step with myself coming forward not wanting to take a backward step. We’re both going to try and go in there and pose our will on each other and you’re not going to see a boring fight. It won’t be Dancing With The Stars, it’s going to be a fight.”

In the co-feature, unbeaten former 154-pound world champion and 2008 U.S. Olympian Demetrius Andrade (22-0, 15 KOs) goes against Willie Nelson (25-2-1, 15 KOs) in a 12-round WBC super welterweight title elimination bout.

Demetrius Andrade: “I’m just going in and do my thing, you know, I’m the type of person with character. I’ve been in the ring for many years through the amateur program and fought 300-400 times, against everybody in the whole world. So, there’s not nothing I haven’t seen or fought. A tall guy like Willie Nelson with no legs or upper body, I’m going to push him to the limit. That’s pretty much the plan. I’m going in and it’s knockout season for me.”

Willie Nelson: “It’s what happens all the time. I’m always the underdog. It’s OK and I try not to worry about it much. I’m not one to predict the fights; about what can and can’t happen, but it’s going to be an interesting fight. We know each other’s background and we have sparred before at the U.S. Training Camp.”

The telecast will begin with a 12-rounder for the vacant WBC lightweight world championship between undefeated #1 ranked Dejan Zlaticanin (17-0, 10 KOs) and Franklin Mamani (21-2-1, 12 KOs).

Dejan Zlaticanin: “I’ve prepared for this hard fight for a long time because they changed opponents and it’s hard to be prepared for that. But I have waited for this opportunity for a long time. This is the most important fight of my life, and I am going to win this fight. I don’t like to talk too much. I will talk in the ring and I promise I will knock out Franklin Mamani.”

Franklin Mamani: “Zlaticanin is an aggressive, strong and talented fighter. It will be an honor to trade leather with him inside the ring and be able to win the WBC lightweight championship of the world against the number one contender in my division.”