LAS VEGAS, NEV. (January 5, 2011) – World Bantamweight Champion FERNANDO “Cochulito” MONTIEL and two-division world champion NONITO “The Filipino Flash” DONAIRE will host a Los Angeles News Conference Luncheon announcing Las Vegas’ first world title fight of 2011. The news conference luncheon will take place Next Tuesday! January 11, in the Gold Ballroom at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel (506 Grand Ave., Los Angeles, Calif. 90071.) Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. PT, with the news conference beginning at Noon PT. Joining the two Top-10 pound-for-pound fighters will be Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum.
Montiel defends his title against Donaire in the latest chapter of the storied México-Philippines rivalry, Saturday, February 19, at Mandalay Bay. Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Zanfer Promotions, the Montiel-Donaire world title tilt will be televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark, beginning at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast.) The broadcast will open with undefeated NABO/NABA/WBC Continental Americas welterweight champion MIKE JONES defending his titles against Top-10 contender JESUS SOTO-KARASS in a rematch of their exciting battle which took place on November 13 on the Manny Pacquiao-Antonio Margarito pay-per-view extravaganza.
Montiel (43-2-2, 33 KOs), of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, México, is only the fourth Méxican fighter to win world titles in three different weight divisions, joining Hall of Famer-elect Julio César Chávez and future Hall of Fame inductees Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera. Undefeated since 2006, eight of Montiel’s last 10 victories (eight were world title fights) have been by stoppage.
Donaire (25-1, 17 KOs), a native of General Santos City, Philippines, now living in the Bay Area of San Leandro, Calif., enters this fight riding a nine-year, 24-bout winning streak, which includes an IBF/IBO flyweight title knockout victory over defending champion Vic Darchinyan, and a fourth-round blasting of former WBA bantamweight champion Wladimir Sidorenko in his last fight on December 4. Nine of Donaire’s last 10 victories have come by way of knockout.
Remaining tickets to Montiel vs. Donaire, priced at $250, $125, $50 and $25, not including applicable service charges, can be purchased at all Ticketmaster locations (select Smith’s Food and Drug Centers and Ritmo Latino). Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Mandalay Bay at (877) 632-7400 or Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also will be available for purchase at www.mandalaybay.com or www.ticketmaster.com.
