The hours at the gyms have been long, the training intense, but for the warriors of Mexico and The Philippines, the payoff will be worth it if they can win a majority of the seven scheduled bouts on August 11, 2007 – not just for themselves, but for their countries as well, as they compete in the 2007 Boxing World Cup at the Arco Arena in Sacramento, California.  

Five undercard bouts are scheduled as Mexico defends the World Cup against The Philippines. In addition to two world championship bouts, two IBF elimination bouts are scheduled.  

A spot in the IBF's top two at 115 pounds will be up for grabs when Gerson Guerrero (33-7, 25 KOs) of Mexico City takes on Mandaue City’s Z Gorres (26-2-1, 14 KOs).  Also in World Cup action will be unbeaten rising star AJ Banal (13-0-1, 10 KOs) of Ermita, who faces Eric Ortiz (26-6-1, 17 KOs) of Mexico City in a six-round junior bantamweight contest.

An IBF junior flyweight title shot will be on the line when Mexico City’s Gerardo Verde (15-4, 11 KOs) battles Cebu veteran Bert Batawang (50-6, 34 KOs) in a twelve-round matchup.

An eight-round junior bantamweight clash between Mexico City’s Jose Angel Beranza (30-9-2, 25 KOs) and Davao City’s Diosdado Gabi (29-3-1, 21 KOs) will also play out in the battle for the Cup, while opening the card is Juarez junior featherweight Miguel Roman (21-0, 15 KO’s) in a six rounder against Libac veteran Michael Domingo (31-14-2, 12 KOs).  

The 2007 Boxing World Cup main event features WBO junior featherweight champion Daniel Ponce De Leon (31-1, 28 KOs) of Chihuahua, Mexico putting his title on the line against Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista (23-0, 17 KOs) of Cebu City, Philippines.  The co-feature will be just as explosive, as power-punching Jhonny Gonzalez (34-5, 29 KO’s) of Mexico City defends his WBO bantamweight crown against former 115-pound titlist Gerry Penalosa (51-6-2, 34 KOs) of Manila.

The country with the most victories at the second Boxing World Cup, which was created by Golden Boy Promotions in 2005, will be awarded a specially designed trophy made by IceLink - one of the leading jewelry manufacturers and designers in the world.

The best of seven series of bouts is presented by Golden Boy Promotions, in association with ALA Boxing, SGG Sports Promotions, ARCO Arena, and international matchmaker Sampson Lewkowicz.  HBO Boxing After Dark will televise the two world championship fights live beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET with a tape delayed airing on the West Coast at 10:00 p.m. PT.

Tickets are available through www.ticketmaster.com, at (916) 649-TIXS or at the ARCO Arena Box Office.

For more information on Golden Boy Promotions’ 2007 Boxing World Cup, please visit www.goldenboypromotions.com.