PRESS RELEASE: "There's a big Margarito buzz going on," said Bob Arum, who is off on a four-city Texas tour to talk about Top Rank's big "Real Warriors" PPV at the Aladdin Hotel-Casino on Saturday, Feb. 18. This is a very important title fight for Antonio Margarito," Arum said. "It's an entertaining fight card with three world title fights and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. is in a tough, compelling rematch. Chavez Jr. is taking on Carlos Molina. The two battled to a draw two months ago in Mexico. Chavez Jr. vs. Molina will be on the PPV broadcast, Arum said.
One of Arum's Texas stops will be in Laredo, hometown of welterweight challenger Manuel 'Shot Gun' Gomez.
BOB ARUM'S "REAL WARRIORS" TOUR
Monday, Feb 13
1:30 pm - San Antonio - Mi Terras Mexican Restaurant, 218 Produce Row in Market Square
4:00 pm - Laredo - La Posada Hotel, Tack Room, 1000 Zaragoza St.
Tuesday, Feb. 14
10:00 am - Corpus Christi - Omni Bayfront, 900 North Shoreline Road
1:30 pm - McAllen - Hooters, 410 E Expressway 83
Also, Manny Pacquiao will be coming to "Real Warriors" as part of the Solar broadcast team from the Philippines. The Solar crew will be ringside on fight night.
"This is really exciting because Manny will be calling my fight," said world champion Brian 'Hawaiian Punch' Viloria, born in Hawaii and raised in the Philippines.
Margarito, the world welterweight champion, and other "Real Warriors" will be coming into Las Vegas on Monday.
On Tuesday, the top "Real Warriors" fighters will have an open workout at The Aladdin at the Theatre for the Performing Arts. In order, the boxers shaking out will be Brian Viloria (noon), Ivan Calderon (12:30 pm), Jose Antonio Aguirre (1 pm), Manuel Gomez (1:30 pm) and Margarito (2 pm).
On Wednesday, the young "Real Warriors" -- Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and USA Olympian Vanes Martirosyan -- will be in the ring beginning at noontime.
The final press conference is scheduled for Thursday, noontime, at The Aladdin.
"REAL WARRIORS" NOTEBOOK -- Margarito created quite a stir when he said he would stop Gomez, a real rugged fighter, no later than the 5th round....Viloria and Martirosyan are each trained by Freddie Roach, arguably the hottest trainer in boxing today.
At San Antonio tonight, Cesar Bazan of Mexico City boxes for the first time in almost a year when he returns on a Top Rank/Telefutura fight card at the Roseland Ballroom. Bazan weighed 142; his opponent Marteze Logan 141.
