SHOWTIME PPV SET FOR SEPT. 15: ALVAREZ-ORTIZ AND GONZALEZ-PONCE DE LEON
By Scott Shaffer

Golden Boy formally announced a September 15th pay-per-view card, to be held at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, and distributed by Showtime pay-per-view with a promotion push to be provided by Showtime's parent company, CBS.  The main event, as already known in boxing circles, will pit Saul Alvarez against Victor Ortiz with Ortiz moving up to 154 pounds to challenge for Alvarez's WBC title.  Ortiz first must get by Josesito Lopez on June 23rd before his participation can be confirmed. "We have contingency plans in place with Showtime," said Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer when asked about the possibility of Lopez upsetting Ortiz, "and those plans do involve Lopez." In case of a draw, Schaefer confirmed Ortiz would still get the Alvarez fight on September 15th. The pay-per-view co-feature will match WBC featherweight champion Jhonny Gonzalez against Daniel Ponce De Leon, a former 122-pound titlist. Two additional fights will be added to the broadcast shortly. There are reports that Golden Boy's chief competitor, Top Rank, may compete with this show by putting on a Julio Cesar Chavez fight on HBO. Schaefer, however, says he is not worried about a simultaneous show. "We wanted to put together a fight card where we could leave the judges at home," said Schaefer, a reference to the poorly received verdict Timothy Bradley received against Manny Pacquiao this weekend. Schaefer plans to offer a $100,000 bonus to the boxer who provides the best KO of the show.