The exciting, eagerly anticipated two-stage, single-elimination tournament begins tomorrow/Saturday, Dec. 11, on SHOWTIME at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) at Emerald Queen.
In the opening 12-round bout on the telecast, two-time division titlist Vic Darchinyan (35-2-1, 27 KOs) and undefeated, world-ranked Abner Mares (29-0-1) will clash for the World Boxing Council Silver Belt.
International Boxing Federation 118-pound champion Yonnhy Perez (20-0-1, 14 KOs) will defend against former IBF belt-holder and the boxer he dethroned, Joseph Agbeko (27-2, 22 KOs), in the second fight.
The winners of each semifinal will clash in the final in 2011 with the losing boxers competing in a consolation fight.
Friday’s weights: Perez (118 pounds), Agbeko (117 1/2 pounds), Darchinyan (118 pounds) and Mares (117 1/2 pounds).
All Photos by Tom Casino/Showtime
Yonnhy Perez, was asked how he feels about training far away from his family in order to become a champion and support them. Perez began to answer and then broke down sobbing. Click below for the raw emotional footage captured by the cameras of SHOWTIME Sports’ Fight Camp 360º