LOS ANGELES, November 25 - A top ten contender in the ratings of all four major sanctioning bodies, bantamweight star Abner Mares is gearing up for his first world title shot
in 2010 and on Tuesday, signed a new promotional contract with Golden Boy Promotions for five years, continuing the relationship that has led him to near the top of the boxing world. 

 "Golden Boy Promotions is like a family to me and I've felt that way ever since I signed
with them and now I'm ready for my shot at a world title," said Mares, a 2004 Olympian
for Mexico who signed his new contract at the Golden Boy Promotions offices in Los Angeles yesterday afternoon.

            "It's been a great journey watching Abner go from raw prospect to legitimate contender over the last few years and I can't wait to see him take the next step and win a world title," said Oscar de la Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions.  "The plan for
now is to put him in a WBC world title elimination bout in early 2010 and then it's off to a world championship bout."

"Golden Boy and Abner have been a spectacular team over the years and we're going
to keep that streak going," said Frank Espinoza, Mares' manager.  "The saying goes, 'if
it's not broke, don't fix it', and that's the way we feel.  This is a winning combination and we're very happy to extend Abner's contract with the Golden Boy team."

            The 23-year old Mares (19-0, 12 KO's) is currently ranked second in the world by
the WBC, third by the IBF, fourth by the WBO and sixth by the WBA.  In his last bout, on August 27, Mares knocked out Carlos Fulgencio in the sixth round.

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DAVID HAYE

WBA HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION

DESPITE REPORTS, NO INTERIM HEAVYWEIGHT
TITLE BOUT

TO BE SANCTIONED BY THE WBA

            LOS ANGELES, November 23 - Despite an issued statement from Don King
Productions and various erroneous media reports, Golden Boy Promotions, the United States promoter of World Boxing Association (WBA) Heavyweight World Champion David "The Hayemaker" Haye, has received assurances directly from the WBA that there will be
no sanctioning of an interim WBA Heavyweight Championship fight and that Haye will
remain the only Heavyweight World Champion recognized by the sanctioning body.

            "We have complete confidence that the WBA will keep their word and not sanction an interim Heavyweight World Title bout," said President of Golden Boy Promotions Oscar de la Hoya.  "They have assured us that David will remain the ONLY WBA Heavyweight World Champion, a title which he looks forward to proudly defending for the first time in the early part of 2010."

            Haye defeated Nikolai Valuev on November 7 to win the WBA Heavyweight Crown
and will make his first title defense against number one ranked contender John Ruiz in
early 2010.

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4 FILIPINOS IN TOP RANK BOXING EVENT ON
NOVEMBER 13, 2009

Rod Mijares, www.Fil-AmBoxers.com, November 14, 2009

Melligen connected with a right jab. But he lost in split decision. Photo by Rod Mijares

It was not only a disappointing night for the 4 Filipinos that saw action at the Mandalay
Bay House of Blues boxing event also promoted by Top Rank Promotions but also a 
scary one.  

Z Gorres of ALA Boxing Promotions in Cebu was a sure win with a very impressive performance as he was leading in all 9 rounds against Colombian Luis Melendez in
their bantamweight bout, the second bout of Top Rank's Boxing Event at Mandalay
Bay's House of Blues.  Gorres showed signs of defensive genius as he was so elusive
with his body and head movements that Melendez could not hit him.  He was also
hitting Melendez as sharp as a gunner. 

Members of Team Pacquiao who were watching were so happy and excited with
Gorres performance all throughout the fight.  Onyok Velasco, who was part of
Pacquiao team, and a former successful amateur Philippine boxer himself kept on
shouting "Ayaw Kumpiyansa" (Don't be too confident) as the fight was near its end
and all Gorres had to do was dance his way to finish.  However, that Melendez punch
that Gorres kept on avoiding finally hit its mark about 30 seconds before the 10th
round ends.  Gorres wobbled and hit the canvas.

A true warrior he is, he was able to beat the count at the urging of the Filipino crowd,
hang on tight to Melendes with a hug with a little dance and finally finished the fight.  He |
was able to finish the customary celebration and picture taking but on the way down he collapsed. He was carried on a stretcher and rushed to the UMC hospital where he was operated for brain injury. Michael Aldeguer, Gorres’ manager who was present
during the fight was asking for prayers for his immediate recovery.

The 3rd fight of the night and the second co-main event featured Filipino aspiring welter-
weight Mark Jason Melligen against Mexican Rachel Rosales.  Although, Melligen threw
more power punches, he lost on a split decision.  Judges saw Rosales as more
aggressive, more confrontational and saw Melligen counter-punching, instead of, the
other way around.  One judge scored it 98-92 for Melligen and the other 2 scored it
96-94 for Rosales.  Melligen, however, was gracious in defeat and vowed to come back
in his winning ways with an enormous lesson learn from this fight.

The 3rd Filipino fighting in the same event, Federico Catubay, lost on a unanimous
decision to Mexican Alberto Rosas in their IBF Super Flyweight Elimination bout.  How-
ever, the crowd was entertained by Catubay’s unorthodox boxing style that in some
instances were effective but funny that brought the house down.

The last fight of the night saw the fourth Filipino, Fernando Montilla, lost to Jose Reynoso
of Riverside, California in their 6-round welterweight bout.

PACQUIAO IS STILL KEYLESS INSPITE OF BEING A "PEOPLE'S CHAMPION"