Media Day Recap: Erick De Leon, Andy Vences, Alex Saucedo, Mikaela Mayer & Andy Ruiz

*LOS ANGELES (March 7, 2018) *— *ERICK DE LEON* and *ANDY ‘El Tiburon’
VENCES*are putting their undefeated records on the line when they face off
in an intriguing 130-pound battle, this Saturday at the *StubHub Cente*r in
Carson, Calif. It will be the ESPN-televised co-feature for the *Oscar
Valdez vs. Scott Quigg* World Boxing Organization (WBO) Featherweight world
title fight.

Vences and De Leon worked out for the media, Wednesday at Wild Card West
Boxing Club, and discussed their upcoming bout.

Also appearing at the media workout were No. 3 WBO junior welterweight
contender *ALEX ‘El Cholo’ SAUCEDO* (26-0, 16 KOs), former heavyweight
title challenger *ANDY RUIZ*; 2016 U.S. Olympian *MIKAELA MAYER*; 2012
Brazilian Olympic silver medalist and middleweight contender *ESQUIVA
FALCAO* (19-0, 13 KOs); and 140-pound contender*ARNOLD BARBOZA, JR. *(17-0,
6 KOs).

Saucedo will put his unblemished record on the line against the
hard-hitting ABNER LOPEZ (25-8, 21 KOs) in a 10-round bout. Saucedo, from
Oklahoma City, holds the WBO Latino belt and trains with Abel Sanchez’s
stable in the mountains of Big Bear, Calif. He last fought on November 11,
2017, dropping Gustavo Vittori three times in the third round to force the
stoppage.

Mayer (3-0, 2 KOs), will take on the rugged MARIA SEMERTZOGLOU (7-3, 2 KOs)
in a six-round super lightweight bout. Mayer represented the United States
at the 2016 Olympics, where she fell just one win short of advancing to the
medal round. A Los Angeles native, Mayer will be making her StubHub Center
debut against Semertzoglou, a two-time European title challenger who has
never been knocked out.

Ruiz (29-1, 19 KOs), of Mexicali, Mexico, makes his ring return after a
15-month absence against DEVIN VARGAS (20-4, 8 KOs) of Toledo, Ohio. Ruiz
last fought on December 10, 2016, when he lost a majority decision to
Joseph Parker for the vacant WBO Heavyweight title.

Falcao (19-0, 13 KOs) will face SALIM LARBI (18-8-1, 5 KOs) of Brooklyn,
New York.

And, in a 10-round crossroads battle of 140-pound contenders, Barboza
Jr. will fight *MIKE ‘Yes Indeed’ REED* (23-1, 12 KOs).

The Valdez vs. Quigg world championship fight, along with Vences vs. De
Leon, will be televised live and exclusively at 10:30 p.m. EST on *ESPN *and
*ESPN Deportes*, and streaming live on the *ESPN App*. Additional
undercard bouts will be shown on the ESPN App beginning at 7:35 p.m. EST.

*Check out what the fighters had to say:• Erick De Leon*

*“*Andy is the one that has started all of this bad blood. We’re both very
hungry. We’re going in there to win. My team and I are focused, and I’m
ready to come out with a good performance on March 10.”

“It’s a very exciting and interesting fight, and the fans are going to love
it.”

*• Andy Vences*

*“*I’m just ready to go, and I know that I’m going to take care of business
on March 10. We’re getting close to a title shot, and Erick is the one
standing in my way.”

“I feel like he’s never stepped in there with somebody like me. I feel like
people are doubting my power and speed, and Erick is going to see what I’m
all about.”

*• Alex Saucedo*

*On a potential Jose Ramirez fight*: “If he has a title, that’s somebody we
want to go after. We did a couple rounds {of sparring} with him. I was
hitting him all over. It was easy work. That’s how the fight would go, too.”

“I’m a fighter. I’m going to fight whoever they put in front of me. You’ve
seen what I’ve done to the last guys I’ve fought, so I’m going to keep
doing that. We don’t know if Ramirez is going to win this fight {March
17 against
Amir Imam the vacant WBC Super Lightweight title}.”

“I don’t think Ramirez has that much power. I think Mike Reed just gave out
against him. I didn’t feel no power at all when we sparred.”

“I’ve been working so hard. It’s just a matter of time until we get those
big names.”

*• Mikaela Mayer*

“I’m always learning as a fighter. I still feel like I haven’t reached my
potential. Coming from the amateurs to the pros, it’s a very different
style — and I’m aware of that — so we’ve been focused on making that
transition. I still have room to grow in terms of sitting down on my
punches and getting the power shots in.”

*On being billed as boxing’s next female star: *“It’s not really pressure for
me. I asked for this. I wanted more attention on women’s boxing, and I want
to help try and pave the way for that. I thought going to the Olympics was
my destiny and my calling, and maybe that was my stepping stone to get
here, where I have a real platform.”

“I’m completely focused on my training, and I know a title shot will happen
at the right time. This is my first six-rounder. I plan on having one more,
do one or two eight-rounders and then maybe have a 10-rounder, a title
shot.”

“There are a handful of women now who are making a name for themselves in
the pros. I think that’s great. I know that Katie Taylor and I would be a
great fight for women’s boxing.”

*• Andy Ruiz*

“Since my last fight, I’ve put together a new team. It has been a blessing
to have two months training hard. This is a new beginning for me with this
new team.”

*On the Joseph Parker fight*: “It was a good performance. The decision
could’ve gone either way in my eyes. Right now, it’s about training and
taking it to the next level.”

*• Esquiva** Falcao*

*“*This is a very important year for my career, and I think this year I’m
going to be fighting for a title.”

“I train hard for every opponent because I have to get through every
opponent to earn the shot at the title.”

*• Arnold Barboza, Jr.*

“We looked at the Mike Reed fights where he looked his best, and we are
ready for the best version of Mike Reed. I’m going to put the pressure on
his and just stick to the game plan.”

“I’m very excited about the opportunity to show what I’m all about.”

Promoted by *Top Rank*, in association with *Matchroom Boxing*, remaining
tickets for the Valdez vs. Quigg world championship event are priced at
$206, $104, $53 and 27.50, including facility fees, and can be purchased
online at *AXS.com*, by phone at (888) 9AXS-TIX, or by visiting the StubHub
Center box office.

For more information visit: www.toprank.com, www.espn.com/boxing; Facebook:
facebook.com/trboxing,facebook.com/espndeportes; Twitter:
twitter.com/trboxing,twitter.com/trboxeo, @ESPN @ESPNBoxeo @ESPNDeportes.
Use the hashtags #ValdezQuigg and #DeLeonVences to join the conversation
on Twitter.