BERTO-GUERRERO TOPS HBO TRIPLE BILL FOR NOV. 24

Press Release: Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, Calif. will host a battle of two former world titlists when Andre Berto [returns from suspension] to face Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero on Saturday, November 24th. This twelve-round matchup will air live on HBO World Championship Boxing. The HBO broadcast will also feature unbeaten Keith Thurman against ex-titlist Carlos Quintana in a junior middleweight showdown and Richard Abril against Sharif "The Lion" Bogere for the vacant WBA lightweight belt. 

"I'm happy to be back and to be fighting someone as talented as Robert Guerrero," said Berto.  "It's a great challenge for me to face one of the best coming off of my layoff [in which he tested positive for performance enhancing drugs].  I know I have the ability to be the best in my division and in the sport, and proving that to everyone starts with this fight."

"I am looking forward to this opportunity and it will be a nice way to spend the  holiday weekend doing what I love to do which is to fight," said Guerrero.  "Berto has proven himself over the years as one of the best, but I am confident that I will come out on top and close out 2012 with a big win.  I have a lot to be thankful for in my life and a win over Berto over Thanksgiving weekend will be one more thing to add to that list."

"There are a lot of fighters saying they are the best, but not everyone is willing to prove it in the ring," said Oscar De La Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions. "Andre Berto and Robert Guerrero put on a show every time they step through the  ropes and I'm excited that they'll be putting on a show against each other on November 24th.  On Thanksgiving weekend, I'll be giving thanks that we have a great fight between two of the best young fighters in the world and I know they'll be giving everything they have to walk out of that ring victorious."

"Fight fans can add to the enjoyment of the Thanksgiving holiday weekend with this action-packed World Championship Boxing tripleheader," said Kery Davis, Senior Vice President of Programming, HBO Sports.  "Andre Berto and Robert Guerrero will be primed for the main event showdown and we think boxing fans are in for a real treat."

Tickets are on sale and available for purchase by calling (888) 9AXS  TIX (888-929-7849), at Citizens Business Bank Arena box office or online at www.cbbankarena.com or www.axs.com.

A 2004 Olympian for Haiti, Winter Haven, Florida's Andre Berto (28-1, 22 KO's) has been among the top welterweights in the world for years, starting in 2008, when he won the WBC 147-pound title with a seventh round technical knockout win over Miguel Angel Rodriguez.  After five successful defenses, Berto lost the title in  his 2011 "Fight of the Year" battle against Victor Ortiz, but the 29-year-old bounced back with a fifth round stoppage over Jan Zaveck in his next bout to capture the  IBF welterweight title. [He vacated the title and tested positive for PEDs].

The pride of Gilroy, California, Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero (30-1-1, 18 KO's) may prove to be more dangerous than ever now that he can concentrate one hundred percent on his boxing career.  With his wife  Casey healthy after a battle with leukemia and Guerrero's shoulder surgery a thing of the past, the 29-year-old southpaw got back to work in July with a hard-fought
12 round win over previously unbeaten Selcuk Aydin.  

A one-punch knockout artist who has ended 12 fights in two rounds or less, Clearwater, Florida's Keith "One Time" Thurman (18-0, 17 KO's) says he is fully healed from injuries that kept him sidelined in 2011. The 23-year-old returned with a fury in 2012, stopping Christopher Fernandez, Brandon Hoskins and Orlando Lora in succession to extend his knockout streak to seven. 

Still dangerous at age 35, Moca, Puerto Rico's Carlos "El Indio" Quintana (29-3,  23 KO's) has found new life in the junior middleweight division, where he has scored technical knockout victories over Yoryi Estrella and Deandre Latimore in his last two fights.  The owner of wins over Paul Williams and Joel Julio and having faced Miguel Cotto and Andre Berto, the former WBO welterweight titlist has the skills and experience to find out whether Thurman is the real deal on November 24.

Thirty-year-old Richar Abril (17-3-1, 8 KO's) was unknown outside of diehard fight circles heading into 2012, but when the Cuban-born resident of Miami, Florida took on highly-touted Brandon Rios for the WBA lightweight title in April of this year, he quickly became better known.  Although Abril lost a split decision to Rios that night, the boxing media and fans around the world voiced their displeasure,  calling it one of the worst decisions ever.  

Uganda native Sharif "The Lion" Bogere (23-0, 15 KO's) was a five-time African champion in his amateur days, and he's eager to add some professional gold to his trophy case on November 24.  An aggressive contender with impressive power, the 24-year-old who now makes his home in Las Vegas has impressed fight fans with wins over Ray Beltran, Francisco Contreras, Sergio Rivera and Manuel Leyva, putting him in prime position for a shot at the world title.