A hot Wednesday in Houston, Texas got hotter as former undisputed lightweight world champion Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz and former IBF junior lightweight world champion Paulie “Magic Man” Malignaggi each guaranteed a win during a press conference announcing their August 22nd showdown on HBO. The bout will be a twelve-rounder fought at jr. welterweight poundage. “Yes I had a tough loss to Ricky Hatton, at my best I’m a hard to fighter to beat and at times I feel I’m inconsistent,” stated Brooklyn native Paulie. “All said and done I was making excuses in the losses that I had, but now both of us have two losses and that means somebody is going to get three losses and it isn’t going to be me.” Diaz had this to say to the media. “I’ve been training for a few weeks and now that the press conference is here I know the fight is for real and now we can get down to business. The last fight hurt my pride on how I was stopped in the fight against Juan Manuel Marquez and I said to myself ‘whoever they put in front of me next is going to get it.’ Paulie is a good fighter, but I’m a great fighter. I’m testing the waters at jr. welterweight and lightweight to see whichever is good for me. I would like to thank Houston and all the fans for their support of me and I hope they come out and support me like they have in the past.”

Tickets, priced at $250, $125, $70, $45 and $25, go on sale on Friday July 10th at 10am CT, and may be purchased online at www.ToyotaCenterTix.com by phone at 1-866-4-Hou-TIX and at select Houston area Randalls locations. Tickets will be available at the Toyota Center Box Office beginning Monday, July 13th at 9am CT.

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