Mayweather vs. Canelo Alvarez Booked for September 14th

Can Mayweather vs. Canelo Top Boxing's All-Time PPV Record?

Rated as the best pound-for-pound boxer and five-division world champion Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (44-0, 26 KO) and junior middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (42-0-1, 30 KO) are still more than two months away from meeting in the ring, but they're already shattering records. Tickets for their September 14th mega fight in Las Vegas sold out in the blink of an eye, and the fight has broken the all-time live-gate record for a boxing event.

Born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, known as El Canelo, Alvarez is an undefeated 22-year-old Mexican professional boxer in the Junior Middleweight division. Álvarez started boxing at 13 years old, after watching his older brother Rigoberto Álvarez's debut as a professional boxer. In 2004 he won the silver medal at the Junior Mexican National championships, held in Sinaloa. Even though Álvarez turned professional young, he had 20 amateur bouts under his belt. At 22, Canelo is going to let whatever happens happen, responding with youth and an imaginative spirit with the 36 year old Mayweather having to adjust to Canelo’s youthful eagerness. “I am 22-years-old and I'm not worried about money at the moment because I have a long future ahead of me. This fight is about pride, and winning, because I want to be one of the best boxers in history and this is the opportunity to reach that goal," Canelo said.

According to ESPN.com, the fight is guaranteed to generate at least $18.6 million dollars in total ticket sales. That's more than enough to supplant the 2007 bout between Mayweather and Oscar De La Hoya, which generated just over $18.4 million dollars. Canelo and Mayweather might top the all-time PPV revenue mark, as the fight is priced at $65 standard definition and $75 in HD, so even if they don't get the 2.4 million buy mark, they could top the revenue mark, which is around $134 million domestically.

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UFC to capitalize on Latin American market with expansion to Mexico in 2014

The UFC, a popular Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) sports organization, is considering expansion to Mexico in 2014. Expansion to Mexico would greatly enhance their booming Latin American market, which is already thriving in Brazil. With an enormous MMA following, a growing circuit of regional fight promotions and great local talent, Mexico has the essential pillars in place.

UFC President Dana White said he would like to take full advantage of this spike in MMA interest; he believes there is a great culture of Mexican MMA fighters who have developed a unique style of Mexican fighting.

These bright local talents include Mexican-American Cain Velasquez, the defending heavyweight champion, and Erik Perez, a rising bantam-weight contender. The success of the expansion efforts depends on whether the UFC is able to build and nurture these rising stars to bolster community support.

However, for now, the UFC is relying on a similar model it presented in Brazil--a joint-venture deal with a television network--to increase its TV presence in Mexico. This strategic partnership with Televisa Networks will give the organization a way to disseminate free UFC programming on existing channels. 

According to media reports, it could launch as early as September 2013.

Plans are also in the works to add a Spanish -language version of "The Ultimate Street Fighter" to the network, tentatively titled: "The Ultimate Street Fighter: Latin America." UFC executive Marshall Zelaznik, chief of international development, believes that having a regionally specific series and a live event in Mexico City would spearhead the UFC's business efforts in Mexico.

If the UFC can implement successful expansion efforts in Mexico in 2014, perhaps, a blueprint will be laid for future endeavors to help make the UFC a global sporting heavyweight!

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Is De la Torre the right coach to take Mexico forward?

Mexico coach Jose Manuel “Chepo” de la Torre talked on Monday about the importance of winning ugly, picking up points and getting El Tri over the line and qualified for Brazil 2014.

El Tri produced the ugly soccer against Costa Rica on Tuesday, but failed to win or even score in the Estadio Azteca. That makes it three consecutive 0-0 draws this year in World Cup qualifying inside the massive stadium. It makes Mexico’s qualification for Brazil 2014 anything but secure and De la Torre’s job seriously under-threat for the first time.

Chants of “Chepo out” bellowed down from the steep bleachers towards the end and it isn’t difficult to see why. Fans of other CONCACAF nations may mock the Mexican public’s vocal and possibly hasty criticism of Chepo, but it comes in a context of El Tri winning Olympic gold and enjoying unprecedented success at youth level. This was supposed to be the qualifying campaign to cement Mexico as the undisputed dominant force in the region.

Instead, it has turned into the traditional dogfight involving the United States and Central American nations, none of which are in the top 25 of the FIFA rankings.

“There are 12 points left, there are still a lot of games,” De la Torre told Mexican TV company Televisa after Tuesday’s game.

While it is almost unthinkable that Mexico won’t be at Brazil 2014, suddenly games against Honduras (h), USA (a), Panama (h) and Costa Rica (a) don’t look so tempting with the pressure right on. And those statements from Chepo about how many games are left are starting to wear thin.

Yes, it is difficult against decent CONCACAF teams that come to defend and hope for goals on the counterattack. It is also true Mexico is more naturally adept playing that way itself, when there is more space in the final third.

Continue reading more on Mexico's De la Torre here: http://bit.ly/194rvfx

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Mexican Jockey Mario Gutierrez Reflects One Year After Winning Kentucky Derby

In 2012, jockey Mario Gutierrez of Veracruz rode into the record books as the winning jockey of the Kentucky Derby. One year after his victorious race aboard the horse I'll Have Another, Gutierrez will be watching the 2013 Kentucky Derby from the sidelines.

“It will be nice,” Gutierrez told Yahoo! Sports last week. “I get to watch it and not have any pressure.” 

Nevertheless, winning the Kentucky Derby changed Mario Gutierrez’s life. He appeared on late-night talk shows and threw out the first pitch at a Los Angeles Dodgers ballgame.

“When people ask who won the Kentucky Derby in 2012, my name will be right there,” he said. “I can always say I went there for the first time and won the Kentucky Derby.”

Gutierrez was born in Veracruz, Mexico but built his professional jockey career in Canada.  Since 2006, Gutierrez has been one of the leading riders at Hastings Race Course in Vancouver, winning riding titles in 2007, 2008 before coming up short for a third on the final day of the meeting last year.

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Adventurer Abraham Levy to Row from Spain to Mexico

Mexico adventurer Abraham Levy will attempt to row it alone from Puerto de Palos, Spain, to Cancun, Mexico, in a sixth-month journey inspired by Christopher Columbus’ voyage to the Americas.

Levy, whose trip will begin on October 12, said “I want to do what the great explorers did and set out from the Old World, leaving Puerto de Palos en route to Mexican Lands.”

The adventure aficionado will travel via a boat that is equipped with navigation gear, GPS, satellite phone, a desalinization plant, a stove and solar panels to charge the lithium batteries. He will also have land-based support from a group of doctors, trainers and meteorological experts. The carbon fiber boat weighs 400 pounds, measures 24 feet long and 5 feet abeam, has a hermetic cabin and 10-foot oars of the same material.

This is not the first major voyage for Levy. He kayaked 6,800 miles along the coasts of his country in 2008.

"The trip will take about four months, but I'm going prepared to spend six months at sea," said Levy, who will set out on his journey in October because at that point hurricane season is over on his route, which follows the trade winds to the Canary Islands, continues on to the Caribbean, and then changes course to Mexico.

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Mexico's International Boat Show & A Day of Deep Sea Fishing

Boating enthusiasts will flock to Cabo San Lucas in May to celebrate the third annual Mexico International Boat Show and Marine Products and Services Fair at its new location – the IGY Marina Cabo San Lucas in front of the Wyndham Cabo San Lucas Resort.

A new lineup of exhibitors reflects a growing segment in Mexico’s robustnautical tourism, boating and yachting market. The show, which takes place May 1-4, 2013, is the only boat show and marine products and service fair on the Baja California peninsula and Mexico’s entire West Coast.

To celebrate its arrival, Lux Penny Vacations has partnered with Pisces Sport-fishing and Playa Grande Resort to promote a six-day deep sea fishing excursion. The fun-filled package includes $250 off of your deep sea fishing trip on the Sea of Cortés, six nights at the luxurious Playa Grande Resort, and limo service to and from the airport.

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