Santa Cruz, Khan part of Golden Boy's Dec. 15 Fanfest

NEW YORK -- A Dec. 15 event to include IBF bantamweight title defense by Leo Santa Cruz against Alberto Guevara in the main event of a CBS-televised show, former IBF and WBA junior welterweight titleholder Amir Khan facing unbeaten Carlos Molina, as well as an extravagant gift-basket filled with boxing presents for area fight fans will be take place at the Los Angeles Sport Arena, Golden Boy announced on Friday.

The Fanfest will begin with free tickets to Santa Cruz (22-0-1, 13 knockouts) against Guevara (16-0, 6 KOs), a CBS broadcast which will also debut 2012 U.S. Olympic team member and junior featherweight Joseph Diaz Jr. against an opponent to be determined.

Santa Cruz Guevara marks the network's first live boxing telecast since Bernard Hopkins defended his IBF middleweight title against Glen Johnson in 1997.

On Showtime, heavyweight Deontay "The Bronze Bomber" Wilder (25-0, 25 KOs) will face Kelvin Price (13-0, 6 KOs), and former Khan (26-3, 18 KOs) will be matched against Molina (17-0-1, 7 KOs) -- not to be confused with another Carlos Molina (20-5-2, 6 KOs), THE RING's No. 6-rated junior middleweight.

Also on the Showtime card will be junior middleweight contender Alfredo Angulo (21-2, 18 KOs) against Mexico's Jorge Silva (19-2-2, 15 KOs).

Angulo's 56-second knockout of Raul Casarez earlier this month was his comeback fight after being stopped for the first time in his career in an exciting, sixth-round knockout loss to James Kirkland in November.

The fanfest will run from about 3-to-5 p.m., and will include music, a Corona beer garden, autograph sessions with some of boxing's biggest stars, games, boxing memorabilia, food, and a visit from Santa Claus and more.

The event will take place at the L.A. Arena, allowing fans to attend the free afternoon session of boxing and then easily return later that evening to watch the evening's fights.

"The holiday season is a great time to remember that giving is just as important as receiving. With our fanfest, toy drive and giveaway, free CBS fights, and a great night of Showtime fights at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena on December 15, I think we're all going to walk away filled with the amazing feeling of the holiday spirit," said Golden Boy President Oscar De La Hoya.

"I am looking forward to distributing the toys to those families who need them most. There will be a surprise that morning too, so don't miss it."

As a bonus, fans who present ticket stubs from the CBS event when purchasing tickets for the Showtime broadcast will receive a 20 percent discount on tickets purchased, with a limit of one discounted purchased ticket per ticket redeemed while supplies last.

The giveaway, which will be hosted by De La Hoya and a special guest, will take place on the morning of Dec. 15 outside of the main entrance of the L.A. Arena.

"This is about giving and giving more as we end the year, and the holidays draw near. We want to show our appreciation to our loyal fans and their families who have supported all of our West Coast shows throughout the year," said Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy.

"They can come all day, enjoy the free early fights, go to the fanfest and then come back for more action later that night. Add in the star boxers in compelling and competitive fights all televised between CBS and SHOWTIME and you have a recipe for holiday goodness."

Golden Boy Promotions will also be sponsoring a toy drive throughout fight week, and in order to help get fans into the holiday spirit, will award two tickets to the Khan-Molina fight for anyone who donates an unwrapped, unopened toy with a value of $20 or more -- two tickets per toy, per person while supplies last.

De La Hoya will distribute the donated toys, as well as 2,500 toys purchased by the Oscar De La Hoya Foundation, to pre-selected underprivileged families from three Green Dot Public Schools.

Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Lem Satterfield can be reached at lemuel.satterfield@gmail.com