New Opponent for Kendall Holt

Former champ Ricardo Torres has pulled out of this weekend's rubber match with WBO junior welterweight champion Kendall Holt due to an illness. Torres' undisclosed illness reportedly left him unable to get in proper condition during training camp. This could also be read as electing to pull out out rather than show up and fail to make weight. Either way, the highly anticipated bout is off.

Fortunately, the Saturday date in Atlantic City (and Showtime) was saved when contender Demetrius Hopkins (28-0-1) stepped in to take the place of Torres. Hopkins, the nephew of Bernard Hopkins, was already scheduled to be on the undercard (against Germaine Sanders) so conditioning should not be an issue.

Holt will earn $220,000, while Hopkins will earn $100,000 for his first title shot.