TalkingBoxing News
Cuevas Heads to HBO Date with Ouma
FRI September 2 - Dominic Pesoli, President of Chicago's 8 Count Productions is proud to announce that junior middleweight contender "Classy" Freddie Cuevas will take on former IBF champ Kassim "The Dream" Ouma on Thursday, October 13th at the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa in Atlantic City, New Jersey presented by Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions.
Said Pesoli, "We just faxed back the contract a couple of minutes ago. It's a great
opportunity for Freddie. A win over Ouma would get him right back in the top of the rankings."
Cuevas, finishing his workout at JABB Boxing Gym in Chicago stated "This is a great opportunity for me to get back in the rankings. He's a lefty so I'll have to find some left-handed sparring partners, I'm sure I'll be doing some work with (junior welterweight contender) David Diaz. I'm very thankful to Oscar and Golden Boy for the offer and I plan on being at my best come October 13th."
Heavy handed Cuevas, 25-7-1 (17KO's) is riding a modest two bout winning streak since his technical decision loss to Kingsley Ikeke in June of 2005, a battle that was stopped after Cuevas suffered an accidental headbutt in the eight round. The 36 year old Chicago native holds knockout wins over former world champions Wilfredo Rivera and Charles Murray. In the summer of 2003, Cuevas went the distance in Little Rock, Arkansas with current middleweight champion Jermaine Taylor in a twelve round slugfest.
The all action Ouma, 21-2 (13KO's) was unbeaten for six years prior to dropping a twelve round decision to Roman Karmazin six weeks ago in Las Vegas. Ouma won the IBF title from Verno Phillips in October 2004 and defended it against Kofi Jantuah in January of this year. Over the course of his seven year career, Ouma has beaten champions and contenders including J.C. Candelo, Carlos Bojorquez, Michael Lerma, Tony Marshall, Alex Bunema and James Coker.
Gibbs Returns to Action, Oct. 28th
FRI September 2 - Hard-hitting middleweight Willie Gibbs, of West Philadelphia, fights in his backyard for only the third time in 20 pro fights when he boxes rugged Marcos Primera, of Asheboro, NC, in the scheduled 10-round main event Friday evening, Oct. 28, at the New Alhambra, Swanson & Ritner Streets, next to Forman Mills in South Philadelphia. First fight at 7.30 pm.
CN8 will televise the bout on a delayed basis (Oct. 30, 9-11 pm; Nov. 6, 12-2 pm) to more than six million homes along the East Coast from Maine to Virginia.
Gibbs, 29, has an 18-1 record, 15 K0s, since turning pro in 2001. He fights in the tradition of some of Philadelphia’s finest middleweights of the past—walking forward, heavy-handed, looking to score the big knockout.
His only loss, a fourth-round stoppage against Daniel Edouard for the vacant USBA middleweight title last year at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, CT, was voted one of the best fights of 2004. Gibbs knocked Edouard down in the first round and rocked him several times before being stopped himself due to exhaustion.
In his last fight April 1 at the Mohegan Sun, Gibbs KO'd Andres Pacheco, of Pueblo, CO, in two rounds.
Primera, 30, is no stranger to Philadelphia. He may have been the victim of an unjust decision when he was outpointed by world-rated Aslanbek Kodzoev, of South Philadelphia, on Jan. 30, 2004, at the Blue Horizon. Primera knocked Kodzoev down in the fourth round and appeared to have the edge, but the judges went against him.
In another Philadelphia performance, Primera outpointed Andrey Trunov, of Rochester, NY, on Feb. 15, 2002, at the Arts Palace on South Broad Street.
A pro since 1996, Primera has a 19-10-2 record, 12 K0s. He has won his last two fights, a 10-round decision over Julio Garcia and a third-round knockout over previously unbeaten Carlos De Leon, Jr., last May 7 in Las Vegas on the Diego Corrales-Jose Luis Castillo lightweight championship card.
The Gibbs-Primera winner should land a spot in the world rankings. Six prelims open the Oct. 28 program.
Tickets for the Oct. 28 card are priced at $$35, $45 and $50. They are on sale at Peltz Boxing Promotions (215-765-0922) and Joe Hand Promotions (215-364-9000).
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