TalkingBoxing News
From Prospect To Contender
THU June 15 -
With one short, powerful right hand, USNBC cruiserweight champion Matt “Too Smooth” Godfrey (12-0, 7 KOs) went from promising prospect to legitimate contender, stopping previously unbeaten NABA title-holder Shauna George (11-0-2, 5 KOs) in the first round of their recent unification bout on ESPN2 Wednesday Night Fights at Foxwoods Resort Casino.
Godfrey, 25, added another regional belt to his growing collection as well as moving into the No. 15 position in the World Boxing Association ratings. He’s also ranked No. 26 by the World Boxing Council and No. 1 in the North American Boxing Federation.
“I beat a very polished boxer a lot of guys wouldn’t fight because he’s so slick,” Godfrey said about George. “It was exciting knocking him out in the first round. It let everybody know I’m for real. Right now, I’m just looking at guys ranked ahead of me with very good records -- only one or two losses -- who maybe have a belt around his waist. I’m collecting those. I figure within 18 months, I’ll have 17-18 fights, and be fighting for a world title.”
In addition to George, Godfrey already had a few name victims on his resume, such as former IBU champion Ernest “M-16” Mateen and ex-NABO title-holder Jermell “The Truth” Barnes.
“Matt only needs about four or five more fights to be in position for a major world title fight,” Godfrey’s manager Bret Hallenbeck added. “At this point he’s ready to fight for any available titles. Any critics he may have had are silenced after the George fight. He’s ready for just about anybody in the top 15.”
For more information about Matt Godfrey visit his web site at www.mattgodfreyboxing.com.
Spina Headlines July 7
THU June 15 - USNBC super middleweight champion Joey “KO Kid” Spina (18-0-1, 13 KOs) puts his title on the line against local favorite Jay Pina (16-1, 12 KOs) in the 12-round main event on “Let Freedom Ring,” July 7 at the Cape Cod Melody Tent in Hyannis, Massachusetts.
The World Boxing Council rates Spina, fighting out of Providence, No. 17, while Pina hails from nearby Falmouth. In addition to the USNBC title fight, Spina-Pina also will be contested for the vacant International Boxing Federation International Championship.
Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports, Inc. (CES) in association with Lincoln Park, is promoting “Let Freedom Ring.”
“We’re going to extend the Fourth of July celebration a few days with a great professional boxing card,” promoter Jimmy Burchfield said. “Everybody loves Cape Cod during the summer. We intend to make this the summer event on Cape Cod every year. Our card is loaded with talent from top to bottom and the show promises to provide a lot of fireworks.”
Two-time Brazilian Olympian Agnaldo Nunez, reigning IBA Intercontinental featherweight title, is in the eight-round co-feature against an opponent to be determined.
Scheduled to fight on the undercard in separate matches are WBC No. 16 rated super welterweight Ossie Duran (21-5-1, 9 KOs), fighting out of Providence via Ghana; former world heavyweight title challenger Charles Shufford (20-6, 9 KOs) in his CES debut, unbeaten Irish middleweight Joe “Sugar” Rea (5-0, 4 KOs), who is trained by popular “Irish” Micky Ward; two-time Golden Gloves champion Jeff Tavano (3-0, 2 KOs), from nearby Harwich.
Two newly signed CES fighters also are on the card: 2001-2002 Swedish Championship gold medallist, super lightweight Benjamin Kalinovic (3-0, 2 KOs), and former Philadelphia amateur star, lightweight Henry “Hammer Hank” Lundy.
All bouts and boxers are subject to change.
Tickets are priced at $40 and $50 (general admission), $75 (Silver VIP), $100 (Gold VIP) and a limited Jimmy’s Platinum Club tickets are available. To order tickets call CES (401.724.2253), the Cape Cod Melody Tent (508.775.5630) or go to www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets also are on sale at David’s Gym in South Dennis (508.394.7199), Pizza 1 – Subs 2 in Falmouth (508.457.1212), Mike’s Barber Shop in Dennisport (508.798.8913), Cape Cod Nutrition in Hyannis (508.775.5697), and Goose Hummock in Orleans (508.255.0455). For additional information, or sponsorship/advertising opportunities, call CES or go to www.cesboxing.com.
Doors open at 6:00 PM, first bout at 7:15 PM.
McCall Added To "Ring Warriors"
THU June 15 - They come from vastly different pasts and have taken diverse journeys to their current spots in the boxing world, but former world heavyweight champion Oliver McCall and top Cruiserweight contender Dale Brown have the same goals – to be the best and to be called ‘Champion.’
On Friday, June 30th, both veterans will be back in action and looking to move closer to those goals when they compete in separate bouts on the highly anticipated “Ring Warriors” card at the Seminole Hard Rock Live Arena in Hollywood, Florida.
McCall will face hard-hitting Gary “Bring Da Pain” Bell in a ten round contest, and Brown will battle Colorado’s Shane Swartz, also in a ten rounder.
In the main event, unbeaten knockout artist Juan Urango will face Australia’s Naoufel Ben Rabah in a 12 round bout for the vacant IBF super lightweight championship of the world. ESPN2 Friday Night Fights will televise the show, beginning at 9pm ET / 6pm PT.
Blessed with a cast-iron chin and the punch to match, Oliver McCall (46-8, 33 KOs) is best remembered by fight fans for his stirring second round knockout of Lennox Lewis in 1994, a win that earned him the WBC Heavyweight Championship. After defending his crown with a decision over the legendary Larry Holmes, ‘The Atomic Bull’ would lose the title to Frank Bruno in 1995, but he has rebounded since then, racking up 20 victories against just two defeats, including a first round stoppage of Oleg Maskaev, who will be challenging for Hasim Rahman’s world title later this summer. In Brooklyn’s Gary ‘Bring Da Pain’ Bell (22-4-1, 15 KOs), McCall will be facing a talented fighter who many believe is one or two wins away from challenging the elite in boxing’s glamour division.
Calgary’s Dale Brown (35-4-1, 22 KOs) is revered at home and abroad for his class outside the ring and his skill and determination in it. An 11 year veteran of the sport, Brown has suffered through some tough times in the ring, most recently losing a highly controversial decision to current undisputed Cruiserweight Champion O’Neil Bell in May of 2005, but with two wins in a row since that fight, ‘Cowboy’ has dusted himself off and is gearing up for another title run, starting with his bout on June 30 against Shane Swartz (17-4, 12 KOs), who has been in with world-class competition such as Calvin Brock, Malik Scott, and Grigory Drozd over the course of his ten year career.
Tickets for “Ring Warriors”, priced at $25, $50, $100, and $150, are available by calling 954.523.3309 or by visiting www.ticketmaster.com.
For more information on Warrior’s Boxing, please visit our website at www.warriorsboxing.com.
Valuev iN DEMAND
THU June 15 - U.S. Boxing fans will have their first chance to see WBA heavyweight boxing champion “The Beast from the East” Nikolai Valuev. Fans will have the ability to watch Valuev’s early European fights before he won the WBA belt from John Ruiz and successfully defended it earlier this month against Owen Beck, it was announced today by iN DEMAND Networks.
A new two-part VOD package of fights will showcase the developing prowess of the seven foot, 320 lbs. up-and-coming heavyweight powerhouse as he pummeled his way through powerful opponents. Part one of the package will premiere on June 15 and will include Valuev’s bouts against Otis Tisdale, Dicky Ryan, Attila Levin and Richard Bango (interim WBA International Heavyweight Title). Part two begins July 13 and will include two exciting contests against Clifford Etienne (WBA Inter-Continental Heavyweight Title) and Paolo Vidoz (WBA International Heavyweight Title). Both fight packages will be available through most major cable systems in the United States on their VOD service. Each package costs $4.95 (SRP) and will be available for one month.
Fight fans in Germany and around the world have been able to follow the progress of the 32 year old St. Petersburg, Russia native as he has been building credibility in the heavyweight field. But until now, American viewers have not been able to see him in action.
Valuev recently defended his WBA title against Owen Beck bringing his career record to 44-0 with 32 knockouts.
Warriors Win Bid
THU June 15 - With a bid of $810,000 today in East Orange, New Jersey, Warriors Boxing Promotions and Sampson Lewkowicz have secured the right to promote the IBF Number One Elimination Bout between unbeaten 2000 Olympic Silver Medalist, Sultan Ibragimov and rugged contender Ray Austin later this summer.
Warrior’s bid far exceeded that of the second place bidder, Don King Promotions, which bid $100,000.
“We bid so much to show that we are committed to bringing excitement back to the Heavyweight Division through Sultan Ibragimov,” explained Lewkowicz. “Austin is a formidable opponent, but he is just a stepping stone on Ibragimov’s road to the Heavyweight Title.
The date is set for this bout on July 28th on ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights, which will determine the mandatory challenger for IBF Heavyweight Champion Wladimir Klitschko.
“By putting this fight on the ESPN Friday Night Fights series, we are sharing with the world the excitement that Ibragimov brings to the sport”, says Leon Margules, Executive Director of Warriors Boxing. “We want the world to follow his rise to the top of the Heavyweight Division.”
Unbeaten in 19 fights, with 16 wins coming by way of knockout, Ibragimov - a 2000 Olympic Silver Medalist - is coming off the biggest win of his career last December when he stopped Lance Whitaker in seven one-sided rounds. He will now prepare to become the number one contender in the IBF Heavyweight Division and set his eyes on the prize to become a World Champion.
For more information on Warrior’s Boxing, please visit our website at www.warriorsboxing.com.
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