It's All on the line on Sept. 26

07.09 - REVERE -- One man holds the Massachusetts junior welterweight title. The other holds the New England junior welterweight title. Each has a belt the other man wants. Both are putting it on the line on Sept. 26.

The fifth Mohegan Sun FightNight New England fight card produced by Cappiello Promotions will feature two of the more entertaining fighters in New England, Jeff "Hellraza" Fraza against Kevin "Cocky" Watts. Each man will bring a belt into the ring; Watts holds the Massachusetts title and Fraza is the New England champion. When it is all said and done, only one man will walk out with both belts and will be the best junior welterweight in New England.

The Mohegan Sun FightNight New England fight card will take place at Club Lido, formerly known as the Wonderland Entertainment Complex on Sept. 26. The Fraza-Watts fight is the headline bout of the evening. Ian Gardner, the promising Brockton middleweight will also fight on this card against a yet to be determined opponent. The rest of the fight card will be announced at a later date.

However, on Sept. 26, all eyes will be on Fraza and Watts who know the implications of this fight.

"There was no hesitation on the part of either fighter putting their championship belts on the line," said fight promoter Rich Cappiello. "They know what is at stake here and they are both focused on the job they have to do. There is a lot on the line for the winner of this fight and even more for the loser of it."

Watts, the pride of South Boston, will bring an 18-3 record into the ring on Sept 26. His last fight was on March 17 and was one of the more controversial of his career as in the battle of South Boston as he escaped with an eighth round knockout of fellow South Boston native Jimmy LeBlanc.

That fight was stopped 16 seconds into the eighth round when Watts hit LeBlanc with a shot to the head that opened a cut over LeBlanc's right eye that could not be stitched. LeBlanc claimed the "shot" was actually a head butt but could not convince the referee. At the time, LeBlanc was ahead on two judges' scorecards 68-64 and was tied on the third, 66-66 but when he walked out of the ring, it was Watts who had the belt as the Massachusetts champion. Fraza has been battling injuries for most of 2003 but is healthy now and has been waiting in the wings for the Watts-LeBlanc winner since St. Patrick's Day.

Gardner, voted New England Rookie of the Year by one New England boxing publication, is looking to bounce back from his most tentative performance of the year. On Aug. 9 at the Brockton Fairgrounds, Gardner was not on top of his game but had more than enough to win a decision from journeyman Dave Hadden. The crowd was not pleased with the first two rounds of this fight as neither fighter offered much of an attack. Gardner changed the course of the fight in the fourth when Hadden went to the canvas hard after a slip. Gardner saw his opportunity to change the momentum and although he did not get the knockout he did seize control in that round. Gardner was in control for the rest of the fight.

The doors of Club Lido open at 6 p.m. on Sept. 26 and the first fight is scheduled for 7:30. Ticket prices are $50 for ringside and $30 for general admission. For ticket information, call 508 587-5554 or 508 587-3370 or check out the website at www.cappielloboxing.com