VANDERPOOL TAKES ON 'SPOILER' IN VEGAS THIS WEEKEND

07.07 - Press Release - Kitchener super middleweight boxer Syd 'The Jewel' Vanderpool (33-2) heads down to 'Sin City' to take on Detroit 'spoiler' Demetrius Jenkins this Saturday (July 12th). He leaves for Las Vegas tomorrow (Tuesday) planning on 'spoiling' the 'spoiler."

The Jewel has some 'lost ground' to make up in the standings. He hasn't been in the ring since he nailed Jaffa Ballagou in the first 2 minutes of the second round in Atlantic City last December. At that time, his rankings surged to 5th - but being dormant for the past 6 months eroded his standings somewhat as other boxers made their mark. Says Vanderpool, "It's merely a temporary slip, not a set-back - as everyone knows, in time, the cream always rises to the top."

Vanderpool was recently 'overlooked' for a title fight with WBO Super Middleweight champ Welshman Joe 'The Terminator" Calzaghe in Wales. Calzaghe faced 9th ranked American Byron 'Gator' Mitchell instead (Vanderpool was ranked 5th at the time). The Jewel was instead chosen as Mitchell's sparring partner and was to fight in an undercard - but no opponent was ever selected. The fight had been originally scheduled for June 14th, then was rescheduled for June 28th. Calzaghe held onto his title - but was knocked down to one knee for the first time in his career - by number-9!

This upcoming fight with Jenkins will be no cakewalk. A former NABO light-heavyweight and IBC super-middleweight champion, Jenkins has mixed it with the best second tier fighters including former world title challengers Omar Sheika (l KO 2), Julian Letterlough (l KO 7) and Eric Harding (l pts 10). He also holds a 7th-round stoppage win over former world super-middleweight Frankie Liles. Jenkins is described as, "- tough and very heavy-handed-", "-the type of fighter that can ruin a career-", and "-a typical spoiler and a very dangerous puncher-" who ploughs in with wild overhand rights.

Kitchener's 'Jewel' says he's looking forward to taking on Jenkins - wild swings and all! "Every fighter I face has their knock-out punch - but I always shut them down. You see, where they have one punch - I have five!" He notes that this bout will also be somewhat of a test. Jenkins is a legitimate light heavyweight (169 lbs - 175 lbs) while Vanderpool is a super middleweight (160 lbs - 168 lbs). 'The Jewel' says he's thinking of challenging some light heavyweights in the future so "-it will be nice to see how I measure up against this type of opposition."

Vanderpool heads down to Las Vegas on Tuesday, July 8th - the fight takes place 8pm EST on Saturday (July 12th) at The Orleans. The main event is a WBC/WBA Super Welterweight title rematch between Ricardo Mayorga and Vernon Forrest. The main event is featured on HBO, while Vanderpool's undercard can be viewed on KingVision.