OCTOBER 2, 2002 (Chester, WV) - Fighters fight and champions win. On Saturday, November 9, from the beautiful Mountaineer Race Track and Gaming Resort in Chester, WV, boxing fans will see both in "Real Fights!" - the pay-per-view extravaganza featuring four main event bouts.
Each main event will represent a different major region of the U.S. The combined record of these gladiators is an amazing -205-10-2 (117 KOs) - a winning percentage of over 94%!
Promoted by Michael Acri Boxing Promotions, in association with DiBella Entertainment and SBGGLOBAL.COM, the PPV telecast will begin at 9 P.M. EST / 6 P.M. PST. It will be distributed by iN DEMAND with a suggested retail price of $24.95. Call your local cable/satellite provider for details.
The East will be represented by "The Pittsburgh Kid," undefeated IBF lightweight champion PAUL SPADAFORA, 35-0 (14 KOs), in a unification bout against IBC champion DENNIS "The Menace" HOLBAEK, 43-1 (22 KOs), from Denmark.
Spadafora is making the seventh defense of the title he captured in 1999 via an 11th round TKO of Renato Cornett. He has successfully defended the title against some of the best contenders including, Angel Manfredy and Victoriano Sosa. Holbaek first captured the IBC lightweight title in 1997 via a 12-round decision over George Parra. He successfully defended the title three times in 1998 within a five-month period. He added the European title to his resume in 1999, a 12-round decision victory over Kirkorian Kirkorov.
Midwest fight fans will be treated to an IBF lightweight elimination bout between former world champion and IBF No. 4-rated contender ANGEL MANFREDY, 40-6-1 (29 KOs), from Hobart, IN, against the pride of the Dominican Republic VICTORIANO SOSA, 34-2-1 (24 KOs), the IBF's No. 5-rated contender. The winner of this rumble will become the IBF's No. 1 lightweight contender and mandatory challenger for the winner of the Spadafora-Holbaek championship fight.
Manfredy captured the WBU super featherweight title in 1995 with a seventh-round knockout of Calvin Grove. He held the title for three years, which included seven defenses. His resume boasts victories over Arturo Gatti, Julio Diaz, Ivan Robinson, Jorge Paez and John Brown.
Sosa, the cousin of Chicago Cub legend Sammy Sosa, has captured the Dominican Republic's national super featherweight and lightweight titles as well as the FECARBOX (Central America and Caribbean) lightweight title. In his sole world title fight, he floored IBF champion Spadafora twice en route to a decision loss in 2000.
The Southeast will be rooting hard for Arkansas native and 2000 U.S. Olympic Bronze Medalist JERMAIN TAYLOR, 11-0 (7 KOs), as he risks his undefeated record against seasoned veteran JONATHAN REID, 29-1 (16 KOs), from Nashville, TN, in a 10-round middleweight bout.
Taylor earned the ring moniker "Bad Intentions" for his aggressiveness and dogged pursuit of opponents inside the ring. The Little Rock native was the first boxer from Arkansas to ever compete in the Olympic Games. After capturing the Olympic Bronze in Sydney, Australia in 2000, he made his pro debut in January the following year on HBO, in the "Mecca of Boxing," Madison Square Garden, knocking out veteran Chris Walsh, 17-5-6. Taylor's fights been featured on HBO three times, and each time he has given a "knockout performance." His popularity with fans increases with each fight, due to the fact in addition to HBO, his fights have also been televised nationally by ESPN2, FOX Sports Net and on world championship PPV undercards.
Reid began his career by winning his first 27 bouts - 16 by knockout. He captured the NABA middleweight title in 1999, via a second-round KO of Karl Willis. One year later, Reid unsuccessfully challenged WBA middleweight champion William Joppy. A fan favorite who has fought throughout the south and southeast, Reid is looking forward to settling a regional rivalry with Taylor and igniting another run to a world title shot.
Los Angeles native and 2000 U.S. Olympian JOSE NAVARRO, 13-0 (5 KOs) will be representing the West region in an eight-round jr. bantamweight bout against an opponent to be determined.
Navarro, 21, is managed by future Hall-of-Famer and reigning WBC-WBA super welterweight champion Oscar De La Hoya. Jose won consecutive Junior Olympic titles in 1996 and 1997. He also won consecutive gold medals at the Junior Olympic International competition those same years. Along his road to Sydney, Jose accumulated 13 national titles, two junior international titles, and was named Best Boxer six times nationally and twice internationally. Along the way, he managed to graduate from Manual Arts High School in 1999 with a 3.8 grade point average. After the Olympics, Jose decided to follow in his brother, former WBU super featherweight champion, Carlos' footsteps and pursue a professional career. His good looks and the will to win, combined with his technical style of boxing and heart of a warrior, and his impressive televised victories on HBO and Fox Sports Net, have made him one of the most popular fighters in the jr. bantamweight division.
