"The Battle You Can't Miss" Friday

3 title belts on line in ESPN2 Friday Night Fights at Foxwoods

23.07 - PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The stage is set for Friday night's much-anticipated "Battle You Can't Miss" showdown, promoted by Jimmy Burchfield's Classic Entertainment & Sports, Inc., featuring Scott "The Sandman" Pemberton (25-3-1, 21 KOs), International Boxing Union World super middleweight title-holder, versus two-time world title challenger Omar Sheika (23-4, 16 KOs), live on ESPN2 from Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut.

The 12-round Pemberton-Sheika main event is being fought for Pemberton's IBU World crown and the vacant NABF super middleweight title. It has the potential to challenge Toney-Jirov and Gatti-Ward III for 2003 Fight of the Year honors.

A special tribute to CES president Jimmy Burchfield has been planned honoring him as New England's 2002 Promoter of the Year. For more information about placing a congratulatory ad in Friday night's commemorative program contact Mano Schreiber at 401.724.2253.

In the 10-round co-feature, IBU World lightweight champion, Gary "Tiger" Balletto (28-1-2, 25 KOs), of Providence, makes the first defense against Luis Lizarraga (31-27-4, 23 KOs), of Mexico.

Pemberton, of New Bedford (MA), is a U.S. Army veteran who has dedicated this to those who've lost their lives serving in the military during the War in Iraq. He is rated No. 2 by the NABF and believes a win against Sheika will position him for a lucrative fight against a top 10 opponent. Sheika, of Paterson (NJ), has already had a pair of world title fights, losing to then WBC champ Eric Lucas (12DEC) and WBO title-holder Joe Calzaghe

Balletto feels that a victory against Lizarraga, former UNIBOX junior lightweight and Yucatan junior featherweight champ, should earn him an ESPN2 main event for his next fight. Lizzarraga, however, holds upsets against two previously unbeaten prospects, 24-0 Tontcho Tontchev and 21-0-1 Jermaine Fields. This past February Lizarrage lost a controversial 12-round majority decision to 41-4 David Santos for the USBA Super Featherweight Championship.

The undercard includes a pair of unbeaten Providence fighters in separate bouts, light heavyweight Joe "KO Kid" Spina (7-0, 5 KOs) and welterweight Bobo "The Bull" Starnino (4-0, 1 KO), as well as Dominican Republic lightweight Antonio "Cana Seca" Ramirez (19-6-6, 15 KOs) and undefeated Bellingham (MA) middleweight Joe Gardner (3-1, 1 KO). (All bouts and fighters are subject to change.)

Tickets are priced at $65.00, $50.00 and $40.00. For ticket information call CES' corporate office at 401.724.2253/401.724.2254, visit its Web site at www.cesboxing.com, or contact the Foxwoods box office at 800.200.2882.

Bout Sheet

Main Event: 12 Rounds - IBU World Super Middleweight Title
Scott "The Sandman" Pemberton vs. Omar Sheika
New Bedford, MA Paterson, NJ
25-3-1, 21 KO's 23-4, 16 KO's
IBU World Super Middleweight Champion 2-Time World Super Middleweight Challenger

Co-Feature: 10 Rounds - IBU World Lightweight Championship
Gary "Tiger" Balletto vs. Luis Lizarraga
Providence, RI Merida, Yucatan
28-1-2, 25 KO's 31-27, 23 KO's
IBU World Lightweight Champion Former UNIBOX Jr. Lightweight Champion

6 Rounds - Light Heavyweights
Joe "KO Kid" Spina vs. Johnny Taylor
Providence, RI Shreveport, LA
7-0, 5 KO's 4-1, 1 KO

6 Rounds - Lightweights
Antonio "Cana Seca" Ramirez vs. Martin Dale Robbins
Constanza, Dominican Republic Crossville, TN
19-6-6, 15 KO's 13-15-1 (10 KO's)
Former WBO NABO & WBC Fecarbox Super Featherweight Champion

4 Rounds - Middleweights
Joe Gardner vs. Andres Feliberto Larrinaga
Bellingham, MA Miami, FL
3-0, 1 KO 2-8-1 (1 KO)

4 Rounds - Welterweights
Bobo "The Bull" Starnino vs. Vernon Meeks
Providence, RI Washington D.C.
4-0, 1 KO