Mountain rising on ESPN2 Friday Night Fights May 2

23.04 - PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Actor-model Richie "The Mountain" LaMontagne has put his non-boxing career on hold in order to pursue his dream of capturing a world championship. The next major step for this world cruiserweight contender is May 2 in the nationally televised, 10-round co-feature against USBO cruiserweight champion Ernest "M-16" Mateen live on ESPN2's "Friday Night Fights" at Foxwoods Resort Casino.

LaMontagne (27-4-1, 22 KOs), rated No. 9 by the World Boxing Council, was supposed to fight former world champion Uriah Grant this past February, but a cut suffered over Richie's eye late in training camp cancelled the match. Richie, of Everett (MA), brings a five-fight win streak into his match against Mateen, whose last fight in November, ironically, was a ninth-round technical decision against Grant for the USBO title. Ernest also fought a third-round technical draw against No. 1 ranked O'Neil Bell and holds wins against New England favorites such as Joe DeGrandis, John Scully (twice) and Drake Thadzi. Missouri-native Mateen (27-9-3, 9 KOs) also has beaten world title contender David Telesco in two of three matches.

"I was told that I need two more fights (and wins) to get a shot at (WBC cruiserweight champion Wayne) Braithwaite," Richie said. "But I know I have to take one step at a time. I want to get on a steady roll and start knocking 'em over. I'll fight anybody in the cruiserweight division because I feel I'm better than anybody else. My goal is to become the undisputed cruiserweight champion of the world."

The May 2 show is promoted by Jimmy Burchfield's Classic Entertainment & Sports, Inc. and headlined by the 12-round International Boxing Union world welterweight championship fight between Oliveira (44-8-2, 21 KOs) and Elio "El Chingo" Ortiz (24-4, 19 KOs).

Oliveira, of New Bedford (MA), defends his IBU title for the first time. The former NABF and IBF Intercontinental light welterweight champ, as well as the ex-New England lightweight title-holder, is currently rated No. 3 by the NABF and No. 8 by the USBA.

Ortiz, 28, comes from Coro, Venezuela. He is the Bolivariano and WBA FEDECENTRO welterweight champion. IBF No. 5 rated Omar Weiss, who fought a 10-round draw with Oliveira in 2001, suffered his first career loss in his 29th pro fight to Ortiz via a 10th-round TKO in 1998.

On the undercard are CES' multi-talented "Young Guns" - middleweight "Bad" Chad Dawson (11-0, 7 KOs), 2001 & 2002 New England Prospect of the Year, New Haven (CT); featherweight Angel "Gee Roc" Torres (11-2, 4 KOs), 2002 N. E. Prospect of the Year, Manchester (CT): "Steamin'" Josh Beeman (1-0), 2000 Eastern Olympics Trials gold medal winner, Providence (RI) - as well as a pair of Providence favorites, Jevon "J Roc" Langford, the unbeaten heavyweight (5-0, 5 KOs) and former National Football League player with the Cincinnati Bengals, and world rated (No. 7 IWBF & No. 9 WIBA) lightweight Missy "The Fury" Fiorentino (5-0, 4 KOs), former U.S. National amateur champion.

All bouts and fighters are subject to change. Tickets are $60, $50 and $35. For ticket information call CES' headquarters 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.