LaMontagne-Grant world title fight Feb. 22 in Mass
Flamos-Payne EBA cruiserweight title fight in Everett co-feature
29.01 - PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Former world cruiserweight champion Uriah "Bossman" Grant battles Richie "The Mountain" LaMontagne Saturday afternoon, February 22 for the vacant International Boxing Union world cruiserweight title in the 12-round main event on the "Homecoming" boxing card, promoted by Jimmy Burchfield's Classic Entertainment & Sports, at Everett High School in Massachusetts.
The ex-IBF and IBO cruiserweight champ Grant (30-18, 28 KOs), born in Jamaica and now living in Miami, is a tough veteran who has defeated two former world champions, Tommy Hearns and Matthew Saad Muhammad. He's also fought present IBF heavyweight champion Chris Byrd and former world title-holders Bobby Czyz, Al Cole, Frank Tate, Imamu Mayfield, and Brian Nielson.
Ranked No. 10 by the World Boxing Council, LaMontange (27-4-1, 22 KOs) returns to his alma mater, Everett High School, where he played football for the Crimson Tide. Richie is riding a five-fight win streak, eight of his last nine, and his 11th round knockout of former U.S. Olympian Michael Bennett in his last fight (Aug. 2) earned LaMontagne recognition for producing one of the top KOs of Year 2002.
"This is going to be a great world title fight," promoter Jimmy Burchfield predicted. "These are two of the toughest and best cruiserweights in the world. They have 50 knockouts between them, but both guys have granite chins. Richie's never been stopped in 32 fights and Uriah has been KO'd only three times in 48."
Massachusetts cruiserweight champion Tim "The Hammer" Flamos (16-2-1, 7 KOs), a licensed carpenter from Brockton (MA), faces Worcester's Roy "House of" Payne (15-11-4, 6 KOs), in the 10-round co-feature for Flamos' Mass. title, as well as the EBA cruiserweight crown vacated by his stablemate, LaMontagne. Flamos and Payne are rated No. 14 and No. 15, respectively, by the NABA.
The undercard features Providence (RI) super lightweight "Steamin'" Josh Beeman (1-0), the 2000 Eastern Olympic Trials gold medallist; four-time Puerto Rican national amateur champion and featherweight prospect, Angel "Gee Roc" Torres (10-2, 4 KOs), of Manchester (CT); unbeaten heavyweight and former Cincinnati Bengals' pro football player, Las Vegas-based Jevon "J Roc" Langford (4-0, 4 KOs), great grandson of Boxing Hall of Fame heavyweight legend Sam Langford; middleweight Bobo Starnino (2-0), of Providence, against Worcester's Bobby McAndrews (1-1-1, 1 KO). Also in a special attraction female bout is two-time national amateur champion and the world's No. 3 rated female fighter, Narragansett (RI) super lightweight Jaime Clampitt (9-2, 2 KOs).
All bouts and fighters are subject to change.
Ticket prices are $100.00 (limited) Platinum, $50.00 Gold (rows 1-4), $30.00 Silver (rows 5-8), and $15.00 bleacher seating/general admission. Tickets are on sale at Everett Sporting Goods and American Nutrition Center in Everett, as well as World Gym in Somerville. Call CES to order tickets or for more information at 401.724.2253/401.724.2254 or its Mass. Office at 617.567.1705. Doors open at 2 p.m.
