Sharmba Mitchell to Wear Brian Mitchell's Jersey

"I'M GOING FOR A QUICK K.O. TO CATCH LATE FLIGHT TO SUPER BOWL!"

17.01 - Former WBA super lightweight champion SHARMBA MITCHELL, will be rooting hard for the Philadelphia Eagles this weekend when they take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the NFC Championship.

Why?

Sharmba's cousin is Eagles kick returner and running back BRIAN MITCHELL, one of the most feared return men in the history of the game. Brian has arguably put up Hall-of-Fame numbers during his 12-year career. The NFL's all-time leader in eight different return categories, Mitchell is also ranked third in league history in combined net yards behind Walter Payton and Jerry Rice.

"I kidded Brian that I was only going to wear his jersey if he won this weekend," said Sharmba from his training camp in Vero Beach, FL. "But I am wearing it regardless. I am very proud of what he has accomplished and it is an honor to wear his No. 30 Eagles jersey. He is a winner to me regardless of Sunday's game. If the Eagles do make it to the Super Bowl, I will have to take care of Vilches in a hurry to make the next flight out of Philadelphia to San Diego for the Super Bowl. Hopefully Gary Shaw will have a police escort ready for me!"

Mitchell, 50-3 (29 KOs), from Takoma Park, MD, currently rated No. 2 by the WBA, rumbles with Argentine champion CARLOS VILCHES, 38-2-2 (24 KOs), in an IBF-sanctioned elimination bout for the vacant No. 2 jr. welterweight contender position. Their records are a combined 87-5-2 (53 KOs) for an astounding winning percentage exceeding 92.5%! The fight will headline a card promoted by Gary Shaw Productions, LLC in association with Budweiser, Saturday, January 25, at Bally's Atlantic City Hotel and Casino. A victory over Vilches will move Sharmba a step closer to a rematch with undisputed champion Kostya Tszyu.

The Mitchell-Vilches bout, along with the return of former IBF jr. lightweight champion DIEGO CORRALES, will be televised nationally on SHOWTIME Championship Boxing, beginning at 10 P.M. EST / 10 P.M. PST.

Tickets to the seven-bout Mitchell-Vilches card are priced at $50 and are available at Bally's Atlantic City Show Reservation Desk, located in the hotel lobby or by calling TicketMaster at (800) 736-1420. Tickets are also available on line at www.ticketmaster.com. Doors open at 6 p.m. The first bout is scheduled for approximately 6:30 p.m. All bouts subject to change.