16.01.04 – Francisco “Panchito” Bojado, the recently crowned WBC Continental Americas and IBA junior welterweight champion, battles Emmanuel Clottey in a 10-round bout, the co-feature on the Arturo Gatti/Gianluca Branco “Super Brawl” fight card, it was announced today by Main Events CEO Kathy Duva and Bally’s Atlantic City President Ken Condon. This incredible night of boxing will take place on Saturday, January 24 at Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall.
Caesars Atlantic City and Bally’s Atlantic City will host this much-anticipated world championship fight card. HBO’s “World Championship Boxing” series will broadcast the Bojado/Clottey bout beginning at 10:00 pm ET/7:00 pm PT, with Gatti/Branco to follow. Doors open at 7 p.m.
Tickets are priced at $300, $200, $150, $100, and $50, and are available at the Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall Box Office, by calling TicketMaster at 1-800-736-1420, or by visiting www.ticketmaster.com. More than 3,000 seats were priced in the $50 range.
In his most recent fight on November 22, 2003, Francisco “Panchito” Bojado (14-1, 11 KOs) avenged his only loss as a pro when he dominated Juan Carlos Rubio to win the WBC Continental Americas and IBA jr. welterweight titles (W 12). Bojado outboxed Rubio from the opening bell, utilizing a stiff left jab and a solid defense to dominate the bout and break down his rugged opponent. The highly acclaimed jr. welterweight prospect put an exclamation point on his solid performance late in round 11 when he dropped Rubio with a straight overhand right hand to the head. The judges’ scores for the bout were as follows: 119-108 and 118-109 (twice).
At age 17, Bojado was the youngest member of the 2000 Mexican Olympic Team. After compiling an impressive amateur record (168-15, 85 KOs) he turned pro. In his professional debut, on January 13, 2001, Bojado stole the show, crushing Detrick Castor in two rounds (TKO 2). Bojado won his first nine professional bouts before suffering his first, and only, loss in February 2002.
Emmanuel Clottey (21-5, 14 KOs) is originally from Ghana but now fights out of The Bronx, NY. Clottey’s biggest win as a professional came against Olympic Gold medallist Muhammad Abdullaev on June 3, 2003. He stunned the boxing world and showed himself as a force to be reckoned with when he knocked out Abdullaev in the 10th round. In preparation for that bout, Clottey sparred with “Irish” Micky Ward, who at the time was preparing for his final bout against Arturo Gatti. Ward rates Clottey as a “smart fighter who fights calm and relaxed.”
In Clottey’s most recent bout, he won the IBA Continental Americas jr. welterweight championship against Jesus Santiago (W12) on November 21, 2003. “I am ready to fight Francisco Bojado or anyone else in the division,” the newly crowned champion said following that fight. On January 24, he will get that chance. “Emmanuel Clottey is a warrior who will test Bojado to his limit. We’re very happy that Emmanuel is getting this opportunity,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment.
Micky Ward will work the corner of Emanuel Clottey, but will enter the ring with Arturo Gatti. This will be Gatti’s first bout since his legendary trilogy with Ward — three fights which will link the two warriors together forever.
In the January 24 main event Arturo Gatti, the fighter dubbed “the human highlight film”, returns to the ring to battle undefeated WBC #1 ranked contender Gianluca Branco for the vacant WBC super lightweight crown.
The evening of boxing will be presented by Main Events, Bally’s Atlantic City, Caesars Atlantic City, and Budweiser, in association with OPI 2000. It will be telecast on HBO.