27.04.04 – Golden Boy Promotions is proud to announce the signing of NABF middleweight champion Kingsley Ikeke to a promotional deal. Ikeke will make his Golden Boy debut this Thursday, April 29, in Laredo, Texas when he defends his title against Kirino Garcia. “Without a doubt, Kingsley Ikeke represents the type of fighter we want to promote,” said Golden Boy Promotions President Oscar De La Hoya. “He’s a hungry fighter with great skills and great character, and I’m excited about taking his career to the next level.” Ikeke, 31, is a native of Nigeria who now makes his home in Van Nuys, California. 18-1 with 10 knockouts, his only defeat was a highly controversial decision loss to Anthony Hanshaw in 2001, a bout most ringside observers believed ‘The King’ won.
Since that setback, the 6-4 Ikeke has torn through the middleweight division, winning four fights in a row, three by knockout. Along the way he has picked up the NABF, NABO, and NABA middleweight titles. In his last bout, on August 29, 2003, he stopped highly regarded Kenny Ellis in six rounds. Ikeke, one of the most avoided fighters at 160 pounds, is currently rated fourth in the world by the WBO, sixth by the WBC, seventh by the WBA, and 13th by the IBF.
Golden Boy Promotions currently has close to 30 fighters under contract, from future hall of famers like Marco Antonio Barrera to up and coming prospects like Mike Anchondo and Daniel Ponce DeLeon. Among the fighters included on the company’s roster are: WBC super bantamweight champion Oscar Larios, IBF lightweight champion Javier Jauregui, IBF super bantamweight champion Israel Vazquez, former world champion and current junior welterweight contender Jesse James Leija, top ranked lightweight contender Juan Lazcano, two division world champion Fernando Montiel, WBC youth super middleweight champ Enrique Andrade, NABA super middleweight champion Librado Andrade, Kelson Pinto and Juan Valenzuela