08.05.04 – It will be a war between Top-10 world-rated contenders when undefeated WBC Continental Americas / NABF / NABO / IBA Continental light heavyweight champion RICO “SUAVE” HOYE returns fresh from his biggest professional victory, to rumble against former WBA interim champion RICHARD “THE DESTROYER” HALL in a 12-round IBF-sanctioned title elimination bout. The winner will become the IBF’s No. 1 light heavyweight contender. The Hoye-Hall title elimination title tilt, promoted in association with Gary Shaw Productions, LLC., and Fight Night, Inc., will highlight the undercard of the Roy Jones, Jr. – Antonio Tarver world light heavyweight championship rematch, Saturday, May 15, at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, NV.
Hoye and Hall have a phenomenal combined professional record of 43-4 (38 KOs) – translating to a 91.5% winning percentage with 88% of their combined victories coming by way of knockout.
Hoye, 16-0 (13 KOs), from Detroit, MI, has tallied six opening round knockouts and defeated all 16 opponents he has faced since making his pro debut in mid-2001, in a total of 49 rounds! He returns fresh from his most impressive victory – a first-round blasting of WBC Continental Americas/NABF light-heavyweight champion Donnell Wiggins, on the March 18 edition of SHOBox. Since that victory, the four-belt champion has seen his stock rise with career-high world-ratings of No. 6 WBO, No. 9, IBF, No. 11 WBC and No. 15 WBA. A hard counter-puncher with impressive moves, Hoye’s smooth, fluid style has earned him the nickname “Suave.” The stylish fighter put his skills to the test when he made his SHOWTIME debut on the June 5, 2003, “ShoBox: The New Generation” telecast. He pitched a virtual shutout against undefeated Prince Badi Ajamu, 15-0-1, winning a unanimous 12-round decision on scores of 118-109, 118-109, and 117-110. He followed that victory with a second-round knockout of Etienne Whitaker on October 11, 2003, to capture the vacant NABO light-heavyweight title.
Hall, 27-4 (25 KOs), a native of Jamaica, now living in Winter Haven, FL, from captured the WBA interim light heavyweight title when he knocked out Anthony Bigeni, 20-4, in the third round of their 1998 title bout. He unsuccessfully challenged Roy Jones, Jr. for the undisputed world title lasting 11 rounds in their 2000 rumble, before the referee stopped the fight. Hall then traveled to Germany and twice unsuccessfully fought “fight of the year” caliber bouts against undefeated WBO light heavyweight champion Dariusz Michalczewski in 2001 and 2002. Both fights were stopped by the referee, in the 11th and 10th rounds, respectively. Last year, Hall knocked out for world title challenger and NABO champion Julian Letterlough, 19-3-2, in the second round and followed that with a 10-round unanimous decision victory over former NABA champion Rodney Moore, 17-4-2, to climb back up the rankings where he is currently world-rated No. 6 by the IBF and No. 7 by the WBO.