27.05.04 – Every fight is now the most important fight of Scott “The Sandman” Pemberton’s 10-year pro career. Rated No. 8 by the World Boxing Council, Pemberton needs to move up in the rankings for a mandatory title fight or title elimination bout in order for him to get his first six-figure payday.
In the meantime, though, Pemberton (27-3-1, 22 KOs) must remain active, so he’ll defend his IBU World super middleweight title Saturday night, June 12 against former world title challenger James Crawford (38-7-2, 15 KOs), of Iowa. Pemberton-Crawford is the 12-round, main event on “Enter The Sandman,” airing live at 8 – 10 PM/ET on CN8, The Comcast Network from Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut.
Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports, Inc (CES), in association with CN8 and Foxwoods Resort Casino, promotes “Enter The Sandman,” which is the second of a five fight CES-promoted series, Instant Classics. “Enter The Sandman” will be shown live in primetime on CN8, to homes in New England and North Jersey. It also will re-air network wide to 6.2 million homes on Saturday, June 19 at 2:30 PM/ET. Boxing fans nationwide can also view “Enter The Sandman” via CN8’s web site at www.CN8.TV.
Also the reigning NABF super middleweight champion, Pemberton fights out of New Bedford (MA), and is rated No. 15 by the IBF. With the recent retirement of WBA and IBF champion Sven Ottke, as well as WBO title-holder Joe Calzaghe moving up to light heavyweight, the super middleweight division is wide open and 37-year-old Pemberton feels that his time has come.
“It’s unfortunate I can’t seem to get a big money fight,” Scott said. “I thought I’d get it after the (Omar) Sheika fights, but nobody (title holder or top contender) wants to fight me. At this stage of my life I have to keep busy, remain patient, and get into a position (in the ratings) where they’ll have to give me a title fight. That’s where the money is and I know I deserve a shot. Look at (Jeff) Lacy; they’ve built him up into the second coming of Marvin Hagler. It’s all about being hungry. (Roy) Jones is filthy rich and he just got blasted out by (Antonio) Tarver who was in debt before their fight. I’m hungrier than Tarver. This fight against Crawford isn’t a tune-up. He’s a veteran who’s had almost 50 fights and fought for the world title. I can’t afford to lose.”
IWBF and NABAW light welterweight champion Jaime “The Hurricane” Clampitt (13-2, 5 KOs), of Narragansett (RI), faces her toughest opposition by far, in a 10-round special women’s feature for both of her world title belts, against three-time former world champion Jane “Fleetwood Assassin” Couch (23-6, 8 KOs), of England.
Scheduled to fight on the undercard, in separate bouts, are unbeaten light heavyweights Joey “KO Kid” Spina (11-0, 9 KOs), of Providence, and Wayne “Lights Out” Johnsen (4-0, 3 KOs), of Peabody (MA), as well as Providence cruiserweight Matt Godfrey (1-0), the 2004 Everlast US National champion.
Tickets, priced at $100.00, $75.00 and $50.00, are available by calling CES’ corporate headquarters at 401.724.2253/2254 or the Foxwoods box office at 800.200.2882. For additional information about “Enter The Sandman,” as well as sponsorship or advertising packages, call CES’ corporate headquarters or visit its web site at www.cesboxing.com. Call 610.627.0606 or 203.288.7111 for television advertising or broadcasting opportunities.