14.07.04 – Two highly respected boxing warriors, “Sucra” Ray Oliveira and Frankie “The Surgeon” Randall fight for the vacant IBU world welterweight title, headlining “Clash for Cash: Under The Stars,” Friday night, August 6, outdoors at the new Fraser Field in Lynn (MA). In the 10-round co-feature, 1996 Olympic bronze medallist Lawrence Clay-Bey faces veteran Frank Wood for the vacant New England heavyweight championship.
Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports, Inc. (CES), in association with ENB Productions, will promote “Clash For Cash: Under The Stars” ENB is a group comprised of Eddie Andelman, sports talk radio show host at WWZN 1510 The Zone; Nick Lopardo, owner of the North Shore Spirit independent baseball team in Lynn; Bill Blumenreich, owner of the Comedy Connection.
The card, broadcast live on WWZN 1510 The Zone in Boston, will feature five New England title matches ranging from heavyweight to featherweight. A portion of the proceeds will go to The Joey Fund and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. In case of rain the show will be moved to the following evening at the same site.
“Clash For Cash: Under The Stars” is the brainchild of Andelman, the Godfather of sports talk radio. “Our goal is to put on exciting, competitive fights featuring some of New England’s best fighters,” he said. “Bill, Nick and I want to help bring boxing back to where it once was in this area. We have a tremendous venue, Fraser Field, home of Nick’s North Shore Spirit. Every seat there has a perfect, unobstructed view.
“Each fight will be sponsored and every fighter will be walked into the ring by a celebrity manager. We’d like to do this on an annual basis. It’s going to be a special evening of entertainment. Some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment will be in our corner for ‘Clash for Cash: Under The Stars.’”
Oliveira, of New Bedford, has been one of boxing’s most popular fighters for the past decade because of his non-stop action style. He is the former IBU world welterweight, NABF & IBF Intercontinental light welterweight, and New England lightweight champion. Oliveira’s pro career includes victories against former world champions Charles Murray (twice) and Vince Phillips and he’s the only opponent to defeat present WBA super lightweight champion Vivian Harris. “Sucra” hopes that a win against Randall will position him for a lucrative payday against an up-and-coming prospect.
Former two-time WBA and WBC lightweight title-holder Randall, of Nashville (TN), is best known for giving legendary Julio Cesar Chavez his first defeat (in his 90th fight).
Clay-Bey, of Hartford, is rated No. 14 by the NABO, promoted by Sugar Ray Leonard, and trained by former New England middleweight champion John “The Iceman” Scully. Wood, of Nashville (TN), has only lost three of 25 fights during his eight year pro career.
In the N.E. light heavyweight title fight, unbeaten Joey “KO Kid” Spina (12-0, 9 KOs), of Providence, faces 39-fight veteran Danny Sheehan, of Brockton. The hard-hitting Spina is rated No. 16 by the NABF. Ireland-native Martin “The Irish Assassin” Thornton (8-1-1, 3 KOs), now fighting out of South Boston, is matched against undefeted Elvin Ayala (6-0, 1 KO), of New Haven, for the N.E. middleweight crown.
Two of New England’s toughest fighters from the early nineties to today, both from Hartford, go at it for the N.E. welterweight belt – Israel “Pito” Cardona (34-6, 26 KOs) and Luis Maysonet (32-9, 25 KOs). Cardona is the former IBO super featherweight and light welterweight, USBA and NABF lightweight champion. He holds a significant victory against Ivan Robinson and has tested Murray and Paul Spadafora.
Maysonet fought Gary Murray for the WBU welterweight championship. Luis has been in against undefeated Thomas Damgaard, Hector Camacho, Sr. and Robinson.
In a crossroads fight, former USBA bantamweight title-holder Jason “School Boy” Pires (20-3, 9 KOs), of New Bedford) tangles with Mass featherweight champ Elio “The Destroyer” Rodriguez (8-4, 2 KOs) for the N.E. featherweight title.
In four-round non-title fights, junior welterweight “Steamin’” Josh Beeman (2-1), of Providence, fights Martin “Wee Barry” Moore (4-14, 2 KOs), of South Boston via Northern Ireland, while junior featherweight Luis Rivera (7-7, 1 KO), of New Haven, meets Hassan Wassawa (2-2-2), of New York City.
Tickets are priced at $200.00 Platinum (limited to 120 seats), $150.00 Gold ringside (first row); $100.00 Silver ringside (second row); $75.00 Bronze reserved, $45.00 reserved box seats, $35.00 reserved grandstand, and $24.00 general admission (upper grandstand). To purchase tickets call CES’ corporate headquarters at 401.724.2253/2254, WWZN 1510 The Zone (781.221.7878) North Shore Spirit (781.592.0007), Concourse Ticket Agency (617.247.1888), Hub Ticket (617.426.8340) or Friend Street Ticket (617.523.0040). Visit www.cesboxing.com for additional information about “Clash For Cash: Under The Stars.”