PROVIDENCE, RI (October 5, 2004) – Exciting super middleweight Scott “The Sandman” Pemberton (28-3-1, 23 KOs) puts his International Boxing Union championship and No. 3 world rating on the line against former world title challenger James Crawford (40-7-2, 2NC, 17 KOs) Friday night, October 29 at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut.
Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports, Inc (CES), in association with CN8, The Comcast Network and Foxwoods Resort Casino, is promoting “The Dream Continues,” which will be taped live and air in primetime Saturday, October 30, 7:30-10:00 PM/ET on CN8, The Comcast Network to 6.2 million homes from Maine to Maryland.
“The Dream Continues” will be broadcast on tape delay in up to 20-million additional households nationwide.
Pemberton, also the NABF super middleweight title-holder, is rated No. 3 by the WBC, No. 11 by the WBO and No. 14 by the IBF. He has won 16 of his last 18 fights with one draw. Pemberton, fighting out of New Bedford (MA), will defend his IBU belt in the 12-round main event against Crawford, of Iowa, who lost (KO8) his IBF title shot to then champion Sven Ottke.
“This fight was supposed to happen in Scott’s last fight,” CES founder and president Jimmy Burchfield explained, “but Crawford was hurt (shoulder) late in training camp and replaced. He’s lobbied hard for this fight, calling me once a week, because he believes that he can beat Scott.
“Scott is rated No. 3 in the world and he has to win this fight to position himself for a WBC title fight next year. The plan is for him to keep winning and become the No. 1 contender. Once he is the mandatory challenger the champion won’t be able to avoid him anymore. Crawford is going to be a very stiff test. He has been in with Ottke, Dana Rosenblatt, (Jeff) Lacy, (Rudy) Markussen and other top super middleweights. Scott isn’t training for a tune up, by any means; there’s too much on the line for him.”
“I’m very excited about fighting Scott and very thankful to get this opportunity again,” Crawford said. “I love fighting at Foxwoods. This is a very winnable fight for me. Scott’s getting old and this is the perfect time for me to fight him. It’s been a long time since I’ve trained this long and hard for a fight. I’m coming to win the IBU title and realize the opportunities that it will open up for me.”
In the 10-round co-feature unbeaten “Bad” Chad Dawson (14-0, 10 KOs) defends his WBC Youth middleweight belt against undefeated Darnell Wilson (8-0-1, 6 KOs), of Lafayette (IN). Dawson, fighting out of New Haven, is rated No. 26 by the WBC. Wilson was a 1996 U.S. Olympic Boxing Team alternate, as well as a 1993 National Golden Gloves champion.
Five exciting undercard fights will soon be announced. All bouts and fighters subject to change.
Tickets, priced at $100.00, $65.00 and $45.00, are available by calling CES’ corporate headquarters at 401.724.2253/2254, Foxwoods’ box office at 800.200.2882, or going on line at www.foxwoods.com. For additional information call CES or visit its web site at www.cesboxing.com. Call 610.627.0606 or 203.288.7111 for television advertising or broadcasting opportunities.