PROVIDENCE, RI (October 20, 2004) – Two world championship matches headline “The Dream Continues,” promoted by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports, Inc. (CES), in association with Foxwoods Resort Casino and CN8, The Comcast Network, Friday night, October 29 at Foxwoods in Mashantucket, Connecticut.
“From top to bottom this is one of the best shows CES has ever promoted,” promoter Jimmy Burchfield said. “It’s going to be a knockout of a night. We have two world championship matches, supported by a very strong undercard, all featuring real fighters in real fights. You don’t see that too often anymore in boxing because the risks are so great. Scott Pemberton, for example, can’t afford to lose or he’ll his major world title shot next year will be gone. Chad Dawson is in the toughest fight of his young life and he needs to win or his career will go in reverse. Matt Godfrey keeps facing stiffer opposition every fight and Joey Spina’s in with a guy who has much more experience. Our two other young guys, Reynaldo Rodriquez and Josh Beeman, will be in highly competitive fights, too.”
The 12-round main event is between IBU World super middleweight champion “Scott “The Sandman” Pemberton (28-3-1, 23 KOs), also the NABF title-holder, and challenger Jim “The Smooth One” Crawford (40-7-2, 2NC, 17 KOs).
“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. CN8’s coverage of “The Dream Continues” will also be available on Comcast Digital Cable’s ‘ON DEMAND” service and online at www.cn8.tv. “The Dream Continues,” headlined by the 12-round Pemberton-Crawford main event, will be broadcast on tape delay in up to 20-million additional households nationwide.
Pemberton is rated No. 3 by the World Boxing Council, No. 11 by the World Boxing Organization, and No. 14 by the International Boxing Federation. Crawford has major world championship experience having lost (KO8) his IBF title shot to then champion Sven Ottke in 2001.
World Boxing Council Youth middleweight champion “Bad” Chad Dawson (14-0, 10 KOs) defends his belt in the 10-round co-feature against former amateur star Darnell Wilson (8-0-1, 6 KOs), of Indiana. Dawson, fighting out of New Haven (CT), is rated No. 29 by the WBC, as well as No. 4 by the USBA, No. 6 by the NABF and No. 11 by the NABA. Wilson, of Lafayette (IN), was a 1996 U.S. Olympic Boxing Team alternate to David Reid, the lone gold medal winner for the U.S. that year. Wilson’s extensive amateur career also includes three US National championships, 1993 National Golden Gloves and Goodwill Games titles, and Bronze medal at the Pan-Am Games. Darnell’s head trainer is his wife, Kathy, and he is a graduate of Lafayette Poly Tech with an associate’s degree in computer networking.< In a special attraction, unbeaten Providence cruiserweight Matt Godfrey’s (5-0, 3 KOs) sixth fight in his five-month pro career also will be his first six-round bout against TBA. Godfrey is a former four-time national amateur champion, Bronze medallist in the 2001 Pan-Am Games, and 2004 US Olympic Boxing team second alternate. Providence-native Joey “KO Kid” Spina (12-0, 9 KOs), now living and training in Las Vegas with his new head trainer, former WBC light heavyweight Eddie Mustafa Muhammad. In the best shape of his life, Spina has dropped down from light heavyweight to super middleweight and still packs his “KO” punch. His opponent, Philly-tough Jameel “Black Gold” Wilson (13-6-2, 8 KOs), is the ex-WBF International middleweight champ. Wilson upset 25-3 Patrick Perez this past January and has five victories against previously unbeaten opponents. Also on the card is Puerto Rican middleweight Reynaldo Rodriguez (5-0, 2 KOs), now fighting out of Woonsocket (RI), versus TBA and Providence junior welterweight “Steamin Josh Beeman (2-1), 2000 Eastern Olympic Trials gold medalist, against Walter Brown, of Riverhead (NY). 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 TransMedia Entertainment Group at 610.627.0606 or 203.288.7111 for television advertising or broadcasting opportunities.