PROVIDENCE (May 26, 2005) – Providence’s newest professional sports franchise — Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports, Inc (CES) – brings the fights June 17 to The All-New Theatre at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in downtown Providence with the debut of “Providence’s Prime Time Fights.”
Providence super middleweight Joey “KO Kid” Spina (15-0, 12 KOs) fights former WBA and WBF champion Carl Daniels (49-6-1, 31 KOs) in the 10-round main event for the vacant World Boxing Council affiliated USNBC super middleweight championship. Daniels, fighting out of St. Louis, also held the USBA and Missouri State title belts and he has fought Bernard Hopkins, Julio Cesar Vasquez and Terry Norris.
“I was just with Joey in Las Vegas when I was there to watch Peter Manfredo, Jr. in The Contenders. I spent a lot of time with Joey, his manager, Derek Parent, and trainer, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad. The bush league thing Sam Reese did (took another fight and lost despite having signed a contract to fight Spina and plane tickets purchased) meant his fight against Joey was going to be old news. I asked Team Spina if they were ready to step up to the plate and all were in favor of Joey fighting the former world champion Carl Daniels. Eddie worked a few of
Daniels’ fights.
“I’m a little concerned with the ring generalship and experience of the former world champ Daniels. But Joey is in the best physical and mental shape of his life. This is a really dangerous fight for Joey, but it’s also a great opportunity for him. His team knows how big a fight it is for Joey against Daniels in Providence.”
CES recently entered into an agreement with the Rhode Island Convention Center and Dunkin’ Donuts Center to promote boxing shows in downtown Providence. CES’ overall boxing series, however, will emanate from sites throughout New England and be broadcast on a tape-delayed basis on CN8, The Comcast Network and Cox Sports.
CN8, The Comcast Network and CES have an agreement to broadcast six boxing shows during the next 12 months, commencing with “Providence’s Prime Time Fights” which will air on CN8, SUNDAY, June 19 9:00 PM/ET. CN8’s Ed Berliner will provide blow-by-blow commentary for all of the six New England boxing shows. Former five-time world champion Vinny Paz will serve as color
analyst. The CES package is part of CN8’s Primetime Fights series, a monthly show featuring New England and Mid-Atlantic boxing events.
Also scheduled to fight on the June 17th card is Providence heavyweight Jason “Big Six” Estrada (2-0, 1 KO), 2004 US Olympian; Providence cruiserweight Matt Godfrey (7-0, 5 KOs), four-time National amateur champ; Narragansett (RI) light welterweight Jaime “Hurricane” Clampitt (14-3-1, 5 KOs), former IWBF & NABA champion; Cranston (RI) featherweight Missy “The Fury” Fiorentino (10-1, 6 KOs), former world title challenger; Manchester (CT) featherweight Matt “Sharp Shooter” Remillard (2-0, 2 KOs), two-time Everlast Under-19 National gold medallist; Buffalo middleweight “Lightning” Les Ralston (14-1, 7 KOs) and Providence via Puerto Rico junior welterweight Eddie Soto in his pro debut.
“The Dunkin’ Donuts Center and R.I. Convention Center are working together to help us bring big-time boxing back to Providence,” Burchfield added. “What a show this first one is going to be. We have one of the hardest punchers in all of boxing, Joey Spina, along with our first U.S. Olympian, Jason Estrada, and an undefeated cruiserweight who just missed making the 2004 Olympic team, Matt Godfrey,” Burchfield noted. “Two of the best female fighters in boxing, former and future world champion Jamie Clampitt, and little Rocky Marciano, Missy Fiorentino, are fighting June 17. I love Matt Remillard, who was a favorite to make the 2008 U.S. Olympic Boxing Team if he hadn’t turned pro, and we’re thrilled to have our two newest Team CES fighters on this card, Les Ralston from Buffalo, New York and Rhode Island’s Eddie Soto from Puerto Rico. Ralston’s won 14 of 15 pro fights and Soto is going be very popular in the Latino community.”
Tickets, priced at $62 (reserved ringside), are on sale. To purchase tickets or for more information call CES’ corporate headquarters at 401.724.2253/2254 or go on line to www.cesboxing.com.
Burchfield also announced that the June 17th show would be presented as a tribute to the memory of fallen Providence police officer Sgt., Detective James L. Allen. Donations for his family will be accepted at the June 17 show and CES will match the total amount raised.
Members of police and fire departments in Rhode Island will be entitled to special $5.00 discount on all ticket purchases. Providence’s Peter Manfredo, Jr. from The Contenders reality show will be in attendance and honored at the June 17 show.
FIGHTER QUOTES
GARY BALLETTO (for JOEY SPINA)
“I’ll be in Joey’s corner again. He’s training in Las Vegas and he told me he’s in the best shape of his life. He’s ready to go June 17th. He has a chin of steel and punches like nobody else. The only thing on his mind is fighting for a world title.
JASON ESTRADA
“This is the first time I’ve fought as a pro in Providence. I’ve only fought once here, about 10 years ago as an amateur at the old Shooters Night Club when I was 14. I want to get local fans out for a night of good entertainment at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center. It’s going to be a great show with a lot of great fighters. There’s going to be a lot more shows here. Everything is going great. I’m very healthy, working out two or three times a day, and I’m really looking forward to
fight here.”
MATT GODFREY
“It’s becoming very difficult to get guys to fight me and I don’t pump-up my record fighting guys who are 0-20. I want to fight guys with good records and chins. They’re going to need hard heads, too. Let’s see how many will step up for me to put ’em out. I’m 7-0 and ready to go. I can’t wait to come back and fight in Providence. I made my pro debut here a year ago on the Manfredo-Bonsante show. I look forward to bringing the glory days back to Providence. I remember when Vinny Paz fought Frazier and Dele here. I want to fill up those season at
The Dunk.”
MATT REMILLARD
“June 17 is an exciting card showcasing a lot of the best fighters around. On this card we have Olympian Jason Estrada. There will be meaningful fights.”
JAIME CLAMPITT
“I’m, excited about fighting at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center again. I fought there two
years ago. I’m training hard with my head trainer, Chuckie Sullivan. I hurt my hand in my last fight and have had six months off. We have great fans here. It’s great fighting in Providence and there’s more to come. It’s going to be a great show.”
MISSY FIORENTINO
I’m looking forward to fighting back in Providence. I have a new team including a new trainer, Peter Manfredo, Sr. He’s been trying to change me; I’m working on defense and movement. I’m still going to be punching, but I’m not going to get hit as much. I’m in law enforcement and this is a very meaningful fight for me because the show is being dedicated to Sgt. Detective Allen.”
EDDIE SOTO
“There’s going to be some great fights June 17 with Jason Estrada and Matt Godfrey fighting together. We need fans to bring boxing back to Providence. It’s going to be a great show.”