MASHANTUCKET, Conn. (May 7, 2006) – Double-barrel championship action is on tap this week in Put Up or Shut Up, promoted by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports, Inc. (CES), on ESPN2 Wednesday Night Fights at Foxwoods Resort Casino. The 12-round, co-main events feature World Boxing Council USNBC super middleweight champion Joey “KO Kid” Spina (17-0-1, 12 KOs) defending against challenger Jessie Brinkley (26-3, 17 KOs), a semifinalist in The Contender television reality series, while cruiserweights Matt “Too Smooth” Godfrey (11-0, 6 KOs), WBC USNBC title-holder, and NABA champion Shaun George (11-0-2, 5 KOs) are matched in a unification .bout.
Spina, rated No. 26 by the WBC, lives in Providence and trains in Las Vegas, where NABA No. 5-rated Brinkley also trains. Providence-native Godfrey, 25, is rated No. 28 by the WBC and No. 1 by the NABF. Brooklyn’s two-time New York Golden Gloves champion George, 27, is ranked No. 15 by the WBA.
“Spina and Brinkley both want to make a statement,” promoter Jimmy Burchfield said. “Godfrey and George are two, unbeaten champions fighting each other with two titles on the line. Either fight could stand alone as the main event. It’s going to be a night of excitement. ‘Put Up of Shut Up’ is a quality event that top venues and leading television networks want and, more importantly, boxing fans who pay their hard earned money for entertainment deserve. This is what CES is all about. Fans don’t want to know who’s going to win before fights start.”
Three unbeaten Connecticut fighters are on the undercard: Manchester featherweight Matt “Sharp Shooter” Remillard (8-0, 6 KOs) squares off against Leo Martinez (8-7, 4 KOs), of Columbus (OH) in a six-round bout; Hebron heavyweight Tony Grano (3-0, 3 KOs) takes on Mike “The Hammer” Jones (2-4, 1 KO), of Jackson (MI), in a four-rounder; New Haven super middleweight Elvin Ayala (13-0, 5 KOs) faces Dan Thornton (15-16, 11 KOs), of Columbus (OH), in a six-round match.
In another four-round fight, Las Vegas via Cleveland cruiserweight Aaron Williams (7-0-1, 5 KOs), 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials bronze medalist, meets Lloyd Wilson (3-3, 3 KOs). All bouts and fighters are subject to change.
“This is an unbelievable undercard,” Burchfield added. “Matt Remillard is a special fighter who has champion written all over him. Aaron Williams is a nine-time national amateur champion, last year’s U.S. Championships winner Tony Grano is an undefeated heavyweight prospect, and Ayala is a promising young fighter. We have seven unbeaten fighters on this show with a combined record of 70-0-4.”
Tickets, priced at $150 (Platinum Main Event Ringside), $100 (Gold Co-Feature Ringside) and $50 (Silver Reserved), are on sale and available by calling CES (401.724.2254/2253), Foxwoods’
box office (800.200.2882) or online at www.foxwoods.com. For more information visit www.cesboxing.com. Fans purchasing tickets for “Put Up or Shut Up” and the May 18th “Let It Ride” show in Providence will receive a 10-percent discount. Buses will be available to take fans from Providence to Foxwoods on May 10.