09.10.06 – Former US Olympian Dante “Inferno” Craig (17-4-1, 13 KOs) has stepped in to face Terrance “Heat” Cauthen (31-3, 8 KOs) for the vacant USBA Junior Middleweight Championship in the 12-round co-main event of Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing’s October 11 professional boxing event in White Plains, New York. Cincinnati’s Craig replaces originally scheduled opponent Raul Frank. “It’s very fitting to me that Dante Craig would be appearing on our show,” says DeGuardia. “We already have several Olympians appearing, including Cauthen himself, who is an Olympic Bronze Medalist, and Star Boxing’s own Roberto Benitez, who represented the US in 2004.
Despite several hard-luck incidents spotting his career, the hard-punching Craig is unbeaten in his last nine fights and will pose a serious challenge to the smooth-boxing Cauthen. “There are no easy fights on a Star Boxing show and we commend Terrance for agreeing to such a stern test on short notice. Terrance truly didn’t blink an eye, and simply said he wants to fight the best out there.”
Cauthen vs. Craig will serve as the co-feature to the Star Boxing debut of NBC’S “Contender” star and wildly popular middleweight boxer, Joey Gilbert (12-1, 9 KOs) who will defend his NABO Middleweight Championship against Kansas City’s Keith Sims (25-12-1, 14 KOs).
The undercard is packed with some of the Star Boxing stables hottest contenders including the “Kosovo Kid” Elvir Muriqi (31-3, 19 KOs), who will face Moline, Illinois’ Ted Muller (19-7-2, 19 KOs) in an eight-round light heavyweight scrap.
Also scheduled for action are future heavyweight champion Kevin Johnson (10-0-1, 5 KOs) of Asbury Park, New Jersey and former Olympian Roberto Benitez (4-0, 3 KOs).
The card will also feature other exciting bouts featuring local favorites.
Tickets are priced at Gold Ringside and Balcony Gold $150, Ringside and Balcony Silver $75, Floor and Balcony $30 and Limited Balcony $20 and are available at the Westchester County Box Office (914) 995-4050, at all TicketMaster outlets (212) 307-7171 or (845) 454-3388, or at TicketMaster.com. There are also a limited number of exclusive VIP Tables still available. For more information, or to purchase VIP table seating, please contact Star Boxing’s Dottie Raven at (718) 823-2000. For more information on Star Boxing, visit their web site at www.starboxing.com.