LAS VEGAS (November 7, 2006) – Undefeated cruiserweight Shane “The Hitman” Benfield and super featherweight prospect Jaime “Superfly” Sandoval have signed promotional contracts with Silverhawk Boxing. Benfield, 31, is from York, South Carolina, where he owns a construction company and boxing gym used by local youths for the past eight years. He was 25-5 as an amateur, rated among the top 10 light heavyweights in the country, six-time South Carolina Golden Gloves champion and Southeast Coast title-holder.. He lost a close quarterfinals decision in the 1999 U.S. National Championships.
Shane turned pro in 2001 and his last outing was a year ago, a sixth-round unanimous decision against Eric Starr.
“I’m glad I finally signed with a major promoter,” Benfield said. “Coming out of the South has been difficult getting recognized. I feel like now I’m in the big leagues with Silverhawk Boxing. I’m an old school, entertaining fighter like my friend, Vinny Paz. I talk smack and put people on their backs. I have world class potential and heart. Silverhawk is going to try and help me get the most out of my talent and ability. I leave it all in the ring, not in the locker room; not much dancing, lots of punching.”
Sandoval, 25, is the younger brother of reigning IBF lightweight champion Jesus “El Matador” Chavez (43-3, 30 KOs), who first introduced Jaime to boxing. Fighting out of Chicago, where he was a 2002 Golden Gloves champion, Sandoval initially got into boxing to stay in shape and hang with his brother Jesus.
“I grew up in a boxing atmosphere because of my brother,” Jaime explained. “I went into boxing because of him and trained never expecting to get into it on a fulltime basis like I am. I always liked boxing, liked it even more as I got older, and decided to make it my profession. I’m happy to be with Silverhawk because they’ll get me on track where I should be. I’ll be fighting more often than I was on my own. Eventually I hope to build myself up into being a contender.”
Silverhawk Boxing’s growing stable of world-caliber fighters also includes two-time world lightweight champion Stevie “Lil’ But Bad” Johnston, WBC Americas & CABOFE cruiserweight champ Prince Badi “The Boxing Prince” Ajamu, IBF International cruiserweight champ William “KO King” Guthrie, NBA World & CABOFE heavyweight champion Sherman “The Caribbean Tank” Williams, USBO heavyweight title-holder Leo “Paco” Nolan, NBA super middleweight champ Rubin “Hollywood” Williams, IBO International middleweight champion Aaron “Homicide” Mitchell, NBA Intercontinental junior middleweight title-holder Eric “Murder” Mitchell, WBF All-American cruiserweight champion BJ “El Peligroso” Flores, former world title challenger Corey “Primetime” Johnson, former WBO junior welterweight title challenger Manual “Shotgun” Gomez, ex-NABF super featherweight title-holder Fernando “El Pillo” Trejo, heavyweights Gerald “The Jedi” Nobles and Robert “The Saint” Davis, as well as top prospects such as cruiserweight Brandon “The Havoc” Harris, welterweight Alexis Camacho, and light middleweight “Classy” Chris Gray.
For more information about Benfield, Sandoval or Silverhawk Boxing go to www.silverhawkboxing.com.