30.11.06 – Undisputed and undefeated World Middleweight Champion Jermain “Bad Intentions” Taylor defending his title against Kassim “The Dream” Ouma will be the icing on the cake of the December 9th DiBella Entertainment championship fight card at Alltel Arena in North Little Rock, as there are heaping portions of excitement layered on a truly stellar undercard as well..
Undefeated 2004 Olympian Andre Berto (15-0, 13 KO’s) will make his HBO World Championship Boxing debut, when the Winter Haven, Florida stalwart faces the stiffest test of his young career against Philadelphia area native Miguel Figueroa (25-4-1, 14 KO’s) in a ten round welterweight co-feature. Berto has been nothing short of sensational in his pro career, as he tries to extend his unbeaten string to 16 straight. Berto possesses all of the qualities of a boxing superstar: determination, hard work ethic, boxing skills, knockout power and charisma to take him to the championship level.
The WBC Continental Americas Super Lightweight Championship will be on the line when Emanuel Augustus (34-28-6, 19 KO’s) of Brownsville, Texas, squares off against Russell Stoner Jones (19-15, 14 KO’s) of Denver, CO in the ten round title tilt, giving the card even more championship flair.
Newly-signed Ronald Hearns, (10-0, 8 KO’s), son of the legendary Former World Champion Thomas “Hit Man” Hearns, makes his DBE debut a six round middleweight bout against Kendall Gould (8-10-1, 5 KO’s) of Milwaukee.
Highly regarded Queens, New York product Jaidon Codrington (13-1, 11 KO’s) makes his way to Little Rock to face Thomas Reid (35-17-1,13 KO’s), the Jackson, TN, veteran pugilist, in a super middleweight contest scheduled for eight rounds.
A pair of Arkansas heavyweights join Jermain Taylor as the hometown heroes on the bill: Terry Smith (28-2-1, 18 KO’s) of Little Rock will see action against Ramon Hayes (15-21-1, 10 KO’s) of Athens, Georgia and Little Rock light heavyweight Ray Smith (5-0, 2 KO’s) takes on Randy Pogue (8-5-1, 2 KO’s) of Norristown, PA in a four round battle. Dominick “The Southern Disaster” Guinn (26-4-1, 18 KO’s), of Hot Springs will also be in action, taking on Zach Page (12-8-1, 4 KO’s).
Philadelphia junior welterweight Rock Allen (10-0, 7 KO’s) rounds out the outstanding fight card.
The twelve round world championship main event, Jermain Taylor vs. Kassim Ouma, promoted by DiBella Entertainment in association with Golden Boy Promotions and Peltz Boxing and sponsored by Alltel Wireless, StubHub and the motion picture Rocky Balboa, will be aired on Saturday, December 9th on HBO’s World Championship Boxing beginning at 10:00PM ET/9:00PM CT/7:00PM PT.
Tickets priced at $650, $500, $300, $200, $150, $125, $75, $45, & $25 (Students Under age 18, Seniors & Active Military) are available through the Alltel Arena Box Office, all Ticketmaster Outlets (501-975-7575) and online at www.ticketmaster.com.