ATLANTIC CITY, NJ (April 27, 2007) – Boxing’s most exciting fighter, Arturo Gatti, returns to the ring on Saturday, July 14 when he challenges rugged brawler Alfonso Gomez of “The Contender” in a 10 round bout from Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ, it was announced today by Main Events CEO Kathy Duva. IBF Welterweight Champion Kermit Cintron will defend his crown against IBF #7 ranked contender and mandatory challenger Walter Matthysse in a 12 round co-feature bout. Caesars Atlantic City will host the welterweight doubleheader..
A separate announcement will be sent out shortly regarding ticket information.
Main Events is promoting the evening of boxing, in association with The Tournament of Contenders, LLC and Caesars Atlantic City.
“Main Events is excited about returning to ‘The House That Gatti Built’ –Boardwalk Hall,” said Main Events CEO Kathy Duva. “Fans know they are guaranteed to see a great fight when Arturo steps into the ring, and with Kermit Cintron in the co-feature they know they will get more than their money’s worth.”
“Alphonso Gomez set the tone in the first season of The Contender by challenging Peter Manfredo in the first fight of the season,” said Jeff Wald, an Executive Producer of The Contender and boxing promoter. “He surprised everybody by winning that fight. Alphonso was the fan favorite for the first season of The Contender. In spite of his lovable boyish charm and respectful polite demeanor beats the heart of a true warrior. Gomez only knows one way to fight, keep attacking, go forward. He admires and respects Arturo Gatti and wants to have the fans respect him in the same way.”
Gatti (40-8, 31 KOs) is a two-time world champion who is responsible for several of the top non-heavyweight live gates in the history of Atlantic City, NJ. The
34-year-old Jersey City, NJ, resident by way of Montreal, Canada, fought an epic trilogy against the man who is now serving as his trainer, Micky Ward. In a recent ESPN.com poll asking fans to select boxing’s greatest trilogies, Gatti-Ward ranked second only Ali-Frazier.
Gomez (16-3-2, 7 KO’s) has won four of his last five bouts. The 26-year-old Whittier, CA resident by way of Guadalajara Jalisco, Mexico has not lost a bout since September 23, 2004, when he surrendered a decision to Peter Manfredo in the opening season of “The Contender” series (L 7). The bruising Mexican veteran has won his last three bouts by knockout. In his last bout on March 30, 2007, as part of “The Contender Challenge: UK vs. USA” competition, Gomez traveled to Newcastle, England to batter Martin Concepcion and earn a seventh-round stoppage (TKO 7).
Cintron (27-1, 25 KO’s) captured the vacant IBF Welterweight Championship in his last bout on Oct 28, 2006, when he dismantled Mark Suarez (TKO 6). The 27-year-old Reading, PA resident by way of Carolina, Puerto Rico, has won his last three bouts since losing to Antonio Margarito on April 23, 2005, in an unsuccessful bid to win the WBO Welterweight crown. Cintron has stopped seven opponents in the first round and 13 opponents within the first two rounds. The welterweight bomber is ranked #7 by The Ring magazine.
Matthysse (26-1, 25 KO’s) has stopped 18 opponents within the first two rounds. The 28-year-old Trelew, Chubut resident by way of Esperanza, Santa Fe is the mandatory challenger for the IBF Welterweight Championship. In his last bout on Oct 20, 2006, Matthysse stopped Jorge Dario David Gomez Perez in two rounds (TKO 2).
HBO’s “World Championship Boxing” series will broadcast the doubleheader