BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (June 21, 2007) — A press conference to formally announce the sensational Don King Productions-promoted fight card Saturday, July 7, at Bridgeport’s Arena at Harbor Yard took place Thursday in front of Arena at Harbor Yard. There will be three world title fights on the card, two of which will be shown on SHOWTIME featuring four fighters that boast a combined record of 98-1 with 69 knockouts.
In a battle of unbeatens in the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING main event, local favorite “Tremendous” Travis Simms (25-0, 19 KOs) of Norwalk, Conn., will defend his World Boxing Association (WBA) super welterweight title against No. 1-ranked mandatory challenger Joachim “Ti-Joa” Alcine (28-0, 18 KOs) from Haiti now living in Montreal.
In a second world title fight on a SHOWTIME telecast that begins at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast), undefeated Aussie knockout powerhouse Vic “Raging Bull” Darchinyan (28-0, 22 KOs ) will defend his International Boxing Federation (IBF) and International Boxing Organization (IBO) flyweight championships against once-beaten Filipino Nonito “Flash” Donaire (17-1, 10 KOs).
A domestically non-televised third world championship will also be presented when former IBF super flyweight champion Luis “El Demoledor” Perez (24-1, 15 KOs), from Managua, Nicaragua, will tangle with Genaro “Poblanito” Garcia (35-5, 20 KOs) for the vacant IBF bantamweight title.
Tickets, priced at $35, $50, $100 and $200, with a limited number of ringside seats at $350, are on sale now to those age 18 and older at Arena at Harbor Yard box office (Information Line: 203-345-2400), all Ticketmaster outlets, on-line at ticketmaster.com or by charging by phone at (203) 368-1000,
(203) 624-0033, (860) 525-4500 or (203) 744-8100.
The event is promoted by Don King Productions with Darchinyan vs. Donaire being promoted in association with Gary Shaw Promotions, LLC
TRAVIS SIMMS QUOTES:
“I’m intrigued to be fighting in my home state of Connecticut and I’ve been blown away by the support we’ve been receiving because my fight will be taking place in Bridgeport.
“I will have a hungry young fighter in front of me on July 7 when I face my WBA mandatory challenger Joachim Alcine. He’s going to be shocked to be in the ring with the best pound-for-pound fighter in the 154-pound division.
“Alcine wanted me to fight him in Canada but I said if this man wants to challenge me for my titles he’s going to have to do it in my backyard. He can try to win it but this is his first world championship fight and I am a seasoned veteran. He better be hungry after he saw what I did to the great champion Jose Antonio Rivera.
“Get to Bridgeport on July 7 by train, get here by car, get her by bus, because I’m going to put on a show.
“People questioned if I would still be performing at a high level at age 36 but they’re not asking me that question now.
“I want to unify the 154-pound division. I want to become the undisputed champion. I have dreamed of this all of my life.
“I’ll fight anyone. I’ll fight Floyd Mayweather or Cory Spinks. I’m willing to fight the best out there.”