SALT LAKE CITY (August 1, 2007) – Former WBC top contender and unbeaten heavyweight “Baby” Joe Mesi takes another step towards his goal of a world title shot on August 18 against veteran Sherman “The Tank” Williams in the 10-round co-main event on the “Pinnacle FiteNite” pay-per-view show at the South Towne Exposition Center in Sandy, Utah.
The other 10-round co-main event on “Pinnacle FiteNite,” the pro boxing pay-per-view series emanating for a wide variety of venues, promoted by C.A.M. Boxing, Inc. in association with Sports and Entertainment Media, Inc. and Gotham Boxing, pits Samoan knockout specialist David “Tuaman” Tua, ranked No. 12 by the WBC, against Mexican heavyweight champion Saul “La Cobra” Montana.
Russian-born unbeaten heavyweight prospect Roman Greenberg, the No. 11 rated European heavyweight who was raised in Israel and lives in England, faces former WBO heavyweight title challenger “Dangerous” Damon Reed in a 10-round Special Heavyweight Attraction.
Mesi (35-0, 28 KOs), known as Buffalo’s third sports franchise, has defeated former world champion Vassiliy Jirov and past world heavyweight title contenders DaVarryl Williamson and Monte Barrett. Injuries suffered against Jirov, however, led to Mesi’s license being pulled and two years of inactivity before he was medically cleared to fight again. “Baby Joe” has won all six of his “comeback” fights, three by knockout, but he’s up against his toughest foe since Jirov in Williams.
“Every fight is now the most important with all of the controversy surrounding me and I’m sure a lot of people will be watching to see I’m the fighter I used to be,” Mesi said. “I’m done with my so-called tune-ups and people will be sitting on the edges of their seats to see if I’m better or worse against Sherman Williams, who is extremely durable and my next step up. I had two years off doing nothing. That’s a long time. I’m getting in shape and my timing’s coming back, finally feeling like the fighter I was. In my last fight (April 14, WKO1 vs, Ron Johnson), I outclassed my opponent, but, physically I felt good. I’ll be in good shape for Sherman Williams to show people I’m the fighter I was.
“The goal has always been to win the world heavyweight championship. I was inactive and dropped out of the ratings. Now, I’m taking steps and the next is to be rated in the top 10, taken seriously like before and, hopefully, I’ll get a title shot in 2008. I’ve always defended the heavyweight division. It’s not easy to win in, lacking only a superstar like Tyson, the old Holyfield or Holmes. There’s no one star that’s a dominating force. I’m not the best boxer in the world, but I have a little more to offer than some others in that generate fans, excitement, money, and I am an American.”
Williams (33-10-2, 19 KOs), the reigning NBA heavyweight title-holder from The Bahamas, has won his last eight fights dating back two years (8-0, 4 KOs). “The Tank” has defeated former world champion Alfred “Ice” Cole, fought a draw with world heavyweight title challenger Jameel McCline, and took present WBA heavyweight champion Ruslan Chagaev the full distance in Germany.
“I’m takin’ it to Mesi,” Williams warned. “I have a picture of Joe Mesi in my mind and he looks like Josh Gutcher did when I fought him (devastating 1st round KO). I’m going to make it short and sweet so any critics won’t have too much to write about other than Tank Williams KO’s Joe Mesi in a great fight. They (Team Mesi) made the offer and I took it for the opportunity value. I’m going to take him out. With Mesi’s size, unless he’s changed, he won’t run.
“When I knock him out, the last thing I want to hear is that Mesi was damaged goods. I’m a Christian; I don’t want to hurt anybody and I pray for both fighters. Similar things (health issues) were said about Evander Holyfield and he’s looked great in his last two fights. We’re going to have a great fight on August 18 and I’m going to knockout Joe Mesi.”
Tua (47-3-1, 40 KOs), who went the distance against undisputed heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis in 2000, has stopped 40 of his 47 victims including current WBC champion Oleg Maskaev as well as former world title-holders John Ruiz, Hasim Rahman and Michael Moorer. Montana (48-14, 42 KOs) has been tested by the iron such as world champions James Toney, Virgil Hill, and Jirov.
Former WBO heavyweight title challenger Jeremy “Half-Man, Half-Amazing” Williams (41-5-1, 35 KOs), coming back one division lighter as a cruiserweight after being inactive the past 2 ½ years, largely due to his involvement as a coach on The Contender reality television series and as a mixed martial arts fighter, tangles with Salt Lake City favorite Gary “Pit Bill” Gomez (18-8-1, 7 KOs) in an eight-round bout.
Also scheduled to fight on the Aug. 18th undercard is undefeated New York City middleweight prospect Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin (13-0, 11 KOs) and Las Vegas high-profile defense attorney Marc “The Defender” Saggese (2-0, 2 KOs). All bouts and fighters are subject to change.
The Aug. 18th Pinnacle FiteNite event will be produced by 21 Lakes and distributed by Integrated Sports. The 3-hour, four-bout minimum Pinnacle FiteNite show will be available live on Aug. 18 at 9:00 PM ET/6:00 PM PT on both cable and satellite PPV via iN Demand, DirecTV and TVN, as well as live in Canada via satellite PPV on Bell Expressvue, for a suggested retail price of $24.95.
Tickets, priced at $35.00, $50.00 and $75.00, are on sale and available at www.smithstix.com, South Towne Exposition Center box office, and local outlets. For additional information go to www.pinnaclefitenite.com