UNCASVILLE, Conn. (August 13, 2008) – NABF cruiserweight champion Matt “Too Smooth” Godfrey defends his NABF cruiserweight title against Emmanuel Nwodo in the 12-round main event headlining “Title Wave” on August 29 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut..
“Title Wave,” promoted by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment and Sports, Inc. (CES), will air live on ESPN Friday Night Fights. In the co-feature, WBC Continental Americas featherweight champion Adalberto “Terrible” Borquez (18-6, 17 KOs), of Mexico, defends his belt versus reigning unbeaten WBC Youth featherweight title-holder Matt “Sharp Shooter” Remillard (14-0, 7 KOs), from nearby Manchester (CT).
“Godfrey-Nwodo has all of the ingredients to be a 2008 Fight of the Year candidate,” promoter Jimmy Burchfield said. “This show has the equivalent of two main events with Godfrey-Nwodo and Borquez-Remillard. Borquez is a champion coming here from Mexico with 17 knockouts in his 18 wins, fighting a young, undefeated champion in Remillard. Add heavyweight Jason Estrada, the 2004 U.S. Olympian, along with some of the top New England prospects on the undercard, and we have a great overall card from top to bottom.”
Godfrey (16-1, 9 KOs), fighting out of Providence, is rated No. 5 by the WBC and an impressive victory on national television should put him in position for a world title fight. The highly decorated U.S. amateur lost a close 12-round decision last March in Germany to Rudolf Kraj in a WBC title eliminator.
Nwodo (22-4, 18 KOs), originally from Nigeria, is a former USBA champion now fighting out of Maryland. The knockout artist is rated No. 12 by the WBA and No. 14 by the WBC.
“This is a big fight for me to get back into the cruiserweight championship picture,” Godfrey said. “I’ll also be defending by NABF belt on ESPN. Nwodo is tall and he has a lot of power. He’s a little one-dimensional but has a lot of experience. I know that I’m going to be in a tough fight.”
Borquez, rated No. 30 by the WBC, has knocked out 17 of his 18 victims to date, while Remillard is more of a boxer-puncher who has overcome a wrist injury that twice required surgery.
Also fighting on the card in a Special Heavyweight Attraction, 2004 U.S. Olympian Jason “Big Six” Estrada (11-1, 2 KOs), of Providence, continues his mission in the heavyweight division against Texas State champion Domonic Jenkins (13-8-1, 6 KOs). Estrada has beaten the likes of Lance Whitaker, Charles Shufford and Robert Hawkins, to name some of the more notables. Jenkins holds a win by decision against highly touted prospect Jason Gavern and Malcolm Tann. He’s also has been in against other top young prospects such as Chazz Witherspoon, Tye Fields, Chris Arreola and veteran Eddie Chambers.
Ledyard’s (CT) undefeated super middleweight Brian Macy (4-0, 1 KO), 2000 National PAL champion and U. of Connecticut graduate, takes on Shawn Kirk (4-2, 2 KOs) in a four-round bout.
Two four-round female fights are also on the card: Hartford’s popular welterweight Addy Irrizarry (5-2, 2 KOs) faces former world champion Yvonne “Silk” Reiss (7-12-1) and Mystic (CT) super bantamweight Karen Dulin (0-1) meets Christina Leadbeater (1-1, 1 KO) in a pair of four-round bouts. Two additional bouts are being finalized. All fighters and bouts are subject to change.
Tickets for “Title Wave” are priced at $30.00, $45.00, $75.00 and $100.00 and are available to purchase by calling CES (401.724.2253/2254), going on line at www.cesboxing.com or www.mohegansun.com, at the Mohegan Sun box office or any TicketMaster outlet.
Contact CES (401.724.2253/2254/www.cesboxing.com) for more information. Doors open at 6:30 PM/ET, first bout at 7:30 PM/ET.
CARLOS “FAMOSO” HERNANDEZ MAKES HIS RETURN ON AUGUST 15TH
For close to two years, former World Champion Carlos “Famoso” Hernandez has waited for his time to strike, to come back to the ring and claim what he believes is rightfully his – another world championship. On Friday, August 15th, Hernandez will make his long-awaited return against Hector Alatorre in the first fight of his quest to make it back to the top.
Hernandez vs. Alatorre, a ten round junior welterweight bout which headlines an exciting scheduled six bout night of boxing presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with 8 Count Productions, will air live on TeleFutura’s ‘Solo Boxeo’ from the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago, Illinois beginning at 8pm ET / PT.
The August 15th show will also be a night of celebration, as it marks ‘Solo Boxeo’s’ eighth anniversary. Since its debut on August 13, 2000, ‘Solo Boxeo’ has brought the best in boxing to viewers every Friday night,featuring some of the greatest fighters of this era as well as interviews with the sport’s biggest names. It has become the televised boxing series that no fan can afford to miss.
Tickets for “On Fire”, an outstanding evening of world class professional boxing, can be purchased in advance through Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com or 312-559-1212) or through the 8 Count Productions offices at 312-226-5800. The Aragon Ballroom is located at 1106 W. Lawrence Ave., adjacent to the corner of Broadway and Lawrence. Doors will open at 5:30pm, with the first bell at 6:15pm.
The El Salvadorian fan favorite who has always been revered for his heart and determination between the ropes, Carlos “Famoso” Hernandez (42-7-1, 24 KOs) has fought the best in the business over the course of a career that began in 1992. Whether it was Floyd Mayweather Jr., Genaro Hernandez, Erik Morales, Steve Forbes, Jesus Chavez or Kevin Kelley, Hernandez fought them all and won a world title with a win over David Santos in 2003. After a close loss to Kelley in 2006, Hernandez walked away from the game, but after some time off and a trip back to the gym, he realized he still had the desire and the talent to compete on the elite level. On August 15th, Hernandez will make his Golden Boy Promotions debut against Tulare, California’s Hector “The Mongoose” Alatorre (15-4, 5 KOs). In his last bout, the 26-year-old Alatorre fought a tough battle against Mexican-Puerto Rican Jeffrey Resto on May 2nd before losing a very close majority decision. In 2006, Alatorre faced another El Salvadorian fighter, Carlos Cisneros, who he defeated by split decision. He is now determined to make a name for himself by spoiling Hernandez’s comeback plans on August 15th.
The ‘Solo Boxeo’ co-feature should be another all-out battle when Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico’s once-beaten Javier “El Zorro” Castro (16-2, 14 KOs) takes on the Dominican Republic’s Harrison Cuello (15-7-2, 11 KOs) in an eight round junior welterweight bout. The 24-year-old Castro is currently on a ten fight winning streak after losing his only pro bout by disqualification, with four of his last five bouts ending via first round knockout. He will be tested by Santo Domingo’s Cuello, who owns a third round TKO win over highly-touted Edgar Santana.
Also in action on August 15th will be three of Chicago’s finest prospects, as junior welterweight Ivan Popoca (6-0-1, 5 KOs) takes on Brian Carden (8-5, 7 KOs) of Saint Joseph, Missouri in a six round bout; Eric Estrada (4-0, 2 KOs) battles Nebraska native Brandon Quintana (2-1, 2 KOs) in a bantamweight four rounder and welterweight Ryan Shmedick makes his pro debut in a four round scrap with Lincoln, Nebraska’s Eric Bradford (0-1).
Opening the show will be a four round middleweight pro debut for Cameroon’s Foster Nkodo against Tallahassee, Florida’s Eric Clinton (0-3-1).
8 Count Productions was started by Dominic Pesoli in 1998 and has consistently presented the highest quality professional boxing events in Chicagoland. In 2003, Pesoli along with former featherweight contender Mike Garcia opened JABB Boxing Gym, a 6,000 square foot venue dedicated to the finest Chicagoland boxers of all talent levels.
To view the seating chart and poster for this event or for more information on 8 Count Productions and JABB Boxing Gym, please visit www.8countproductions.com and www.jabbboxinggym.com