The new World Boxing Council (WBC) Super Lightweight Champion Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley will defend his title for the first time against Edner “Cherry Bomb” Cherry on Saturday, Sept. 13, in the co-feature of the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast, which begins live at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). The main event of the world championship doubleheader features Lightweight World Champion Nate Campbell vs. Joan Guzman for Campbell’s International Boxing Federation (IBF), World Boxing Organization (WBO) and World Boxing Association (WBA) 135-pound titles..
The Bradley-Cherry fight is being presented by Gary Shaw Productions and Thompson Boxing. The main event is being promoted by Don King Productions from a venue to be determined.
Bradley (22-0, 11 KOs), a four-fight veteran of the SHOWTIME boxing series ShoBox: The New Generation, captured his belt with an upset, split-decision victory over Junior Witter on May 10, 2008, by scores of 115-113, 114-113 and 112-115 on ShoBox.
“I’ll never forget when they read the scores and I was announced as the new world champion,” said the 24-year-old Bradley who lives in Palm Springs, Calif. “It was a dream come true.”
That night, Bradley became one of 28 ShoBox fighters that have gone on to become world champions after appearing on the series.
“Now it’s time to make my first title defense where the big boys fight, on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING,” he continued.
“I’m here to prove that my fight against Witter was just the beginning. I have plenty of exciting fights left and I intend to successfully defend my title against Cherry. I’ve worked extremely hard to become a world champion and I have to admit, I enjoy the view from up here.”
Bradley, who was a long shot to dethrone Witter in England, will have considerable pressure to perform at the championship level against Cherry. Some boxing insiders believe that fighters improve 25 percent when they win a world title as a result of a boost in confidence. If this holds true, Bradley has the chance to be a very special fighter, but the pressure is on to perform.
Cherry, who will be fighting in his first world title fight, is an all-action fighter that can take a punch. Styles make fights and this one has all the ingredients to be a memorable championship scrap.
Cherry (24-5-2, 12 KOs), a chiseled veteran with three straight quality victories, showed tremendous motivation and ability in his last outing by knocking out the crafty Stevie Johnston in the tenth and final round of their lightweight bout in May.
A native of the Bahamas, Cherry now resides in Wauchula, Fla., and has campaigned as a lightweight for most of his career. He’ll be fighting for the first time as a super lightweight on Sept. 13.
Most fighters would prefer a tune up fight before taking on a world champion at a new weight, but Cherry isn’t like most boxers.
“I relish challenges and will never back down from a championship fight,” said the 26-year-old Cherry. “I was considered a big lightweight so moving up five pounds won’t be as a big a deal for me as it would be for others.
“I think I’m in the same position as Bradley was when he fought Witter in May. Bradley had nothing to lose and was hungry for a win since it was his first world title fight. Now it’s me who has the appetite for a world title. The challenger, as Bradley proved, is extremely dangerous in these types of situations.”
After Bradley-Cherry, SHOWTIME delivers what could be the lightweight fight of the year. The brash and colorful Campbell will defend three world title belts against the speedy and undefeated two-division world champion Guzman.
The fighters have verbally slammed each other well before contracts were even signed. With the fight nearing, Campbell and Guzman will likely abandon the trash talk and let their fists speak for themselves.
SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING announcers Steve Albert and Al Bernstein will call the action from ringside with Jim Gray reporting from ringside. The executive producer of SHOWTIME Sports is David Dinkins Jr. with Bob Dunphy directing.
For information on SHOWTIME Sports Programming, including exclusive behind-the-scenes video and photo galleries, complete telecast information and more, please go the new SHOWTIME Sports website at http://www.sho.com/sports.
Plight of 3 Georgian Boxers
EDMONDS, Wash. (August 14, 2008) – Three Georgian professional boxers – Mamuka Jikurashvili, Levan and Shalva Jomardashvili – are collectively in the toughest fight of their young careers, and it’s not taking place in the four-cornered ring.
The three young fighters had an appointment to receive their visas, approved by U.S. immigration, at the U.S. Embassy in Georgia, but, unfortunately it was scheduled for the morning of the day war broke out between Russia and their native Georgia. They had applied for visas to the U.S. in order to pursue their boxing careers.
Ground transportation in Georgia was too dangerous for them to travel to the U.S. Embassy and visa services were then temporarily suspended. They are now in contact with embassies in Armenia and Buku, but they’re still unable to travel
The Jomardashvili brothers, in fact, hail from Gory, which was the epicenter of trouble on the border to the south of Ossetia at the battle front. Bombs wiped out many houses and buildings, leaving countless citizens, including the Jomardasvilis, as refugees.
Granted, 60 of their combined 61 pro fights have been in Georgia, but Shalva is a 25-0 (18 KOs) middleweight, Levan a 16-0 (13 KOs) light heavyweight, and heavyweight Mamuka sports a 20-1 (14 KOs) with his only loss to former Cuban star Odlanier Solis (8-0) in Turkey.
Shalva, only 21, was 75-3 as an amateur, 5-time Georgian National Champion, and winner of numerous International tournaments. His brother, 18-year-old Levan, was 52-2 as an amateur and 4-time Georgian National Champion. Mamukam, reigning Georgian heavyweight title-holder, was a 3-time Georgian National Champion as an amateur.
Boxing manager Egis Klimas (E Point K Consulting) has been advising the three Georgian boxers.