LAS VEGAS, NV (August 25, 2008) World ranked junior middleweight Deandre Latimore is calling out fellow St. Louis native Cory Spinks for a hometown showdown this fall. Said Latimore, “I’m out here training in the summer heat of Vegas, but everywhere I go people ask me about fighting Cory. I haven’t fought in St. Louis in almost a year and this would be a great fight for the fans.” Latimore knocked out #1 ranked Sechew Powell on June 11th in New York City in an ESPN2 televised bout..
“I get phone calls from back home with people telling me that Cory and I should get together and fight. I’ve got a lot of respect for what he’s accomplished but I feel I’m ready to step in the ring with him. And I know the fight fans in St. Louis will be very supportive of this matchup.
I saw his last bout against Verno Phillips and whether he thinks he won or lost doesn’t matter.. We should both give the fans what they want. I’m tired of people asking me about the fight, my message to Cory is ‘Get in the gym, train hard and bring it.’ Let’s show the fans in St. Louis what a great boxing match really is.”
Continued Latimore, “Too many times fights don’t happen or they take place in big casino towns. I know the fight fans in St. Louis would come out for this. St. Louis is a great fight town, we can go to the Scottrade Center downtown or out at the Family Arena. We’re both hometown boys and we shouldn’t forget our roots and make the best fight for our fans.”
Latimore, currently world ranked #6 by the IBF is given the “New Faces” treatment by Ring Magazine in their October 2008 issue sporting boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao on the cover.
Deandre Latimore, 19-1 (16KO’s) is managed by Jerry Giuliano of Sandman Boxing Management LLC and promoted by Steve Smith of Rumble Time Promotions in St. Louis.
Greg “The Steel Pole” Kielsa Set To Conquer Heavyweight Division
TORONTO, ON – He’s the best kept secret in all of Polish sport, but this 2000 Olympian is about to end his days of anonymity, and is promising a meteoric rise to the top of the heavyweight division.
Greg “The Steel Pole” Kielsa (6-0, 3 KO’s), of Bialystok, Poland, makes his professional home in Brampton, Ontario, and has served notice on the rest of boxing’s big men that his time will come.
“In three years I see a heavyweight world title around my waist,” Kielsa (born Grzegorz Kielsa) said.
“I’m comfortable here in Canada, and my career is about to gain some big momentum.”
With his fast hands, and exceptional footwork already turning heads in the boxing world, Kielsa looks to extend his unbeaten record on Friday, August 29, at Casino Rama, as part of Rumble at Rama V, headlined by the fifth world title defense of IBF Junior Featherweight world champion “The Canadian Kid’ Steve Molitor, as he puts his crown on the line against undefeated Ceferino Labarda (18-0, 7 KO’s).
Tickets for Rumble at Rama V are $125, $75, $50 and $25, and are available in-person at the Casino Rama Box Office, and at all TicketMaster locations, by calling (416) 870-8000, or ordering on-line at www.casinorama.com. Ticket prices do not include applicable taxes or service charges.
Kielsa faces his toughest professional test to date that night, stepping in with hard hitting Bahamian heavyweight Jerry “Big Daddy” Butler (7-4, 7 KO’s).
Kielsa knows scant little about Butler other than his record, but isn’t phased whatsoever about taking on an unknown quantity.
“Right now I don’t need to study my opponents. I’m an experienced guy. I’ve seen everything in the ring. I doubt Jerry Butler has got something unique up his sleeve.”
“When it gets to the point when I’m fighting for a world title, then I’ll be a little more concerned, and then maybe look at some tape.”
Despite only six professional fights, Kielsa’s experience in the ring is indeed as comprehensive as it gets, having gone 130-20 as an amateur, and earning an Olympic berth on the Polish team at the 2000 Sydney games.
But despite carving out his own identity as a fighter, Kielsa is dogged by the inevitable comparisons to his enigmatic compatriot, Andrew Golota, a man with all the physical tools to be great, only to be detoured by a mind that has doomed him to mediocrity.
“It’s tough to answer the Golota questions because he was the man who inspired me to box. I saw him fight Riddick Bowe in 1996, and knew right then that I wanted to be a fighter.”
“But obviously he’s disappointed everyone over the years. You can’t find a way to lose that often, in so many weird ways without hurting your legacy.”
“I want to pick up where Golota left off, but in a good way.”
“He’s a great fighter…I’m a great fighter. But I’m going to be a great champion.”
After a few years away from the sport, Kielsa decided to settle in Canada, where he has fought exclusively, before making his US debut this past June, scoring a unanimous decision over veteran Alvaro Morales at Las Vegas’ Thomas and Mack Center.
Kielsa said the adjustment to life in Southern Ontario was difficult at the beginning, but under the auspices of his manager James Jardine, things are finally looking up.
“When I first came here to Canada three years ago, it was tough. But now I’m with James and everything has turned out so well.”
“I know I’m on the road to great things.”
That road winds its way through Casino Rama, and Jerry Butler, next Friday evening.