PROVIDENCE (November 26, 2008) – World cruiserweight contender Matt “Too Smooth” Godfrey (18-1, 10 KOs), rated No. 3 by the WBC, became the first Sovereign Nations Boxing Council (SNBC) champion last Saturday night when he won a dominating 10-round decision against Eddie “The Iron Man” Gutierrez at 4 Bears Casino in New Town, North Dakota..
SNBC links federally recognized tribes throughout the United States and Canada. SNBC’s mission is to develop, promote and help regulate boxing in a fair and professional manner by federally recognized tribes that are sovereign nations.
Godfrey won every round on two judges’ scorecards and nine on the other (100-90, 100-90, 99-91) against Gutierrez (15-6-1, 6 KOs) in a near perfect performance.
“It was an honor for me to fight for the first Sovereign Nations Boxing Council title, let alone win the first SNBC belt because I’m Native American,” Godfrey said upon returning to his Providence home. “Finally, Native American boxers have a chance to be recognized and being the first SNBC champion is a huge honor for me.
“I threw a lot of punches, put them together, and worked on everything we had trained to do. Credit Gutierrez because he can really take a punch; I hit him with some great shots. It was a good fight for me because I got in some rounds.”
Next up for Godfrey is a recently ordered WBC title elimination bout next year against No. 2 rated Herbie Hide, former 2-time WBO heavyweight champion, with the victor facing the winner of the WBC championship bout between new defending champion Giacobbe Fragameni and the No. 1 mandatory challenger, Krzystof Wlodarczyk.
“It’s a huge opportunity for me and I’m glad to be getting another chance (Godfrey’s lone loss was earlier this year in a WBC title eliminator by 12-round decision to Rudy Kraj in Germany),” Godfrey noted. “I’m looking forward to it and can’t wait to start training again.”
Godfrey, reigning NABF champion, is also rated No. 11 by the WBA and IBF.
“Matt fought well in North Dakota,” Godfrey’s manager Bret Hallenbeck commented. “The other guy made it difficult to look good. He was in a defensive mode the entire fight, leaning back or covering up like a turtle. We’re waiting to learn more about the WBC eliminator against Hide. We have to see what the offers are and where the fight will be.”
Matt, second heavyweight alternate on the 2004 U.S. Olympic Boxing Team, had a 194-23 amateur record, capturing six national championships — four open tournaments including the 2004 Everlast U.S. Championships, plus two in the Junior Olympics – as well as a Bronze medal at the 2001 Pan-American Games, Silver in all four of that year’s national major tournaments (National Golden Gloves, PAL (Police Athletic League), U.S. Championships and U.S. Challenge) and six-time New England Golden Gloves champion.
Olympic flavor to “Holiday Havoc” Saturday night at Twin River Event Center, RI
PROVIDENCE (November 26, 2008) – There’s a touch of red, white and blue this holiday season in Rhode Island as the state’s only U.S. Olympic Boxing Team members, Jason “Big Six” Estrada (2004) and Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade (2008), as well as 1996 Olympic alternate Jason Pires, are all scheduled to be in action Saturday night (November 29) on “Holiday Havoc” at Twin River Event Center in Lincoln, Rhode Island.
“Holiday Havoc” is promoted by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment and Sports, Inc. (CES), in association with Twin River and CN8, The Comcast Network as well as (for Andrade’s fight) Banner Promotions and Star Boxing.
The show will be taped live and air Saturday, December 13 at 7:00 PM/ET on CN8, The Comcast Network in New England and the Baltimore/Washington D.C. market, as well as Friday, Nov. 12 at 7 PM/ET on Cox Sports Television.
“We’re excited to have two Olympian, Jason and Demetrius, and an Olympic alternate, Jason Pires, all fighting Saturday night on the same card in one of the most beautiful venues for boxing, Twin River,” CES president Jimmy Burchfield said. “We also have some of New England’s most talented and entertaining prospects on the undercard. We’re honored to have teamed with the U.S. Marines ‘Toys For Tots’ program and everyone attending is encouraged to bring a toy to the show for less fortunate children.”
Estrada and Andrade are two of the most decorated U.S. amateur boxers of all-time. Estrada was 261-14 in U.S. competition and the first boxer to win both the U.S. Nationals and U.S. Challenge three years (2001-2003) in a row, in addition to a gold medal in the 2003 Pan-Am Games. Andrade, who was a 2-time U.S. Nationals and National Golden Gloves champion, captured a gold medal in the 2008 AIBA World Championships.
Estrada (14-1, 3 KOs), now rated No. 7 in the NABF, fights Philadelphia southpaw Derek “The One Man Riot” Bryant (20-4-1, 17 KOs) the 8-round main event. Bryant has beaten 2-time world title challenger Frankie Swindell and Jorge Luis Gonzalez, split with Providence’s Robert Wiggins, and fought a draw with 1996 U.S. Olympic Team captain Lawrence Clay-Bey.
Andrade (1-0, 1 KO) made his pro debut this past October, stopping Patrick Cape (4-2) in the second round of their fight in the state of Washington. “Boo Boo” is making his hometown pro in a Special Super Welterweight Attraction versus Eric Marriot (0-1).
Pires, a former USBA champion, has been inactive the past 5 ½ years to concentrate on becoming a police officer in his hometown of New Bedford (MA), as well as complete his education at the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth. Pires, who is matched against former IBC Continental champion Frank Houghtaling (19-14-5, 3 KOs) in a 6-rounder, has only lost as a pro to Rocky Juarez, Oscar Leon and Arthur Johnson.
Lowell (MA) super middleweight “Irish” Joey McCreedy (8-2-1, 5 KOs), of Lowell (MA), square-off in a 6-round rematch against NABC champion James Johnson (23-29-3, 13 KOs).
Also on the undercard in 4-round bouts is unbeaten Pawtucket (RI) lightweight Eddie “The Puerto Rican Sensation” Soto (9-0, 4 KOs) against Blake Franklin (1-1, 0 KOs), Warwick (RI) super middleweight Keith Kozlin (1-0) faces Eric Clinton (0-4-1), Providence junior lightweight Omar Pena (0-0-1) takes on Lindberg Freeman (0-1); Worcester heavyweight Rashad Minor (1-0, 1 KO) makes his CES debut versus Ryan Shay (3-7, 3 KOs).
Tickets for “Holiday Havoc” are priced at $19.00 (SOLD OUT), $limited $25.00 SRO, $40.00, $55.00 (Bronze), $75.00 (Silver), $100.00 (Gold) and limited $150.00 (Jimmy’s Platinum Club) and are available to purchase by calling CES (401.724.2253/2254), going on line at www.cesboxing.com or www.twinriver.com, at the Twin River Event Center (100 Twin River Road, Lincoln, RI), at the Players Club booth at Twin River, or any TicketMaster location.
Tickets are also on sale at Big Six Academy in Providence (401.241.3490), 401 Gym in Cranston, RI (401.261.9800), Ultimate Fitness in Bristol, RI (401.253.3539), Rivera Brother’s Gym in Lynn, MA (617.594.1166) and GQ Barbersalon in N. Providence (401.228.3380), Warwick, RI (401.823.0060) and Coventry, RI (401.615.5455).
Contact CES (401.724.2253/2254/www.cesboxing.com) or Twin River Events Center (877.82.RIVER/ www.twinriver.com) for more information. Doors open at 6 PM/ET, first bout at 7 PM/ET.
(Twin River has waived its 18+ rule for “Holiday Havoc.” Anybody under the age of 18 must be accompanied at all times by an adult and they must enter through the West entrance.)
This Thanksgiving New York-based Irishman James Moore has a lot to be thankful for as he prepares for December 13 challenge of NABF junior middleweight champion Yuri Foreman
Junior middleweight James Moore, 16-1 (10 KOS), a native of County Wicklow, Ireland, who fights out of Queens, New York, is far from home as he trains at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles for his December 13 challenge of NABF junior middleweight champion Yuri Foreman, 26-0 (8 KOS).
The 10-round bout, which will take place at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, is part of a Top Rank-promoted show that is being headlined by the rubber match between WBO junior welterweight champion Kendall Holt, 24-2 (13 KOS), of Paterson, New Jersey, and former titlist Ricardo Torres, 32-2 (28 KOS), of Colombia.
Although the 30-year-old Moore, a veteran of 314 amateur bouts, says he misses his wife Leanne and their friends and family terribly, he is thrilled to be training for what he considers the biggest fight of his life.
“No doubt, this is it,” said Moore. “This is the fight where I get to show the fans, as well as the television executives, what I’m capable of. I’ve been eager to have such a high profile fight for a long time. The fact that it is coming in the midst of holiday season makes it even more special to me.”
Moore realizes that a victory over Foreman will bring him one step closer to the world title that he has coveted for so long.
“The life of a boxer is a lonely one, but that is the life I chose,” said Moore. “All of the hours of preparation are worth it when it ends with a victory. I plan on being victorious in December, and then having a blowout year in 2009. When I think of the possibilities that lie ahead, I realize how much I have to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.”
A large contingent of the enormously popular Moore’s enthusiastic fans is expected to make the trek to see the fight live. Tickets can be purchased in the New York area at Bar 43, 43-06 43rd Street, Sunnyside, NY 11104, phone 718-361-3090; the Fiddlers Pub, 52-75 65th Street, Maspeth, NY 11378; or through Moore’s adviser Barney Moore (no relation), phone 917-559-8467.
Tickets, which range from $200 to $50, are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, www.ticketmaster.com, or by phone at 1-800-736-1420. They can also be purchased at the Boardwalk Hall box office, which is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.