Two vacant titles will be up for grabs in the same fight tonight at the Hollywood Park Casino in Inglewood, California when former World Champions, Roman “Made in Hell” Karmazin and Bronco “Superman” McKart, step into the ring against each other. The winner of this important showdown will likely earn a top 5 ranking in the WBC and IBF and another world title opportunity..
Karmazin, from St. Petersburg, Russia, weighed in at 157 ¾ yesterday while McKart weighed in at 158.
Joining the main event will be undefeated boxing prospects from around the world including #8 WBO and #9 WBA ranked welterweight Vitaliy Demyanenko (15-0), an amateur standout showdown between Willie Nelson (10-0) and Antonio Johnson (7-0), Ivalyo Gotsev managed Ismayl Sillahk (5-0), New York Golden Glove winner Khabir Suleymanov (5-0), and Freddie Roach trained Australian Light Welterweight Champion Dean “Irish Lightning” Byrne (9-0).
Welterweight Vitality Demyanenko, the son of 1980 Olympics Silver Medalist Viktor Demyanenko, will be making his United States debut after amassing a perfect 15-0 record and WBC and WBO regional title along with the PABA welterweight titles. Demyanenko will be taking on 62 fight professional veteran Marteze Logan (26-34-2) in a six round showcase.
Two unbeaten welterweights with 11 National Championships between them square of for one of the most intriguing fights of the evening when Cleveland, Ohio’s Willie Nelson (10-0) battles Antonio Johnson (7-0) from Oakland. The 6’3″ Nelson, managed by Jack Loew and promoted by Rumble Time Promotions was the #1 ranked amateur in the world in 2007 and looks to be the next Paul Williams in the welterweight division. Johnson, who has been away from the ring for 20 months, looks to improve his undefeated record with the biggest victory of his professional career.
Light welterweight Dean “Irish Lightning” Byrne won the Australian Light Welterweight title in just his 5th fight, beating undefeated Australian prospect Chriss McCullen. The 9-0 Byrne is trained by Freddie Roach and was a sparring partner for Manny Pacquaio before his recent victory against Oscar De La Hoya. Byrne takes on 21 fight veteran Francisco Rios Gil (13-8) in a 6 round affair at 140 pounds.
Bantamweight Khabir Suleymanov (5-0) is a former New York Golden Gloves Champion and recently beat undefeated prospect Hector Mercado (5-0) in Las Vegas. Suleymanov makes his California debut against former WBO Inter-continental Bantamweight Champion, Lante Addy (6-2).
Light Heavyweight Ismayl Sillakh (5-0) is a former Olympian and Amateur standout from the Ukraine who is currently living in Simi Valley, California. Sillakh takes on his toughest challenge to date against Mexican Jose Humberto Carral (10-6) in a 4 round fight at 177 pounds.
Lateef Kayode (4-0), a big Nigerian Heavyweight currently living in Hollywood, CA, is coming off 3 straight knockouts. He will take on Ethan Fox (2-3) in a four rounder.
Joining these undefeated prospects and their opponents on this jam-packed card will be WBC USNBC Middleweight Champion David Medina (19-2), Armenian National Team and amateur standouts Vardan Gasparyan (10-1-4) and Gabriel Tolmajyan (4-1), and the debuting Muay Thai standout turned boxer Joe Shilling, who was most recently seen in the EliteXC Octagon.
The “Season’s Beatings” Championship Boxing Show is presented by Art of Boxing Promotions in association with Bash Boxing and is sponsored by Affliction Clothing, Platinum Motor Sports, The Long Beach Press Telegram, and www.1800thelaw2.com. Doors Open at 6pm at the Hollywood Park Casino in Inglewood, California.
Tickets for the event start at $50. To order tickets online, log on to www.artofboxingpromotions.com or www.bashboxing.com. Or call Art of Boxing Promotions at (818) 749-1571 or Bash Boxing at (213) 700-BASH (2274).
The official weights are as follows:
Roman Karmazin 157 3/4 vs Bronco McKart 158
(IBF I/C and NABF Middleweight Titles)
David Medina 167 vs Dan Wallace 167
Vitaliy Demyanenko 147 vs Marteze Logan 148
Vardan Gasparyan 148 vs Octavio Narvaez 152.5
Lateef Kayode 206 vs Ethan Cox ??
Khabir Suleymanov 119 vs Lante Addy 123
Willie Nelson 149 vs Antonio Johnson 150
Ismayl Sillakh 170 vs Humberto Jose Corral 168
Joe Shilling 168 vs. Orlando Brizzo 169
Gabriel Tolmajyan 130 vs Andre Kim 130