By Srithar Visuasam: This Friday marks the first fight night of 2009 from Peter Maniatis Promotions, the Bob Rose Cup – being held at Malvern Town Hall in Melbourne, Australia. Headlining the six-fight card is Pierre Karam (17-3-1, 5 KOs), who is returning from a five year absence from the ring in his final campaign to make a lasting impact on the world boxing scene.
Karam, 31, a former three time Australian amateur champion, who spent a number of years training at legendary trainer Emmanuel Steward’s Kronk Gym in Detroit, Michigan, takes on Kiwi Sam Leuii over 8 rounds (13-23-1, 9 KOs) for the Bob Rose Cup.. The fight will be a heavyweight bout, which is a world away from the junior middleweight division he debuted in June 1996.
The 31 year old states that this fight is the first bout in a comeback, with his intention to descend to the light heavyweight division over the next 12 months and ideally challenge fellow Western Australian and former WBA light heavyweight champion, Danny Green.
In the major support bout, IBF Australian light-heavyweight champion Jonny ‘Two Gunz’ Walker (15-3-1, 10 KOs) will take on Kiwi Jeff Stutt (4-5, 4 KOs) over 8 rounds.
Two cruiserweight bouts are scheduled with Jamie Bogavic making his professional debut against Shaun Salisbury (1-2, 0 KOs) while Steven Gillingham (2-0, 0 KOs) takes on Jamie Middleton (0-2), which will be a rematch of their September 2008 encounter where Gillingham won via unanimous decision.
Highly regarded Kerey Palmer (7-2, 5 KOs), shapes up against Frank Ciampa (7-12, 3 KOs) in a super middleweight clash while at junior middleweight, Lincoln Stewart (15-4-1, 12 KOs) takes on Robert Sanders (5-2-1, 1 KO).
In a trio of welterweight bouts, Leigh Purcell (9-3-1, 1 KO) faces Chris Myers (2-2, 0 KOs), Jimmy James (4-1-1, 1 KO) takes on Robert Monitto (2-4, 1 KO) and Jean Claude (1-8-1, 0 KOs) battles Tim Hunt (4-2, 2 KOs), with all fights scheduled for 6 rounds.
Tickets are $40, $50 and $70 for ringside seats with tables of ten priced at $85 per person.