Tye “Big Sky” Fields returns to the ring for the first time in almost one year when he faces Nicolai Firtha in a 12-round bout for the World Boxing Council Native American vacant heavyweight championship Saturday, June 20, at the River Cree Resort and Casino in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada..
Fields, who now lives in Edmonton, has a record of 41-2 with 37 knockouts and is fighting for the first time since losing in shocking fashion in the first round to Monte Barrett June 28, 2008, in Las Vegas.
“It happened, it’s behind me,” said Fields. “I have a new trainer in Ken Lakusta; my family and I now live in a new city; and I’m fighting for the first time for a new promotional company, mine,” said Fields.
The 6-foot-9-inch, 270-pound Fields, who’s part Native American, is a devastating puncher with a record of 41-2 and 37 knockouts. He was the former International Boxing Federation United States Boxing Federation heavyweight champion during 2003.
Had Fields avoided that stunning loss to Barrett, Fields well may have been in line to fight one of the Klitschko Brothers for a WBC, IBF or World Boxing Organization heavyweight title.
“I’ve sparred with them, so maybe they got lucky I got upset,” joked Fields. “Seriously, they’re great fighters and the three of us know with our size and power, a fight against either (Wladimir, IBF and WBO champion, and Vitali, WBC champion) would be have been a war. For that matter, if and when it happens, it will still be a war.”
“I have always had the highest expectations for Tye, and I still do,” said Billy Baxter, Fields’ manager.
“Certainly, we suffered a major setback when Tye was upset, because he was on track for a world title shot,” said Baxter. “But I’m confident, as is Tye, that great things, including that world title fight, are in store.”
But Fields, a southpaw, has a stern test in Firtha, from Akron, Ohio. Firtha’s a boxer and one, who at 6-foot 5-inches, won’t be giving away much in height and reach. The 30-year-old Firtha has a record of 16-5-1 with seven knockouts.
The 34-year-old Fields was born in Missoula, Mont., and lived in Las Vegas the past seven years before moving to Edmonton earlier this year.
The card June 20, promoted by Big Sky Promotions of Edmonton, will be held in The Venue at the River Cree Resort and Casino; doors open at 6 p.m. (Mountain) with the first fight starting at 7.
Tickets, priced at $49, $69, $89, $125, $250 and $500, are available at ticketmaster.ca, Ticketmaster charge by phone at 780-451-8000 and at Ticketmaster outlets. VIP tickets, which include dinner, are available at 780-930-2619.
PUNCHOUT AT THE PLAZA LIVE FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2009
The Plaza Hotel & Casino Downtown, Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, NV, May 4, 2009 – “Punchout,” returns to the Plaza Hotel & Casino in beautiful downtown Las Vegas, Nevada on Friday, May 8, 2009. This show features boxing reality television star and real life Jr. Middleweight Contender Ishe “Sugar Shay” Smith. Smith will be headlining his long awaited return to the ring for his hometown fans and capping off a spectacular night of fights.
In the featured bout of the evening, Guilty Boxing, in association with Rattlesnake Events, LLC presents the classic “Boxer vs. Puncher” when Ishe “Sugar Shay” Smith (20-3, 9 KO’s) goes toe to toe with Detroit, Michigan’s ferocious puncher, Brian “The Lion” Mihtar (10-1, 9 KO’s) in a scheduled eight round bout. The Semi main event will feature a battle of the unbeaten lightweights as Sharif Bogere (7-0, 4 KO’s) of Las Vegas goes to war with Denver’s Marcos Herrera (6-0, 1 KO) in what is sure to be a barnburner over six rounds of hardcore banging.
Undercard action will show the likes of two local Las Vegas talents, “Lightning” Lonnie Smith (6-2, 5 KO’s) faces off against the always dangerous veteran Francisco Palacios (4-7-4, 1 KO’s) at Lightweight and Henderson, Nevada heavyweight Clarence “Feature presentation” Tillman (1-2-1, 1 KO’s) is set to do battle against Bo Tribolet (0-0-1). Also rounding out the card will be Gabriel Del Real (3-0, 2 KO’s) of Fairfield CA facing Andre Gorges (7-0, 6 KO’s) and Jason Douglas (6-1, 3 KO’s) of Ontario, Canada against Dion Savage (5-0, 3 KO’s).
Tickets are available to purchase at the Plaza Hotel & Casino Box office or by phone at (702) 386-2575, tickets can also be purchased online at www.plazahotelcasino.com/entertainment/boxing.php
ACHMAD TUBA, ISRAELI-MUSLIM, TO MAKE HIS PRO DEBUT AT THE LEGENDARY BLUE HORIZON ON FRIDAY NIGHT, MAY 15TH
PHILADELPHIA (MAY 4TH, 2009)—In the forty-plus years that boxing has taken place at The Legendary Blue Horizon, there have been many combatants that have fought in the ring that have interesting stories.
On Friday night May 15th, Achmad Tuba, who will be will be making his pro debut in a four round Jr. Middleweight bout , has an incredible story with beliefs that can give everyone hope for world peace.
Tuba, 21 years-old from the religious part of the world in Nazareth has persevered and has fought through more then most.
Tuba comes from an upbringing of poverty where he would sleep on dirt floors who found work in construction in the Holy Land.
Three times a week, Tuba makes a two and one-half hour trek to Tel Aviv, Israel to hone his boxing skills. He would spend multiple days at the gym as he would sleep in the ring until the next day’s training would begin.
Those aspects show what kind of dedication that Tuba has to become a professional boxer but the fact in a part of the world where Muslims and Jews do not get along to say the least, Tuba shows that there is a chance for world peace as Tuba, who is Muslim is embraced and is trained by a team of Jewish fighters in Tel Aviv.
Tuba has gone so far to say that he considers that team made up of promoter Ran Taal and undefeated cruiserweight Ran Nakash as his family. In fact it will be Nakash, who is a commander in the Israeli Army and also Tuba’s best friend, who will work his corner as he makes that pro debut on May 15th.
The card is promoted by Vernoca L. Michael and Blue Horizon Boxing Promotions Inc.
In the Main event, Knockout sensation, Joey “Minnesota Ice” Abell (23-4, 22 KO’s) makes his return to The Legendary Blue Horizon when he takes on Billy Willis (12-13-1, 9 KO’s) of Houston in a eight round Heavyweight bout.
The undercard has been stacked with crowd pleasing bouts that will feature some emerging stars.
In an eight round Lightweight bout, Kevin Carmody (10-11-2, 1 KO) of Philadelphia takes on opponent to be named
In a eight round Middleweight bout of immense local interest, Gee Cullmer (15-1, 3 KO’s) of Philadelphia battles Clarence “Sonny Bono” Taylor (13-21-3, 6 KO’s) of Wilmington, DE
Fresh off his thrilling victory over Tyric Robinson, Julias Edmonds (5-3) of Philadelphia tussles with Jose Tiburcio (3-1, 1 KO) of Southbridge, MA
In a six round Super Middleweight bout, Ben Foust (12-0, 11 KO’s) of Jacksboro, TN will risk his gaudy undefeated record when he takes on battle tested Marcus Brooks (6-6, 3 KO’s) of Atlanta.
Ronald Cruz (4-0, 2 KO’s) of Bethlehem, PA battles Jesse Gomez (1-4) of New York in a four round Welterweight bout
Joselito Collado (7-0, 2 KO’s) of Queens, New York comes back to make his third Blue Horizon appearance as he takes on an opponent to be announced in a sis round Jr. Lightweight bout.
In a rematch of an April 3rd bloodbath, Taneal Goyco (2-0, 1 KO) and Davit Davitshvili (0-2) look to thrill the crowd once more in a cruiserweight bout scheduled for four rounds.
Russian Jr. Middleweight, Ruslan Khayrtdinov (2-0, 1 KO) takes on an opponent to be announced.
Rounding out the card will be a four round Heavyweight bout between Nakidi Ku-Ntima of Philadelphia making his pro debut when he takes on Kareem Wilson (0-3) of Washington, D.C.
These fights will be streamed live all over the world on www.gofightlive.tv
Ticket prices for this great night of boxing are $200 for Queen Seating, $125 for Presidential seats, $65 for VIP, $55 for Ringside, and $45 for General Admission and can be purchased by calling The Legendary Blue Horizon at 1-215-763-0500. Doors open at 6:30 PM / 1st bout begins at 7:30 PM
the Legendary Blue Horizon is located at 1314 North Broad Street in Philadelphia, PA