News: Godfrey vs Hawk; Fres Oquendo; Dominican Prospects Make US Debut Tonight

PROVIDENCE (June 18, 2009) — Two of the best young cruiserweights in the world, Matt “Too Smooth” Godfrey and Shawn “The Sioux Warrior” Hawk, have been on a collision course and lead promoter Classic Entertainment and Sports, Inc. (CES) officially announced today that Godfrey-Hawk will headline the July 10th ESPN2 Friday Night Fights show. Godfrey (18-1, 10 KOs), rated No. 6 by the WBC and No. 7 by the IBF, will defend his NABF and SNBC belts against unbeaten challenger Hawk (18-0-1, 16 KOs) in the 10-round main event..

“Both of these cruiserweights were highly successful amateurs and now they are two of the top young contenders in the division,” CES president Jimmy Burchfield said. “Both are Native Americans, too. When Matt won the first Sovereign Nation Boxing Council (SNBC) belt, Shawn fought on the same card last November at 4 Bears Casino in North Dakota. This is the match-up American boxing fans want to see – two top fighters in against each other. Matt and Shawn have wanted to fight each other for a long time and now it’s finally going to happen.”

The Ring magazine’s No. 10-ranked Godfrey, who has Narragansett blood in his family, 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. He was a Bronze medal winner at the 2001 Pan-American Games, Silver Medalist 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.

As a pro, three of the 28-year-old Godfrey’s most impressive performances have been knockouts of Emmanuel Nwodo, Felix Cora, Jr. and Shaun George on ESPN. His lone loss was by 12-round decision 15 months ago in a WBC title eliminator to Rudolf Kraj in Germany, in which, Godfrey came on strong down the stretch only to run out of rounds.

Hawk, 25, is a full-blooded Sioux who comes from Crow Creek Reservation, North Dakota, which is the poorest Native American reservation in the country. Shawn had a 108-12 amateur record, including victories in four national championships, highlighted by a gold-medal performance at the National PAL Tournament when he was 14.

FRES OQUENDO SPECIAL GUEST THIS SATURDAY AFTERNOON AT CHICAGO ’S PUERTO RICAN DAY DOWNTOWN PARADE

CHICAGO, IL (June 18, 2009) Two time heavyweight world title challenger Fres Oquendo will take a break from training this Saturday afternoon, June 20th, to be honored as the Special Guest at Chicago’s Puerto Rican Day Parade.

Chicago’s Puerto Rican Day Parade will kick off at the corner of Columbus Dr. and Balbo Dr. in Grant Park at 12Noon on Saturday.

Oquendo is currently training for his upcoming ten round WBO Latino Heavyweight Title bout against Gonzalo Omar Basile at “WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 3” at Chicago’s UIC Pavilion on Friday, June 26th.

Said Oquendo, “I’m thrilled to be honored as the Special Guest at Chicago’s Puerto Rican Day Parade. As a native Chicagoan of Puerto Rican descent this means a great deal to me. For me and my family the opportunity to take part in the citywide celebration of Puerto Rico is always something we look forward to every year.”

Recently signed to Simmons Entertainment Marketing LLC, headed by NBA star and former DePaul and Simeon High School standout Bobby Simmons, Oquendo is looking to make a run at another world title shot by the end of the year. His bout against Basile is his first Chicagoland appearance in nine years.

Promoted by 8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING, tickets for “WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 3”, starting at $31, are on sale now through the 8 Count Productions office at 312-226-5800 and through Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com.

Oquendo, 29-5-0 (18KO’s) is coming off a highly controversial split decision loss to former world champion James Toney on December 13th. The bout, broadcast from Cabazon , California on VERSUS, was thought to be amongst the worst decisions of 2008.

Basile, a native of Buenos Aires, Argentina , brings a record of 41-4-0 (19KO’s) into the battle with Oquendo, having won his last nine bouts, five by stoppage. He won the WBO Latino Heavyweight Title on February 14, 2009 by stopping Daniel Frank in the third round in Buenos Aires .

Also featured at “WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 3” is an outstanding eight round junior welterweight showdown between undefeated Chicago fan favorite, Ivan Popoca and Tulare, California ’s Hector Alatorre.

An additional eight round bout is a super middleweight title fight between Chicago’s Andrzej “THE POLISH PRINCE” Fonfara and Rockford, Illinois’ Skylar Thompson for the WBF All-Americas Super Middleweight Title.

In a special feature attraction, Chicago fan favorite Rita “LA GUERA” Figueroa and Lynnwood, Washington native Tammie “THE TASMANIAN DEVIL” Johnson will square off once again in a rematch of their draw on March 27th at the inaugural “WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT”.

The undercard features Chicago natives; highly touted junior welterweight prospect Ramiro Carrillo, featherweight Juan Bailon along with welterweights Ryan Smedick and Achour Esho in separate bouts.

Doors on the evening of the event will open at 7pm with the first bell at 8pm. The UIC Pavilion is located at 525 S. Racine , just one block south of the Eisenhower Expressway. For further information, please visit their website at www.uicpavilion.com

SENSATIONAL DOMINICAN PROSPECTS ARRIVE IN BALTIMORE

FRANCISCO CONTRERAS AND DELVIN PLASCENCIA TO MAKE US DEBUTS

BALTIMORE, MD (June 18, 2009) Sensational Dominican prospects Francisco Contreras and Delvin Plascencia arrived in Baltimore on Wednesday for their pre-fight weigh-in just a day before their highly anticipated US debuts on Thursday night at the TKO BOXING Promotions BALLROOM BOXING event at Michael’s Eighth Avenue.

Said Chet Koerner, President of TKO BOXING Promotions, “We’re thrilled to present the US debuts of these outstanding rising stars of professional boxing. Francisco and Delvin were great amateurs who competed for the Dominican National Team all over the world and both have started off their professional careers in terrific fashion.”

“ Baltimore fights fans have a great opportunity tonight to see these two world class fighters as they start their ascent towards the world rankings.”

Contreras, 8-0-0 with eight knockouts, turned professional in February 2007 after a terrific amateur career that finished with a record of 350-14. Seven of his eight knockout victims as a pro have been stopped in the first two rounds. At BALLROOM BOXING Contreras will battle Gustavo Mejia, 3-6-1 (3KO’s) of Kansas City, Missouri in a scheduled six rounder.

Mejia is coming off a brutal first round stoppage of former amateur standout Jonathan Gover on March 28th in Houston , in which he had the pro debuting San Antonio native down three times in the opening stanza.

Plascencia turned professional four years ago and has compiled a 15-0-0 (6KO’s) record. As an amateur, he had 303 bouts, losing only 19. At BALLROOM BOXING Plascencia will face the very tough Columbian Jesus Perez, 25-25-3 (14KO’s), in a scheduled six round bout.

Both Contreras and Plascencia are guided by award winning manager Cameron Dunkin along with their co-manager and trainer Valentin Contreras. Dunkin currently manages world champions Kelly Pavlik, Nonito Donaire and Steven Luevano amongst his vast stable of fighters.

Said Dunkin, “Francisco Contreras is a terrific talent who had an outstanding amateur career. Valentin and I along with TKO BOXING Promotions are very high on him. Delvin Plascencia is a talented boxer who is 15-0 and will be breaking into the top ten rankings in the not too distant future.”

The third member of the outstanding Dominican National Team also signed to TKO BOXING Promotions is undefeated featherweight Rafael Lora, 10-0-0 (5KO’s), who will be making his US debut shortly.

Headlining the BALLROOM BOXING card is a terrific eight round junior middleweight bout between popular Maryland native Jessie “THE BEAST” Nicklow and John “NO MERCY” Mackey of Montgomery, Alabama.

Tickets for BALLROOM BOXING, starting at $35.00, can be purchased in advance, by calling the Ballroom Boxing Box Office at 410-766-7474. Doors on the evening of the event will open at 6:30pm with the first bell at 7:30pm. Michael’s Eighth Avenue is located at 7220 Grayburn Dr. in Glen Burnie , MD.