Deer Lake, PA – Unbeaten heavyweight prospect Travis Kauffman of Reading, PA is looking to evoke boxing greatness as he prepares for his August 7 bout at the Star of the Desert Arena at Terrible’s Primm Valley Casino Resorts in Primm, Nevada against Victor Barragan of Oxnard, CA.
Kauffman, 23, is hard at work in Deer Lake, Pennsylvania at the training camp popularized by Muhammad Ali more than a thirty years ago. He is the first heavyweight since then to set up camp in the legendary facility.
Gary Shaw Productions will promote the eight-round fight, which will appear under the Alfredo Angulo-Gabriel Rosado main event televised by ESPN2 Friday Night Fights.
“I love it,” says Kauffman, 17-0 (14 KO), of the training facility. “There is a lot of history up here. It’s an honor just to walk the same steps as Ali, sleep in the same room as he did, eat in the same hall as he did. It just motivates me further towards winning the heavyweight championship.”
Kauffman’s training consists of intense sparring and conditioning work, including a grueling three-mile uphill run that has given him a new perspective on what it means to be in shape.
Kauffman’s father and trainer Marshall has used the training camp once before, to help his then-protege’ Kermit Cintron prepare for his HBO debut against Teddy Reid in 2004.
“The environment is definitely one of a kind,” says Marshall Kauffman. “It’s secluded from everything, no television, very little phone reception, miles and miles from everything. These sort of surroundings can make a very hard man out of a fighter.”
Kauffman’s last fight in his hometown of Reading, PA was a turning point in his young career. Fighting the most experienced opponent of his career in Livin Castillo, Kauffman overcame a very game challenge to score a third-round knockout.
“I feel I’m getting better and better with every fight,” Kauffman, the former number one ranked amateur heavyweight, says. “I’m still young and learning but I feel good about where I am now. I know when the time is ready for me to fight for the heavyweight championship, I will be in my physical and mental peak and ready to bring the belts home to America for good.
“Ali is a legend and no one could ever hold a candle to him. I’m out to create my own legacy and August 7 is the next chapter.”
Tickets can be purchased at the box office by calling (702) 382-4388 or (702) 382-1212 Wednesday through Thursday from 11AM to 6PM and Friday through Saturday from 11AM to 10PM.