August 18 (Miami, FL)- With just 10 days to go before undefeated contender Tavoris Cloud (19-0, 18) of Tallahassee faces former champion Clinton Woods (42-4-1, 24) of Sheffield, England for the IBF light heavyweight title, former champion and fight fan favorite, Glen Johnson, briefly commented on the bout. “I’ll be there ringside and I hope Cloud wins,” Johnson said. On Friday, August 28, in the season ending broadcast of ESPN2’s “Friday Night Fights,” Cloud faces Woods in the co-main event of what is certain to be an exciting, world championship double-header from Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, FL. In the evening’s main event, Columbia’s Juan Urango (21-2-1, 16) defends his IBF junior welterweight title against Miami’s Randall Bailey (39-6, 35)..
Cloud and Woods have a common opponent in former world champion Julio Gonzalez. On September 29, 2007, Woods scored a unanimous decision win over the Mexican warrior. Less than a year later, on August 8, 2008, Cloud won by TKO in the 10th when the referee mercifully stepped in to save Gonzalez from the brave but unholy beating he was absorbing. It was the first time Gonzalez had been stopped.
“I didn’t see Cloud beat Gonzalez, so I’m really looking forward to seeing Tavoris fight,” Johnson said. “American TV is willing to spend more money on American fighters, so I hope Cloud wins this.”
No one knows Woods as well as Johnson. After three championship bouts totaling 36 rounds, the pair went 1-1-1. All three bouts were in the UK.
“Woods fought harder against me in our three fights we had over there in the UK than he did against Roy Jones and Antonio Tarver in the US,” Johnson said. “Woods is out of his comfort zone when he leaves the UK.”
Tickets for this event, priced at $52, $102, $152, and $202, may be purchased at the Hard Rock Live Box Office or online at www.TicketMaster.com.
Doors open at 7pm and the first bell rings at 8pm. The telecast begins at10pm ET / 7pm PT.