NABF cruiserweight champion Matt “Too Smooth” Godfrey defends his title against veteran “Famous” Michael Simms in the 12-round main event Saturday night, September 12 at the Red Lion Hotel in Sacramento, California. NABF champion Godfrey (19-1, 10 KOs) is rated No. 3 by the IBF, as well as WBC #5, WBA #12 and WBO #15. The Providence native, ranked No. 10 by The Ring magazine, has had sensational knockout victories on ESPN Friday Night Fights against Emmanuel Nwodo, Shaun George, and Felix Cora, Jr..
Sims (20-11-2, 13 KOs) was the 1999 World and U.S. amateur light heavyweight champion, defeating current heavyweight title challenger David Haye in the world championship. More recently, Simms fought former world cruiserweight champion Kelvin Davis to a draw, lost a tough 10-round decision in Canada to national hero Troy Ross, winner of The Contender IV television reality series, and dropped world-rated Yoan Pablo Hernandez in an 8-round majority loss in Germany.
“Matt Godfrey is the best cruiserweight in the world,” Godfrey’s promoter Jimmy Burchfield, president of Classic Entertainment and Inc. (CES), said. “We’re trying to keep Matt busy as we look forward to him fighting for a world championship. Simms is a tough guy and Matt’s not looking past him. Simms gave Ross all he could handle, busting up his eyes, for 6-7 rounds. Team Godfrey takes every fight seriously. Inside and outside the ring, I honestly believe Matt Godfrey is what boxing fans want and have been waiting for. He’s a terrific fighter and an even better person.”
Go to www.cesboxing.com for more information about Classic Entertainment and Sports and/or Matt Godfrey.
JOSE HERNANDEZ VS. JUAN CARLOS MARTINEZ IN CO-MAIN ON SEPTEMBER 26TH AT “WARRIORS COLLIDE/WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 6”
CHICAGO, IL (September 2, 2009) Chicago based junior lightweights Jose Hernandez and Juan Carlos “EL PEZ” Martinez will meet in the ten round co-main event on Saturday, September 26th at “WARRIORS COLLIDE/WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 6.”
Presented by Dominic Pesoli’s 8 Count Productions, “WARRIORS COLLIDE/WINDY CITY FIGHT NIGHT 6” at Chicago ’s UIC Pavilion is headlined by a lightweight showdown between former world champions David Diaz and Jesus Chavez.
Said Pesoli about the Hernandez/Martinez matchup, “Along with the main event, this is a classic Chicago fight. Both Jose and Juan Carlos are very popular in Chicago and both will have their legions of fans at the UIC Pavilion on fight night. A win truly sets up a much bigger fight for either guy so there’s a lot at stake for Jose and Juan Carlos.”
Fighting out of Round Lake Beach , Illinois , the 33 year old Hernandez brings a record of 22-4-0 with fourteen knockouts into the battle with Martinez . In his last bout he battled twelve rounds with world title challenger Rocky Juarez, losing a close unanimous decision on May 5, 2007. The bout with Juarez was the co-main event at the Pay Per View record setting “THE WORLD AWAITS” event headlined by the junior middleweight world title bout between Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather Jr. at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas .
Prior to the bout with Juarez, Hernandez scored a crushing eighth knockout of highly regarded undefeated prospect Jason Litzau on HBO’s Boxing After Dark on December 16, 2006 in Miami , Florida .
The 27 year old Martinez , a native of San Luis Potosi , Mexico , has amassed a record of 16-11-1 (7KO’s), since turning professional six years ago. In his last Chicago appearance on May 29, 2009, Martinez won a ten round decision over Jaime Sandoval, a repeat of his win over the fellow Chicagoan in 2007.
Martinez followed the Sandoval win with a six round battle against heavily hyped prospect Rafael Guzman in New York City on the undercard of the Miguel Cotto/Joshua Clottey welterweight world title bout on June 13th. Although Martinez was seemingly a clear cut winner, the bout was awarded to Guzman, a split decision which brought boos from the packed house, amidst looks of disbelief from ringsiders.
Tickets are priced at $151, $101, $76, $51 and $31, and are available through Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com), the UIC Pavilion Box Office (312-413-5740) and the 8 Count Productions Office (312-226-5800).
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. ). The UIC Pavilion is now serving alcohol at all boxing events.
8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING, was started by Dominic Pesoli in 1998 and has consistently presented the highest quality professional boxing events in Chicagoland. In 2003, Pesoli along with former featherweight contender Mike Garcia, opened JABB Boxing Gym, a 6,000 square foot venue dedicated to the finest Chicagoland boxers of all talent levels.
For more information on 8 Count Productions and JABB Boxing Gym, please visit www.8countproductions.com and www.jabbboxing.com
TWO TITLE FIGHTS PLUS BRIAN COHEN HEADLINE A BIG NIGHT OF BOXING ON SEPTEMBER 26TH IN SOUTH PHILLY
PHILADELPHIA (September 1, 2009)—On Saturday night September 26th boxing debuts at the Yesha Center in South Philadelphia with two big title fights plus hard hitting Super Middleweight Brian Cohen in the three top fights on the card.
The card is promoted by Bionic Bull Promotions
In a battle for the UBC Lightweight title, undefeated “Hammering” Hank Lundy risks his undefeated record when he battles an opponent to be named.
Lundy of Philadelphia brings in a record of 14-0-1 with eight knockouts and is quickly becoming one of the top fighters in talent rich Philadelphia.
Lundy has received accolades for not only his lightning quick hands and fan friendly style but his willingness to take on all comers as evidenced by a recent stretch where he took on Darnell Jiles Jr. (8-0), Esteban Almarez (7-0) and Jason Cintron (10-0) within a five fight span.
Lundy is coming off a fifth round stoppage over Josh Beeman (4-3-3) on July 17th in Lincoln, Rhode Island.
In the second title fight, Dhafir “No Fear” Smith will battle Aaron Pryor Jr. for the UBC Super Middleweight title.
Smith of Upper Darby, PA has a record of 21-19-6 with four knockouts but that doesn’t even begin to tell the story.
At just twenty-six years old, Smith has already fought some of the best fighters in the world between the Super Middleweight and Light Heavyweight divisions.
Smith has fought Dennis Sharpe (13-0-1); Ian Gardner (12-1); Shaun George (8-0-1); Contender participants Max Alexander (2-0); Wayne Johnsen (8-0); Henry Buchanan (11-0); Smith went the distance with knockout artist Curtis Stevens (14-1); Smith was in with former US Olympic Gold Medalist Andre Ward (11-0), prospect Adonis Stevenson (10-0), a split decision loss to former world title challenger Kingsley Ikeke (23-3) and a loss to former Dominican Olympian Jerson Ravelo (18-3).
Smith has several big wins on his ledger over Harry Mayes (5-0); Kippy warren (17-5-2); Brandon Mitchem (25-4-2); Former Contender participant and world title challenger Jonathan Reid (34-6); Smith also has draws with Mike Paschall (10-0) and Former world title challenger Larry Marks (29-9)
Pryor Jr. has been fighting as a pro since 2005 on the heels of his father who is one of the legends of the sport.
Pryor has carved out a nice career for himself as the Cincinnati native has a record of 12-2 with nine knockouts which includes a third round stoppage over former U.S Olympian Dante Craig last August 30th.
Both of those losses have come in the last three bouts which include his last bout where he dropped a six round majority decision to Julius Kennedy on April 25th.
Cohen has a record of 12-2 with eleven of those wins coming by knockout.
Cohen has scored three consecutive stoppages which include his last outing when he took care of James Morrow in one round on August 29 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
A full undercard has been assembled it is led by a six round Cruiserweight bout between Pedro Martinez (5-2, 3 KO’s) of Philadelphia battling the well-tested Harvey Jolly (9-11-1, 6 KO’s) of Adrian, Michigan.
In a Ladies Jr. Lightweight affair, Lakeysha Williams (9-14-3, 1 KO) of Philadelphia takes on an opponent to be named in a bout scheduled for four rounds.
In a battle of pro debuting Cruiserweights, Dan Grafton and Walter Tyler will square off in a bout scheduled for four rounds.
In a ladies Welterweight bout, Natalie Brown (5-1, 3 KO’s) of Mississauga, Ontario takes on an opponent to be named.
Heavyweight John Mercurio (2-0, 2 KO’s) will see action in a four round Heavyweight bout.
Lonnie Jackson Jr. (1-0) will see action in a four round Lightweight bout.
The show will be streamed All over the world on www.gofightlive.tv on a tape delayed basis
Ticket prices for this great night of boxing are $75, $50 & $30 and can be purchased by calling 1-215-755-8155 or 1-302-543-3705. Door open at 6:30 PM / 1st bout begins at 7:30 PM
The Yesha Center is located at 2308 Snyder Avenue