NABF cruiserweight champion Matt “Too Smooth” Godfrey has headed West for Saturday night’s 10-round, non-title fight against former World amateur champion “Famous” Michael Simms outdoors 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 championships.
“I’m staying busy and showing everyone I don’t want to sit back waiting for the guys in suits to put together a title fight or eliminator involving me,” Godfrey said after returning from training camp. “Everything talked about won’t happen until 2010. I don’t want to wait all winter, so I’m going to keep everything going forward, working hard on different things to improve myself.
“Simms isn’t going to lie down. I’m preparing for the same guy who beat David Haye in the amateurs and was world champion. I can’t look past him. I just came back from three weeks at camp in Deer Lake, Pennsylvania, where Muhammad Ali used to train. There are a lot of great memories up there and nothing to do but train. I was running those hills and sparring with Travis Kaufman, who is 6-4 and can fight from both sides. Simms is 6-2 and he changes sides, left to right, with the wind. This fight will serve as a good measuring stick for things we’ve been working on. I’m prepared to take care of business in Sacramento.”
HOT PROSPECT DOMINIC SALCIDO ADDED TO “LOCKED AND LOADED” ON SEPTEMBER 11TH
RISING STAR JOSESITO LOPEZ TO HEADLINE AGAINST ANTHONY MORA
LOS ANGELES, September 9 – The hottest card of September just got hotter, as Thompson Boxing Promotions is pleased to announce that Upland, California’s Dominic Salcido has just been added to Friday, September 11th’s “Locked and Loaded” event at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, California.
Salcido will face veteran Ilido Julio in an eight round lightweight co-feature. In the eight round main event, hot junior welterweight prospect Josesito Lopez will return to action against always tough Anthony Mora.
Also in action will be hot prospects Patrick Lopez, Daniel Hernandez, Aaron Garcia, and Jesus Hernandez.
Tickets for “Locked and Loaded”, a six bout card of professional boxing presented by Thompson Boxing Promotions, are priced at $75, $45 and $30, and may be purchased by calling 714-935-0900.
Riverside’s Josesito Lopez (25-3, 14 KOs) has won three in a row since his controversial loss to Edgar Santana in 2008, and he is ready for another assault on the 140-pound elite. A Colorado native known as “The Matrix”, Anthony Mora (15-3, 10 KOs) has been in the ring with former world champion Randall Bailey, and he is eager to have the opportunity to start at new winning streak against Lopez.
A flashy boxer with a crowd-pleasing style Dominic Salcido (17-1, 9 KOs) is one of the lightweight division’s brightest young up and comers. Fighting for the first time since his win over Celestino Rodriguez last November, the 25-year old will get another tough test in Colombia native Ilido Julio (38-15-1, 34 KOs), a seasoned knockout artist who has won three in a row.
In other action, junior welterweights Patrick “El Elegante” Lopez (15-2, 10 KOs) of Venezuela and Tyler Ziolowski (11-8, 6 KOs) of St. Joseph, Missouri, will clash in an eight round battle, and with a combined 16 knockouts, this one has the potential to steal the show.
That’s also the case in the eight round featherweight rematch between San Diego’s Aaron Garcia (9-1-1, 2 KOs) and Huntington Park’s Jesus “Pollo” Hernandez (8-0-1, 2 KOs). On June 12th, the two California standouts battled to a six round draw, and on September 11th they get the opportunity to settle their score.
South Gate lightweight Daniel “El Travieso” Hernandez (7-0, 4 KOs) steps back between the ropes as well on this talent-rich night, putting his undefeated record on the line against hard-nosed veteran Jose Alfredo Lugo (10-10-1, 5 KOs) of Los Mochis, Mexico.
Opening the “Locked and Loaded” event is a six round junior welterweight contest between Costa Mesa’s Raul Franco (22-6, 15 KOs) and Los Angeles’ Sergio Macias (14-17, 6 KOs).
HAMMERING” HANK LUNDY TO FIGHT ANTONIO ESPINOZA IN “BATTLE OF THE UNDEFEATED: SOMEONE’S 0 MUST GO” ON SEPTEMBER 26TH IN SOUTH PHILLY
PHIALDELPHIA (September 9, 2009)—On Saturday night September 26th, Two Lightweights will be fighting for more than the UBC World championship. They will be fighting to stay undefeated.
Rarely do two undefeated prospects get it on so early in their career but “Hammering” Hank Lundy and Antonio Espinoza will risk their perfect records by meeting for the UBC Lightweight title in a ten round bout at the Yesha Center in South Philadelphia.
The card is promoted by Bionic Bull Promotions
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.
“The called me some real bad names. He is going to get a real bad beating and then he is going to sleep”, said Lundy.
“Hank Lundy is the most exciting fighter in Philadelphia”, said Lundy’s manager Ivan Cohen.
“On September 26th he will win the first of many championships and will do it in dominating fashion.”
Espinoza of West New York, New Jersey is 11-0 with one knockout.
Espinoza is a terrific boxer and is not afraid of facing top competition. Espinoza is coming off a six round unanimous decision over Ron Boyd (6-6) on May 23rd.
In the co-feature for the UBC Super Middleweight title, Dhafir Smith (21-19-6, 4 KO’s) battles the son of the legend, Aaron Pryor Jr. (12-2, 9 KO’s) of Cincinnati, Ohio.
Super Middleweight Brian Cohen (12-2, 10 KO’s) will take on an opponent to be named in an eight round Super Middleweight fight.
Also appearing on this loaded card will be Eric “Outlaw” Hunter (10-1, 4 KO’s) of Philadelphia making his return to the ring in a six round Featherweight bout.
In a six round Cruiserweight battle, Pedro Martinez (5-2, 3 KO’s) will take on Harvey Jolly (9-11-1, 6 KO’s) of Adrian, Michigan.
Lakeysha Williams (9-14-3, 1 KO) of Philadelphia will take on an opponent to be named in a four round Jr. Lightweight bout.
Pro debaters Dan Grafton of Philadelphia and New Jersey’s Walter Tyler will square off in a four round cruiserweight bout.
In a four round ladies welterweight bout, Natalie Brown of Mississauga, Ontario Canada will take on Rachel Clark (2-2-1, 2 KO’s) of Colombia, South Carolina.
Undefeated heavyweight, John Mercurio (2-0, 2KO’s) of Philadelphia will take on Hannibal Ottey (1-2) of Baltimore, Maryland in a scheduled four round bout.
Lonnie Jackson Jr. (1-0) of Philadelphia will face debuting Jason Sosa of Camden, New Jersey in a Lightweight bout scheduled for four rounds.
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.