LAS VEGAS (Nov. 19, 2009) – IBF No. 6 rated junior middleweight Sechew “Iron Horse” Powell (25-2, 15 KOs) plans to take full advantage of the exposure and cache associated with headlining the “World’s Greatest Ever Boxing Show,” Dec. 12 at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino, as part of a spectacular “World’s Greatest Ever Boxer” promotion that weekend at the same venue..
Powell (25-2, 15 KOs), fighting out Brooklyn, leads the U.S. team versus The World in team scoring competition against Brazilian knockout specialist Antonio “Mesquitinha Nejo” Mesquita (35-1, 27 KOs) in the 10-round main event. The card showcases sons of four former world champions – junior middleweight Ronald “The Chosen One” Hearns (22-1, 17 KOs), super middleweight Aaron Pryor, Jr. (12-2, 9 KOs) and Elijah McCall (4-0-1, 4 KOs) for the U.S., while junior middleweight John Jackson (4-0, 4 KOs), from St. Thomas, represents The World.
The “World’s Greatest Ever Boxing Show,” presented by The World Greatest Ever in association with Warriors Boxing, is part of a three-day boxing spectacular, Dec. 11-13 at The Paris, climaxing with “The World’s Greatest Ever Boxer” awards dinner the night following the boxing show.
Powell, a graduate of Northern Michigan University, hopes that an impressive victory against Mesquita will position him for a world title fight. The southpaw was a highly-decorated amateur, posting an incredible 149-7 record, including gold-medal performances in the 2000 U.S. National Golden Gloves Tournament and 2001 U.S. Nationals Championship.
As a pro, Powell’s most notable wins have been against world title challengers Santiago Samaniego (TKO3) and Robert Frazier, Grady Brewer (DEC8), winner of The Contender II, Cornelius Bundrage (TKO1), Archak TerMeliksetian (DEC10), Ishe Smith (DEC10), (DEC10) and Terrance Cauthen (TKO4).
“This fight December 12th is extremely important to me,” Powell said. “I haven’t fought since January and I want to show the public I’m still here and mean business. I’m hoping an impressive victory will get me some big fights and eventually a world title shot. I want to be a household name in boxing before I wrap-up my gloves. I don’t know a great deal about my opponent but he didn’t just wake-up 35-1 with 27 knockouts. He did it and got 27 opponents out of there. He’s definitely dangerous and that’s how I’m taking him. He knows how to win and winning builds confidence. I know he’s coming to put my lights out, but I’ll be trying the reverse, to put his lights out.
“I’m honored to have the opportunity to fight on this great card. I’m on a mission to make this my best performance. It’s really important for me to show my best to all of these legendary fighters (attending the show). I have to show them something special. They’re all serious fighters, so my goal is to be good, dominating, fast, strong and in excellent shape. To get a pat on the back after my fight from some of these greats would mean the world to me.”
Hearns, son of the great 8-time world champion Thomas “Hit Man” Hearns, meets Mexican veteran Victor Hugo “Magnifico” Correa (11-4, 6 KOs) in the 8-round co-feature.
Former world champions and nominees in “The World’s Greatest Boxer” promotion, Aaron “The Hawk” Pryor and Jeff “Marrickville Mauler” Fenech, are Team Captains for the US and World, respectively.
Pryor’s son faces Canadian import Jason “Friday The 13th” Douglas (7-1, 3 KOs), and 5-time African amateur champion, undefeated Ugandan lightweight Sharif “The Lion” Bogere (12-0, 7 KOs), takes on former Texas State titlist Adam Hernandez (14-7-2, 5 KOs), in two other 8-round matches.
In one of four scheduled 6-round bouts, hot prospect Jackson, son of former world champion Julian Jackson, throws-down with Jesus Vallejo (3-1, 3 KOs). Also fighting on the undercard is the son of former world heavyweight champ Oliver McCall, Elijah, who tangles with Puerto Rican heavyweight Ruben Rivera (2-2, 1 KO).
Two unbeaten featherweights prospects, 2004 Cuban Olympian Luis Franco (2-0, 2 KOs) and Efrain Esquivivias (6-0, 4 KOs), 2006 National Golden Gloves Tournament gold medalist, get it on in what could easily turnout to be the Fight of the Night. Two-time US National super heavyweight champion Mike Hunter, Jr., the popular son of the late NABF heavyweight champion Mike “The Bounty” Hunter, makes his much-anticipated pro debut against Mexican heavyweight Alvaro Morales (3-6-5).
All fights and fighters are subject to change. Doors open at 7 PM/PT, first bout at 8 PM/PT.
Results of on-line voting at www.GreatestEver.com, allowing boxing fans from around the world to select the greatest boxer in each of the original eight weight classes, highlighted by the all-time pound-for-pound “Greatest Ever,” will be announced at the Dec. 13 awards dinner.
Tickets for the US vs. World pro boxing show are priced at $150 (Super VIP), $100 (Platinum), $80 (VIP), $65 (Gold) and (newly added) $40. The fight card plus hospitality packages are priced at Super VIP at $500, Platinum at $400, VIP at $250 and Gold at $150), as well as for the Greatest Ever Dinner Awards Ceremony and Entertainment (Super VIP at $1000, Platinum at $800, VIP at $450 and Gold at $250).
For all USA ticket sales for the World’s Greatest Ever Boxer event please contact:
MMG Marketing & Consulting, 702.617.9730, 1771 Flamingo Road, Suite 216A
Las Vegas, NV. 89119 Email: WGEB@marketingbymmg.com
ACTION PACKED CARD FEATURES DEMETRIUS HOPKINS , ROLANDO REYES, EDNER CHERRY, LEO SANTA CRUZ AND FEDOR AND DMITRY CHUDINOV
LOS ANGELES, CA (November 19, 2009) Southern California fight fans will once again be treated to world class professional boxing as TKO Boxing Promotions presents “FIGHT NIGHT AT THE COMMERCE” on Thursday, December 17th at the Commerce Casino in Los Angeles.
Featured at “FIGHT NIGHT AT THE COMMERCE” will be former world title challengers Demetrius Hopkins and Edner Cherry in addition to world ranked lightweight Rolando Reyes in separate bouts.
Said Chet Koerner, President of TKO Boxing, “The Commerce Casino is a terrific venue for us. Intimate in scale with not a bad seat, it is one of the best rooms in the country to showcase top fighters.”
“The Commerce Casino is also the largest poker facility in the world. It is the perfect place for TKO to go “All In” with Hopkins, Cherry and Reyes.”
Advance tickets for “FIGHT NIGHT AT THE COMMERCE”, starting at $25 can be purchased through Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com, 800-745-3000). The Commerce Casino is located at 6131 Telegraph Rd. Doors on the evening of event will open at 7pm, with the first bell at 8pm.
Stated Chris Middendorf, CEO and Director of Boxing Operations of TKO Boxing, “What will be particularly interesting is that both Hopkins and Cherry will be debuting for us and fighting for the first times at new weights. Hopkins will be moving up to 147 and Cherry down to 130.”
“Cherry takes his strength down to 130 and should be a beast, while Demetrius gains strength going up. If they both look as good as we hope, they will make an immediate impact at the top of their new weight classes.”
Now campaigning as a welterweight, Demetrius “THE GLADIATOR” Hopkins sports a record of 28-1-1 with 11 knockouts. Having honed his career in the rough and tumble gyms of Philadelphia, Hopkins is amongst the most ring savvy fighters in the sport.
In his last bout on December 13, 2008, the 29 year old battled WBO World Champion Kendall Holt over twelve hotly contested rounds, losing a very close split decision in a bout that Hopkins took on one week’s notice.
The scheduled eight rounder at the Commerce Casino is Hopkins’ first bout under the TKO Boxing banner, signing with the growing international promoter in October of this year.
The co-main event at “FIGHT NIGHT AT THE COMMERCE” will feature Oxnard, California’s Rolando “EL POCHITO” Reyes. The 30 year old Reyes, carrying a record of 31-4-2 (20KO’s), is coming off a stunning fifth round knockout of former world champion Julio Diaz on April 4th in Austin, Texas .
Known for his heavy handed body shots, fan favorite Reyes is riding a five bout winning streak, including a tenth round stoppage of former world champion Stevie Johnston in 2007. Reyes is currently the #3 ranked lightweight in the world by Ring Magazine.
Also featured at “FIGHT NIGHT AT THE COMMERCE” will be Florida native Edner “CHERRY BOMB” Cherry. A native of the Bahamas, Cherry brings a record of 24-6-2 (12KO’s) into the scheduled six rounder in his Southern California debut. Known for always making great fights, Cherry has been a very popular fighter over his eight year professional career having been a staple of numerous nationally televised boxing broadcasts.
In his last bout on September 13, 2008, Cherry challenged WBC Junior Welterweight Champion Timothy Bradley, losing a very close twelve round decision in a bout broadcast on Showtime Championship Boxing.
This will be Cherry’s first bout competing as a junior lightweight.
Returning to the Commerce Casino will be all-action junior featherweight Leo “EL Teremoto” Santa Cruz . The 21 year old Lincoln Heights, California resident stunned the packed house on November 3rd with a brutal first round knockout of Julio Valadez.
Amongst the most popular fighters in Southern California, the ever improving Santa Cruz, 11-0-1 (3KO’s), will be featured in a scheduled six round bout.
Also appearing at “FIGHT NIGHT AT THE COMMERCE CASINO” will be former Russian amateur standouts Fedor and Dmitry Chudinov. Now based in Los Angeles, the brothers have each won their first two bouts and are amongst the most talked about young prospects in boxing.
Twenty two year old Fedor, 2-0-0 (2KO’s) has stopped both of his opponents with devastating first round knockouts, most recently stopping Mikhail Lyubarsky in front of the packed house at the Pala Casino in Pala, California on August 22nd.
The one year older Dmitry won a hard fought four round unanimous over Eddie Hunter on the same card at the Pala Casino to improve his record to 2-0-0 (1KO).
Both brothers will be featured in four round bouts.
More information on “FIGHT NIGHT AT THE COMMERCE” will be announced shortly.
“AUTUMN CLASSIC” PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Joey McCreedy: “I don’t do a lot of talking; I fight in the ring. I respect Otis for coming up here. He’s a great fighter. He’s been in the ring with (Jeff) Lacy and (Danny) Green, well, not for very long with Green. I said I’d knock him out in five and I will knock him out in five, or earlier. He’s a warrior and I’m a warrior. It’s going to be a great fight. After I win this fight I’ll be looking for bigger fights.”
Otis Griffin: “This is my first time this way in a long time. I spent a little of my life in New Jersey, but the chill isn’t welcome. I am a devout Christian. I’ve been fighting six years as a pro in four different countries and five title fights. My career started on a reality TV show. All through this I never remember being disrespected like Mr. McCreedy has. You have woken an angry giant. He’ll realize real killers don’t talk. Real killers don’t talk.”
Danny O’Connor: “I’m looking forward to a great night of fights tomorrow.”
James Hope: “I’m guaranteeing I’ll give the best I’ve got. You (O’Connor) can’t handle my best. No disrespect, I’ve got to put you out to continue.”
Jaime Clampitt: “It’s been tough coming back from having my baby. It’s been great. I want to thank all my fans in Rhode Island and Rachel.”
Rachel Clark: “I’m always grateful to step in the ring. I thank Jaime. She’s not a slouch and neither am I. To be the best you have to beat the best. The best is yet to come.”
Vladine Biosse: “I want to thank Jeffrey for coming here and taking the fight. The way I feel, let’s get it on. This is my fifth fight and Jeffrey is a veteran. This fight will set the tone for my career. I always give everything to give fans what they came for. It’s going to be a great show. I’ve prepared very well. I leave it all in the ring. I’m coming to win.”
Jeffrey Osbourne: “I’m here to fight. I’m honored to get this chance. Biosse, let’s get it on tomorrow night.”
Rollback ticket prices for “Autumn Classic” are $25.00, $35.00, $50.00, $75.00, and $100.00 and available to purchase by calling CES (401.724.2253/2254), going online at www.cesboxing.com or www.twinriver.com, at Twin River’s Players Club booth, or any TicketMaster location.
Information: Contact CES (401.724.2253/2254/www.cesboxing.com) or the Twin River Event Center (877.82.RIVER/ www.twinriver.com) for more information. Doors open at 6 PM/ET, first bout at 7 PM/ET.