Guthrie Taking Next Step
Former
International Boxing Federation light
heavyweight champion William “KO King”
Guthrie (33-3-1, 26 KOs) takes a major step
up in his comeback bid July 29 against Luke
Munsen (19-5, 13 KOs), in a 12-round title
fight for the vacant IBF International
Cruiserweight Title, on the “Hold Nothing
Back!” pay-per-view show at Qwest Arena in
Boise, Idaho.
“Hold Nothing
Back!” is headlined by the return of
five-time world champion Roy Jones, Jr.
challenging Guthrie’s Silverhawk Boxing
stablemate, North American Boxing
Organization light heavyweight champion
Prince Badi “The Boxing Prince” Ajamu.
Guthrie, now
fighting out of Palm Beach Gardens, FL
returned to the ring in 2004 after a two
years of inactivity. Since then he’s been
unbeaten, winning five fights, including
three wins in 2006.
“This is my
next step and it’s a major step up,” Guthrie
spoke about his July 29 title fight against
Munsen. “I’m on the fast track to see if I’m
still a world-class fighter. Anytime you’re
in a title fight, it’s a major step because
titles don’t grow on trees, and you can’t
walk into the corner store and pick one up.”
The
Philadelphia native grew-up in St. Louis,
where he was a four-time Golden Gloves
winner and National Golden Gloves champion,
earning him an induction into the St. Louis
Boxing Hall of Fame. He also was a finalist
at the 1988 U.S. Olympic Trials.
Guthrie
turned pro in 1989 and he reeled-off 24
straight victories, including a fourth-round
knockout of Richard Frazier for the USBA
belt. Two years later, William stopped
Darrin Allen (23-2-1) in the third round to
capture the IBF title.
“Any time a
world champion starts over, when we have to
step back” Guthrie remarked about his
comeback, “it takes a lot of soul searching
and requires regrouping. I’ve done all of my
soul searching and met all of the
requirements. I’m ready to take the next
step, stay busy and keep winning so I can
fight for the world title again. Not being a
champion doesn’t open doors anymore. I still
have a warrior’s spirit and mind frame. I
believe I can still win at a championship
level.”
“Hold Nothing
Back!” -- presented by Xyience, Inc. in
association with Sports and Entertainment
Media, Inc. (SEMI) -- will be broadcast live
in North America on cable and satellite PPV
beginning at 9 PM ET/6 PM PT. The event is
being produced and distributed for North
American Pay Per View by Integrated Sports
and will be available in more than
50-million homes in the United States and
Canada via InDemand, TVN, DirecTV & Dish
Network in the US and Viewer’s Choice & Bell
ExpressVu in Canada. The suggested retail
price for the PPV telecast is only $24.95.
Tickets, priced
at $50, $100, $150, $250 and $350 (plus
handling fees), are on sale and available
exclusively at the Qwest Arena Box Office.
Call 208.331.TIXS (8947), toll free
888.330.TIXS (8497), or go on line at
www.qwestarenaidaho.com.
Guthrie is
promoted by Silverhawk Boxing, managed by
Rider Boxing, and trained by Buddy McGirt.
For more information about Guthrie or
Silverhawk Boxing go to
www.silverhawkboxing.com.
Guthrie is
coming off of an impressive first round
knockout of Carlos Bates in a bout that took
place in South Carolina in May.