Boise’s Rich Boxing Tradition Continues
Roy Jones-Prince Badi headlines July 29 PPV show
BOISE, Idaho (July 17, 2006) – When living legend Roy
Jones, Jr. steps into the ring July 29th after a
10-month absence, Idaho fight fans will have their first
opportunity to watch a bonafide Hall of Fame candidate
fighting live in Boise for the first time in more than
66 years, since former lightweight champion Jimmy Carter
lost a 10-round decision to Jimmy Grow.
At
least one world championship match has been fought in
Boise, as well as seven world champions, and the latter
number increases by three July 29 when Jones, former
International Boxing Federation cruiserweight champion
“King” Arthur Williams, who squares off against Idaho
icon Kenny “The Emmett Eliminator” Keene, and ex-IBF
light heavyweight title-holder William “KO King” Guthrie
are in action on the “Hold Nothing Back!” pay-per-view
card at Qwest Arena.
Boise’s all-time greatest pro boxer was George Logan
(25-9-2, 16 KOs), who fought from 1957 to 1965. Logan
knocked out Hall of Fame heavyweight champion Ezzard
Charles in the eighth round of their July 30, 1959 fight
at the Boise Fairgrounds. Nearly three years later in
Los Angeles, George was stopped (due to a cut eye) in
the fourth round by a 12-0 prospect named Cassius Clay
(Muhammad Ali).
In
2000, Vassiliy Jirov successfully defended his IBF
cruiserweight title by ninth-round TKO of Saul Montana
at the Bank of America Center (now Qwest Arena).
Way
back in 1914, Hall of Fame “Old-Timer” inductee and
former welterweight champion “Young” Peter Jackson lost
a 10-round decision in Boise to Jim Downing.
In
two other Boise fights, former world heavyweight
champion James “Buster” Douglas registered a first-round
knockout against Warren Williams in their 1998 match
refereed by Boise’s own Jerry Armstrong, while ex-junior
middleweight title-holder Denny Moyer took a 10-round
decision from Memo Lopez in 1964.
The
great “Tiger” Jack Fox (156-22-12, 99 KOs) was perfect
in five Boise fights over a 12-year period (1934-1946),
winning all by knockout against Battling Lemorieux, Bud
Zellar, Sonny Buxton, Pio Rico and Domingo Valin. Former
light heavyweight champion Fox fought all over Idaho in
Idaho Falls, White City Park, Sandpoint, Twins Falls,
Pocatello and Preston.
Five-time world champion Jones (49-4, 38 KOs) keeps the
Boise tradition alive July 29, challenging North
American Boxing Organization light heavyweight champion
Prince Badi Ajamu (25-2-1, 14 KOs), who is rated No. 6
by the World Boxing Council and No. 7 by the World
Boxing Organization, in the 12-round main event on “Hold
Nothing Back!”
Williams (42-14-1, 29 KOs) fights Keene (51-3, 28 KOs),
arguably Idaho’s greatest boxer of all-time, in a
10-round Special Cruiserweight Attraction. Keene has won
43 of his 44 fights (25 KOs) in Idaho, including a 22-1
(12 KOs) record in Boise, and his only loss there was
nearly 10 years ago.
Guthrie (33-3-2, 26 KOs) takes on Luke Munsen (19-5, 13
KOs) in a 12-round title fight for the vacant IBF
International cruiserweight belt.
“Hold
Nothing Back!” -- presented by Xyience, Inc. in
association with Sports and Entertainment Media, Inc. --
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.
Also
added to the card in a 10-round Special Heavyweight
Attraction is veteran Frank Wood (26-3, 18 KOs), the
reigning Mid-South heavyweight title-holder, against New
Yorker Derrick Brown (12-2-1, 10 KOs), who is managed by
one of the greatest women boxers of all-time, Christy
Martin.
Unbeaten Crow Creek Sioux cruiserweight Shawn Hawk
(11-0, 8 KOs) rated No. 19 by the North American Boxing
Association, faces Doug “The Kid” Kaluza (17-5-1, 10
KOs) in an eight-round match.
Boise
light welterweight Hilario Lopez (8-4, 6 KOs) has been
added to the card in a six-round bout against Steve
Marquez (7-7-1, 6 KOs), whose younger brother, David
Marquez (3-1-1), is matched against Caldwell (ID) light
middleweight Edgar Hernandez (3-0). His nephew,
lightweight Mario Hernandez (3-0, 2 KOs), also from
Caldwell (ID), is scheduled to fight an opponent to be
determined.
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. |