PROVIDENCE (March March 3, 2005) – Promoter Jimmy Burchfield (Classic Entertainment & Sports, Inc.) is banking on his young star, WBC Youth middleweight champion “Bad” Chad Dawson, developing into a hometown New Haven version of what Vinny Paz was in Providence or Joe Mesi is in Buffalo – The Franchise..
In a city void of a major league sports team, 22-year-old Dawson (16-0, 11 KOs, 1 NC) has an opportunity April 1 to capture the hearts and minds of New Haven-area boxing fans when he headlines “Homecoming,” co-promoted by CES and Guilty Boxing at the New Haven Athletic Center.
“In all my years in boxing as an international judge and promoter,” Burchfield said, “I can’t say I’ve been prouder of any fighter than ‘Bad’ Chad against Carl Daniels in his last fight. That’s why I’m having him fight in his hometown, despite all of the hard work and risk. He executed his game plan to perfection and December 10 Chad became a man in the ring.”
Manchester featherweight Matt Remillard, managed by Jackie Kallen, makes his pro debut and CES also plans to present four amateur matches, including one featuring New Haven’s Ring One 65-pound National Silver Mittens champion Tramaine Williams, the 12-year-old affectionately known as the “Mighty Midget.”
“Homecoming” marks Dawson’s first fight in New Haven, as well as the first pro boxing show there in nearly four years. “Bad” Chad, rated No. 15 by the World Boxing Council, defends his title against upset-minded Efrain Garcia (17-4-1, 11 KOs), of Texas, in the 10-round main event. Dawson is coming off a near perfect performance December 10, in which, he stopped former world champion Carl Daniels in seven rounds.
Dawson’s head trainer, John “The Iceman” Scully, fought in the last pro show held (April 19, 2001) in New Haven. “Chad has unlimited potential,” Scully noted. “He’s ready to breakout. People in New Haven don’t really know what they have. One day he’s going to be fighting on HBO and they’re going say, ‘Hey, that’s the guy I saw at the store. I didn’t know he’s a star.’ Chad Dawson is going to be a star and April 1 boxing fans in the New Haven are will get their first chance to see him live. They’re in for a treat because this kid is special.”
“Homecoming” will be taped live and air on “Guilty Fight Night” (check television listings) and CN8, The Comcast Network.
Guilty Productions, along with its parent company, Guilty Boxing, annually provides a minimum of 48 episodes of “Guilty Fight Night” with Hall of Fame announcer Col. Bob Sheridan and former NFL kicker Benny Ricardo. “Guilty Fight Night” is shown in more than 60-million households worldwide via America One and The Urban Network in the U.S., Fox Sports International in the Middle East and portions of Africa, BEN Television in Great Britain and Ireland, and other cable outlets.
On CN8, The Comcast Network will broadcast “Homecoming” on Saturday, April 9 at 7:00 PM/ET to 6.4 million homes from Maine to Maryland. CN8’s coverage of “Homecoming” will also be available on Comcast Digital Cable’s ‘ON DEMAND” service and online at www.cn8.tv.
Also scheduled to fight on the card is Providence’s unbeaten super middleweight Joey “KO Kid” Spina (14-0, 11 KOs) in the eight-round co-feature, as well as former four-time U.S. National amateur champion, undefeated cruiserweight Matt Godfrey (6-0, 4 KOs), in his first six-round match.
Also slated to fight in separate four-round bouts are 2004 U.S. Olympian and one of America’s most decorated amateur boxing stars, Providence heavyweight Jason “Big Six” Estrada (1-0); two-time Everlast Under-19 champion Remillard and Irish super middleweight Joe “Sugar” Rea (2-0, 1 KO, 1 NC), now fighting out of South Boston, making his CES debut. All matches and fighters are subject to change.
“I knew Joey Spina was serious when he moved from the comforts of Providence to Las Vegas, where he’s been training hard with former world champion Eddie Mustafa Muhammad,” Burchfield remarked. “He used to have trouble making 175 pounds, but he’s come in at a strong 168 since turning into a super middleweight and says he can make 160. He’s for real. Joey Spina, pound for pound, is one of the most powerful punchers in boxing today.
“This is a major league card. People are going to get an opportunity to watch the 2004 US Olympian, heavyweight Jason Estrada, and the guy who just missed making the U.S. Olympic Team, undefeated cruiserweight Matt Godfrey, who was the second alternate for the Olympics. And we have the ‘Sharp Shooter’ from Connecticut, Matt Remillard, making his pro debut in his home state. Joe Rea is an exciting Irish fighter who just signed with us. Top to bottom, ‘Homecoming’ is a great show.”
For ticket information call CES’ corporate headquarters (401.724.2253), Connecticut office (860.432.4253), or visit its web site at www.cesboxing.com. Doors open at 6 pm, first bout at 7 pm.
About CES: Classic Entertainment & Sports, Inc., founded in 1992 by Jimmy Burchfield, is a full-service boxing operation, located in Providence, Rhode Island. CES specializes in world-class boxing promotions, marketing and consulting. Its staff of 15 professional has more than 100 combined years of valuable working experience in boxing.
About Guilty Boxing: Guilty Boxing, Inc. and Guilty Productions, Inc. were founded by Nick Ratenno to create a full-service boxing and production operation, located in Las Vegas, Nevada. Guilty Boxing and Guilty Productions proved a truly unique combination of promotion, production, sales and marketing professionals that are all dedicated to bringing real competition back to boxing.
About CN8, The Comcast Network: CN8, The Comcast Network (www.cn8.tv) has quickly become one of the nation’s largest and most honored regional 24-hour diversified television networks – serving 6.4 million cable homes on the East Coast. The network provides quality, locally produced programming in four main areas: live, interactive television; regional news; entertainment; and coverage of high school, college and professional sports. CN8 has been nominated for 182 regional Emmy Awards. The Comcast Network is owned and operated by Comcast Cable Communications, Inc., a division of Comcast Corporation and the country’s leading cable and broadband services provider.