14.11.05 – PROVIDENCE, RI — Former world title challenger, and world rated featherweight contender, Missy “The Fury” Fiorentino (12-1, 7 KO’s) will battle WIBF world junior featherweight champion Esther “The Blonde Dutch Girl” Schouten for the vacant IWBF world featherweight title on Wednesday, November 23rd at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence’s Down City..
Schouten was the only fighter up for the challenge to face off against Fiorentino, and will be traveling all the way from Amsterdam, Holland for the opportunity.
“This is another great fight on a tremendous card,” said promoter Jimmy Burchfield. “We went through pretty much every featherweight out there. We even looked at weight classes above and below featherweight to no avail. Thankfully Esther Schouten was looking to move up to featherweight and this opportunity fit well for them. We know Esther is a solid boxer and is coming to fight so it should be a great world championship fight.”
Fiorentino last fought July 8th when she soundly defeated former WIBF American champion and three-time world title challenger Belinda Laracuente. That bout made the ESPN2 telecast. She had been scheduled to fight on August 26th at the Rhode Island Convention Center, however no suitable opponent was found in time. Last October, Fiorentino got her first crack at a world title, losing a very disputed 10 round decision to hometown hero and than WIBA featherweight queen Emiko Raika.
Schouten comes into the fight with a four inch height advantage. She captured her first professional title in just her 8th professional fight when she won the WIBF European super bantamweight title. She went on to capture the WIBF world super bantamweight title in her 12th professional fight. She has defended her title twice, including a close decision win over Alicia Ashley, the reigning WIBF world bantamweight champion.
“A fighter does not travel from Amsterdam to Rhode Island to fight unless they think they are coming to win,” said Burchfield. “That’s how I know that this is going to be a great fight, one that you should not miss.”
On the undercard, 2004 United States Olympian Jason “Big Six” Estrada (4-0, 1 KO) will battle 6’5″ heavyweight prospect Jeremy “The Superstar” Brooks (4-2, 2 KO’s) in an exciting 6 round battle. Estrada is coming off an exciting 6 round win over veteran Earl Ladson on August 26th.
“This is an exciting heavyweight fight,” said Burchfield. “We want to keep moving Jason up the ladder to show what he can do in the ring. At 6’5″ Brooks will pose a menacing foe for Jason, one that should be a great test.”
The November 23rd event will take place at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Downtown Providence. The doors for the event will open at 6 PM with the first bout beginning at 7 PM. The event will feature 7 world class matchups including the aforementioned fights, along with appearances by WBC U.S. Cruiserweight Champion Matt “Too Smooth” Godfrey (9-0, 5 KO’s), 2000 Olympic Trials Gold Medallist “Steamin” Josh Beeman (3-1-2, 1 KO) and Exciting Puerto Rican Prospect Eddie Soto (2-0, 1 KO). Tickets, on sale now, are priced at $30, $52, $102 and a limited amount of $152 VIP seats. They are available by calling CES at 401-724-2253 or logging on to their web site at www.cesboxing.com.
In addition, the event will be televised on a taped delay basis on both CN8, The Comcast Network, which reaches more than 7 million homes from Maine to Virginia, and Cox Sports Television in Rhode Island. CN8 will be broadcasting the event on Saturday, November 26 at 7:00 PM/EST and Cox will present the event on Friday, November 25 at 8:00 PM/EST. The CN8 commentating team is made up of Ed Berliner, five-time world champion Vinny Paz and Phil Burton.