New York, January 20 – Three of DiBella Entertainment’s promising undefeated contenders will be joined by two hard-hitting veterans when they take to the national television stage during February in bouts which are sure to bring some heated action to the chilly winter temperatures. First, on Friday night, February 3, the DBE tandem of Sechew “Iron Horse” Powell (18-0, 11 KO’s) and Andre Berto (9-0, 7 KO’s) both put their unblemished pro records on the line on another edition of ShoBox: The New Generation, Showtime’s popular series featuring boxing’s up and coming stars.. The matches will be contested at Northern Quest Casino, just outside of Spokane, in Airway Heights, Washington as ShoBox heads to the Pacific Northwest and will be presented in association with Banner Promotions and Dash-DiBella Promotions.
Brooklyn’s Powell, who put forth a brilliant performance on ShoBox when he annihilated Cornelius Bundrage with a first round knockout last May, will square off against Robert Frazier (31-6-4, 15 KO’s) in a 10 round Junior Middleweight contest. Frazier, a tough veteran who has gone the distance with the likes of Winky Wright and Felix Sturm, is the toughest test of Powell’s career. He will look to derail Powell’s ascension to the top of the junior middleweight ranks.
“Iron Horse,” making his record fifth appearance, has become a ShoBox regular and captured his 18th straight triumph in his last ShoBox appearance when he notched a unanimous decision victory over Archak TerMeliksetian on November 4, 2005.
A 22-year-old 2004 Olympian, Andre Berto is one of the most highly regarded young welterweights in boxing and will show his wares to a national television audience for the first time when he takes on fellow undefeated prospect Jonathan Tubbs (7-0-1, 3 KO’s) a former amateur foe who owns a win over Berto from their amateur days. In Berto’s latest conquest, competing on the under card of Taylor-Hopkins II at Mandalay Bay on December 3, the Winter Haven, Florida native put forth another brilliant performance, demolishing Taronze Washington with a knockout at 2:50 of the first stanza, his third straight opening round KO.
The ShoBox broadcast start time on February 3 is 11PM ET/PT. Tickets are priced at $65, $40, and $25 and can be purchased in advance through the Northern Quest Casino Box Office at 509-270-6700, through Tickets West at 1-800-325-SEAT, or online at www.ticketswest.com.
Malignaggi on ESPN2 Friday Night Fights
Then on the following Friday, February 10, Brooklyn’s Paulie “The Magic Man” Malignaggi (20-0, 5 KO’s) will be back in the ring on ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights, challenging Donald Camarena (16-1, 9 KO’s) for his WBC Continental Americas Super Lightweight Championship at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut.
The “Magic Man” shoots for his 21st straight conquest as he returns to the Friday Night Fights stage where he has been an impressive performer in the past. In his last Friday Nights Fights performance on March 3, 2003, he knocked out Kevin Watts (18-2, 7 KO’s) in devastating fashion. In his last bout on August 25 at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City, Malignaggi from Bensonhurst, put away the tough-minded Jeremy Yelton scoring an eight round unanimous victory.
The co-featured attraction will pit Ghana’s Emmanuel Clottey (23-6, 14 KO’s) against Emanuel Augustus (31-25-6, 16 KO’s) in what is expected to be an action packed and hotly contested super lightweight affair. “Sleek” Clottey now fights out of the Bronx, and hopes to continue his assault on the 140 pound division. Augustus, now fighting out of Brownsville, Texas is known for his upset performances and his legendary “Fight of the Year” match up with Micky Ward in 2001, will look to add another upset to his resume.
The ESPN2 “Friday Night Fights” broadcast is slated for 9:00PM ET/6:00PM PT.
Tickets are priced at $65, $50 and $35 and can be purchased by calling the Foxwoods Casino Box Office at 1-800-200-2882 or online at www.Foxwoods.com.