MASHANTUCKET, Conn. (April 14, 2006) – Classic Entertainment & Sports (CES) presents a doubleheader of championship boxing, “Put Up or Shut Up,” May 10 on ESPN2 Wednesday Night Fights at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut. The co-main events feature WBC USNBC champion Matt “Too Smooth” Godfrey (11-0, 6 KOs) and NABA title-holder Shaun George (11-0-2, 5 KOs) in a cruiserweight unification bout, as well as USNBC super middleweight champion Joey “KO Kid” Spina (17-0-1, 12 KOs) defending his title against Jessie Brinkley (26-3, 17 KOs), a semifinalist in The Contender television reality series.
“I’m very excited about promoting two major explosions on the same night, at one of the greatest casinos in the world, Foxwoods, on a network like ESPN that’s done so much for boxing,” CES president Jimmy Burchfield said. “We have two unbeaten, cruiserweight prospects willing to fight each other, which is something boxing really needs. Matt Godfrey is special. Corporate America loves him and regular people can relate to him. He represents everything good about boxing. According to Lou Duva, Shaun George is coming from Brooklyn to Connecticut to take Matt’s title. We’re promoting this fight in association with Donna (Duva) Brooks and her company, Hall of Fame Promotions.”
“We worked on making the Spina-Brinkley fight for a long time. For Joey, I’m not sure if this show should be called ‘Put Up or Shut Up’ or ‘Redemption’ because he fought to a draw in his last fight, but some people felt he really lost. Joey wants to show everybody what kind of fighter he is.
Brinkley was one of the most popular fighters on The Contender and we worked hard with his people to make this fight happen.”
Godfrey, 25, is coming off of a second-round TKO of former IBU cruiserweight champion Ernest “M-16” Mateen in February. The WBC rates Matt No. 28 and the NABF ranks him No. 1. “I think we’re equally talented,” Godfrey spoke about George. “I compare him to somebody I’ve sparred, Ola Afolabi. They’re a lot alike. George is very skilled and a good defensive fighter. It’s easier for me to fight somebody like him instead of an awkward fighter because you don’t know what he’s (awkward fighter) going to do. It’s easier for me to out-think a fighter like George.
“I’m excited about fighting on ESPN in my first main event. Everything is on schedule; I just have to keep winning. I’m making professional prizefighting my life and what I do is fight. If I’m not ready now (for a fighter of George’s ability), when will I be? I think he feels the same was as I do. I don’t look for the easy way out. He is the guy I want to fight because this is what I do. I plan on winning this fight and than fighting two or three more times this year.”
Two-time New York Golden Gloves champion George, rated No. 15 by the WBA, last fought in November, winning a 10-round decision against Chad Van Sickle (20-1-2) for the NABA and IBC Americas cruiserweight titles.
“By nature, I’m a competitor,” George remarked, “and I took this fight because I want to bring back boxing. I want to be the best and I know that means I have to beat the best. Matt Godfrey is one of the best in the world, especially in the cruiserweight division. I’ve heard a lot about Matt. He’s a good boxer, smart fighter and slick. I have to be pro active, first and last, and do what my trainer (Tommy Brooks) tells me to do.
“To me, this is an event, not just a fight. It all comes down to this fight should be happening down the road on HBO or Showtime. Not many fighters would take this fight. I take my hat off to Matt. I respect him as a fighter and man.”
Providence-native Spina, rated No. 26 by the WBC, and Nevada-born Brinkley are familiar with each other because they both fight out of Las Vegas.
Scheduled to fight on the undercard are unbeaten Connecticut (Manchester) featherweight Matt “Sharp Shooter” Remillard (8-0, 6 KOs), undefeated Las Vegas via Cleveland cruiserweight Aaron Williams (7-0-1, 5 KOs), and Connecticut (Hartford) heavyweight Tony Grano (3-0, 3 KOs). All bouts and fighters are subject to change.
“Matt Remillard is destined to be a world champion and fans love watching him fight,” Burchfield noted. “Williams is a 19-year-old who was a decorated amateur (93-10) and national champ many times. Grano was the national amateur heavyweight champion last year and he’s knocked out all three of his opponents as a pro. Six fighters on this card are undefeated.”
Tickets, priced at $150 (Platinum Main Event Ringside), $100 (Gold Co-Feature Ringside) and $50 (Silver Reserved), are on sale and available by calling CES (401.724.2254/2253), Foxwoods’
box office (800.200.2882) or online at www.foxwoods.com. For more information visit www.cesboxing.com.