PROVIDENCE (June 7, 2006) – Classic Entertainment & Sports, Inc. (CES) has signed heavyweight Charles Shufford (20-6, 9 KOs) to an exclusive promotional contract, CES president Jimmy Burchfield announced today. Shufford, 33, lives and fights out of Las Vegas. His most notable victory was a 10-round decision in 2000 against former WBO heavyweight champion Lamon Brewster, which was preceded by an eight-round TKO of ex-IBO heavyweight title-holder Jimmy Thunder.
Charles captured the IBA Americas heavyweight title in 2002 with a 12-round decision against Eliecer Castillo. Shufford has been in the ring against the likes of present IBF heavyweight title-holder Wladimir Klitschko, world title challengers Samuel Peter and Jameel McCline, and U.S. Olympian Lawrence Clay-Bey.
“Anytime you add a proven heavyweight like Charles Shufford,” Burchfield said, “your stable has been strengthened. Charles brings a lot of valuable ring experience to CES, which has a lot of talented young fighters. We plan on Charles making his CES debut July 7 in Hyannis (MA).
“We’re going to keep Charles busy and in the not too distant future he will be an exciting force in the heavyweight division. Charles handles himself well in and out of the ring and he’s just what the heavyweight division needs today.”
The multi-talented Shufford also played George Foreman in the move, Ali, starring Will Smith in the lead role. Charles was an all-star football and basketball player in high school and he later played both sports at San Jacinto Junior College in California.
“I’ve been talking with Jimmy Burchfield a long time and I’ve signed with his company because he’s a good guy who takes good care of his fighters,” Shufford commented. “He can help get me get where I want to be and that’s back in the heavyweight mix and, hopefully, into a title fight.
“I’ve fought the best out there and I didn’t start boxing until I was 21. I’ve done a great job considering I started boxing a lot later than most guys. This is the best I’ve ever been. I’m smarter, more skilled and experienced. Now I’m putting it all together with a good promoter behind me. A lot of my losses were close and I believe I only really lost two – Klitschko and Robert Davis in my first 10 rounder.”
CES’ stable includes NABA & USNBC cruiserweight champion Matt “Too Smooth” Godfrey (12-0, 7 KOs), USNBC super middleweight title-holder Joey “KO Kid” Spina (18-0-1, 13 KOs), 2004 U.S. Olympian and unbeaten heavyweight Jason “Big Six” Estrada (6-0, 1KO), world-rated welterweight Ossie Duran (21-5-1, 9 KOs), undefeated featherweight prospect Matt “Sharpshooter” Remillard (9-0, 6 KOs), IWBF lightweight & featherweight champion Missy “The Fury” Fiorentino (14-1, 6 KOs), and two-time world champion Jaime “The Hurricane” Clampitt (16-4-1, 7 KOs).
For more information about CES go to www.cesboxing.com