10.06.07 – By: Christopher Roche, Brickcityboxing.com: New York, NY-Those were the words of Lou DiBella at Jimmy’s Corner Restaurant in Times Square during the press conference for the upcoming Jaidon Codrington vs. Omar Sheika fight. The main event on June 20th features light-heavyweights Codrington and Sheika, in what could turn out to be a fight of the year candidate. Codrington (15-1, 11 KO’s) and Sheika (26-8, 17 KO’s) have both been stopped in the past, and they both have knockout power. Codrington is the rising star, while Sheika is the crafty veteran..
Sheika has been in with the likes of Joe Calzaghe, Jeff Lacy and Glen Johnson, and a win for Sheika will put him back on the map in the division. A win for Codrington will be the biggest of his career, and it will put him on the fast track for contender status. Codrington’s lone loss was a stoppage at the hands of Allan Green, and Codrington assured us that the Green thing is behind him. Both fighters have a lot at stake, and the fight will be a good one and could be a classic.
The show’s co-feature is Edgar Santana vs. Harrison Cuello, and Irishman Henry Coyle expects to be on the undercard.
DiBella also made a special effort to introduce Ronny Vargas, who will be making his professional debut on the 20th, against Richard Turner. Vargas won the New York City Golden Gloves three years in a row, and he is only 19. While Vargas is not signed with DiBella Entertainment, it is obvious that DiBella thinks very highly of the young prospect. Vargas’ debut bout is to be contested in the light-middleweight division.
DiBella also introduced a new sponsor for “Broadway Boxing”, Freethefan.com. The sponsor’s name will adorn the ring mat on the next HBO “Boxing After Dark” show, featuring Paulie Malignaggi, and the next “Broadway Boxing” show.
DiBella’s “Broadway Boxing” series is currently one of the most successful grassroots boxing shows in the nation. The fights are competitive, and the venue is in a prime location, the Manhattan Center, on 34th Street in New York City.
The last “Broadway Boxing” show featured two big upsets, as new DiBella signee Juliano Ramos of Brazil was knocked out in the second round, and DiBella’s headliner, Gary Stark, Jr. was knocked out in the fifth. Those type of upsets are rarities at so called “club” shows, but DiBella made it clear that he is looking to stay a cut above the ordinary. “Broadway Boxing” shows are indeed far from being club shows.