Former Linear and WBO Heavyweight Champion Shannon “The Cannon” Briggs (49-5-1, 43 KOs) returned to action on Tuesday night at the Seminole Hard Rock Resort in Hollywood, Florida, and destroyed normally durable 6′ 7″ veteran Rafael “The Cuban Giant” Pedro (20-9-1, 14 KOs) in 28 awe-inspiring seconds. Fighting in the evening’s main event, Briggs came in at his lightest weight in his last six fights and quickly showed the blazing hand speed and heart-stopping power that have made him a two-time world champion and fan favorite worldwide.
Pedro, who had been stopped only once before in his career, went down from a battering ram straight right hand to the side of the head and made no serious attempt to rise before the count of ten..
The impressive victory was Briggs’ 28th career first-round KO.
“Shannon is clearly ready for another run at the heavyweight title,” said Briggs’ promoter Greg Cohen of the The Empire Sports and Entertainment. “That picture-perfect right hand would have KO’d any man on the planet. Briggs is back, more focused than ever and a serious threat to any heavyweight belt holder.”Quick correction to today’s press release introducing the Empire Sports and Entertainment Inc.
TKO BOXING ADDS FOUR TO MAY 1ST SHOW IN IOWA CITY!!
WORLD CLASS PROSPECTS ZEWSKI, CRAWFORD, LOVE AND FINNEY TO SEE ACTION
LAS VEGAS, NV (April 16, 2010) TKO Boxing Promotions has added four world class prospects, Mikael Zewski, Terence Crawford, J’Leon Love and Michael Finney, to the action packed MAY MAYHEM professional boxing event set for Saturday, May 1st at the Johnson County 4-H Fairgrounds in Iowa City, Iowa.
Canadian newcomer Mikael Zewski has taken the professional boxing world by storm in his first two professional bouts. After a sensational amateur career that finished with a record of 138-29 and a # 5 world ranking, the 21 year old welterweight has won his first two professional bouts by devastating knockout.
With both of his stoppages being televised on Canada’s Super Channel, Zewski is rising fast in popularity on both sides of the border. The native of Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada, stopped Moses Alvizo in the second round on March 25th at the Commerce Casino in Los Angeles.
Junior welterweight sensation Terence Crawford will make his 2010 debut in Iowa City. Since turning professional in 2008, the 22 year old Crawford has thrilled fight fans across the country with his fast hands and world class skills.
In his last start on December 19, 2009, Crawford knocked out Corey Sommerville in the second stanza in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Fighting out of the talent rich boxing town of Detroit, Michigan, 22 year old super middleweight J’Leon Love has entered the pro ranks with a bang, winning his first three bouts by knockout, two in the first round.
Training at the legendary Kronk Gym, Love finished his amateur career with a record of 105-10, highlighted by a Silver Medal at the 2007 National Golden Gloves and the Silver Medal at the 2007 National PAL in addition to being a 2006 Ringside Champion.
In his last start on March 25th, Love brutally knocked out Bryan Smith in the second round at the Commerce Casino in Los Angeles.
Just eighteen years old, Michael Finney moved from his hometown of Smith Station, Alabama to the boxing capital of the world, Las Vegas, in order to work with legendary trainer Kenny Adams. The hard hitting welterweight prospect has won each of his first two bouts by first round knockout, most recently stopping Jordan Washington on April 2nd at the RIO Casino in Las Vegas.
More information on these bouts will be announced shortly.
Presented by WIN BY KO Promotions, advance tickets for MAY MAYHAM, starting at $25 can be purchased by calling 319-338-1633. Doors open on the evening of the event at 6pm.
Main Event Card Change at Hollywood Bay St. Louis
BAY ST. LOUIS, MS – Hollywood Casino Bay St. Louis announced that Kendrick Releford will replace injured fighter Leo Nolan in the main event to battle with rising crowd pleaser “Big Fred” Kassi on Saturday, April 24th, at 8 p.m. “Releford will be the best fighter that Kassi has ever fought in his professional career,” said Boxing Promoter Les Bonano.
Releford, from Fort Worth, Texas, is coming off of winning six of his last seven fights. Releford has 21 wins and 13 losses. The losses came while fighting in Germany three times, Canada, the United Kingdom and throughout the United States. Releford has never been knocked out and holds wins over highly rated Elieser Castillo for the WBO Latino heavyweight title 12 round decision and highly regarded “Cuban” Raymond Garbey.
Heavyweight Kassi won his last fight at Hollywood against the heavy hitter Moises Droz (13W-9L) by knock out in the third round. He’s won three fights in a row since his lone set back.
The co-feature to the main event will include two of the top prospects in this region. In a six-round light heavy weight fight Anthony Doughty (6W-1L) of Tuscaloosa, AL, will battle it out with undefeated Justin Verdin (9W-0L) of Houma, Louisiana.
In the first middle weight bout Jamond Bourgeois of New Orleans, Louisiana, makes his professional debut facing off with Josh Thorpe (1W-0L). Thorpe is from Mobile, Alabama, and both fighters are expected to draw a large fan base. Light weight David Hill (0W-1L) returns from Pensacola, Florida, to go toe-to-toe with Aubrey Norris from Mobile, AL. Norris is making his professional debut. Hill lost his first professional fight at Hollywood Casino earlier in the year.
Middleweights Marcus McDaniel (2W-0L) and Billy Cunningham (3W-4L) of Jackson, MS, will step into ring. McDaniel, a very fast fighter from New Orleans, LA, won a tough four-round battle here in January where he handed Cleoney Fouqua, a fighter out of Columbus, MS, his first and only loss.
Leo Nolan (27 wins – 2 losses) pulled out of the Kassi fight late last week with back injury. He forwarded copies of his medicals from Henry Ford Medical Center. Nolan’s representative stated that the fight with Kassi will be rescheduled when Nolan obtains the approval medically to fight.
Don’t miss live boxing at Hollywood Casino Bay St. Louis. Hurry, these fighting events will sell out soon. Tickets are $20, $50 and $100 and on sale now at the Gift Shop or call 1-800-229-2683. MATCHES, FIGHTS AND FIGHTERS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. Must be at least 21 to attend. Visit www.hollywoodcasinobsl.com.