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"M-16"
Mateen in "Too Smooth" Godfrey's crosshairs Feb. 12
PROVIDENCE (January 19, 2006) – USNBC cruiserweight champion Matt "Too
Smooth" Godfrey (10-0, 4 KOS) faces the stiffest test of his young
career February 12, when he fights battled-tested veteran Ernest "M-16"
Mateen (28-11-3, 10 KOs) in a six-round bout on "The Contender Special –
East Coast Pride," at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence.
Providence-native Godfrey, 24, already is rated No. 25 by the World
Boxing Council. "This is a great opportunity for me," Godfey said about
his match against Mateen. "I'm taking a huge step up against a fighter
with more than 40 pro fights.
Everybody's going to see where I'm at; I saw him hurt (Richie)
LaMontagne (May 2003 at Foxwoods) when he (LaMontagne) was good. He (Mateen)
isn't the most polished fighter, but he puts his punches together."
Mateen has been idle since November 2003 when he registered an
eighth-round TKO against former IBF champion Uriah Grant (for the second
time) for the vacant IBU cruiserweight title. "M-16" also has defeated
Joey DeGrandis, John Scully and David Telesco twice, Drake Thadzi and
Steve Pannell. He fought current undisputed world cruiserweight
title-holder O'Neil Bell to a draw and has been in against Antonio
Tarver, James Toney and Vassiliy Jirov.
Godfrey's most impressive fight was against former NABO champion Jermell
"The Truth" Barnes (17-8), a high school science teacher Matt took to
school, winning every round en route to a unanimous eight-round decision
(80-72 three times). Matt captured the World Boxing Council-affiliated
USNBC cruiserweight title this last August with a near shutout
performance (99-91, 98-92, 98-93) against Willie Herring (11-3-3), who
was coming off of an impressive nationally televised draw versus
highly-touted Shaun George, in Godfrey's first 10-round match.
Matt started boxing at Manfredo's Gym in Pawtucket (RI) with Peter
Manfredo, Jr., a finalist in the recently concluded reality television
series, The Contender, and his current stablemate, 2004 U.S. Olympian
Jason Estrada. All three will be in action together Feb. 12 in
Providence.
"We're expecting a lot bigger crowd than normal with people from all
over the country," Godfrey added. "My friends (ESPN fight announcers)
Teddy Atlas and Joe Tessitore will be there watching me fight."
Godfrey is rated No. 7 by the NABF, as well as No. 15 by the NABA and
USBA.
