Would you
like
to Advertise HotBoxingNews.com Send an Email
CES
Kicks off 2006 with a Star-Studded Holiday Party!
(JAN 23) PROVIDENCE, RI – New England boxers, media, boxing fans &
supporters all gathered in numbers around 400 at Pearl Restaurant on
Charles Street in Providence this past Wednesday for an exciting party
to kick off the 2006 season for CES. In attendance were most of CES’
stars as well as a special phone-in visit from Contender Peter Manfredo,
Jr. and a special live appearance from Contender Alfonso Gomez.
“We wanted to have an exciting party to celebrate what we did in 2005
and get everyone ready for a big 2006,” said CES President Jimmy
Burchfield. “Having all of our fighters here along with some of our very
special guests really contributed to make this a great night for
everyone.”
Locals in attendance included IWBF world lightweight champion Jaime “The
Hurricane” Clampitt, who along with CES’ official doctor Dr. Steven
Margles, used this party as a way to announce that her left hand is
ready to begin light hitting. According to Dr. Margles, this is a very
fast recovery for the type of surgery that was performed. Also attending
the event were WBC U.S. super middleweight champion Joey “The KO Kid”
Spina, WBC U.S. cruiserweight champion Matt “Too Smooth” Godfrey, IWBF
featherweight champion Missy Fiorentino, 2004 U.S. Olympic super
heavyweight Jason “Big Six” Estrada, featherweight prospect Matt
Remillard, Bobo “The Bull” Starnino and Eddie Soto.
“Both Matt’s and Jason will be in action February 12th, but you can bet
to see all of these fighters in the ring soon,” said Burchfield. “2006
will be a big year for all of our fighters. There are many big things in
the works with Joey Spina, so stay tuned as he will be back better than
ever in 2006.”
In addition to celebrating the New Year, the party was a great way to
kick off the promotion of The Contender event at the Dunkin Donuts
Center in Downtown Providence on February 12th. The highlights of the
evening came when the main event fighter for the Feb. 12th show, Peter
Manfredo, Jr., called in from his training camp in California.
“I am training hard and I am coming to win this fight for all of my fans
in Providence,” said Manfredo, via phone. “I know it will be a great
night and I am looking forward to having all of my fans pack the Dunkin
Donuts Center. I will tell you all that I am gonna kick Scott
Pemberton’s ass. I know him well and I know that he cannot compete with
me.”
While Manfredo may be the headline attraction, the headline attraction
Wednesday night was fellow Contender Alfonso Gomez, who will be fighting
in the co-feature on February 12th. Gomez made a great sacrifice in
breaking his training camp in California to come to Rhode Island for a
couple of days to help promote the event. He gave a speech to the crowd
and than graciously took pictures with many at the event.
“Everyone in Rhode Island had been great,” said Gomez, who has a record
of 14-3-1, 5 KO’s. “I was a bit nervous coming to Rhode Island since I
was the one to defeat Peter Manfredo in the first round of the
Contender. But, everyone has been awesome and I cannot wait to fight
here February 12th. I just hope that everyone comes out to see me
because I guarantee that I will put on a tremendous show.”
Gomez was 3-1 on the Contender, defeating Manfredo and also losing to
him. He has since moved down from the 158 lbs. weight class which the
show was contested at, and has resumed fighting at his natural weight of
147 lbs.
In the main event on February 12th, Providence’s Peter Manfredo, Jr.
looks to turn his career around with a win over former world title
challenger Scott “The Sandman” Pemberton (29-4-1, 24 KO’s). Manfredo was
21-0 when he entered the Contender, but has gone just 3-3 since,
including two losses to Contender champion Sergio Mora, the second of
which was very controversial. Pemberton is coming off a knockout loss to
IBF world super middleweight champion Jeff “Left Hook” Lacy.
“This is the ultimate crossroads fight,” said Jimmy Burchfield, whose
CES company along with The Contender & ESPN is promoting the event. “The
winner of this fight gets his career rejuvenated; the loser is going to
have to take a serious look at doing something other than boxing. This,
coupled with the fact that we have a true neighborhood war, makes this a
very intriguing fight. We also have a tremendous undercard planned where
every local fighter is being put to the test.”
Featured on the undercard will be four exciting bouts. One will feature
Miguel Espino (10-2-1, 4 KO’s), another Contender, taking on tough
veteran Dorian Beupierre (12-4-2, 6 KO’s). In addition two of
Providence’s rising stars will be featured in six rounders as Jason “Big
Six” Estrada (5-0, 1 KO) takes on former world rated contender Yanqui
Diaz (13-3, 8 KO’s) and Matt “Too Smooth” Godfrey (10-0, 5 KO’s) battles
former champion Ernest “M-16” Mateen (28-11-3, 10 KO’s). Rounding out
the card will be a six rounder featurinig hot featherweight prospect
Matt Remillard (6-0, 5 KO’s) in his first six round fight.
Tickets for The Contender Special - East Coast Pride are now available
for purchase through CES Boxing at (401) 724-2253, (401) 724-2254,
www.cesboxing.com and Ticketmaster direct at all local Ticketmaster
outlets or by calling (401) 331-2211 or (617) 931-2000. Tickets are also
available through the Dunkin Donuts Center Box Office.
THE CONTENDER
The Contender is an unscripted drama about the lives, fears and hopes of
16 professional boxers as they compete for the chance to change their
lives and the lives of the people they love forever. The Contender will
air July 2006 under the ESPN Original Entertainment (EOE) banner and be
executive produced by Mark Burnett (Survivor, The Apprentice, Rock
Star:INXS), Jeffrey Katzenberg and Sylvester Stallone. For more
information visit www.espn.com.
