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GUNN… GROSS… THE ROAD TO GLORY:
World Championship Boxing Returns to Nashville
(FEB 2) Fight Beat Entertainment is
proud to present a full night of professional boxing at the Nashville
Municipal Auditorium on Friday, March 31, 2006. Headlining
FBE’s inaugural boxing show will be a battle for the vacant IBA World
Cruiserweight Championship, between the pride of New Jersey, Bobby
Gunn (15-2, 12KO) and “The Bonetown Brawler”, South
Carolina’s Shelby Gross (16-3, 13KO).
The fight represents
the first significant world title bout in Nashville in over five years.
Gunn currently holds
the WBE Cruiserweight title, which he won in a vacant title fight last
June in Nashville. Gross previously held the Intercontinental version of
the title.
For Gunn, this will be
his fourth consecutive trip to the Volunteer state, including two fights
in Nashville last year. The well-traveled cruiserweight has boxed all
around the world as an amateur and pro, but holds Music City close to
his heart.
"I’m looking forward to
returning to Nashville,” said Gunn, who has knocked out his last six
opponents. “My two fights there last year introduced to some of the best
fight fans in the country.”
Gunn has managed to
develop a following in the Mid-South, but may very well be conceding
home court advantage from a geographical standpoint. Gross is based out
of South Carolina, and is no stranger to Tennessee, having fought in
Memphis three times in the last two years (including his past two
fights). Overall, this will be Gross’ eighth trip to Tennessee, though
his first to Nashville since his days as a regular in the Music City Mix
Factory fight series in the late 1990’s.
Gross is looking to
recreate his own Music City series, as he believes Gunn’s “Road to
Glory” will end in Nashville.
“I’m coming to
Nashville to win a title,” insists Gross, fresh off a first-round
knockout in Memphis this past January. “For me, it’s not about the
money, it’s about the title, because the IBA championship is a major
world title. I feel that this fight represents a turning point in my
career.”
It couldn’t have come
at a better time for Gross, who gets a shot at redemption after
previously falling short at the top level. While the record shows three
losses, what was gained from each loss was learning experience. Gross
believes such is the difference between he and Gunn in a fight that is
otherwise dead-even on paper and guaranteed to be a scorcher from bell
to bell.
“I know that I’m coming
to fight, and Bobby always comes to fight,” says Gross. “But what
separates us is that I’ve been at the top level, and have been able to
learn from my mistakes. I know what I’ve done wrong in the past, and
have worked hard to get back into the title picture. No disrespect to
Bobby, but I don’t think he knows what he’s walking into come March 31.”
While his official
resume may not reflect as such, Gunn boasts more experience than people
believe. Boxing since the age of 7, Gunn is a five-time amateur champion
who has shared the ring in sparring sessions with twenty former and
present world champions. The list includes Mike McCallum, Michael Nunn
and current WBA regular cruiserweight champion Virgil Hill.
Gunn is looking to add
to that list, this time on his official ledger. The plan is to parlay a
win over Gross into a series of world title bouts against the rest of
the division’s best.
“I’m honored to be
fighting for the IBA World Cruiserweight Championship. I’m training for
twelve hard rounds. My mission is to unify all of the
cruiserweight titles – the WBC, WBA, IBF, WBO and IBA. While I’m not
taking the Shelby Gross fight for granted, I look forward to winning the
IBA title and defending that title against (current WBC/WBA/IBF world
cruiserweight champ) O’Neil Bell, Jean-Marc Mormeck, Virgil Hill or even
giving Antonio Tarver a shot if he’s interested in moving up.”
Before either fighter
travels down the cruiserweight title path, they have to travel the Road
to Glory… which begins in Nashville on March 31, 2006.
The chief support for
the evening will be an eight-round heavyweight contest, with the vacant
USBC crown at stake. Ohio heavyweight George Linberger (29-8-1,
25KO), fresh off of a win over the “King of the Four-Rounders”
Butterbean, takes on Louisiana behemoth, 6’7” Rafael “The Cajun
Connection” Pedro (19-5-1, 13KO).
A full under card
features promising local talent, including rising junior welterweight
Luis Galarza (9-1, 6KO, Antioch, TN) and unbeaten lightweight
Jerome Pillow (13-0, 10KO, Columbia, TN) in separate bouts. Also
appearing on the card will be Florida-based junior middleweight prospect
Ed Paredes (5-1, 3KO). Rounding out the show will be a female
attraction, featuring Cleveland (TN)-based newcomer Melinda Woody.
Doors will open at
6:00PM, with the first bout scheduled for 7:00PM. Tickets are on sale
now and range from $15 for General Admission to $150 for VIP seating,
which is already in high demand. They can be purchased at all
Ticketmaster outlets, or by contacting Fight Beat Entertainment
at (615) 687-6849. |
