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Matt
Godfrey's risky business Cruiserweight unification bout May 10 vs.
Shauna George
PROVIDENCE (April 8, 2006) - USNBC cruiserweight champion Matt "Too
Smooth" Godfrey (11-0, 6 KOS) puts his title on the line against NABA
cruiserweight
title-older Shauna George (11-0-2, 5 KOs) in a unification bout
headlining the "Put Up Or Shut Up" card May 10, on ESPN2 Wednesday Night
Fights, at
Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut.
Godfrey, 25, and George, 27, are both risking their unbeaten pro
records, something admirable, yet, unusual in boxing today. "I think he
feels the same way as I do that if I'm not ready now, when will I be?"
Godfrey said. "I'm making professional prizefighting my life and what I
do is fight. I don't look for the easy way out. He is the guy I want to
fight because this is what I do. I take fights and don't say no to
anybody."
Godfrey is coming off of a second-round TKO of former IBU cruiserweight
champion Ernest "M-16" Mateen in February. Matt is rated No. 26 by the
World Boxing Council, as well as No. 1 by the NABF.
"The cruiserweight division is a unique weight class where there is a
lot of talent at the top," Godfrey's manager Bret Hallenbeck explained.
"It really drops off after the top cruiserweights and the winner of this
fight will separate himself, pull away from the pack, and be positioned
closer to the big boys. Matt and George are the two new kids in the
division. It's good for boxing to have two unbeaten prospects like this
fight each other."
George, rated No. 15 by the WBA, is coming off of a 10-round decision
against Chad Van Sickle (20-1-2) for the NABA and IBC Americas
cruiserweight belts last November.
"I'm excited about fighting on ESPN in my first main event, or co-main
event," Godfrey said. "This is right where my team saw me being a year
ago. Everything is on schedule; I just have to keep winning. I plan on
winning this fight and than fighting two, possibly three more times this
year."
Godfrey and George have two common opponents. Matt schooled former NABO
champion Jermell "The Truth" Barnes (17-8), a high school science
teacher, winning every round en route to a unanimous eight-round
decision (80-72 three times). In Barnes' previous fight, Shauna won a
10-round decision (97-93 twice, 96-94) for the IBC Americas title.
Godfrey captured the World
Boxing Council-affiliated USNBC cruiserweight title 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
(96-94, 95-95, 93-97) versus George, in Matt's first 10-round match.
Godfrey heads to training camp April 23 at the Wild Card Gym in
Hollywood (CA), where he'll train until the week of his fight against
George, along with his head trainer, Peter Manfredo, Sr.
Last month, Godfrey had the opportunity to serve as one of WBC
heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman's sparring partners as he prepared for
his recent fight with James Toney. "When you spar with the heavyweight
champion of the world," Godfrey concluded, "you quickly realize why he
is where he is. His work ethic is unmatched for a heavyweight. He's like
a madman. Even though I got in limited rounds, I learned so much from
him. Rahman's so strong and deceptively fast."
As an amateur, Godfrey defeated many boxers who today are outstanding
professional fighters such as Randy "The Gentleman" Griffin (22-1-2, 22
KOs), Lenord "Haitian Sensation" Pierre (18-2, 13 KOs), Devan Vargas
(8-0, 4 KOs), Chazz "Mensa With Muscles" Witherspoon (10-0, 7 KOs),
Corey "Black Ice" Cummings (14-0, 11 KOs) and John "Voodoo Man" Johnson
(10-1, 9 KOs).
No risk, no reward for Matt "Too Smooth" Godfrey. That's why he's
fighting Shauna George May 10th.
