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ALVAREZ
COMES HOME FOR NABO TITLE BOUT AGAINST CRUZ
HOLLYWOOD, FL, May 2 – When unbeaten welterweight
contender Shamone Alvarez was rising up the 147 pound ranks, one of his
mentors and friends was IBF lightweight champion Leavander Johnson, a
fighter who had been through the ups and downs of boxing and who was
able to give a young fighter the advice he needed to navigate the murky
waters of the fight game.
Tragically, Johnson died in September of 2005 after a fight with Jesus
Chavez. Alvarez has not forgotten his friend though, and when he steps
into the ring in Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall on June 2nd for the
biggest fight of his life – a bout against Jose Luis Cruz for the NABO
welterweight championship – he will be thinking of Johnson, while his
promoters will be donating a portion of the proceeds to the trust fund
set up for the family of the fallen World Champion.
“Leavander Johnson was a good friend of mine and I think about him every
day,” said Alvarez. “He was a true warrior and a good family man, and
that’s why I’ve dedicated this fight to him.”
Alvarez-Cruz, a 12 round NABO welterweight championship bout, is a
featured bout on the card headlined by the WBO World Heavyweight title
fight between champion Shannon Briggs and challenger Sultan Ibragimov.
For Alvarez, an Atlantic City resident, it will be an emotional night as
he fights in the city’s biggest venue.
“I’ve fought in Atlantic City a lot but this is my first time fighting
in Boardwalk Hall and I’m excited to be on this card with a World
Heavyweight Title bout like Briggs-Ibragimov,” said Alvarez. “I’m
bringing all my friends and family to the show and they’re definitely
going to be in my corner when I beat Cruz and win the NABO title.”
Alvarez (17-0, 11 KOs), a pro since 2002, is a talented fighter with the
type of skills necessary to compete at the highest levels of the game. A
2001 Golden Gloves champion, ‘The Truth’ has had to battle through bouts
of inactivity during his career, but in 2006 he had his biggest year as
a pro as he won four fights in a row in impressive fashion. In his last
bout, on March 10, 2007, Alvarez made a successful Madison Square Garden
debut, stopping Travis Hartman in the first round.
Mazatlan, Mexico’s Jose Luis ‘Chelin’ Cruz (32-2-2, 26 KOs) is a rugged
battler who is unaccustomed to taking a backwards step in the ring. A
veteran of over a decade in the ring, Cruz burst on the world scene with
his hard fought decision losses to former world champions Shane Mosley
and Sharmba Mitchell in 2005 and 2006. Winner of his last bout via
decision over well-regarded Archak TerMeliksetian last November, Cruz is
hopeful that he can deal another prospect a defeat on June 2nd.
“Seminole Warriors Boxing and our partners at Golden Boy Promotions are
proud to honor this great fallen champion on this very special night of
World Championship Boxing,” said Leon Margules, Executive Director of
Seminole Warriors Boxing.
This exciting and emotional night of fights, which features the highly
anticipated battle between two great heavyweights for the world renowned
crown, is brought to you Seminole Warriors Boxing, Golden Boy Promotions
and Caesars Atlantic City, in association with Nafta Moskva, Golden
Grain Promotions, Main Events, CSI Sports and Global Marketing
Strategies can be seen Live on Pay-Per-View.
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