PROVIDENCE (October 30, 2008) – The
Contender, Season Three winner Sakio "The Scorpion" Bika plans to cash
in after an impressive win November 13 against two-time world title
challenger "The Pride of Providence" Peter Manfredo, Jr., runner-up in
Season One of The Contender, for the vacant IBO super middleweight title
in the 12-round main event headlining "Tough & Tested" at the newly
renovated Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island.
"Tough & Tested," promoted by the Tournament of Contenders in
association with Jimmy Burchfield's Classic Entertainment and Sports,
Inc. (CES), will air nationally live on Versus television. The
co-promoters have called for a 'Pink Out' (everybody wearing something
colored pink) to show support for the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer
Resource Foundation. A portion of the proceeds from ticket and T-shirt
sales will benefit the Gloria Gemma Foundation for research into early
breast cancer detection.
IBF Pan Pacific super middleweight title-holder Bika (26-3-2. 16 KOs), a
2000 Cameroon Olympian now fighting out of Australia, won The Contender
III with a dramatic eighth round stoppage of Bridgeport, Connecticut
native Jaidon Codrington in the finale a year ago in Boston. Bika, rated
No. 4 by the IBF and No. 8 by The Ring magazine, hasn't been stopped in
31 pro fights. In his two past world title fight shots, Sakio forced (at
that time) IBF and WBO champion Joe Calgazhe the full distance, hurting
the Welchman badly in the 12th round, and Bika's WBC title-fight against
defending champ Markus Beyer ended in a fourth round technical draw
after Beyer suffered a cut under his right eye from an accidental head
butt.
"It will be good fighting back in the states again," Bika said. "I feel
very happy to have another world title shot. This year has not been
great for me in the boxing ring. My wife had a baby in June and hence I
wanted to enjoy my time with my new son, Jordan. Hopefully, next year
will be a lot busier for me after I win this title.
"New England brings back fond memories of one of my greatest boxing
successes. I hope to continue that success against Manfredo in New
England, in November, which is the same month I won The Contender last
year."
Manfredo (31-5, 16 KOs), the reigning NABF Interim champion, is the WBC
No. 13 rated super middleweight. Fighting in front of his hometown fans,
"The Pride of Providence" sports a perfect 16-0 (10 KOs) record in Rhode
Island, including 3-0 (3 KOs) in the same Providence building as his
Nov. 13th showdown against Bika. Manfredo's five pro career losses have
all come at the hands of world champions.
"Almost every time I fight, it is in the other guy's hometown," Bika
added. "I am used to that and it doesn't intimidate me in anyway. Maybe
one day I will get to fight in my own backyard, Australia or Cameroon.
"I think Manfredo is a good boxer and a good mover. Our boxing styles
will make for a great fight. Manfredo doesn't remind me of anybody I
have previously fought. Every opponent is different and I will find out
what he's like in the ring. The winner of this fight will be in great
position to negotiate with one of the other world title belt holders for
a unification bout (WBA Mikkel Kessler, IBF Lucian Bute, WBO Denis Inkin).
My next fight…..I would like to fight the legend, Bernard Hopkins."
In the 10-round co-feature, Grady "Bad Boy" Brewer (23-11, 13 KOs),
winner of Season Two of The Contender, takes on The Contender, Season
Two fan favorite, IBF No. 13 rated Cornelius "K9" Bundrage (28-3, 16
KOs), in an IBO light middleweight title eliminator. Codrington (18-2,
14 KOs), runner-up in Season Three of The Contender, also is fighting on
the card in a super middleweight Special Attraction against an opponent
to be determined.
Some of New England's most talented and popular fighters are scheduled
to fight on the undercard including WBC World Youth and USNBC
featherweight champion Matt "Sharp Shooter" Remillard (15-0, 8 KOs),
super flyweight Isander "Peachy" Beauchamp (5-0, 2 KOs), Providence
light welterweight Jesus Caro (2-0, 2 KOs), and Pawtucket light
welterweight Diego Periera (1-0, 1 KO). All fights and fighters are
subject to change.
Tickets, priced at $18.00, $23.00, $58.00, $79.00, $107.00 and $222.00,
are on sale at the Dunkin' Donuts Center Box Office (401.331.6700) or
through CES Boxing at 401.724.2253/2254 Source: Press Release/Bob
Trieger
