PROVIDENCE– World cruiserweight contender Matt “Too Smooth” Godfrey (18-1, 10 KOs), rated No. 3 by the WBC, became the first Sovereign Nations Boxing Council (SNBC) champion last Saturday night when he won a dominating 10-round decision against Eddie “The Iron Man” Gutierrez at 4 Bears Casino in New Town, North Dakota.
SNBC links federally recognized tribes throughout the United States and Canada. SNBC’s mission is to develop, promote and help regulate boxing in a fair and professional manner by federally recognized tribes that are sovereign nations.
Godfrey won every round on two judges’ scorecards and nine on the other (100-90, 100-90, 99-91) against Gutierrez (15-6-1, 6 KOs) in a near perfect performance.
“It was an honor for me to fight for the first Sovereign Nations Boxing Council title, let alone win the first SNBC belt because I’m Native American,” Godfrey said upon returning to his Providence home. “Finally, Native American boxers have a chance to be recognized and being the first SNBC champion is a huge honor for me.
“I threw a lot of punches, put them together, and worked on everything we had trained to do. Credit Gutierrez because he can really take a punch; I hit him with some great shots. It was a good fight for me because I got in some rounds.”
Next up for Godfrey is a recently ordered WBC title elimination bout next year against No. 2 rated Herbie Hide, former 2-time WBO heavyweight champion, with the victor facing the winner of the WBC championship bout between new defending champion Giacobbe Fragameni and the No. 1 mandatory challenger, Krzystof Wlodarczyk.
“It’s a huge opportunity for me and I’m glad to be getting another chance (Godfrey’s lone loss was earlier this year in a WBC title eliminator by 12-round decision to Rudy Kraj in Germany),” Godfrey noted. “I’m looking forward to it and can’t wait to start training again.”
Godfrey, reigning NABF champion, is also rated No. 11 by the WBA and IBF.
“Matt fought well in North Dakota,” Godfrey’s manager Bret Hallenbeck commented. “The other guy made it difficult to look good. He was in a defensive mode the entire fight, leaning back or covering up like a turtle. We’re waiting to learn more about the WBC eliminator against Hide. We have to see what the offers are and where the fight will be.”
Matt, second heavyweight alternate on the 2004 U.S. Olympic Boxing Team, had a 194-23 amateur record, capturing six national championships -- four open tournaments including the 2004 Everlast U.S. Championships, plus two in the Junior Olympics – as well as a Bronze medal at the 2001 Pan-American Games, Silver in all four of that year’s national major tournaments (National Golden Gloves, PAL (Police Athletic League), U.S. Championships and U.S. Challenge) and six-time New England Golden Gloves champion.
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