MONTELL GRIFFIN FIGHTS IN CHICAGO ON JUNE 20TH‏

CHICAGO, IL- “Nine years is a long time to be fighting out of town, I’m thrilled to be fighting at home on June 20th” said former world champion,
Montell “ICE” Griffin after a training session in his native Chicago.

‘I’ve been on the road for while and it’s nice that my kids and family can come see me fight in Chicago,” continued Griffin who was tutored by the legendary Eddie Futch.

Griffin, 48-7 with 30 knockouts over his illustrious 15 year career, will battle Baltimore native Corey Cummings, 16-2 (12KO’s) in a ten round light heavyweight bout at FEARLESS, an evening of world class professional boxing presented by Dominic Pesoli’s Productions, 8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING, on Friday, June 20th at the Aragon Ballroom.




Tickets for FEARLESS are on sale now through Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster) and the 8 Count Production offices at 312-226-5800. The Aragon Ballroom is located at 1106 W. Lawrence Ave. Doors for this event will open at 5:30pm with the first bell at 6:30pm.

About the current status of his career, Griffin was candid, “I know the deal at this point. I want to get to 50 wins and another shot at the world title. I’m training for Cummings like I would for a world title fight, there is absolutely no way I’m going into this fight at anything less than 100%. Hopefully a win here puts me in line for a bigger fight”, said the 1992 US Olympian.

In regards to the some of his biggest battles of his career including the DQ win over Roy Jones Jr., the wins over James Toney and controversial Rico Hoye decision loss Griffin said, “I never got the credit for the win over Roy because he got DQ’ed. The scores were close at the time of the stoppage and I believe I would have won if the fight had gone 12.

When I fought Toney in 1995 he was coming off the loss to Roy Jones. I beat him and folks said it was a fluke, so I beat him again the following year.

Against Rico Hoye everyone who watched that fight on Showtime saw what happened. It was a waste of time having to fight him and then not get the title shot against Clinton Woods.”

Said promoter Dominic Pesoli about Griffin, ‘I’m proud to have him on our card on June 20th. He’s been a great fighter for many years and Chicago fight fans are in for a real treat in seeing him fight.”

Headlining FEARLESS is an outstanding bantamweight clash as world ranked Alex Valdez, 20-2-1 (15KO’s), of Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, Mexico battles Accra, Ghana native Anyetei Laryea, 17-4 (8KO’s) over ten rounds. Valdez is currently ranked # 4 by the WBC, #7 by the WBO, # 10 by the IBF and # 15 by WBA.

In the co-main event, Salinas, California super bantamweight Alejandro Perez, 12-0-1 (7KO’s) squares off against Mexico City’s Adolfo Landeros, 17-10-1 (8KO’s) in a scheduled eight rounder.

On the outstanding under card, Chicago favorite Ivan Popoca, 6-0-1 (5KO’s) will face Khristian Geraci, 3-2-1 (2KO’s) in a six round welterweight bout. Also on the undercard, Michigan native Frederico Flores Jr. 4-2 (2KO’s) faces Chicagoan Gustavo Palacios, 2-3 (1KO’s) over four rounds.

Rounding out the card is a four round junior lightweight battle between Chicago native Juan Bailon, 2-0 (1KO) and Mexico’s Gerardo Alarcon, 0-1.

Along with Dominic Pesoli's 8 Count Productions and Bob Arum’s Top Rank Incorporated, FEARLESS is presented by TCF Bank, Tecate Beer and AeroMexico, Mexico’s premier airline travel headquarters. The SOLO BOXEO TECATE broadcast will be viewed in 42 US markets and 70 foreign countries.

The Master of Ceremonies for the evening will be Lupe Contreras, the internationally recognized voice of Latino boxing.

8 Count Productions was started by Dominic Pesoli in 1998 and has consistently presented the highest quality professional boxing events in Chicagoland. In 2003, Pesoli along with former featherweight contender Mike Garcia opened JABB Boxing Gym, a 6,000 square foot venue dedicated to the finest Chicagoland boxers of all talent levels.

To view the seating chart and poster for this event or for more information on 8 Count Productions and JABB Boxing Gym, please visit www.8countproductions.com and www.jabbboxinggym.com

For more information on Bob Arum’s Top Rank Incorporated, please visit
www.toprank.com

Starlite Boxing's Sweetscience The Video Channel Online http://www.youtube.com/ELEmpress1

EL Boxing Empress Keisha Morrisey's Myspace http://www.myspace.com/Keishadivine

Honorable Keisha Morrisey http://www.keishamorrisey.com

©®™ 2007, 2008 All photos by "EL Boxing Empress" Keisha Morrisey- Empire Morrisey Studios, for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and Starlite Boxing's Sweetscience Magnews-Online Publication all rights reserved

Sotheby's/SCP Auctions To Auction Frazier's Thrilla In Manila Robe

Smokin’ Joe Frazier To Auction Thrilla In Manila Robe

New York,- On April 24, Sotheby’s and SCP Auctions will offer a fine selection of sports memorabilia and cards for auction. The April sale includes an outstanding offering of material that comes directly from Smokin’ Joe Frazier. Born in 1944, the 11th child of sharecroppers in South Carolina, Frazier took up boxing at the age of 17, and his raw talent was soon discovered and honed by trainer Yank Durham. Frazier won the Middle Atlantic Golden Gloves heavyweight championship for three straight years. His professional debut came on Aug. 16, 1965, and within 12 months he was 11-0, with every victory coming by knockout. In 1971, Joe Frazier was king of the world. At 27 years old and at 26-0, he was the undisputed and undefeated heavyweight champion. However, one obstacle stood in his way to standing with other all-time immortals in the ring - Muhammad Ali. On March 8, 1971, in the "Fight of the Century" at Madison Square Garden, an unbeaten Frazier won a unanimous decision as he handed Ali his first defeat. Included is Frazier's Robe from the Weigh-In of " The Fight of The Century” (est. $10/15,000). Frazier held on to his title for three years before a younger and stronger George Foreman took it away in Jamaica.

In 1999, ESPN ranked Frazier and Ali’s third bout, nicknamed the “Thrilla in Manila,” as No. 5 on its list of the greatest fights of all time. In 1974, Ali won the second fight in a 12-round unanimous decision that didn’t win the belt for either. In 1975, the two aging heavyweights, then in their early 30s, traveled to fight in Quezon City, Phillippines. Joe Frazier's Fight-Worn Robe from the “Thrilla In Manila” (est. $30/50,000) is also among the highlights of the April sale. Also included is a Fight-Worn Robe from Frazier vs. Jerry Quarry - June 17, 1974 (est. $15/20,000) and a Cornerman’s Shirt Made for Eddie Futch, Joe Frazier’s Trainer (est. $8/12,000).

Registration is required to bid in Sotheby’s auctions. You can register in person at Sotheby’s New York headquarters any time before the sale, or via fax when you submit an absentee bid form.

For more information, please visit www.sothebys.com or www.scpauctions.com.

©®™ 2007, 2008 All photos by "El Boxing Empress" Keisha Morrisey- Empire Morrisey Studios, for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and Starlite Boxing's Sweetscience all rights reserved