PROVIDENCE, World rated cruiserweight contender Matt “Too Smooth” Godfrey has relinquished his Sovereign Nations Boxing Council (SNBC) belt so that worthy contenders may fight for it as he prepares for a major world title shot.
SNBC links federally recognized tribes throughout the United States and Canada. Its mission is to develop, promote and help regulate professional boxing and mixed martial arts in a fair and professional manner by federally recognized tribes that are sovereign nations.
Godfrey (19-1, 10 KOs), a full-blooded Wampanoag, became the first SNBC champion last November, winning a unanimous 10-round decision against Edward Gutierrez at 4 Bears Casino in New Town, North Dakota.
Godfrey successfully defended his SNBC belt, as well as his NABF title, with a unanimous 10-round decision (99-91, 98-92, 97-93) against previously unbeaten Shawn “The Sioux Warrior” Hawk in the main event on a recent ESPN2 Friday Night Fights show in Philadelphia.
After their fight, Godfrey handed his SNBC title belt to Hawk, who grew-up on the Crow Creek Reservation, South Dakota. “I was honored to be the first SNBC champion and I am proud of my Native American heritage,” Matt explained. “I’ve relinquished the SNBC belt only because I am concentrating on a major world title fight and it’s only fair that others have the same opportunity to fight for the SNBC belt that I had. It’s very special to me because it’s the only Native American title in boxing. I handed it to Shawn as a goodwill gesture because he probably should have fought Gutierrez when I did. Hawk and I are both Native Americans, but he grew up on one of the toughest reservations, and I’m from the city. I meant no disrespect at all. Shawn has a lot of potential and he will win the SNBC belt soon.”
SNBC President Pat Packineau understood Godfrey’s gesture. “Matt Godfrey was a great first SNBC champion and we wish him luck when he fights for a world title. All Native Americans will be in his corner. We were honored to have him as our cruiserweight champion. We appreciate him giving other contenders an opportunity. Shawn Hawk is scheduled to fight for the now vacant SNBC cruiserweight title on October 24 at 4 Bears Casino.”
The 28-year-old Godfrey, rated No. 10-ranked by The Ring magazine, as well a No. 3 by the IBF and No. 6 by the WBC, took a different approach to his fight against Hawk, effectively boxing as a southpaw, opposed to his three previous ESPN FNF knockout performances against Emmanuel Nwodo, Felix Cora, Jr. and Shaun George.
Godfrey is primarily an orthodox fighter who often turns around and fights left-handed. Against Hawk, though, Matt fought exclusively as a southpaw. “I outclassed Hawk,” Godfrey said. “I kept him off-balance with my jab. We knew going in he had no experience fighting southpaws. If I kept circling, we knew he’d follow; my jab out of the southpaw stance kept him confused. It’s always good to have two weapons.
“I picked it up in the third round and hit him with some good shots. But he’s a tough, dangerous kid and there was no reason to change our plan when it was working so well. I always listen to my corner and I was told not to go crazy. I won nine rounds against a previously unbeaten fighter.”
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Showing posts with label Shawn “The Sioux Warrior” Hawk. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shawn “The Sioux Warrior” Hawk. Show all posts
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
CES announces Godfrey-Hawk headlining July 10 ESPN2 FNF show
PROVIDENCE- Two of the best young cruiserweights in the world, Matt “Too Smooth” Godfrey and Shawn “The Sioux Warrior” Hawk, have been on a collision course and lead promoter Classic Entertainment and Sports, Inc. (CES) officially announced today that Godfrey-Hawk will headline the July 10th ESPN2 Friday Night Fights show.
Godfrey (18-1, 10 KOs), rated No. 6 by the WBC and No. 7 by the IBF, will defend his NABF and SNBC belts against unbeaten challenger Hawk (18-0-1, 16 KOs) in the 10-round main event.
“Both of these cruiserweights were highly successful amateurs and now they are two of the top young contenders in the division,” CES president Jimmy Burchfield said. “Both are Native Americans, too. When Matt won the first Sovereign Nation Boxing Council (SNBC) belt, Shawn fought on the same card last November at 4 Bears Casino in North Dakota. This is the match-up American boxing fans want to see – two top fighters in against each other. Matt and Shawn have wanted to fight each other for a long time and now it’s finally going to happen.”
The Ring magazine’s No. 10-ranked Godfrey, who has Narragansett blood in his family, 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. He was a Bronze medal winner at the 2001 Pan-American Games, Silver Medalist 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.
As a pro, three of the 28-year-old Godfrey’s most impressive performances have been knockouts of Emmanuel Nwodo, Felix Cora, Jr. and Shaun George on ESPN. His lone loss was by 12-round decision 15 months ago in a WBC title eliminator to Rudolf Kraj in Germany, in which, Godfrey came on strong down the stretch only to run out of rounds.
Hawk, 25, is a full-blooded Sioux who comes from Crow Creek Reservation, North Dakota, which is the poorest Native American reservation in the country. Shawn had a 108-12 amateur record, including victories in four national championships, highlighted by a gold-medal performance at the National PAL Tournament when he was 14.
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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 rights reserved
Godfrey (18-1, 10 KOs), rated No. 6 by the WBC and No. 7 by the IBF, will defend his NABF and SNBC belts against unbeaten challenger Hawk (18-0-1, 16 KOs) in the 10-round main event.
“Both of these cruiserweights were highly successful amateurs and now they are two of the top young contenders in the division,” CES president Jimmy Burchfield said. “Both are Native Americans, too. When Matt won the first Sovereign Nation Boxing Council (SNBC) belt, Shawn fought on the same card last November at 4 Bears Casino in North Dakota. This is the match-up American boxing fans want to see – two top fighters in against each other. Matt and Shawn have wanted to fight each other for a long time and now it’s finally going to happen.”
The Ring magazine’s No. 10-ranked Godfrey, who has Narragansett blood in his family, 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. He was a Bronze medal winner at the 2001 Pan-American Games, Silver Medalist 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.
As a pro, three of the 28-year-old Godfrey’s most impressive performances have been knockouts of Emmanuel Nwodo, Felix Cora, Jr. and Shaun George on ESPN. His lone loss was by 12-round decision 15 months ago in a WBC title eliminator to Rudolf Kraj in Germany, in which, Godfrey came on strong down the stretch only to run out of rounds.
Hawk, 25, is a full-blooded Sioux who comes from Crow Creek Reservation, North Dakota, which is the poorest Native American reservation in the country. Shawn had a 108-12 amateur record, including victories in four national championships, highlighted by a gold-medal performance at the National PAL Tournament when he was 14.
Thanks for your time.
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 rights reserved
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