Skip to main content

Montell ‘Ice’ Griffin aims for 50th win tonight

Phil D. Jay 
WBN Editor
59th bout for former champion

A 41 year-old Montell Griffin hopes to pick up the 50th win of his 18-year professional career tonight as he fights in what could possibly be his last match-up.

The former WBC light-heavyweight champion, who boasts victories over James Toney (Twice) and Roy Jones Jr. on his 58-fight record, steps into the ring with Youngstown’s DeAndrey Abron (15-9), who after a good start to his career is on a run of eight straight defeats, five of which have ended early.

The bout takes place as part of ESPN’s Friday Night Fights to be broadcast in the US on ESPN2 and features former world title holder David Diaz and former Contender champion Grady Brewer in headlining bouts.

Also scheduled is a six-round lightweight bout between Los Angeles via Ghana's Yakubu "Black Mamba" Amidu, (19-2-1, 17 KOs) and Toledo, Ohio's Martin Tucker, (7-9, 3 KOs); a four-round light welterweight bout between George Esho (1-1) of Chicago and Aaron Lucky of Anderson, Indiana (0-2); a featherweight four-rounder between Chicago's Paulie Settepani (1-0, 1 KO) and Indianapolis pro debuter Dwayne Wisdom; a super middleweight four-rounder between Chicago's Mike Kurzeja (4-0-1, 4 KOs) and Jeremy Wood (1-3, 1 KO) of Sydney, Ohio; a junior welterweight four rounder between Chris Singleton (2-0, 2 KOs) of Lafayette, Louisiana, and Gabriel Morris (4-11-2) of Toledo; a junior middleweight six-rounder between Rockford, Illinois' "Bazooka" Joe Linenfelser (9-1-1, 6 KOs) and hometown boy Ruben Galvan (27-17-4, 10 KOs) of Hammond, Indiana; and a six-round featherweight bout between Arapahoe, North Carolina via Igrim, Russia's Evgeny Gradovich (10-0, 6 KOs) and Robert "Don't Lose" DaLuz (13-38-3, 9 KOs) of Providence, Rhode Island.

All bouts subject to change without notice. Doors open at: 6:00 P.M. (all times Central time)

First fight at: 7:00 P.M.

Tickets are priced at $90 Ringside, $40 Orchestra (main level), $30 (mezzanine and balcony).

Tickets available at: www.fanfueled.com and www.thevenue-chicago.com.

Friday's fights will be televised live on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes - ESPN's Spanish-language network - and ESPN3.com, the network's broadband platform service.

For more information, please visit: www.hitzboxing.com.

Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

The Tragedy of Billy Collins Jr.

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor  Collins after the fight Williams Ray Collins Jr. or Billy Collins Jr. as he became known, was born to a boxing father in Antioch, Tennessee in 1961. His father William Sr, once fought Welterweight Champion Curtis Cokes and wanted his boy to follow in his footsteps, so decided to train Billy himself. Collins Jr. turned pro in 1981, a welterweight, just like his father before him and impressively won his first 14 professional contests, 11 by knockout with eight inside the first three rounds. It was 1983 and Billy was matched up against Puerto Rican journeyman Luis Resto on the undercard of Roberto Duran v Davey Moore at Madison Square Garden in a ten rounder. Resto wasn’t known for his punching power but Billy took a sustained beating for the full ten rounds, his face, badly damaged and his eyes were almost shut. After the fight, which Resto won on decision, Billy’s father shook Resto’s hand and noticed there wasn’t much padding in his gl...
Read more

Rico Ramos captures world super- bantamweight title with KO

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor ‘Suavecito’ scores 20th straight win over Shimoda Undefeated Californian Rico Ramos produced a world-class left hand in the seventh round of his WBA title challenge against Japan’s Akifumi Shimoda to rip the belt away from the older southpaw in his first defence. The 24 year-old looked far from a world champion in the first five rounds, only gaining a foothold in the fight in round six, but ultimately produced the equalizer in the seventh to take the crown. Shimoda, 26, will be furious with himself as he bossed the majority of the fight and was up five rounds to one on my card going into the seventh round. One lapse in concentration with only thirty seconds left in round seven and Shimoda hit the canvas. The champion tried to get up at the count of nine, but stumbled over and the referee counted him out. The now former champion stayed down for a full minute before being helped to his feet and realising he no longer held the WBA belt. Also on the card i...
Read more