IWBF lightweight title fight headlines February 9 pro-am show in Providence
PROVIDENCE (January 26, 2007) – They’ve taken different paths to the top of women’s boxing and February 9th two-time world champions Mia “The Knockout” St. John and Jaime “The Hurricane” Clampitt will fight for the vacant IWBF lightweight title, headlining the “Hearts Of Fire” pro-am show in the 10-round main event, at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence.
Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports, Inc. (CES), in association with Lincoln Park, is promoting the “Hearts Of Fire” pro-am show, which will be taped live and air February 10 (7:00-9:00 PM/ET and Feb. 17 (12:00-2:00 PM/ET) on CN8, The Comcast Network. CN8 reaches 9 million homes in 12 states and 20 television markets. The event will also air on Cox Sports Television on Feb. 10 (10-12 PM/ET) and Feb. 17 (8:30-10:30 PM/ET).
IFBA lightweight title-holder St. John (43-7-2, 18 KOs), the former Playboy pin-up model, fights for her first time in New England, while Clampitt (16-4-1, 7 KOs) has dreamed of fighting St. John since turning pro in 2000. St. John and Clampitt are rated No. 3 and No. 4, respectively, in the WBC and WBA.
“I’m excited,” California born and bred St. John commented about fighting in New England. “I’ve fought in Madison Square Garden and like the East Coast. This is going to be my 54th fight and I still get excited about fighting. I’ve done everything I set out to do. I’ve won two world titles. I signed with Don King and Bob Arum. I opened for Oscar De La Hoya and Roy Jones. I fought Christy Martin. It feels great to have accomplished my goals. I love boxing or I would have given up fighting a long time ago. I take risky fights like this. Jaime is a great fighter who has a lot of skills. She’s fought in some tough fights. Both of us have. It’s going to be an exciting fight.”
Clampitt, born in Canada and now fighting out of Narragansett, Rhode Island, is grateful for the opportunity to finally fight St. John. “I have to thank Jimmy Burchfield (promoter) for believing in me, putting me in the main event for a world title again, and supporting female boxing” she explained. “It’s hard enough for females to even get on shows. I first started wanting to fight Mia when I first turned pro in Canada. Mia is very marketable and one of the best pound-for-pound women fighters in the world. That’s why I wanted to fight her; she’s one of the best. I’m excited to have her fighting in Providence. I think she’ll be surprised at the boxing fans here. We both wanted to fight each other and fighting her for a world title is unbelievable. It’s going to be a really big fight for boxing, women’s boxing, and CES.”
“Hearts Of Fire” is dedicated to the memory of Enrique Palau, the unbeaten boxer who was killed last month in a car accident. Donations will be collected for Palau’s family.
A donation of $2.00 per each sold ticket will be donated to the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation (GGBCRF) and a portion of proceeds from VIP table sales will go to GGBCRF. CES has called for a “Pink Out” to be shown on the broadcasts with sales from “Pink T-Shirts” on sale at the event also going to GGBCRF. The main event fighters will show their support by wearing pink gloves.
Also scheduled to fight on “Hearts of Fire,” in separate bouts, are former Commonwealth light middleweight champion Ossie Duran (22-5-1, 9 KOs) in an 8-round co-feature, undefeated Pawtucket (RI) light welterweight Eddie “The Puerto Rican Sensation” Soto (7-0, 4 KOs), Iraqi War veteran Chris Traietti (5-0, 3 KOs), the popular super middleweight out of Quincy (MA); popular Providence middleweight Richard “Bobo” Starnino (7-1-1, 1 KO). A trio of newly CES signed young fighters slated to be in action are Johnston (RI) super middleweight Angel Camacho, Jr. (3-0, 3 KOs) and, making their pro debut, Brockton’s (MA) light heavyweight Manuel Antonio Lopes and Stoughton (MA) super middleweight Mical Weisberg, who is a senior at Bridgewater State College. All bouts and fighters are subject to change.
Four exciting amateur matches are also scheduled.
Tickets for “Hearts Of Fire” are now on sale for $20.00 (students), $37.00 (Bronze Reserved), $60.00 (Silver Reserved), $105.00 (Gold Ringside Reserved) and $155.00 (limited Jimmy’s VIP Platinum Club). To purchase tickets or for more information call CES (401.724.2253/2254) or go to www.cesboxing.com), Rhode Island Convention Center (401.458.6000), Rhode Island Boxing Gym in Warwick (866.588.3957), Manfredo’s Gym in Pawtucket (401.723.1354), Box A Round Boxing Club in Stoughton (781.367.6385), Bishop’s Boxing & Fitness (W. Bridgewater), Petronelli Brothers Gym in Brockton (508.588.3238) and 401 Gym in Cranston (401.261.9800/3436). Doors open at 6 PM, first bout at 6:30 PM.