Friday night in Providence
PROVIDENCE (February 8, 2007) – Only the second women’s world title fight ever held in Rhode Island headlines tomorrow night’s “Hearts Of Fire” pro-am show, featuring two-time world champions Mia “The Knockout” St. John and Jaime “The Hurricane” Clampitt fighting for the vacant IWBF lightweight title, at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence.
“I’ve gotten some criticism for putting females in the main event but this fight belongs as a main event,” promoter Jimmy Burchfield said. “It’s going to be a great fight, a real Women’s Fight of the Year candidate.”
IFBA lightweight title-holder St. John (43-7-2, 18 KOs), the former Playboy pin-up model, meets Clampitt (16-4-1, 7 KOs) in the 10-round main event. St. John, fighting out of Oxnard (CA), holds wins against Liz Drew and Donna Biggers, among the more notables. Mia also has been in against the iron such as Christy Martin, Jessica Rakoczy and Holly Holm. Local favorite Clampitt, living in Narragansett (RI), has fought in the 2006 and 2004 Women’s Fights of the Year. She has beaten current WBC lightweight champion Eliza Olson. St. John and Clampitt, respectively, are rated No. 3 and No. 4 in the WBC and WBA.
In the eight-round co-feature, Former Commonwealth light middleweight champion Ossie Duran faces The Contender I star Jonathan “Reid Dawg” Reid. Duran (22-5-1, 9 KOs), rated No. 26 by the WBC, registered an impressive third-round knockout of Jamie Moore (20-1), former British lightweight champion, in 2004 for the vacant Commonwealth light middleweight championship. Ossie, who now lives in Providence by way of Ghana, successfully defended his title 15 months later with a 12-round unanimous decision (118-110, 119-109, 119-109) against previously unbeaten Colin McNeil in London.
Nashville-native Reid (34-4, 19 KOs is a former world title challenger, as well as ex-NABA middleweight champion.
“Hearts Of Fire,” presented by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports, Inc. (CES), in association with Lincoln Park, 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). The new play-by-play announcer is Nick Charles. Five- time world champion Vinny Paz and reporter Phil Burton return to the booth.
“Hearts Of Fire” is dedicated to the memory of Enrique Palau, the unbeaten boxing prospect who was killed in a December car accident. Donations will be collected for Palau’s family.
A donation of $2.00 per each sold ticket, in addition to a portion of proceeds from VIP table sales, will benefit the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation (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 the “Hearts of Fire” undercard in a six-round bout is popular Providence middleweight Richard “Bobo” Starnino (7-1-1, 1 KO) versus Jessie Orta (6-8-1, 4 KOs).
Also fighting on the undercard is a trio of newly signed young fighters making their CES debuts: Johnston (RI) super middleweight Angel Camacho, Jr. (3-0, 3 KOs) takes on Greg Beerman (4-2, 1 KO), Brockton (MA) light heavyweight Manuel Antonio Lopes makes his pro debut against Watson Myrtil in his pro debut, and Stoughton (MA) light heavyweight Mical Weisberg, who is a senior at Bridgewater State College, tangles with fellow pro debut fighter Travis Toler.
Iraqi War veteran Chris Traietti (5-0, 3 KOs) and unbeaten light welterweight Eddie “The Puerto Rican Sensation” Soto (7-0, 4 KOs) have been pulled from the card because they have been suffering from the flu during training. All bouts and fighters are subject to change.
Four exciting amateur matches are also scheduled: Ruben Ortiz vs. Thomas Fowolo, Bruce Soscia vs. Devon Pena, Leo Cavahlo vs. Shane Richardson, Keith Kosslyn vs. Ricky Heath.
Tickets for “Hearts Of Fire” are now on sale for $25.00 (students), $37.00 (Bronze Reserved), $60.00 (Silver Reserved), $105.00 (Gold Ringside Reserved) and $155.00 (limited Jimmy’s VIP Platinum Club). VIP tables also are on sale for $3,000.00 or $2,500.00 with a portion of the proceeds going to GGBCRF. 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.
Weights from Providence
Mia St. John 135 lbs.
Jaime Clampitt 135 lbs.
Ossie Duran 156 lbs.
Jonathan Reid 155 1/2 lbs.
Richard Starnino 159 3/4 lbs.
Jesse Orta 162 lbs.
Angel Camacho, Jr. 166 lbs.
Greg Beeman 167 1/2 lbs.
Manuel Antonio Lopes 175 lbs.
Watson Myrtil 171 1/2 lbs.
Mical Weisberg 173 lbs.
Travis Toler 172 lbs.
“Hearts Of Fire” Press Conference Quotes
(Lincoln Park, Lincoln, RI)
Mia St. John: “I want to thank Rhode Island for being so kind to me. I’m excited to fight here for the first time. Jaime is a great fighter who has never ducked anybody. I’m excited to fight her.”
Jaime Clampitt: “It’s hard enough for females to get on show and I want to thank Jimmy Burchfield for believing in me, women’s boxing, and putting us in the main event. It’s going to be a great show.”
Ossie Duran: “Tomorrow night is going to be a very good fight. I hope I’m going to win. Good luck to the both of us.”
Jonathan Reid: “It’s wonderful to be boxing again in Peter Manfredo’s town. It feels like home. I’m going to put on a great performance tomorrow night. I want to thank all of the great warriors like Vinny Paz who’ve paved the way for is to do what we do. It’s going to be a great fight.”